Welcome back to Ashes of Midnight. Last time, Cynder got kitted out in her new Anti-Symbiote Suit, and after a brief strategy session at the Mirror Table, a plan was concocted to get the Sanctum Sanctorum back, by using the old smuggling tunnel to get into the place. Nobody was entirely sure that the new suit is going to work, but Cynder is putting her trust in the team, convincing Caretaker to do the same. And with that, the mission begins. So, what awaits now? Read on to discover...

(Our scene resumes underneath the Sanctum Sanctorum, back in the smuggler's tunnel, where Cynder, Blade, and Nico Minoru are just entering the scene, where they see Fallen Venom's tendrils have started attacking the HYDRA soldiers all over the place)

Nico Minoru: That is some messed up wallpaper.

Blade: Guess it got hungry without Venom around.

Cynder: This just proves that Eddie's not in control. If he were, he would've left chocolate behind for this thing.

Nico Minoru: Chocolate? How would that have helped?

Cynder: Symbiotes usually feast on a specific chemical found in human and, presumably, dragon brains. I forget which one it was, the list there is way too long. However, Eddie discovered the same chemical is readily found in chocolate. So to keep Venom's more... homicidal... eating habits in check, he pumped the symbiote with a supply of chocolate to satiate that hunger.

Nico Minoru: That is all sorts of messed up.

Cynder: The Klyntar are a strange species. I think we can all agree on that much.

Blade: Even then, no amount of chocolate would have lasted against all this symbiote. Well, not very long.

Cynder: True. Evil consumes everything, and I guess that includes itself, ultimately.

(Just then, one of the tendrils of symbiote tries to grab Cynder by the leg, only for the suit to shatter it)

Cynder: Guess this thing's working.

(Before long, the trio arrives at what looks like a glob of symbiote material, the root of the symbiote tree holding the Sanctum Sanctorum aloft)

Blade: Ready for round two?

Cynder: Just hope I don't explode this time.

(With little hesitation to her step, Cynder approaches the root and presses her paws against it, petrifying the symbiote in an instant. Wasting no time, Nico Minoru kicks the thing, breaking it instantly, revealing the corridor beyond)

Nico Minoru: Now, we press on.

(With that, the trio presses onwards, and before long, arrive at the main trunk of the symbiote tree)

Cynder: (Looking around the room at the magic sigils on the walls) What is that?

Nico Minoru: (Jokingly) Some sort of magical graffiti?

Cynder: Not the wards. (Points towards a hole in the ceiling) That.

Blade: (Into his comm system) Caretaker, tell Strange we found a way back into the Sanctum.

Caretaker: Finally.

Cynder: Hold it... We're not alone.

(And sure enough, Cynder's right. There's a few living HYDRA goons walking around. So the trio springs into action and takes them out. But that's when reinforcements arrive and start surrounding the trio. In this moment, Nico Minoru and Blade both realize there's only one course of action to take here, so the former turns and starts talking to Cynder)

Nico Minoru: (To Cynder) Not to sound like one of those cheesy action flicks Blade likes, but GO!

Blade: (Realizing what's going on) Get to the Sanctum!

(Cynder, to her credit realizes the plan almost instantly. Blade and Nico Minoru will stay behind while she flies up and retakes the Sanctum Sanctorum. So begrudgingly, she flies up through the hole just as Nico Minoru casts an incredibly powerful spell that blinds all the HYDRA troops, but doesn't affect Cynder beyond stuttering her flight slightly as she heads up into the Sanctum Sanctorum, hoping beyond hope that she can retake the place on her own, ending our tale for today)

And that looks like a good spot to wrap up for now. Yeah, admittedly a little shorter than most of the chapters to date, but the cut off between this and the next scene was too good to not use as a cutoff for this chapter. Next time will have more action to it, I assure you. Given the brief preview I've gotten from the cutscenes, it's looking to be interesting. So, what awaits Cynder as she enters the Sanctum Sanctorum for the first time in weeks? Or perhaps whom is the better question? Either way, tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!