Marvel: Ned the Master of Mystic Arts

"Splash!"

"So, why did you kick him down?"

Ned leaned closer, standing next to Peter, looking at the still-rippling surface of the river below.

"What?"

Peter seemed confused by Ned's question.

Ned paused for a moment, then said, "Don't you think that if you hadn't kicked him down, the two of us could've easily taken him down together?"

"Uh... okay, I'm sorry about that."

"No!!"

Suddenly, a loud scream came from behind them. Peter and Ned quickly turned their heads to see a car teetering dangerously on the edge of the bridge, with half of it already hanging over the side. In the very moment they looked, the car suddenly slid further down.

"No!!"

"Whoosh!"

"Bang!"

As a parent screamed in despair, a strand of web shot out, hitting the back of the car. Spider-Man planted his feet firmly on the ground, gripping the web tightly with both hands.

Despite his efforts, Peter's body was slowly being dragged toward the edge of the bridge by the car's weight.

"Hey! Save the people!"

Peter shouted at Ned.

"Got it!"

Though puzzled that Peter couldn't handle the situation himself, Ned quickly ran to the bridge's edge. He formed rapid hand gestures in front of his chest, summoning a magical whip that lashed out and pulled the child inside the car to safety.

"Whew~"

Seeing the child rescued, Peter let out a sigh of relief and released the web.

"Splash!"

With the sound of the car plunging into the river, the father and child hugged each other on the bridge, sobbing in relief after surviving the ordeal.

"Who are you?"

The child's father looked at Peter and Ned and asked.

"Spider-Man."

"Mystic Sorcerer."

"Alright then, Mystic Sorcerer."

Peter pulled Ned aside and nervously whispered, "So, who exactly are you? Ned? I don't know you. How do you know my name?"

"Okay..."

Ned fell silent after hearing Peter's question. Then, after glancing around, he said, "This isn't the place to talk."

"Follow me."

Peter was about to swing away with his webs but suddenly stopped and asked, "Can you keep up with me? You should know how agile Spider-Man is."

"Of course."

Ned nodded confidently.

Hearing this, Peter shrugged, shot a web onto the bridge's steel frame, and swung up. Using the buildings as his support, Peter moved swiftly through the high-rise cityscape.

Ned, however, simply floated into the air, flying steadily with the help of his Cloak of Levitation.

"Wow! That's so cool!"

Peter, worried Ned might not keep up, looked back and saw him flying effortlessly without any visible support. Peter couldn't help but exclaim in awe.

In no time, Peter led Ned to the top of a towering skyscraper. From this vantage point, the entire New York City nightscape spread out beneath them.

"Now can you explain who you are? And why you know me?"

Peter asked Ned.

Having already delayed too long dealing with the Lizard, Peter knew Aunt May must be worried sick since he hadn't returned home.

But the person standing before him, who somehow knew his real identity, posed a much greater danger. If Ned exposed his name, not only would Gwen's dad come after him, but he'd also face retaliation from the criminals and gangs he'd taken down in the past!

Spider-Man wasn't afraid, but Aunt May couldn't handle that kind of danger!

"I'm Ned. Ned Leeds. I was Peter Parker's best friend in my world."

Ned answered honestly. This wasn't like the situation with Captain Marvel earlier. In that world, with Nick Fury present, he couldn't reveal his true identity. Besides, Fury would've made sure he had food and shelter no matter what.

But here, there was no Nick Fury to back him up. If this Peter Parker didn't take him in, he might end up sleeping on the streets tonight.

"Your world?"

Underneath his mask, Peter's expression shifted upon hearing Ned's words.

"Yes," Ned continued. "I come from another world, another real world. We call the existence of multiple worlds the Multiverse."

"My Peter Parker—I mean, the Peter in my world—is also Spider-Man, so..."

Ned spread his hands.

"So, did your Peter ever tell you how he got his powers?"

Peter didn't buy Ned's far-fetched story and asked skeptically.

"Not yet. Things got... complicated. Right after I found out he was Spider-Man, a war broke out. After that, I never saw him again."

Ned wasn't surprised that this Peter didn't trust him.

"Alright, thanks for cooperating. And I'm sorry for not trusting you. Goodbye, I'm heading home now."

Peter stared at Ned for a long moment, trying to use his super sense—gained after being bitten by the spider—to detect any hostility or danger from Ned.

But as expected, his Spider-Sense didn't pick up anything.

Peter let out a long breath of relief. If Ned had meant harm, Peter honestly wouldn't know what to do. There was no way he could bring himself to kill someone like Ned.

Spider-Man didn't kill people.

But if he didn't stop Ned and his identity got exposed, the consequences would be catastrophic!

"Thank goodness..."

Peter silently celebrated his luck and prepared to leave.

"Wait!"

Ned called out to Peter. "Uh... look, I just got here to this world, and, um... can I stay with you for the night?"

Peter turned back to look at Ned and shook his head. "I'm really sorry. I'd love to take you home, but... Aunt May would never agree."

"She's a kind person, but Uncle Ben passed away not long ago..."

"I'm sorry, Peter."

Ned could hear the trace of sadness in Peter's voice when he mentioned Uncle Ben.

"It's okay. I'm sorry too, Ned."

With that, Peter leaped off the skyscraper and swung away with his webs, disappearing into the distance.

"So..."

"Bang! Bang!"

Just as Ned was about to reflect on his unfortunate situation while gazing at New York's stunning skyline, he suddenly heard gunshots nearby.

"Alright then."

Ned smirked. "Classic America, where every day is a shootout."

After a quick sarcastic remark, Ned leaped into the air, flying toward the source of the gunfire.

Not to loot or take advantage, of course—just to deal with the criminals. Absolutely not for any other reason. Absolutely not.

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