Chapter 697: The Boundless Incident (XIII) (Patreon)

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In the space surrounding Klyntar, multiple forces constantly clashed.

Upon seeing Helen rushing towards Klyntar, Solus assumed she had exhausted her strength and was trying to flee. He thus prepared to give chase. However, Frigga from another side sensed Helen's presence and used her magical barrier to block Solus's path.

Magneto, merely upset because his work was interrupted, sought to eradicate everyone present. His magnetic storm surged forth, constantly clashing with other powers and forming vortexes that sought to consume anything in their path.

Amidst these chaotic force whirlpools, an inconspicuous little shadow suddenly emerged. In an instant, it was torn to shreds by the formidable turbulent powers.

Within Klyntar, Peter once again saw the thrown-around Schiller, who subsequently flew out only to return to the same spot.

Peter was utterly perplexed by Schiller's actions. Everything happening before his eyes exceeded his comprehension.

After several appearances and disappearances, Schiller finally stopped in front of Peter, hands on hips. He sighed and said, turning to Peter, "Such is the nature of this world, isn't it? Some things are not determined by effort alone."

Seeing Peter's dazed expression, Schiller stepped closer and lightly tapped his arm, asking, "What's wrong, Peter? Has your journey across the Multiverse been smooth?"

"I...," Peter began, mouth agape but unable to find words. After a few moments of silence, he abruptly stood, a nervous look on his face. "Doctor! I've been searching for you. I have something of utmost importance to tell you!"

"Something important? What is it?" Schiller inquired, observing Peter closely. He noticed Peter's feeble condition from his gestures.

"It's that...," Peter hesitated, taking a deep breath before continuing, "I've met Spider-Men from other dimensions. They told me that anyone who has ever said 'With great power comes great responsibility' to Spider-Man has ultimately met their demise."

"I understand this might sound absurd, and I didn't believe it at first. But after asking everyone, in their dimensions, the person who made them understand this phrase indeed perished."

"The Ultimate Spider-Man informed me that this is the curse of Spider-Man. I'm unsure if this is the kind of mystic curse Doctor Strange talks about, but I believe it's more than just a coincidence..."

As Peter regained his composure, his voice grew increasingly anxious. "Dr. Schiller, I know you're powerful, but this is extremely perilous. If this truly is a curse, you might... you might die."

The weight of the word "death" hung heavily around Peter. After uttering it, he was enveloped by a profound sadness.

Upon hearing all this, Schiller was taken aback.

Back then, when he told Peter "With great power comes great responsibility," he was fundamentally trying to save Matt, who was in critical condition. Schiller, being familiar with Marvel's narrative, knew the plot's possible direction. Without that phrase, the next scene would've been an emergency in Matt's hospital room. The once recovering Matt would deteriorate, ultimately dying weakly in Peter's embrace.

His precaution proved to be right, as the curse was a real threat, verified when Peter ventured into the Multiverse and met other Spider-Men.

Peter shared this with Schiller, expecting comfort or understanding, but was shocked when Schiller's face lit up with apparent joy.

"I'm serious, Doctor. You're in grave danger... just like earlier! The beam that pierced you earlier, it's too coincidental! This could be the curse manifesting!" Peter exclaimed, panic evident in his voice.

"Wait! Dr. Schiller, you need to get out of here. I'll escort you!" An anxious Peter grabbed Schiller's arm, attempting to lead him away.

Schiller calmly removed Peter's hand. "Peter, do you intend to leave without doing anything?"

"But I need to ensure your safety..."

"If we depart, the one at risk isn't just me but every life in this dimension," Schiller said, gazing at Klyntar's core. What was once a pitch-black space now had a ray of light seeping in. The ancient cage, standing silent within the Andromeda Galaxy, was finally broken today.

With the cage's demise, Knull's maniacal laughter resonated.

A dark mist emerged, looking at the vast cosmos, its crimson eyes glowing brighter. An entity formed from this darkness, surrounded by countless weeping symbiotes that faded into the silent space.

With the spread of this boundless chaotic power, even Solus felt suffocated. This primeval energy, wielded by an ancient being, had transformed into a lethal weapon.

The dark oppressive feeling left Peter almost breathless. Schiller was right; their dimension was under a dire threat of chaos.

"Do you remember what I told you before?" Schiller, turning to Peter, asked. In Schiller's eyes, Peter saw an endless brilliance.

In response to Peter's shout, Schiller's figure vanished.

A second later, a surging gray mist materialized before Knull. Facing the Grey Mist, even if Knull were a fool, he would understand—Schiller was the accursed thief.

