Restart, Spider-Man! [133]

A red-and-blue figure shot through the air like a missile, with four mechanical arms extending dozens of meters to grab onto the speeding motorcycle.

“Gotcha! …Wait, why am I quoting that lizard?”

The instant his arms clamped down on the motorcycle, a massive force erupted, flinging it through the air.

Vrooooom!

In midair, the motorcycle’s engine roared as the black-clad figure leapt off, grabbing a streetlamp and quickly vaulting into a nearby alley.

Seeing this, Xia Luo webbed the falling motorcycle to prevent it from crashing, then sprang after his target.

“Hahaha, you’re not getting away!”

He tailed the figure, laughing strangely as he went.

But the figure up ahead didn’t respond, simply focusing on running with all their strength.

Thwip!

Xia Luo fired off another web, using it to propel himself forward. He flipped over the figure and landed right in front of them.

The black-clad figure couldn’t stop in time, throwing a punch instead. The punch carried enough force to make the air tremble, but Xia Luo met it head-on, throwing his own punch straight at their head.

Boom!

Their fists collided, and the dark alley reverberated with the impact. The ground beneath them cracked under the force, sending debris flying in all directions as walls around them creaked under the pressure.

Crack, crack, crack

Cracks spread through the walls as the figure staggered back a single step. Clearly, this person’s strength was immense—probably in the tens of tons. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have taken Xia Luo’s punch so effortlessly.

In the next moment, the figure’s helmet shattered, revealing flowing black hair.

Their triangular-shaped eyes gleamed faintly blue in the darkness, and Xia Luo finally saw their face clearly.

Korean-American, Cindy Moon!

So it was her!

Xia Luo narrowed his eyes. For someone to have that kind of strength—could she be another Spider?

After all, in an alternate universe, Cindy Moon was another version of Spider-Man, able to produce seemingly infinite webs. Her nickname was “Silk.”

But his spider totem hadn’t detected anything from her—no signs that she was another Spider.

So if she wasn’t a Spider, then what was she?

Could she be connected to the world crisis?

He didn’t know yet. But he’d find out soon enough.

Without another thought, Xia Luo shot a web and charged forward, his four mechanical arms swirling behind him and shifting into metallic spider lances that aimed for Cindy’s vital points.

Shing!

Amid the flashing steel and the rush of air, Cindy merely gave him a strange, chilling smile, and Xia Luo’s vision went dark once again.

Xia Luo: “????”

[You have been eliminated. No revival slots earned. Reward: Spider Mutation Gene Toxin Resistance +1%.]

[29 resets remaining. Would you like to restart?]

In the Cosmic Web, Xia Luo came to, just as confused as before.

“What just happened?”

“Got one-shot…again?”

“That doesn’t make sense!”

He scratched his head, replaying the details of the fight in his mind.

Everything had seemed fine.

No, something wasn’t fine.

Every time she smiled at him, he died.

Did I…die from her smile?

Xia Luo rubbed his forehead. “Man, that’ll sound embarrassing if word gets out.”

Once more!

Restart!

Third Reset Match

This time, Xia Luo skipped targeting any other contestants and headed straight for Hell’s Kitchen.

Using his spatial webbing to swing high above, he quickly found Cindy speeding down the street and maintained a safe distance.

Soon, the motorcycle turned into Kingpin’s mansion.

Watching Cindy enter the mansion, Xia Luo didn’t hesitate to activate his 100% critical hit mode.

Woman, you’re finished now that I’ve got my eyes on you!

Boom!

He bit down on his hand, letting the magical energy of the spider totem surge through his body. A blazing meteor began its descent.

Vrrrrm

At that moment, Xia Luo shone like the brightest star in the night sky, determined to take down every troublesome opponent in one swoop.

Boom!!

A second later, the meteor crashed down, and the mansion was leveled in a blast of magical energy.

This time, he didn’t see that eerie smile, yet as soon as the attack struck, his world plunged into darkness once more.

—

[You have been eliminated. No revival slots earned. Reward: Spider Mutation Gene Toxin Resistance +1%.]

[28 resets remaining. Would you like to restart?]

Back in the Cosmic Web, Xia Luo clutched his head in frustration.

“What the heck?”

“I counted…one, two, three…nine kills! And I still died?”

Ever since Cindy’s appearance, Xia Luo had been struggling miserably in the reset matches, with his attempts rapidly dwindling.

Was the real resurrection match just beginning?

No, this time he couldn’t go in solo.

Restart!

Fourth Reset Match

This time, Xia Luo teamed up with Old Man Steve and the others, opting for strength in numbers.

On top of the tallest building in Hell’s Kitchen.

“Did you get a good look?” Xia Luo asked.

Old Man Steve nodded, the blue light slowly fading from his eyes.

