I Did It, Damn It!

"Spider-Society is an organization that spans the Multiverse,

Its purpose is to maintain the orderly operation of the Multiverse."

Miguel explained.

"The Web of Destiny is the source of Spider-Man's power,

And the foundation that allows the organization to travel through the Multiverse."

After saying that, Miguel looked at Russell.

Waiting for him to explain the Multiversal Spacetime View.

Russell turned his gaze toward The Ancient One.

I just made that up. What do I know about any of this?

If Gwen had not asked about it, he would have successfully shifted the subject onto Miguel.

The Ancient One made it clear that he did not want to explain:

"Too troublesome. I can't be bothered.

Let's talk about this disturbance to Spider-Man's Web of Destiny instead."

Miguel's expression darkened.

That improper young Sorcerer Supreme was a little bastard.

He had not expected the immortal-looking old Sorcerer Supreme to be an old bastard too.

"Fine." Miguel calmed himself. "I'm all ears."

The Ancient One began to explain at length:

"The Web of Destiny is both the source of Spider-Man's power and the thing that weaves together the fates of Spider-Men across the Multiverse.

Because it connects Spider-Men throughout the Multiverse, it also bolsters the Multiverse's stability."

After listening to The Ancient One, Miguel neither agreed nor disagreed.

He could not determine whether what The Ancient One said was right or wrong,

But it matched the patterns he had previously observed.

"Master Ancient One, as you say.

Your actions disturbed the Web of Destiny,

And also affected the universe's stability. Correct?"

Russell smiled openly. "Correct."

Miguel's expression turned ugly, and he lowered his center of gravity.

It seemed a fight was unavoidable after all.

He had not expected these two Sorcerer Supremes to be so unreasonable!

"Not quite."

Russell continued.

"Disturbing the Web of Destiny does not mean affecting the universe's stability.

And affecting the universe's stability does not mean the universe will be destroyed."

Russell unleashed his trump card:

"Miguel, your understanding of the Multiverse comes from observation and deduction.

You can only discover patterns; you cannot see the truth.

At this very moment, I can tell you this.

This universe's spacetime is very stable."

"Those are just empty words. Why should I believe you?"

"Because I can perceive spacetime, and you can't."

The two stood toe-to-toe, and the atmosphere instantly froze.

Russell could not back down and watch tragedy befall Gwen.

Nor did Miguel trust the words of someone he had just met who claimed to be a Sorcerer Supreme.

That was right. Miguel had already begun to doubt whether the old and young pair before him

Were really the Sorcerer Supremes of Kamar-Taj.

"Ahem."

The Ancient One deliberately coughed a few times, breaking the deadlock.

"Russell, go easy on him.

This young man may be stubborn, but he's a good person."

"Yes, Russell, talk things out."

Gwen also tried to persuade him.

Russell swept an aggrieved gaze over the two of them. "Do I look like someone who doesn't know when to stop?"

Miguel's expression was not much better.

The Ancient One and Gwen were clearly saying they had very little faith in a fight between him and Russell.

After that interruption, the tension eased slightly, no longer quite so ready to erupt.

"Hmph. It had better be as you say."

With a cold snort, Miguel turned and left.

Russell watched Miguel's retreating back, filled with helplessness.

Ugh, dealing with good guys is such a pain. You even have to argue your case.

If he were a villain, one punch would have been enough.

Don't you agree, Kingpin? Murdock?

Putting the matter aside for the moment, Russell brought up something else to The Ancient One:

"Master, you can cast the spell now.

Make people forget that Spider-Man 'killed' Peter, and everything that just happened."

"You really won't learn it? It's very simple."

The Ancient One asked again.

"Not learning it."

Russell shook his head. His current priority was to thoroughly study the Portal Spell.

A spell that could travel across the Multiverse without much cost definitely had secrets to uncover.

"Cast it yourself. Just use the Time Stone to alter the past."

Hearing Russell's answer, The Ancient One lost interest.

"Didn't you ask me before what would happen if you altered the 'past'? It would affect the present.

To put it simply, it would be like patching a piece of clothing that was already perfectly intact."

Russell frowned. This did not seem quite the same as the Time Variance Authority's rules in the MCU.

Seemingly seeing what Russell was thinking, The Ancient One explained:

"Earth-199999 is different. That universe has a major problem.

It's a mire now. Even if you don't sink into it after going there, you'll still come away covered in mud."

Russell hesitated. "Master, then can I—"

"There are two more things."

The Ancient One reminded him.

"Do not casually attempt to alter events at absolute time nodes;

Some people with Transcendent Perception may notice that reality has been altered.

If you don't want to be discovered, keep the disturbance small."

Russell caught the implication in The Ancient One's words.

"Do not casually do it" meant he could do it, as long as he made sufficient preparations.

In other words, he could save Lizard Peter Parker, just not now.

Russell took out the Time Stone and focused his Mental Focus.

He traveled upstream, returning to the day Gwen killed Lizard Parker.

When Parker regained his human form and was about to die, he concealed Gwen's figure.

Then he flowed downstream again, returning to just a short while ago.

Forget it. Altering the past is too risky. I won't change this part.

His Mental Focus withdrew from the Time Stone and returned to the present world.

A faint weariness spread through every part of his body.

When he opened his eyes, he saw The Ancient One looking at him in confusion.

He was still holding a mass of pure golden energy in his hand.

"Master, let's talk this out."

Russell flashed away, retreating over a hundred meters.

The Ancient One put away the energy in his hand and asked in confusion:

"Where did you get the energy to support the Time Stone?"

Huh? Energy?

Deep Blue, activate.

Lifespan: 25/318,2800

More than fifty thousand units of energy had evaporated!

Russell's vision went dark.

"Master, you never told me this spell consumed so much."

"I had some prepared for you. I didn't expect you wouldn't need it."

The Ancient One examined Russell again.

He had not seen where Russell's energy had come from.

It seemed that boy Russell had quite a few secrets that his other self had not told him about.

"Master." Russell put on a flattering smile. "Since you prepared it, give it to me."

The Ancient One raised an eyebrow. With a wave of his hand, a streak of golden light entered Russell's body.

Russell examined it carefully. It was pure spiritual energy, free of any "impurities."

Even with the panel still in the middle of upgrading, it did not affect absorption.

Slurp.

+100000.

Good stuff.

Russell's eyes lit up as he looked at The Ancient One.

Boss, please feed me more!

The Ancient One's face twitched.

This time, he watched closely.

He still could not see how the energy vanished.

After a moment of silence.

The Ancient One tossed out another ball of energy.

Then another.

Then—

The Ancient One began to doubt his own cultivation.

All things in the world followed their own laws; even the most elusive phenomena left traces to follow.

Yet even after employing most of his methods, he could not see how the energy disappeared.

Of course, there was one more underhanded method: tampering with the energy.

Russell coveted his energy.

He wanted to see through Russell's secret.

But a bet was a bet. The Ancient One could not bring himself to scheme against his disciple.

One month later, Kamar-Taj Courtyard.

Watching a Portal slowly take shape, Russell became ecstatic.

Haha!

I did it! I did it!

I did it, damn it!

A Portal opened before Russell.

On this side of the Portal stood Master Ancient One.

On the other side stood Master Ancient One as well.