Welcome back to Ashes of Midnight. Last time, Cynder and the gang made their way to Los Diablos in an attempt to use the latent gamma radiation to destroy the Parchment of Power. Unfortunately, the Lilin find them before anything can get blasted. Thankfully, Johnny Blaze of all people showed back up, took the Parchment of Power back from Ghost Rider, and decided to set things right be rushing right into the gamma blast. But he's not the only one, as Bruce Banner showed up at well, falling into the blast from a helicopter. We left the scene just as the blast rang out. So, what happens when the fallout clears? Read on to discover...
(Our scene opens up as the flash from the gamma explosion rings out. The only sound heard is ringing, all that is seen is a blinding light. But when the dust settles, Ghost Rider is first on the scene, looking into the crater as the dust settles for any sign of Johnny Blaze. And for a moment, we do see his hand, before it dissolves into Lilin green dust, absorbed by something standing in the center of the blast radius. Or rather, someone. A giant green figure with all the attributes of one of Lilith's Fallen. Seeing this sight, Cynder immediately descends into the crater, with Spyro hot on her herls, looking even more scared than she is)
Spyro: The sleeping Titan has awakened. The Herald of Chthon...
Cynder: (A bit stunned) That's exactly what The Hunter just said!
Spyro: Banner just kept repeating it while working back at the HYDRA base. And now I see what he was talking about.
Cynder: If this is that Titan, this is bad...
Iron Man: Its worse than any theoretical sleeping titan! That's the HULK! And I just gave him a freaking upgrade!
(Ghost Rider enters the crater and joins the other three in battle, and its not going well at all. Ghost Rider, using full Spirit of Vengeance powers, attempts to hit Fallen Hulk with hellfire chains, only to get flung back into Spyro and Cynder)
Spirit of Vengeance: SUCH POWER... ITS LIKE FIGHTING A GOD!
Iron Man: (Repulsor blasting the heck out of Fallen Hulk) We've bested Jolly Green before, and we can do it again. All we need to do is...
(But before Iron Man can finish that sentence, Fallen Hulk grabs him)
Fallen Hulk: All these years, Tony. Letting you think you were my equal. I could have crushed you so easily.
(Wolverine comes charging in at this point, but Fallen Hulk senses him coming and throws Iron Man into him.)
Fallen Hulk: All of you!
(Cynder attempts to hit Fallen Hulk with a light mace, but when the dust clears, it had no effect. Fallen Hulk just laughs as he leaps away.)
Wolverine: He let us go. Not sure I want to know why...
Ghost Rider: I do. He got what he wanted.
Cynder: Please tell me that doesn't mean what I think it means...
Spyro: It does. The Parchment of Power is gone.
Cynder: (Slamming her fist into the ground) Lilith abd Malefor played us like a fiddle! They wanted us to do this! And now Hulk's just going to hand the page over to them.
Iron Man: Are you telling me that witch planned all of this?!
Cynder: Honestly, with how she and Malefor are growing apart, I'm thinking he's the bigger threat.
Spyro: Now with the Darkhold complete, there's only one thing they need.
Ghost Rider: That being...?
Spyro: (Pointing out Cynder) You, Cynder. Or, more accurately, The Hunter within you.
(Cynder is taken aback at this and simultaneously isnt surprised. But as everyone looks around at how badly they got played, our scene ends for today.)
And that looks like a good place to wrap up for now. And what a moment to wrap up on. Lilith and Malefor, probably more Malefor if things are as they appear between them, have played everybody like a fiddle. And now they've got the Parchment of Power in their grasp. All they need now is The Hunter. And to get that, they need to get their hands on Cynder. Things are about to get crazier than usual. So, how is all of this going to go down from here? Is there any hope at all in this scenario? Tune in next time to start finding out. Same time... same channel...