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The Redeemer
Chapter 34: Tipped scales part 3
Earth 616
Carol looked down at the battle raging across New York, one could hardly believe that the city had survived it. But that was the thing about New York, it endured. As her helmet formed over her head, forcing some of her hair to stick out of the top of it, Carol turned to her Alpha Flight. Operatives of SWORD with white and black armour, red chest plates and helmets based on Kree designs, but the nose guards were replaced by simple glass plates over the face. They loaded their blasters and the costumed members of Alpha Flight walked closer to Carol. Those resurrected and granted a second chance by Cade, Mac Hudson and his wife Heather, Guardian and Vindicator respectively, the pair of them wore their original costumes. Sasquatch and the original Puck stood together, as well as Northstar and Aurora, the twins also in their original costumes.
"We're going down, agents, keep the civilians safe, Alpha Flight just do what we do best," Carol said, pumping her fist before jumping out of the aircraft.
Energy glowed around her as she fell towards the ground. When she landed, the released a shockwave that threw several Parademons back. Then she fired energy blasts from her hands, hitting demons around her. Carol flew forward, punching one Parademon in the face and then grabbing another. She performed a spin in midair and threw it into the ground, then slammed into it with her legs. Steve was on the ground, batting aside a Parademons spear, when Carol suddenly blasted the demon away from him.
"You're a little late," Steve said.
"Long story," Carol walked to Steve's side, shooting another Parademon. "Wanda and Sven won't be coming to help, they have another assignment, finding their son."
Steve nodded his head in understanding, before running back into the fight.
Earth 616-Avengers Academy
Ben Reilly was not a happy man. He was stuck in LA, assisting Hank Pym and his wife/lover (apparently they were back together) try to figure out the android that had been the first other worldly combatant they faced. It's once gold armour had been replaced with a dull grey, the technology was a form of Nano-tech that could transform and adapt. Pym was approaching the project with his usual enthusiasm. Unfortunately he wasn't too big on keeping people out of the lab. One of the resurrected Avengers Deathcry was also present. She sat on one of the gurneys, kicking her legs about and snarling.
"Why must I be forced to stay here? Here of all places? Whilst my love fights in glorious battle!" she said.
"Vision's going to be fine, besides I'd hardly call him your love, you've gotten into the sack a few times," Janet said.
"Honey!" Hank chided her.
"I'm just going to say it, Vis is lonely, Wanda doesn't want to be with him, he and Jocasta have disagreed over the whole SJW road she's going down (but with robots) and that leaves you," Janet pointed at Deathcry, who snarled back.
"You have no idea of the feelings we share for each other, both of us back in a world that has changed, we've healed each other, and from that healing formed the most purest of loves...but I am stuck here with you fools whom have again dived into a pairing destined to fail..."
"Would you just shut up already and get out of here?" Ben asked.
The three Avengers looked to Ben in shock. It had been the first time he'd really spoken to them about something not related to their work. He backed away from his computer and rubbed his eyes through his mask.
"Damn it, you're not the only person stuck here whilst someone they love is in danger, my niece is in danger and I am here whilst everyone else in my family struggles to get her back," Ben explained.
"I'm sorry Scarlet Spider, why don't you go out and have a break?" Hank asked.
Ben nodded his head, leaving the lab and walking to one of the observation areas. He pulled off his mask and wiped his eyes. Communication with New York had been cut, and his phone had gone dead. There was no way for him to know what progress the spider family was making in saving Mayday. His temper was flaring being around the frustratingly annoying Deathcry, even his old New Warriors allies were grating his nerves. Then every time he looked at Tigra and her son, he was just reminded of May again. The academy students as well were reminding him of the next generation, a generation that was a little more opinionated and had a lot more attitude.
'Hell Striker and Hazmat can be damn right disrespectful, then there are the British transfers, it's like every young super hero has to be the Wolverine of the team,' Ben thought.
