Restart, Spider-Man!

Xia Luo sat back down beside Gwen. "Even without mutants, they'd find someone else to target—a group they see as a threat."

Gwen's expression shifted slightly. "What do you mean?"

Xia Luo chuckled. "Think about it—most mutants are considered monsters because their powers are uncontrollable, and they're a small minority compared to regular humans."

Gwen nodded thoughtfully. "When the majority are normal humans, mutants become the monsters."

"Exactly. But if mutants were the majority, then regular humans would be the monsters."

"But how does this connect to what you just said?"

"Quite simply."

Xia Luo gazed at the sky. "It's like what Thanos said about balance."

"If all mutants could be reverted to regular humans, this wouldn't even be an issue. But since that's not possible, maintaining balance is critical. Captain Carter will explain more about this later."

He paused before continuing, "For us, though, it's different. Our powers aren't like those of mutants, and reverting to being normal humans is... difficult."

At that, he hesitated for a moment. "Well, for me, it's impossible. But you... If you ever wanted to give up your symbiote powers, you might have a chance to go back."

"No! I'm not giving up Gwen!"

A voice suddenly shrieked. Abby leaped out and yelled, "Xia Luo Parker! You're trying to trick Gwen into giving me up so you can snatch me for yourself! Admit it, you annoying jerk!"

Xia Luo: "..."

"As a symbiote, your imagination is... impressively absurd," he said with a small laugh, brushing off Abby's accusation.

"Anyway, I have plans for the mutants. The real problem isn't Apocalypse—it's someone even more terrifying."

Though Xia Luo hinted at something, he didn't elaborate. Gwen didn't push for answers. After all, the greater the power, the greater the responsibility.

She understood that truth now—completely.

---

"Done," came a voice.

Tony approached the two of them. "Your little date is over. Good news: we can go home now."

"That's good news for you," Xia Luo said as he stood and approached. "Congratulations, Mr. Stark. You get to return to Pepper and Morgan."

Tony gave Xia Luo a look, his eyes carrying a strange emotion. "Thank you. I know all of this is because of you." He pulled Xia Luo into a hug.

Xia Luo, grinning, pushed him away. "Cut it out. That's disgustingly sentimental."

Tony laughed. "You have no idea what you've missed."

"What did I miss?"

"Ten percent of Stark Industries shares. I was going to give them to you."

"Don't! That makes me even sadder. We're not even from the same world."

"True, but the Captain can summon you, and you could enjoy at least an hour a day."

"He's almost dead. I can't make it in time."

Tony blinked, stunned. "Should I be happy for him, then?" he asked with a smirk.

Xia Luo shrugged. "Whatever makes you happy."

"By the way, where did they go?" Tony looked at the now-empty tech hall, curious.

"They're different from you," Xia Luo said. "When you return to reality, you'll continue your revival process. As for them, they're out of luck. With their souls exposed like this, survival's tough. The best-case scenario? Back to hell."

Tony scratched his eyebrow. "So how do we help them?"

"We only need to help one."

Xia Luo looked to the skies where a spacecraft was approaching the City of Time. "They're back."

He continued, "Scott's Pym particles were a huge help. We need to send him back first and ensure he can survive as a regular human."

Tony nodded. "True. Without him, we couldn't have made it here. I found some great stuff in Kang the Conqueror's database. If Scott doesn't mind living as a cyborg, I can set him up. Of course, his soul needs to survive the transition."

"I've got it all figured out."

Xia Luo turned as the ship landed on a high platform.

---

Old Steve Rogers returned with a group of quantum realm natives in tow. These beings were small, skeletal in frame, with gem-like heads that sparkled like uncut jewels.

Their radiant heads immediately caught Tony's attention. For a moment, he froze. As he took a closer look, his eyes widened in shock.

Thanos, who had just entered the tech hall, was equally stunned by the sight.

In unison, they gasped, "Infinity Stones?!"

