Welcome back to Ashes of Midnight. Last time, with some help from Magik and the realm of Limbo, Cynder, Blade, and Doctor Strange made it back to the Sanctum Sanctorum, just as Lilith and Malefor's combined magic broke through the wards protecting it, even with a final burst of power from Spyro and Scarlet Witch. So, will our trio of heroes be able to get the two of them out of this mess? Read on to discover...
(Our scene resumes as Cynder, Blade, and Doctor Strange look upon the Sanctum Sanctorum, now surrounded by a mystically generated gnarled tree like thing)
Doctor Strange: The neighborhood association is going to kill me for this.
Blade: Probably.
Doctor Strange: Let's see if we can get this undone.
(With that, Doctor Strange attempts to cast a spell on the growth, but then something odd happens. The Hunter's collar around Cynder's neck reacts, almost choking her, and the growth is unaffected, moving around the spell as if it were alive somehow. In this moment, Doctor Strange notices what is happening to Cynder and stops the spell)
Doctor Strange: I don't understand. Why isn't this working?
(At this point, the growth comes to life, revealing it's not a tree at all, but one of Lilith's minions, as a familiar figure, clad in black and resembling Spider-Man, emerges from the Tendrils)
Fallen Venom: We do not fear your magic, little wizard! We have answered the call of the Mother and the Master. We are Venom to those who oppose them. And you... are... LUNCH!
Cynder: What the...? Eddie?! What the heck happened to you?!
Blade: Lilith happened.
Cynder: Admittedly, good call.
Doctor Strange: What?
Cynder: You said nothing on Earth could break those wards. Venom's a Klyntar.
Doctor Strange: I see.
(But there's no time for chat as Fallen Venom leaps into battle against the trio. The battle is fierce, but ultimately, Fallen Venom retreats to the tendrils he came from, but not before Cynder tries to make one final plea to him)
Cynder: Eddie, you've got to fight this! This isn't you! You're a protector, sure a violent one, but still a protector!
(At this moment, The Hunter's power starts flowing through her, as their voice rings in her mind)
The Hunter: Perhaps this will be of some assistance.
Cynder: It's better than nothing!
(Not knowing for sure what this can do, Cynder leaps at Venom, with Doctor Strange and Blade close behind, until Caretaker communicates with them)
Caretaker: Hold back! We don't know what we're dealing with yet!
(Cynder clearly doesn't get the memo and rushes right at Fallen Venom, only for the corrupted Symbiote to tackle her to the rooftop she leapt from in the first place, his dark enhancements draining the magic from Cynder)
Fallen Venom: Such... easy... prey...
(But just as all hope seems lost, as Fallen Venom is about to chow down on Cynder's face, Fallen Venom is hit in the mouth with what looks like a spider web. And sure enough, right behind it, a familiar red and blue clad hero)
Spider-Man: Hey big ugly!
(With no hesitation in his swing, Spider-Man kicks Fallen Venom in the head, knocking him onto a cab below)
Spider-Man: Hope you don't mind me swinging in. I was in the neighborhood and figured you could use a little help, Doc.
Fallen Venom: (Now really enraged) SPIDER-MAN!
Spider-Man: Eddie, what happened to you? I mean you were already gruesome enough as is, what with the gross tongue and everything, but the devil horns are not helping your violent protector image. I mean...
(But Spider-Man doesn't even get to finish his quip as Fallen Venom literally throws a car at him. Thankfully he misses)
Spider-Man: Well somebody's touchy today!
Fallen Venom: WE WILL RIP YOUR FACE OFF AND SUCK THE MARROW FROM YOUR BONES!
Spider-Man: Good to see you too, bud. (To Cynder) What's gotten into him?
Cynder: (Weakly) Long story, Spidey. We'll explain later.
Spider-Man: Looks like you guys could use a hand. I'll lead Venom away while you... do whatever it is you're doing here.
(With a nod from Doctor Strange, Spider-Man does his thing, web-slinging away, with Fallen Venom hot on his tail. As soon as he's out of range, Doctor Strange casts another spell on the captured Sanctum Sanctorum, trying to locate Spyro and Scarlet Witch within, but to no avail. Lilith and Malefor have both of them now.)
Doctor Strange: No...
Cynder: (Regaining her strength) What is it, Stephen?
Doctor Strange: (Turning in sorrow) I'm sorry...
Cynder: (Knowing exactly what he's saying, then despondently) No...
(And on this heartbreaking note, our scene ends for today)
And that looks like a good, if depressing, point to end today on. So, the mission to the Sanctum Sanctorum is a total failure. Lilith and Malefor have captured not only it, but Spyro and Scarlet Witch. Definitely not a good duo to lose in a situation like this. And now we learn that Venom is under Lilith and Malefor's control. Thank goodness Spider-Man was there to save the day. But all seems lost at this moment. Without the Purple Dragon, can this end well at all? All will be revealed as the story progresses. In the meantime, what happens next? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!