When he heard the door clicking behind him, he put his mask on and turned to Janet.
"You're feeling like there isn't anything you can do is there?" she asked.
"How can I help figure this out if Hank Pym is having trouble, the 'scientist supreme'!"
"I wondered if anyone would bring that up again," Janet chuckled. "I used to feel like there wasn't a lot I could do, in the lab, sometimes even in the Avengers."
"But you're one of the founders, you've led the team before," Ben said.
"Yeah, but I've also been Hank's wife and my father's daughter, I only got my abilities because of them. But I made them my own, the same way you made your own identity, there is something you can do here Scarlet, it may not have presented itself yet, but it will," Janet explained.
Ben looked back into the lab, where Hank was continuing to work on the android's circuitry.
"Maybe there is something I can do here, thanks Janet, I'll be back with you guys in a minute," he said.
Janet nodded her head and left Ben to his thoughts.
DC-Earth 16
Superman was grappling with Sentry, both powerhouses slamming through the walls of Apocalypse's celestial ship. The first mutant himself was engaging Wonder Woman, slamming his fists into her shield. Batman flipped backwards, avoiding a hail of blades thrown by Archangel. The angel of death swooped downwards, attempting to slash Batman with his wings. Bruce quickly slid underneath the blades and kicked Archangel across the head.
"You are no mutant, what species are you?" Apocalypse enquired, grappling with Diana.
"Amazon!" she replied, kneeing Apocalypse in the chin.
He countered with a head butt, then turned his arm into a miniature compressor. Latching the crushers onto Diana's waist, she screamed before he threw her into the wall.
"The off spring of pretender gods, I stole from the true gods of the universe, the Celestials," he turned both his arms into blasters and fired, hitting Diana's bracelets.
"Then let's see whose gods are stronger!" Diana said, walking forward.
On the city streets, the heroes of the world continued to battle Apocalypse's horsemen. Beast was engaging Metamorpho and Plastic Man. His disease spreading gas didn't affect the shape shifting heroes. Storm rained down lightning bolts on the military, only for the John Stewart Green Lantern to form barriers around them. Black Lightning and Ice both stood on the roof of one of the buildings.
"Try and get me up there!" Jefferson said.
Tora nodded her head and began forming an ice pillar underneath Pierce. She raised the pillar up, putting Black Lightning on a collision course with Storm. The goddess of Famine tried to fire lightning bolts at the hero, only for them to be drawn to his hands. Sparks came out of Jefferson's eyes as he got closer and closer towards her. She formed torrents of wind, attempting to knock Jefferson off the platform. Then she saw, Jefferson's feet had also been covered in ice. Storm raised her hands above her head, the winds around her growing more intense, but she widened her eyes, she was losing control of the winds. She looked to her left and saw Red Tornado, his powers negating her control of the wind. With a desperate yell she threw her arms forward, bringing down massive stones of ice on the heroes. One nearly got Ice, but she was quickly protected by the armoured hero Hardware. A second however did catch the pillar Black Lightning was on.
"Not so fast," a green hand suddenly grabbed Pierce.
He looked up and saw Guy Gardner.
"Ready to finish this?" he asked.
Jefferson smirked, charging himself with more electricity. Guy formed a football helmet over his head, grinning as he pulled his arm back.
"Time for me to show you guys what my second greatest calling could have been, Coast City MVP!" he said.
He then threw Pierce through the wind and the lightning. Jefferson slammed the palm of his hand into Storm's chest, releasing flashes of lightning that spread across the sky. Black Lightning fell into Gardner's hand construct, whilst Red Tornado caught the unconscious Storm.
"Well that's one down, so, you guys gonna give me league membership yet?" Guy asked.
"No," the four leaguers said.
"But..."
"No!"
