Josen dispersed the lightning coiling around his arm and helped Peter from Earth-616 settle into a more comfortable position on the couch.
"Thanks, buddy. Thanks for not giving me another round of electrotherapy," the middle-aged Peter from Earth-616 joked, letting out a breath as he endured the pain all over his body. "Of course, if you could get me some medical supplies, I'd be eternally grateful."
Beneath his torn suit lay a mass of bloody wounds. Some came from high-energy weapons, while others had been slashed or pierced by sharp blades. It was a gruesome sight.
"What kind of Spider-Man base would be without those?"
Seeing his condition, Aunt May immediately brought over a first-aid kit.
"Let me help."
Josen took the spider-themed first-aid kit from Aunt May, dug out wound ointment, alcohol, and bandages, and began treating Peter's injuries.
"Bear with the pain. You're hurt pretty badly."
"It's fine. These are just scratches. Back in the day... Ow! What I mean is, buddy, your bandaging technique could use some improvement?"
"Of course. I've barely needed any of this stuff since I started out."
"...Then could I request that young lady's help instead?"
An hour passed.
Using a damaged flash drive supplied by Miles Morales, Peni Parker worked with Spider-Ham to reproduce a "key" that could control the Particle Collider, then proudly engraved her personal stamp on its back.
With Aunt May's permission, Miles Morales picked out suits for himself and Peter from Earth-616. The latter could simply use the classic red-and-blue suit, whose polymer material ensured it would fit even his out-of-shape figure, while Miles spray-painted his own suit in a style he liked.
He used black as the main color, paired with a red web pattern.
Spider-Man Noir thoroughly approved.
Their arrival also brought Josen the final Fantasy Card in the spider Psychic Powers series.
[Fantasy Card: Spider-Electrostatic] [Card type: Ability Card] [Rarity: SR] [Description: A spider power that allows Spider-Man to scale walls and traverse rooftops.] [Effect 1: Adhesion] [Controls interatomic forces at molecular boundaries, such as electrostatic forces, allowing the body to adhere to surfaces for rapid climbing and movement.] [Effect 2: Bioelectric current] [Ultimate Spider-Man has greater control over the electrical charges within his body, allowing him to manipulate electricity in combat.]
It was the final card because his Stand promptly reminded Josen that multiple cards could be fused.
[Fantasy Card: Spider Psychic Powers] ×7 [Fusion available!]
Stand Ability activated. Card fusion!
[Fantasy Card: Spider Psychic Powers] [Card type: Ability Card] [Rarity: SSR] [Description: Anyone can be Spider-Man, as long as they put on the mask.] [Effect 1: Spider-Sense] [1. Danger precognition; 2. Spider-Time.] [Effect 2: Spider Physique] [1. Spider-Strength (super strength, exceeding normal limits); 2. Spider-Agility (super agility, silent movement); 3. Spider Stamina (super stamina, peak condition); 4. Spider Healing (healing factor, toxin immunity).] [Effect 3: Spider-Electrostatic] [1. Adhesion; 2. Bioelectric current.] [Effect 4: Combat Expert] [1. Martial Arts Master; 2. Firearms Proficiency.]
The cards' power fused within his body, bringing Josen's second SSR Ability Card into existence.
What had once been bonuses in individual categories evolved into a complete system of Psychic Powers. The interplay between the abilities produced an indescribable chemical reaction, multiplying their effects.
His body, which had already broken through his species' growth limit once, underwent a volcanic eruption of all-around enhancement. Afterward, Josen faintly sensed a bottleneck.
It was real, but not solid, as though a little more effort would let him punch straight through it.
Having spent so much time with Saitama, Josen was no stranger to the Limiter, nor did he hold it in much awe.
At worst, it would take one hot pot meal.
If one wasn't enough, then two.
Besides, Josen had yet to reach his true limit.
As though responding to his thoughts, his Stand promptly delivered a notification.
[Common-grade Attribute Cards can no longer provide enhancement effects. Fuse them before use.] [Fusion formula: Attribute N Card ×10 = Attribute R Card]
"Hey, buddy, your name's Josen, right?" Wearing his brand-new suit, Peter from Earth-616 approached Josen with a plate piled high with food. "Is it just me, or do you seem different from before?"
Josen pointed nearby. "Like that kid?"
On the other side of the base, Miles Morales solemnly put on his suit, carefully checking every detail.
"Exactly. It's a feeling. Hard to put into words."
Peter from Earth-616 leaned against the coffee table and took big bites of the sandwich Aunt May had prepared earlier. The injuries on his face had mostly healed.
"He probably found his own path. As for me, I just consolidated my powers." Josen clenched his fist, veins rising along his arm. "Sometimes, knowing how to do too many things isn't necessarily good."
Peter from Earth-616 nodded as he ate. "You're right about that."
"Can you tell me what happened to you two?" Josen asked. "Gwen Stacy said Miles Morales hadn't had his Psychic Powers for very long, but the way he's acted since arriving at the base is definitely not how a rookie behaves."
"Well, how do I put this..." Peter from Earth-616 hesitated, then replied quietly, "When we left, we ran into Miles Morales's uncle... He was Prowler, working for Kingpin. Of course, that was before! To help us escape, Miles Morales's uncle ended up turning against Kingpin, and then..."
"All right. I understand."
Josen nodded. It seemed Miles Morales still hadn't escaped the fate of having a loved one sacrificed...
Huh?
Suddenly, Josen spotted the crucial detail!
Wait, didn't I just get the complete set of "spider Psychic Powers"?
So, can I return them?
His Stand: But I refuse!
Josen: "..."
On second thought, the friends he had grown closest to since crossing worlds were a ferocious old man who could instantly kill two dragons barehanded and a man currently losing his hair through training.
Then it's fine.
"Guys, we should get going." As the local host, Miles Morales, now wearing the Black Spider Suit, clapped his hands to gather everyone, and the Spider-Men present clustered around him.
"Kingpin is definitely going to activate the Particle Collider again. We're not letting him do that. It's time to end this!"
The Spider-Men eagerly readied themselves. "Let's go!"
The smallest among them, Spider-Ham, Peter Porker, was actually the most aggressive. "Let's f*** them up!"
Spider-Man Noir reminded him, "Hey, you're getting censored. No swearing."
Peter Porker immediately threw a flying-pig punch combo. "Then let's send them flying!"
Spider-Man Noir could only facepalm. "..."
Before you continue