Restart, Spider-Man!

The Pacific Ocean, Monster Archipelago.

Buzz~

On a rocky shore, a magical spark burst into a glowing portal as Xia Luo and Peni Parker stepped onto the island.

"Your magical teleportation is really convenient," Peni commented, then added with a smirk, "but it seems kind of overused."

She was thinking of the mysterious figure from two nights ago. "That guy's portals were gold," she remarked.

Xia Luo pretended not to hear her.

His gaze swept over the endless ocean before turning toward the island's center.

"This is the Pacific's Monster Prison?" he asked.

Peni nodded. "Yes. All the monsters we've defeated are kept here."

Xia Luo pondered. "Does the Atlantic have one?"

"What?"

"Does the Atlantic have a Monster Prison?"

"No, there's only one Monster Prison."

"Good. This must be the real deal."

Turning to Peni, Xia Luo said, "We can't let anyone know we came here. Can you keep this a secret?"

"Not even Aunt May and Uncle Ben?"

"Not even them. It's for their safety."

"I understand."

"Good. Let's move."

"Got it."

---

Following Xia Luo's lead, Peni took a Pym Disk and pressed it against her palm. In an instant, light shimmered, and her surroundings seemed to grow exponentially larger.

The blue sky, white clouds, ground, rocks, waves, and sandy beach all expanded to an overwhelming scale.

When she regained her composure, she found herself standing atop a craggy, canyon-filled boulder.

The sky above was a gloomy gray. The air was heavy with moisture and dust, and the wind whipped up sand and grit, pelting her from all directions. The sheer scale of the world left Peni utterly stunned.

"What is this?"

"Pym Tech," Xia Luo explained. "We've shrunk to the size of ants. In this state, we can infiltrate the Monster Prison without being detected."

Peni blinked her wide eyes, her expression shifting from shock to exhilaration.

"This is amazing!"

She couldn't contain her excitement.

Suddenly, a sound came from behind. From a nearby crevice, a massive, sinister claw slowly emerged.

Click-clack, click-clack.

Hearing the noise, Peni turned her head, only to see a monstrous crab eyeing her with a bloodthirsty gleam.

To be fair, she usually thought crabs were kind of cute.

But this "monster" version was nothing like she imagined.

In that moment, Peni's scalp prickled as her smile froze.

"Uncle Xia Luo, can I even pilot a mech in this state?" she asked nervously.

"For the last time, stop calling me 'Uncle,'" Xia Luo sighed, shrugging. Then he raised his hand.

Boom!!

The ground trembled violently as the red-and-blue spider transformed into a towering giant. A dazzling blast of red-and-blue magical energy shot forth, weaving an intricate web of light across the sky like a magical rainbow.

The magic rainbow zipped through the air, obliterating the colossal crab in an instant. The beast was shredded into pieces by an explosion so powerful it resembled a nuclear detonation.

Rumble!!

The shockwave scattered the dust-filled air. Massive rocks were flung from the blast's epicenter, and for a moment, Peni's mind conjured an apocalyptic vision of the world ending.

Before she could fully process what was happening, Xia Luo grabbed her and leapt into the chasm behind them.

Whoosh~~

Violent gusts tore through the canyon, sending dirt and debris flying. Huddled in a corner, Peni's face was pale with fear.

Xia Luo didn't bother offering any comfort.

"Well, was that thrilling enough for you?"

Realizing it wasn't the end of the world, Peni exhaled shakily.

"That was... intense."

She took another deep breath to steady herself. "Even a tiny crab turned into a monster that caused us trouble. At this size, it'll take days to reach the Monster Prison. Anything we encounter along the way could eat us alive."

"You're forgetting something: the invincible Spider-Man knows magic."

Xia Luo smiled, lifting his hand to trace a circle. A magical portal appeared, sparks flying.

"What are you waiting for? Let's go!"

"Right, right!" Peni quickly followed him.

---

Stepping through the portal, the two found themselves standing atop a massive leaf.

Before them stretched a landscape reminiscent of a mythical world tree. Towering structures loomed in the distance, while an enormous web concealed the sky above. A terrifying spider-like creature lay in wait.

Buzz~

A mosquito the size of a fighter jet buzzed past them, disturbing the air with its turbulence. It crashed into the giant web, where the spider monster swiftly claimed its prey.

By now, Peni had grown accustomed to the microcosmic world.

She looked toward a towering structure piercing the clouds in the distance. "Is that the entrance to the Monster Prison? Are we going to teleport inside?" she asked.

Xia Luo shook his head. "I've never been inside, so I can't open a portal directly into the Monster Prison."

"Then how did you manage to portal us close to it?"

"I've seen it before. It left an impression in my mind."

"Fair enough. So, how are we supposed to get in?"