The Flash ran across Apocalypse's ship, dodging energy blasts fired by the clan Akkaba soldiers. Green Lantern collided with the Phoenix, psionic energy and will power together formed explosions that blasted open the ship. Aquaman and Wolverine were both duelling when the wall beside them was ripped apart. Wolverine lunged at Arthur, who bashed him across the head with his trident. The feral man quickly recovered and slashed at Arthur again. This time, he cut off Arthur's hand, drawing a yell of agony from the king of the seas. Gritting his teeth together, Arthur impaled Wolverine and jumped out of the ship. Wolverine kicked him aside and tried to pull the trident out of his body. Suddenly, a mace slammed into his face. Hawkgirl and Hawkman flew either side of him, both swooping in and hitting him. They slammed their maces together, with Wolverine's head between them. Dazed, Wolverine was vulnerable to Captain Marvel. Billy flew towards the horseman, touching the trident of Atlantis and raising his hand up.
"SHAZAM!" he yelled, and a lightning bolt came down on them.
When the flash of energy subsided, Billy landed on the streets, holding the charred and twitching body of Wolverine. The Hawks landed, Carter holding the wounded Aquaman. They looked up towards the ship and saw the explosions rocking it. The battle for Earth 16 had shifted in their favour, but it was far from over.
DCAU-Future
Zeta and Superman were in the streets of Washington, fighting the Ultron drones in waves. Clark blasted groups of them with his heat vision, whilst Zeta grappled with others and burnt through their circuitry with his blaster.
"There seems to be no end to them," Superman said as he landed, squashing several drones in his wake.
"But there is a way to stop them," Zeta said, ripping off a drone's head. "I suspect the reason for their numbers is due to their actions in the past, Ultron must have built a factory in the past and created numerous versions of himself then, that's why you are remembering their sudden appearance in the past," the robot explained.
"I see, but I also remember us never finding the source of the Ultron drones," Superman said.
"If I can track them..." Zeta however never finished his sentence.
An energy blast ripped through his waist, separating his body from his legs. He was then bashed aside by a bulky Ultron, the prime Ultron model.
"No more interference from you. You don't remember how the battle between us ended in the past did you Superman? Spoiler alert, it ended with you dying!" green energy formed in Ultron's hands, before he fired it at Superman, bringing him to his knees.
Ultron grinned as he began to approach Superman, intensifying the energy coursing through him. He raised his hands, forcing Superman onto his back. The hero thrashed his arms about and screamed in agony. He grit his teeth together, placing his hands on the floor and trying to stand up.
"Impressive, even though you're older, you're still just as determined as you were when we encountered one another in the past," Ultron laughed.
Upon hearing this, Clark saw visions of himself younger, ripping off Ultron's head.
"But now, we end it here," Ultron said.
Suddenly, a red beam ripped through Ultron's back, blowing off his arm. He turned and widened his eyes, seeing a portal close. Those who stepped through were people Superman recognised. In his purple and black costume was Cosmic boy, stood next to him in her white and pink costume was Saturn Girl. Behind them both was Lightning Lad, Chameleon Boy and a green skinned man with blonde hair. But leading them was someone Clark thought he had said goodbye to long ago. But she was older, her hair cut shorter, she also wore a full blue bodysuit with her red cloak attached to her family's sigil.
"Get away from my cousin," Kara Zor-El, Superwoman of the Legion of Super heroes declared, before she rushed towards Ultron.
DCAU-The past
The slightest addition to a force could tip the balance in a battle. In the past of this world, the much larger Justice League still faced difficulty in fighting the wave of Ultrons. Across the world they avoiding major disaster and damage, and the big seven fought in Washington as Superman would in the future. And just as Superman saw in the future, his past self ripped the head off of the bulky Ultron, then crushed it.
"Fools, soon, I'll be everywhere," Ultron said.
More Ultron drones came down from the sky, surrounding the Justice League. Batman threw a flurry of batarangs, blowing apart some of them. Hawkgirl electrified her mace and charged them. Green Lantern formed a gun from his will power, shooting the drones around them. The Flash ran across the city, breaking apart any robot he found. Wonder Woman grabbed and tore apart the drones one at a time. And Martian Manhunter turned into a mutated version of himself, using a huge tail to crush the robots.
