The Guardian Of The Multiverse

(Marvel, DC, images, manhuas, and every anime that will be mentioned and used in this story are not mine. They all belong to their respective owners. The main character "Karito/Adriel Josue Valdez" and the story are mine)
Peter parker POV
When was the last time I slept on a bed? I can't even remember. It's always camping, waking up with a sore body, and moving forward. Huh... I talk as if I've always been sleeping on the floor, but that's not the case. Not usually, at least. I just...
Ugh. What am I even saying? I don't know anymore. I'm tired. So tired. Running the multiverse with my Velocity Suit drained me more than I realized. I should check its power source later. It seems fine, but... that frictionless flame—it was relentless.
Ace was lucky I made it in time to save him and boost his power. The speed difference was staggering; he was getting his ass handed to him. But he's fine now. He's fine...
Ș̵͓͊͐͛̍͜ȏ̴̢ ̶̱͇̤͋ẅ̴̡̪̼́e̵͖̹͖̓̋͐ą̸̞͎̳̅̽̀k̵̛̮̮̂̽͗.̷̭̫͓̇̈́.̵̫̘́̀̌.̶̪̲͆
What? Did I just hear myself speak?
Hear myself speak? No, that's dumb. Of course, I'm talking to myself. This exhaustion is messing with my head. I just need sleep—a proper sleep. I'm in a 3D body right now, unlike the Nexus, where I don't even need to sleep. Maybe I'll finally get some peace.
I wonder how Ace would react when he sees the Nexus. He's past the existential crisis of knowing he's fictional, so he should be fine. Maybe Mr. Karito will show him the One Piece manga so he can check in on his family. Ace probably misses them deeply.
W̵͍̓ȁ̷̖s̶̢͚̾̿͘t̷̜́̀̌͘è̷̦͉̳͙̄ ̸͔̻͒̒̌o̴̥̯̽̽͊̈́ͅf̸̛̥̠̍̾̽ͅ ̴̛̹̍ͅs̸̘͖̈́̃p̵̧̥̊ḁ̵͉̾͜ć̴̲̜͚̗̋̐ẽ̸̜̼̳̀ͅ.̴̤̟̮̍.̶̄̏̍ͅ
Atoria... hmm. I'm not sure how I feel about her yet. It's good she decided to turn over a new leaf. At least it wasn't hard to convince her—she already doubted herself as a Dark. Even though she hid it well, Mr. Karito managed to talk her into joining us.
H̴̜̑̉̑̓a̷̱̅t̸̤̖̍̔̉̍ȩ̴̞̻͚͗́̚.̷͙̔̐͛.̶̛̖͕͕̏́̾.̸̯͙̺̈̿̽
Wait. Did I... did I hear that? My head hurts. Am I sick? No, that's not possible. I haven't been sick once since becoming a Guardian. What's wrong with me?
Oh, Spider~
That voice... echoing in my head. I must be going crazy.
I missed your warmth, Spider~
No. I've heard this before.
HATE! HATE! HATE!
No. No. Leave me alone.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
I felt hands slithering over my body, improper and invasive.
Spider... I missed you so much... I love you~
Aurora. I told you I'm taken! I told you a thousand times to fuck off!
Please, Spider. You've done so much for me... for us. Let me please you~
S-stop!
The hands groped me again, tightening their grasp. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe.
YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST ROAM FICTION WITHOUT SCARS, SPIDER-MAN?! YOU GORE-EATING, KILLING MACHINE! YOU HYPOCRITE! YOU PSYCHOPATH! DIE! DIE! DIE!
SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!
I HATE YOU! I WANT TO SEE YOU BURN! MELT! BE RIPPED APART! SUFFER IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE!
SHUT UP! DON'T TOUCH ME!
SPLAT.
I woke up gasping. My arm was stretched out. My eyes trailed to my hand, blood dripping from my fingers. My gaze snapped to the wall—and to the headless corpse of a maid. Blood pooled beneath her lifeless body, her head nowhere in sight.
She was a bunny Vastaya.
