Inside the Musikverein in Vienna, the students of Midtown High were listening to classical music that was making them drowsy. Mozart's music was passionate, but compared to 21st-century pop music, it didn't quite hit the mark. Everyone had heard louder and more frenetic things; moreover, asking Americans—high schoolers, no less—to appreciate classical music was a tall order.
It was a bit like trying to force a square peg into a round hole.
Peter simply wasn't in the mood for music. Within this magnificent and elegant architecture of the Golden Hall, he was checking the news. Recently, the entire world had been reporting on the Avengers smashing Hydra, the Avengers dealing a heavy blow to Hydra, or the Avengers eliminating Hydra altogether. In the media's narrative, Hydra had been reduced to a pathetic organization; it seemed that as soon as the Avengers lifted a finger, Hydra would crumble.
The general consensus had shifted toward a one-sided trend: "Hydra is trash. They plotted and hid for seventy years only to be effortlessly crushed by the Avengers. Losers!"
This might have been exactly what Hydra wanted: to portray themselves as weaklings and convince the public that they had been completely wiped out. In reality, the only people capable of concluding that "Hydra's strength remains undiminished" were Captain America and Nick Fury. But neither the Captain nor Fury could provide hard evidence; they simply believed, based on pure intuition, that Hydra was cutting off its own tail to survive.
Peter felt the same way. After all, the Winter Soldier was still alive, the Serpent Society was still active, and Hydra still possessed significant combat power. The intelligence Ultron brought out of the Hydra underground city had indeed triggered a massive manhunt, but that didn't mean it represented the entirety of Hydra's secrets.
Peter was almost certain that Hydra had hidden much more.
"Why have you been staring at your phone?"
Gwen asked in a low whisper. Peter glanced at her. What else was he supposed to do? Wouldn't it be even more agonizing if he wasn't looking at his phone?
After all, he wasn't like Cindy. That girl didn't just love reading books; she was also deeply invested in this classical music. Gwen tilted her head; she didn't really have an ear for classical music either, but since this was the Golden Hall, she listened attentively if only for the sake of having something to brag to her dad about later.
Of course, how much she actually processed was another matter.
After everyone finished listening to the concert, they began to leave in small groups. The students were discussing where they should go to have fun next, while only Peter remained concerned with work-related matters. The problems he encountered on this trip were becoming more numerous and complex.
Regarding that temple beneath Taranto—who had told his father about it? And who was the woman who sold the statue? Was it Madame Web?
Peter sighed, unsure of what to do, when he felt a tug on his arm. He turned around to see Cindy and felt a vibration from his Spider-Sense. "Did you bring that totem with you?"
Cindy nodded as a matter of course. "Over there. There's someone."
Peter looked over. Red hair, sunglasses, and a red coat—it was undoubtedly Madame Web, Julia Carpenter.
"It's been a long time since she last appeared. It was about time."
As Peter spoke, he led Cindy over to the cafe where Madame Web was drinking coffee. The two sat down opposite her. Seeing Cindy for the first time, Julia smiled warmly. "Hello, Cindy Moon. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Julia Carpenter, though you may call me Madame Web."
"I happen to have a lot of things to ask you..."
"I'm afraid I cannot give you many answers, Spider-Man."
Madame Web seemed to know what Peter was going to ask and cut him off directly. "Unlike other matters, if a Spider-Totem becomes powerful enough, they can interfere with the Web of Destiny in a limited capacity. Whether it was the man who led your father to the temple or the woman who sold the statue, it's all the same. Especially regarding the latter—I can perceive no information at all."
"...So, you know about the former." Peter looked at Madame Web and inquired, "Who is he? Why did he take my father to Taranto?"
"For the sake of destiny. Our world has deviated from its track. As you may know, all the Spider-Totems were born three years ahead of schedule... Some Spider-Totems became aware of this earlier, such as a man named Ezekiel Sims. Through a ritual, he obtained power from Anansi and became a Spider-Totem, realizing what our kind would have to face. To fight our natural enemies, he needed the Web of Destiny to create a fated warrior."
Ezekiel Sims...
Peter pondered for a moment before suddenly realizing who that was. In the comics, this man was a pivotal character who expanded Spider-Man's origins from a radioactive spider to a Spider-Totem. He was the one who told Spider-Man about Morlun's existence and hid Cindy Moon for ten years to ensure Morlun wouldn't sense the unique totem known as "The Bride."
He was also the antagonist in the epic cinematic masterpiece, Madame Web.
By now, Peter didn't even need to ask why the man had taken his father to Taranto.
Because of destiny. Destiny required a Spider-Man to exist in Universe 616, and specifically for Peter Parker to become Spider-Man. Peter held his head in his hands, feeling somewhat helpless. He wasn't sure if the Web of Destiny knew about his status as a transmigrator or if the Web itself had arranged his transmigration, but it was certain that he had become Peter Parker and had become Spider-Man.
However, this kind of fatalism made him feel confused and even a bit... repulsed. It felt as though something was truly manipulating his life.
"Why?" he asked Madame Web. "Why me?"
"I don't know. To fight the Inheritors? Or to fight Shathra?" Julia shook her head. "If you want the answer, perhaps you have to wait for him to arrive. You can only ask him once you find him."
"Then why have you come now...?"
"I have seen destiny, Spider-Man. Thus, I have come once again to tell you the revelation of the Web of Destiny—Spider-Man shall die, and then Spider-Man shall be reborn."
Peter looked at Julia Carpenter, bewildered. These two sentences were simultaneously too clear and too vague. What, was he finally going to go through the classic Marvel trope of dying and coming back to life?
"Uh, and then what?"
"And then, remember: you will be erased from history by the Master of Time, for you are the greatest uncertainty in his plan. When that time comes, you must find a way back yourself. You cannot escape all this by fleeing from this world; you must find a way on your own. If things go well, you will figure it out."
"That's basically saying nothing at all, but thank you. I think I have a general idea of who I'll be facing." Peter stood up after speaking. "Have a wonderful day, Madame."
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