"We've got a problem," Mr Terrific said, speaking to the League members from the Watch tower.
He looked at the Ultron drones flying towards the Watch tower. Even though he was invisible to machines, he knew the drones would break through the hull of the base. His T-spheres floated around him as he braced himself for the attack. Suddenly, green blasts collided with the Ultron drones, blowing them up in front of Mr Terrific. He opened his eyes and saw a glowing green light. But it wasn't John Stewart floating out of the satellite, it wasn't John Stewart standing between the JLU watch tower. She wore the Green Lantern ring, but her uniform had white gloves, and she wore no mask. The symbol of the Lantern corps glowed over her eye.
"You didn't think a Sector like this had only one Lantern did you?" Jessica Cruz asked, before flying at the Ultron drones.
Earth 610
Brainiac troops were already beginning to waver on the streets. This was in no small part thanks to the combined efforts of Hyperion, Thor and Power Princess. Zarda crashed through hordes of the Brainiac machines, whilst Thor impaled them with lightning and Hyperion cut them apart with his heat vision. Thor raised his hammer, releasing an electromagnetic pulse that fried the circuitry of the robots around him. He swung his hammer into a gigantic Brainiac drone, smashing its face in. Inside the ship, the infiltration team was beginning to make its way through the ship. Ant-man was smashing robots from the inside, Elektra used her Sais to stab their circuitry and Psylocke was using her telekinetic blade to slice them apart.
"Judging from some of the Multiversal analysis Jason gave me, an access hatch leading to Brainiac's central control unit should be...here," Iron man pointed to a section of the wall.
He had a hologram of Brainiac's ship on his gauntlet, a hologram he quickly deactivated. Firing his repulsors, he pounded a hole through the wall. Brainiac drones began rushing towards the infiltration team. Punisher fired bursts from his assault rifle, shooting through their armour. Penance then fired an energy blast, throwing some of the robots back.
"Race you to the top Spidey?" Peter asked Terry.
Both spider heroes jumped into the hatch, beginning to climb up it. Cap blocked a robot's piercing wire with his shield, then knocked its head off. Iron man shot two more robots through the chest, before grabbing Cap and flying up the hatch. When they got to the top, they found Peter and Terry, both of them with metallic tentacles wrapped around their necks. Another tentacle wrapped around Cap's waist, pulling him from Tony's grip. Iron man flew around the chamber, dodging several tentacles, before a cannon on the wall blasted him in the back. Tony was dropped to the ground, a tentacle grabbing his leg and slamming him until his face plate cracked. The tentacle wrapped around his waist, and then coiled around his shoulders, gripping him in a full nelson.
"You planned to engage my ship's rockets, and push me back through the portal into my world," a voice spoke from the shadows.
Terry and Peter both tried fighting against their restraints, only to be flung into the wall. A hulking figure emerged from the darkness, levitating off of the ground with his arms crossed. The lower part of his body was covered by purple armour, his gloves had silver claws on them. Covering the creature's upper chest was bulky silver armour, the front of which formed a red eyed skull shaped. When fully out of the shadows, the Avengers looked upon the unconcealed face of Brainiac. A green skinned man, with empty red eyes and a glowing symbol on his forehead, consisting of a trio of linked circles.
"Brainiac I assume," Tony said.
The Coluan gripped Tony's face plate, ripping it off of his helmet.
"Tony Stark, I have encountered your counterparts before, some who also took the name Iron man, many have been different from you," Brainiac said.
"So I'm unique," Tony grinned.
"Your behaviour is paradoxical, you embrace the celebrity you gain from your role as Iron man, you revel in drink and numb your own pain in it, I have encountered, and even been stopped by Stark's who were not held back by such a pathetic feeling of self doubt," Brainiac explained.
