"200 purifiers and the cardinal were all inside when the blast went off" said agent hill to various responders in the mobile command center at the massive crime scene that had once been a top city church. "Moreover the bomb type was a known choice of magneto's. Known for massive devastation but also possessing great shape charging configuration to limit collateral fallout... in short ladies and gentlemen... the brotherhood of mutants has redeclared war on humans; and this is in addition to the many other threats we already face..."

The varied agency personnel present spoke softly among themselves. Tasha was still at shield medical but was due to be discharged soon. Matt and marko were still present and at Peter's side. Other avengers and X-men had shown up. They would likely be helping out with matters more closely now with the escalation scenario in effect.

Hill "reports of terror escalation are strangely happening everywhere. People are wondering why." She then looked over at Peter. "Agent Spider-Man, would you please tell everyone the truth behind this as you know it."

All eyes were on him now. He hadn't expected that in the slightest. But the request was clear. Shield was declassifying the Mephisto threat at least enough so that Peter could inform them about it at least.

Exhaling he then moved to stand with agent hill in the command tent before them. Behind them firemen were still fighting the raging bomb fires. There wasn't much left to pull out...

"Thanks agent hill. The truth is... the demon lord Mephistopheles is responsible for all of this. Ultimately." That stunned everyone. They started talking in more panicked tones. Hill raised her hands pleadingly. "Please everyone. Please calm down. This helps no one."

They eventually quieted enough for Peter to resume telling them this pivotal information. "Everything we have seen from Tokyo to now is related to this one demon lord. It is him that means us nothing but trouble." "To what end?" Someone asked.

Now it was deathly quiet. They all waited for agent Spider-Man to answer. "The ultimate conquest of the universe through devil deals and sadism."

"Where does magneto fit into all this?" "He's being used as a pawn by Mephisto to escalate mutant tensions with humanity" said Peter. "This terror attack was facilitated by a diversion from us..." that was troubling in ways yet unrealized.

"Are you saying this was our fault; that it could have been prevented?" The responders started to talk again with rising concern. Hill "please everyone. Nothing about this is easy to hear. But it's the vital truth that needs to be said; and understood."

Hill managed to quiet them again. Peter "this is gonna get worse before it gets better. I can't lie to you about that." Peter's signature honesty in such matters also helped to keep them calm. "We are doing everything we can to deal with this threat. Staying calm is our best defense." Peter didn't know if it was something he said or not but it seemed to reach them.

He continued. "The days ahead will be hard." Harder than I can really admit. It would be too much to them them that. "But we can make it if we do it together." That seemed to reach them even more so.

He pointed out at the smoking burning ruin of the church. "Fighting this is what we do. Let's do that."

Hill "dismissed everyone." They filed out to go about their many varied forensic tasks that laid ahead.

Peter leaned on the podium and sighed. Hill "You did fine Pete." She placed a reassuring hand to his shoulder to emphasize that. He gave a small nod.

I just hope it will be enough. This is the devil we're talking about here. Nothing is what it seems. That's for damn sure. And Pete couldn't shake what Tasha had said: that the nature of this war meant it could go on forever.

And there was a simple truth in all this. Mephisto could simply outlast them. Plain and simple. Pete was still slated to get that Thor hammer. But even if he got it how much good could it really do? He could save Teresa and bring her home...

But wait; for them that wouldn't be enough. Teresa would still be Mephisto's slave. How in god's name would he free her? The devil deal still applied. And if she reneged on her end of that hellish pact Peter's life would be forfeit. That was the deal; literally. Mephisto had covered his bases well. Too well. But this was the Satan of his reality they were talking about here. The one that had defied the one above all himself... how many could say they'd ever done that?

Peter had a growing realization... he would never be able to have an ordinary life. Even if he undid the spider mutation Mephisto was apparently obsessed with Peter and his life affairs. And for whatever reason that still wasn't fully explained Mephisto had made Peter the center of events.

It reminded Peter in nerd ways of the Star Wars force dyads; like between Kylo ren and Rey; Darth Vader and luke sky walker. They'd all been bound together in mystical ways. And as Peter was an unrivaled tactical genius when it came to turning pop culture concepts into proven battle strategies this insight came with no less clarity.

In short... and in the most terrifying of ways... Peter and Mephisto were bound together... they were like the Jedi and Sith... bound together for eternity.

Typical Parker luck. Only a Parker would be tied to the devil himself...

Peter looked out at the burning ruin of the late top Catholic Church for the city. Mephisto may not even let me die... for then he'd get bored... that could sound arrogant otherwise but Pete knew he was right. Mephisto was indeed obsessed with him.

He called Tasha. "Pete." "Tasha. It's great to hear your voice..." "yours too. Pete... I heard about the cathedral..." Peter bowed his head and sighed. "You did nothing wrong." "There'll all dead because of me Tasha." "They were terrorists Pete; out to kill mutants. Magneto did us a favor." "We still gotta stop him too." "And you will. We will. We will stop them all."

Pete loved her for that. And he trusted her with his life. But the truth was even she couldn't fully understand the truth of this deeper revelation in his heart. None could. Only God beyond him. That was just the truth of things.

"Keep talking Tasha. About anything. I just wanna hear your voice..." "okay..."