Doctor Strange pointed at his own nose, "You think I'm joking?"
Peter Parker hurriedly said, "No, I just can't believe it."
"But it turns out parallel universes really do exist. That's pretty cool."
Doctor Strange shook his head, "I don't think so."
The Spider asked in confusion, "Since they're from other universes, why did they come to our universe?"
Doctor Strange looked at him seriously, "This is the result of making reckless wishes, Parker."
"Let me out!"
Doctor Octopus, Otto, desperately pounded on the barrier of the 'cell,' but it was useless.
Peter Parker asked in confusion, "What exactly is going on?"
"The Forgetting Spell."
Doctor Strange pointed at him, "That little spell you messed up. You wanted everyone to forget that Peter Parker is Spider-Man."
"And as a result, it pulled people who knew Peter Parker's identity here from various universes."
The Spider looked ashamed, "Who are you?"
"You're not Peter Parker."
"At least, you're not the one I know."
"And where am I now?"
Doctor Octopus shouted irritably.
Doctor Strange glanced at him, "Forget about them."
"We know very little about the multiverse."
"We need to handle this carefully."
The Spider frowned, "But I watched you control the spell. Why did this still happen?"
"I did control it, but some people broke through."
Doctor Strange looked helpless, "I'm not omnipotent, okay?"
He pointed at the creature that looked like both a dinosaur and a lizard, "After you left, I sensed other intruders and chased them into the sewers."
"And then I found this slimy green monster."
"The spell?"
Doctor Octopus interrupted, "Magic?"
"Is this a birthday party?"
"Are you some kind of clown performing here?"
"Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?"
Doctor Strange looked at him, "Do you know a Spider-Man named Peter Parker?"
Doctor Octopus nodded, "Of course."
Doctor Strange pointed at the Spider, "Is he the one?"
Doctor Octopus said, "No."
Doctor Strange spread his hands, "See?"
Peter Parker now believed the multiverse thing.
"Listen, I don't know how many visitors there are."
"But we have to do this. We have to send them back."
"Otherwise, it'll cause chaos," Doctor Strange said seriously.
The Spider coughed, "Actually, I saw another one on the bridge. He was all green, like some kind of goblin."
"Good. Then we'll start with him."
"Bring them all here."
"I have to send them back before reality gets destroyed."
Doctor Strange walked toward the other side of the hall, then added quietly, "It'll be bad if Wong finds out."
Peter Parker hurriedly said, "Doctor."
"What?"
"I created an opportunity for me and my friends. Now we have a chance to get into MIT, but if the school sees me fighting monsters...", The Spider looked helpless.
"You're still worried about college?"
"If reality gets destroyed, you won't have a college to attend."
As he spoke, Doctor Strange took one of Spider-Man's arm guards and added a spell to it. Then he fired a beam of magic at Peter Parker.
After being hit, the Spider vanished as if performing a magic trick. When he appeared again, he was already inside the cell next to Doctor Octopus.
The sight left Doctor Octopus completely stunned.
After all, there was no Doctor Strange or magic in his universe.
"How did you do that?", Otto couldn't help asking.
As Doctor Strange released the Spider, he said, "Probably because I've been to a lot of birthday parties?"
After Peter Parker came out, Doctor Strange handed him the magical arm guard, "See? When it hits them, it'll bring them here. So go get to work."
The Spider hesitated, "Sir?"
Doctor Strange was already getting impatient. This kid had too many questions, "What now?"
"I'll clean up the mess I caused, but I need some help," Peter Parker said.
"So?"
"Can I call my friends over to help?"
The Spider pointed down at his feet, "I mean, can I bring them here?"
Doctor Strange said helplessly, "Fine, whatever you want. Anyway, when they leave, I'll make them forget they were ever here."
"Now can you get to work?"
"Right away!"
———
After leaving the Sanctum where Doctor Strange was, Peter Parker went to the coffee shop where MJ worked.
When he walked in, he didn't see MJ, so he made his way to his girlfriend's home.