"He's not the only hero here," Cap said.
Brainiac narrowed his eyes at the captain, wrapping the coils around his neck. As Aerean began to gag and struggle, Brainiac stroked his chin in thought.
"Who are you? Not Steve Rogers, definitely not Sam Wilson, perhaps some gender reversed version of Carter?" he hummed.
"Thorton," Tony called out to the inheritor of Cap's shield.
"You are unique, perhaps you warrant more study, you however," Brainiac loosened his grip on Cap and turned to Tony.
Tony grit his teeth together, feeling the tentacles beginning to tighten around him.
"I have no need for an inferior version of Tony Stark," Brainiac said.
Suddenly, a gold light burst through the ship. Sparks of yellow lightning crackled around the heroes, and Brainiac turned to the new arrival. He had black armour on, the horned edges of his helmet stretched past his head. Yellow pads on his knees and elbows glowed, releasing lines of yellow across is body. His eyes glowed yellow as he stood and looked up at Brainiac.
"That armour? Deathblade, no, there isn't an Earth where Cade Hunter has embraced justice for any more than a few minutes," Brainiac said.
"Justice, and heroism," red markings suddenly began to glow across the new comers armour.
"That isn't that Sieg kid is it?" Jason asked.
"No, Miles fought that guy, back when there was that crisis on Earth 1610," Peter said.
"Your intel is a little out of date Brainiac, meet the Aeon of Earth 610," Tony said.
Aeon thrust his hand forward, red and gold energy surrounded the four heroes. On the lower levels, Psylocke, Elektra, Ant-man and the Punisher widened their eyes as they were surrounded by the same energy. The energy shrunk them into orbs, much to Brainiac's shock.
"Your ability to fuse with others, it's distance limit is higher than the other Aeons," Brainiac gasped.
The orbs flew into Aeon, who yelled as his body was consumed by a white light. Within the light, symbols circled around Aeon. Two spiders flashed before flying into Aeon's back and legs. Metallic gold spider legs burst out of his back, bio-electricity crackled around his legs, red boots replaced his shoes, white webbing spreading up his leg and ending at his waist. A purple butterfly flew onto his left arm, creating a purple armoured gauntlet, made from the very TK energy that Psylocke controlled. The arc generator of Iron man flashed, before turning into red plates of armour and covering Aeon's upper body. A white skull appeared over Aeon's chest, then a metallic skull split the arc reactor into two glowing red lights, representing the eyes of the skull. The symbol of Captain America appeared around Aeon's raised fist, suddenly turning into Cap's shield. Aeon's helmet reshaped itself, turning silver, the blades at the back of it grew sharper and a pair of antenna formed at the front of it. A red scarf wrapped around Aeon's mouth and chin, flapping behind him as the light faded.
"Awesome, I always wondered what it was like to be inside someone...that came out wrong," Tony said, his fully glowing blue 'spirit form' drifting in the dark void that was Aeon's body.
"Too late Stark, now it's weird," Psylocke said, her form purple, but with a butterfly aura over her face.
"Let's cut the chatter people," Castle said, his form grey.
"Together," Elektra put her red hands together.
Cap's spirit was represented by a blue and white form, whilst Ant-man's was red and black. Terry and Peter both shared a blue and red form. The fused heroes focused all of their will power, granting their skills to Aeon. Brainiac braced himself as Aeon conjured a pair of gatling guns on his shoulders, bombarding him with bullets. More annoyed than hurt by the attack, Brainiac commanded his tentacles to crush the guns and grab Aeon by his limbs. Bio-electricity surged through the tentacles, blowing up portions of the walls they came out of.
"Venom blast," Terry identified his power.
"Combined with the knowledge of an engineer," Tony added his expertise.
"And the precision of an assassin," Elektra her skill.