Oh God. Did I kill her... because she was the same race as Aurora?
No. No. I don't hate Vastayas.
I hugged myself, trembling. I can't be near bunny Vastayas. I... I can't believe I've been reduced to this.
AM.
What did you do to me?
What is this primal, uncontrolled hatred etched into my brain? It amplifies my trauma. It hurts. My head feels like it's splitting open.
Spider~
"Fuck off," I mumbled.
Can you rot away and cease to exist?
"Fuck off, AM," I growled.
A screeching sound tore through my ears. I pressed my head into my pillow, growling in pain. It wouldn't stop.
I slammed my head against the wall, cracking it. Then again. And again. I just wanted silence.
I know what AM did to me.
He passed on the only emotion he's ever known. The only thing he's felt for centuries.
Hate.
And I'm afraid of what it'll do to me if I can't control it.
I need to tell the others before I become a threat.
They need to know AM has passed his hate to me.
...
No Pov
Artoria forcefully opened the door, her sharp eyes scanning Peter's room. Her gaze stopped at the headless corpse of the maid sprawled against the wall, blood oozing from the gaping wound. She froze for a second before narrowing her eyes at Peter.
"Peter," she called out, her tone firm but not accusatory. "What happened here?"
Peter flinched, his body trembling slightly. "I-I don't know," he stuttered, his voice tinged with panic. "I was sleeping, and nightmares—horrible nightmares—started to invade my mind," he explained. His hands gripped his chest tightly. "Saber... AM did something to me. I killed the Vastaya in my sleep because she... she resembled Aurora." His voice cracked as he stood up, his face pale and pleading. "I didn't mean to kill her, Saber. You have to believe me! AM cursed me; I know it! There has to be a way to get this curse off me."
Artoria's gaze softened slightly as she studied him, though her eyes held a glint of worry. She pondered for a moment before responding, her tone gentle yet measured. "I understand, Peter. Don't worry," she reassured him. "I know you're not the kind of person who kills senselessly. That's not who you are." She paused, her expression tightening. "But if AM has cursed you with his... hate... then that's going to be a serious problem."
Peter's eyes widened in alarm. "How so?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"This isn't the first time AM has done something like this," she said with a sigh. "I'm certain he's created countermeasures in case Adriel—or anyone else—tried to interfere. Anasis is a Spider as well, and he's clearly studied the Guardian extensively. That's how he managed to trap him for a decillion years."
"So..." Peter's voice cracked as he looked down. "There's nothing Adriel's hacking can do?"
"It might help," she admitted, tilting her head thoughtfully, "but it could also activate a failsafe—a self-destruct procedure embedded in your mind."
Peter's breath hitched. "You're telling me I have to figure this out on my own?!" he asked, frustration seeping into his tone.
Artoria looked away briefly, guilt crossing her features. "I'm sorry, Peter. Knowing Adriel, he will help you, but I'd rather not risk seeing your head..." She hesitated. "Implode, because of some countermeasure."
Peter dropped to his knees, gripping his head tightly. His body radiated frustration and despair. Was I cursed even before this? he thought bitterly. It felt like an endless chain of calamities, each worse than the last, with no end in sight.
Artoria knelt beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I understand how terrifying this is," she said softly, her voice steady. "But I can't let you drown in despair. This is not the end for you, Peter. Calm yourself before the curse amplifies your negative emotions."
Peter clenched his teeth, his breaths coming in ragged bursts. But her words, along with the gentle pressure of her hand, seemed to anchor him. Slowly, his breathing steadied. "I'm sorry," he murmured.
"Don't be," she said with a small, reassuring smile. "We'll keep an eye on you and help you stay sane. You're not alone in this. The same way Adriel pulled me out of the Darkness, I will do the same for you."
Peter managed a faint smile. "That's... good to hear," he admitted. "We should tell Mr. Ka—"
"Adriel," a third voice interrupted. "Just call me Adriel. Karito... is a name I'd rather forget."
Both Peter and Artoria turned to see Adriel standing in the doorway, his expression taut with worry.
"Artoria," he spoke again, his voice calm but firm.
