The G-1 Korona and G-2 Whirlwind were more than just robots; they were the crown jewels of Celestial Tech. Because they were so compact, they were perfect for solo fighters who needed to upgrade their suits without adding too much weight.
The G-1 Korona was a sleek, wrist-thick cylinder that could hover behind Peter like a floating turret, firing high-energy pulse beams. The G-2 Whirlwind was a sphere the size of a tennis ball that orbited his body at high speed; any enemy that tried to touch him would be met with a massive blast of electricity.
After spending 2,200 points on these blueprints, Deep Blue immediately scanned and locked them away in a triple-encrypted database. Peter then spent another 100 points on a "Survival Kit"—five Novice Life Potions and five Novice Mana Potions. Finally, he dropped 350 points on the rare metals and circuits needed to actually build these machines.
Peter checked his balance. He had started the day with 4,000 points. He had spent 2,650, leaving him with 1,350 points in reserve. As a transmigrator, he knew that being over-prepared was the only way to stay alive. A reserve of points was his "life insurance."
"Deep Blue! Let's get to work," Peter commanded, looking at the pile of high-tech scrap on his floor. "We're upgrading the suit tonight. No slacking off!"
It was a long, sleepless night of welding, coding, and testing. It wasn't until five in the morning that the physical work was done. Peter handed the final software calibration to Deep Blue and collapsed into his bed. He knew that if he didn't sleep now, he might actually drop dead from exhaustion.
At seven o'clock sharp, Deep Blue woke him up.
"Master! It's time. Miss Gwen is already at the door."
Peter groaned, his eyes feeling like lead weights. Just as he sat up, the familiar knock echoed through the room.
"Peter! You're oversleeping again! Get up or we'll miss the bus!"
Peter pulled on a vest and jacket and lazily opened the door. "Gwen, don't you know it's rude to interrupt a guy while he's changing?"
Gwen's eyes caught the sight of Peter's arms—which had become much more toned and muscular thanks to his recent training. Her face turned a bright, apple-red, but her stubborn personality wouldn't let her back down.
"Hmph! It's not like I haven't seen you before! What's the big deal?" she stammered.
Peter raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Oh? So you're saying I'm allowed to see you changing too?"
Gwen didn't even wait for him to finish. She covered her face and bolted down the hallway. "Hurry up! I'll wait outside!"
Peter watched her run, a satisfied smile on his face. Nice try, kid.
Before leaving, Peter glanced at his wardrobe. Hidden inside was his masterpiece from the night before: the Parker Suit Mark II.
The Price of Being a Hero
Later that morning, at Midtown High, Peter and Gwen were sitting in class, passing notes back and forth while the teacher lectured.
Gwen: "Peter, why 'Batman'? Does it mean something?"
Peter: "I was just messing with that robber. I didn't think he'd tell the whole world! Now I'm stuck with it."
Gwen giggled behind her hand, but her next note was more serious.
Gwen: "I heard two of those robbers died from their injuries. Did we go too far?"
Peter's expression hardened. He knew his answer would define Gwen's future. He didn't want her to be a "sad" hero like the Spider-Men he remembered from comics—always burdened by guilt and tragedy.
Peter: "Gwen, remember this: Boundless kindness to evil is cruelty to the innocent. If you let a criminal go because you're soft-hearted, and they kill someone else, that's on you. Make them fear you. Make them tremble so much they never dare commit a crime again."
Gwen stared at the note, a deep shock hitting her system. She was a kind person by nature, and Peter's "Anti-Hero" philosophy was hard to swallow. But she didn't throw the note away. She folded it carefully and tucked it into her bag. The seed of a new ideology had been planted.
Into the Vortex
Suddenly, Gwen gripped her head, a wave of dizziness washing over her. Her Spider-Sense flared with an intensity she had never felt before—it felt like a physical scream inside her brain.
"Gwen? What's wrong?" Peter asked, immediately standing up. He told the teacher Gwen was sick and helped her out of the room.
In the quiet hallway, Peter pulled out a Life Potion and made her drink it, but it didn't help. Gwen gripped his hand, her face deathly pale.
"Peter... I think I'm going somewhere..." she whispered.
Then, the world began to break. The floor, the walls, and the ceiling started to twist like a shattered mirror. Scenes of different cities and different times flashed in the cracks of the air. It was a Spacetime Vortex.
"Deep Blue! The suit! Now!" Peter yelled.
Deep Blue was already on it. In Peter's school locker, the Mark II suit roared to life.
CRASH!
The hallway window exploded as the suit parts flew in, powered by their own thrusters. Like a scene from a high-tech movie, the mask, the gauntlets, and the energy pack slammed onto Peter's body, locking into place in less than three seconds.
The moment the suit was on, the vortex reached its limit. A massive suction force pulled Peter and Gwen into the center of the spinning light. With a soft pop, they vanished from Midtown High.
When Peter woke up, the air felt different. Smoggy. Cold.
He was standing on a rooftop overlooking Times Square. Gwen was beside him, looking up at a massive digital billboard. Her jaw dropped in horror.
The screen showed a young blonde man in a classic red-and-blue suit. The headline read:
"NEW YORK MOURNS: SPIDER-MAN (PETER PARKER) DEAD AT 26."
Peter looked at the dead hero on the screen. He realized he wasn't in his own New York anymore. He placed his hands on Gwen's trembling shoulders and spoke in a low, serious voice.
"Gwen, listen to me very carefully. Have you ever heard of the Parallel Universe theory?"