“Yeah, clear as day. Looks like a girl. Not nearly as terrifying as you said.”

“She’s terrifying enough.”

Xia Luo rolled his eyes. “My spider-sense tells me I’m not a match for her.”

“If you’re no match for her, then we’re definitely out,” Lizard Parker muttered, looking like he was ready to call it quits.

“Not me—I can handle this!”

Old Man Steve’s face lit up confidently as he raised his hand, and thunder rumbled across the night sky.

Mjolnir flew into his grip, and he grinned.

“I feel invincible.”

Seeing this, Xia Luo figured Shiba Thor had probably run off to “mark” a tree, leaving his hammer unattended.

Gwen eyed the crackling energy of the hammer curiously. “Doesn’t that…make your hand numb?” she asked.

Old Man Steve raised the hammer as lightning flickered above. “Not at all—it’s a divine weapon.”

After showing off his hammer, he looked back at Xia Luo.

“Little Spider, are we going in now?”

Xia Luo shook his head. “No, wait.”

“Wait for what?”

“For her to leave Hell’s Kitchen. Kingpin and his goons are trouble—let’s take care of them first.”

He turned to Gwen. “Tell me more about your friend.”

“I’ve got a lot of friends. Which one?”

“Cindy Moon.”

“Her?”

Gwen frowned. “She took a semester off, and I lost contact with her ages ago.”

“Why’d she take time off?”

“Something about being sick, I think.”

“Hmm…”

Xia Luo rubbed his chin, realizing Gwen didn’t have any useful information after all.

Under Old Man Steve’s watchful gaze, they saw Cindy riding her motorcycle toward Kingpin’s mansion.

Not long after, Cindy left the mansion, weaving quickly through the traffic.

“Following this route, she should end up in District D. There’s an abandoned factory on the way. I think that’d be a good spot to intercept her,” Old Man Steve suggested.

Xia Luo nodded. “Alright, let’s go with that plan.”

He turned to Steve. “Remember the time with the ‘grasshoppers’?”

“Skewers?”

Gwen looked between them, baffled. “What are they talking about?” she asked Lizard Parker.

Lizard Parker looked down, clearly trying to erase some unwanted memories of a “Titanic” level disaster.

Old Man Steve, meanwhile, put on an act. “I don’t remember… I have amnesia… I’m old and senile…”

Xia Luo raised an eyebrow, amused. “If you can’t remember, I’d be happy to jog your memory. Everyone’s very interested in that story.”

“No, I remember now. Let’s head out!”

Old Man Steve slapped his forehead as if suddenly recalling the incident.

He shot webs to link the group together, then casually tossed Mjolnir.

Boom!

In an instant, they became a “chain of ants on a string,” streaking through the night sky in flashes of lightning.

Below, a young boy happened to look up, his eyes wide with wonder.

“Mom! I see people flying! No, it’s like… a whole group flying!”

“Johnny, I told you to stop watching those cartoons.”

“No, Mom, I really saw it!”

His mother, a no-nonsense woman, took off her slipper as she entered his room. Glancing out the window and seeing nothing, her expression turned dark and ominous.

“Johnny, lying is wrong. Got it?” She raised the slipper menacingly.

The boy sighed, as if used to this routine.

“Mom, you can hit me, but I have one request.”

“What’s that?”

“Stop taking parenting tips from Mrs. Wong next door.”

“She raised her kids this way, and her son’s a top lawyer now.”

“Mom, if I become a lawyer, I swear I’ll repay you generously.”

“Oh, Johnny, you’re such a sweet boy. Now, give me your hand!”

“Be gentle—yesterday’s bruises haven’t healed yet.”

“You’re learning so well.”

Smack!

“Nooooo!”

—

Mjolnir crashed to the ground, and the group tumbled down, covered in dust.

Everyone, that is, except Xia Luo.

He flipped gracefully onto the factory roof, using his spatial webs, leaving Lizard Parker to stare enviously.

“Graceful. Just…so graceful.”

Beside him, Gwen struggled to her feet, rubbing her lower back. “Damn it, the buildings here are too short. Couldn’t swing out far enough.”

“Oh, hey, did you all hear that?” Something seemed to dawn on her.

Old Man Steve hoisted Mjolnir. “Heard it—sounded like a boy yelling. Probably some parent disciplining their kid.”

Lizard Parker’s expression darkened. “I could tell from the scream. There was a mix of pain and despair in his voice.” It reminded him of his own rough childhood.

“We’ll check on the kid later. Right now, we’ve got a target to take down.”

Xia Luo’s ears caught the faint rumble of a motorcycle. He immediately dove into the rooftop’s chimney.

“You all go first. I’ll hang back for the final blow.”

With that, his head vanished into the chimney.

