Author's Note:
A little warning, this chapter takes place on Earth-2126 which can be considered a union between MCU X Fate-Verse and some elements and characters from other series.
The Spider-Heros began to appear and make waves in the next chapter.
Response to comments:
cjali2222: Thanks, I think. I'm a person who likes to do things in my own style.
XXX
Story Arc: Welcome to Earth-1610B
Episode 1: Yet another trip to another reality (I)
Chapter 1: The Hero of Earth-2126 and his symbiont
Plot: Boston's hero, Bruce Belmont, decides to use the brief period of peace in his life to upgrade himself and his Symbiote, Lovecraft.
When he receives a surprised call from Olga-Marie Animusphere, Bruce comes out of hiding, unaware that Madam Web is about to send him on a new adventure, where he will meet many spider-themed heroes.
XXX
Narrator's POV
On Earth-2126 it is December 14, 2018.
There are exactly 10 days left until Christmas and 16 days until New Year's Eve.
As the holidays approach, most people fill their diaries with duties and plans.
Some are preparing to travel to distant relatives, others are looking for the perfect gift.
Many people try to gather everything they need to decorate the house and prepare Christmas dinner.
But there are people who are too busy to dedicate themselves to Christmas celebrations.
Bruce Belmont is one of these people, if he's not busy helping the police solve Boston's strangest and most bizarre cases.
Then Bruce will likely be embroiled in a massive supernatural conflict that threatens innocent lives or the newly restored subtle balance between the different factions of the moonlit world.
If it's not crimes to solve or paranormal crises to prevent, two events can happen that will keep him busy in one way or another.
The first possible event is that Bruce will have to save the world in the role of one of his two heroic alter egos, Arkan Bloodedge, the rebel hero or Shoggoth, the Symbiote hero.
The second possible event is something that happens at least once a year, being in another dimension.
Which has happened to Bruce and many members of his extended family time and time again.
Though this can manifest as being stuck in another Isekai-style world for months, or exploring a shadow realm connected to their reality, or ending up in an alternate world.
The Clawthorne-Noceda Family have a very strange and bizarre life, this is one solid and unshakable fact of this world.
XXX
In recent months, Bruce has been involved in events of global significance, some of which will go down in the history books.
Even if the whole story is known only to those who are part of the moonlit world or hold a high-level position in government.
First of all, Bruce was one of the key players in stopping World War III.
Then, when the whole world thought he was dead he fought in the True and False Holy Grail Wars, while training two new apprentices, Lincoln and Lucy Loud.
After that, Bruce was involved in huge chain of events to defeat the terrorist organization GREMLIN and their leader, the Magic God, Othinus.
All this happened in just three months.
A normal person would have had a nervous breakdown and spent the Christmas holidays in a Swiss clinic to recover his mental and physical health.
Even a super hero would probably think about going on vacation or visiting family.
The newspapers talk about Tony Stark who has decided to spend his winter holidays in space on a private space station.
But Bruce Belmont is not normal, not even by the standards of wizards or superheroes.
After three tumultuous months, the entire world or at least Massachusetts has become rather quiet.
Maybe this happens because Christmas is approaching?
Whatever the correct answer, for once in Bruce Belmont's life there is some peace.
With no cases to solve, supernatural threats to eliminate, super-villains to defeat or the world to save, what is Bruce Belmont doing with this free time?
Will he be with his family preparing the house for a big Christmas gathering of the whole extended family?
Is he taking a well deserved nap somewhere?
Maybe he is enjoying the company of a beautiful woman?
None of the three.
Bruce has decided that it would be better for himself to lock himself in his laboratory and dedicate himself to his experiments.
After the ordeal of the last three months, Bruce wants to upgrade his equipment, improve his symbiote and recreate the "trick" of one of his defeated enemies.
XXX
Somewhere in a medium-high level neighborhood of Boston, there is a terraced house, which is a sky-earth building typology, characterized by the juxtaposition of multiple residential units, one next to the other.
Among the numerous homes in this place, one of them is particularly special, a seven-story sandstone building.
The most iconic element of the building is a shop window, decorated with the writing: B&L Investigation Agency.
