As Pestilence’s body fell down, the remaining black slimy goo monsters which were apparently called symbiotes, left on his body separated from him and started slipping away.

“Where do you think you are going, pesky symbiotes?” Kirschtaria said, shooting rays of light which literally disintegrated the symbiotes.

As Kirschtaria approached Pestilence's body, he let out a sigh upon seeing it for some reason. Then, his staff glowed once again, this time with a blue fire which easily increased the temperature of the surroundings a few degrees. It was clear that he wanted to cremate Pestilence’s body.

“Wait! Do you really need to cremate his body, Mr. Wodime?” Miles asked Kirschtaria as we approached him.

“No matter how evil Pestilence was, he was still a Peter Parker who once knew what being a Spider-Man truly meant. He has suffered so much. Doesn't he deserve at least a proper burial?” Miles argued.

“I wish it was possible, Miles. Look closely at Pestilence’s body.” Kirschtaria made us focus on Pestilence's body as if to show something.

Looking closely at the hole on Pestilence's chest, I could see that a black slimy goo similar to that of a symbiote was leaking from the flesh surrounding the hole!

“See! Pestilence’s blood has been entirely replaced with a symbiote. As such, I can't leave his body be otherwise the symbiote will rise up from it and start possessing people to eventually attack Miles, whether to posses him or kill him.” Kirschtaria explained as he released the blue fire from his staff to burn Pestilence's body.

“Just what even are these symbiotes?” Spider-Man asked as we watched Pestilence’s body burn.

“In short words, a Spider Totem’s worst nightmare. They cling to the Spider Totems as soon as they arrive in their world. They enhance the powers of the Spider Totem in order to show how useful they are.

But eventually, they start corrupting the Spider Totem. Make him think that he can take over the entire world. Once the corruption is complete, they start creating lesser symbiotes so that they can possess other superhumans.

And when they become the biggest force on the planet through this process, that is when they open the portal to the multiverse, inviting their main army which finally conquers their world.

You all have been lucky to not encounter a symbiote till now but there is no guarantee that it will always be like that. Remember, never trust a symbiote!”

Kirschtaria warned us but it was not like we were ever going to accept your after seeing what happened to Pestilence.

“But why do the symbiotes always target us Spiders?” I asked.

“The actual reason is two complex for me to tell you right now. Just know that a Spider Totem acts like a key to the door of the multiverse for his world. His mere presence can make it easier for the people of his world to access other dimensions, whether through science or magic.

And that is the reason the symbiotes always target Spider Totems. Even if the symbiotes possess every other superhuman of any world, if they have not possessed the Spider Totem yet, then they still have not won.” Kirschtaria explained patiently.

“By the way, how did you arrive so quickly? It had only been a few minutes since Pestilence’s arrival after all. I am not complaining though. We would have been possessed by the symbiotes if not for you.” Peni asked curiously.

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“It is because I was watching over this world as per Spider Supreme's orders.” Kirschtaria said, shocking all of us.

“Is he the same Spider Supreme Gwen was talking about?” Spider-Man asked for clarification.

“Indeed, he is the same one. I am one of his subordinates. He had asked me to watch over this world once Gwen had arrived here.” Kirschtaria answered.

“Wait a minute! If you were watching over us, then could you not have arrived a little earlier? These men's lives could have been saved!” Miles said furiously as he pointed at the Kingpin’s men who had been murdered by Pestilence.

“I am deeply sorry for their death. But it was something inevitable. I had to trick the scanners from Pestilence's side before arriving here. If I had not done so, more people as strong as Pestilence or even stronger would have arrived as reinforcements. Moreover, our group's greatest advantage is that our enemies have no idea that we even exist. This is something we can't afford to lose.” Kirschtaria explained in an apologetic tone.

“But how will we explain these men's corpses?” Noir asked in a worried tone.

“No matter how we spin it, their death will only be blamed on us Spiders. And the only Spider remaining in this world would be Miles. If we do not do anything about this, his life as Spider-Man is going to be quite difficult.” Noir said, concerned about Miles' future.

“Damn it! How could I have not thouht of it? Help me guys! Otherwise, my future as a Spider-Man is going to be over before it even begins.” Miles asked in a panicked tone.

“Don't worry, Miles. I have a way to deal with this dilemma.” Kirschtaria said, revealing that he had a plan.

He took out corpses of some kind of monsters from his bracelet which was clearly a spatial artefact. The monsters looked like giant foxes with tentacles for tails as well as wings on their back. They were obviously interdimensional monsters which Peter had once told me about.

Kirschtaria floated the monsters’ corpses and laid them down next to the men’s corpses and then revealed his plan.

“With the corpses of these interdimensional monsters here, it will look like Kingpin summoned the monsters using the collider who killed these man and were killed by Miles.

No matter how much Kingpin screams that it was a Spider-Man who did it, the corpses will serve as the ultimate proof for Miles' innocence. Now, does the situation seems doable, Miles?”

“Don't worry, Mr. Wodime. With the corpses here, it will be a piece of cake for me to make it look like it was all Kingpin's fault.” Miles assured Kirschtaria that he will ensure that the plan works perfectly.

“Now, I believe that it is time for all of you to return. If you don't, the world's rejection will only get stronger.” Kirschtaria said, reminding us that it was time for us to return.

“The portal is open now. Goodbye everyone! It was nice meeting you.” Kirschtaria said politely as he opened the portal which would finally take us home.

“It was nice learning that there were others like me. Bye everyone!” Peni waved at us as she entered the portal.

“It was great meeting all of you, especially in such a colourful world. I don't know what this colourful cube is but I will definitely realise it someday.” Noir said as he looked at the Rubik’s cube he had picked up with fascination. Then, he entered the portal, returning to his colourless world.

“Take this gift, Miles. It will fit just right in your pocket.” Spider Ham said as he gave a small wooden hammer to Miles as a gift. Then, he also entered the portal, returning to his cartoonish world.

Now, only I and Spider-Man were left.

“So, still angry about the hairstyle?” Miles said awkwardly.

“No, not that much. It doesn't look that bad. By the way, nice suit.” I said, complementing his unique looking Spider-Man suit.

During the time we had spent together, I would say that I had begun to like him. And I am sure that he liked me as well. He was a nice guy, reminding me of Peter yet much different from him too.

But unfortunately, our romance was something which was never meant to be just like my romance with Peter. We were of two different worlds, never to meet again.

“Hope we can meet again.” Still, I said these last words to Miles as I entered the portal.

It felt like I was flowing through a tube formed of a kaleidoscopic energy. I don't know how long I was inside that tube but suddenly I just wasn't.

I was dropped a few metres above the ground by the tube so it was not hard to land properly.

I was clearly in some sort of building. As I looked at the giant stairway and the looming eye shape window, I realised where I was. After all, I had been here before.

I was at the New York Sanctum. I had returned home.