Tobey Spider-Man regarded Peter with a mixture of confusion and wariness.
Peter had long since grown used to such reactions.
After all, it was difficult for a Spider-Man who had never encountered the concept of the Multiverse to accept that another Peter Parker had suddenly appeared in his world.
Doctor Octopus’s reaction earlier was a perfect example.
Fortunately, with their Spider-Sense confirming that neither posed a threat to the other, Peter only had to briefly explain his origins and the concept of the Multiverse to earn Tobey Spider-Man’s trust.
After all, Spider-Sense did not lie.
It only failed under certain specific circumstances.
“The Multiverse is incredible.
It looks like I’ll have to study quantum physics when I have the time.”
With his doubts resolved, Tobey Spider-Man let out a long breath of relief.
The way he looked at Peter immediately became much friendlier.
Tobey Spider-Man had always been alone in this universe.
He fought by himself while constantly struggling to balance his studies and everyday life.
To cover his tuition and living expenses, he even had to work as a food delivery driver.
That was right.
The great Spider-Man himself had to deliver food just to make ends meet.
Who would believe it?
The immense pressure of daily life, coupled with his troubled relationships, had once become so overwhelming that Tobey Spider-Man temporarily lost the ability to shoot webs.
Peter’s arrival gave Tobey Spider-Man the liberating feeling that, for the first time, he could completely open up to someone.
And so, one sat on the bed while the other sat on the sofa.
They ate the simple food stored in Tobey Spider-Man’s refrigerator and talked for three full hours.
Tobey Spider-Man poured out all the confusion and anguish he had experienced since becoming Spider-Man.
Peter, in turn, told him about the various villains and heroes he had encountered, along with stories about S.H.I.E.L.D.
and the Avengers.
After learning how eventful Peter’s universe was, Tobey Spider-Man could not help but remark, “I wonder how long it’ll take our era to develop technology at that level.”
Peter thought for a moment before offering a vague answer.
“Maybe ten years.
Maybe twenty.
Who knows?”
Peter suddenly noticed a sheet of paper bearing Spider-Man’s image attached to the refrigerator.
It was a Wanted poster for Spider-Man, offering a reward of ten million US dollars.
For that era, it was an astonishing amount of money.
Judging by the name printed on the Wanted poster, it appeared to have been issued by the Daily Bugle.
“Jonah Jameson is actually willing to spend ten million US dollars to capture Spider-Man?”
Peter found it hard to believe.
Tobey Spider-Man stuffed the last bite of his sandwich into his mouth, his voice unusually subdued.
“It wasn’t Jameson.
Harry probably put up the reward and just had it published through the Daily Bugle.”
“Well, it looks like you and Harry need to clear up this misunderstanding when you get the chance.”
Peter studied the Spider-Man Wanted poster, a thoughtful gleam passing through his eyes.
Tobey Spider-Man merely shook his head helplessly.
If the misunderstanding between him and Harry Osborn had been that easy to resolve, things would never have reached this point.
Harry believed Spider-Man had murdered his father.
That kind of blood feud could not easily be put aside.
Even though Spider-Man had acted to protect New York City, the Green Goblin had indeed died at his hands.
That was an undeniable fact.
It was also why Tobey Spider-Man had moved out of Harry’s apartment and begun living alone.
He was afraid Harry would discover his identity as Spider-Man.
“All right.
I’ve recovered most of my stamina, and my arm barely hurts anymore.
I can continue pursuing Dr.
Otto.”
Tobey Spider-Man flexed his wrists and rose from the bed.
As Peter watched him make a full recovery, he realized that he had overlooked another of Tobey Spider-Man’s abilities.
His physical defense was extraordinarily powerful.
Stopping the speeding train had not inflicted much physical damage on Tobey Spider-Man.
It had mostly exhausted his stamina.
Being struck by a train, falling from an overpass, taking a multi-ton sand punch from Sandman, and being hit in the face by one of the Green Goblin’s pumpkin bombs had all caused him only relatively minor injuries.
If Miles Spider-Man’s special abilities were Electric Shocks and Invisibility, then Tobey Spider-Man’s special abilities had to be Super-Enhanced Strength and Super-Enhanced Defense.
If Peter successfully completed this Interdimensional Travel, there was a strong chance that those two special abilities would appear in Destiny Node No.
96283.
The realization filled Peter with anticipation.
How would the Villains react when a Spider-Man with Electric Shocks, Invisibility, Super-Enhanced Strength, and Super-Enhanced Defense appeared before them?
…
New York City possessed the largest and most complex sewer system in the world.
With more than 9,656 kilometers of sewer pipes, the underground beneath New York City had become an enormous labyrinth.
Hidden in one corner of that subterranean maze was a makeshift laboratory.
Doctor Octopus stood at the center of the crude laboratory, which had been converted from an abandoned pump station.
Four mechanical Octopus Tentacles extended from his spine, their three-pronged claws fastening alloy plates to his body one after another.
Every alloy plate had been salvaged from industrial waste.
Once cut and welded together, they formed a suit of armor that covered most of Doctor Octopus’s body and head.
It was crude, but sturdy enough.
After being knocked unconscious by a single punch from Spider-Man, Doctor Octopus had sworn never to allow it to happen again.
He had immediately built himself this suit of alloy armor.
While Doctor Octopus was busy working, he remained completely unaware that two uninvited guests were already approaching his secret laboratory.
Peter and Tobey Spider-Man walked side by side through the maze of underground tunnels.
Both stared intently at the 3D projection.
The red dot blinking on the display was now extremely close.
After passing through a twenty-meter-long tunnel, the space around them widened several times over.
It no longer felt as narrow and oppressive as the tunnels behind them.
Peter looked up and saw a pump station sign hanging overhead.
“The abandoned pump station is fifty meters ahead.
Dr.
Otto should be hiding in there.”
Tobey Spider-Man surveyed their surroundings before making a suggestion.
“Let’s split up.
You go in through the front, and I’ll circle around to cut off Dr.
Otto’s escape route.”
It was Tobey Spider-Man’s first time working with a partner, yet he displayed excellent tactical judgment.
Peter nodded, then pointed to his ear.
“Stay in contact.”
Before setting out, Peter had given Tobey Spider-Man one of the miniature tactical earpieces he had obtained from S.H.I.E.L.D.
“Copy that!”
Tobey Spider-Man gave him a thumbs-up, then silently disappeared down another underground tunnel.
Peter waited several minutes until he was certain Tobey Spider-Man was in position.
Only then did he advance toward the abandoned pump station.
Before long, he saw the makeshift laboratory illuminated by modified emergency lights.
Peter looked at Doctor Octopus, now encased in alloy armor, and his calm voice echoed throughout the abandoned pump station.
“Surrender, Dr.
Otto.
You’re surrounded by Spider-Man.”