[Kamar Taj]
The Ancient One had been expecting me for further training, especially after my... "incident" with the Mirror Dimension last time. Although I opened it before, it was unstable.
"You're late," the Ancient One's voice echoed from behind me.
I turned, only to find her standing calmly on the edge of a cliff overlooking the mountains surrounding Kamar Taj. Her usual serene smile was in place, but I could tell she wasn't impressed by my tardiness.
"Yeah, I know. Sorry, got... caught up with something," I said, scratching the back of my neck. No way I was telling her what exactly I'd been up to with Michelle.
Her smile deepened as if she knew anyway. "Time is a fluid concept here. What matters is how you use it."
She stepped forward, motioning for me to follow her. We walked in silence for a few moments until we reached a training chamber—one I hadn't been in before. The Ancient One didn't give me much to go on with her cryptic phrases, but that was part of her charm. Or annoyance, depending on the day. Today, I felt the latter. My mind was still reeling from the intense session with Michelle. Spider-enhanced or not, she knew how to leave an impression.
The chamber we entered was vast and open, almost like a void in space. The walls shimmered slightly. The energy in the room was suffocating, almost as if reality itself was bending under the pressure. I had experienced this sensation before but not on this scale.
"Today, we are focusing on the Mirror Dimension once," the Ancient One began, her voice calm yet commanding. "You've accessed it, Peter, but you've barely scratched the surface. There's much more to learn if you hope to control it properly."
The Ancient One swiped her right arm in the air, and instantly, the air around us seemed to ripple. Slowly, the chamber began to transform, walls expanding and curving inwards. The floor beneath me shifted, swirling like a whirlpool. It was like being in a dream—where nothing made sense but felt entirely natural.
"You must learn to bend the Mirror Dimension to your will. It is a reflection of the real world, but it obeys different rules," she explained, her eyes glowing faintly with power.
I watched as the room continued to shift, the laws of physics becoming mere suggestions. It's always exciting to see this place. The Ancient One stepped onto what looked like a vertical wall and walked as if it were a flat plane. Everything was kinda shiny around the place just like I remembered from my last time here. Meanwhile, I struggled just to keep my feet from sliding on the floor. With my spider power, I should be able to stick to the surface, but for some reason, it was difficult to do so.
"Follow me," She began to walk forward.
As soon as I took a step, the ground under me vanished. I was falling—or at least I thought I was. There was no sensation of wind rushing past me, no stomach-churning drop. It's a weird feeling. Like you are falling, yet you aren't. I was falling or floating, I don't know. Everything around me was while and empty... Way too empty... Am I breathing?! Feels so sleepy...
Fuck! What was that just now?! I shook my head.
"Focus," her voice echoed around me, though I couldn't see her anymore. "The Mirror Dimension responds to intent. You must believe you are in control. Only then will the environment yield to you."
Yeah, easier said than done. Something just tried to do something funny with my head.
Ok. Clear unnecessary thought. Closing my eyes, I tried to steady my breathing. Focus is my forte. Although this isn't a great place to focus and the fact that I can't feel anything... Still, gotta do it. This was all just an illusion, right? A reflection of reality. If I wanted to stop falling, I just had to will it. I pictured myself standing on solid ground, my feet planted firmly, the world around me still and calm.
Slowly, the sensation of falling began to ease.
I opened my eyes and found myself standing on a platform in the middle of the swirling, distorted space. The chamber was still shifting, slowly stabilizing around me. And it took the shape of that room we entered, but much bigger.
"Good," the Ancient One said with a nod as she reappeared beside me. "You're starting to understand. The Mirror Dimension is a reflection of your mind. If your thoughts are chaotic, so too will the world around you be."
I nodded, feeling a bit more confident than before. This was different from the physical battles I was used to. It was more cerebral, more about controlling my own mind than controlling my body. I can handle it.
Hmnn... Now that I think of it, back then it was really reckless of me to enter the mirror dimension.
"Now," the Ancient One continued, "we will move to the next phase."