Because of the current situation, Peter Parker didn't dare let MJ's parents see him, so he came to the window of MJ's bedroom.
He saw his girlfriend curled up in the corner. A box of tissues sat beside her, and crumpled tissues covered the floor.
MJ looked like she had been crying. Her eyes were swollen, and she was still sobbing from time to time.
Peter Parker hurriedly knocked on the window.
MJ looked up when she heard the sound. When she saw him, her expression immediately became dark.
She stood up and came to the window, but instead of opening it, she pulled the curtains shut.
"MJ, what's wrong?"
"I have good news to tell you."
"We still have a chance to get into MIT."
"Open the window and let me in."
Hearing Peter Parker's voice outside, MJ covered her ears with her hands.
Outside the apartment, the Spider knocked on the window again, "MJ, what's wrong? Say something to me."
At this moment, someone below shouted, "Hey, look, isn't that Peter Parker?"
"Is he here to see his girlfriend?"
"That's too much. Even if he's a superhero, he can't just hang around on someone else's wall."
"Exactly. What if he violates someone's privacy? Will he take responsibility?"
Peter Parker looked down at the street. A crowd had already gathered below, taking pictures of him.
He hurriedly climbed onto the roof, then came down through the stairwell.
When he reached the door of MJ's apartment, he straightened his clothes and went to press the doorbell. But before he could press it, the door opened.
MJ and her parents came out.
They were all carrying luggage.
The Spider froze for a moment, "Where are you going?"
MJ didn't answer. She pulled her hat lower and hurried toward the elevator, dragging a suitcase behind her.
Peter Parker tried to follow, but MJ's father stopped him.
"Don't bother us, Mr. Parker."
"My daughter's life has become bad enough because of you."
"We're leaving now. Please don't come harass my daughter again."
Hearing this, the Spider panicked. He jumped up and called out to MJ by the elevator, "What's going on?"
"Why are you suddenly leaving?"
"How long will you be gone?"
Ding!
The elevator arrived.
The doors opened, and MJ silently walked inside.
"MJ, wait for me."
Peter Parker tried to squeeze past, but MJ's father blocked him. In his desperation, he reached out and pushed.
The middle-aged man immediately stumbled back a few steps, fell, and hit the back of his head against the wall.
"Dad!"
MJ hurried out and glared angrily at Peter Parker.
The Spider quickly said, "I didn't mean to—"
Slap!
A slap landed across his face.
MJ pointed toward the elevator, "Go!"
"Please leave!"
"I've had enough of you!"
"We're done. I don't want to see you again!"
Peter Parker's whole body shook, "MJ, listen—"
MJ took out her phone, dialed 911, and said, "Police? Spider-Man is harassing me."
"Don't, don't do this."
"Oh, God..."
The Spider held his head with both hands and backed toward the elevator, "I'll leave right away. I'm leaving now."
He stepped into the elevator. The doors slowly closed as the Spider watched MJ put down her phone, help her father up, and finally look back at him.
There was anger and sadness in that look.
But no love.
Peter Parker left the apartment in a daze. The people on the street kept taking pictures of him, but his mind was already somewhere else.
"Why did this happen?"
"Why is MJ leaving? Is it because she couldn't get into MIT?"
Thinking about MIT made him think of his best friend Ned.
"I need to talk to Ned."
Peter Parker pulled himself together. He looked back at the apartment building, then shot a web and swung away.
———
He arrived at Ned's place.
The Spider still knocked on the window.
Luckily, Ned opened it for him.
That made him breathe a sigh of relief.
"Are you okay, bro?", Peter Parker asked casually before sitting down on the edge of Ned's bed.
"I just went to see MJ. I don't know what's wrong with her. She wouldn't talk to me."
"And her whole family is leaving. I don't know where they're going. Maybe they're just staying with relatives for a few days. Maybe they're leaving New York."
"What do you think I should do?"
"Should I chase after her and ask her what's going on? But she said she never wants to see me again."
"She even said she was going to call the police just now."
"God, how did things turn out like this?"