Aeon ran at Brainiac, using a purple katana to cut through the constructs and robots Brainiac conjured. He spun around, throwing his shield, using Psylocke's telekinesis to control where it flew and bounced. It struck Brainiac across the face, then in the back, and then the shoulder. Aeon expanded his fist with Ant-man's powers, before punching Brainiac towards the wall. Brainiac got up and fired blasts of energy from his hands. With Peter's spider legs he launched himself into the air. Then he fired webs from his wrists, using them to dodge Brainiac's laser blasts.
"I have faced Aeons in the past, even when fused with the most powerful heroes they still have weaknesses my intellect can exploit," Brainiac said.
He fired a blast that Aeon blocked with his shield. The young hero stretched his arms out, the white, blue, scarlet, crimson, grey and purple energy glowing through his armour all gathered to the skull on his chest. Suddenly, the 'mouth' of the skull opened and unleashed a ball of crackling energy that slammed into Brainiac's body. The Coluan yelled in fury and agony, pieces of his armour getting blown off from the attack. Brainiac crashed through the wall and through to the next room. Aeon landed on the floor, expelling Ant-man, Iron man and Peter from his body. His helmet changed into a blue version with Cap's A on it, and the armour on his chest shifted into similar kevlar plating to what Cap wore.
"Go, if there's anyone who can get this ship back through the portal, it's you three, we'll keep Brainiac busy," Aeon said.
Tony and Peter nodded their heads and ran with Ant-man to the control panels. The tide had been temporary shifted in Earth 610's favour. Aeon jumped after Brainiac and widened his eyes, those spirits inside of him too looked through his eyes in shock. Brainiac had drawn them into the area that contained bottled cities. Except they were not alien worlds, but variations of New York, Gotham, Metropolis and other cities across the Multiverse, known to be protected by great heroes or teams.
New York-Earth 616
Kaine was furious, never before had he ever fought someone with such rage in his heart. He was no stranger to killing, but even during his days as a criminal, he was cold and indifferent to death and suffering. One girl however changed him, made him something he didn't think he could be. In anger he stood between May and Granny Goodness, stabbing his stingers through the heads of the Parademons she threw at the girl. Behind him, Peter tried to reach out to her, but had to dodge her swipes at him.
"You killed Harriet, the poor girl was one of my best," Granny said.
"SHUT UP!" Kaine yelled, kicking her across the head and sending her flying into the wall.
Often people forgot how strong Spider-man was. Kaine was Peter's clone, he had the same abilities he did. The different between Kaine and Ben, was that Ben had all of Peter's memories and life experiences. Kaine had none of that, no memories of loving parents of aunt and uncles, no lessons on power and responsibility. He didn't have Peter's moral compass, or his restraint. So every punch smashed through bone, every stab was to kill and this time, it was with anger too.
"You have some anger in you, you're a good influence on her I see," Granny said.
"I SAID SHUT UP! YOU WON'T TOUCH HER!"
Though he didn't have access to the Other, Kaine still jumped on Goodness, plunging his stinger through her shoulder. She grinned before grabbing Kaine's wrist and slamming him against the floor. May kicked off of Peter's chest and towards Granny.
"May no," Kaine said.
May tried to bite at Granny's leg, only for her to get kicked into the arms of a pair of Parademons. They were about to fly away, when one was suddenly electrocuted. A web line that latched onto the other, pulling it towards the ground. May kicked out of its grip and landed in front of another Parademon. It was quickly kicked in the face. Carlie appeared, wearing Peter's stealth suit. She avoided the Parademon's swipe and gave an opening for Betty to shock the demon with a taser web.
"Damn thing's fried already, I see why Peter didn't use them," Betty said, the light reflecting off of her bullet proof suit.
Two more Parademons crept behind them, only for the spider mobile to plough through them. It wasn't Rand driving the vehicle this time, but May, complete with driving gloves and goggles.
"Now where's my niece?" she demanded.
"Over here ladies," Granny taunted them.
She had grabbed Mayday by her spider legs, laughing as the girl swung her arms at her.
