"I hate you!!"
Transformed into the Lizard, Peter Parker pounced viciously, the foul wind of his assault rushing forth. But Charlie was tightly entangled by Gwen and couldn't spare a hand.
Once the spider totem on Charlie's chest came into contact with Gwen's pink totem, it was as if they were stuck together. No matter how hard he tried, he could not push Gwen away.
No, to be precise, his body wouldn't allow him to push Gwen away.
When Spider-People of opposite genders meet, everything becomes so strange.
But unlike Gwen, Charlie could remain clear-headed.
Facing Gwen's frenzy, he could only hold her face away with both hands to prevent her from rubbing against him.
So many people watching—how could he continue to roam the multiverse after this?
Yes, there were more and more people gathering around.
"Peter, stop!"
With a thunderous shout, the elderly Steve Rogers descended from above, landing behind Lizard Parker. With both hands, he firmly locked down the other's body.
"Calm down. It's no big deal. After all, Little Spider is so much more handsome than you. It's normal for a girl to like him."
"What?"
Lizard Parker cried even more heartbreakingly, "No, stop talking, I won't listen! How could this happen? I'm going to tear him apart— Ugh… it hurts, it hurts so much!!"
The more fiercely he struggled, the greater the force elderly Steve had to use.
"Rip!"
In an instant, the uniform on Elderly Steve's body was stretched and torn by exaggerated muscles. A terrifying strength of twenty tons erupted, enough to completely suppress Lizard Parker.
"Little Spider, there are too many people here. I have some money in my pocket. Take her next door, there's a hotel over there." Elderly Steve shouted toward Charlie.
Charlie: "..."
"Shut up. I can't do that right now."
"What? You little brat, I never realized you were this kind of person. Young people really are wild."
Elderly Steve turned his head away, "Then hurry up, I won't peek."
Speaking thus, he switched to holding Lizard Parker's throat with one hand, while secretly pulling out a small mirror from his pocket.
Charlie: "..."
Old and improper.
Soon, Carter Peggy arrived late, swinging onto the rooftop with the help of the web-shooters, her movements stiff.
Seeing the bizarre scene unfolding, Carter's cheek twitched slightly.
She turned her back, saying, "If I'm not mistaken, you shouldn't be interested in men." She gave Elderly Steve a sidelong look.
Elderly Steve's face darkened, "The guy I'm holding likes that girl, but Little Spider stole his girlfriend. As a good friend, I can only choose to help Little Spider."
Carter frowned, "Although I'm not interested in your love triangle, you don't have to kill someone to cover it up."
"Kill someone?"
Elderly Steve realized something and quickly released his hold.
"Cough, cough, cough—"
Lizard Parker, finally able to breathe fresh air, lay on the ground, looking utterly dejected.
He stared at the gloomy night sky, while in his ears rang the sounds of Charlie's "resisting but welcoming" cries for help. He could already imagine that unbearably painful scene.
Tears of sorrow streamed from his eyes.
"Ck, ck, ck."
The next moment, magical circles flickered in mid-air. The small Red-Blue Little Spider (the summoned spiderling) jumped onto Gwen's shoulder. Its two small fangs suddenly bit into her skin.
"Buzz~"
In an instant, Gwen's eyes rolled back, and she fainted. The pink spider totem flashed once before disappearing. Charlie was finally able to push Gwen away.
"Phew."
Charlie let out a sigh of relief, "That was close. Almost broadcasted it live." He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"Chirp, chirp, chirp."
The Little Spider jumped into Charlie's palm, happily shaking its head, as if asking for credit.
"Haha, not bad. I'll give you a drumstick tonight."
Charlie tapped the Little Spider's head with his finger, once again making a promise he'd never keep.
"Your pet can also participate in the Resurrection Match?" Carter was astonished.
Charlie placed the Little Spider atop his own head, spreading his arms wide, as if embracing the world.
He smiled slightly, "My pet is always with me."
As a summoned creature, of course, wherever Charlie was, the Little Spider would be as well.
Turning to Lizard Parker, seeing Gwen pushed away by Charlie, he wiped away his tears and charged at Charlie with clenched teeth.
"Bastard, I won't allow you to treat her so rudely! I'm going to tear you apart!!"
"Boom!"
Charlie raised a hand and caught the incoming fist in his palm.
"After transforming, even your IQ has dropped?" he asked, giving the other a sidelong glance.
"What?" Lizard Parker blinked.
