I Became Spider-Man's Cousin in Anime Crossover

Chapter 134 [Two chapters combined into one, bonus chapter] Riley angrily berates Tom Holland

"Ouch, my back... What happened... Wait, MJ? Ned? What are you guys doing here... No, I was just here...!"

Of course, even with serious injuries, this level of fall was nothing to Tom Holland, who possessed Spider-Man's powers. At most, it aggravated his wounds, causing him to grimace in pain.

When Tom Holland clutched his back and shakily stood up, he was astonished to find that the scene before him had already changed.

Not only that, but the two friends were also accompanied by several strangers they had never seen before, yet who gave them a strange sense of familiarity.

Even more deadly is...

After Tom Holland stood up, Strange crossed his arms, kept a cold face, and stared at Holland silently.

So much so that Tom Holland, who was still immersed in pain and anger, suddenly became disjointed when he heard the hallucination of "Look in my eyes!" in his ears.

Feeling guilty, he shrank back and instinctively hid behind Ned, trying to use Ned's massive body to escape Strange's silent questioning.

This immediately drew everyone's attention to Ned. Before Ned could even feel happy for his good brother's safe return, he instinctively tensed up and broke out in a cold sweat.

"...Don't look at me like that...I...I don't know anything...!"

After a moment of silence, Ned, unable to withstand the pressure any longer, weakly defended himself while taking a step to the side to make way for Tom Holland, who was hiding behind him.

"Ned, you...!"

Now, with nowhere to hide, Tom Holland was instantly exposed to everyone's gaze. His eyes widened, and he instinctively wanted to complain about Ned's lack of loyalty.

But soon, under the silent gaze of everyone, Tom Holland, who was already mentally broken and giving up, suddenly felt a nameless fire rise in his heart.

After pointing at everyone's faces in turn, he became enraged and roared in a fit of self-pity.

"Enough! Stop looking at me like that! I know you all blame me! It's all my fault that Aunt May died! So I should have listened to Strange from the start and used that box to send you all back! I...!"

"Since you know it's your fault, how dare you shout like that? Who gave you the nerve? Besides, do you even know magic? You think you can send us back just by yelling? You think you can send us back with your mouth?"

However, before Tom Holland could finish speaking, Riley, who had long disliked him and had been waiting for this moment, was not going to tolerate this idiot.

The words had barely left his lips when Riley appeared before Tom Holland like a ghost. Given Holland's physical abilities, he clearly couldn't dodge at such incredible speed. Facing the slow-motion perspective of his spider-sense, Riley delivered a perfectly clear slap right in front of Holland, sending him spinning through the air like a top!

When Tom Holland landed awkwardly, Riley raised his foot and stomped on Holland's back without hesitation, suppressing all of Holland's struggles. He then waved his hand, signaling the Spider-Man team to step forward and intercept Ned and his group who were trying to stop Riley.

Then, looking down at Tom Holland, he continued his mockery in a cold and indifferent tone.

"You're the Spider-Man of this world? I'm really disappointed... I haven't seen a single superhero who can save the world. All I see are willful and reckless kids who cause trouble and then take advantage of other people's concern to throw tantrums without ever reflecting on their mistakes."

"What did you say! What gives you the right to talk to me like that! How do you know...!"

At first, Tom Holland was shocked that, even though they were both Spider-Man, he couldn't defend himself against Riley's moves and was easily knocked to the ground.

But after hearing Riley's words, and remembering Aunt May who died because of him, Tom Holland's eyes immediately turned red, and he roared in impotent rage.

"Of course I know. If it weren't for your overflowing compassion and insistence on saving those villains, how could your Aunt May have died? How many years have passed since the Avengers' Civil War broke out? Not long ago, you were tricked by Mysterio and almost handed over the inheritance Tony left you. After that, you paid a heavy price, your secret identity was completely exposed by Mysterio... And what was the result?"

Unfortunately, against a player like Riley, Tom Holland's struggles were destined to be in vain.

Even in verbal exchanges, Riley had no intention of indulging this fool like his two older brothers did, allowing him to expose his own wounds. He intended to use a method that would hurt the enemy eight hundred while damaging himself a thousand, to resonate with this fool.

