EARTH
Silver Surfer: Oh my…
Smoldering craters cover earth's surface. Silver Surfer's eyes widen as he hovers above and surveys the damaged planet.
Silver Surfer: I don't even know where to begin….
A monstrous shriek echoes up from the planet. The Surfer steaks downward, following the sound. He reaches New York City and sees the demon dragon hovering over the city. It is massive. It's shadow looms over multiple blocks. Below, bodies litter the streets.
In front of Algol is Thor. His hammer is spinning so quickly that it is a blur. He releases and the hammer thrusts outward, smashing violently against Algol's face, expelling lightning in every direction upon impact. The hammer quickly returns to Thor's hand. Algol wraps itself in its wings and begins siphoning a light, red-tint aura from the ground below. The aura begins the swirl and pulsate almost as if it synchronized to its heart beat.
Silver Surfer: Thor!
Algol's head pulls back and then jerks forward, it mane of serpents all firing beams of energy while Algol vomits out a boiling spray of blood. Surfer intercedes just in time, snagging Thor as he speeds across, narrowly saving the Asgardian from destruction.
Thor: Ah! The Surfer from the stars! My friend, I have missed you! What a glorious battle this is!
Silver Surfer: Thor, have you determined any weaknesses?
Thor: Alas, nay! The beast appears to be invincible!
One of the beams cuts across the sky, quickly angling towards the Surfer and Thor. The Surfer holds out his hand and blocks the beam with an energy blast of his own. The crash of energy ricochets in every direction. With his other hand he fires a blast into the chest of Algol. The area of impact glows light red and is easily deflected.
Silver Surfer: Ok. This obviously isn't going to work. We need a plan.
Thor: Look! Below! The blind devil!
From the rooftop, Daredevil is waving both arms. Surfer and Thor land in the rooftop. Daredevil runs over.
Daredevil: We don't have much time. How much do either of you know of Algol?
Silver Surfer: I have only heard the legends. Galactus mentioned that it is a planet-destroying beast of wrath.
Thor: What dost thou know of it?
Daredevil: Long story short, Dormammu is controlling this beast and amplifying it's power. Doctor Strange and Bruce Banner are currently confronting Dormammu to stop him.
Thor: Banner? The Hulk?
Daredevil: Yeah, like I said, long story. In the interim, we need to keep this beast busy in order to buy them some time.
Silver Surfer: If they take out Dormammu then the beast will be vulnerable?
Daredevil: Yes.
Silver Surfer: Thor, can you make it angry?
Thor: By Odin's beard, verily!
A low hum is heard. Algol directs its head downward and opens its mouth. Before it is able to erupt, the Mjolnir crashes into its mouth knocking the beast back. It begins to cough and choke. The hammer returns to Thor.
Thor: Ho, foul beast! Is this the best thou can offer?!
Algol's eyes glow bright yellow. It screams in rage, flapping its wings and charging towards Thor.
Silver Surfer: Well, that did it. Thor, jump on! Here we go!
Thor leaps on to the back of the Surfer's board and they disappear with a streak of light, Algol following close behind.
DOOM CASTLE
Cap is at the cockpit of the Avenger'a Quinjet. Iron Man and War Machine are out front and a half a mile ahead.
Captain America: Tony, how's it look?
Iron Man: All clear ahead so far.
War Machine: Don't get cocky, guys. We have no way of knowing when we'll be in range of Doom's radar. I'm betting we'll see Doom Bots before the castle is even in range of eye sight.
Iron Man: We never get cocky.
War Machine: Yeah, so that comment was really directed at you. I added the "we" so you wouldn't get all defensive and passive-aggressive like you always do.
Iron Man: How would I get passive-aggressive at my best friend who is wearing a billion-dollar suit of armor I invented?
War Machine: See? That's the shit that…
Captain America: Guys! Focus!
Iron Man: Hey, look! Doom Bots! Yay!
Iron Man fires two repulsor blasts, cutting one of the bots in half.
War Machine: Tony, your nine!
Two missiles fire off Iron Man's left shoulder, destroying the other bot.
War Machine: Shoulder missiles, huh?
Iron Man: I mean, I have to compete with that huge piece on your shoulder.
War Machine: Tony, you should really stop worrying about the size of my piece.
Iron Man: I opened door?
War Machine: Yep.
Iron Man: K.
Captain America: Guys, we have a mission here. Stay in the moment. Look. Ahead.
Doom's Castle comes into focus.
War Machine: Ok. We're up. Tony, let's scout ahead. Cap, you said Doom has upgraded his powers, right?
