Night fell.
In the bookstore lounge, Lucas put away the darkhold.
It wasn't because he had finished reading it, nor because he was tired of it. It was because Wanda had arrived.
It was fine if others accidentally glimpsed the darkhold, but Wanda was an exception.
"Wanda, why do you have time to come here? Shouldn't you be in tutoring right now?"
Ignoring the "Do Not Disturb" sign hanging in the lounge, Wanda pushed the door open and said, "One of my tutors took a leave today, so class ended early."
Lucas understood Wanda's excitement. He had been a student for over a decade before transmigrating.
But understanding was one thing. Those who had been rained on often enjoyed tearing up others' umbrellas.
"Oh, you get to skip a class. That's truly good news, Wanda. To celebrate this good news, let's begin our delightful and pleasant magic study."
Wanda's smile froze, and she gave Lucas a resentful look.
"Lucas, I have something else to do, so I'll be leaving first."
Lucas chuckled, walking out of the bookstore for the first time in a while.
Ever since he started reading the darkhold, he had become a homebody, staying in the bookstore to read every day.
Aside from going to Earth-65 to pick up Gwen, he hadn't left the house for nearly a month.
On the streets of New York, Lucas suppressed his perception abilities, walking aimlessly like an ordinary person. Only then was there joy in strolling.
The rebuilt New York felt somewhat unfamiliar and novel to Lucas.
So, he got lost.
"Hey, kid, this isn't where you should be. Get out of here."
A middle-aged man in work clothes suddenly called out to Lucas, waving his hand to signal him to leave.
Lucas looked over. The leader and the people behind him all had bulging waistlines, indicating they were carrying firearms.
And on the truck behind them were some technological devices that did not belong to Earth.
"I'm sorry, I got lost and accidentally walked here. I'll leave right away." Lucas smiled at the man and turned to leave.
Click!
Behind him, the sound of a bullet being chambered rang out.
But the gunshot was delayed.
The middle-aged man stopped his subordinate from drawing his gun and firing.
"Toomes, why did you stop me? What if this guy tells the New York Police Department? We'll be in big trouble."
The middle-aged man named Toomes looked conflicted, and after a long time, he let out a sigh.
"Let's return this shipment."
Steve and his team had already begun their operations, and they were moving fast.
The changes in S.H.I.E.L.D. affected the work of processing alien warship wreckage near New York.
Take the transportation of warship wreckage as an example.
Orders previously handled by HYDRA members that had been completed needed to be re-audited.
Unfinished ones were directly canceled and Toomes' order was canceled. Even worse, the truck was bought with a loan, the workers were newly recruited, and this was his first order.
"Toomes, you'll go bankrupt like this."
Hearing his companion's persuasion, a look of struggle reappeared on Toomes' face.
"The government unilaterally tore up the agreement first, it's not our fault." His companion continued to persuade.
Finally, Toomes was convinced, and he said in a deep voice, "Give me the gun."
Taking the gun from his companion, Toomes strode after Lucas in the direction he had disappeared.
The gears of destiny began to turn.
Lucas saw Toomes, or rather, Vulture's destiny.
His original destiny was to intercept the warship wreckage that was accidentally transported out tonight and discover that he could use this wreckage to create many excellent gadgets.
From then on, he would begin to use this warship wreckage to research and illegally sell weapons, earning money. He would become a qualified Spider-Man villain, codenamed Vulture.
Finally, he would be defeated by this world's Spider-Man.
This was the destiny arranged for him by the Web of Life and Destiny.
Toomes quickly caught up, finding Lucas leaning against the wall at the corner, watching him with a composed expression.
"Perhaps, you shouldn't have followed me."
If Toomes hadn't followed him, intending to silence him, whether he followed his predetermined destiny or defied it by choosing to stop, Lucas would not interfere too much.
"No, you shouldn't have come here."
Toomes took a deep breath, made up his mind, raised his gun, and fired.
"Sorry."
Click!
The bullet misfired.
Toomes pulled the slide, ejecting the casing.
The trigger was pulled.
Click!
It misfired again.
Toomes looked at Lucas, who was still watching him with a composed expression, his face filled with horror.
With two consecutive misfires, he couldn't help but suspect that the person in front of him had tampered with it.
Especially now, with extraordinary individuals emerging.
"I didn't do anything to your gun." Lucas shrugged indifferently.
It wasn't him who stopped Toomes, but the Web of Life and Destiny.
If a gunshot rang out, the one who fell would definitely be Toomes.
Toomes hesitated, unsure if this was a divine sign. Ultimately, he pulled the slide again, ejecting the casing.
Trembling, he pulled the trigger.
If it was a divine sign, he believed it would misfire this time too.
Bang!
Things don't happen in threes, a gunshot rang out.
However, the pistol was kicked away.
The bullet also veered off course.
Toomes temporarily saved his life.
The one who kicked Toomes' pistol away was a girl in a white spider suit.
The girl flipped in the air, struck a pose, and landed gracefully.
She first looked warily at Toomes, who was clutching his wrist with a pained expression, then turned to comfort Lucas.
"Don't be scared, Sorcerer Spider-Man will protect... Wait! It's you?"
The person who had arrived was none other than the bootleg Sorcerer Spider-Man, Erin.
Lucas looked at Erin in front of him with some helplessness.
He was now a bit confused whether Erin's appearance was a coincidence or an arrangement by the Web of Life and Destiny.
"Why can't it be me, Erin?"
"Lucas, how could you…"
Erin gestured, meaning how could Lucas be held at gunpoint and seem to have no way out.
Lucas shook his head, offering no explanation.
He walked forward, picked up the pistol Erin had kicked away, and looked at Toomes.
"You just fired three shots at me, I'll fire three shots at you. If all three shots misfire, then I'll let you go."
After speaking, without waiting for Toomes to react, he quickly drew the gun and fired.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Two shots to the chest, one to the head.
Toomes' destiny ended.
The Web of Life and Destiny could not affect Lucas.
"Lucas, you…"
At this moment, Erin finally reacted, looking at Lucas, hesitating to speak.
Lucas looked at Erin, saying seriously, "Erin, he shot three times at me, and I shot three times at him. That's very fair. You can't take his side just because I'm a tiny, tiny bit stronger. In this world, it's not whoever is weaker is right."
What an unlucky villain, running into me before even leaving the starter area.
However, New York City is indeed a place of outstanding people. You can encounter a villain just by strolling around.
Ignoring Erin's reaction, Lucas turned and left, continuing his stroll.