At first glance, the detective office is closed, the neighborhood thinks that the famous detective is going somewhere in the world to celebrate holidays or has disappeared again to work on an important case.
The reality truth is much stranger than their imagination.
XXX
Few people know, but under the seven-story building that functions as a home/base of operations and investigative office there is an underground hideout.
The owner, Bruce Belmont, is a Batman fan, so it's no surprise to those who know him well that his underground hideout is an odd combination of the BatCave, a wizard's lair, and a bioengineering lab.
The temperature of the place is quite cold, in fact it is colder than the outside and it is snowing outside.
In this place filled with enough occult and scientific equipment to recreate Frankenstein's Monster or plan a siege of Avengers Tower, there are some items that seem out of place.
For example, not far from the super-computer which is showing a 95% loading bar and images focused on a genetic improvement process.
You can glimpse a simple wooden table, above it is a very high quality dollhouse, as if Ant-Man has shrunk a real house.
If anyone would make a list of the ten most expensive and best dollhouses in the world, this one comes in at least fifth place.
Under the table that holds a miniature house that costs as much as a real house, there is a kind of indoor dog kennel.
A strange ferret that resembles Kudamon, a character in the cartoon, Digimon, is sleeping in the kennel.
Finally, as the third and final oddity (for the moment), hanging from the ceiling by chains, there are several bird cages.
All of the cages are empty, with a single exception, an obsidian cage with the door open holding a sleeping female raven inside.
Silence reigns supreme in this hideout, all the residents seem to be asleep after spending a long night.
Everyone sleeps, except for a single individual who considers sleep an enemy or a risk to his well-being due to dream demons.
One of the doors leading to other areas of the hideout opens and through it, Bruce Belmont enters the scene.
"The implant operation is over!" Bruce declares loudly as he walks towards the dollhouse.
Bruce is a boy of almost 19 years old, 171 centimeters tall, slim and thin, with skin as pale as milk.
The soft and delicate features of the face make it androgynous, even absolutely feminine in the right light.
Her inky black hair is tied in a short ponytail and has a thick fringe that hides her left eye.
Instead of one of his usual outfits which can be classified into three categories: Noir, Fantasy, Scifi.
Bruce is only wearing a long black bathrobe and nothing else.
"As usual, Pretender, you're exaggerating." A female voice said, coming from the dollhouse.
When Bruce entered the room, someone came out of the very expensive dollhouse.
The person who came out of the doll's house is a 15 centimeter tall "fairy".
Her outward appearance resembles that of a 16-year-old girl.
She has long, wavy blonde hair.
He wears a patch over his right eye.
Its remaining eye is glowing green and with a slit-like iris.
She's wearing a revealing dress, a low-cut neckline that dips below her navel.
She has a long cloak and has a ribbon wrapped around her. There are traces of a haunted design, such as the cape and a wide-brimmed hat with a pointed tip.
This "fairy" is known as Othinus, a Fallen Magical Goddess, who has lost 99% of her powers, ending up defenseless and as tall as a doll.
"I'm not exaggerating, I'm just happy that I was able to complete my latest upgrade and pave the way for my future masterpiece!" Bruce said in an elated voice as he lifts up his right sleeve, showing off some of his work.
On the inside of his left forearm there is a tattoo: six perfect circles pierced by a line.
Othinus took a slow look at the symbols carved into his forearm and then at Bruce's face.
" Peaceful times are not good for you. They make you act childish and push you to create anything to stave off boredom." Othinus said, knowing the Occult Detective well enough to understand what drives him to do certain actions.
" My motivations may be superficial, but my results remain astonishing. I have managed to replicate and improve on Dorothea's Six Hearted Revolvers, also known as Jester Karture." Bruce said, a childish smile on his face, minimally bothered by Othinus' comments.
The eccentric hero is in good spirits, because he finally had enough free time to make this spiritual and physical modification to his body.
"Pretender, sometimes you are like a child, when you see something that catches your attention, you can't help but buy it or replicate it." Othinus said, taking a quick look at a certain cube-shaped artifact that sits on a pedestal at the back of the room.
The symbols on the left forearm are only the latest in a long series of replicas or imitations of techniques and artifacts that have intrigued Bruce.
