Sony Spider-Verse, Universe 928, New York, Spider-Alliance Headquarters.
A bloody, one-sided massacre raged through the Alliance building. Even with dozens of Spider-Men present, the three Inheritor siblings—Morlun, Berna, and Blix—were an unstoppable force when working together.
Gwen was not among the strongest Spider-heroes. Though she joined the battle, the situation worsened. The Spider-Men had no experience facing the Inheritors. Even with guidance from Spider-Man 1610 and Gwen herself, their numbers steadily dwindled.
The Inheritors grew stronger with each kill. Capturing a Spider-Man, devouring their soul and physical strength, fueled their power. The three fought with increasing ferocity, leaving dried husks of Spider-Men at their feet, almost all Peter Parkers.
Gwen overheard one Peter complain sharply, "Oh my God, today is Peter Parker's Day of Disaster. These guys aren't Spider-Man's bane; they're clearly Peter Parker's bane." Even in despair, Peter's humor cut through the chaos. Gwen, her suit torn and body battered, couldn't help but smile briefly before swinging into action again.
She carefully avoided the Inheritors' deadly claws, but constant combat left her covered in wounds. Just as sharp claws tore at her abdomen, Gwen glimpsed Spider-Man 2099—Miguel—opening a portal and escaping. Despair washed over all the remaining Spider-Men. Gwen leaned against a wall, exhausted, catching her breath.
Her thoughts drifted to the TVA, to Wanda, and to Malrick. If only he were here.
She sighed, determined. 'Just for the last time,' she thought. She would try once more to contact the TVA.
From her backpack, Gwen pulled out the time tablet she hadn't used in months. She activated it, and for the first time in a long while, it connected.
Excitement surged. Hope returned to her heart, especially when she saw Malrick. Tears welled in her eyes, her chest tightening with emotion. Though she barely managed a few words, the screaming around her forced her to end the call.
Swinging back into the fray, despair had vanished. She moved with her usual agility, rescuing a half-dead Peter Parker from the Inheritors. She threw him toward the others and prepared to save more.
Suddenly, Berna hurled a silver throwing knife, severing Gwen's web. She rolled midair, swinging in another direction.
"Hehehe, what's the use of saving him?" Berna cackled, a blonde vampire-like figure with blood staining half her face. The scent of Spider-Man blood intoxicated her.
Blix, her twin, laughed as well. "Yes, no need to struggle. All Spider-Men will die. In another Multiverse, we've nearly collected the Bride, the Scion, and the Other. Every Spider-Man in all worlds will perish!"
Morlun, the elder brother, smiled faintly in agreement.
Gwen crouched on the wall, glaring. "You man-eating demons! When Malrick comes, not one of you will escape!"
"Who did you say?" Berna and Blix sneered. "You think someone can save you now?"
Morlun's pupils constricted at the name. Malrick. That sorcerer. He remembered his last death at Malrick's hands, a confusion that left him unsettled.
"You two, quiet!" Morlun barked at his siblings, then turned to Gwen, crimson eyes gleaming. "You called that sorcerer for help? Excellent. Last time he caught me off guard, my death was unclear. This time, I'll make him watch as I devour you piece by piece."
He crouched, pouncing like the fiercest predator.
Spider-Sense, the Spider-Men's greatest tool, proved useless against the Inheritors. Gwen's movements lagged slightly. She shot a web to escape, but Morlun had already landed before her, ready to crush her against the wall.
The other Spider-Men moved in unison, some swinging webs, others launching web balls. A small Lego Spider-Man leapt toward Gwen to push her out of danger. Chaos engulfed the assembly floor once more.
Then, faintly at first, a figure appeared. In an instant, it solidified. The world froze from that figure's perspective. Life and objects in Universe 982 ceased moving.
"Morlun and his siblings? How did they get here?"
Gwen ended her communication, and Malrick gave Jarvis final instructions before crossing worlds to arrive.
Even traversing the Multiverse physically, Malrick moved with unmatched speed. A single step sent him beyond light speed, merging into space and instantly arriving in another.
Previously, he had relied on his mind to manipulate rules to cross worlds. Now, his body alone could achieve the impossible.
Super brain? What is a brain? Malrick thought with a smirk, using his body to shatter the spatial barrier.
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