Chapter 2 - Navigating the unknown
Peter continued watching the video of his aunt for some time. There wasn't much footage before Green Goblin and Electro attacked, sending everything into chaos. So he kept replaying the few minutes just after the nanobots integrated with his suit. He saw his aunt's face beaming with awe as she observed the new golden stripes on his suit. It was a bittersweet moment, a glimpse of the happiness they shared before everything fell apart.
As he watched, memories flooded back, each frame a poignant reminder of the love and support Aunt May had always shown him. He remembered her laughter, her words of encouragement, and the warmth of her embrace. It was moments like these that made the pain of her loss even more acute.
But amidst the sorrow, there was also a glimmer of hope. Seeing Aunt May's smile reminded Peter of why he had to keep going, why he couldn't give up. She had always believed in him, even when he doubted himself, and he couldn't let her down now.
Peter watched the other available footages: MJ and Ned, the other two Spider-Men from different universes. He briefly wondered what happened to Peter-Two. The last time he saw him, Peter-Two was dying after being stabbed by Green Goblin. The memory deepened his depression and guilt. He hoped somehow Peter-Two had returned to his own universe and magically recovered, as if the entire ordeal had never happened. With the multiverse, anything was possible. Perhaps everything had been reset. Or maybe it was just wishful thinking.
Peter also hoped Peter-Three made it back to his own universe safe and sound. The thought of his fellow Spider-Men facing similar struggles weighed heavily on his mind.
As Peter finally rose to his feet, his throat parched with thirst, he knew he couldn't linger on the past indefinitely. For now, he had to focus on finding his own path forward, one step at a time. His integrated suit, as he liked to call it, would undoubtedly attract too much attention in this unfamiliar world.
Surveying the rooftop, he spotted some clothes hanging to dry, caught between a sense of reluctance and necessity, he grabbed a cloak, feeling a pang of guilt for stealing but recognizing he had no other option. With the cloak draped over his suit, he leaped down to the alley below, seeking anonymity amidst the bustling streets.
As he stepped onto the cobblestone pathways, the sheer diversity of this new world captivated Peter. From cat people to dog people, elves to dwarfs, the variety of races and magical creatures was nothing short of astonishing. The streets teemed with life, each individual seeming to possess a unique story written into the tapestry of the bustling thoroughfares.
Yet, what truly surprised Peter was the fact that they were all conversing in English. He had braced himself for the challenge of learning an alien language, only to find the universal convenience of his own tongue at play. Chuckling softly to himself, he couldn't help but ponder: why did even extraterrestrial beings he had encountered until now, along with Norse gods, also speak English? Was there some celestial language exchange program he had missed, or was it simply a cosmic quirk of fate?
Regardless, he found himself grateful for the linguistic serendipity. After all, it saved him the trouble of cramming a phrasebook for his interdimensional escapades!
He saw a wolf woman filling a pitcher from a tap on the side of a building. Taps and plumbing in the middle ages? That was definitely new to him. Nevertheless, he waited patiently for the woman to finish before kneeling down and cupping his hands under the tap, taking a few refreshing gulps of water. As he drank, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had stumbled into some sort of medieval fantasy novel – with a modern twist.
As he pondered his next move in this strange new world, Peter's gaze settled on a towering structure in the distance. It was a massive tower that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky, its pinnacle shrouded in clouds.
Curiosity piqued, Peter decided to make his way towards the imposing structure. With each step, he couldn't help but marvel at its sheer size and grandeur. How did medieval people construct something like this? It seemed impossible, even with the aid of modern technology.
As he drew closer, Peter couldn't shake the feeling that there must be some sort of magic involved in the construction of such a monumental edifice. After all, in a world filled with fantastical creatures and mystical powers, anything seemed possible.
Peter's attention was abruptly captured by a frantic figure weaving through the bustling crowd. He couldn't help but feel compelled by the urgency in the boy's movements. Covered in blood, the young man appeared to be in a state of panic as he dashed down the street.
What struck Peter even more was the reaction of the locals; instead of offering assistance, they seemed to find amusement in the boy's distress. Peter couldn't comprehend how anyone could derive entertainment from a situation that clearly spelled trouble for the young man.
Concern etched on his face, Peter moved swiftly to intercept him, calling out in a reassuring tone. "Hey, are you alright?"
The boy skidded to a halt, his chest heaving as he looked at Peter with wide eyes. "I... I need to find out who she is," he replied, his voice tinged with a sense of urgency.
