This fanfiction draws inspiration from the creative ideas and original content of L3187, including the characters Alex Algird, Dave and Goron Algird, Driada, Crazdal, Xanad/Adam Watcher who are creations of L3187. You can show your support for them by following L3187 on TikTok. Thank you for your support!
A few days had passed since the tumultuous night in the compound, and Alex, as The Ghost Spider, was once again patrolling the city. Swinging gracefully from building to building, they maintained their vigilance, ensuring the safety of their fellow citizens.
As they were on patrol they swung past the Mystic Mysterium, deep in the heart of the Duskhaven borough. A familiar sense of curiosity and camaraderie pulled them inside. They landed on the street and quickly made their way inside.
Alex took off their mask and walked into the inner sanctum of the Mysterium. They had always found solace in Steven's mystical sanctuary, and they had developed a unique friendship with him over a short period of time.
Once inside the inner sanctum of the Mystic Mysterium, Alex looked around but couldn't find Steven anywhere. They looked around and noticed a newspaper prominently displayed on the workbench. The headline read: "Mystical Hero Saves City from Chaos." It featured a drawing of Steven in action, from Delacroix Hall using his magical abilities to fight the Children of the Cosmos.
With a mischievous grin, Alex read the newspaper as they sat down on the chair next to the workbench.
Steven was busy tending to the mystical artifacts in his closet. He walked out of the storeroom closet and closed the door to find Alex there.
"Well, well, Steven, looks like someone's been getting noticed," Alex teased, waving the newspaper in front of him.
Steven glanced at the headline and chuckled. "Ah, you've found my moment of fame," He replied with a hint of amusement. "I suppose even a Sorcerer Supreme needs their fifteen minutes of fame and glory."
Alex couldn't resist poking fun at him. "I guess that makes me the unsung hero of the city, always working in the shadows."
Steven chuckled again, his eyes filled with warmth. "You're a hero in my eyes, Alex, whether the city knows it or not."
The two shared a lighthearted moment, Alex noticed two transparent maps floating against the wall. One was a map of New Oros and its surrounding territory in its hold.
The other map was of an outer worldly design. One which took notice of Thare, it's planetary neighbors, the other bodies of stars, and everything in the quadrant.
"What are these maps for?" Alex pointed at the two maps.
Steven looked at them, "Oh those?" Steve pointed a finger at the maps. "The Map of New Oros shows all the boroughs of the city, and it's surrounding territory. It's currently attuned to look for any sharp ticks of ghostly, spiritual, and soul magics."
Alex got up and looked at the map, "Dominique?"
Steven shook his head, "After Felicity and I finished with the Constables at the compound. We searched around for any traces of Dominique's essence everywhere. We even got one of the Constables to help us, what was his name? Oh yeah, Ketch. That was it."
Alex smiled at Constable Ketch's name, he was always the type of person to help. "So you think her essence would come back to New Oros?"
"Where else would she go? I'm going to try and make a device that will attract her to it, and so we can take hold of it before anything happens." Steven put on his tri-focals and looked at the map.
Alex shook their head, this being beyond their wheelhouse. They looked at the other map of the solar system and the extended quadrant. "What about this map?"
Steven looked at the space map, "This one is keeping an eye out for anything that may…intrude into the local system."
Alex knew what he was mentioning. The Way, and their message to the stars. Just who was that message for, and what was the message?
They asked Steven, "Stoney do you think that message was an invitation, or something?"
"Aw hell Alex, it could have been anything. We just have to make sure we are ready and prepared."
Alex looked worried, "Stoney it's just you, me and Cat. Is that going to be enough for what might come crashing from the stars?"
Steven was quiet for a beat, "I do not know Alex. I honestly do not know." He sighed as he crossed his arms, "What I do know, is that we should start looking for some new friends. Just in case someone or something heard that message and is coming here to Thare."
Alex and Steven both heaved a sigh. They knew that the future held uncertainty, but they were determined to face it together.
Steven looked at Alex, "I feel like I have to ask this, but do you have some history with Driada? Because once she came in you started to have a full on panic attack."
Alex looked down, "Driada…Driada killed my father, Goron. He was looking for me deep in the city, when he encountered Driada." They went quiet, still feeling responsible for their father's death. "He did so much for me in the short amount of time I've known him, and always treated me like his own."