"Yes?"
"I heard everything. Are you certain about the failsafe?" he asked, his tone insistent.
"I am very sure," she replied quickly. "Anasis didn't hold back when it came to countermeasures against you."
Adriel's gaze darkened. "You know this from your time as a Dark, don't you?"
"Yes," she confirmed with a slight nod.
Adriel let out a heavy sigh. "Alright," he said, his voice tinged with both frustration and resolve. "I understand."
Adriel turned to leave the room but stopped, slightly glancing back over his shoulder. "We're going in pairs to attack the Dark-infested regions. Ace will be your partner," he said, pausing momentarily. "We're deep in Dark territory. That curse is only going to amplify if I try to do anything drastic. So, in case you ever lose your mind, Ace will be the one to stop you."
Peter furrowed his brow in confusion. "Ace? Wouldn't Artoria be a better choice?" he asked, shrugging slightly. "No offense, but does Ace even have enough... 'hax' to beat me?"
Adriel tilted his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "You think your assistance in Ace's fight was just a coincidence? If anything, that 'coincidence' is a sign. Let it run its course. Ace will be your duo. Artoria and I will head to a different region, specifically the one bordering Ixtal. You and Ace will take Demacia. Shurima is mine." His gaze dropped to Peter's suit. "Do you want me to check the suit's core while I'm here?"
"I..." Peter hesitated, letting out a deep sigh. "I'd appreciate that. Please."
As Peter spoke, Artoria's eyes remained fixed on the corpse of the Vastaya maid. Her voice cut through the room's tense atmosphere. "Did you two forget there's still a dead body here?"
Both Guardians turned toward her and stared at the lifeless maid for a moment, blinking in unison.
"Actually..." Adriel muttered as he approached the maid's body. "This is a character that wasn't touched by the Dark's influence." He crouched down, examining the corpse. "When the Darks consume someone, it makes it impossible for me to revive them. But if they weren't killed by a Dark..." His hand hovered over the maid's shoulder.
In an instant, a holographic screen appeared in front of him, displaying intricate character settings.
"Ha!" Adriel chuckled, his tone laced with excitement. "I can edit character settings now that I've grown stronger! Why didn't I think of this sooner?"
Artoria blinked in disbelief. "Did I hear that correctly? You're editing a fictional character's settings?"
Adriel nodded eagerly. "Exactly! I haven't been using this ability nearly enough." His fingers danced across the screen as he scanned the Vastaya's character design. "I can even access Blender, ZBrush, and other 3D design apps to completely overhaul their files. If a character was a janitor, I could just edit their settings and make them a lawyer, and they'd become one instantly!"
His arm flickered momentarily as he continued. "Now, let's see..." Adriel tapped a section labeled Status: Deceased and replaced it with Status: Alive. He executed the command, and the maid's body began to glitch, pixels shifting and reforming until she reappeared whole, her head restored.
The Vastaya maid gasped in shock, her wide eyes darting around the room. Upon seeing the three Guardians, her gaze locked onto Peter, and she flinched. In an instant, she dropped to her knees and pressed her forehead to the floor.
"I-I AM SO SORRY, MY LORD!" she cried out. "I DIDN'T MEAN TO HARM YOU! I ONLY ENTERED BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED WHEN I SAW YOU SHAKING! PLEASE FORGIVE MY TRANSGRESSION!"
Peter froze, utterly caught off guard by her reaction. His face flushed as he looked away, avoiding her trembling figure. "I-it's fine," he muttered awkwardly. "Just... don't do that again."
The maid's relief was palpable as she nearly sobbed in gratitude. "T-Thank you!" she exclaimed before hastily standing and darting toward the exit. "Please excuse me!" She vanished from sight, leaving the room in stunned silence.
The three Guardians exchanged awkward glances.
"Well," Adriel broke the silence, "you've certainly given that maid PTSD for the rest of her life."
Peter groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Like I said," he sighed, "it was an accident. I can't control this curse that's in my head!" He threw his hands up in frustration. "I can literally hear dead people!"