"Ned, what do you think I should do?"
"Should I call her in a few days, or should I call her now?"
"She might not answer if I call. Should I text her instead?"
"I hope she hasn't blocked me."
"Ned, what do you think?"
"Ned?"
Only then did the Spider realize that Ned hadn't said a word since he came in.
The look on his best friend's face made his heart sink.
"Are you done?"
"If you're done, you can leave."
Ned said expressionlessly, "Peter Parker, MJ was right to leave you."
"Because of you, our lives have become a complete mess."
"Look at what I've gotten since I met you."
"I came to this city because I wanted to work hard and achieve my dreams."
"But because of you, my dreams slammed the door in my face."
"We've all sacrificed a lot for you, but what about you? What have you done for us?"
"You just keep complaining, but you've never asked whether I like this."
"Now I can tell you. I don't like you always treating me like a place to dump your problems."
"Don't dump your troubles on me, Peter Parker."
Peter Parker looked up in disbelief, "How can even you be like this?"
"Ned, aren't we best friends?"
Ned opened the window, "We used to be."
"But Parker, being your friend comes at too high a price."
"Right now, all I'm losing is MIT."
"What about later?"
"And I have a family, too."
"I still have my grandmother at home."
"If my family gets hurt because of you..."
"I don't even want to imagine it."
"So please leave, okay?"
"And don't come looking for me ever again."
"I'm sorry. I know this isn't fair to you."
"But who's ever been fair to me?"
"You're not the only one who has people you want to protect. I do, too."
"Do you understand what I'm saying?"
The Spider looked at Ned and at the open window.
Suddenly, he became completely dejected, "I understand."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Ned. I shouldn't have bothered you."
"You're right. I'm always complaining to you and asking you to help me."
"But it's not like I haven't done anything. Just today, I secured an opportunity for us."
"An opportunity to get into MIT."
Ned remained unmoved, "Really? But it's only an opportunity, and it came a little late."
Peter Parker nodded and said nothing more. He climbed out the window, shot a web, and swung away.
He closed the window.
Ned walked over to the wardrobe and opened it. Inside was another Ned.
But this Ned had not only been tied up, he was also unconscious.
The light and shadows on the 'Ned' standing outside the wardrobe shifted, and he transformed into a blond, blue-eyed man.
Homelander!
After finding Ned, he had knocked the chubby boy unconscious and used 'transformation' to become Ned.
He had been waiting here for Peter Parker to come to him.
Because he knew that on the overpass, Spider-Man would encounter Doctor Octopus and be transported together with him to the basement of the Sanctum.
There, Doctor Strange would ask Spider-Man to capture the visitors from other universes.
Spider-Man would then ask for help.
Those so-called helpers were MJ and Ned.
Whether Peter Parker went to MJ or Ned first, Homelander could meet him.
Naturally, he could then use Ned's identity to hurt him.
It seemed that he had gone to see MJ first and had already been hurt by her.
Then he had been hurt by Homelander once again while he was disguised as the chubby kid.
Although this wasn't enough to make Peter Parker turn evil immediately, at least, a seed had already been planted.
This was not a metaphor.
It was a fact.
Just now, Homelander had used 'reality distortion' to make Peter Parker unable to see the [Darkhold], then planted the 'Seed of Desire' into Spider-Man's mind.
This seed would continuously absorb Peter Parker's negative emotions as nourishment. Once it bloomed and bore fruit, Spider-Man would come under Homelander's control.
When the time came, Homelander would only need to make him unleash the darkness within him, and Peter Parker would turn evil.
He would become a different kind of Spider-Man.
And when the corrupted Peter Parker personally killed Green Goblin Osborn, Homelander would be able to pluck the fruits of victory from this invasion.
"I'm really looking forward to it..."
Homelander picked up the chubby boy and decided to find somewhere to hide him for a few days.
A few days later, everything would be settled.
[T/N: Can someone clarify clearly with chapter title where did chapters start to go wrong and WHAT went wrong. From my end, everything looks right.]
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