Peni spread her hands wide. "I can't shoot webs, so are you going to carry me in?"

"You keep calling me 'Uncle.' Carrying you would look weird and give people the wrong idea."

With a wave, Xia Luo summoned a small spider mount, which descended from above.

"Get on."

He leapt onto the spider's back and extended a hand to pull Peni up after him.

"Wow, its back doesn't have those prickly spider hairs!" Peni exclaimed in awe.

Xia Luo grinned. "It's got much cooler skills than that."

At his words, the spider let out a chirping sound, which had transitioned from its former "chitter-chitter" to a now comical "caw-caw."

Boom!

The next second, the spider sprang forward, darting through the dense jungle at breakneck speed.

On its back, Peni clung tightly to Xia Luo to avoid being flung off.

"So its cool skill is... parkour?" she yelled against the rushing wind.

"No, it's web-swinging."

"What?"

Before Peni could process his words, the spider leapt toward the tower. With a flick of its abdomen, it shot a web line, swinging effortlessly into the high structure.

Click-click-click~~

Skittering along the tower's weathered stone walls, the spider raced onward, dodging the patrols of "giants" with ease. Soon, it found the entrance to an underground passage.

Inside an elevator shaft, the spider clung to the giant's pant leg, hitching a ride downward.

Thud.

As the elevator jolted to a stop, the entire space seemed to shudder. On the spider's back, Peni's initial tension had morphed into excitement.

"This is incredible! I want to do this all the time!" she said gleefully.

"Peni, with great power comes great responsibility," Xia Luo replied, feigning a serious tone. "If you're going to play, at least play by growing bigger."

Peni blinked, taken aback. She had expected a scolding.

"Alright, I'll play by growing bigger," she said with a bright smile.

From childhood, everyone had told her she had a responsibility to protect others, to defeat evil monsters, and to never let anyone down. It consumed all her time, leaving little room for fun.

But now someone was telling her Spider-People could enjoy life too.

Having another Spider-Man to share in her fun was the happiest she'd felt in ages.

"Want some?" she asked, pulling a piece of bubble gum from her pocket and offering it to Xia Luo.

It was her way of making friends.

Xia Luo took it and popped it into his mouth. "Hmm, orange flavor. Not bad. Have you been eating this since you were a kid? No cavities?"

Peni sighed. "Candy's the only thing that makes me happy."

At that, Xia Luo smacked the back of her head lightly.

"No sentimental nonsense."

Peni: …

"Okay, got it," she said, rubbing the spot where he'd hit her. The brief flash of indignation quickly faded, replaced by another bright smile.

"Uncle Xia Luo, I think you've gotten better than you used to be."

"What?"

"I mean, you're nicer now."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, I'm having a lot of fun hanging out with you."

---

Xia Luo's mind flashed back to his childhood.

On his way home from school:

"Stop following me! I'm in a terrible mood, and if you keep it up, I'll hit you!"

A young Xia Luo turned around, glaring at a small Mary Jane. He raised his fist in a threat.

Mary Jane hesitated, taking a step back, but then stepped forward again to grab his sleeve tightly.

"No, I'll follow you. I don't have any other friends."

"Ugh!"

With a scowl, Xia Luo yanked his arm free. "Leave me alone, or I'll really hit you."

Raising the newspaper in his hand, he howled dramatically toward the sky.

"Why is this happening?! My allowance! Gone!"

He was distraught.

Even as a transmigrator into the Marvel universe, where the world was different from his original one, Xia Luo knew some things were universal. Like investing in Stark Industries' stock.

Once Stark Industries became an industrial titan, he would cash out.

Well, it wasn't exactly wealth freedom, but it was a start.

But fate wasn't kind to him.

He'd painstakingly scrounged up some allowance by tricking kids at school. His plan to dabble in stocks before Tony Stark turned the company around had seemed brilliant—until Uncle Ben caught him secretly using Aunt May's identity to trade stocks.

As punishment, his allowance was halved, and his dreams of financial freedom were crushed.

The future Wolf of Wall Street was shackled by the restrictions of childhood.

Even worse, from that point onward, any allowance he didn't spend immediately would mysteriously vanish by the next day, squandered in inexplicable ways.

It was a tragic tale.

Now, the newspaper in his hand declared Stark Industries had secured a major military contract, sending its stock soaring. But that had nothing to do with him.

No wonder he was furious.

"I've decided. Tomorrow, I'm setting up a stand to sell performance-enhancing pills!"

With his innocent appearance, customers would never suspect the effectiveness of the product.

The thought improved his mood, and a smile finally broke across his face.

Noticing his grin, Mary Jane's nervous expression softened.

She tugged at his sleeve again. "I'm hungry."

"Alright, let's go home and eat."