Carter explained from the side, "I guess your girlfriend lost control for some reason, and it has nothing to do with Charlie."
"He doesn't have a girlfriend," Charlie leaned close to Carter and whispered.
Carter: "..."
Under her explanation, Lizard Parker quickly calmed down.
Because he saw Carter.
"Hoo~"
A breeze blew through Carter's hair, and a hint of fragrance drifted into Lizard Parker's nose.
In an instant, his heart fluttered, casting everything aside.
Green skin and claws receded one after another; Lizard Parker finally returned to human form.
After revival, he could already skillfully control his Lizard transformation.
Seeing this, Elderly Steve approached Charlie.
"This guy isn't a good person."
Charlie nodded, "As long as it's a beautiful woman, she can become his sedative."
"Then I'll give it a try too."
Hearing this, Felicia Hardy became interested.
With a confident smile on her lips, she tossed her hair and was about to step forward to tease Lizard Parker.
"Get lost, you were the one who hid the farthest just now."
Charlie reached out and pushed Felicia's face away, then said to Elderly Steve, "This woman isn't a good person either."
Felicia: "..."
Elderly Steve earnestly agreed, "Yes, but we're superheroes, we can't judge only by appearances."
"What do you want then?" Charlie raised an eyebrow.
Elderly Steve said seriously: "We shall know women by their scent. Let me smell—"
"Okay, go ahead and smell."
Charlie placed his palm in front of him.
"What are you doing?" Elderly Steve was puzzled.
Charlie grinned, "I touched her just now, so smelling my hand is the same."
Elderly Steve's face stiffened; this was not what he had imagined.
"No, I won't smell it. I just saw you picking your nose earlier."
"Slander! You're slandering me!"
"You two talk too much nonsense."
Carter rolled her eyes at the two men, then walked over to Gwen and squatted down to lift her into her arms.
"Let's leave this place first. Otherwise, it'll be troublesome if other participants show up."
"Alright."
Very soon, Charlie and the others departed.
Not long after, crimson tentacles climbed up to the rooftop.
Surveying the messy scene, Hydra Steve Rogers's gaze finally fell on the green figure drowned in the water tank.
"Splash~"
Bucky Barnes stepped forward, dragging out Norman Osborn's corpse for careful examination.
"There are traces of webbing. The fatal wound is to the face. He was punched to death."
Hydra Steve stared at the shattered Goblin mask of Norman, frowning slightly.
"It must be Spider-Man. Only he has such powerful strength. This webbing must be his too."
Bucky nodded, his expression grave: "We have limited information, but we can be sure that Charlie Parker must be on the Save Team. If we want to deal with him, we must unite with the other neutral contestants. Otherwise, we are no match for Charlie Parker."
Hearing the name Charlie Parker, Hydra Steve ground his teeth in hatred.
"Norman was worthless. He died at Charlie Parker's hand right at the start. I hope that electric guy and the big lizard will keep a low profile. Otherwise, their fate won't be any better than Norman's."
In response to these words, Bucky had a different opinion.
"Steve, our mission is to destroy the world. Actually, we don't need their help. We can do it ourselves."
"Hmm?"
Hydra Steve was thoughtful.
Bucky looked at Steve, "Remember the last Resurrection Match?"
"Of course I remember."
Recalling that humiliating previous Resurrection Match, Hydra Steve's face darkened.
"There were too many people helping him; otherwise, I definitely would have… I see."
Mid-sentence, realization dawned on him.
"Hahaha, yes. He can find people to help him, we can too."
He laughed loudly, "Hydra is everywhere. The final victor can only be us.
After revival, I'll make Charlie Parker understand what true cruelty is.
No, he won't understand, because he'll be forever trapped in the nightmare of the Resurrection Match."
——
Queens, a run-down apartment building.
After a brief discussion, the group decided to head to Lizard Parker's place.
"Creak, squeak~"
Changing out of their suits, Carter and the others followed Lizard Parker up the wooden stairs. Every step produced a protesting creak as if the stairs were about to collapse.
"Is this really okay?"
Elderly Steve tiptoed upstairs, trembling with every step.
Ahead, Lizard Parker turned around, smiling awkwardly: "It's fine. It's been many years, and there's never been a problem."
"Indeed no problem, but it's a bit small."
Suddenly, the door opened. Charlie waved his hand, "I've opened the door for you. No need to thank me."
Lizard Parker: "..."
"How do you know which apartment is his?" Carter, carrying Gwen, asked curiously.