"Everyone has their favorite pastime. I like to study my opponents' unique abilities or weaponry, then try to create my own version." Bruce responds, continuing to be happy and positive, something that doesn't happen often or last for very long.
"Out of curiosity, what's the point of having six artificial spiritual origins inside you?" Othinus asks, slightly intrigued by what Bruce wants to do with this new trick.
Othinus is good enough to understand some of Bruce's motivations in some scenarios, but that doesn't mean she can understand him completely.
Othinus is a good enough fairy to understand Bruce's motivations in some scenarios, but that doesn't mean he can understand him completely.
What happens inside Bruce's head is a mystery that even the gods cannot hope to solve.
"A person can never have too much money, too many bullets, or too many backup plans." Bruce replies in a neutral voice, as if he were talking about a topic so obvious it's boring.
'If he doesn't want to tell me, it means he's planning to do something big or extravagant. Times of peace are not good for him.' He thinks the fairy, sad that the only person who can understand her can't relax and enjoy the tranquility.
BING BING BING!
A ringtone was heard inside the underground hideout.
An excited smile appeared on Bruce's lips, a sign that this ringtone is a good sign for him.
Turning his head, Bruce sees that the bar on the supercomputer screen has reached 100%.
"Perfect synchronization, that means I'm about to do a double test run." Bruce said in an energetic voice, walking towards the super-computer.
"The world may be at peace, but this house cannot be quiet more than one night." Othinus murmurs, sure that things will soon become turbulent.
Bruce didn't sit in the chair, but remained standing and pressed various buttons on the keyboard.
In an instant, a secret compartment in the desk opened, revealing a device the size of a blender or coffee maker.
The device in the center is a cylinder containing a black and purple substance, around the base of the device are three empty vials.
"Lovecraft, I'm glad you agreed to participate in this treatment.
I'm sure that the Lightforce Energy particles, Primogen samples and Peter Parker's blood displays will be useful for you to evolve to the next stage." Bruce said, in a soft voice, as if he were talking to a very dear person.
If words weren't enough to show his affection, Bruce decided to pat the glass cylinder as he spoke.
The substance inside the cylinder began to wriggle, as if it were a dog that wants to join its owner, but unfortunately it is held back by a chain.
"Don't worry, we'll be together again in a few minutes, but first I have to do a little test on myself." Bruce said, continuing to speak kindly to the substance in the glass cylinder.
Taking a few steps away from the desk, Bruce takes off his robe and drops it to the floor.
Othinus, seeing his "friend" without clothes, begins to blush, then an internal struggle begins over whether to look or not look at Bruce's naked body.
The 15 centimeter tall girl decides to focus on the tattoos, the scars and the purple gem implanted in Bruce's chest.
"Time to see how well my Six Hearted Revolver replica works." Bruce said, closing his fist, making one of the six perfect circles on his left forearm shine.
FLASH!
A flash of red engulfed the entire chamber.
When the flash of light went out, Bruce remained in the same position, but gained a change in appearance and philology.
Bruce went from being a 19 year old, 170 centimeters tall, to being a 15 year old, 150 centimeters tall.
Her facial structure remained the same only more youthful and graceful than before.
His inky black hair is now red/orange, shoulder length and with a cowlick.
Now, you can see both eyes which are light red, long eyelashes and thin eyebrows of the same color.
The body is built to be small and slender, kept perfectly fit.
The skin has gained a more normal color, being able to be considered Caucasian than an albino or someone who avoids sunlight.
The skin is smooth and healthy, free of blemishes, completely pure with no signs of tattoos or scars.
The form has some quirks, such as the lack of secondary sexual characteristics and the fact that it has the physiology of a doll.
"You could create a form from scratch and you chose to be an asexual, younger, prettier version of yourself?" Othinus asks as he looks down on this new form. The slight blush on his cheeks indicates that Otthinus finds Bruce's current appearance cute.
" For the first use I decided to use the Jaula Module, among the six modules available, this is the closest to my normal appearance.
Although there are some obvious differences." Bruce explained, while stretching his arms upwards to do some stretching exercises.
