BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Story
Jin Kazama: I am Jin Kazama, head of the Mishima Zaibatsu. When I arrived at Mystic Kuroyuri, I was attacked by Scarlet Spider in his corrupted Ghost Tarantula form. That battle pushed me into losing control over the Devil Gene, but I managed to suppress it long enough to reclaim the Life Seed from Unknown. Was she really my mother…? Doesn't matter. Mephisto is my main concern. He's the reason Ogre was revived. I'll put an end to him for that!
BGM End
Volume 1 Issue 25: Welcome to Hell
Manhattan, New Vale City. (6 Days Since the Convergence)
"Think this'll work?" Peter Parker asked his fellow W.E.B. Engineers, Helen and Chris Thorndyke, outside of their headquarters in the middle of the night.
"That's the hope. It was fun researching otherworldly science at least. Say hi to Spidey for us. See you later." Chris smiled.
"Bye, Pete." Helen shares a goodbye wave with Peter, whilst Chris pushes her wheelchair down a sidewalk.
The secret spider-hero was left alone walking through the city to call it a night. It's been a busy two days with him since his last meeting with Scarlet Spider. Spending a lot of that time completing his latest W.E.B. project in what appears to be a Web Shooter-like device holding a particular red stone with a spider-emblem within that radiates a similar energy to Tiki's Dragonstone. He frowns at the device he's holding, contemplating in how he's going to use it for what comes next. His thoughts weren't hinting to Aunt May, who is walking down the same sidewalk as him and gives him the idea to chat with her.
"Hey, May. Still working late?" Peter casually asked upon noticing her.
"You better believe, but I don't mind. Just coming back from break that Vanilla was insistent I'd take." May smiles at her nephew, right before teasing him about, "So, did you finish that thing for the secret brother you neglected to tell me about?"
"Yup." Peter briefly shows her the mystery Spiderstone. "And sorry again for not telling you about him sooner. I was waiting for him to find the courage to meet you, somewhere not Prachya Thai." He apologizes about Kaine, who messed up his first meeting with May two days ago.
BGM-Sonic Adventure 2 OST-3 Black Noises (Reflection)
"An evil clone. Created to make your life a living hell." May said, commenting on what Peter told her about his double.
"Or protect me. Or kill me. I was never exactly sure." Peter quipped.
"And he was the Scarlet Spider that raced with you at the Grand Prix?" May recalled.
"And helped me saved the day a buncha other times since he reformed. Albeit reluctantly, and usually because someone ticked him off." Peter admits, before also admitting through a solemn tone. "Kaine, uh…Even now, he's a difficult person to get along with. From the way he crimefights to his character as a whole, makes me worried he hasn't changed much from his evil days. He suffered through a lot. Still suffering. Some of it my fault. The least I could for him was respect his privacy. Let him enjoy his second chance at life on his own terms while checking in on him every once and a while. But if what the news is saying is true, it sounds like he's given in to his demons again. I just don't want to see him go down the wrong path." He confesses to having some lack of faith in Kaine's morality.
"It's thoughtful of you wanting to help him, but I wouldn't worry about him too much. He did save my life and my Thai, even while he was clearly afraid of talking to me." May said with an optimistic smile. "Just because people are messy doesn't mean they don't know how to clean up themselves. A part of you believe this Kaine is fated to always be a monster. Always angry at the world for making him suffer. To me, it just sounds like he's angry at himself for not being the man that you are." She claimed, much to her nephew's confusion.
"Why would Kaine be jealous of me? Being a hero was the absolute LAST thing he wanted to do. He moved out of the city to get away from that insanity. To live the rest of his life with all the power and none of the responsibility." Peter argued.
"But he took it on anyway, didn't he?" May retorted, establishing a good point. "Perhaps being a hero is his step into becoming his own good man. Your responsibility is to the world. Kaine is in the middle of defining his own. One that I am certain he wants his brother to be proud of. I would love to meet him again, once he finds himself." She smiled, giving her nephew something to think about.