"Such love for the girl, Granny will make sure she matches it, as she is turned into a new Fury," she said.
A red gloved hand tapped her shoulder. Granny turned around and blinked in confusion, before a fist slammed into her nose, throwing her off of Mayday.
"Over her mother's dead body," MJ said, her voice matching Kaine's fury.
Granny stood up and raised her hands, commanding the Parademons to attack the Spider-man family's reinforcements. Peter looked up, seeing Harry with his hand outstretched.
"Harry I..."
"Don't worry Peter, I'm here," his best friend said, helping him off of the floor.
Kaine stood up, his mask and shirt half torn. Venom landed behind Peter and Harry snarling. Doc Ock stretched his tentacles, towering over the four men, joining them in their march to save Peter's daughter.
Earth 1191
Peter Parker held his family close, and waited for the end. His son Ben was afraid, not even his heroes the Champions could save the world now. Gwen stroked Ben's cheek and looked up at her husband. He had worked for the Daily Bugle for years, following the exploits of the super hero community. A Pulitzer hung on the wall, as well as pictures of Peter with famous heroes. Wade Wilson, AKA Captain Canada, billionaire engineering professor Tony Stark and his S-men, the Sentry and his Sentry family and Spider-man and the champions, Ms Marvel, the Vision, Hulk, Cyclops and Nova. But it all seemed pointless now, it was a threat unlike anything that had come before it. Peter had seen the Fantastic 20 stop the likes of Galactus the devourer and Emperor Namor, but this wasn't like that. Peter had heard from Mr Fantastic that the name of the threat was the 'Annihilation wave', led by a being called Annihilus. So far, much of New York had been devastated, the mutant royal family had lost their home on the moon and the Gold Surfer had crashed into New York. Peter kissed his wife and looked out of the window, seeing the sun go dark. It was fitting, darkness was spreading across the land. He prepared to turn the police scanner off, content that the last story he got to tell was of the marriage between celebrity couple Reed Richards and Emma Frost.
But it was not the last story Peter would tell. Light spread across the world, and hope was rekindled within the hearts of the heroes whom protected Earth 1191. Just as the wave was about to fall on the city, a blade of red energy ripped through the creatures. Chatter spread across the scanner, speaking of a figure flying in the sky, wings of fiery energy throwing him into one battle after another. He saved the robotic S-men, preserving their souls so that Stark could repair them. He protected Magneto's ship, ensuring he and his mutant people would survive. He then aided the Champions and Fantastic 20, leading them. This stranger, this man in black and red armour rushed, cleaving through the aliens with a scythe and a blade of red energy around his arm. Peter could already think of the words he would type down.
It was a day unlike any other, when Earth's mightiest heroes were not enough to save it. But then, a stranger appeared, a man whose blade brought death to the enemy of humanity. He stood proud, he stood determined and when our heroes were divided, when the likes of Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Wade Wilson and Robert Reynold's could not unite us, this man bellowed out two words that brought the heroes together.
"AVENGERS! ASSEMBLE!" Cade raised the sword of his soul, what he had used to slayer Mikaboshi, a godkiller made from his raw will power.
He looked back at these strange heroes, many of whom had the same faces as heroes he knew in his world. Never did he think he would use the words of heroes he hated, he didn't even believe in the practicality behind such words. They had just come out of his mouth, and in that moment Cade realised the power of words.
And in the end, the blade wielder stood over the defeated form of Annihilus, before he faded away. Some wondered where this new hero went? Was he from a distant world that he had returned to? Or did he even truly exist in the physical plane? I like to think that he was a hero needed at the time, and when he disappeared, he went to where all heroes go.
Where they are needed most!
The magic of the sorceress propelled Cade onward, towards the next world and the next battle in the war against the darkness.
Next Chapter 35: Tipped scales finale
Next time, the shocking conclusion of the battle in 616 New York and the fight for Spider-man's daughter.