Everyone else was floored.

"What?"

"Infinity Stones?"

"Are you serious?"

"Quantum Realm Infinity Stones?!"

The revelation left them reeling.

Thanos quickly composed himself and explained. "After I fulfilled my mission using the Infinity Stones, I reduced them to atoms. That way, the Avengers couldn't collect them to undo my work."

Old Steve's eyes lit up in realization. "The Infinity Stones were reduced to atoms... That explains why they exist in the Quantum Realm!"

Peter Parker, eyes wide with recognition, muttered, "No wonder these guys felt so familiar."

Tony frowned and turned to Xia Luo. "Are you planning to use the Stones' power to stabilize their souls?"

Before Xia Luo could reply, Thanos shook his head. "That's impossible. As atoms, their power is less than a billionth of what the real Stones had. It's not enough."

Xia Luo disagreed. "Directly using their power isn't feasible, sure. But they're still Infinity Stones. Wrapping souls with them should work."

"Wrapping?"

"Souls?"

While most were baffled, Tony caught on. "So, by embedding their souls into the Stones and using the Stones as energy cores, Scott could survive as a cyborg?"

Scott froze. "So... I'm becoming a robot?"

"An ant-robot," Xia Luo corrected.

Scott hesitated. "Uh... I have a wife. I don't think I'm ready for her to rely on 'tools' this young."

"Don't worry," Tony reassured him. "Kang's tech makes cyborgs incredibly lifelike."

"How lifelike?"

"Super, super, super lifelike."

"Alright, I'm in!" Xia Luo slammed the table with excitement.

Scott: "..."

"What about us?" Peter Parker timidly raised a hand. "Are we becoming robots too?"

"No need," Xia Luo replied. "You're different from Scott. Once your soul's in a Stone, Tony will send you to the Sorcerer Supreme for safe handling."

"But atoms are so small. How will we carry them?" Peter asked.

Scott tossed him a Pym disc. "Just enlarge it."

Old Steve's eyes brightened. "If we enlarge them, can we use them like Infinity Stones?"

Scott glared. "These are Pym particles—tech. The real Stones transcend technology. Do you think that's possible?"

"...Never mind." Old Steve looked deflated.

"Alright, let's wrap this up."

With Xia Luo taking charge, preparations began. Before heading to Kang's tech warehouse, Tony stopped Xia Luo.

"What do we do with this when it's done?" He held up a golden orb.

Xia Luo grinned. "That goes to me. I still need it to travel through the multiverse."

"You can take it?"

"I can't, but you can." Xia Luo gestured to Old Steve. "When you're back, give it to him, and he'll bring it to me."

Tony nodded. "Got it. What about that guy?" He gestured toward Venom-Parker.

Xia Luo glanced at Venom-Parker, who hadn't joined any faction and was stuck in limbo, likely to be dragged back into the revival matches soon.

This time, he decided Venom-Parker could stay out of it. Maybe it was time to see if the revival matches could snatch someone back from Mephisto's clutches.

---

With Scott sent through the time ring, and Tony's group back in the movie universe, Xia Luo finally saw the task completion notice.

"Good. Onward."

In the subsequent restarts to farm rewards, Xia Luo perfected his Pym particle extraction techniques and even brought Gamora and Nebula's souls into the Quantum Realm—a promise fulfilled to Thanos, in a way.

Of course, post-restart, Thanos wouldn't remember the deal.

Finally, with five restarts remaining, Xia Luo had increased his soul strength by 26%.

---

In the Cosmic Web, Xia Luo felt the changes brought by his strengthened soul. The world around him became clearer, though the full transformation remained elusive.

He turned to the notification before him.

[You have won the Revival Match!]

