Avenging Justice 2:
Caught Between an Ultron and a Doomsday
Part XX
Battleworld
Spider-Man swung down, landing on Electro before he could send a blast of lightning out. He hit the villain hard, and as Killer Frost came at Mr. Fantastic from behind, he shot a web strand out, yanking her feet out from under her. By this time Electro had retaliated, but since donning the new suit, his Spider-Sense seemed to have been improved. He dodged the blast, and hit the villain with a right hook.
The villain flew back, and smacked into the ground like a ragdoll. Spider-Man didn't have time to notice as Doctor Octopus slung a boulder at him, using his mechanical arms. Spider-Man redirected it, and only the quick reaction by Doctor Octopus' arms kept him from getting crushed. Spidey though wasn't going to let the advantage go to waste, and leapt into the air, shooting off his webbing with abandon.
All of the good doctor's arms were webbed, and he soon found himself being pulled towards the black suited Spider-Man. Normally at this point, the hero would be making a joke or quip, but instead Spider-Man seemed to be eerily quiet. Normally Otto Octavius would have found this a pleasant turn, but maybe it was just the black suit, he felt fear. There was something off about the wall crawler, something had changed, possibly not for the better.
Spider-Man grappled him and Doc's arms couldn't get free fast enough to save him. His hands went to the other man's throat and he started to squeeze. It was nowhere near a portion of his strength, but he knew he could pop this guy's neck with ease. In fact, for all the crimes, and times that Doctor Octopus had hurt him, his family, this man deserved it. So easy too, just a little more pressure, and no more villain. How many people would be saved?
"Wall Crawler, if he's out of the fight, there are more to go around," came the voice of the Human Torch through his mind fog.
Spidey shook his head and responded back, "Just point the way, and we'll win the day!"
"Great, you're rhyming now," Johnny sighed. "Ben and Reed have Doom on the nearby hill. I'm going to help Susan out."
Without looking back, the Human Torch blasted off through the sky. He didn't need to know Spider-Man was already swinging over, that was just where he'd go. Just like no matter what, Johnny would go to his sister's aid. She probably didn't need his help, but as her brother, he was going to go anyway.
He need not have worried, because Susan had things well in hand. Killer Moth, on of Batman's foes, was suspended in the air. From the jerking the villain was doing, and the flames from his weapon harmlessly spreading into the sky, she had him between two force fields. Johnny smiled, and looked for the next enemy. He found it in Killer Croc, coming up behind Susan, as if he was going to sneak up on her.
Well Johnny let him know that wasn't going to happen. Letting out a flame stream, he caught the monster man, with just enough heat to make him rethink attacking Susan. In response to this, Killer Croc found a nearby boulder and lobbed it at the flying flaming man. Johnny pushed the flames hot enough, blasting the oncoming boulder into molten rock. It fell to the ground, harmless to him, but another villain, one with what looked like catsup and mustard blasters, ran hurriedly away.
"You know I had him, right?" came Susan's warm, but amused voice.
Johnny shrugged, "Can't let you have all the fun. Reed and Ben have Doom cornered, I sent Spidey to help, but you know it's Doom."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's end this," she was already rushing towards the hill Johnny had pointed toward.
Dr. Doom blasted away at the heroes coming at him, they were many, but he was better. His armor protected him, his magic gave him power, and his science was enough to give Iron Man pause. As such, he shrugged off Spider-Man's webbing, Reed's futile attempts to restrain him and the mighty blows by Ben Grimm. An electric shock set Reed to the ground, rolling away as his body spasmed. A quick spell, sent fire towards Spider-Man and he dodged The Thing's strike, and hit the rocky man several times for good measure.
He was interrupted as flames not of his making set his green cloak on fire. The metal armor protecting him, transferring only the tiniest amount of the heat towards him. Dr. Doom pulled out a little trinket and threw it at the Human Torch. Ice exploded around the burning man, and Jonny let out a surprised exclamation. A second ice bomb was stopped midair, and it exploded in an invisible cube.
"Victor it is time to end this," the Invisible Woman said as she appeared behind Dr. Doom. "We have a real enemy to be fighting, and it isn't each other."
Doom felt himself being sandwiched between two fields, and he laughed. She was always the one he feared. Reed was too analytical, always wanting more data and easily distracted if given a problem to solve. Ben was easy, he was used to being the protector, the muscle, the big guy in the team. He'd always put himself into harms way, even at the expense of his own wellbeing. That left Johnny, the proverbial hot head, and the one who was always trying to prove himself, be the cool one. He tended not to think but rather act, and so was the easiest one to take out. Not Susan though, she was smart enough to understand Reed, innovative enough to attack and protect. No, her weakness was that she cared, and would overexert herself for her family.
Still out of all of them, she was the one for another reason. He cared for her, and that was his weakness. He wouldn't stop at hurting any of them, destroying them, but he always held back for Susan. Reed didn't deserve her, she was special, and that lunatic kept looking for the special elsewhere. He had an extraordinary woman, and neglected her. Still, Doom wasn't above destroying the team, and hoping that she'd finally come around.
He sent a burst of magical energy, sending Susan back, and disrupting her concentration. Immediately the invisible force fields fell away and he used another of his tech to create several holographic clones. That behind each one was a miniature Doombot portaled in, and armed with dangerous tech, made this very difficult. Villains like Mysterio caused you to think and act like you were being attacked, his illusions could do damage on their own, with a bit of science.
"The arrogance of you all, thinking that…." Dr. Doom began, interrupted as a black blur slammed into him.
Spider-Man let all his frustration go. All the pain his double life had caused him, the lost friends and near misses, all came out. As Doom through him off, he sent two strands of webbing out. One was to change his trajectory, the second connected with Doom and sent him rocketing towards the villain. He slammed into the villain, and a quick webbing shot impacted Doom's faceplate, covering his eyes.
"I've had enough of this place, of you and all this needless fighting!" Spider-Man screamed. "This is the end, because I'm getting home! You hear me, I'm getting home!"
As if to accentuate this point, Spider-Man unleashed a savage uppercut with all his strength. If Doom had not been wearing his armor, this would have been a fatal attack. Because of the protective armor, Doom found himself twisting around in the air. He tried to straighten himself out, but Spider-Man's webbing kept pulling him in different directions. Nothing in Doom's knowledge about the hero, answered his query as to why Spider-Man was acting so satisfyingly direct. No bravado, word play, just pure aggression. He'd still fail, because Doom wasn't going to fail to some guy who usually dressed in bright spandex.
However, Spider-Man had given the Fantastic Four time to recover and get into position. All of Dr. Doom's Doombots lay destroyed and know they came for him. The battle was monumental, but in the end, Dr. Doom knew defeat. It wasn't a common feeling for him, no matter how many times these fools gave him setbacks, he rarely outright failed.
Above, watching beyond the mere mortal's perception, the Beyonder smiled. This had been entertaining, he would have to do this again. However, he had learned what he wanted to. These forces of "Good" had prevailed, but "Evil" had held its own too. His curiosity was piqued, if done again, would the result be the same? Curiosity ensued, and he was about to rest the board again. However, a new presence stopped him, and he felt an uncommon emotion well up in him.
"Your experiments are at an end, these Secret Wars are over," the voice said. "Send them back."
Before he could understand why, the Beyonder sent them back. The presence remained for a small time afterwards, but eventually did disappear as well. Yet, even gone, the Beyond couldn't shake the feeling that unblinking eyes were upon him. Still, all he had to do was be patient, then he could begin his experiments again. Next time though, it would be bigger, better, and the question that needed to be answered, would be.