Restart, Spider-Man!

In the end, Xia Luo's sincerity moved Dr. Otto.

"All right, let's save Ruth… and myself."

Otto's eyes grew resolute, and Xia Luo passed along Lady Gao's whereabouts.

"Take the Stone of Time. Use the power of the dragonbone fossil."

He handed Otto a piece of the dragonbone fossil. Given Otto's current strength, Lady Gao wouldn't stand a chance.

With Otto convinced, the next steps in the plan were simple.

Right before the artificial sun reached critical failure, Xia Luo visited Stark Tower and spoke at length with Tony.

—

Ninth Resurrection Trial

As soon as the countdown ended, a dazzling portal appeared over Kamar-Taj.

"Sizzle…"

Bathed in the glow of mystical energy, Xia Luo removed his nano-suit and stepped into the village.

In the open space, a group of wizards dressed in brown robes practiced magic in unison.

"Hummm…"

As the wizards made circles with their hands, glowing golden symbols appeared in the air, shaping complex geometric patterns.

These glyphs felt dreamlike, a delicate blend of reality and the ethereal, seeming almost to disappear into nothingness at any moment.

"Puff."

One of the younger wizards suddenly faltered, his energy dissipating into the breeze. Watching his disappointed expression, Xia Luo shook his head.

Borrowed magic is never truly yours… unless you never give it back.

Lost in thought, he spotted Wong eyeing him from a distance. After a moment's hesitation, Wong stepped forward and bowed slightly.

"Are you here to see the Sorcerer Supreme?" he asked.

Anyone who could appear in Kamar-Taj unannounced had to have the Sorcerer Supreme's approval; without it, they wouldn't even sense the place's existence, much less enter.

Xia Luo nodded. "Yes, I need to speak with the Ancient One."

"Right this way."

Wong led him past groups of sorcerers practicing their spells and finally to a quiet pavilion.

"Ancient One," Wong called softly from the entrance, stepping aside and gesturing for Xia Luo to enter.

"The Sorcerer Supreme awaits you," he added before falling silent by the door.

Xia Luo paused, then added, "Could I get some fresh juice? Two glasses, please."

Wong's eye twitched. "The Sorcerer Supreme does not drink juice."

"They're both for me."

Wong: "…"

"Very well. Wait here."

As Wong left, Xia Luo composed himself, then stepped inside with a pleasant smile.

"Hello, I'm—"

"Spider-Man. Please, have a seat."

Without waiting for him to finish, the bald-headed Ancient One, sitting cross-legged on a cushion, opened her eyes and smiled.

Xia Luo blinked, glancing at her cushion.

"You use those too?" he asked, seating himself on a nearby wooden chair.

The Ancient One smiled. "Of course. They're very convenient."

She then reached into the cushion and pulled out a can of soda.

It was ice-cold.

"Want one?" she offered.

Xia Luo: "…"

"No thanks, I only drink fresh juice. But… yes, cushions are indeed convenient," he remarked, nodding at the cushion.

The Ancient One responded with a nod of her own, conjuring golden runes with a single hand, swirling a stream of cola into a glass on the table.

"This one's freshly poured."

Xia Luo eyed the glass. "Artificial sweeteners aren't very healthy."

Noticing Wong returning with the juice, she quickly hid the soda in her cushion.

"Yes, even sorcerers must mind their health," she said nonchalantly.

Xia Luo's lip twitched. Are all Marvel characters secret pranksters?

"Your juice, sir."

Wong set the juice on the table, casting a side-eye at the brown "tea" in her cup, shaking his head with resignation.

"You'll end up losing all your teeth at this rate," he muttered as he left.

The Ancient One kept her smile perfectly toothless.

"Spider-Man, I know why you're here, and this isn't the first time we've met," she began.

At her words, Xia Luo frowned.

"But it is our first time…"

Halfway through, Xia Luo recalled a previous trial, the one with Dark Strange, where they'd crossed paths.

So…

Realizing the truth, Xia Luo chuckled. "So it's like that?"

The Ancient One nodded. "Even a single universe has its fascinations, but you've glimpsed the multiverse's wonders. Trading insights across universes can be quite enlightening. Although, it can get tricky knowing who you are. I wouldn't recommend it."

