Madame Web

"Peter Parker, it's time to go home."

The night wind of New York swept past Spider-Man's mask, carrying the lingering scent of gunpowder and sirens. He cast one last glance at Herman, who was surrounded by the media. The guy was rambling on camera, acting like a washed-up actor finally getting his prime-time slot. Fine, let Herman enjoy his last moment in the spotlight.

He'd used a pretty flimsy excuse to explain why he wasn't going home late at night. Aunt May was bound to lecture him again. Plus, he'd just received a text from Tony Stark asking him to come to Avengers Tower tomorrow afternoon to chat.

"Even though they found out my identity when they brought me back to Avengers Tower that time, isn't it a bit much to directly invade my privacy like this? Whoa!"

Peter stopped swinging because he saw a woman standing perfectly straight on the vertical wall between two glass curtain walls. The hem of her beige trench coat fluttered in the wind, and her sunglasses reflected the lights of New York. Not a single drop of coffee spilled from the two cups in her hands.

"I've been observing you for a long time, Spider-Man," the woman said, tucking a strand of dark chestnut hair behind her ear. "We need to talk."

"Wait, I've heard your voice before."

Peter, finding the voice familiar, remembered something. Fragments of memory flooded his mind. "It's you, you're the one who spoke to me in my dreams?"

The woman smiled.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Julia Carpenter. I am an emissary of the Web of Destiny. You can also call me Madame Web."

Madame Web.

Anyone familiar with Spider-Man would likely think of the blind old woman in the wheelchair from the '94 animated series. And if you mentioned the second-generation Spider-Woman, Julia Carpenter...

Most people would probably think of that epic masterpiece, "Madame Web," from Sony's Spider-Verse. Many people didn't even remember that she was actually the second-generation Spider-Woman.

Fortunately, this Marvel Universe, based on the MCU, had no trace of the Sony Universe. Peter could only scratch his head. After all, the first-generation Spider-Woman was still in high school. The second-generation was not only older but had already become Madame Web. Coupled with other obvious differences from the MCU, he was completely confused about the timeline of this universe.

"Alright, ma'am. What do you want to talk about? Magic or fortune-telling?"

"How about we have a cup of coffee together?"

A few minutes later, two spider-powered individuals were drinking coffee on top of the Empire State Building. Peter cautiously observed this seemingly mystical figure and asked.

"I heard you in my dream say you needed to find another spider. Is that you, ma'am?"

"I won't have you seek me out. I am an emissary of the Web of Destiny, merely conveying its messages. Also, I probably know what you want to ask. I am not blind."

Madame Web didn't drink the coffee, merely holding it in her hands as if for warmth. She gazed at the New York nightscape, as if contemplating some invisible warp and weft invisible to ordinary people. "Have you heard of the multiverse?"

"Uh... yes. Reed Richards completed a vague observation of other multiverses back in 2008. Although everyone could replicate his experimental results, no one understood the principles."

"The Web of Destiny is a higher-dimensional existence. It spreads power across countless universes through spider totems. Most Peter Parkers are bitten by radioactive spiders; that is the anchor of destiny."

Peter already knew this setting, but he couldn't reveal that he knew it, so he had to listen to Madame Web drone on.

"And among the countless spider totems, you are also a very special existence, not because Ben Parker didn't die and you became Spider-Man."

Peter choked on his coffee and couldn't help but wave his hand. Then he looked at Madame Web, who just smiled. "Actually, the Peter Parker of this universe should have been born three years later. But for some reason, the nodes of the Web of Destiny have changed, and a special totem has appeared—you are the 'Chieftain'."

"What... Chieftain?"

Peter knew that the Spider-Verse had three special totems: the "Other," the "Bride," and the "Scion," each representing a different spider-powered individual. But what was a Chieftain? A brand-new spider totem that appeared because of him?

Julia didn't intend to explain anything. Instead, she turned the conversation back to the previous topic. "As the Chieftain, you have the ability to respond to the Web of Destiny. Whenever the Web of Destiny begins to vibrate, it signifies a problem with the spider totem of that world. You will be able to travel across the multiverse to the place where destiny fluctuates, help the Spider-Man of that world, and repair the broken Web of Destiny."

"I'm not even sure I can help New York, ma'am. Help Spider-Men across the multiverse? Isn't there anyone else in the multiverse? Like, a Multiversal Avengers or something?"

Peter put his coffee down and spread his hands. Julia quietly smiled at him.

Peter looked at her in silence for a while, then sighed in resignation.

"Okay, what do I need to do?"

"In the not-too-distant future, you will feel the vibrations of the Web of Destiny. But before that, you need to find another spider. You have been empowered by the same totem, and your destinies are connected. Only by finding each other can you successfully return to your own universe after resolving the crisis of the Web of Destiny."

"If you can see the future," Peter asked the spider-fortune-teller, "why don't you just tell me where to look?"

"I do not weave destiny, Peter Parker," she said, speaking his name fully for the first time. "I only read it."

In Times Square, as the police and Damage Control arrived one after another, the media began to be cordoned off. However, they were quite satisfied with the day's interviews. Herman had been a complete chatterbox in front of the cameras, willing to talk about anything.

Herman hadn't actually revealed everything, though. He hadn't mentioned anything about Dr. Otto or Kingpin. He just wanted fame and didn't intend to betray his friends or his mob boss.

Among the onlookers, there were a few special individuals. One of them was Carl King, who wasn't particularly interested in Scarecrow or Spider-Man, just there for the excitement. He walked over to a piece of a fallen billboard and saw the webbing stuck to it. He tugged at it curiously and found the texture felt somewhat familiar.

Where have I seen this before?

He suddenly remembered the chemistry lab Peter Parker had left that afternoon.

"Peter Parker is Spider-Man?"

Carl King muttered to himself, then chuckled self-deprecatingly. That scrawny Peter?

But Peter Parker had become incredibly powerful now.

Carl King fell into thought. He remembered how he had pranked Peter Parker by placing a genetically modified spider from Osborn Industries on his neck. He began to wonder if that spider was what made Peter Parker become Spider-Man.

No, no, no, I can't be sure that Parker kid is Spider-Man yet...

He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice someone walk past him. This person, disguised as a reporter, pushed through the crowd interviewing Herman and then blended into the crowd, making a phone call to Herman's new boss.

"Hello, it's me, Mr. Visk. Your new employee is well-behaved. He knows what to say and what not to say. You probably don't need to worry about him."

The reporter smiled as he walked into a restroom, listening to Kingpin's instructions on the other end of the line, then entered a stall. When he reappeared, he was a completely different person—not just his clothes and face, but even his fingerprints and the irises in the mirror had changed.

"Yes, I've observed Spider-Man's every move. His movements, his demeanor, even his personality—I can perfectly imitate them all. As long as your little gadgets are as powerful as you say, then I, Chameleon, can guarantee you this, Mr. Visk."

"Soon, Spider-Man will be infamous and become a public enemy."

The next chapter might be a little late.