Welcome back to Ashes of Midnight. Last time, the hunt truly began. After trying to access The Hunter's memories, Cynder came and the Caretaker came to the dreadful conclusion that their time in a crypt fouled their memories. Thankfully, Doctor Strange has everything they need to restore them. But as he called on Scarlet Witch and Spyro to prepare the ritual, they discovered a dark force is pushing against the wards of protection. With their friends in trouble, Cynder and Doctor Strange, accompanied by Blade, went to solve the matter. So, what awaits going forth? Read on to discover...

(Our tale resumes outside The Abbey, with Cynder and Doctor Strange walking up just as Blade, Caretaker, and Magik are starting to get impatient)

Blade: About time.

Doctor Strange: Not just time, Mr. Brooks. Time, Space, Reality, the very building blocks of magic...

Cynder: Stephen, you're starting to ramble again.

Doctor Strange: All of those forces must be constant for my portals to work. But, as you've noticed, they aren't anymore.

Blade: So we've heard.

Magik: Several times now.

Cynder: Wouldn't be soul-bound to our only hope if it weren't.

Doctor Strange: Then, getting to the point. While I enjoy the view of this vista, I fail to see how it gets us anywhere.

Caretaker: That's where Magik comes in.

Doctor Strange: As I said, magic is the problem right now.

Cynder: Magik with a "K", Stephen. Caretaker means Ms. Rasputin over here.

Caretaker: She's right. The ground on which you stand is a gateway between realms, which Iliyana can... Well, I'll just let her show you.

(With no hesitation, Magik summons her mystic blade and channels all her power into it and her gauntlet, briefly turning into a devil-horned form before literally slashing a tear in reality that turns into a portal out of there)

Magik: Any further questions?

Cynder: Don't think we have time for any. Let's roll.

Doctor Strange: (Still caught off guard) Agreed.

(With that, Cynder, Doctor Strange, and Blade step through the portal, and into... well, it's hard to tell where)

Caretaker: (Speaking through the void) Welcome to Limbo. The realm between all realms. It's a secret and chaotic place, but as of now, it's beyond Lilith's influence.

Cynder: You sure about that? Because I'm feeling...

Blade: Dark energy? Feeling you're being watched? General hellhole vibe?

Cynder: All of the above.

Doctor Strange: All of these possibilities converging at once? I will admit, Ms. Rasputin, I am impressed.

Blade: Our way out should be this way. Don't diverge from the path, or we'll never see you guys again.

Cynder: Don't have to tell me twice.

(After a few minutes of walking, the other end of the portal opens up, dropping Cynder, Doctor Strange, and Blade right in front of 177A Bleecker Street, where the wards of protection appear to still be intact)

Doctor Strange: At least we know that the wards are holding.

(And of course just as Doctor Strange says that, the wards start to fall apart, but still hold if just barely)

Blade: For now, at least.

Cynder: Then we'd better hurry.

(But of course before they can get any closer, two armored personnel carriers rock up onto the scene, deploying HYDRA troopers as they block traffic around the Sanctum Sanctorum)

HYDRA Officer: Arm Alpha in position! Nobody gets through, you hear me?!

Blade: (To Cynder) Regret moving to New York yet?

(Cynder doesn't even respond as the battle begins. These HYDRA troops are tough, and the HYDRA Officer toughest of all, but even still, they are handily beaten, with the HYDRA Officer notably getting flung around by gold and black magic tendrils produced by Cynder)

Cynder: (Now seeing The Hunter's power) That was pretty impressive, if a little violent.

Doctor Strange: Agreed. I'd definitely remind your friend that HYDRA is still human, not Lilith.

(But in a strange twist, the HYDRA Officer gets back up, only without his helmet, revealing his eyes are glowing green with flecks of violet)

Cynder: (To Doctor Strange) Looks like The Hunter wasn't far off. What the heck is going on here?

HYDRA Officer: The blood of the Mother and the power of the Master pumps through our veins. The Master is eternal. The Mother is Eternal. HYDRA IS ETERNAL!

(With that, a capsule on the HYDRA officer's neck empties, killing him. But before the trio can respond, the street bursts open, as a massive black tendril starts slamming against the wards, accompanied by green lightning. Meanwhile, inside the Sanctum, Spyro and Scarlet Witch are doing everything they can to hold up the wards of protection)

Scarlet Witch: The wards... weakening...!

Spyro: I can't... hold out... much longer!

Scarlet Witch: We cannot let them fail!

(And with one final burst of energy, the two have given all they can, but it's not enough. The black tendril multiplies, surrounding the Sanctum like a forest of thorns. Within the Sanctum, the weakened Spyro and Scarlet Witch are confronted by the dreaded duo of Lilith and Malefor)

Scarlet Witch: Oh god.

Lilith: Exactly.

Spyro: Ancestors...

Malefor: Not even they can save you now.

(And as Spyro and Scarlet Witch stare down Lilith and Malefor, our tale ends for today)

And that looks like a good place to wrap up for now. So, things aren't going too well. Something managed to break through the wards around the Sanctum Sanctorum and is now wrapping around it like a gnarled tree. And Lilith and Malefor have managed to corner Spyro and Scarlet Witch at their weakest. This is arguably not going to end well. Not even remotely, I don't think. So, will Cynder and her allies be able to rescue these two in time? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!