Charlie shrugged, "I observed from outside. The messiest, smallest, worst room must be his."
Lizard Parker: "..."
He said, black-faced, "Charlie Parker, I hate you."
Charlie spread his hands, looking hurt.
"Oh, handsome four-legged gecko, that's not what you said last time."
"I've always hated you."
"No, I remember you said you forgave me."
"I never said that."
"Then you forgot."
Talking, everyone squeezed into the cramped room.
Carter cleared the messy clothes off the bed, and gently laid Gwen down.
Seeing this, Lizard Parker looked embarrassed.
"I'll tidy up first, you guys make yourselves comfortable."
He wanted to quickly clean up the room, but the violent pounding at the door reminded him of trouble.
"Peter Parker, you've owed three months' rent!" the landlord roared at the door.
Instantly, Lizard Parker's face flushed red.
This was too embarrassing.
He gestured for everyone to keep quiet.
"If no one's inside, he'll leave on his own," he whispered very softly.
Everyone looked at each other.
Peter Parker's situation was worse than they had imagined.
But the landlord's next words made Lizard Parker's already impoverished life even worse.
"Peter Parker, I know you're back! I heard lots of footsteps. You brought people home. I'm going to fine you. Now you owe me four months' rent. I will stand guard outside your room until you pay!"
Hearing this, Lizard Parker wanted to cry but had no tears.
Elderly Steve leaned close to Charlie, "So poor, yet he still wants a girlfriend? Hilarious."
Charlie gave him a side glance, "I warn you, take that back."
"Why?"
"Because I feel offended."
"Uh, sorry, I forgot you're also broke."
With Charlie and Lizard Parker here, Elderly Steve regained some confidence.
"I've been collecting retirement benefits for many years," he said smugly.
Felicia sneered, "Old man Captain, have you ever lived in a castle?"
Elderly Steve: "..."
The next second, he retorted, "I haven't lived in one, but I've blown one up."
Felicia: "..."
This old man was tough to deal with.
"Quiet, you guys."
Carter shushed them: "This girl hasn't woken up yet."
Charlie thought for a moment, then placed the Little Spider on Gwen's arm.
"Chirp, chirp, chirp."
Just as the Little Spider grinned, ready to bite, Gwen shuddered and shrank back to the bedhead.
"Don't, I'm awake now."
"You were pretending to be asleep?" Carter asked with a laugh.
Gwen curled up, hugging her knees and lowering her head, not daring to look at Charlie.
"Mm." She nodded. Her voice was no louder than the flap of a mosquito's wings.
Obviously, she remembered what had just happened.
It was an extremely socially awkward moment.
"By the way, my hood—"
She quickly touched her face, discovering that her hood had long been removed.
Seeing Gwen's panicked look, Carter apologized, "Sorry, we didn't ask for your permission. But don't worry, we can exchange secrets."
Gwen shook her head, "No need. When I was coming to, I already heard. You're not from this world."
She mustered the courage to look at everyone.
"You want to save the world, but you don't know what crisis this world will face."
Charlie nodded, "Yes, I think you can help us understand this world."
He was sure that the world's crisis was not caused by the other contestants.
Otherwise, the difficulty of this Resurrection Match would be too low.
When the world crisis was mentioned, Gwen was no longer shy.
She spoke solemnly: "I might know some information that could help you."
"Speak quickly," Felicia urged impatiently.
Elderly Steve shook his head, thinking the young ones are too eager on their first Resurrection Match.
Charlie rolled his eyes, "You're already acting like a senior. Have you forgotten who helped you clear the Resurrection Match last time?"
"Uh, alright, I admit, it was all because of you."
Elderly Steve stifled a bad laugh, "And your superpower is truly amazing."
Charlie was not afraid of such sarcasm. He glanced at the silent Lizard Parker.
"Yes, but I think your Titanic moment with a certain someone is the most beautiful memory."
"You, you, you—"
Elderly Steve's face turned livid. Lizard Parker also seemed to recall something. He ground his teeth but didn't dare say a word.
They all remembered clearly what had happened in the Exiled Lands of the Titans.
Carter knew about it too, but she wasn't in the mood to join their humor.
She asked Gwen seriously, "Please tell us, what is the crisis of this world?"
Gwen took a deep breath.
"It's the Sinister Six. I worked so hard to put them in prison, but they've all recently escaped. I suspect there's a terrifying enemy planning everything behind the scenes."