Peter raised an eyebrow, puzzled by the cryptic response. "Who she is?" he asked, his curiosity piqued. As the boy's words sank in, Peter couldn't help but wonder what kind of situation he had stumbled upon.
"The beautiful girl who saved me from the Minotaur in the dungeon," the boy repeated, desperation evident in his voice.
'Wait, what?' Peter thought, his mind struggling to process the boy's words. 'There's a dungeon in this world like in a game? A Minotaur? Next, you'll be telling me this world has an RPG system!'
Just then, the boy added, "And she must be at least level 3."
Peter couldn't contain his laughter. 'Seriously?' he chuckled inwardly, shaking his head in amusement. 'I thought I'd seen it all, but this is something else!'
Peter addressed the boy with a raised eyebrow, "Listen, buddy, you're like a walking Jackson Pollock painting. Time to clean up!" Clearly, the boy wasn't injured. "Is this the Minotaur's blood on you?" Peter asked, his curiosity piqued.
The boy's eyes sparkled with admiration as he nodded vigorously, "Yes, she tore the Minotaur in half with a single strike! How cool is that?"
Peter couldn't suppress a chuckle at the boy's infectious enthusiasm. "You've got the look of a love-sick puppy, my friend," he remarked, a hint of amusement in his tone, as he glanced at the boy's white hair and red eyes. The boy's excitement seemed to dim a tad at Peter's jest.
"But let's get real," Peter continued, his expression turning more earnest. "You really should clean up. You've left quite a mess," he added, nodding towards the blood splatters on the ground with a wry smile.
Only then did the boy realize the state he was in. He turned beet red, though it was hard to tell under all the blood. "Oops," he muttered sheepishly.
The boy replied, "I should have taken a shower in the Babel tower first before coming here."
The boy's remark caught Peter off guard. 'Shower in the Babel tower?' he thought, stifling a chuckle. The idea of showering in a legendary tower was almost as absurd as finding a Minotaur in a dungeon. Almost. Curiosity piqued, Peter wondered if the Dungeon had a "luxury spa" section. With a grin, he decided to tag along with the boy, eager for more unexpected surprises.
As Peter walked alongside the boy, he sensed the surprise in the boy's demeanor, likely questioning why Peter had chosen to accompany him. "So, that's the Tower of Babel?" Peter inquired, attempting to break the silence with a casual question.
The boy's eyes widened in disbelief, as if Peter had just posed the most obvious query in existence. Instantly regretting his choice of words, Peter stifled a laugh, realizing the absurdity of his inquiry. 'Asking about the Tower of Babel in this world is probably like asking if the sun rises in the east,' he thought, mentally kicking himself for the faux pas.
After a moment of stunned silence, the boy finally managed to respond, "Yes, this is the legendary Tower of Babel, built by the gods themselves after they descended to our world."
Peter was surprised. 'Gods built the tower?' he thought, intrigued. 'Well, that explains a lot.' But then the boy mentioned that the gods had descended to Earth. In his own world, the Asgardians had 'descended' to Earth. 'Were gods alien races here too?' Peter wondered, his mind spinning with questions.
"Are you new to Orario?" the boy asked.
The question caught Peter off guard. 'Orario? Is it the name of this city, or country, or this continent?' he wondered silently. Peter simply nodded. "Yeah, I am," he admitted.
When Peter asked for the boy's name, he replied, "I'm Bell Cranel." Peter offered a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you," he responded, filing away the name for future reference. "I'm Peter Parker," he introduced himself.
Bell asked, "Have you come to Orario to become an adventurer?" The question puzzled Peter. "Adventurer?" he repeated, trying to sound knowledgeable. He glanced at the bustling tower and the armored individuals bustling in and out. 'These must be the adventurers, he thought, watching them with curiosity. Are they raiding a dungeon? And why are they going into the tower? Is there some magical portal to the dungeon inside?'
"I haven't decided yet," Peter replied, trying to sound nonchalant. He couldn't afford to reveal his ignorance about this world. "What's it like being an adventurer?" he asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from his lack of knowledge.
Bell's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "Oh, it's amazing!" he exclaimed. "You get to explore the dungeon, fight monsters, and level up your skills. Plus, there's always the chance of finding valuable drop items."