Adriel shrugged nonchalantly and turned to the door. "Been there, done that," he said dryly before walking out.
Peter and Artoria stood silently beside one another. "Is he okay?" Peter asked, breaking the silence.
Artoria turned her head to face Peter. "He's a bit tired. He also feels guilty for putting the League of Legends champions in their place for trying to 'assist' us," she explained.
Peter sighed. "Well, they really can't do anything against the Darks," he shrugged. "And even if they could, what would they do? Be healers? We've got potions for that. I literally can't see them being helpful outside of dealing with side objectives or weaker Darks. Sure, they can handle turned champions or grunts, but everything else? That's on us."
Artoria nodded in agreement. "Before the full-scale invasion, after all the Guardians were sent elsewhere or trapped to buy time, the Darks made sure to recruit forces that are at least Hyperversal level or above. And then there's the fact that Pure Darks can't even be harmed by fictional characters tied to the laws of their stories. Guardians and Darks, however, are not bound by those restrictions."
Peter blinked, absorbing her words. "And how strong was Shinra?"
Artoria frowned thoughtfully. "If I recall correctly, he was around Outerversal," she replied.
"Wait... Since when was I around that level?" Peter asked, visibly puzzled.
Artoria shrugged. "Guardians are constantly evolving, not just the Darks. But you—" she paused briefly, correcting herself, "—we improve so drastically that even I surprise myself sometimes."
Peter gestured toward the door. "Let's check on Ace while we talk," he suggested.
Artoria nodded. "Understood," she replied, following him as they walked.
Peter resumed the conversation. "I'm pretty sure it's all because of Adriel," he speculated.
"I wouldn't be surprised," she replied simply.
"How did he get so powerful so quickly?" Peter pressed.
Artoria tilted her head slightly. "Well, for you, it probably feels quick. You were gone for just a few decades, but that's nothing compared to what Adriel endured. He was trapped in a specific layer of The Backrooms designed to hold him forever, with an Inaccessible Cardinal and a Mahlo Cardinal to contain him," she explained.
Peter's eyes widened. "An Inaccessible and a Mahlo Cardinal? Seriously?"
"Yes," Artoria confirmed. "How he managed to escape with the power level he had at the time is still a mystery that left the entirety of the Dark Dimension in shambles."
"None of you saw that coming, huh?" Peter smirked.
"Not at all," she admitted. "When I was still a Dark, I hoped I'd never have to fight him. I knew that my knights and I would be utterly humiliated—and that's exactly what happened to them," she reminisced.
"Honestly, talking to him was the smartest move you could've made," Peter said, nodding.
"There was nothing else I could do," Artoria admitted. "I was ready to die if conversation failed. But... he proved me wrong, so very wrong. In the end, it was me who fell for his charisma. There was something in his voice, an influence, that tore away my negativity piece by piece the longer we spoke. He freed me, Peter. He made me a Guardian," she said with a soft smile. "I won't waste this chance."
"He does have a habit of doing the unexpected," Peter remarked. "I guess it comes with being the 'First Guardian,' or the one who redefined the concept altogether."
"His power is an enigma," Artoria agreed. "I can't even begin to comprehend the scope of his arsenal."
"Well," Peter mused, "he once told me he wanted to 'break the system.'"
"Break the system?" she repeated, tilting her head.
"Yeah, his gamer system," Peter clarified. "I didn't fully get it at the time, but he mentioned something about shattering the chains of fiction that restrain us. Or something like that," he said, scratching his head.
Artoria froze momentarily. "What?" she asked sharply.
Peter shrugged. "Something along those lines, anyway. It was a long time ago."
Artoria's expression grew thoughtful. "Unbound by fiction, when we are already fictional characters unbound by our own stories? How does he plan to erase our... fictionality?" she wondered aloud, confusion evident in her tone.
Peter shrugged again. "I really don't know. But he's been working on it for a while, and at the rate things are going, I'm sure he'll figure it out eventually."
"I can think of only one being who might already be unbound by fiction, but he's... well, I don't even know the word for it," Artoria mused, pressing her lips together.