The others: “…”

Old Man Steve shook his head. “Little Spider’s getting jumpier with each reset. Guess it’s up to me.”

He squared off in the direction of the approaching motorcycle, his gaze steely.

In his hand, Mjolnir crackled with electricity, the lightning flowing up his arm.

The air filled with thunder, casting him as a true God of Thunder.

“Have you ever seen New York at four in the morning?”

He smirked. “Even though I left the Avengers, I still stick to my training routine. Muscle workouts, running, stretching.”

“I don’t do it to prove I’m better than anyone else. I do it to show the world one thing…”

“I, Steve Rogers—without my shield—am still Captain America!”

With that, he tossed aside his shield and raised Mjolnir high.

BOOM!

Mjolnir struck the ground, sending debris flying as lightning split the night sky, targeting the speeding motorcycle with pinpoint precision.

Crackle!

BOOM!

In an instant, the motorcycle exploded. Cindy leapt from the fiery wreckage, only to be struck mid-air by the incoming Mjolnir.

CRASH!

The factory shook as Mjolnir, with Cindy in tow, slammed into the rubble.

Residual lightning sparked over Cindy’s body, pinning her down. She struggled but couldn’t break free.

Old Man Steve stood, still in his hammer-throwing stance.

Whoosh

A slight breeze passed, and he grinned.

“I’m waiting for the applause.”

Next to him, Lizard Parker grimaced in disgust.

“I’ve never seen anyone so shameless.”

Carter nodded. “Right. No shield—but you’ve got a hammer.”

Gwen thought for a moment. “I’ve seen New York at four a.m.—when I’m up late binging shows.”

Old Man Steve: “…”

This wasn’t quite the reaction he’d pictured.

“Hey, old man, go check on her. And whatever you do, don’t let her smile,” Xia Luo warned, poking his head out of the chimney. “Seriously. Do not let her smile.”

Old Man Steve rolled his eyes. “I’ve beaten her senseless—only a fool would be smiling.”

He stepped into the rubble, looking down at Cindy’s half-buried face.

“Don’t worry, she’s not smiling. You can come out now.”

He waved at Xia Luo.

“Not yet. Let’s be careful.”

“Coward.”

Seeing Xia Luo’s caution made Old Man Steve chuckle. This was not a side he saw often.

Meanwhile, Gwen cleared away some of the bricks and finally saw Cindy’s face. She gasped.

“Cindy! What are you doing here?!”

Cindy, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, glanced up at Gwen—and her lips curled into a twisted smile.

“No—”

In a single glance, Gwen’s vision faded into pitch darkness.

“She’s smiling! She’s smiling!”

Old Man Steve shouted, and Xia Luo instantly ducked back into the chimney.

“What happened?” he yelled out.

“Gwen got…smiled at.”

“What?”

“I said, Gwen got turned into a vegetable.”

“And the rest of you?”

“We’re fine.”

“Bring Gwen over here!”

“To where?”

“To me!”

A moment later, Xia Luo cautiously peeked out of the chimney and saw Gwen’s stunned expression. No matter how they moved her, she remained unresponsive.

“She looks…hypnotized,” Carter observed.

Xia Luo examined Gwen, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

“She’s…still warm.”

“What was that?” Carter looked puzzled.

“Nothing,” Xia Luo muttered, patting Lizard Parker’s shoulder in reassurance. “Don’t worry, she’ll be back to normal soon.”

Lizard Parker’s face was tense. “Are you sure?”

“Of course. Have I ever lied to you?”

“Constantly.”

“Alright, fair.”

Xia Luo shrugged, secretly impressed at the accuracy of Lizard Parker’s guess.

Glancing at Cindy, Xia Luo quickly looked away.

“If my guess is right, her powers only affect Spider-People. She has an ability that can completely shut down all of a Spider’s senses.”

“What do you mean?” Carter asked, frowning.

Old Man Steve explained, “It means Gwen now has no sense of hearing, smell, sight, taste, or touch. She’s unable to feel anything in her body—even her mind might be in a blank state. But she’s still alive.”

“How is that different from being dead?” Lizard Parker asked, panicking.

“There is no difference.”

Xia Luo’s expression turned grim. “Looks like this is another plot targeting Spider-Man. But I don’t get how this connects to the world crisis.”

“I think—” Old Man Steve started.

“What do you think?”

Xia Luo frowned; Steve’s voice was fading.

Old Man Steve continued speaking, but Xia Luo could no longer hear a thing.

He felt his body stiffen, and his vision started to blur.

“Damn it, this thing’s contagious…”

Before he blacked out completely, Xia Luo raised his middle finger in Cindy’s direction.

—

T/N: that’s crazy, heh i haven’t killed anyone with my smile whats the difference between me and her