BGM End
BGM-Spider-Man 2 (Film) OST-A Hostage
Suddenly, a threat triggers his Spider-Sense as Peter catches sight of a car being thrown at both him and May and urges him to take action. "GET DOWN!" Peter shouted, tackling his aunt away from the car. Civilians are already screaming and fleeing from what is no doubt another supervillain attack. This one being caused by an Ogre Clone that surprises Peter with a kick that smashes him into a building.
"PETER!" May shouts worriedly at her nephew, before the alien demon grabs her by the throat to steal her soul in record time.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Furiously, Peter leaps out of the building in his Spider-Man costume to knock away the Ogre and catch his soulless aunt. "May! Talk to me!" He said, desperately trying to shake her awake in vain.
'Too late, Webhead! Her soul is mine!' The Jackal said, taunting his old nemesis from a TV monitor attached to his lackey's chest. Much like he did with Kaine back when he was the brainwashed Tarantula.
"Jackal, you furred scum! What are you up to this time?!" Spider-Man snarls at his aunt's assailant.
'Oh, the usual. Torment your life and conquer the world with clones. The Ogres are my latest puppets of conquest. Won't be long 'til everything is in order and I bring Hell to this mashed-up world.' Jackal snarked.
"How does stealing May's soul fit into the agenda?" Spidey questioned him.
'You're a smart boy. You figure it out. But if you're too stupid, you can always see me at Houston's Roxxon HQ. Office hours are 24/7. Bring all the study material you want. I can teach you a thing or two in How to Fail My Family.' Jackal then laughs maniacally, while his Ogre Clone flies away with May's absorbed soul.
'Houston? Is he trying to involve Kaine in this too? This is obviously a trap, but I don't have much choice.' Spidey thought. He gives a frowning look at his aunt's soulless body before lifting her up, and announcing his decision that'll put the fate of the world at risk. 'I need to get May to a hospital. I lost both Bens to criminals. I WON'T fail the rest of my family.' He vowed, determined to stop Jackal's schemes himself. Completely having no idea how crazy this war with Hell has gotten.
BGM End
Hell.
BGM-Marvel Ultimate Alliance OST-Mephisto's Realm (The Gates of Hell)
A portal opens in a hellish realm above the ground with the pentagram symbol on it. Emerging from the portal are the newly-formed Midnight Sons, consisting of Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, Angel, Tiki, Hummingbird, Dark Pit, Viridi, Severa, Dante, Naoto Kurogane, Noel Vermillion, Jin Kazama, Heihachi Mishima, Ling Xiaoyu, Luna Snow, Knuckles the Echidna, Team Dark, and lastly Team JNPR. All of them here, united, for the sole purpose of interrogating the Devil Lord that is suspected of manipulating friends and enemies alike for his own demonic conquest of the Unified World.
"What the hell is this…?" Severa questioned upon glancing at her ominous surroundings.
"Hell." Ghost Rider announced grimly.
Their journey to defeat Mephisto has taken the Midnight Sons to his realm. A fiery hellscape that is home to some of the worst demons in the universe and where the souls of those who committed evil were condemned for an eternity of torment. It is leaving quite the impression on the younger heroes of this new team, for better or worse. Mostly worse.
"Home sweet home." Dante quipped.
"Well…Never thought in a million years I'd end up here." Rouge joked deadpannedly.
"WE'RE IN HELL!" Naoto exclaimed in the midst of freaking out.
"WE'RE DEAD!" Noel exclaims next, joining him in the freakout.
"농담하는 거겠죠!" Luna Snow expressed, so freaked out that she speaks her in native language.
"What she said!" Jaune retorted, being the last of the party to freakout, "What happened to our souls?! Are we gonna turn into monsters?! Ooooh, I can't believe this is happening to me! I didn't even get to start my second year at Beacon!"
"Calm down, Midnight Sons!" Doctor Strange gestured to his friends. "We're not dead. Not yet at least. As you can see, this is Mephisto's Realm. An alternate dimension filled to the brim with fire and brimstone. We must exert extreme caution if we are to find Mephisto and stop his unholy plot and return home safely." He briefs his team on their current mission.