"Isn't Jaula the Spanish word for cage? Does that mean this module has an ability to seal or trap someone or something?" Othinus asks, knowing that his "friend" tends to put rather obvious names on his creations.
Bruce doesn't answer, instead he holds out his left hand and snaps his fingers.
In an instant the female raven opens her eyes and flies out of her cage, immediately landing on Bruce's left shoulder.
"Carmen, you will be the first to benefit from the effects of the Jaula Module." Bruce said, looking directly into the blue eyes of the female raven.
After saying these words, Carmen's physical body "melted", then was absorbed into the skin, forming a red tattoo on her left shoulder.
"The word cage would not be the best word to describe the function of this body. I would use the word living hotel or human fortress." Bruce said with a big smile, pointing his hand in the direction of his doghouse.
The sleeping being "transformed" into a material that is both a liquid and a gas that ran in Bruce's direction.
The sleeping being transformed into a material that is both a liquid, and a gas, which was attracted in Bruce's direction.
A few seconds later, a red-colored tattoo appeared around his neck, a sign that Vritra, the ferret-like creature or a certain Digimon was "absorbed" into Bruce's body.
"The Jaula Module is built with a specific purpose, to manipulate, control, subjugate and contain spiritual entities of all kinds.
My summoning magic has reached a new level. That's just the magic aspect of this form." Bruce states, exposing some of the tricks of this form.
" Pretender, I'm not saying you haven't created an interesting new trick. But didn't you already have two surefire ways to tame demons?" Othinus asks, they don't seem impressed by Bruce's revelation.
Detective Occult seems to have a thing for exploring multiple roads and paths that lead to the same destination.
"Traditional magic and your attempt to modernize the art with COMP and Demon Summoning Program." Othinus lists Bruce's two previous safe methods of handling and taming demons.
There is a third method, but that one has the potential to create a disaster of biblical proportions, so it is not mentioned or almost never used.
"As much as I like the traditional style of Demon Summoning, it takes a certain amount of time to create a high-level demon summoning seal, and in the end you have to negotiate with the demon or defeat it with your strength alone.
Both methods are fun, but I don't have that much free time." Bruce said, believing that the old methods of magic art have their charm, but don't always work for his quick criteria.
"The COMP and Demon Summoning Program were a good step forward, but it's not enough for me.
The COMP has limited storage space and if it is destroyed the user is left without their demonic summons; the Demon Summoning Program, as fast and easy to use as it is, cannot do what I want." Bruce said, no longer happy with his inventions considered by many magic users to be revolutionary.
As Tony Stark continually upgrades and improves his armor, widening the gap between his technology and the technology of all others.
Bruce does the same thing, only he focuses on multiple fields, many of them supernatural in nature.
"The Jaula Module is basically a next-generation living COMP, designed to work on any spiritual being. I'd give you the details of what it can do, but now I have to deal with Lovecraft." Without saying anything else, Bruce turns his back on Othinus and begins walking towards the supercomputer.
The Occult Detective presses a button and the lid of the glass cylinder opens.
Once the obstacles between the two were removed, the Symbiote emerged from the container as if it were lava coming out of a volcano.
The Symbiote named Lovecraft, instead of jumping on Bruce, did things in his own style.
The universe was right to pair these two, because no normal Symbiote would have stood up to Bruce and no typical Host would have survived Lovecraft.
The black and purple substance that is Lovecraft gathers in front of Bruce, forming a perfectly circular puddle.
Slowly, Lovecraft's mass begins to rise and expand, shaping itself to form a humanoid shape resembling a Monster Girl, specifically a Slime Girl.
Lovecraft's temporary appearance resembles that of an eight-year-old girl, small and petite, the body is composed of a black/purple colored substance, large red eyes, a purple slime for hair held in two Chinese-style buns.
'I still can't understand whether letting Lovecraft watch the cartoons featuring Slime Girl was a good or bad thing.' Bruce thinks as he looks at his temporary Symbiote form.
Lovecraft's unusual behavior is no surprise if you think about it, a Symbiote is influenced by the personality and experiences of its host.
Lovecraft was influenced more than usual by this process, because before entering into symbiosis with Bruce he was a blank slate.
