Marvel’s Spider-Man: Across the Multiverse

Peter Parker spun around abruptly, his senses on high alert.

A strange figure had appeared at the entrance of Passion Space Bar.

It was a monstrous being, its entire body drenched in blood-red tendrils. Its face was dominated by two massive white eyes, and below them stretched a grotesque, tooth-filled maw, twisted into a sinister grin.

In one hand, it was gripping a person.

Gwen Stacy—who had just stepped out of the bar!

Peter Parker's eyes widened in shock, but he reacted instantly.

Even though the black suit had made his personality more aggressive and unrestrained, he was still Peter Parker—still Spider-Man.

When his city was in danger, he would never hesitate to act.

Peter dropped the bartender he had been holding and rushed into the bar's restroom.

Meanwhile, the bar's owner and several other bartenders had also seen the red monstrosity.

Watching Peter fleeing into the restroom, one bartender sneered, despite his own growing fear.

"See, Mary Jane? That guy's just a cowardly loser. No point wasting your time on him."

Mary Jane said nothing. She simply stared at the restroom door, her expression complicated.

"Kekekeke…"

The blood-red creature let out a chilling, eerie laugh.

Its piercing gaze remained fixed on the inside of the bar—

More specifically, on Peter Parker.

"My dear father…" the creature hissed.

"I don't know why you're so weak right now, but since that's the case… why don't I just eat you? Kekekeke!"

With one hand still gripping Gwen Stacy, the creature casually swung its other hand—

CRASH!

The entire glass door of the bar shattered into countless fragments, sending shards flying into the already panic-stricken crowd inside.

Screams erupted as the chaos intensified.

One of the bartenders, seemingly trying to keep his cool, raised a handgun and aimed it at the red monster.

"Sir, if this is some kind of cosplay stunt, I think you've come to the wrong place!"

The creature didn't even acknowledge him.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The bartender didn't hesitate—he emptied his entire magazine at the creature.

But the bullets did nothing.

Not a scratch. Not even a flinch.

The monster smirked coldly.

"Trash. Are you looking to die?"

Then, it stretched out its free hand toward the bartender—

And something horrifying happened.

Its arm elongated in an instant!

SHLKK!

It grabbed the bartender's head—and with a slight squeeze—

SPLAT!

His skull burst like a watermelon.

"AAAAAHHHH!"

The bar erupted in screams of pure terror.

"So noisy!"

The cacophony enraged the creature further.

With a furious snarl, its elongated arm lashed out once more, stretching several meters as it attacked the other patrons.

But at that moment—

A black figure descended from above.

THUD!

Black-Suited Spider-Man grabbed the monster's elongated limb with both hands, holding it back with sheer strength.

His voice was fierce and demanding—

"Who are you?! Why are you here?!"

The blood-red creature let out a maniacal laugh.

"Me? I'm your son, Daddy!"

"WHAT?!"

Black-Suited Spider-Man froze in shock.

Even Mary Jane, who had been stunned by Peter's new appearance, now stood utterly dumbfounded.

Son?!

Peter had a son?

Black-Suited Spider-Man instinctively glanced at Mary Jane, then snapped angrily, "I don't have a son! And I sure as hell don't have a bastard child as old as you!"

"Exactly!" Mary Jane chimed in, finally processing what was being said. Peter Parker was her age—how could he possibly have a kid this old?

"Kekekeke~ It doesn't matter whether you acknowledge me or not. That won't make you any less delicious!" the blood-red monster sneered.

Peter sighed, exasperated. "Look, whether I acknowledge you or not, you haven't even told me who the hell you are!"

"I think you might need to check your brain—doesn't seem to be working too well."

The blood-red creature tilted its head slightly, as if actually thinking.

Then, it spoke.

"Oh, right! I forgot to introduce myself."

It grinned wickedly.

"Listen up—my name is Carnage. I am your child, born from Venom! Now do you understand who I am?"

"Carnage? Venom?"

Peter Parker was completely baffled.

What the hell was Venom?

"Look, whatever the case, put Gwen down first. She has nothing to do with this, right?" Peter said, trying to keep his voice steady.

Carnage glanced down at the blonde girl in his grasp, who had fallen eerily silent.

Shaking his head, he murmured, "She's important to you, isn't she, Daddy?"

Then, almost to himself, he added, "But… in 'his' memories, she should be dead. Why is she still alive?"

That last part was so quiet no one else heard it.

But his earlier words—those nearby heard them loud and clear.

Gwen Stacy, who had been waiting for an opportunity to escape, suddenly froze.

Something clicked in her mind.

Her eyes widened.

She first looked at Black-Suited Spider-Man—then at Mary Jane—and suddenly, it all made sense.

Peter Parker was Spider-Man!

This bastard had never told her!

A flash of frustration rose in her chest.

But then again… their relationship wasn't even that close yet. It made sense that he wouldn't tell her something this huge.

Meanwhile, Peter was puzzled.

Why did Carnage think Gwen was so important to him?

Carnage, however, was oblivious to Peter's thoughts.

He grinned darkly. "You want to save her? You can. Just take off that black suit and hand it over to me, and I'll return her to you—completely unharmed. How about it?"

Peter frowned slightly, then quickly nodded. "Alright!"

After everything that had just happened, he had already been considering getting rid of this bizarre suit and returning to his old self.

And if he could use it to trade for Gwen's safety? Even better.

Besides, Carnage's words made it very clear—

His real target wasn't Peter Parker.

It was the suit.

Which meant this black suit was the thing Carnage called "Venom".

And if this suit could turn him into something like Carnage?

Peter wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible.

"Then hurry up, kekekeke~"

Carnage was delighted by how smoothly his plan was going. He could barely contain his excitement.

Peter, however, hesitated.

"Do you even know how to get it off?"

"Uh…"

Carnage paused, debating whether or not to reveal its weakness.

But in the end, his greed won.

He nodded. "Of course. All you need is sound—certain sounds. Like… bells, for example."

"Bells?"

Something clicked in Peter's mind. "I remember now—there's a bell tower nearby!"

His face lit up with realization.

"Alright then, let's go!"

His eagerness was almost comical.

"…Let's go."

Carnage gave Peter a strange look.

For some reason…

he had a feeling this guy wasn't very bright.

(End of Chapter)

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