"Unbound by both fiction and non-fiction?" Peter offered uncertainly.
"...Maybe. I'll ask Adriel later. I'm sure he'll know," Artoria concluded.
"Yeah, you do that," Peter said, pausing as they approached Ace's room. "Anyway, let's check on Ace," he added.
"Understood," Artoria replied, opening the door to Ace's room.
Upon entering Ace's room, they found the pirate sleeping soundly in his bed. The exhaustion from his earlier battle had seemingly evaporated, his body having healed completely in less than an hour of rest. Now, he appeared to be resting from the endless fighting that had defined his life for half a century—fighting, torture, and then fighting again.
As Peter had said before, it seemed like they could never catch a break.
Artoria whispered, "He seems to be doing fine," sighing in visible relief.
Peter raised an eyebrow, whispering back, "You thought he was going to be as bad off as me?"
Artoria shrugged and replied quietly, "Maybe."
Peter rolled his eyes. "Let's let him rest a bit longer and check on Mr. Ka—" He paused mid-sentence, then corrected himself with a sigh, "Mr. Adriel. I didn't question it before, but since when has he preferred to be called by his real name?"
Artoria gently closed the door to Ace's room, turning to face Peter. "I thought I mentioned it before," she said matter-of-factly.
Peter snapped his fingers, realization dawning. "Right, right. Nine hundred decillion years in a prison. Who wouldn't change after being stuck in an endless death loop with the literal embodiment of the End?"
Artoria began leading the way toward Adriel's lab, Peter walking beside her. "The concept of Death... of the End... He was a terrifying opponent to face, yet the Guardian managed to defeat him and escape the prison he was trapped in."
Peter frowned with concern. "Do you think...?"
Before he could finish, Artoria answered calmly, "From my observation, he seems to be doing fine. At least for now."
Peter slumped his shoulders. "Ugh... No one can tell when something's wrong with him unless he makes it painfully obvious."
"I noticed that as well during the earlier dinner," she added.
"He sounded overly concerned, didn't he?" Peter asked.
"Yes," she agreed.
"If there's one thing I've learned about Mr. Adriel, it's that he's not great at containing his emotions. But he's really good at acting," Peter admitted.
"How so?" she asked.
"I don't like to say it, but he mostly blames his condition for not being able to process emotions or understand them fully. Personally, though, I think he's good at understanding people—he's just working on managing his emotions so he doesn't blow up like he sometimes does."
Artoria listened intently, nodding. "Hmm... I see."
The two walked through the castle's winding halls until they reached Adriel's room. After knocking five times, they opened the door, revealing a highly futuristic lab.
Adriel had programmed his room to function as two separate spaces existing simultaneously in different dimensional planes. For anyone who knocked or entered normally, the room appeared as a simple apartment with all the furniture and comforts he owned. But when someone knocked five times, the dimensional plane shifted, revealing his secret lab—a space known only to the Guardians. The rest remained completely unaware of this trick hidden within Adriel's room.
...
Peter and Artoria made themselves comfortable as Adriel glitched into existence, holding Peter's suit in one hand and its power source in the other. The core resembled an arc reactor, but it was vastly different—a miniature version of the Speed Force, encapsulated within a swirling sphere of energy.
"Where did you go?" Peter asked, seemingly ignoring the fact that Adriel had somehow retrieved his suit effortlessly, without any prior indication of movement.
Adriel placed the suit and its core on the table as a holographic screen materialized above them. Without looking up, he answered, "I was scouting Shurima for a bit."
Artoria perked up at the mention of Shurima. "Did you manage to uncover who controls that territory?"
Adriel shook his head. "Nah, didn't find anything concrete. But..." His voice trailed off, his tone suspicious. "They seem... rushed."
"Rushed?" Peter echoed, narrowing his eyes. "How so?"
"Like they're looking for someone," Adriel replied, his expression serious, his focus now on the core.
Artoria furrowed her brows thoughtfully. "Maybe they're searching for a champion?" she speculated, though skepticism laced her tone. "Still, I don't see why they'd be so desperate to find a fictional character."
