Chapter 4968

Peter, also known as the "Amazing Spider-Man" of the old 616 universe, chattered on to Shiler about his recent experiences, which were actually quite legendary. Because of that previous great battle, he played a very important role.

After losing his spider abilities, Peter suddenly found himself unsure of what to do. The Amazing Spider-Man's original job was as a researcher at a research institute, but it wasn't actually a very important position, nor was he the main person in charge of any project. If one had to say, it was somewhat like an experimental safety inspector—work wasn't busy, and the pay wasn't high either, so he occasionally took part-time jobs at fast-food restaurants or gas stations.

However, the Spider-Man of the main universe is single; he had previously talked with Mary Jane, and although they broke up peacefully and remained friends, because he never married or had children, his life actually had little pressure, and a researcher's salary should have been sufficient.

But he still had to be Spider-Man. Although the Avengers would provide some equipment and funding, the Amazing Spider-Man really liked to tinker with small gadgets himself, needing to constantly improve his base, and occasionally he had to help out villains who were down on their luck and struggling financially—everywhere required money. So besides his main job, Peter could even work up to six hours of part-time work in a single day.

But after he stopped being Spider-Man, he no longer needed to maintain his suit and web-shooters, his base was basically abandoned, and the task of helping villains was all thrown onto Bruce. This led to Peter no longer needing to work so many hours to support his livelihood.

The Amazing Spider-Man was used to being busy—he was the type who, after fighting a major event with the Avengers, would return home and still be able to take on three more rounds against the Sinister Six, a super energetic monster. Now that he was idle, he felt awful all over.

Coincidentally, his new job, namely as the Pope of Shiler's Sect, was also incredibly idle. Aside from being called twice before, there had been no movement at all, and moreover, Shiler was on paid leave, requiring Peter to do nothing, yet the energy was still being dispensed as usual.

With a large amount of free time and a substantial sum of energy, Peter naturally wanted to do something. The predecessor of the Revival Alliance, the New Earth Alliance, was something Peter had built up by traveling east and west.

Besides that, he also went back to finish the doctoral degree he hadn't completed earlier. After all, in the research institute, he couldn't advance to a core position, mainly because he was blocked by his academic credentials.

But before he could use his new degree to secure an important project at the research institute, the institute collapsed due to the growing pains of urban integration. Core researchers simply jumped ship, but someone like him—whose position wasn't very important and whose abilities weren't particularly outstanding—could only scatter in all directions.

After losing that job, survival truly became a problem. But fortunately, because Gotham University and New York University had merged into Forward York University, the school was short-staffed. Peter got along well with the administrative personnel at the school, so he simply stayed on to teach.

Peter's academic level was actually average, but he could teach. The lecturer position suited his talkative nature, he was young enough to get along with students, and he had always been popular. First, he taught materials science in his undergraduate major for a while, then he moved on to chemistry and physics departments in succession, and now he is training talents in the urban landscape specialty.

As for this universe's Spider-Man, namely Bruce Wayne, he is actually much younger than the Amazing Spider-Man. The Amazing Spider-Man is already in his thirties, while Bruce Wayne has just debuted and is still under twenty, so it's not strange that they would become teacher and student.

Moreover, Thomas is someone who greatly values elite education. Or rather, he himself is somewhat rebellious, never having fully received elite education, and even ran off to the battlefield midway to serve as a military doctor, so he likely wants his child to walk the path he himself did not. Wherever he goes, he is a capitalized advocate for learning—whether you're Batman or Robin, you must go study.

This universe's Bruce was sent to school by him. However, Shiler was puzzled as to how Bruce would apply for urban landscape design—shouldn't that be in the arts department?

"This is an interdisciplinary field," Peter replied, "including urban design, urban management, and urban maintenance; landscaping is only a small part, and of course, for today's neoclassical cities, it is also a very important part."

"Most importantly, this discipline is truly short of people, especially engineering students. Art students may be able to design beautiful building exteriors, but someone is also needed to bring them to life. Bruce has some talent in this area, so Thomas had him apply for this major."

Shiler nodded. Although the Batman of Zero Earth was somewhat inexperienced compared to other Batmen, he was still considerably stronger than ordinary people. Moreover, rather than competing with other Batmen in scientific research and invention, it would be better to lean toward engineering. If he can't fight, he can at least sweep dust.

Compared to other universes, this universe is a great time to sweep dust. The two Earths have merged, requiring too much reconstruction, and civil engineering students are overjoyed.

"Still, let's talk about that war." Shiler sighed, knowing this might be a profound disaster for this universe, but he still needed to understand it, otherwise too many things would be inexplicable.

"Ah, this." Peter looked as if he didn't really care, he said, "Actually, it's not that big a deal—everything still has to start with Reed."

"Wait." Shiler said, "What happened to Reed again?"

"There have always been tensions among the factions of the New Earth Alliance." Peter paused before saying, "But the spark that ignited the outbreak was Dr. Richards."

"I'm not surprised at all." Shiler shook his head and said.

"Reed blew a hole in the antimatter universe." Peter shrugged, "I really don't know what he intended to do there, but he just kept tirelessly drilling holes on both sides. This time he used some kind of vibratory device—anyway, it was another big thing capable of destroying a universe."