Captain America: He's got lightning and electricity now.
Iron Man: Oh good. We like that.
Iron man and War Machine fly out ahead, weaving in and out and swirling around each other. An array of missiles fire off from Doom's castle. Counter measures fire out of War Machine's back in response, detonating all of them. As the view of the castle comes into focus they notice an army of Doom Bots lining the battlements.
Iron Man: Annnnd there's the main event.
Captain America: Keep them busy. I have Doom.
Iron Man: Would you mind telling him that you're with Stark Industries security and here to take back all the tech he stole?
Captain America: Tony…
Iron Man: Just sayin.
Hundreds of Doom Bots launch from the castle. Iron Man and War Machine start blasting them from the sky. The Quinjet flies down to the main entrance, blows a hold and flies through it. It lands in the courtyard. Cap immediately exits, locates the main tower and climbs four floors of stairs until he arrives at a large ceremonial room.
Doom is standing at a window watching the battle outside.
Doctor Doom: It was wise of you to draw my Doom Bots away from the castle. But futile as well. None of you have the power to stop me.
Doom extends his arm and opens his hand. Cap grimaces in pain as Doom clenches it closed.
Captain America: Agh!
Cap is thrown across the room, crashing through a large wooden dining table. He lands at the foot of a stone fire place. He slowly gets up and throws his shield. Doom halts it in mid-air and forces it out the window.
Doctor Doom: Captain, is this all you have? You came all this way for this? My power has grown exponentially since we last met.
Doom opens his hand and electricity fires from his fingers hitting Cap.
Captain America: Agh!
Iron Man bursts in and lands in front of Cap. A large shield manifests out of the armor, absorbing the electricity from Doom.
Iron Man: Yeah. I put this little upgrade together after my battle with Thor.
The read out within Iron Man's head set notifies him that his power is now at 1500%.
Iron Man: Here Doom! Got something of yours!
Iron Man sticks out his chest and pushes both arms back. A massive repulsor blast tears through the room hitting Doom and knocking him through the wall and into the main courtyard. Iron Man follows him out.
Doctor Doom: You do realize you are wearing a coffin?
Doom reaches out again and begins squeezing his hand. Iron Man's armor begins crushing in on itself.
Iron Man: Ummm…does anyone know when Doom learned telekinesis?
Cap charges towards Doom, but is immediately stopped. Doom chokes him to the ground. Up in the sky, War Machine is holding off multiple Doom Bots.
War Machine: Tony! Cap!
Doom's arms are suddenly pulled behind his back, releasing both of the heroes. Cap lunges forward, gasping for air. Iron Man falls over and pulls off his helmet. A female gracefully lands between them, facing Doom.
Female: NOW, this is a fair fight.
Exhausted and relieved, Cap raises his head.
Captain America: She made it…
THE DARK DIMENSION
Doctor Strange, Baraquiel and the Guardian are speeding through the quantum realm. They stop as they arrive at an area shrouded in black fog and enclosed within a white barrier of light.
Doctor Strange: I would say this is it.
Guardian: Baraquiel, you're up.
Baraquiel raises his arms and two branches of lightning fire upwards. It is quiet for a few moments and then the white barrier begins to recede.
Guardian: Let's go.
The heroes disappear into the fog. As they reappear on the other side all three of them stare up at a towering black mountain, it's peak hidden inside the fog. The heroes fly towards it and as they enter, they find a cave. Strange snaps his fingers and a hovering light follows behind them, lighting their way. The cave goes deep. They feel like they are descending for miles. They reach an opening. Inside is a huge basin. At the bottom center sits a figure sitting in a large black throne. The throne is sharp and reflects the light from the dancing torches on both sides of it. The figure is wearing a cloak and holding the Picatrix.
Figure: I guess I should thank you. I have been imprisoned in this dimension for an eternity.
The figure stands and pulls back the cloak revealing a face without features. The head catches fire. It is Dormammu. He gestures his hand.
Dormammu: You will help me.
Guardian: Seriously? You're opening with mind tricks?
Dormammu shrugs.
Dormammu: I had to try. But I have other…tricks.
Dormammu stands the Picatrix on its hilt, blade up. He spins it and bolts of lightning shoot out in every direction. Doctor Strange expands his protective barrier covering the heroes.
Dormammu: Those foolish Jedi woke you up, didn't they?
Guardian: Enoch knew they would do what was right.
