Restart, Spider-Man!

That was why Apocalypse had yet to make a move against Spider-Man.

During Hydra's dark god invasion, he had finally been tempted to act. But witnessing Spider-Man's terrifying ability to grow stronger with every death had stopped him cold.

Adding to his hesitation was the knowledge that his Four Horsemen weren't truly loyal to him. Even if he managed to capture Spider-Man and initiate the body-snatching ritual, a betrayal by Erik or the others could easily spell his doom.

This was why he "forgave" Spider-Man.

It simply wasn't the right time.

Apocalypse suppressed the fear gripping his chest, taking a deep breath. His eyes narrowed as he spoke. "An amusing little insect. Tell me your true purpose."

Xia Luo smirked, feeling victorious for the first time in this battle of wits.

"Originally, I came here to kill you," he admitted. "You know how it is—after every resurrection, I grow stronger.

"But since you've forgiven me, I suppose I'll have to forgive you too."

"Get to the point," Apocalypse growled, his patience wearing thin.

"There's a strange group of individuals I need you to deal with," Xia Luo replied bluntly.

"And why should I help you?"

"You wouldn't just be helping me—you'd be helping yourself."

Xia Luo crossed his arms. "I want world peace. You want world domination. There's surprisingly little conflict between us."

At this, Wanda and the others couldn't help but twitch.

How is that not a conflict?

Apocalypse, however, seemed intrigued. "I see your point. If I dominate the world, then the world will know peace."

Xia Luo: "…"

"Uh, close enough," he muttered, sidestepping the topic. Glancing at Charles, he continued, "Your telepathy makes you uniquely suited to find out what I need. Digging into people's minds might tarnish my image as a friendly neighborhood hero, so I'll leave it to you."

"Who are the targets?" Charles asked.

"Tony Stark, along with a few high-ranking senators. I'll provide you with a detailed list."

"Stark?" Wanda's brow furrowed. "Isn't he your friend?"

Xia Luo shrugged. "I just want my royalties for the nanotech patents. You get it, right?"

He turned back to Apocalypse. "Their goals probably overlap with yours. That's the real source of conflict."

"You seem to have a theory," Apocalypse noted. His hostility had ebbed—for now.

Xia Luo waved a hand dismissively. "Even the Invincible Spider-Man can't predict everything. It's up to you guys now."

With that, he raised his hand and traced a circle in the air. A portal of golden sparks formed, and Xia Luo stepped through, vanishing before it closed.

Apocalypse watched the portal flicker out and fell into deep thought.

After a moment, he turned to Charles. "Follow Spider-Man's advice. I want to know who dares to challenge my claim to this world."

Charles nodded. "I'll get to the bottom of it."

As he turned to leave, Apocalypse's voice rang out again.

"Charles," he said coldly, "our plan is vital to the survival of all mutants. If you continue to brush me off, I won't mind. But remember, I have a way out. You do not."

Charles stiffened, his hands clenching at his sides.

"I understand," he said quietly before hurrying away.

Once Charles was gone, Apocalypse's gaze fell on Erik.

"Spider-Man was right," Apocalypse said, his voice steady. "I have a device that allows me to traverse the multiverse. Somewhere out there, in another timeline, your wife and daughter are still waiting for you."

Erik froze, his expression conflicted.

In his original universe, his powers had been exposed while trying to save someone, leading to the death of his wife and daughter. It was a wound that would never heal.

The chance to see them again, even as variants in a parallel timeline, stirred something deep within him.

Family mattered more than power.

Resolute, Erik clenched his fists.

"I understand," he said firmly.

Apocalypse nodded approvingly. "Good. Work with Charles. Keep an eye on him. And remember—only you can decide if Charles or your family is more important."

Erik tightened his grip, determination etched across his face. "I'll convince him. He'll help us—I'm sure of it."

"That's your responsibility."

"Understood."

With Erik gone, Apocalypse turned his attention to Wanda and Pietro.

"You've seen war's brutality firsthand," he said. "You know that if I rule the world, you'll become respected mutants, no longer hunted as monsters. You'll live in peace, untouchable by anyone."

He fixed his gaze on Wanda. "Spider-Man can't promise you that. But I can. Consider it carefully.

