121: Chapter 121 The Thief Who Stole Fate

"Coordinates locked: Earth-61112."

Cold streams of data flashed across Spider-Gwen's retinas. She knelt on one knee and reported to Lynn, "Master, the radar shows extremely strong traces of 'fate line tampering' in this Universe. Someone has forcibly replaced the destiny of this plane's chosen one."

"Interesting."

A flash of crimson flickered in Lynn's eyes. Stealing fate?

"Let's go."

A spatial rift silently tore open in the sky above New York.

Leading his three maids, Lynn landed on the spire of the Empire State Building.

As soon as he landed, Lynn sensed something wrong with this New York.

There were no birds in the sky; instead, it was filled with dense swarms of micro-spider robots like locusts. Fully armed private mercenaries patrolled the streets. The entire city felt like a cold, efficient open-air prison.

"Is this... Peter's city?" Gwen looked down at the oppressive streets, her brow furrowed.

"Beep—!"

The moment they appeared, the compound eyes of hundreds of micro-spider robots nearby lit up with red light, swiveling their lenses simultaneously toward the four people on the spire.

In less than half a minute.

Accompanied by a piercing whistle of air, a red-and-black figure swung down from high above, landing steadily opposite Lynn.

The man wore a highly technological spider-suit with four sharp mechanical spider legs extending from his back.

Ultimate Spider-Man.

Peter Parker, with the soul of Dr. Octopus inside his shell.

"Unregistered dimensional stowaways. Your presence severely lowers the efficiency of this city."

Ultimate Spider-Man crossed his arms, the white goggles of his suit staring coldly at Lynn. His tone held a sense of extreme, condescending arrogance: "I am the Ultimate Spider-Man. I'll give you three seconds to surrender, or my webs will sever your limbs."

He was used to controlling everything, especially after convincing himself he was "better" and "more efficient" than the original Peter Parker.

Hearing that voice, Spider-Gwen shuddered violently.

"Peter?"

Gwen looked at the masked face across from her in disbelief.

"Who are you? What did you do to Peter?!" Gwen's gaze instantly became extremely dangerous.

"Oh? You recognize the original owner of this body? He was a fool who only knew how to act on emotion."

Ultimate Spider-Man gave a cold laugh, the mechanical legs on his back rising like vipers. "I am now a more perfect, more superior existence! As for you, a spider-freak dressed like a maid, you'll soon become my experimental specimen."

"You're asking for death!"

Gwen was completely enraged. The muscles beneath her Crimson Court uniform tensed as she prepared to charge.

"Stand down."

Lynn's calm voice rang out, carrying an absolute will that brooked no disobedience.

Gwen stopped in her tracks by force, gritting her teeth as she retreated behind Lynn. "Master..."

Lynn kept his hands in his trench coat pockets, not even glancing at Ultimate Spider-Man.

He simply raised his left eye slightly.

The [Crimson Hive Mind] he had just unlocked from Tony Stark rippled out silently following his gaze.

"Click."

In mid-air, the tens of thousands of spider robots aiming their laser sights at Lynn and the others suddenly jammed in unison. All the red lights instantly turned the dark red representing the [Crimson Court].

"What? My neural control network is disconnected?!"

Ultimate Spider-Man's expression changed as he frantically tapped the control panel on his wrist. He was horrified to find that the city-wide surveillance system he took such pride in hadn't lasted even a second before being completely taken over by the opponent.

Lynn withdrew his gaze and finally spared a glance for Ultimate Spider-Man, as if granting alms.

This is what qualifies as Ultimate Spider-Man?

Lynn's voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a heavy hammer, smashing into Dr. Octopus's fragile self-esteem.

"What do you know! I created this absolutely safe city!"

As if his most painful nerve had been stepped on, Ultimate Spider-Man let out a hysterical roar. The four mechanical legs on his back instantly pierced the air, striking toward Lynn's heart like four bolts of black lightning!

"Carol? Hela?" He was extremely fast, even creating sonic booms in the air.

But Lynn still didn't move. Nor did he let Carol or Hela act.

He simply used the [Swarm Network] to inject a sliver of the Bloodtrix's original power directly into Spider-Gwen's body from a distance.

"Gwen, that insect is yours."

Lynn's voice echoed in Gwen's mind. "Ten minutes. Tear apart his iron claws, rip off his mask. Just leave him with a breath of life."

"As you command, Master!"

Gwen snapped her head up, her originally clear eyes instantly filled with crimson light!

With the boost from Lynn's power, Gwen's speed and strength instantly broke through the limits of a single Universe!

Boom!

The air was forcibly detonated by her step.

Before Ultimate Spider-Man's mechanical legs could even touch the hem of Lynn's coat, Gwen's figure had already teleported in front of him!

"This is impossible—"

Under Dr. Octopus's terrified gaze, Gwen's hand, wrapped in her dark red suit, grabbed one of the mechanical spider legs he was so proud of!

Rip!

Without the slightest hesitation, Gwen applied force with one hand and actually ripped the mechanical leg—forged from an Adamantium alloy—straight out of Ultimate Spider-Man's back!

Blood and machine oil sprayed simultaneously.

"Aaaaaagh!"

Ultimate Spider-Man let out a shrill scream of agony, losing his balance and slamming heavily onto the ground.

Before he could even crawl up, a combat-booted foot stomped down hard on his chest, snapping several of his ribs.

Rip!

Gwen tore off Ultimate Spider-Man's mask, revealing the face that belonged to Peter Parker but had become extremely distorted because of Dr. Octopus's soul.