"Me neither," Adriel muttered, his gaze fixed on the core as he carefully inspected the sparks of energy dancing within it. "We'll figure it out in about a week. For now, I don't want you guys overworking yourselves unless it's absolutely necessary. From the looks of it, Anasis seems to be taking his sweet time. It's almost like he's on vacation in this verse." He frowned. "Sure, he's working, but he's not rushing. And that's what worries me."
"Are you planning to interrogate the Dark in Shurima?" Peter asked.
"If possible," Adriel replied curtly.
Artoria shrugged. "That's assuming they don't commit suicide or aren't bound by an oath of silence that kills them automatically."
Adriel raised a brow at her. "How were you not affected by something like that?"
Artoria tilted her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Because you never interrogated me, remember?"
Adriel facepalmed. "Right... and I guess I freed you from that when I turned you into a Guardian. Lucky you, huh?"
She nodded gracefully. "Indeed."
Peter gestured toward the table, his curiosity returning. "So... is the core doing alright? Specifically, the Speed aspect?"
Adriel tilted his head, letting Peter's question linger as the holographic projections shifted to display cascading streams of complex metrics. The energy field around the core pulsed rhythmically, arcs of light flickering as if alive.
"It's doing more than alright," Adriel finally replied, his voice carrying a mixture of pride and caution. "This core isn't just stable—it's perfect. The energy isn't just maintaining itself; it's evolving. The framework we built in the Nexus is adapting to encompass concepts of speed across all layers of existence."
Peter crossed his arms and leaned closer. "Evolving? You're not worried about that getting out of control?"
Adriel smirked, tapping a sequence on the control panel, which caused the hologram to zoom in on the core's energetic signature. "We designed this thing, Pete. It's not like the DC Speed Force, limited to its universe's laws and the whims of its creators. This core operates on the principles of the Nexus itself—a plane that's simultaneously fiction and reality."
Artoria, watching the swirling energy with growing concern, interjected, "But if it's evolving, that means it's learning. Do you have safeguards in place to prevent it from becoming... self-aware?"
Adriel waved off her concern. "It's not an AI, Artoria. It doesn't think—it simply is. It's the embodiment of speed as a universal constant: motion, progress, acceleration. Its only directive is to expand its connection to those concepts. That's the whole point."
"And all this... is inside my suit?" Peter asked, baffled.
"Yup," Adriel replied nonchalantly.
"So, what is the core doing right now? It seems to be changing as we speak," Peter said, lifting the core in his hands, feeling its boundless power emanating outward.
"Well, you became omnipresent, even if just for a few seconds. Right now, this thing is pulling concepts of speed from every layer of existence—fictional, real, conceptual—and translating them into raw power," Adriel explained, tweaking a few lines of code, causing the core to spark lightly.
Artoria narrowed her eyes. "You're sure this won't... overload while existing in a lower dimension?"
Adriel slouched into his chair. "The core and Narralith share an equilibrium right now. The Narralith mirrors the narrative forces around it. The only reason I could see the core being disrupted is if someone tries to sever its connection to the Nexus."
Peter frowned. "So, if someone tampers with it, we're risking... what? A multiversal collapse?"
"Try a Nexus fracture," Adriel corrected. "Worst-case scenario, the core's connection could expand uncontrollably, dragging entire Omniverses into the conflict. Narralith is powerful, but it's volatile because it's tied to everything. That's why we're testing it here."
Peter exhaled deeply, his fingers drumming the table. "Great. So, we've created the ultimate suit with the ultimate power source, but now we have to make sure no one tampers with it. No pressure."
Adriel smirked faintly, placing the core back on the table. "That's why we're not rushing this. You stress-tested it by sprinting to the edge of the infinite multiverse, and it held up fine. You'll have a suit that's not just adaptive—it's limitless."
Peter flexed his hand as the Narralith materialized around him, forming his Armored Spider-Man suit. Intricate, rune-like designs shimmered across its surface. "Alright, let's test it. Better now than when we're facing Darks or Von Neumann universes. I need to know what this thing can handle."