Xia Luo took a sip of juice. "And I bet you all gossip, too."

"Only experience," she corrected.

"Fine, then, Ancient One, will you help me this time?"

With a warm smile, she shook her head. "Of course not. This isn't a Dark Dimension incursion. I have no reason to interfere."

"Not even for the end of the world?"

"Humankind's struggles are part of its evolution. I cannot intervene."

"So, it's non-negotiable?"

"Well, not entirely."

She glanced at the door and snuck another sip of soda from her cushion.

"I could, at least, help you deal with a particularly troublesome individual."

"Loki?"

"Yes, the crocodile. It's not the first time he's tried to worm his way into Kamar-Taj."

Xia Luo understood what she meant immediately.

In Lizard Parker's universe, Crocodile Loki hadn't shown up in the resurrection trials. Could he have gone to Kamar-Taj instead? Not fully committing to the game meant he'd end up repeating it indefinitely.

"Did you do that on purpose?" he asked.

"Hmm?" The Ancient One feigned innocence.

"Sealing Loki wouldn't require you to sacrifice yourself."

The Ancient One retracted her soda, her expression serious. "Actually, from the moment you became Spider-Man, my work was finished. I can finally follow the call of eternity, or in simpler terms, give myself a break."

But then her tone shifted. "Staying would mean facing… certain visitors, and that would be most troublesome."

"So, you're dodging them."

Xia Luo arched a brow. "Ancient One, with great power comes great responsibility, you know—"

"Spider-Man, allow me to address you by your full name, Xia Luo Parker."

The Ancient One's tone grew mischievous. "That line doesn't work on me. I told you, my job is done, so I am free of any responsibility."

Xia Luo: "…"

Tough crowd.

But he hadn't expected her to step in anyway. If she meddled in every matter, there'd be no need for the Avengers.

"Couldn't you stay anyway?" he tried.

She shook her head. "Only if there's a compelling reason to do so."

"Your disciples need you," Xia Luo said. "I've seen what happens—they'll die."

"Death does not mean the end."

Right then, the ground beneath him shook violently, rattling the entire pavilion.

"Crack-crack—"

Through the windows, Xia Luo saw golden barriers forming in the sky, fracturing as they appeared. The piercing roar of a beast filled the air as a gargantuan crocodile, stretching over a hundred meters, crashed through the barrier and slammed into the village.

"ROAAAR!"

"Boom—"

The sky quickly darkened as storm clouds gathered. Under their shadow, the massive crocodile whipped its tail, smashing nearby buildings to rubble.

"Oh no, it's a magical beast from another dimension!"

"Quick, form a shield!"

"Buzz—"

The sorcerers shouted in panic, connecting golden shields to fend off the massive beast's assault.

"Boom!"

"Thud, thud, thud—"

The ground shook with heavy, booming vibrations. Xia Luo leapt to the roof, his gaze tightening as he took in the terrifying size of the colossal crocodile.

"Is Loki always this strong?"

"That's just a physical avatar," said the Ancient One calmly, stepping out of the pavilion. Her hands wove together, folding the village into a dimensional space.

Broken houses hung upside-down in midair as a mountain of debris buried the giant crocodile under its weight.

"Buzz—"

Golden portals opened all around, as the sorcerers summoned chains of shimmering light to bind the beast's enormous body.

"Roar!"

The crocodile thrashed, shattering the chains with each struggle, the backlash causing the sorcerers to stumble and spit blood as they were driven back.

"Already out of energy?" Xia Luo sighed, sympathizing with the fragility of their bodies. He shot a web to anchor himself in midair.

"Whoosh—"

With the rush of wind, his body was soon covered in his red and blue nano-suit.

"Spider-Man!" Wong spotted the figure and froze, recognizing the young man he'd often seen on his secret hamburger runs in New York.

Before the sorcerers could regroup, Xia Luo had transformed into a radiant meteor, streaking down toward the crocodile.

"Friendly Neighborhood Dropkick!"

The shining meteor fell toward the crocodile, which tilted its head up, jaws wide.

"Gulp—"

The meteor dropped right into its maw, and the crocodile closed its jaws with a satisfied belch, a bit of red and blue energy spilling from its mouth.

