Renzo and Peter didn't head to the convenience store right away. Instead, they walked toward a large house—also purchased by Renzo, of course, using funds from certain "kind-hearted" billionaires.
Renzo had even transferred some money from J. Jonah Jameson's account and given it to Peter. At first, Peter refused repeatedly, but the moment he heard it came from his stingy boss, he accepted it without another word.
Renzo had felt it then—the faint flicker from the Mind Stone on his forehead, and the clear surge of joy in Peter's heart. A simple thing was enough to make him happy.
When the two entered the house, the crackling of machinery and the faint hum of electricity filled the air.
Otto stood there in goggles, carefully polishing mechanical components. Even though he noticed their arrival, he didn't look up, remaining completely focused on his work.
"Dr. Octavius!" Peter called out excitedly.
Otto finally raised his head, immediately setting aside his tools and walking over with enthusiasm.
Peter lifted his arms, ready for a hug—
But Otto walked straight past him and grabbed Renzo's hand instead.
"You're here! Come, take a look—see if anything needs improving!" he said eagerly.
Renzo could only sigh helplessly. Ever since he had fixed the reactor, Otto had been constantly dragging him into discussions about experiments, day and night.
As their conversations deepened, the way Otto looked at Renzo had changed entirely—as if he were staring at a priceless treasure, his eyes practically shining.
Peter stood there awkwardly as the two walked off together, talking animatedly, leaving him no choice but to trail behind them in silence.
This was the laboratory Renzo had prepared for Otto—fully equipped, convenient in every aspect. The only downside was the lack of windows. Sunlight never reached inside, and as a result, Otto had grown noticeably paler and thinner, giving him an even more stereotypical "scientist" appearance.
At the center of the lab stood a massive sphere—Otto's nuclear reactor. It was different from before.
A soft blue glow radiated from it, as if it contained an entire starry sky within.
Even though Peter had seen it multiple times, he was still awestruck every time. Compared to something like Tony Stark's compact arc reactor, this larger creation carried a far greater sense of scale and impact.
Otto excitedly explained the device to Renzo, who in turn used the knowledge in his mind to refine its design. Time passed unnoticed. Eventually, Peter had to leave for other matters, leaving only Renzo and Otto behind.
After a while, Otto finally stopped, satisfied, and prepared to take a break.
Renzo looked at him, slightly exasperated. He didn't feel hunger or fatigue, but prolonged thinking still left him mentally drained—at least in a human sense.
"I've been trying to find a way to send you back," Otto said, lowering his head as he took a sip of water. "It's incredible… the multiverse actually exists."
"Yeah," Renzo replied. Their conversations rarely strayed beyond science. "About what I said before… those harsh words—I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter," Otto said simply. Renzo had already arranged a proper burial for his wife, even purchasing a second grave so Otto could one day rest beside her.
"If I ever get the chance, I'd like to meet this Tony Stark you mentioned," Otto added, a hint of admiration in his voice. "A genius like that… extraordinary."
"If there's a chance, I'll introduce you," Renzo said. He didn't make any promises—but he knew that in the future, figures like Otto could indeed cross into other universes.
The conversation faded into silence again. After lingering for a while, Renzo eventually left.
...
Mary Jane stood on stage in full costume, smiling as she performed her favorite play with complete sincerity.
In the audience, Peter watched her, pride swelling in his chest. It was a strange feeling—like seeing someone you love shine in their own world.
Mary Jane's smile was radiant. From time to time, she glanced at Peter. After everything they had been through, he had finally learned how to be present for her. Balancing both Peter Parker and Spider-Man, he was slowly finding his footing.
Applause thundered through the theater as the performance ended.
Backstage—
Peter took Mary Jane's hand, speaking awkwardly but earnestly. "I'm officially a staff reporter now. I'll have a stable salary. I don't have to take pictures of myself anymore."
He beamed with happiness. In truth, this was Renzo's doing. He had invested in the newspaper, with the condition that Peter be hired full-time.
When Jameson saw the amount, his eyes nearly popped out. For such a "small" request, he didn't hesitate—Peter was promoted on the spot.
Mary Jane smiled warmly. "Peter, how's Aunt May? I'll come visit her with you today."
"She's doing great," Peter said, grinning. "She even went jogging with a neighbor recently."
Mary Jane looked at him, amused. It was hard to connect this slightly awkward young man with the heroic Spider-Man.
"Come on, my hero," she teased softly, leaning close to his ear. "My Spider-Man."
Peter's face turned bright red, completely flustered.
...
From a distance, Renzo watched the two of them leave the theater hand in hand.
It felt like a knife had been driven into his chest.
Four months had passed since the incident with Otto. Renzo, Peter, and Otto had been searching for a way to send Renzo back—but…
Renzo lowered his head, frustrated. There was no magic in this world, and the level of technology wasn't advanced enough. Even combining Otto's intellect with the knowledge in Renzo's mind, they still couldn't create a machine capable of traversing universes.
"Help!"
"Monster!"
Suddenly, chaos erupted on the street. People fled in panic, their faces pale with terror, as if they had seen something horrifying.
"A monster?" Renzo frowned, turning and walking against the fleeing crowd.
According to his memory, the Venom incident shouldn't have happened yet. There had been no sign of any alien meteorite either.
A troubling thought surfaced in his mind.
Had his presence triggered some kind of butterfly effect?
Avoiding the rushing crowd, Renzo suddenly sensed a shadow looming above him.
Boom!
A car slammed into him and exploded on impact. The blast sent shockwaves through the street, throwing nearby pedestrians aside. Blood and chaos filled the air.
"What the hell—?!"
Renzo transformed instantly, shooting into the sky as he looked toward the source of the attack.
"…What is that?"
His eyes widened in shock.
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