If one were to say that the Grey Mist being stolen just after its birth was bearable, what followed was utterly humiliating. Schiller mocked Knull repeatedly through the system, doing so twice no less.

He, the mighty God of Symbiotes, when had he ever suffered such indignation? And now, this despicable, insolent thief dared to flaunt his might before him. For a moment, Knull's rage flared uncontrollably.

The black mist slowly dissipated, revealing a figure with white hair and red eyes in the expanse of space. Although much diminished in size, its presence felt even more imposing.

This being, older than space itself, possessed a power unimaginable to any communal species. It was the foundation upon which he established himself within the cosmos.

The Chaos power was extracted, concentrated, and refined, forming a long sword. Schiller held the Umbrella, and Knull raised his sword. When their figures, one gray and one black, clashed, the very fabric of space trembled.

Using the power of Venom and the Red Bee, Peter escaped from within Klyntar. However, upon sensing the unsettling Chaos energy, he realized he couldn't just stand by.

From the information provided by the Red Bee inside him, no human could possibly stand against Knull. Knull was a true god, the creator, controller, and ruler of the Chaos power.

Peter's unease grew. He quickly crossed the expanse of space, finding the Spider-Men who were entangled with Solus.

But facing a Multiverse-level entity like Solus was a tremendous challenge for the Spider-Men. Even without as many members of the Inheritor Family opposing them, a cornered Solus was even more lethal.

In mid-air, the massive phantom of Solus constantly waved his arms, releasing rings of energy storms. Spider-Man after Spider-Man faced him, and within moments, many were injured.

Peter was torn. He wanted to aid both Spider-Man and Schiller but was uncertain how to engage in either battle.

Just then, he heard a faint voice by his ear: "Peter... help those you wish to. We are still here..."

The voice, gentle in tone, continued, "We don't know if we can change your tragedy, but we're still willing to try. All Spider-Men are..."

Peter closed his eyes. When he finally summoned his courage, he saw every Spider-Man, including Otto Parker, surrounding Solus, all looking towards him. The surroundings echoed with the sounds of explosive energies. None of the Spider-Men spoke, but their demeanors conveyed their thoughts.

In their realm, tragedies were irreversible. In their somber reflections, they yearned for someone to have warned them of the impending calamities, giving them a chance to save their loved ones.

But reality left little room for such fantasies. Yet, if given an opportunity to realize such dreams—even if not for themselves—they'd seize it.

Peter took a deep breath and headed towards Schiller.

Arriving at the new battleground, he realized there was little room for him to intervene.

The confrontation between Schiller and Knull was less a physical combat and more a clash of powers. Schiller's power, refined from what he'd taken from Knull, was even more potent than the Chaos power in use, infuriating Knull further.

In a place unseen by Peter, Schiller constantly texted Knull through a system. The message was short yet potent: "Nataru."

Blinded by rage, Knull summoned the very essence of Chaos, launching reckless assaults. Peter watched as Schiller struggled against the overwhelming onslaught, seemingly having trouble even defending himself.

Peter lunged at Knull but was swiftly repelled. Physical attacks had little effect on an entity like Knull, and Peter's mastery over the magical energies within him was still lacking.

As he grew increasingly desperate, he saw Knull thrust his sword towards Schiller.

From Peter's vantage point, he noticed another condensed energy orb hidden behind Knull. The frontal attack was but a feint; Knull's real intention was to ambush Schiller with this concealed force.

Peter cried out, "No! Dodge it!"

But Schiller, believing his energy barrier would withstand Knull's blade, remained motionless.

As Peter rushed towards Schiller, the sword struck the barrier, creating a cascade of intense sparks.

As Schiller had anticipated, Knull's blade didn't pierce his defense. However, what followed was a catastrophic explosion that shattered the surrounding space.

Peter was thrown back. During his trajectory, he saw Schiller, hastily transformed into Grey Mist, still caught in the devastating aftermath. The Grey Mist dissipated slowly in the explosion's glow and shockwaves.

When the mist had vanished, Peter finally reached his destination, only to see a shadowy figure slowly descending.

Schiller, like a leaf falling in late autumn, was captured by a star's gravity amidst the turmoil of energy, drawn inexorably downward like a moth to a flame, or a water-strider sinking into the depths.

As he plummeted, his hair fluttered upwards, as if trying to capture something. But when Peter caught Schiller, his form began to disintegrate due to the dissipating energy, consumed by the endless inferno of the star.

Peter heard a soft sigh fading into space:

"With great power, comes great responsibility."

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Next Chapter>>Chapter 698: The Infinite Event (Part 14)