Milky-white webbing clung to the walls as a red-and-blue figure swung between the skyscrapers.
“Woohoo!
Good evening, New York!”
Peter—or rather, Spider-Man—was so excited he couldn’t help but hoot like a monkey in midair.
[Side Theater: I know what you guys want to say.
What Cousin Gaia said actually makes a lot of sense.
But I feel like I’m ready.
Trust me, guys.
Oh, by the way, I came up with a name for myself: Spider-Man.
Originally, I wanted to call myself Super Spider because there were supposed to be three of us, but unfortunately, the Team Spider plan fell through.
Knowing Gwen, if Gaia didn’t join, she probably wouldn’t either.
So I reluctantly named myself Spider-Man.
Spider-Man is me, and I am Spider-Man.
Just like that.
(Originally, the stage was set for three Spider-Men, but now only little Spider-Man stands on it, enjoying the spotlight and flowers.)]
“Peter, robbers are heading your way at three o’clock.”
Harry’s voice came through the earpiece, and Peter readily agreed.
“No problem, leave it to me.”
[Side Theater: Remember when I told Harry my identity?
Now Harry is my Robin, or maybe my Butler-Man, just like Batman has.
We’re partners.
(Harry, dressed in a butler suit, hands champagne to the little Spider-Man like a proper butler.)]
Peter swung on his webs toward the location Harry gave him.
“You know what?
I feel like I was born to be Spider-Man.
I only put on the suit today, and I’m already swinging so smoothly.”
Harry’s puzzled voice came through the earpiece.
“Are you talking to me, Peter?”
Peter laughed.
“Maybe…
I mean, of course!
Who else would I be talking to?”
The robbers’ car came into view, and Peter wiped the smile from his face.
“Come on, Spider-Man.
This is your debut show.
Put on a good performance and make the citizens of New York remember the name Spider-Man!”
Peter shot a web and was about to use his momentum to land on the robbers’ car when his Spider-Sense suddenly flared.
“Oh my god, this feeling…
no way, right?”
Peter looked up and saw a graceful figure clad in a hooded, black-and-white suit dropping from the sky.
The figure fired several webs in succession, forcing the robbers’ car to a halt.
Landing on a nearby rooftop, Peter stared blankly at the figure.
She landed on another rooftop across from him, looking back.
Their eyes met.
Peter was momentarily at a loss for words.
“Peter, what’s wrong?
Did something happen?” Harry’s puzzled voice came through the earpiece.
Peter hesitated for a moment, then said quickly, “Uh…
Harry, let’s talk later.
I’ve run into something a bit…
personal right now.”
With that, Peter hung up and ran toward Gwen’s position.
In Harry’s room at the Osborn mansion, Harry stared blankly at the multiple computer screens in front of him.
This moment felt painfully familiar.
“Am I…
being isolated again?
This is so annoying.”
Landing in front of Gwen, Peter asked curiously, “Hey, Gwen, is that you?”
Gwen looked at the red-and-blue Peter in front of her and tilted her head.
“It’s me.
What’s up?”
Peter scratched the back of his neck.
“Oh my god, I thought you weren’t going to do this.”
Gwen shook her head.
“You were right, Peter.
We should use our power to do what we can.
Of course, I’m not saying Gaia was wrong.
It’s just…
I think I’m ready.”
Peter blinked, then let out a laugh.
“You think just like I do!
So, about Team Spider…” Peter looked at Gwen with eyes full of anticipation.
Gwen waved her hand in refusal without a second thought.
“Yeah, I know, Peter.
We can cooperate, but let’s forget about Team Spider.
A boy and a girl teaming up like that easily leads to unnecessary misunderstandings.”
Peter thought of Gaia and showed a look of regret.
“Alright then.
By the way, what’s your alias?
Mine is Spider-Man.”
Gwen thought for a moment.
“I’m Ghost-Spider.”
“Ghost-Spider?
That’s a cool name.
But are you sure about not joining Team Spider?
We can just explain everything to Gaia.
There won’t be any misunderstandings.”
“Uh…
I’ll pass, but thanks.”
The two Spiders chatted on the rooftop about Team Spider, neither of them noticing that Blake, in his Moon Knight form, was watching them from the shadows of an even taller rooftop.
Although Gaia had said those things during the day, he hadn’t actually taken action to stop Peter and Gwen.
He knew that some birds were never meant to be caged; their feathers were just too bright, shining with the light of freedom.
Peter, bitten by the spider, was destined to become Spider-Man and grow into a great superhero.
This was the choice of the multiverse.
After a brief thought, Blake stood up and leapt down toward the two Spiders.
He had overheard their entire conversation.
Even though he believed they would eventually become great superheroes, they were still rookies now.
Blake planned to step in as a veteran to impart some experience and help them grow quickly.
“Good evening, kids.”
A figure suddenly dropped from the sky and landed beside them, startling Peter and Gwen.
But when they saw who it was, their faces beneath their masks filled with shock.
“Moon Knight!” they blurted out in unison.
Blake nodded slightly and offered generous praise.
“You did well just now.
The two of you have great potential.”
As the saying goes, every generation has its icons.
In the last century, people idolized Captain America.
But in this era, especially among New York’s youth, the idols were generally Ghost Rider and Moon Knight.
[Side Theater: Oh my god, the famous Moon Knight praised our potential!
I’m about to pass out from excitement!
(Moon Knight points at him: “You’re a true hero, Spider-Man.” Spider-Man salutes: “Yes, sir!
Thank you for the recognition!”)]
Seeing that both of them were speechless, Blake was about to say more when he suddenly sensed that the crescent dart he had given to Blade was activated.
He turned around:
“The world is far from as simple as it seems.
Vampires, werewolves, and the like are all very real.
They possess strength several times greater than ordinary humans.
Lately, a large number of vampires have entered New York.
Stay safe.”
With those words, Blake used his lunar teleportation, vanishing into a flash of silver light.
Seeing Blake vanish instantly without a trace, Peter couldn’t help but gasp.
“Oh my god!
Gwen, did you see that?
Moon Knight can teleport!”
Gwen nodded with difficulty.
Both Moon Knight’s words and the power he displayed had left her deeply shaken.
“I saw it, Peter.”
Vampires…
those were legendary creatures, and Moon Knight had no reason to lie to them.
Honestly, when she heard Moon Knight say that vampires were real and pouring into New York, Gwen felt a pang of fear.
But recalling the view of Moon Knight’s departing back, she couldn’t help but wonder: had he left in such a hurry to deal with the vampires?
If a large number of vampires had really entered New York without the public catching wind of it—without even a single urban legend popping up—was it because Moon Knight and Ghost Rider had held them off?
Was this what a hero was?
Out of nowhere, Gwen recalled Gaia’s words from earlier that day, and she couldn’t help but ask herself in her heart whether she was truly ready to be a hero.