Peter nodded, trying to appear interested while internally scrambling to make sense of it all. So they're like... dungeon-delvers? And they actually fight monsters for fun? It sounded like something straight out of a fantasy RPG game, add to that Bell had mentioned about his 'saviour' must be a level 3 at least definitely indicated some sort of RPG system but how can it be in real life? Peter couldn't wrap his head around it.
As they walked, Bell launched into an animated explanation of the adventurer's life, vividly recounting his thrilling battles, narrow escapes, and courageous confrontations with monsters like goblins, kobolds, and dungeon lizards. Peter listened intently, trying to piece together the intricacies of this strange new world.
He couldn't help but mull over the hierarchy of monsters Bell described. Goblins were typically the weakest adversaries in most games, and he assumed that kobolds and dungeon lizards fell into a similar category. If Bell struggled against these types of creatures, Peter couldn't help but question his abilities as an adventurer. Nevertheless, he admired Bell's enthusiasm and determination to face challenges head-on.
By the time they reached the tower, Peter's head was spinning with new information. He still had countless questions, but for now, he was content to let Bell's infectious enthusiasm guide their conversation. After all, if anyone could help him navigate this bizarre new world, it was probably the wide-eyed boy with the bloodstained clothes.
"Would you like to join my familia?" Bell asked hopefully, his eyes shining with anticipation. Peter blinked, taken aback by the unexpected offer.
"Your Familia?" Peter echoed, trying to hide his ignorance as he furrowed his brow. "Could you tell me more about it?"
Bell's enthusiasm waned somewhat at Peter's question. "I'm in the Hestia Familia," he explained, his tone tinged with a hint of disappointment. "But right now, I'm the only member. My goddess, Hestia, is really good and kind. She took me in when most other Familias in the city rejected me. If you join us, she would welcome you with open arms. We might not have much to offer right now, but I assure you our Familia will become strong quickly."
Peter couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for Bell. "How can you make that claim?" he asked, genuinely curious. After all, the boy in front of him seemed quite weak, and starting a Familia from scratch sounded like a daunting task.
Bell's expression shifted, his eyes alight with determination. "I may be the only member right now, but I'm confident that with Hestia's guidance, we can achieve greatness," he declared, his voice brimming with conviction. Peter couldn't help but admire Bell's optimism. Despite the odds stacked against him, the boy seemed unwavering in his belief in the potential of his Familia. It was a stark contrast to Peter's own uncertainty about his place in this unfamiliar world.
Peter racked his brain, vaguely recalling the name Hestia from somewhere. It sounded familiar, like a distant memory from a forgotten mythology class. He wondered if Hestia was perhaps a Greek goddess. Nonetheless, the notion of Hestia taking Bell in raised more questions for Peter about the nature of this "familia" and how it functioned in this world.
As Peter weighed his options, he couldn't shake the feeling that Bell might be his best chance at navigating this unfamiliar world, if only to secure his next meal. "How about I meet your goddess first, and then make my decision about joining your Familia?" he suggested, trying to sound casual despite the uncertainty gnawing at him.
Bell's eyes lit up with excitement, and Peter couldn't help but brace himself for a potential outburst of enthusiasm. He really hoped Bell wouldn't hug him; he didn't want monster blood staining his 'borrowed' cloak.
As they reached the towering structure, Peter couldn't help but marvel at its grandeur. But his awe quickly turned to confusion when he noticed a great big hole at the tower's base, with a winding staircase leading down into the depths. 'Adventurers' were bustling around, some gearing up for the descent, while others returned, their armor battered and dusty.
Bell guided Peter inside, and they entered the bustling foyer of the tower's first floor. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and adventure, and Peter couldn't shake the feeling of excitement mingled with trepidation. He watched as Bell excused himself to head towards the showers, leaving Peter to wait on a bench, taking in the sights and sounds of this strange new world.
Oddly enough, the atmosphere reminded him of his high school gym showers, complete with rows of lockers and the familiar clatter of equipment being stored away. At this time, there weren't many adventurers here. It made sense; it was still early afternoon, and most adventurers were probably still in the dungeon, battling monsters and seeking treasure. Peter glanced around the relatively empty surroundings, nodding to himself in understanding.
Peter sat on the bench, deep in thought. He needed more information about this world. The idea of confiding in Bell about being from another universe crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. Bell might not grasp the concept of multiverse easily, and he seemed too innocent to keep such a secret. Peter decided to keep his origins to himself for now.