In short, the World's most eccentric Occult Detective has the most abnormal Symbiote in the Galaxy.
"I missed you so much !" Lovecraft states, hugging Bruce's legs tightly.
Lovecraft acts like a little girl who hasn't seen her older brother for years.
Bruce remains unfazed by his Symbiote's clingy behavior.
Ladies and gentlemen, the most bizarre relationship between a Symbiote and a Host.
"It hasn't been twelve hours since we last spoke." Bruce comments, knowing that trying to get out of Lovecraft's grasp would do more harm than good.
"I am a Symbiote who hates to be separated from its host, I am incomplete without you." Lovecraft said in a melodramatic voice.
As he is speaking, Lovecraft loses some of his concentration and his form becomes less solid and more slimy than before.
Now, part of Lovecraft's body has melted and glued itself onto Bruce, including his legs.
'I do not support this disgusting show. The parasite acts as if its symbiotic bond with the Pretender is something special.' Othinus thinks, giving a dirty look to Lovecraft and the habits he inherited from his entourage.
If the "fairy" was powerful again or at least as tall as a normal girl, she would use magic or a flamethrower to burn the Symbiote.
" We separated for a reason. You and I were supposed to receive a well deserved upgrade, we must continually evolve if we want to remain the Ultimate Life Form and the Strongest Symbiote in the Galaxy." Bruce declares in a serious voice, fully convinced of the need to reach the next level.
"Simply put, I now have six extra lives, each extra life is linked to a new form or form created for a specific scenario or to perform a specific purpose." Bruce explains what his upgrade is all about.
"Lovecraft, your current update was intended to grant you three new abilities:
The Primogem should, in theory, allow you to analyze and improve your Host's genetic abilities.
The infusion of Lightforce Energy should grant you new healing powers and/or enhance your regeneration abilities.
The blood of Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, if it has been assimilated well, should grant you spider-like abilities." Bruce listed the improvements that Lovecraft supposedly received from this treatise.
"You've talked enough, I want to be reunited with you completely." Lovecraft said, speaking as if she were a child who wanted to go to the playground as soon as possible and no longer listen to the boring talk of adults.
Bruce shook his head slightly seemingly amused by Lovecraft's antics, then made a hand signal to come to him.
"Hurray!" Lovecraft exclaims with great joy, throwing his arms in the air.
After that, Lovecraft gave up maintaining a semi-humanoid form, returning to an undefined form.
In an instant, every single particle that makes up the Symbiote enters Bruce's body through the pores, that is, microscopic openings through which the skin releases sebum.
Once inside, Lovecraft moves through the circulatory system to expand throughout Bruce's system.
'There's no place like home.' Thinks Lovecraft, with a happy tone, loving the feeling of being inside Bruce's body.
During the symbiosis process, Lovecraft managed to notice the changes undergone to his Host, within him there were six nuclei at the forefront, five of them dormant and one active.
Hidden behind these six cores, is the "heart" of its host, which can be called the center of Bruce's true form and essence.
In addition to this modification there are other tweaks and changes that Lovecraft manages to more or less understand.
They speak in metaphors, Lovecraft left her beloved home to go to the doctor to receive some new medicine, when she returned home she discovered that she had received a redesign of the house.
The foundations have remained the same, but the furniture has been changed, and the refrigerator is full of delicious food from the east.
In short, it wasn't a bad change for Lovecraft, just different and with a few little surprises.
Abroad, starting from the throat down, Bruce's physical body is covered in a black and purple slime that is constantly changing density and appearance.
"Lovecraft, you've had enough time to settle in, it's time to do your job." Bruce said, wanting to go and test their new abilities.
After a last second of savoring the sensation of "new car" or "new house", Lovecraft begins to take on a more defined and elaborate form.
The entire body from the head to the feet is covered in a pitch black suit, the kind of suit that Spider-Man or Deadpool wears.
The suit has dark gray sections located on the thighs, forearms and biceps.
The face is covered by a mask, decorated with a symmetrical white spot that resembles Rorschach test.
Around the neck and left shoulder are white tribal-style symbols that match the tattoos on Bruce's body.
