“That’s right.
In this Parallel Universe, Kingpin is a major businessman.
He founded a technology company called Alchemax and recruited Doctor Octopus to work for him.”
“By the way, Doctor Octopus in this universe is named Olivia…
Yes, you guessed it.
She’s a woman.”
“According to information online, Alchemax’s latest research project is a Particle Collider.
It generates an enormous energy surge when activated, and there just happened to be a massive earthquake in Brooklyn last night.”
“The body of this Parallel Universe’s Spider-Man also happened to be found near Kingpin’s headquarters, Fisk Tower in Brooklyn.”
“When that many coincidences happen at once, they stop being coincidences.”
Peter shared everything he knew with the middle-aged Peter Parker.
The middle-aged Peter Parker before him looked worn down and seemed to have little interest in anything.
But beneath that dispirited exterior was a seasoned Spider-Man with decades of Superhero experience.
If Spider-Men had ranks, this middle-aged Spider-Man would be at least a master.
He had personally captured hundreds of Villains.
As long as Peter could get him to pull himself together and take things seriously, he would undoubtedly be an extremely reliable partner.
Fortunately, the middle-aged Peter Parker did not disappoint him.
He furrowed his brow, seemingly considering something important.
At last, he let out a long sigh.
“All right, all right.
Looks like we’ll have to deal with the problems in this Parallel Universe first.
I still have a lot of work waiting for me back in my universe, so I need to return as soon as possible.”
“What I didn’t expect was that I’d have to deal with Kingpin again.
Kingpin was my first opponent back in the day.
That was one tough fight!”
“I’ve got plenty of experience dealing with that big guy who likes to hide all his muscle beneath a layer of fat.
Leave him to me…”
The middle-aged Peter Parker had barely finished speaking when his body suddenly underwent a strange change.
Large numbers of brightly colored, irregular cubes appeared across his body, making him resemble a television screen suffering from heavy interference.
The intense discomfort made his body stiffen and convulse, as though his very soul were being torn out.
Seeing this, Peter quickly sat down beside him to keep passing pedestrians from noticing the bizarre scene.
Several seconds later, the middle-aged Peter Parker’s discomfort finally subsided.
“Looks like the atoms in my body aren’t too happy about being in the wrong dimension.”
The middle-aged Peter Parker gave a bitter smile.
“It’s probably some kind of atomic interference caused by dimensional rejection.
We don’t have much time.”
Peter frowned.
Although he had expected something like this, what had just happened was still worse than he had anticipated.
If such a severe reaction occurred during a battle, it could easily prove fatal!
“You’re right.
We don’t have time to sit around talking.
We need to act now.”
“So…
where should we start?”
The two looked at each other, then spoke the same name in unison.
“Aunt May.”
…
Forest Hills Gardens, 20 Ingram Street.
It was already late at night.
Large piles of flowers and gift boxes had accumulated outside a detached house with a garden.
After the breaking news report announced Spider-Man’s death, some New Yorkers who knew Peter Parker had come here of their own accord to pay their respects.
It was not until late at night that the last mourners finally left.
At that moment, two figures appeared on the dark and silent Ingram Street, walking side by side.
They were Peter and the middle-aged Peter Parker, both of whom had changed back into ordinary clothes.
The middle-aged Peter Parker wore a long gray trench coat that did an excellent job of concealing his round beer belly.
Peter wore a loose black sweatshirt, though his Spider-Man suit was still underneath it.
“Are you doing this, or am I?”
The middle-aged Peter Parker glanced at Peter, a trace of unease flickering in his eyes.
“I’ll do it.
I’m closer in age to the Peter Parker from this universe, so I’m better suited for this.”
Once they had decided who would knock, Peter walked straight to the front door and rang the bell.
“You know, I suddenly feel like I should leave.”
The middle-aged Peter Parker lost his nerve at the last moment.
He seemed afraid to face Aunt May.
That was because Aunt May had passed away long ago in his universe.
It was only at her funeral that the middle-aged Peter Parker painfully realized he had become so consumed by his work as a Superhero that he had neglected her.
He could not even remember how long it had been since they had shared a meal.
By the time he finally understood what he had lost, it was already too late.
There was no greater regret than wanting to care for a loved one, only to discover they were no longer there.
Ding!
“You’re all very thoughtful, but I’m truly sorry.
I can’t receive any more fans tonight.”
The door slowly opened a crack.
A gentle yet haggard elderly face appeared behind it.
“Good evening, Aunt May.”
Peter used a strand of webbing to drag back the middle-aged Peter Parker, who had been trying to escape, then smiled at Aunt May through the doorway.
“You…
You’re…
Peter?”
Aunt May stared at them in shock.
She instinctively released the baseball bat she had been holding for protection and covered her mouth with one hand.
“Yes.
We’re both Peter Parker, but we come from different Parallel Universes.
I assume the Peter from this universe mentioned the concept of the Multiverse to you?”
Peter nudged the middle-aged Peter Parker beside him with his shoulder.
The middle-aged Peter Parker let out a quiet sigh.
At last, he overcame the fear in his heart and faced Aunt May himself.
“Hi, Aunt May.
It’s been a long time…”
The obvious tremor at the end of his voice made it clear that he was desperately trying to hold back his tears.
Aunt May, standing on the porch, could no longer contain her emotions.
Trembling slightly, she walked up to them.
She placed one hand on Peter’s face and the other on the middle-aged Peter Parker’s, as though the face in her memories had overlapped with both of theirs.
There was no mistaking it.
They were both Peter Parker.
Her intense longing turned into clear tears that slid from the corners of her eyes.
But Aunt May slowly wiped them away and quickly regained her composure.
“Yes, Peter told me about the theory of the Multiverse.
If he could see the two of you now, I’m sure he would be very happy.”
“Come inside.
There are some things you need to see for yourselves.”
Aunt May took their hands and was about to lead them into the house.
But at that moment, the familiar sensation of an electric current surged through Peter’s mind once again.
His Spider-Sense had activated!
Peter stopped in his tracks.
He slowly turned around and stared toward the far end of the dark street.