With a flick of her wrist, the world around us changed again. The serene, floating platform I had been standing on shattered into a thousand pieces, and I found myself standing in what looked like a twisted, upside-down version of New York City. Skyscrapers jutted out at impossible angles, some hanging from the sky like stalactites, while others rose from the ground only to bend in on themselves.
It was dizzying, disorienting, and utterly bizarre.
"Your task is simple," she said, her voice calm as ever. "Find a way out."
I blinked at her. "That's it? Just... find a way out?"
She smiled. "That's it. But remember, the Mirror Dimension is not bound by the same rules as the real world. What works in one place may not work here. Think outside the box."
With that, she vanished, leaving me alone in this twisted version of the city.
Great. Just great.
I took a deep breath and looked around. The city was both familiar and alien at the same time. The streets were empty, but I could hear distant echoes—like the city itself was alive and watching me. There was no clear path forward. Everything was a maze of distorted buildings and warped streets.
"Okay, Peter, think," I muttered to myself. "How do you get out of a place that doesn't follow the rules?"
I took a careful step forward, testing the ground beneath me. It held firm, but I knew that could change at any moment. I needed to think of this place like a puzzle, one that responded to my thoughts and actions.
"Control your fear, control the dimension," I repeated to myself, recalling the line from one of the books I once read. Easier said than done, but I had to try. I controlled it once before, I just gotta get back that feeling.
I extended my arm forward and imagined a bridge forming from one side of the street to the other. Sure enough, the air rippled as a shimmering bridge appeared, stretching out over the gap. It was like magic. I stepped onto the bridge and took another cautious step. It held steady, despite being suspended in mid-air. I can't believe it. I'm really doing this.
With a grin, I started to run across the bridge. As I moved, the world shifted around me. The buildings twisted and turned, forming new pathways and shortcuts. It was like a living labyrinth, always changing to match my desires. I was just thinking and it was taking shape right before my eyes almost instantly.
I felt like I could do this forever. But I wasn't here to play around. I had a task to complete.
I stopped and tried to open a portal out of the place. But... it didn't work. No portal opened up. I can feel my magic, but it isn't working the normal way. So, how about trying something abnormal?
"Focus, Parker... You are the one in control," Closing my eyes once more, I pictured the city around me returning to normal. I focused on the feeling of standing on solid ground, on the sound of cars honking in the distance, and on the smell of hot dogs from a nearby vendor. I extended my harm forward and did the reverse of what I usually do while opening a portal. Slowly, I began to feel the world around me shift.
When I opened my eyes again, the city had returned to something resembling normalcy. The buildings were upright, the streets were straight, and the sky was a normal shade of blue. I was standing on the rooftop of a building with a giant clock. The space around me rippled for a moment like shards of broken mirrors but soon stabilized.
"Well done," the Ancient One's voice echoed behind me.
I turned to see her standing there, her serene smile in place.
"That was faster than Stephen's first time. You're catching up quickly," she said with a nod.
I smiled at the praise. "Thanks. But I still have a long way to go."
She nodded. "Indeed, but you have already come a long way."
This was just the start, but I knew I was on the right path. With more training, I could master the Mirror Dimension—and who knew what else I could achieve?
For now, though, I had a lot more work to do.
---
[3rd Person POV]
[Meanwhile] [Manhattan] [Alley]
A black SUV blocked the alleyway.
"Let her go," Emma Frost said, her voice cold as ice. "And I might just make it a little less painful."
"Why? Can't you get into my head and control my actions?" The man holding Chat at gunpoint sneered. He was wearing a helmet, designed to block psychic attacks.
"Or maybe try to use your telekinesis." A familiar voice came to Emma's ears as the door of the SUV opened.
"Shaw! Figures," Emma replied, rolling her eyes.
"How are you feeling, Emma?" Shaw asked in an amused tone.
Emma narrowed her eyes at him, then turned back to the man holding her daughter hostage.
"She has nothing to do with it. Let her go," She repeated herself.
Shaw gave a nod to the man holding Chat. He let her go. Chat quickly ran to Emma and hid behind her.
