Inferno

Chapter 8: Conflagration

By

The Uncanny R-Man

Disclaimer- All familiar characters belong to Marvel.

Shout Outs-

Sean Malloy-1- Cutting off Selene's head? Sounds like a good idea…

Marvlix- Yeah, I'm kinda surprised that I wrote such a Jott-centric story. I guess I'm getting soft in my old age.

Slickboy444- Yup, Dr Strange, the Avengers, Spider-Man, and Daredevil have joined the fight. Bring on the pain!

TheLegendaryManHimself- Yup, it's gonna be one hell of a team-up next. Everybody's there. Spider-Man, the Avengers, Dr Strange. Hell, everybody.

GothikStrawberry- Yup, Pie is indeed a dork. Enjoy the new chapter!

Doza- Sorry, no plans for an Angel/Evo crossover I'm afraid. You'll have to make to with the incoming punch up with Selene.

Agent-G- Sorry, I've never seen that movie. The trashcan thing didn't come from Doctor Who, it is inspired from the original Inferno arc. The demonic energies emanating from Maddie and her demons friends gave various inanimate objects life. Subway trains became demon worms plunging towards Hell, patrol cars ate the cops within. General demonic wackiness ensued.

Thanks to- Windvuur.

Dr Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum-

The Scarlet Witch stood by impatiently as Dr Strange stepped out of a teleportation disc with Scott Summers and Johnny Storm.

'Do you mind telling me what you've got planned?' Wanda sighed. 'No offence or anything, but why are we waiting around here like lemons when we could be fighting those demons out there?'

'There is a reason why I have called you all here to my Sanctum Sanctorum.' Strange explained. 'You are all essential to my plans. I have been working on a plan to close the hole that has been ripped in this reality. The very same rip that is enabling the demons to venture into our world.'

'And that is…?' Scott asked. 'Couldn't you tell us before you teleported us away? My girlfriend's out there fighting for her life. If she gets hurt…'

'Miss Grey is quite safe.' Strange calmly explained. 'As are the other X-Men. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to recruit others to our cause.'

And without another word, Strange teleported away.

'Well, I don't know about you guys but I'd rather be out there saving Bayville.' Wanda sniffed.

'Tell me about it.' Scott nodded. 'My friends are out there risking their butts.'

'Hell, my sister's out there too.' Johnny added. 'She might be by far the most powerful member of the FF, but I just wanna make sure that she's safe.'

'I'm sure she's okay.' Scott nodded. 'The Invisible Woman has been at this longer than I've been an X-Man.'

'I just want to make sure that my brother doesn't screw anything up.' Wanda sighed. 'Sometimes, I feel ashamed to be called his sister.'

Meanwhile-

Back outside, things weren't going very well for the heroes that had assembled to take down Selene. The immortal sorceress had taken the Avengers apart, even powerhouses like Thor and She-Hulk.

Selene tossed the battered and bloodied She-Hulk to the ground with a heavy sigh.

'And you call yourselves the World's Mightiest Heroes.' Selene snorted in derision. 'You are hardly worth my time.'

'Yer gonna pay fer trashin' the Avengers like that! They were the best of us!'

Selene spun around, only to get a lamppost in the face for her trouble. It was the Thing!

'Or in other words… It's clobberin' time!'

The Thing held the lamppost like a baseball bat, preparing to take another swing. Unfortunately for the rocky hero, Selene caught his weapon.

'Aww, crap.' The Thing muttered before Selene snatched the lamppost out of his hands and clobbered him over the head instead.

'You puny mortals have wasted enough of my time!' Selene snarled. 'I came to this wretched city to do a job, and I intend to finish it!'

'Sez you, witch!' Logan snarled as he dived at Selene.

The immortal sorceress was ready however, as she tossed a fireball straight at the feral mutant, knocking him down.

'Useless.' Selene sniffed as she turned her back to leave.

'I ain't finished yet…' A singed, but relatively unharmed Logan growled. 'Come back an' finish me!'

'Your wish is my command.' Selene bowed dramatically. 'You amuse me, little man. So your death will be a quick one.'

'Pity the feelin' ain't mutual.' Logan growled before leaping straight at Selene with his claws aimed straight at her.

Selene didn't bother blocking Logan's attack and just allowed him to plunge his claws into her chest.

'Oh, I'm sorry. Was that supposed to hurt?' Selene asked. 'Ha! I'm immortal, fool! Nothing can hurt me!'

Selene grabbed hold of Logan's hands and pulled them from her chest, before slamming him viciously against a nearby building. But still Logan was ready to fight.

'I take back my early comment.' Selene growled. 'You are starting to annoy me.'

'Yeah, I get that a lot.' Logan growled in return. 'You ready to dance?'

'I'm always ready to dance.' Selene replied with a smirk as her hands began to glow red. 'Bring it on, little man!'

The roof-

Up on the roof above the combatants' heads, Kurt and Rachel were still being held captive in their magickal cages.

Rachel growled in defeat as she failed to escape for the umpteenth time already.

'Rachel, you have to stop.' Kurt told the redhead calmly. 'You'll only hurt yourself if you carry on.'

'Can't you feel it, Kurt?' Rachel responded. 'Selene's magicks are growing weak. The longer she carries on fighting like this, the weaker the cage gets. It's weak but I can sense everybody's thoughts down below.'

'Do you mean you can get us out of here?' Kurt asked.

'I just hope that Logan can keep the witch occupied long enough for her to loose grip on this cage entirely.'

'Fear not, Ms Grey for I have come to help you.'

Rachel gasped in surprise at the sudden appearance of the cloaked figure before her. The figure was almost translucent, as if he was a ghost.

'I am Doctor Stephen Strange.' The figure introduced. 'I am this reality's Sorcerer Supreme.'

'Enough viz ze hyperbole.' Kurt groused. 'Can you get us out of here?'

'My earthly body is busy elsewhere.' Strange explained. 'But even my astral form will be able to help you. Please, avert your eyes.'

Rachel and Kurt did as they were told as Strange went about freeing them from their cage.

Back with Logan and Selene-

Back down on the street, Logan was beginning to lose his fight against Selene. Logan may have been the best at what he does, but even he could only stand up to so much mystical super-strength.

'You're beginning to falter, Wolverine.' Selene chuckled as she deflected Logan's claws with a magickal shield. 'Give up now, before you really annoy me!'

'I'm an X-Man, lady.' Logan replied. 'We never give up!'

'Very well.' Selene shrugged. 'It will be a pity to kill you, though. You would have made a worthy consort.'

Logan was about to take another slash at Selene when there was a commotion up above their heads.

Both combatants stopped their fighting to look up to the top of the building. A giant bird made out of fire appeared, crowing as if announcing its presence.

Logan grinned happily at the sight.

'Looks like Rachel's escaped, witch.' Logan grinned. 'An' I don't think she's happy.'

Selene's eyes widened in fear at the sight of the fiery bird high above her head. The Phoenix was free and she wasn't pleased!'

TBC…

Next: End Game

It's the fight of the millennium as Selene takes on the unbridled fury of the Phoenix Force. Will there even be any Bayville left to save after the fight? Tune in next time to find out…