"When you've made your choice, gather more mutants for me. I sense there are still some interesting individuals hidden in this world."

The twins exchanged a glance before silently leaving.

As he watched them go, Apocalypse's thoughts churned.

As the first mutant, Apocalypse had always carried immense pride.

But seeing versions of himself fail across the multiverse had forced him to reevaluate his approach.

He couldn't rely solely on brute strength.

One day, the oppressed would rise against him.

Mutants were still human. Exploiting their weaknesses and forging alliances through shared interests—that was the key to lasting domination.

His thoughts drifted to Spider-Man.

From the information Apocalypse had gathered, Spider-Man had evolved from a lone vigilante into someone with loyal allies.

These allies guarded Spider-Man's "death sites," protecting him until he resurrected. They eliminated any threats that could disrupt his revival.

It was exactly what Apocalypse needed.

His ritual of transferring bodies left him vulnerable. Without devoted Horsemen to defend him, he was exposed.

But his previous Four Horsemen were long gone.

The new ones were unreliable and riddled with ulterior motives.

To forge a truly loyal team, he needed more time.

Settling back into his throne, Apocalypse closed his eyes.

Yes, he still didn't have his own room.

---

Meanwhile, Erik followed Charles out of the underground pyramid and into the bustling city.

"This time, the target is Tony Stark. Find a way to get close to him and read his memories," Erik said to Charles.

Charles didn't respond immediately—his attention was caught by a familiar figure.

"Xia Luo Parker?"

He watched as the young man in a red and blue jacket leaped down from an aircraft, his expression puzzled.

"He seems to be heading our way," Charles said to Erik.

Erik glanced around quickly. "Find a quiet spot. We don't want anyone noticing us meeting Spider-Man's associate."

"Understood."

Charles closed his eyes, his telepathic abilities prompting nearby pedestrians to unconsciously avoid them.

Unperturbed by the clearing streets, Xia Luo strode up to them with a cheerful grin.

"So, you're Charles and Erik?"

Xia Luo ignored the odd behavior of the crowd around them, introducing himself casually.

"I'm Xia Luo Parker. Spider-Man asked me to deliver a message."

"What's the message?" Erik asked, though his racing heartbeat betrayed the emotions swirling inside him.

Xia Luo caught Erik's reaction and smiled slyly.

"Spider-Man also has a multiverse traversal machine—one far more precise than Apocalypse's."

Erik's initial excitement gave way to suspicion, his gaze sharpening. "How does Spider-Man know what I want?"

Crossing his arms, Xia Luo smirked. "Honestly, following Apocalypse is a dead-end. It's the modern age—who still cares about superpowers?"

Holding out his hand, Xia Luo revealed a miniature S.H.I.E.L.D. listening device.

"Spider-Man left this for you. Sure, Apocalypse has leverage over you, but here's the thing—whatever he can do for you, the 'mysterious and magnificent' Spider-Man can do better."

Turning to Charles, Xia Luo added, "The humans of ancient Egypt betrayed Apocalypse because they couldn't stand his tyranny.

"But if you strike the right balance between mutants and humans, your ideals might just become reality."

Charles didn't respond, lost in thought.

Erik, however, stiffened as Xia Luo leaned closer with a conspiratorial grin.

"Ever heard of Mephisto?"

Erik blinked. "The demon from Hell?"

"Exactly. Spider-Man and Mephisto are… acquaintances. Finding a couple of lost souls for you? Shouldn't be a problem. The original timeline's wife and daughter are far better than some multiverse replacements."

Xia Luo paused. "Unless, of course, you have… particular preferences. Then forget I said anything."

Erik's heartbeat quickened at the implication, his resolve wavering.

"Is… is that possible?" His voice trembled slightly.

"Absolutely."

Xia Luo patted his chest confidently. "The invincible Spider-Man never lies. Ever."

"I…" Erik hesitated, glancing at Charles, who gave him a brief nod.

Swallowing his doubts, Erik clenched his fists. "Fine. Whatever Spider-Man needs me to do, I'll do it."

"Relax," Xia Luo said with a chuckle. "When the time comes, just stand on our side. Simple as that."

Checking his watch, Xia Luo added, "I still need to meet Wanda and Pietro. You two carry on—and don't forget to send the first-hand intel to my virtual computer."