"Lovecraft, are you allowed to add an accessory or two to this outfit, I feel like it's too simple." Bruce said, not too happy with the current appearance of their alter ego.
"Hurray!" Lovecraft exclaims, loving to customize or add small changes to his costume.
In an instant, Lovecraft created a gray hood for the costume with a collar with a black sharp-tooth pattern on the front covering her mouth and matching zipper.
Followed by the appearance around the waist of a gray band with five obsidian tassels at the end.
Finally, a large white abstract symbol resembling a spider or archaic symbol appeared on his chest.
" Better, although the symbol on the chest is too Spider-Man for my tastes." Bruce said as he crosses his arms, not liking that last detail too much.
RING RING RING !
A telephone ringtone rings in the hideout, attracting the attention of Bruce and Lovecraft.
"Who's looking for me, have I already told everyone that I shouldn't be disturbed until the afternoon?" Bruce mutters, turning his head in the direction of the desk.
A pair of tar-colored tentacles emerged from its back and reached towards the desk.
With fluid and precise movements the two tentacles opened a drawer and brought to Bruce, a high-tech black phone that looks more like a Henshin Hero's Transformation Trinket.
The writing appears on the screen: Olga-Marie Asmleit Animusphere; followed by an image of a white-haired woman who is two years older than Bruce.
"I wonder what else Olga-Marie wants from me?" Bruce mutters, preparing to answer the call.
Two years ago, when Bruce attended Nevermore Academy, he ended up meeting Olga-Marie who was in her senior year, while he was a freshman.
A lot happened in that school year, but Olga-Marie eventually became a regular customer of the B&L Detective Agency, calling at least once a month to solve a problem or ask for advice.
"Olga-Marie, you called at the wrong time, I was about to start doing some important tests, so I advise you to quickly tell me what you want from me this time." Bruce states in a blunt tone, holding the high-tech phone to his ear.
For a minute, Bruce was silent, listening to the words of a young woman from an ancient and wealthy wizarding family.
" You are on a plane about to land in Boston, do you want me to pick you up so we can have lunch at a restaurant of my choice.
Then, you want to discuss my price for hiring me full time to work in Chaldea, the organization you inherited not long ago, after your father's suicide." Bruce said, summarizing Olga-Marie Animusphere's request.
"You're a lucky woman, my schedule's been pretty free lately, I'm coming to get you." Bruce said, having nothing better to do today.
Ending the phone call, Bruce's high-tech phone has been incorporated into Lovecraft's body, which can act as a pocket dimension for mundane objects.
"Othinus, I'll leave the reins of the lair to you, I'll go for a walk in the city." Bruce said as he walks towards a metal cabinet with an electronic lock.
By entering the access code, the wardrobe opens showing a small arsenal of weapons and various objects of a magical or technological nature.
Bruce, as if on autopilot, reaches out and grabs several items from the cabinet.
First of all, he wears a silver choker, with a coin-shaped pendant decorated with the symbol, OOO, which could mean beyond infinity.
Then, he puts futuristic silver bracelets around his wrists, which seem ready to transform into something comparable to Tony Stark's creations.
To remind everyone that he's a huge Batman fan, he wears a silver metallic belt that appears to have been stolen from Gotham's Dark Knight.
Finally, tie a red band around your left bicep, whether the band is a magical object or a purely aesthetic preference remains to be discovered.
" Lovecraft, take what you wish for, you were a good child after all." Bruce said, giving Lovecraft carte blanche to take whatever he wants with him.
"Hurray!" Lovecraft exclaims, acting like a little girl who can fill her cart with all the toys she likes.
About ten tentacles came out of Bruce's back and swallowed several trinkets, many of them weapons and gadgets.
"Now, we can go out, but first..." Bruce reaches out in the direction of a certain pedestal where there is a certain artifact shaped like cubes.
The artifact flew in the direction of the Occult Detective, but when it was about to touch Bruce's hand it disappeared into thin air.
"I'm not going anywhere without my Daedalus Cube." Bruce mutters, starting to come out of his hiding place.
XXX
Meanwhile, a certain blindfolded older woman is waiting for the perfect moment to divert Bruce's path from the plane to a more interesting place.
Continues ...