Ancient One: "…"

Wong: "…"

Xia Luo: "…"

Surrounded by total darkness, Xia Luo felt the magic energy being siphoned out of his body, as the gleaming glow from his suit dimmed and disappeared.

Even the Spider Totem's light on his chest flickered in and out, growing fainter.

"Huh?"

Xia Luo paused, realizing that Crocodile Loki was absorbing magical energy.

No wonder it had targeted Kamar-Taj right from the start—stubborn as ever.

Just as he pondered how to escape, a familiar voice called out beside him.

"Oh my God, it's so dark in here! Are we in the DC Universe?" Wade gasped dramatically, clutching his face. Xia Luo's face fell.

Was this part of the plan?

The answer was a definite no.

He kicked Wade away, watching him tumble through the blackness before turning into a streak of lightning to speed through the stomach's void.

But this black space felt endless, and even the portals wouldn't open.

As his magic energy ran out, his body became exposed to the acidic darkness, leaving him numb, unable to feel pain but aware he was slowly dissolving.

"Hey, Spider-Boy, care for a swim?" Wade's voice piped up casually as the acid began to surge around them.

Xia Luo considered it. "Let's race."

"Sounds good."

—

Tenth Resurrection Trial

Kamar-Taj, streaking meteors.

"Roar!"

The giant crocodile opened its jaws to devour the incoming meteor, but at the last moment, a spark of magic flared, and the meteor disappeared, only to reappear from another portal, smashing directly into the creature's right eye.

"Boom!"

"Roar!"

The magical impact exploded, sending a giant green eyeball soaring through the air, as big as a bowling ball, crashing through a nearby building.

"Help!"

Wade's voice cried from within the building.

"Whoever saves me, I'll lick their toes!"

As the crocodile stampeded over the building, a single, severed hand flew out of the rubble, middle finger raised.

The scene shifted once more into a coliseum of broken stone, where the Ancient One led the sorcerers into battle, charging with magical shields toward the giant beast.

Xia Luo: "…"

This again?

How many times must I say it—sorcerers should never engage in close combat!

Before he could intervene, the one-eyed crocodile dove into the crowd, flinging sorcerers like rag dolls into the stone rubble.

The screams were relentless, and amid the green light radiating from the creature, a new eyeball regrew.

"Damn, it knows magic too!" Wong exclaimed.

Xia Luo landed beside him. "Find its real body, and we can end this."

"The real body is right here," the Ancient One panted, straining under the force of her giant shield, sweat beading on her brow.

"I couldn't locate it, so I used forbidden magic to bind it within this space."

Xia Luo sighed, recognizing her brilliant performance.

Great acting… but too bad, I'm not giving you the opportunity.

Let's see how you retire without a valid excuse.

Opening another portal, he brought in backup.

"Spider-Boy, we're here!"

Old Man Steve and the others charged through the portal into the dimension. The Ancient One looked deeply concerned—perhaps she should've closed the portal in advance.

Logan, now back to his younger self, pushed a wheelchair through.

"The real body's in the pond!"

Eyes closed, Professor X had pinpointed Loki's true form.

As he spoke, the pond's surface churned. The crocodile glared in fury, its jaws opening to unleash a terrifying pull.

"Roar!"

The sudden surge of psychic backlash struck Professor X, his face drained of color as he felt his mind crushed by an overwhelming force.

If no one intervened, he would be dead within moments.

But Xia Luo was ready.

He'd suspected that Professor X's first death was somehow connected to Crocodile Loki.

This guy didn't just consume magic; he could absorb psychic energy too.

"Buzz—"

Without hesitation, Xia Luo opened a portal, causing the pond's waters to pour out in a torrent, revealing the dark green crocodile with a horned crown flailing within a web.

Crocodile Loki!

"Fools! I am a god of Asgard, the great Crocodile God! You miserable mortals, release me…"

Ignoring Loki's rant, Xia Luo grinned.

"I'll throw some dirt in your eye."

---

T/N: he made the DC joke 4 times now...? come on wade

Hello! Thank you so much for reading this chapter. WiseTL has worked hard to bring these wonderful stories to you, and I'm so happy we could share this moment together! Don't you think stories are a little like dreams? Each one has its own colors and shapes, and they grow even brighter when shared with others.

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