Dormammu's laugh echoes off the walls within the cavern. He holds out his hands, attracting the swirling energy. He pulls it back and balls it at his stomach.
Dormammu: The Jedi are lap dogs to those who hold the power…and those who hold the power understand the truth: only strength matters!
Dormammu releases the energy and it crashes against Strange's protective barrier, shattering it to pieces. The heroes are knocked back against the wall.
Guardian: Form a triangle.
Doctor Strange flies off to Dormammu's left while Baraquiel flies to his right.
Guardian: The Jedi's moral code is what gives them strength. Any fool can be a bully. Real strength comes from using it to raise others up…to confront yourself.
Dormammu: I'll remember that once I have peeled back your flesh, imprisoned your souls and delivered your heads to Enoch.
Doctor Strange rotates his arms in a circle and then points one towards Baraquiel and the other to the Guardian. Energy shoots across to each of the other heroes, creating a triangle bond of energy.
Doctor Strange: Through mutual reception our energies are connected! We bind you, Vettius!
Surprised, Dormammu jerks his head in Strange's direction.
Dormammu: That name no longer has any meaning for me! Familiars!
Dormammu stretches his arms above his head and an energy wave collides with the fog around the perimeter setting off a chain reaction of electricity crackling everywhere. Within moments, monsters and demons emerge from the fog, charging the heroes.
Guardian: Baraquiel!
Baraquiel breaks the triangle and heads towards the ravaging hoard. The triangle disappears.
Dormammu grabs the spinning Picatrix and stabs forward. A piercing noise blasts back the Guardian. He closes his eyes and clenches his teeth. The rage wells up inside of him. He opens his eyes. They are yellow. His muscles begin to grow.
Doctor Strange: Guardian! He's infecting you! Hold strong!
The Guardian is enveloped by the black energy of the Picatrix. He curls into a ball.
Guardian: Enough!
The Guardian bursts open, punching his arms outward. The cavern crumbles, splitting the mountain open. The Guardian disintegrates the collapsing avalanche.
Dormammu: Impressive.
Dormammu smashes down both fists, crushing the remains of the mountain and revealing a sea of molten energy flowing beneath.
Dormammu: This…is…POWER!
Massive lightning blasts explode out of his fingers covering the Guardian. The impact is blinding.
Doctor Strange: Guardian!
Dormammu closes his hands. The smoke clears. The Guardian is hovering. His eyes are closed. The last bit of lightning disappearing into his body. He smiles.
Guardian: I needed that.
Guardian balls up his hands by his hip and then directs them forward, both hands opening wide. A wide blast of green energy fires out, enveloping Dormammu and blasting him into the molten core.
Dormammu slowly raises out of the lava-like substance. It slowly flows off his body, encircling him in a bubble.
Dormammu: THIS is the source of my power. Tell me, Guardian. Did the Jedi bother to mention Cazimi to you?
The Guardian is silent. Dormmamu smiles. He conjures up a small sphere of lava-blood and stares at it.
Dormammu: That's the thing about the Jedi. They suppress anything that doesn't align to their narrative. Cazimi is an ancient process of transubstantiation where the blood is infused with hate, transforming it until it becomes hotter than the Sun. The fascinating thing about this process is that the body can maintain this energy without being consumed. And when it has been pumping through the heart?
The sphere of lava-blood encases Dormammu's fist like a glove, growing up his arm until it reaches his shoulder.
Dormammu: Well, all emotion transforms accordingly. Love becomes combust. Wrath becomes the foundation for the soul. Narcissism and greed are prime targets for this process because their insatiable appetite is fertile ground for Cazimi. My connection to their energies has made me powerful here. It is the power coursing through the veins of Algol as well. Let me show you!
The lava-blood from the molten core rises like a small fountain, flowing into Dormammu's hands. He blasts it toward to the Guardian. It eats away at the Guardian's body, completely disintegrating his flesh until he disappears from existence.
Doctor Strange: No!
Dormammu: It is a shame that the Jedi sent you here defenseless against this. A blast of this core not only burns down the physical body, but the subtle body as well. It appears that I have erased your champion from existence
Baraquiel fires lightning in both directions frying all monsters. A portal opens behind Dormammu, displaying the insides of the Mazzaroth. Enoch reaches in and snags the Picatrix from Dormammu.
Dormammu: What?!
The portal then reopens nears Baraquiel. Enoch hands both the Syzygy and Picatrix to him. Dormmamu roars and the entire dark dimension shakes. With one hand he directs a massive blast of lava-blood out of the core. Before the tidal wave can hit Baraquiel a burst of blinding green light appears in front of him. The tidal wave turns light blue and then evaporates, creating a smoke cloud. As it breaks, the Gamma Guardian is hovering, staring down Dormammu.