Alex clutched their chest, "It's not like he blames me, he's always wanted to die. He's lived for so long he doesn't know how old he really is!"
Steven looked at his friend, "But you still feel that you are to blame? And seeing Driada gives you the sense that…what?"
Alex's expression grew somber as they recounted their feelings. "I don't know if it's rational, but every time I see Driada, it's like a reminder of that night. It's a reminder of the choices I've made and the consequences they've had on others. Like my father, it's not just guilt. It's this overwhelming fear that I'll lose more people I care about."
Steven placed a comforting hand on Alex's shoulder. "Alex, you can't shoulder the weight of the world's problems alone. We all make choices, and sometimes they lead to unintended consequences. However, you're not alone in this. We're a team now, and whatever challenges come our way, we'll face them together."
Alex nodded, appreciating the support. "I know, Stoney. I just need to find a way to make peace with my past and not let it cloud my judgment. There are bigger things at play now, and I can't afford to be held back by my own demons."
Steven smiled reassuringly. "You're stronger than you think, my friend. Remember, I'm here to help you confront those demons, both figuratively and literally if need be."
With a renewed sense of determination, Alex was about to put their mask on when they saw Steven's hat, "Hey can I grab a hat snack for the road?"
"By all means, go for it," Steven smiled.
Alex reached in and grabbed a pastry out of Steven's hat and made for the door.
"Carpe Diem, Alex."
Alex turned back to their friend.
"Seize the day!"
Alex smiled as they wolfed down the pastry, "Thank you Stoney! I'll be around in another day or so!"
"Don't be a stranger!"
Alex put their mask back on and resumed their patrol as The Ghost Spider. They waved back to his friend before stepping out into the street and started web-slinging up over the New Oros skyline. Ready and eager to do their thing as the friendly neighborhood Ghost Spider!
The Way hung from their ankles, their hands bound behind their hands.
Three days they had been beaten.
Three days they had been starved.
Three days they had been kept awake at every single moment, unallowed to sleep for even a minute.
The Way, battered and weakened but still defiant, hung in their restraints. Their mind racing with thoughts of escape and revenge. They had endured relentless torture at the hands of Driada, yet they refused to break.
As they hung there, their senses heightened by their desperate situation, they began to pick up on subtle sounds and vibrations.
The low hum of machinery, the distant footsteps of guards, and the faint echoes of voices in the cold. Their dimly lit chamber provided them with little info about their surroundings.
The door slammed open, The Way turned to see Driada at the doorway.
"Okay," Driada began, her face snarled in an annoyed glare. "As much as I have 'loved' these little playdates of ours, I'm afraid we are going to have to cut them short." She pulled out a chair to sit down in front of her victim. "So I need to know what that message you sent up into the stars above said."
The Way, weakened but resolute, met Driada's gaze with defiance. Their voice, though hoarse from days of torture, carried a steely determination. "You may break my body, but my message was not meant for the likes of you. It was a beacon of hope. A call to arms for those who can bring light to the darkness you represent."
Driada leaned in closer, her eyes narrowing. "Hope? Light? Oh, how adorable. Let me remind you, that in this realm, hope can be crushed, and light can be snuffed out. Now, tell me the message. What did it say, and who was it meant for?"
The Way remained silent, their lips sealed in stubborn resolve. They had endured much, but their spirit remained unbroken.
Driada sighed in frustration, rising from her chair. "Very well, have it your way. We'll continue this dance another time. But remember, there are fates far worse than death, and I have all the time in the world."
As Driada left the chamber, The Way hung in their restraints, knowing that the struggle against this powerful adversary was far from over, but their determination to protect the message and its intended recipients burned brighter than ever
"Hot headed," A voice rang out in the dark chamber. "That's a term I'd use to describe my sister, but then again, she is a Fire Goddess. So it checks out."
The Way knew whose voice that was. "It's you!"
A freakishly tall man in a black suit walked out of the shadows. Several glowing eyes upon two circular halos that covered their eyes, glared right into the soul of The Way. The King of the Gods, wielder of 'The All Sight', and all around a huge pain in everybody's life, Xanad.
"The one and only," Xanad grinned. "It's been too long, so much so that I've honestly forgotten your name."