"Hold on." Shiler suddenly recalled something, "This side is the universe where Gotham is located—there's no antimatter universe here, is there?"

Shiler thought for a moment; the merged universe is actually from DC's side, and DC's cosmic structure differs from Marvel's—outside the universe should be the Heavenly Blood, and it seems there is no antimatter universe...

No, Shiler suddenly remembered, DC really does have an antimatter universe—DC's antimatter universe is the old home of the Anti-Monitor.

Although both are called antimatter universes, the one on Marvel's side is just full of big worms, whereas DC's side is the old home of the big boss.

The Anti-Monitor's strength needs no elaboration—although weakened in the New 52, he is still a named and famous major villain in the universe. Would Reed really just take a drill and go to his house?

"He would." Peter said, "If he didn't drill this hole, we wouldn't even know there was an antimatter universe on this side."

Shiler's ominous premonition grew stronger, and then he heard Peter say: "However, this side's antimatter universe is not quite like ours—there are no big worms inside, but instead there is an ordered world quite similar to the other universes on this side."

"Reed's one portal opened onto a strange planet, which seemed to be called 'Kovad'..."

Shiler couldn't help but clap his hand to his forehead—indeed, it was the Anti-Monitor's old home. And this planet called Kovad is exactly where the Anti-Monitor was born. Reed's name for this universe-destroying device is truly not without merit—whenever he causes trouble, it's a direct strike at the core.

This planet Kovad is somewhat similar to Oa, belonging to the cosmic center, and these people have a special craft—they can forge power rings. As for combat capability, there's nothing notable, but the antimatter universe itself is very special; the key lies in whether the Anti-Monitor has awakened or not.

"Have you encountered any strange things?" Shiler asked tentatively.

"Of course. The moment Reed entered, he was controlled by some unknown thing, and on Kovad Planet he built a large army, which then turned around and invaded us here..."

Shiler's suspended heart died completely. Something that could subdue Mister Fantastic on first contact could only be the Anti-Life Equation. The Anti-Monitor must have been awakened by his shot. I originally thought Bruce was already a master of causing trouble, but I didn't expect Reed to be even more skilled.

The Anti-Monitor really cannot be counted as part of the order faction, because he has always wanted to expand the antimatter universe—that is, to destroy the multiverse, merge all universes into one, and let all life be under his control.

The first major event, the Infinite Earth Crisis, was his doing—he destroyed the entire multiverse down to just five universes, nearly achieving total annihilation. Then came the Legion War, Blackest Night, Brightest Day, Evil Forever, and even the Metal events—he wasn't just a minor background player filling in; he was the engine and turning point of many major events.

He said Batman has been so busy lately that he can't even attend to Bruce. Manhattan Doctor, Brainiac, Darkseid, and now the Anti-Monitor has shown up—truly, from head to toe, it says "doomed fate."

"Then what happened?" Shiler became even more curious—the Anti-Monitor had awakened, Reed was under his control, so how did we win here?

"I don't know who the entity controlling Mister Fantastic was, but he made a wrong decision." Peter spread his hands, "In less than a day, Reed freed himself from control and then turned around, using his vibratory device to blast apart some kind of matter portal, causing Kovad's army to be completely unable to come through."

"Then isn't that settled? So why would it lead to superheroes..."

Peter shook his head and said: "It's just that the later army couldn't get through, while those already here are still present. Faced with how to respond to this crisis, the Avengers and the Justice League developed a serious conflict, which became the spark for the superheroes' falling out."

"What do they plan to do?"

"The Avengers lean toward not taking the initiative, but instead holding Earth. After all, this army didn't break through—it only intruded into the universe, and this side of the universe also has forces; they think it can be left to the Lantern Corps, since the Lantern Corps' main job is maintaining cosmic order."

"What about the Justice League?"

"The Justice League believes Earth bears responsibility for this invasion event, because after all, it was Reed who caused it. Even if they don't massively commit troops, they at least need to show an attitude. They think the Avengers are irresponsible, and the two sides had a big argument."

"But actually, by this point, it hasn't yet reached the stage of fighting. However, Spider-Man, namely Bruce Wayne, was doing fine in the Avengers, getting along well with Iron Man and Captain America. Yet in this matter, he chose to side with the Justice League, believing the Avengers must take a stance and resolve the trouble Reed caused."

"Iron Man felt betrayed—you know his temper isn't great—he originally thought he and Bruce should be kindred spirits, given that both are billionaires and both became superheroes, but he didn't expect Bruce to betray him at a critical moment. He flew into a rage and attacked Bruce."

Peter paused again, sighed, and said: "But Bruce obviously isn't that easy to provoke—he destroyed Iron Man's symbiote armor..."

"Wait, symbiote armor?" Shiler blinked, then recalled, "The Iron Man from the old 616 main universe had been replaced. He had previously pulled the Ultimate Iron Man from the good-evil axis possibility universe and stuffed him into the main universe to resolve the crisis. So now this main universe Iron Man is actually the evil version—no wonder they could fight."