Dormammu: How…
Rising fountains swirl around Dormammu. He raises his arms, firing energy in all directions. The quantum realm shakes.
Dormammu: My hate makes me strong and I am no longer confined to the dark dimension! Let's see if you can survive when I have destroyed this realm!
Guardian: You'll destroy yourself too!
Dormammu: I have survived death once. I can again…and when I remake this reality. I will be…a god!
Doctor Strange: Guardian! His source! Go for his source!
The Guardian looks to Strange.
Guardian: Hit me with everything you got.
Strange glances at Dormammu and then back at the Guardian. He glances one more time at Dormammu. He sighs, drops his head, closes his eyes and draws both hands over his chest.
Doctor Strange: I call upon the orders of the 8th and the 12th. I summon the Watchers of all four kingdoms. Fomalhaut, align my animus with the ancient Draconic power. Unshackle my soul!
A green gem manifests in front of Strange. He leans his head back and stretches back his arms. A white aura in the shape of an angel encases his body. A second, smaller gem materializes out of his forehead. The two gems face each other, their combined glow lights up the darkness, blinding the vicinity.
Guardian: Stephen…are you sure?
Strange's eyes are white. His voice books across the quantum realm.
Doctor Strange: This needs to end and only you can end it. Use these energies.
Guardian: You won't be forgotten.
Strange smiles.
Doctor Strange: Energy can't be destroyed. No one ever truly ends.
The gems combine and Strange's body goes limp. The Guardian holds out his arms and forms a triangle with his hands. He absorbs the energy of the gem, its essence evaporating into dust until it is completely consumed.
The Guardian turns towards Dormammu, sparks bursting from his eyes.
Guardian: Vettius, you're a fool. The Jedi never cared for the details of your evil because they already knew you are poison. They don't teach the dark side because they understand that it leads to suffering and civilizations built upon its perversion eventually collapse in upon itself.
Two light blue beams of energy fire out of the Guardian's eyes. Flames spiral around the beams. They strike the center of the core and immediately begin changing the color blue. The color grows outwards from the center until it is completely transformed.
Dormammu: Nooo…no!
Dormammu roars and charges the Guardian. Their clash creates a ripple of energy, knocking back Baraquiel. With their hands clasped together, Dormammu and the Guardian explode upwards, chain reactions of energies reverberating throughout the quantum realm.
Dormammu: I am the power! Die!
Their faces are inches apart, locked in struggle. Fire erupts out of Dormammu's mouth which is immediately blocked with beams of energy out of the Guardian's eyes.
Guardian: I am the quantum realm. I flow with this field of energy. I am one with this force. If you destroy me, I will rise again and again and become more powerful than you can possibly imagine. I am rebirth. I am transformation. And I am going to end you. Not because of hate or vengeance…but because it is necessary.
The Guardian opens his fist and the Syzygy and Picatrix begin swirling. Faster and faster until they merge and transform into the Katarche blade. While it hovers over Dormammu, the Guardian nods to Baraquiel. Baraquiel swoops up behind Dormammu and places his hand on the back of his head. Dormammu freezes. His eyes widen.
Dormammu: Ohhh no. No, no, no. Nooooo…
Guardian: Yes. You finally understand. I am karma…and its ruthlessness. I am the end…of everything.
The sword comes down, driving into Dormammu's head and deep into his body. He explodes and blood squirts in all directions, melting the mystical blade.
The fog surrounding the dark dimension begins to break. The remaining mountains and peaks evaporate. The remains of the molten sea as well. The Guardian glances over to Strange's body. It slowly evaporates out of existence.
Guardian: Goodbye, my friend.
Enoch's astral form appears in front of the heroes.
Enoch: We don't have time. The earth is still in great danger. Thor and Silver Surfer are distracting Algol, but they are running out of time. They need your assistance.
Guardian: But the Katarche Blade…
Enoch: You won't need it.
Guardian: How will we get there?
Enoch: I don't have the Syzygy, so you will have travel back to the physical realm on your own.
A familiar voice is heard.
Ant-Man: Guys!
Guardian: You returned!
Ant-Man: Matt had a feeling that you might need me so he sent me back. I triangulated on your energy signatures. Let's get you guys out of here!
The Guardian creates a bubble to shield the heroes. Ant-Man enters coordinates into his wrist and they disappear.