Instead, he took on the villain's role, radiating a powerful sense of oppression and relentlessly mocking the character. This made the idiot, who had been immersed in self-pity from beginning to end and hadn't considered the consequences at all, gradually realize the cruelty of reality.

After all, in Riley's view...

The cause of death of May Parker in this world is really not worthy of being compared with that of Ben Parker!

If she had been less of a saint, directly or indirectly influencing Tom Holland's judgment, none of this mess would have happened!

To put it bluntly, compared to May Parker's heart-wrenching moments of being in danger and facing death in other universes...

The only one Riley felt about May Parker in this universe was that she truly deserved it and was completely courting death!

Therefore, compared to the Toby bug and Garfield bug who couldn't bear it.

Riley showed absolutely no sympathy for Tom Holland.

He maintained an aggressive stance, relentlessly pursuing Tom Holland and "slashing" him relentlessly.

"After all that, you're still stuck in the same place, never learning from your mistakes, like a child who never grows up, only causing trouble everywhere and then waiting for others to clean up your mess... It's truly pathetic. Do you even deserve the name 'Peter Parker'? How dare you call yourself 'Spider-Man'?"

"How can you blame me! I was just...!"

"What, trying to use your age as a shield? Let's not even talk about how you're an adult now, and should take responsibility for your choices... In my universe, my Peter is only fifteen, a freshman at Midtown High School, much younger than you. But he can already distinguish right from wrong. He's also stepped forward several times to save New York from disaster. Isn't that much better than you?"

"..."

"Also, you don't naively think that you're the only one who has lost someone close to you, do you? Open your eyes and take a good look at those two over there. They both share the name 'Peter Parker,' and they both lost the most important person to them because of their own momentary mistakes."

"But they never let it get them down, nor did they take their anger out on those who cared about them! Instead, they quickly rallied, gathered clues everywhere, and through their own efforts, caught Ben Parker's killer in an abandoned factory without surveillance cameras before the police could catch him!"

Just as Riley was passionately launching into his tirade, Peter, who was standing to the side with his arm around Gwen, silently observing, was initially puzzled...

Why would the usually good-tempered older brother be so harsh and angry at the "Peter Parker" in front of him?

Logically speaking, even if other individuals from parallel universes committed a grave mistake, Riley would at least offer them some comfort out of brotherly affection, right?

Peter's eyes widened when he heard that all three Spider-Men from parallel universes, including the Garfield who looked somewhat like him not far away, had lost Uncle Ben.

Huh? Uncle Ben's death led to the birth of Spider-Man?

But in his own universe, Uncle Ben clearly...?

As his thoughts raced, reflecting on his current happy and fulfilling life, which was steadily progressing in a better direction, Peter suddenly had a bold conjecture…

Could it be that all Spider-Men in parallel universes only understood the meaning of "with great power comes great responsibility" and chose to become the friendly neighbor Spider-Man after losing Uncle Ben?

Based on the reactions of Toby and Garfield, they even lost Harry and Gwen from their respective universes...

Besides, Peter vividly remembered Ned's earlier, unconscious question, "Who is Riley?"

This was enough for Peter to conclude that in this universe... or in most parallel universes, "Peter Parker" did not have an older brother named "Rie Parker" to help him out.

Connecting these clues, Peter, being a genius, naturally realized...

In these countless parallel universes, I might be a special existence.

Or perhaps, it's not that I'm special...

But it was his own brother?

Of course, when Riley uttered the name "Ben Parker," he guessed that his exceptionally intelligent brother would definitely sense something was amiss.

However, Riley, who had foreseen that even if he didn't say anything, Toby and Garfield would eventually bring it up, thus causing his identity as a time traveler to be exposed, had made an agreement with the Ancient One long before taking action.

In other words, as payment for helping to resolve the crisis, Riley could blame the Ancient One for all the changes and make her take the blame for Riley.

After all, she is the Sorcerer Supreme who can easily foresee the future!

Building on this, the benevolent Sorcerer Supreme, unable to bear seeing the Puck family suffer, secretly revealed to Riley the method to change Ben Parker's fate and became Riley's "special intelligence source," granting Riley the ability to "foresee the future." Making the world a better place is perfectly reasonable, isn't it?

So, with no worries at all, Riley naturally let Peter indulge in his fantasies while continuing to unleash his full firepower, lashing out at Tom Holland in front of him.