Rewards:

Revival Slot x1

Special Spider-Man Magic (Choose One):

"Summon Little Spiders"

"Two and a Half More Clones"

"Spider-Man's Restless Soul"

Extra Rewards:

Spider Totem Power x1

Additional Spider-Man Magic (Choose One):

"Only Summon Little Spiders"

"Spider-Man's Twisting Webbing"

Without hesitation, Xia Luo chose "Spider-Man's Restless Soul" and "Only Summon Little Spiders." Strengthened souls deserved magic that matched their power. And twisting webbing? Too abstract. Summoning spiders felt like the safest bet.

After claiming his rewards, Xia Luo's form faded from the Cosmic Web.

---

Under New York's night sky, S.H.I.E.L.D. had cordoned off Spider-Man's "death site."

In a surveillance van nearby, Agent Hill monitored the scene. It was a known fact: Spider-Man would revive where he'd died. She'd volunteered to keep watch, eager to witness this moment firsthand. She'd even brought a professional camera.

It had been almost a month, though, and Spider-Man was still a no-show. Frustration crept in. This better not take 40 days again, she thought.

But she maintained a calm exterior. With S.H.I.E.L.D. recruiting new agents amidst the mutant crisis, she had a reputation to uphold. No embarrassing photos allowed—especially not when working alongside her idol.

Agent Coulson climbed into the van, his expression serious. "The Brotherhood of Mutants is still lingering nearby. It seems they're not giving up."

Agent Hill sighed, rubbing her temples. "This is a game of patience now."

Coulson offered a comforting smile. "Relax. That dangerous individual shouldn't show up. They just want to see how much stronger Spider-Man is after revival."

"Not necessarily."

Hill frowned, eyeing a suspicious figure on the surveillance feed. "I think there's another group in play. Their target might also be Spider-Man."

"Another group?" Coulson considered. "We should inform Commander Carter."

"No need," came a voice. Disguised as a coffee shop employee, Carter knocked on the van window. "Heads up—Spider-Man's about to revive."

"What?"

Hill perked up, though confusion quickly followed. "How do you know?"

"Gwen told me."

"And how does she know?"

"Ask her."

"Fine. But I've got a feeling her relationship with Spider-Man isn't simple."

Agent Hill gritted her teeth. "Commander, I'd like an advance on next month's salary."

"Why?"

"I need to take better care of my skin. These young girls are too competitive—I can't lose to them."

Carter facepalmed. "Let me be honest: Spider-Man doesn't like your type."

"That's impossible!"

Hill protested. "Every time he comes to S.H.I.E.L.D., he greets me!"

"Because he likes stealing your snacks," Coulson muttered.

Hill ignored him. "And he always asks me to dinner!"

"Because he knows you'll pay the bill."

"And what about the big heart on his autograph?!"

"Because he knows his handwriting's terrible," Carter said. After a pause, she added, "Or he's just lazy."

Hill: "..."

"But he also—"

Before she could finish, reports came flooding in from nearby agents.

"Look! Spider-Man's reviving!"

As Coulson shouted, faint red and blue glimmers appeared in the sealed-off area.

A gentle hum filled the air, and specks of glowing dust coalesced into a humanoid outline. The radiant red-and-blue silhouette banished the surrounding darkness.

But beneath the breathtaking sight, danger brewed. Before the figure could fully materialize, shadows burst from nearby shops.

"Now! Stop him!"

"This is Spider-Man at his weakest!"

"Kill him and collect the 50-million-dollar bounty! Go!"

"Fifty million? Damn it, I only got ten!"

"Curse you, Monica! She stole my forty million—"

---

Reader, your presence signifies commitment.

To walk this path is to contribute to the pursuit of eternity.

Should you wish to further fortify our resolve, step forward: [patreon.com/WiseTL].

Each action contributes to the unyielding foundation of our creation. Together, we etch a mark that transcends the fleeting nature of time.

For those who aspire to push the limits further, offering one 'Burger' will unlock an additional 5 chapters: [ko-fi.com/wisetl]. Specify which story your donation pertains to; this offer applies exclusively to stories available on Scribble Hub.

— Raiden Shogun