"What do you want?" Emma asked, cutting to the chase.
"You," Shaw said, pointing at Emma. "I want you. You see, I don't want you to suffer. So, thought I'll give you an offer."
A wisp of wind passed by Shaw as he froze in his steps. He felt an arm around his neck and heard an unfamiliar voice. "You can't be serious. Are you seriously so arrogant that you think you can take her from me?"
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"You," Shaw said, pointing at Emma. "I want you."
A wisp of wind passed by Shaw as he froze in his steps. He felt an arm around his neck and heard an unfamiliar voice. "You can't be serious. Are you seriously so arrogant that you think you can take her from me?"
Shaw's instinct kicked in. The amount of bloodlust he felt from this person was insane. He wondered how many people had died at this person's hands for him to have this much pressure. It was obvious he was in the presence of a real psychopath. But when his eyes fell on this man's arm, his eyes widened.
"Spiderman," He said, his voice slightly hoarse.
"Yeah, they are mine and you can't have what's mine, let alone threaten them. You see, I don't give a second chance to people like you... Taking hostages, threatening, creating chaos, and many other things I could list out... But I'm a busy man. So, I'll just kill you here and prevent any future problems," Spiderman said in a monotonous voice.
"Kill me? Well, you can try," Shaw slammed his feet on the ground with his powers and the entire area shook. The kinetic energy he absorbed before coming to meet Emma, erupted from his body, causing multiple energy blasts. Fiery heat waves emerged as the ground cracked open. The walls around them shattered, but to his surprise, there was a barrier of some kind, preventing the energy blasts from causing more destruction. And Spiderman didn't even move. He just stood there beside him with his arm around his neck.
Emma created a psionic shield around her and Chat. She watched as the energy blasts collided with Spiderman's barrier. Shaw tried to absorb the energy he just released, but he couldn't.
'What the hell is going on?' Shaw thought to himself. 'Why can't I absorb this energy?'
Spiderman didn't flinch as Shaw released waves of kinetic energy, nor did he seem particularly impressed. The shimmering barrier held firm, absorbing the blasts with ease, leaving Spiderman standing as calm as ever. His arm remained casually draped around Shaw's neck as if they were old friends.
Shaw's frustration increased, and he glared at the web-slinger. "You bug... You think you're so clever, don't you?"
Spiderman tilted his head, mock-puzzling. "Clever? No, not really. I just think I'm the guy who's going to kill you. But before that... Let's have some fun, shall we?"
Before Shaw could react, the world around him cracked like a mirror and the space bent, and in the blink of an eye, they were no longer in the alley. They were in the Mirror Dimension.
Shaw blinked as he looked around, the twisted reflections of New York City warping around them. Buildings bent at impossible angles, floating pieces of debris hung in mid-air, and the sky seemed to fold in on itself. It was disorienting, but for Spiderman, this was all part of the fun.
"Welcome to my playground, Shaw," Spiderman said with a grin beneath his mask. "You should feel special. Not many people get a personal tour."
Shaw tried to summon his powers, willing the kinetic energy he'd absorbed to give him strength, but nothing happened. The laws of physics were different here, and it seemed his powers were taking a little vacation.
"Feeling a little powerless, huh?" Spiderman asked, walking around Shaw in a slow circle. "Don't worry, I've got some fun stuff planned for you. Just hang tight and enjoy the ride."
Suddenly, Shaw felt something strange. A pungent, overwhelming smell entered his nose. His nose crinkled in disgust. It was like someone using an oxygen mask, but instead of oxygen, it's Hydrogen sulfide mixed with something even worse. "What… what is that smell?!"
Spiderman snickered. "Oh, that? I call it the 'Magic Fart.' Really leaves a lasting impression, doesn't it?" He waved his hand, and the smell intensified.
Shaw coughed, trying to wave the foul air away. "You're… you're a child!"