"Even though they witnessed Ben Parker's death because of their own mistakes, they didn't resort to vigilante justice out of personal grudges, killing their enemy right before their eyes. Instead, they followed Ben Parker's last wishes, handing him over to the police so he could face legal consequences! Ask yourself honestly, could you do that? Could you bear the responsibility that comes with wearing this uniform? Do you truly understand the meaning of 'With great power comes great responsibility'?"

"..."

"So, stop being so ridiculous. Nobody's obligated to indulge you. What do you gain by throwing a tantrum, other than hurting those who care about you? What can you change? Do you expect those utterly depraved villains to suddenly realize their mistakes and start anew because of your suffering? Come on! If it were that simple, what would be the point of the police and the law!"

After a stern reprimand, Tom Holland, who had initially been defiant, gradually stopped struggling and buried his face in the floor. He remained silent, seemingly lost in thought.

Riley, having thoroughly vented his anger, also successfully released all his negative emotions.

Then, lifting his foot and letting Tom Holland regain his freedom, he turned around with a sneer and continued speaking, word by word.

"You can choose to continue being a slacker. Anyway, we've already assembled so many 'Spider-Men,' it doesn't matter whether you, the 'imposter,' are here or not. We have enough to clean up the mess you've made... But remember this: if you don't follow us when we leave this room, if you admit you're afraid to face those villains again, if you don't have the courage to wash away your shame yourself, then stay here obediently and be a coward who shirks responsibility. Don't get in our way. Otherwise, I don't mind killing you with my own hands before you cause even more trouble."

As Riley spoke the last few words, his smile gradually faded, making Tom Holland realize, through a sudden "Peter Pan" moment, that Riley wasn't joking and that he really intended to kill him.

Judging from the brief exchange just now, even if I were at my peak, let alone now that I'm injured, I would never be a match for this black Spider-Man!

Of course, Riley ultimately gave Tom Holland a final chance to make amends, out of consideration for their shared identity as "Peter Parker".

Even in what appears to be a one-sided outburst of anger, there is a gradual progression and a hidden provocation.

Just like if you tell a Chinese person that their mother doesn't love them anymore, they'll just think it's a childish, low-level curse and won't take it seriously. But if you say the same thing to a Westerner, they'll immediately get angry and jump up, repeatedly emphasizing that their mother loves them and constantly trying to prove it.

From the perspective of the Chinese, Riley's intentions might be a bit too obvious.

But for straightforward Westerners who mostly understand the meaning of words literally, they can hardly see through the hidden meanings in the words!

can only say……

Those who rely on tactics and strategy are utterly cunning and ruthless; they're impossible to defend against!

"...I understand. I'm sorry for causing everyone so much trouble...but I'm definitely not a coward!"

Just as Riley had guessed, Tom Holland, who is simple-minded and prone to impulsive actions, even after being rendered speechless by Riley's rebuke, finally realized that the whole incident was indeed his fault, and he couldn't blame anyone else...

He absolutely could not tolerate that all the effort he had put in since choosing to become Spider-Man was belittled into nothingness by Riley's public mockery!

So, before Riley could take two steps, Tom Holland braced himself against the ground and shakily stood up.

Not only did his eyes become noticeably clearer, changing from the initial despair, helplessness, anger, and sadness.

After taking a deep breath and calming himself down, he solemnly promised and pleaded with Riley.

"So please let me join! I will prove to you that I deserve this suit... and the title of 'Spider-Man'!"

And that's precisely why Tom Holland, so eager to prove himself, clearly didn't realize...

At this moment, he had already walked into Riley's trap and had been successfully fooled by Riley!

Now, Riley has both hit and yelled...

After all that, Tom Holland will most likely have to thank Riley willingly!

"Tch, talking is no good, you have to take action."

It was this shout that finally eased Riley's tension, which had been etched on his face behind his mask.

This also reopened the portal, connecting the other end to the laboratory at Midtown High School. This would allow them to utilize the equipment there and make thorough preparations for the upcoming decisive battle.

Riley, whose tone had gradually calmed down, appeared serious on the surface, but secretly revealed a smile similar to Light Yagami's under his mask, and continued to speak slowly and deliberately.

"Then follow my lead and get ready to begin..."

"From now on, it's our turn to sound the charge for a counterattack! Spider-Men!"