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Alex Ray took the Sling Ring and examined it carefully, eyes lighting up with delight. He hadn't expected to acquire the portal ability so easily.
"I'm not the kind of guy who cares about rewards. For the peace of the universe, I have no choice but to take on this responsibility."
"Always be prepared to fight for the—uh—peace of the universe!" Alex declared passionately, nearly tripping over his own words.
The Ancient One's calm expression shifted slightly, a hint of helpless amusement appearing on her face. Was it really wise to entrust such a critical mission to this man?
"But I remember… the portal can't directly teleport someone into a parallel universe, right?" Alex asked with uncharacteristic seriousness. He couldn't recall any instance where a Sling Ring was used to traverse dimensions.
Many people mistakenly believed that Tobey Maguire's and Andrew Garfield's Spider-Men in No Way Home were pulled through by Ned's portals. But that wasn't the case—they were drawn in by a space-time rift.
The Ancient One nodded. "You're correct. I never said the portal itself could take you to another universe. But because we're dealing with adjacent universes, I can locate a crack in space-time and send you through."
Of course she had a way. She was the Ancient One—she'd lived for centuries, mastering every form of magic, both permitted and forbidden.
There wasn't a spell she didn't know. The only difference was whether she chose to use it.
Alex nodded in realization. It was true—age came with wisdom. A flicker of greed crossed his mind. He really wanted to become family with her and get all that magic for free.
Suddenly, the Ancient One's tone shifted. "Alex Ray, do you know why space-time fractures are appearing in this universe?"
Alex paused, caught off-guard. He had never really thought about it until now. Hearing her bring it up piqued his curiosity.
"There are countless parallel universes. They exist side by side but typically don't interfere with one another."
"However," she continued, "anomalies can cause ripples—a butterfly effect. When such a variable emerges, a fracture forms, connecting universes that should remain isolated."
Alex absorbed her words thoughtfully. From his previous life's understanding, it sounded like Marvel just needed an excuse to expand—and got lazy, so they went with 'parallel universes.'
"Alright, Master Ancient One. What happens after I complete the mission? How do I get back?" Alex was still concerned about his own safety.
The Ancient One seemed to anticipate this. "I've enchanted your Sling Ring. Once activated, it will bring you back here."
"But it only works once. If you need to go again, return to me and I'll re-enchant it."
It was a clever way to ensure he kept reporting back.
"No problem," Alex said quickly. "I'll help you with this mission for sure."
"The most important thing is that I want to be friends with you, Master Ancient One. Friends help each other, right? You wouldn't mind being my friend, would you?"
For a moment, something softened in the Ancient One's expression. A small, genuine smile touched her lips. After centuries, it was rare for anyone to speak to her like that.
"You're quite an interesting one," she said cryptically, but the meaning was clear.
A system notification chimed in Alex's mind.
"Congratulations, host. You have successfully added the Ancient One as a friend."
"Congratulations, host. You have acquired the ability: Portal."
"Merge now?"
"Yes! Merge immediately!" Alex responded internally.
A flood of knowledge and technique poured into his mind. In an instant, he understood how to open portals, maintain stability, and travel vast distances with a flick of his fingers.
It felt as if he had been training in portal magic for over two years.
Alex couldn't believe how efficient the system was. Just moments ago, he was wondering how long it would take to master teleportation.
Now he could wield it like a natural-born sorcerer.
As Alex was syncing with the system, the Ancient One ended the Mirror Dimension spell.
"Now, it's time to bring down our guest from the parallel universe," she said. "It's time to send him back."
Alex quickly headed upstairs to find Miles. The kid was probably still confused and had no idea how to return home.
A few minutes later, Alex returned with Miles Morales in tow. The boy looked dazed but curious as he approached the Ancient One.
Alex gestured. "Miles, this is the Ancient One. She's the one who's going to take you home."
Miles gave a respectful nod. "Hello, Master Ancient One. My name's Miles."
His emotions were a storm—relief, hope, anxiety. For days he'd been stranded in this bizarre world. He thought he might never see his family again.
Now suddenly, Alex Ray appeared with a solution. It seemed too good to be true.
He was afraid to believe it… but he couldn't help but feel excited.
"You're a brave kid," the Ancient One said gently. "Don't worry. You'll be home soon."
She looked at him kindly, though her thoughts were deeper. This boy was never meant to exist in this reality—and yet, here he was. The butterfly effect incarnate.
She hesitated, then offered a cryptic hint. "Child, do you understand how special you are?"
Miles blinked. "Is it because I'm… Black?"
The Ancient One chuckled softly, then shook her head. "There is usually only one Spider-Man in each universe. And every Spider-Man faces loss—the death of someone close. Yet your parents are still alive. That's… unprecedented."
Alex found himself nodding. God knew how many times Uncle Ben had died in different realities. His graves probably wrapped around the multiverse by now.
Miles frowned. "Does that mean my parents are in danger?"
The Ancient One's eyes grew distant. "They'll be fine. But you need to be careful. Now… it's time."
She raised her hand, and a mystical energy radiated from her palm, enveloping Miles.
His body began to shimmer, gradually turning transparent as if merging with the air itself.
Miles waved goodbye. "Thanks, Alex. If you ever visit my universe, I owe you dinner. Thank you, Master Ancient One."
As his words faded, so did he—until he was nothing but a beam of light, vanishing into the void.
Once Miles was gone, Alex turned to the Ancient One, curiosity sparking in his eyes.
"What would've happened… if Peter Parker never became Spider-Man?"
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đź“š Enjoying the Story? Get Ahead Now!
Can't wait for the next twist or epic moment?
Join my Patreon and unlock 40+ advanced chapters—read ahead of everyone else! 🔥
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Your support means the world to me—thank you so much! 💖
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