Spiderman shrugged, clearly having the time of his life. "Nah, just a guy who knows how to have fun. You know, life doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. Sometimes, it's about the little things. Like this. Besides, you should enjoy it. You are gonna die after all." He snapped his fingers, and Shaw's hair—previously neat and tidy—began to fall out in clumps. In its place, thick, curly hair sprouted all over his face, arms, and legs. Within seconds, Shaw looked like a cross between a bald man and a gorilla.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Shaw yelled in rage. That smell was still around him and now this.
Spiderman laughed. "I think it looks good on you. If I sell you to a zoo, do you think they'd give me a good price for you?"
"You'll regret this!"
"You know, you keep saying that... but no, I really don't think I will."
"Turn me back, NOW!"
"Don't worry, big guy. It's temporary. I mean, unless you like the whole 'King Kong' vibe, in which case, you're welcome," Spiderman said, stifling a laugh.
Shaw's face twisted in fury as he clawed at the ridiculous hair, but it was no use. The Mirror Dimension was under Spiderman's control now, and Shaw was just along for the ride.
"You little pest!" He yelled in anger. "When I get out of here—"
Spiderman raised a finger to shush him. "Yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before. 'When I get out of here, I'll make you pay,' blah blah blah. Here's the thing... You're not getting out."
Shaw's face turned red with anger. He clenched his fists, trying to summon all the kinetic energy he could. His body trembled, and for a moment, it seemed like he might actually do something. But his energy dispersed instantly. Then Spiderman waved his hand again, and an oversized clown outfit appeared on his body, complete with floppy shoes and a big red nose.
"Ta-da!" Spiderman announced. "You're officially the scariest clown I've ever seen." He took out his phone and snapped a couple of photos. Shaw looked ready to kill.
Shaw growled, beyond words now. He was ready to tear Spiderman apart. He ripped off his clown jacket in anger along with his shirt, revealing a vest strapped with explosives. 'Good, they are still there.' The sight of it gave him a twisted sense of satisfaction. "You think this is a game? I'll show you what real power looks like!" He yelled before quickly pulling the trigger.
A deafening boom shook the Mirror Dimension, releasing a massive shockwave of energy.
For a moment, the world warped and twisted wildly. The skyscrapers bent even more, the streets seemed to ripple like water, and the entire dimension quaked under the release of energy. Shaw, grinning like a madman, absorbed the kinetic energy from the explosion, feeling his strength surge.
"I'M UNSTOPPABLE!" he roared, his body glowing with raw energy.
Spiderman yawned, clearly unimpressed. "Yeah, yeah. Big boom, lots of energy. Seen it all before. How does it feel to have a little ray of hope before POOF!?"
Without breaking a sweat, Spidey waved his hand again. Shaw's glowing energy suddenly fizzled out, leaving him standing there, panting, and somehow even hairier than before and exhausted.
"What the—" Shaw looked down at himself, confused.
"My domain, my rules," Spidey wrapped him up in a cocoon of web and let him dangle upside down on a light pole. "Let me see... what else can we do..."
Spiderman put his hand on his chin, thinking. Then he snapped his fingers. "Oh, I know!"
Shaw's eye twitched. He was on the verge of losing his mind. His powers weren't working, he looked like a clownish gorilla, and now, his one last-ditch effort had failed spectacularly. 'Please, don't.'
"How about I roast you alive?" Spidey asked. His earlier funny tone was now replaced with a serious one.
"Let me go. I'll leave the city and never come back. That's a promise." Shaw begged.
"See, I would believe you, but your word doesn't mean anything to me. All you villains say the same thing, and then the minute you're free, you return to your old ways," Spiderman said as he started to manipulate the surroundings creating a makeshift grill and using his magic to light fire under the post where Shaw was dangling.
"What are you doing?" Shaw asked, trying to break free. But his body was too exhausted.
"I told you, I'm roasting you alive," Spiderman said in a monotonous voice. "And shut up. You are breaking my concentration."
"Fuck! You insane bug!"
"Tsk." Spiderman jumped up, grabbed Shaw's head, and twisted it. The loud crunch of Shaw's neck snapping filled the air, and he died instantly. "Damn it. I wanted to roast you alive. But you talk too much."
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