HELLO EVERYONE! Sorry it's been a long time... But I've been what you could say "busy"... I had focusing on a lot of studies such as history and math, but I am soon going to finish up and Summer is about to hit the weather! Disclaimer(s): Spider-Man and any other character featured is OWNED by Stan Lee and Marvel.


Astonishing Spider-Man

Chapter 7: Glorious Triumph


Marshyangdi, Nepal

Within the beautifully lush forests of Nepal came the sounds of CRACK! and SLASH! The sounds were coming from the attacks of Goliath and Prometheus of the fearsome War Hunters, who were cutting through the forest to locate Subject-1138 and exterminate or capture him. 1138 was the leader of the resistance "The Outsiders," an insurgency that was dedicated to bringing the empire they had brought to Counter-Earth. Despite the losses and men the Outsiders had suffered, their rebellion was somewhat successful... Several of their base of operations had been shut-down as well as destroyed due to the hundreds of civilians inspired by 1138's courage and will.

They are currently searching for him following his escape to Earth-616 - Earth Prime, the primary centre of the Multiverse. He was exiled to their homeward following his encounter with a supposed "deceiver." When encountering the Outsiders, he joined their ranks as a captain, then later their General and leading Commander. When they attempted to apprehend 1138, an ensuing struggle had resulted in the deaths of two of their group: Minerva and Cerberus, who are respectively daughter and father. After informing their commander of this, he calmly and mercifully instructed them to use solid tactics of deception and fear to track him down and murder him.


"We've been searching for hours now... Can't we rest already?" asked Goliath in an irritated and exhausted manner.

"No, we must remain vigilant.. Besides, if we do not finish our mission, then our empire will fall because of our inability to stay true to our duties.." replied Hunter in a calm and dutiful voice. Hunter has always been the calmest and the most focused of the Hunters, due to being largely concerned with their goals and missions.

"But what are we going to find though.. there's nothing but been bugs and trees..." said Goliath.

But as they bickered, they saw a patch of dried blood... on the tree in front of them. Perhaps it belonged to a prey of local hunters... or perhaps it was Subject-1138's blood!


"SNIFF, SNIFF... this is his blood" replied Prometheus after using his heightened senses to analyze their findings. They then rushed down the trail of where the blood went. They followed Prometheus, and then they found... a cave! By what they could analyze so far, 1138 had been resting here for a short amount of time. They then followed his scent to a pair of bleeding coyotes that died from a brutal battle with something... or someone.

"Where is he now? The blood trail's ended with the cave..." asked Hera, following their investigation of where 1138 was escaping.

"We'll follow where he went to.." Replied Hunter.

"But how do we do that?" asked Azrael.

"We'll follow his scent."

Prometheus smelled the air in order to see 1139's scent had traveled to, which had the other Hunters follow him soon to wherever they were heading.


Yellowstone Park

The X-Men, Defenders, and the Avengers were now investigating and analyzing the destruction and aftermath of what the chaos that had transpired here. What they found was several craters that appear to be the result of a massive explosion as well as brutal attacks. But what really disturbed them the most... were two pairs of ash and adamantium skeletons with claws similar to Wolverine and Talon's. Based on what they've found, the bodies were cremated following a brutal battle with someone that severely destroyed their healing factors as well as damaged their skeletons.

"Who... do you think... could've done this?" asked Jean Grey in a very concerned and disturbed tone due to what they've discovered.

"SNIFF, SNIFF... Smelling something... familiar.. Smells like... PARKER!?" replied Logan in a shocked manner, after he discovered that the murderer of two adamantium counterparts was Parker himself!

"WHAT?... N-No, no, no, no... That must be a mistake.." said Johnny Storm.

"Bub, I ain't lying... It's his..."

"But... how? How's that possible?"

"I'm starting to think that we're dealing with clones of ourselves... And it looks like our friend isn't dead after all..." Replied Madame Web.

"Jean, Rachel, Emma, Betsy... Is it possible that the three of you can locate him?" Requested Cyclops.

The four telepaths closed their eyes, and then calmly began pouring their energy into their minds, with the intent of finding Peter. Though.. the process was very unpleasant, as they felt very painful headaches due to the many voices from the minds of people around the world. None of their brain patterns matched... Peter's!

"WE'VE FOUND HIM!" exclaimed Betsy with a smile.

"And...?" Asked Iceman.

"He's in Nepal.."

"How the hell did he get all the way there?" Asked Kaine.

"I don't know... But it be better if we've found out ourselves..." said Iron Fist, as the three hero teams then left to locate their friend.


Nepal

After searching 1138 by tracking down his scent, the remaining War Hunters come across the small house Data had healed him. They stopped running and began slowly walking towards the house and broke the door handle, bursting inside to strike 1138 down. But... Much to their surprise: He wasn't even there! But they found.. were bloodied bandages and ruined clothes that he wore. Though this did clue them in that he was here...

"Is he here?" Asked Azrael.

"No, he isn't..." Replied Malak.

"So... I see that you've all made it here... Then let's get this over with.." Came the voice of 1138! The Hunters then formed their weapons to prepare to strike, but... they couldn't find him! He was nowhere to be found.

"Each of you have come here based on your own free will and though the choices you've made... So.. I will give you all a new choice to make: Leave now and you are able to live to see what the future may hold, or stay and accept your fate." Said Pete in a deep and introspective manner.

"Our fate is to live... And terminate you!" Replied Azrael in a short-tempered tone that meant that he in a mood for blood.

"... Then.. I suppose that you're all going to stay?... Suit yourselves, but remember this..."

"WHAT?" Demanded Goliath, who was getting of all these pointless riddles.

"That the choices you make and the consequence that follow reflects who you are..."