The Way brazenly roared. "I AM THE OPENER OF THE WAY!"
Xanad chuckled, "Opener of the way, that's precious. Let's see…what was your name again? It started with a 'W' I believe. Rhymes with 'way' I believe."
The Way screamed, "There is nothing you can do Xanad! I've already won! The message was sent, and there is nothing you can do about…"
"Wayne? No, that's not it," Xanad wasn't paying attention to them. "Your last name as far as I can remember was Wilkins? No, Williamson!" Xanad snapped his fingers, "Wade Williamson that was it!"
Xanax smiled, "I remember you! I remember the fun we had."
The Way, now stripped bare to their true identity as Wade Williamson hyperventilated, "You made me relive every single pain I have ever experienced! Every broken bone, every broken heart, every laceration!"
Xanad leaned in closer, his glowing eyes locking onto Wade's. "Oh, that does sound like something I'd do, doesn't it? But you see, I always find it quite entertaining to remind people of their past pain and suffering. It's like a little trip down memory lane, don't you think?"
Wade gritted his teeth, his body trembling from both physical pain and the memories Xanad had invoked. "You're a monster."
Xanad laughed heartily, his laughter echoing through the chamber. "Oh, my dear Wade, you have no idea. But let's not dwell on the past. I'm here for a reason. I'm here because I'm curious about that message you sent into the stars. It piqued my interest, and that's not an easy thing to do."
Wade, despite his pain and fear, remained tight-lipped, "I won't tell you anything."
Xanad's expression turned serious, and he raised a hand, causing a wave of energy to wash over Wade, intensifying his pain. "You see, Wade, I have a way of making people talk. You can resist for a while, but eventually, everyone breaks. When you do, I'll be here to hear every single word."
Seconds felt like centuries, minutes felt like millenia. Wade screamed in agony as Xanad's torture continued. Wade's torment felt unending, every ounce of pain and suffering he endured etching itself into his memory.
Wade's body, battered and broken, had reached its breaking point. Days of relentless torture had worn down his resistance, and with a ragged breath, he finally gave in to the excruciating pain.
"I'll tell you," he wheezed, his voice barely audible. "The message... It was a beacon to summon your cosmic enemies—the ones you've betrayed and usurped power from."
Xanad's eyes flashed with a mix of astonishment and rage. "Explain yourself."
Wade summoned every ounce of strength he had left to elaborate, his words quivering but resolute. "I transmitted coordinates to Thare, our home planet, in the hopes of rallying your adversaries. All those you've wronged, every entity you've crossed paths with, I beckoned them here. Oh yes, I know you've hidden this planet from map as a way to hide. As we speak they're converging on our location, driven by the desire for vengeance."
Xanad's anger shifted to a palpable unease. "Who did you contact?"
Wade's lips curved into a defiant grin, despite the torment he still endured. "I contacted them all, Xanad. Every being in the cosmos who bears a grudge against you received my call. The Accuser, The Big-Head, The Maw…." Wade grinned, "The God-Butcher, and who could forget Mommy Dearest?"
Xanad's fists clenched in rage as he glared at Wade. "You wretched insect! You dare to invoke her name in my presence?"
Wade, despite the agony he endured, maintained his defiant grin. "Your reign of terror is about to come crashing down, Xanad. The cosmic forces you've angered, the beings you've betrayed, they're all converging on Thare, and they won't stop until they've exacted their revenge."
Xanad took a step back, his expression a mixture of fury and fear. "You fool! Do you have any idea what you've unleashed?"
Wade's voice grew weaker, but his resolve remained unshaken. "I've unleashed justice, Xanad, and it's long overdue."
As Xanad stormed out of the chamber, leaving Wade hanging in his restraints, battered and broken but with a triumphant smile, the cosmic forces he had summoned began their journey towards Thare. The fate of the universe hung in the balance, and the reckoning for Xanad was drawing near.
Xanad stormed past Driada who was getting a new toy to continue her torment of The Way. Xanad's fury was evident as he passed Driada, and she could sense the tension in the air. She knew better than to engage with her brother when he was in such a state, so she simply watched him go, her curiosity about the unfolding events piqued.
