Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Chapter 116: The Gathering Storm

Peter swung through the darkened city, his thoughts heavy with everything that had just transpired. The strange being—the herald from the rift—had left an indelible mark on his mind. It wasn't just the creature's strength or its otherworldly nature that unsettled him. It was the knowledge that whatever was coming, it was something Peter couldn't face alone. There was a weight on his shoulders that was unlike any threat he had encountered before.

As he swung past the skyscrapers, his mind kept replaying the cryptic words of the herald: "The multiverse is beyond saving… You will fail… You are mere pawns." Those words were etched into his thoughts like a warning, but what did they truly mean? Who else was involved in this cosmic game, and why was Spider-Man—just a pawn—at the center of it?

Peter needed answers. And not just from the herald. He needed to understand who or what had caused this rift in the first place. He knew that if the multiverse was truly at risk, it would affect everyone in ways he couldn't predict.

He landed silently on a rooftop, his eyes scanning the city below. There was no immediate danger, no sense of anything amiss at the moment. But something was off. The air was thick with tension, a quiet before the storm. He could feel it in his bones.

Reaching for his phone, Peter hesitated for a moment. MJ's texts from earlier flashed across the screen. "Call me when you get a chance." Peter had been avoiding her calls—he couldn't bear to involve her in this mess. But deep down, he knew he couldn't keep her in the dark forever. The situation was bigger than just him, and if anyone was going to stand by him through this, it would be MJ.

With a deep sigh, Peter hit the dial button and brought the phone to his ear. The phone rang for what felt like an eternity before MJ's voice came through.

"Peter?" she said, her tone laced with concern. "Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you. What's going on?"

Peter paused, unsure of how to explain everything. There was no easy way to put it. How could he tell her that the multiverse was collapsing and that beings from alternate realities were starting to make their presence known? That they were coming for him, and that the entire fabric of the universe could tear apart at any moment?

"I… I can't explain everything right now," he said, his voice strained. "But I need you to trust me, MJ. Something's happening. Something big. And it's way bigger than anything I've faced before."

MJ was quiet for a moment. Peter could almost hear her thoughts swirling on the other end of the line. "Are you in danger?"

Peter swallowed hard. "I don't know yet. But I might be. And the city—the world—could be too."

"Peter…" Her voice softened. "You know you don't have to face this alone, right?"

Peter's chest tightened. He wanted to protect her, to keep her safe from the horrors that were coming. But he knew that wasn't possible. He couldn't shut her out any longer.

"I know. I'll be okay, MJ. Just… stay safe. Promise me?"

"I promise," she said quietly. "But don't shut me out. Let me help."

Peter stayed silent for a moment, feeling the weight of her words. "I won't. I'll be in touch. I love you."

"I love you too."

The call ended, and Peter felt a pang of guilt gnaw at him. MJ was strong, but this was a battle that was bigger than them. He wasn't sure what he was about to face, but he knew it would test everything he had. Still, hearing her voice, knowing she cared, gave him the strength to press on.

The Next Day – Oscorp Tower

The next morning, Peter found himself back in the lab, surrounded by papers, notes, and fragmented pieces of information he had gathered over the past few weeks. It felt like a blur now, the events from last night still fresh in his mind. The herald. The multiversal rifts. The dark, foreboding presence that lingered in the air.

Peter's phone buzzed again. This time, it was an alert from the Daily Bugle.

BREAKING NEWS: Unexplained Phenomenon Disrupts New York City. Scientists Stunned by Spatial Distortions Across the Globe.

The report wasn't surprising—Peter had seen these distortions firsthand—but it confirmed what he feared: this wasn't just happening in New York. It was happening everywhere. The multiverse was beginning to collapse, and no one, not even the world's greatest scientists, understood what was happening or how to stop it.

Peter leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes. There was no clear solution, no one person to turn to for answers. He needed help. But where could he go? Who could he trust?

Suddenly, his phone buzzed again. This time, the caller ID read "Dr. Strange."

Peter's pulse quickened. He had worked with Strange before, but this was different. This wasn't just a routine mission or magical anomaly. This was something cosmic. Something that might require Strange's expertise if anyone's could.

He quickly answered the call.

"Peter," Dr. Strange's voice came through. "I'm glad I reached you. We need to talk."

"I'm listening," Peter said, his heart racing.

"I've been tracking disturbances in the multiverse," Strange said, his tone urgent. "There's something—or someone—tampering with the fabric of reality itself. I don't have all the answers yet, but the signs are undeniable. This is bigger than any threat we've faced before. And I'm afraid the worst is still to come."

Peter felt a cold chill creep up his spine. "What do you mean, the worst is still to come?"

"I can't explain everything over the phone," Strange said, his voice growing more serious. "But I need you to meet me at the Sanctum Sanctorum. There's something there that might help us understand what's happening. If we don't act fast, the multiverse may collapse before we can stop it."

Peter didn't hesitate. "I'll be there."

The Sanctum Sanctorum

Later that day, Peter arrived at the Sanctum Sanctorum, the ancient, mysterious mansion in Greenwich Village. The place always felt strange to him, even after everything he'd seen with Strange. But today, it felt different—heavier, charged with an energy he couldn't quite place.

Dr. Strange was waiting for him at the door, his face drawn with worry. He led Peter inside, where the air seemed thick with magic and otherworldly power.

"I've been studying these multiversal rifts for some time," Strange began as he walked Peter through the various rooms of the Sanctum. "But these disturbances are unlike anything I've encountered before. Someone—or something—is deliberately trying to tear the fabric of reality apart."

Peter's thoughts were still racing from the events of the night before. "I know," he said. "I've seen it myself. But who's behind this? What do they want?"

Dr. Strange stopped in his tracks and turned to face Peter, his expression grim. "That's what I'm trying to figure out. But whatever it is, it's working its way through multiple realities. The threads of the multiverse are being severed, and it's only a matter of time before everything collapses."

Peter swallowed hard, the enormity of the situation finally hitting him. The multiverse was dying. And whoever was behind it didn't care about the consequences.

Strange moved to a table covered in arcane artifacts and began to sift through them. "I need to perform a ritual to locate the source of the rift," he said. "But I'll need your help. We can't do this alone."

Peter nodded, his resolve hardening. "Let's do it."

As Strange began the ritual, Peter's mind kept racing. There was no going back now. The fate of the multiverse rested on their shoulders—and Spider-Man was no longer just fighting for New York. He was fighting for everything.

End of Chapter 116