Then as the area became silent and the tension began running thick, Prometheus 'heard' someone running towards them. He turned around to see 1138 himself! Peter takes a metal blade in his hand, and impales Prometheus in his abdomen...

BAM!

..Before quickly using his strength to kick the Hunter back with a strong force that sent him flying into a tree, shocking the other Hunters at this impressive display of strength. Azrael then raised his twin swords and rushed to the exile and quickly slashed at him as fast as he could... But Peter was able to dodge each blow before... cutting the lower part of his long, flowing hair.

Pete soon opened to show a very fierce and determined face that is now ready for one thing... "My turn..."

He then clenched his fist in a deep grip and then... POW!

There came a very loud CRACK! from his Azrael's face, as that powerful blow was strong to twist his own neck! The deceased War Hunter then fell on his stomach with his broken neck to display.

Peter then turned to see Malak, Hera, Goliath and Hunter sprinting towards him ready to take him down, and ran himself down the woods in order to lead them to his next move. As he ran, Goliath managed to outrun him and raised his hammer-sized fists to give the deadliest smash of his life.

But, much to his surprise, Pete simply jumped over him! As he watched the grizzled exile run behind him, he turned his head to see three incoming knives coming for him! Despite attempting to doge them, he was unfortunately too late, as he felt the three blades enter his body..

Goliath soon fell on his back to the ground. Dead. The three War Hunters were shocked by what they had caused, but they chose to deal with it later by killing 1138.


Peter ran as he breathed heavily. He running a bit out of breath. But he was about to do so, he saw... the edge of a cliff that leads to the lake he traveled in. He then freezes where he was and then took a deep breath to prepare what's to come... And to maintain his composure. As he did so, the last three Hunters showed up, determined to end this battle with him.

He then turned and raised his fists, as well as positioned his body in a way that tells the Hunters one thing... He was ready.

Hunter rushed towards him with twin Vibranium dagger, but Pete grabbed his hands to prevent him from doing so. The two then began to struggle, struggling in a way that was so fierce, so intense... That the immense strength that they poured into their struggle caused them to push against lumps of dirt and mud. This told Hera and Malak that these two WERE NOT going to quit.

Pete then began to move his left arm to his side. And soon, he was spinning around in a circle that caused Hunter to be lifted in the air!

"AAAAARRRRGGGHHH!" cried out the experienced and hardened veteran as he lifted the Hunter up into the air with such strength that... essentially sent him flying through the air with such force that caused him to be heading across a small area of trees.

Both Hera and Malak charged towards him, with their blades ready. But Pete felt his Spider-Sense kick in just time! He then raised his leg to deliver a powerful KICK! to Malak's head that caused him to flip frontwards over the cliff. As he kicked the demon-themed Hunter, Peter then proceeded to deliver a very strong POW! to Hera's hea, breaking her neck in the process, similar to what he did with Azrael.


After doing so, Peter, in a tired state from fighting these hunters, looked around to see what he just did. He couldn't feel any kind of triumph, or even pride with what he had accomplished... Only guilt. Guilt with what he had to do to defeat them, and to survive. He cursed himself for doing so. Believing what he did was selfish for choosing a cruel decision that cost the lives of those who didn't deserve fates. He felt... Empty inside...

"It is time now..." came a echoing voice that caused Peter to turn in order to see who it was. IT WAS THE SHADOWY Wraith that had been haunting him since his arrival home! It was shaped like Abraxas' appearance, but with glowing green eyes instead of white. And his entire bodies was shadowed in a dark blue, with his upper body lightened with a lighter shade of blue.

"Yes" said the aged web-slinger as he grabbed a small dagger from his belt.

"You know what we must do now..." Said the Wraith who came closer.

"Yes..."

"We cannot escape what we've done... There's no honour in ignoring this... We must accept it.."

"Yes..."

'This is what I need to do... I can never escape what I have done. I'm not even a Man for choosing to ignore all this. Harry, George, Gwen and Tim are calling for me... I need to do it.." thought the hero as he raised his blade over his forehead as he prepared to gain forgiveness in the only possible way... But his head was sweating as he unable to commit such an action.

'I... I have to- WAIT!" Thought the hero, as he opened his eyes to see what he was doing!

"NO! This isn't right!" Proclaimed the wall-crawler as he threw the dagger away, shocking the ominous Wraith.

"WHAT!? But why? You'll get to see those you love again! Don't you want the chance to see them again!?"

"THAT'S JUST THE POINT! If they do love me, they wouldn't want this! None of this is real! And so aren't you! And I want to live" Proclaimed the wall-cralwer after he had regained his senses. Then his eyes glowed red, as the mark on his right hand did the same! It was the Great Weaver! He had heard his cries of courage, and because he was able to regain his resolve once more, he is now able to wield the Web of Reality once again!

"No, no! YOU NNNEEEDDD MMMMEEE!" cried out the Wraith in a frightened tone as he attempted to escape. However, through the power of Peter's connection to the Great Weaver, he felt his body crumbling into thousands of small pieces! The pieces of his crumbling body were being absorbed by Peter himself! He attempted to try and escape, but he felt the final pieces of his head crumble as he became one with the wall-crawler.


After he closing his eyes, Peter reopened them again to look around him. There was no sight of the Wraith, and not even the immense guilt he feels. For the first time, in a long time, he felt at peace. As he smiled after he remembering what it was he was fighting for, he then closed his eyes and then... collapsed onto the ground. He heading for a long rest now. And a well-deserved one as well...


TO BE CONTINUED!


WELL... Hope you've all enjoyed what you have read! Leave in the reviews section what you think of the story and the newest chapters so far! Hope you've all enjoyed this... Because there's much more to COME!