Xanad's anger radiated like a scorching sun as he turned his gaze upon his sister. "Driada," he hissed, taking a moment to collect himself before addressing his sister. "Break them, hurt them, make it last as long as you can! Afterwards I want their mind wiped and prepared for Crazdel for his experiments!."
Driada, who had been reveling in her sadistic games, felt a shiver run down her spine as she saw the fury in Xanad's eyes. She quickly put the artifact down and took a step back. "I-I, uh. Yes, of course my brother. It shall be done, at once!" She gathered her resolve and went back into the chamber to deal with them.
Xanad took a moment to collect himself before going to find his brother. He got back into his mojo, and he waltzed through and arrived at his half-sibling's lab. "Crazdel? Where are you?"
Upon hearing their brother's voice, Crazdel Octavius, otherwise known as Doc Ock emerged from behind a cluttered lab table covered with various mechanical contraptions and arcane gadgets. His mechanical arms, a set of four robotic appendages that extended from his back, writhed and clicked in anticipation.
"Xanad, you're in quite the mood," Crazdel observed, adjusting his round glasses. "What can I do for you?"
Xanad's eyes betrayed his demeanor as they blazed with fury as he paced back and forth. "The prisoner, Wade Williamson, the Opener of the Way. I need their mind wiped, their powers stripped, and prepared for experimentation. The information they possess about the message they sent into the stars is crucial."
Crazdel adjusted his glasses once more, his curiosity piqued. "A message into the stars, you say? How fascinating. Very well, leave it to me. I shall extract every ounce of information from their mind and ensure they're ready for future experiments."
Xanad nodded, his anger still simmering beneath the surface. "See to it, Crazdel. We can't afford any loose ends, not with those I've angered closing in on us."
Crazdel's mechanical arms extended and flexed, a sinister grin on his face. "Consider it done, dear brother. By the time I'm finished with them, they won't remember their own name, let alone any secrets."
The King of the Gods calmed down a bit more, he looked at Crazdel, "How is the current project going?"
Crazdel sighed, "We are down to our last test subject Xanad. All the others have perished during the various stages of testing."
They motioned to a monitored room where the last test subject sat alone. The test subject was a small boy, no older than nine years of age. Their black hair was long and unkempt, scars littered his frail body, but his eyes…his eyes flashed and shone an unbridled rage behind them.
Xanad's eyes fixated on the young boy, his expression a mixture of fascination and cruelty. "This one seems different, Crazdel. His spirit hasn't broken. I can see the fire in his eyes. What makes him so resilient?"
Crazdel, known for his sharp wit and sarcasm, couldn't help but retort. "Perhaps he's been taking notes from you, Xanad. Resilience in the face of overwhelming odds seems to be a family trait."
Xanad's grin widened, finding Crazdel's sass amusing. "Ah, a challenge. I like it. Continue the experiments, Crazdel. Push him to his limits. I want to see how much he can endure before he finally breaks."
Crazdel rolled his eyes dramatically, his sarcasm still in full swing. "Oh, by all means, let's see how much more pain and suffering we can inflict on this poor child. It's not like we have any ethical responsibilities or a shred of decency left."
Xanad's amusement faded, and he stepped closer to Crazdel, his voice low and menacing. "Crazdel, you will do as I command. We have no room for sentimentality in our pursuit of power. This boy is a means to an end. Do not forget your place."
Crazdel smirked, undeterred by Xanad's intimidation tactics. "Of course, Xanad. I'll just add 'morally bankrupt mad scientist' to my growing list of accomplishments. Anything else?"
Xanad left the lab without addressing him, or saying goodbye. Crazdel couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "What's next? Burning down an orphanage for warmth?" His sarcasm was his way of coping with the guilt that weighed heavily on him. He knew that what they were doing to the boy was morally wrong, and he couldn't ignore the suffering he had witnessed. Crazdel also understood the consequences of defying Xanad, consequences that could be even more severe.
In the chamber where the last test subject was being held, the young survivor sat in silence. His determination remains unshaken. He had faced unimaginable horrors, but he couldn't let them break him. He was determined to resist, to survive, and to one day make those who had experimented on him pay for their cruelty. A rage fueled his inner strength.
A rage built deep within him. An undying rage. A massive hulking rage.
Alex Algird
AKA The Ghost Spider
Shall return in…
The Undying Hulk
