Spider-Man leaped towards her without hesitation, amidst the scattered gears and parts. Their eyes met; Gwen's gaze held both panic and trust in him. The situation was critical, and Spider-Man, as he had done countless times before, shot out his web.
Every time he shot his web, it hit the mark, a skill he had mastered through relentless practice. This time was no different. The web stuck to Gwen perfectly. Everything went smoothly, but it was just a moment too late…
A dull thud echoed, like the final chime of a clock tower, mirroring the breaking heart of Spider-Man.
When he secured the web and jumped down, he saw his beautiful girlfriend with her eyes closed. But she would never open them again, never share tender moments with him, never travel to distant lands together.
The camera showed Spider-Man cradling her in his arms, his hands trembling as he caressed her hair and cheeks as if she were a fragile porcelain doll that might break with a little more pressure. Yet the heartbreaking reality was, she was already gone.
"Gwen, wake up, Gwen, please, please don't leave me, I can't live without you…"
Spider-Man removed his mask, tears streaming down his face. In this moment, he was not the hero who saved people from disasters, but a helpless, pitiful child. Yes, both he and Gwen were still just kids who hadn't even gone to college.
Seeing this scene, countless viewers also wept. They had thought Tobey's Spider-Man was tragic enough, but this was even worse.
So what if I saved the world? In the end, I still lost you. All the sweet love between Gwen and Spider-Man, meticulously built up before, was like a beautiful bubble meant to be burst in this final moment.
In the Eternal Space, Peter Parker covered his face with his hands, trying to maintain a shred of dignity, not wanting Wanda to see his tear-streaked, snotty face. But he quickly realized that everyone saw this scene now.
"Don't be like this, Peter. Gwen is still alive, she's fine!" Wanda, feeling empathy and sympathy for Spider-Man's future, gently comforted him. "I've always said, the purpose of these quiz games is to help us avoid these tragedies. Everyone is safe in the time you're in now, right?"
The gentle comfort from the older sister made Spider-Man feel a bit better, but his eyes still reddened, and he cried out, "Yeah, Gwen saw this too, right? She must be scared. I… I'm afraid to get close to her now. I'm just a disaster magnet!"
He had once been full of hope and courage to pursue love, but now, after seeing this destined tragic future, Spider-Man hesitated. Unless he refused to become Spider-Man, but was that possible?
His father's legacy, Uncle Ben's teachings, and his own desire to fight crime and uphold justice, not to mention that through the live broadcast of the quiz game, everyone now knew he, Peter Parker, was Spider-Man. Unless he held a press conference like those celebrities, formally announcing his retirement?
"Uh… Peter, that's not like you. You're brave, really. Everyone has seen your courage and intelligence. You shouldn't back down because of these things. I believe you can change this tragic future," Wanda continued to encourage him.
Peter Parker's face was full of struggle and pain. He wiped his face vigorously, smiling more miserably than crying, "Thank you, really, thank you, Miss Wanda. But I won't lie to you. I don't know what to do now. Oh God, why did you show me this future? I'd rather know nothing… That way, I could feel better."
Hearing this, Wanda sighed deeply. Yes, sometimes knowing more wasn't necessarily a good thing; it could bring more troubles. Some people would rather live their lives in ignorance, which might be a form of wisdom.
But she quickly composed herself, looking at him intently, "No, Peter. Recognize your own heart. You know what to do. Spider-Man's strength doesn't come from the genetically modified spider your father left behind, nor from the amazing web, but from your heart that dares to take responsibility and move forward against the wind!"
Peter Parker was stunned for a moment, then shook his head helplessly, "Miss Wanda, you seem to understand me better than I do."
Wanda smiled, blinking, "I just understand Spider-Man very well. Of course, I think everyone now, like me, understands what kind of person Spider-Man is."
The video on the light screen had not yet ended. Spider-Man once again saved New York but lost his true love. After Gwen's funeral, he locked himself in his room. The world outside returned to normal, but Peter Parker could not go back to how things were.
He locked his Spider-Man suit in a box. New York lost Spider-Man, and Peter Parker lost his future and goal.
This was understandable. Anyone who had experienced such a heavy blow couldn't remain indifferent. Peter Parker began to doubt himself, questioning if he could bear the weight of 'Spider-Man.' He had thought he could, but now realized he had underestimated the burden. It seemed too heavy to carry.
Viewers began to worry whether Spider-Man would completely sink into despair, just like the Batman revealed in a previous quiz game, who retired after his confrontation with the Joker.
If even someone as strong-willed as Batman couldn't move past it, could Spider-Man do it?
Fortunately, Peter Parker still had people who loved him. Aunt May saw his increasing gloom and advised him not to avoid those tragic past events, as that would only cause more pain. He needed to learn to accept them to move forward.
Inspired by this, Peter Parker looked through Gwen's belongings and saw her speech at the graduation ceremony. She spoke about hope and resilience, as if she was speaking directly to him, which gradually restored his vitality and smile.
The video ended there.
Outside the light screen, Peter Parker took a deep breath, shaking his head with emotion, "In this short time, I feel like I've lived a lifetime!"
Wanda smiled and said, "See, I knew you could overcome all this. People need Spider-Man, and Peter Parker is no exception."
"Yeah, now I'm just worried…" Peter Parker hesitated, then asked, "Miss Wanda, can you tell me now, in another parallel universe, how did the other me and other… superheroes solve these problems?"