---

Moments later, Xia Luo's aircraft vanished into a magical portal, emerging near Wanda and Pietro as they carried out their mission.

"Hey! First time meeting you guys." Xia Luo jumped down from the aircraft, waving casually.

Pietro gave Xia Luo a once-over. "I've heard of you—Spider-Man's liaison. So, he sent you?"

"Exactly."

Xia Luo studied the pair. "I'm sure you can guess why I'm here. Interested in joining the Avengers?

"Not Thunderbolts—the Avengers. Sure, fewer days off, but the benefits are world-class: free healthcare, generous living stipends, top-tier pensions, and retirement plans."

"No," Wanda said flatly, rejecting him without hesitation.

Xia Luo had anticipated this. Shrugging, he said, "Alright, let's change the terms.

"Have you heard of Mephisto? Yeah, the Hell demon who once sat on Satan's throne. If either of you dies, Spider-Man can recover your souls..."

Three minutes later, Xia Luo had successfully won them over.

With that, Apocalypse's Four Horsemen had officially become Spider-Man's Four Horsemen.

Xia Luo could already imagine Apocalypse crying in a bathroom over this betrayal.

No, wait—Apocalypse didn't even have his own room. He'd have to cry in a public restroom.

Watching Wanda and Pietro depart, Xia Luo climbed back into the aircraft, marveling at its smooth handling.

"Carter's ride really is top-notch," he muttered, settling into the pilot's seat.

Just as he started the engine, a flicker of hellfire erupted behind him. An elderly man in a finely tailored tailcoat stood there, his jaw clenched and his gaze seething with restrained fury.

"Xia Luo Parker. The 'invincible' Spider-Man. Care to explain yourself?" Mephisto's voice dripped with venom.

Without even turning around, Xia Luo activated the aircraft's flight systems.

"Don't be so petty. Out here in the world, identity is what you make of it. And besides, aren't we friends?"

"Friends don't steal from each other's personal collection," Mephisto snapped.

Xia Luo grinned. "So, what now? You planning to kill me?"

The hellfire in Mephisto's eyes flared, but he quickly suppressed it.

He couldn't afford to risk provoking the entity Spider-Man served—an ancient god known for its vindictiveness.

Spider-Man's ability to endlessly resurrect marked him as a favored apostle. If Xia Luo were to die improperly and disrupt his god's plans, the consequences for Mephisto could be catastrophic.

So, he swallowed his anger.

The hierarchy of gods was as vast as the gap between humans and ants.

Instead of escalating, Mephisto opted for something subtler.

"Troublesome bug," Mephisto said, his tone shifting. "You must be very bored, aren't you?"

Xia Luo felt a pang of unease.

"Not really," he replied. "I've got plenty to do—I'm even late for school."

Hellfire flared again, engulfing Mephisto as he vanished. Only his voice lingered in the air.

"I won't help you recover any souls. And liars always pay a price…"

As Mephisto's voice faded, the once-clear sky darkened ominously. Hellfire slashed across the heavens like a fiery wound. Amid the swirling black clouds, the faint, shimmering threads of the Web of Life and Destiny began to appear.

Across the city, people paused, staring upward in awe and dread.

"What the hell is that?"

"It looks like a spider's web!"

"Wait—there's someone on it!"

"Is it Spider-Man?"

"No… It's not him. Something's… off."

"Oh my God, what now?"

"BOOM!"

Thunder roared as lightning illuminated a figure on the sprawling web.

Descending from the strands, a man clad in a cobalt blue tailcoat alighted on the Empire State Building.

He wore pristine white gloves and an antiquated golden diving helmet that clashed starkly with the neon-lit city around him. In his hand was a crimson trident, its gleaming points reflecting the storm's fury.

"CRACK!"

Lightning struck again, and from the man's helmet, a grotesque, twisted totem emerged. Only Xia Luo could see it.

"The… Leech Totem!"

From his aircraft, Xia Luo stared at the figure in disbelief.

The spider totem on his chest pulsed violently, reacting to the newcomer with unprecedented intensity.

Compared to the Bat Totem-wielding Kaelen from before, this Leech inheritor was far more terrifying.

Seething with frustration, Xia Luo mentally cursed Mephisto and his entire lineage.

---

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