Adriel's expression darkened slightly. "Yeah... I don't want you going through what you did with AM. No one should have to deal with that."
Peter clenched his fist, memories flashing through his mind. I could've used the suits power if AM wasn't hiding all the time. He also used Darkenstine which affected me a lot. Adriel has been the only one to be fine even after being stabbed by an ore that's our kryptonite. A single air slash knocked me out completely. I do not want my head to be played with again, if I knew earlier that AM played dirty then I would've beaten him quicker but AM played the long game and maintained his distance. He thought, as he clenched his fists. "No one will. Not again," he said firmly. "Boost the core."
Adriel adjusted the controls, setting the simulation parameters. The core began glowing brighter, its energy field expanding as the Narralith suit responded, flowing over Peter like a second skin. The room dimmed as the holographic display flickered.
"Core output stabilizing," Adriel muttered as he monitored the data. "Narralith integration... holding steady. Spatial harmonics... wait."
Peter tensed. "Wait? That's never a good sign."
Adriel's fingers flew over the console. His expression tightened. "The Narralith isn't just reacting—it's adapting. The core is pulling speed concepts directly into the suit."
Artoria instinctively gripped her sword. "Adapting how? Is it unstable?"
Adriel shook his head, though his tone carried uncertainty. "Not unstable... just fast. It's rewriting itself faster than I can measure. Peter, how are you feeling?"
Peter's new suit morphed and changed, radiates a sleek, cutting-edge aesthetic that combines functionality with bold design elements. The suit retains the iconic red-and-blue color scheme but with an enhanced, almost iridescent finish that shimmers subtly as if alive, adapting to the light and surroundings.
The spider emblem on his chest is more prominent, glowing faintly with a pulsating energy that mirrors the core powering it. The emblem's legs stretch further across the torso, connecting seamlessly to the intricate web-like designs that weave across the suit in a dynamic, almost fractal pattern. These web patterns are no longer just cosmetic—they appear to shift and move, glowing faintly as they channel kinetic energy and speed-related enhancements throughout the suit.
The mask features sharper, more angular lenses that glow faintly blue, hinting at advanced HUD capabilities. These lenses are multifunctional, providing Peter with real-time data overlays and targeting systems. The suit's material is noticeably sleeker and more form-fitting, yet it conveys a sense of durability, as if it were designed to withstand the most extreme conditions. Subtle armor-like textures cover key areas such as the shoulders, arms, and legs, blending seamlessly with the flexible fabric for maximum mobility and protection.
On his arms, faint neon streaks run from his wrists to his shoulders, pulsating in rhythm with the core's energy. His hands are equipped with redesigned web-shooters that now emit a faint hum, indicating they've been upgraded to interact with the suit's advanced systems. The fingertips are slightly textured, enhancing his grip and allowing for precision webbing.
The legs of the suit sport more streamlined boots with faint glowing streaks running down the calves, hinting at speed-enhancement capabilities. The soles are subtly textured for traction, glowing faintly when Peter moves at high velocity, leaving behind faint streaks of light as he sprints or swings.
"I feel... incredible," Peter said, his voice tinged with awe. "It's like my thoughts aren't just controlling the suit—they're part of it. I don't even have to think about what I want—it just knows."
Adriel's voice remained cautious. "That's the core's influence. It's amplifying your connection to the Narralith. Just be careful and don't let the core be stolen."
Peter smirked, his confidence evident. "Hehe... this is awesome," he said, then looked at Adriel with a determined gaze. "And don't worry about that. I'll be careful."
Artoria tilted her head, her tone dry. "Careful isn't exactly your strong suit, Spider-Man."
Peter chuckled. "Hey, I'm careful... most of the time."
Adriel smiled faintly. "Spider-Man, huh..."
Peter turned to Adriel, his expression shifting slightly. "I... uh... Sorry I took your—"
Adriel stopped him, raising a hand. "Don't be. It was only a matter of time."
Peter tilted his head in confusion. "Matter of time?"