This time, Xia Luo didn't shake her off. Instead, he took her hand and led her back.

"Stop following me all the time. You need to make friends with other kids."

"No, I don't want to play with them. It's more fun being with you."

"Haha, you really are something. I can't blame you. I'm just too awesome. Even a little squirt like you can see it and can't help but worship me. Alright, extra drumsticks for you tonight."

Laughing, Xia Luo reached the front door and knocked.

Inside, Aunt May, who had been cooking, quickly opened the door.

"Oh, my sweet little Xia Luo is back! And Mary—come in, dinner's almost ready!"

"Aunt May, she's called Mary Jane, not Mary," Xia Luo corrected.

Aunt May pinched Xia Luo's cheek affectionately. "Xia Luo, calling her Mary feels more intimate."

"No, it just makes her harder to shake off."

"Why's that?"

"No reason. Just a feeling."

---

Thud.

As the elevator came to another halt, Xia Luo snapped out of his thoughts.

Weird. Isn't reminiscing supposed to be for old folks? What's going on with me?

Shaking his head, he turned his focus back to the moment. When the elevator doors slid open, he patted the small spider on its back.

"Keep going."

"Caw, caw!"

Swish~

In the underground facility, the small spider swung gracefully through the air. Along their path, enormous monster bodies—each as large as a mountain range—were restrained by specialized mechanical arms. Instruments scanned over the creatures continuously, their displays blinking with streams of data.

"This is the Monster Prison," Peni Parker explained. "All the creatures here are research specimens for Oscorp. Uncle Norman once said he plans to use these monsters to benefit humanity."

Xia Luo glanced at her, his expression unreadable. Peni noticed and tilted her head in confusion.

"What?" she asked.

Xia Luo quickly shifted his gaze back to the restrained monsters. "Wow, these creatures are huge," he remarked, feigning casual interest.

"You were staring at me just now," Peni said, certain of it.

"Nope." Xia Luo shook his head.

"You totally were."

"I wasn't."

Xia Luo donned an utterly serious expression. "Being overly confident is a sickness. I think you need a trip to the doctor."

"Was I imagining it?" Peni muttered, suddenly uncertain.

"Of course. Ever heard of the three great illusions in life?"

"No, what are they?"

"Good. I haven't heard of them either."

Before she could respond, Xia Luo gestured for the spider to climb up the nearest monster's massive body.

But even as he acted, he couldn't shake a nagging thought. Was I jumping to conclusions? Just one statement, and I suspected Mary Jane's soul might be in Peni Parker. That's way too hasty.

He frowned inwardly. This must be a smokescreen from Mephisto.

---

Suddenly, Xia Luo felt a tug on his sleeve. Glancing down, he saw Peni clutching it tightly, her face tense.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his expression darkening.

"I'm a little nervous," Peni admitted, taking a deep breath.

Xia Luo rubbed his temples. "If you keep this up, I'll have to smack you."

"Ugh, stingy," Peni grumbled.

As the spider ascended the enormous creature, its grotesque green scales loomed large, each one stirring memories for Peni.

"This is the lizard monster," she said, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "I defeated it three years ago, and it was sent here. I can't believe the arm I cut off has already grown back."

Xia Luo leapt off the spider's back, landing on one knee atop the creature's rough, oversized scales. Pressing his palm flat against the surface, he closed his eyes.

Buzz~

Red and blue magic flared from his hand, pulsating with totemic power. A massive, ethereal figure began to rise, its form as grand and awe-inspiring as an ancient deity.

Xia Luo: …

What a massive soul.

"What are you doing?" Peni asked, curious. Though she couldn't see the incorporeal soul, she could sense the sudden chill in the air.

"Nothing," Xia Luo replied, shaking his head.

He looked up at the towering human-shaped soul, lost in thought.

As he suspected, just like the octopus monster's soul had belonged to Otto, the lizard monster's soul belonged to Professor Curt Connors.

This confirmed it—the monsters were actually mutated humans.

---

Ahem! Gather close, esteemed audience! Do you comprehend the privilege of basking in my radiance? Truly, you're witnessing history in the making—a performance unparalleled in the annals of Fontaine!

Ah, but don't get distracted! Let me be clear: this brilliance isn't conjured from thin air. No, no, no! It requires effort, dedication, and… well, a touch of your generosity. If you fancy being part of something truly extraordinary, do step forward here: [patreon.com/WiseTL].

Oh, but wait! You're probably wondering, "Furina, how can someone as magnificent as you need assistance?" To that, I say: why deny mortals the honor of contributing to such greatness? Supporting me is supporting art, and who doesn't want to say they were instrumental in a legend's rise?

Now, off you go. Make your offerings, and perhaps, perhaps, I'll acknowledge you in my next soliloquy!

— Furina ✨