With a half-hearted but earnest motion, Adriel mimicked a knighting ceremony, placing an imaginary blade on Peter's shoulders. Peter's eyes widened in shock.
"Peter Parker," Adriel said solemnly, "I hereby bestow upon you the hero name... Spider-Man."
Peter stood frozen for a moment, unable to believe what he'd just heard. His mentor had officially deemed him worthy of the title?
Adriel smiled warmly. "You're a man, Peter. You have been for a while now. You've earned this. You're no longer Spider-Boy. You are Spider-Man. And honestly, it suits you much better."
A wide smile formed on Peter's face, his voice soft with emotion. "...T-Thank you, Sir. I don't even know what to say..."
Adriel patted Peter's arm gently. "Just be happy. That's all I could ever want from you, my apprentice." He grinned lightly. "Besides, I think the title 'Guardian' suits me a lot better than Spider-Man anyway."
Peter chuckled lightheartedly, his smile growing wider. "Hehe... yeah. It really does."
Artoria watched the exchange between Adriel and Peter, standing silently to the side. As Peter accepted the title of "Spider-Man," her gaze softened. The smile on Peter's face was genuine, almost childlike, as if the weight of his struggles was, for a moment, lifted. It was an unfamiliar sight for Artoria—one that struck a chord deep within her.
Her hands tightened into fists as her thoughts swirled. This camaraderie, this genuine belief in one another... It was so foreign to her. As a Dark, she had always operated under isolation, deceit, and domination. Her former comrades were tools, pawns on a battlefield where trust was nonexistent. The idea of receiving a title out of respect, or even admiration, was something she never experienced—or believed she deserved.
Peter turned back toward her, his grin still plastered on his face. "What do you think, Saber? Spider-Man—cool, right?"
Artoria blinked, momentarily caught off guard. She folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. "It's... fitting," she said, her voice even. "But don't let it go to your head, Peter. A title means nothing if you don't live up to it."
Peter chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Fair point."
Adriel glanced at her, noticing the way her posture stiffened slightly. "Artoria," he said gently, "You've been quiet. What's on your mind?"
She hesitated, looking between the two men. "It's... strange," she admitted after a moment, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I've seen so many titles thrown around in my past life—most given out of fear or manipulation. But this..." She gestured toward Peter, her tone softening. "This is different. Earned through trust, through belief in one another. It's... admirable."
Peter tilted his head, his expression curious. "You didn't have that before? Like, among your knights or... I don't know, other Darks?"
Artoria's expression darkened slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line. "No," she said simply. "Among the Darks, there is no trust. No belief in one another. Everything is a power play—a means to an end. Even my title as a knight was nothing more than a farce, a hollow claim to power that served the whims of another."
Adriel stepped closer, his gaze steady. "But you're not a Dark anymore, Artoria. You've earned your place here, too."
She looked at him, her emerald eyes searching his face. "I want to believe that," she said quietly. "But it's... difficult. This life, this... trust. It feels so foreign. Even now, I find myself questioning whether I deserve it. Whether I deserve to stand alongside people like you and Peter."
Peter stepped forward, surprising her with a light pat on her shoulder. "Hey," he said with a reassuring grin, "I get it. Believe me, I've been there. But if there's one thing I've learned from Adriel, it's that we're all here for a reason. And I'm pretty sure your reason isn't to keep beating yourself up."
Artoria blinked, her lips parting slightly as she processed his words. Slowly, a faint smile touched her face. "Perhaps you're right, Spider-Man."
Peter beamed at the acknowledgment of his new title. "See? You're already getting the hang of this whole 'teamwork' thing."
Artoria's smile grew slightly as she folded her arms. "Don't push your luck, Parker."
Adriel chuckled, watching the two with a faint, approving smile. "You're doing fine, Artoria," he said gently. "One step at a time. You're here now, and that's what matters."
As they moved toward the exit, Artoria glanced at her reflection in the polished surface of the lab's equipment. The woman she saw staring back at her no longer bore the weight of darkness. Slowly, she was beginning to see herself as something more. Something better.
Perhaps... she could be worthy of this trust after all.
To be continued...