"You're right, Doctor. Sorry about the little freakout. Where can we find him?" Jaune apologized.
"At his Citadel of Sin. I will guide you there." Ghost Rider decided, having the most experience traversing these hellish lands.
Before Angel moves forward, he notices Shadow brooding by his lonesome. Looking distracted by the alien blood in his veins that is trying to tell him something. "Something bugging you?" Angel asked the hedgehog.
"I'm sensing something…familiar…" Shadow admitted to the X-Man.
"Perhaps the demons of your past are back to haunt you." Angel joked, before moving ahead.
Shadow grunts, muttering, "…Maybe…", before reuniting with the team with an additional reason to find Mephisto.
The Midnight Sons are taking this venture through Hell nice and slow in order to avoid unwanted attention. Like Mephisto's winged Pets patrolling the skies. So far with Ghost Rider leading them, they haven't alerted anyone. Giving the heroes some time to comment about the countless, screaming spirits burning in the flames around them. "Hell is looking more packed than I thought. The Convergence really did a number on our worlds." Dante frowned somberly.
"An absolute tragedy. The Netherworld now has its energies entangled with other Death Realms. The rules of the afterlife have become murkier. Souls bound for Valhalla may find themselves in Makai and vice versa." Strange said, explaining the effects of the Convergence on the several afterlives.
"So ALL Heavens and Hells are in complete chaos. Man, I cannot WAIT to smash the guy that caused this whole mess…" Knuckles scowled.
"Could it be Mephisto?" Lie Ren wondered.
"That is one possibility." Strange responded.
"I'm going to be honest. I didn't think Hell was real until today." Pyrrha admitted.
"Understandable. Remnant didn't have Christianity." Ghost Rider remarked.
"Damn, thought I was being a good guy all this time. Helping out folks. Sacrificing my arm for obnoxious vampire girls. How did all that earn me an extensive tour of Hell?" Naoto questioned, walking along some twisted roads.
"You decided to be a friend to Scarlet Spider." Viridi sassed smugingly.
"I promised myself I'd kick his ass when I'm ready." Naoto growled.
"Better be paying attention, Heihachi. This is where you'll end up pretty soon." Jin smirked, teasing his grandfather while they walk past an erupting volcano made of skulls.
Heihachi just scoffs at his grandson saying, "Please. Like the bowels of Hell can ever hold me. This will be your final resting place if you keep talking that trash."
"Honestly…Your family drama is somehow worse than the Devil's." Ghost Rider groaned, getting tired of the Mishimas' squabbles amongst themselves.
"Mephisto has a kid?" Dark Pit questioned.
"Blackheart. The living personification of negative energy. More than once he tried to overthrow his father to become the new ruler of Hell. Pray we don't get involved in another of their squabbles." Ghost Rider explained, informing everyone of one of his demonic enemies.
"If so, Jin and I can kick their asses easily. Ain't that right?" Heihachi teased just to annoy his grandson.
"Shut up." Jin retorted, annoying their demonic guide again.
Their bickering seems to have alerted the local demons of their location. Mainly Demon Leapers that love pouncing on the unfortunate's back. Demonic Souls that know how to fight with their fists. And Fire Giants that love spewing fire on trespassers. "Demons!" Hummingbird exclaimed, inciting the demon hunters of the Midnight Sons to quickly take them down, like with Ghost Rider flinging out a length of searing hot living chain that wraps itself around a group of demons that are then burned by his fiery vengeance.
"And Soulless!" Knuckles scowls at the Soulless Minions that return to being punched by the echidna. "So that's how Scarlet knew about them. He was living among them as a resident of Hell." He realized.
"There's no such thing as 'living' in the realm of the dead." Viridi snarked, releasing a group of man-eating plants that devour some demons.
"Time also works differently in this realm. What are just a few days in the living world is years in this reality." Strange stated, destroying more demons with mystic blasts.
"Wait, seriously? That means Scarlet is probably as old as Tiki right now. That makes the relationship a lot less awkward." Nora teased, just after hammering a Demonic Soul to pieces.
"Do not make me rip out your soul with my teeth." Tiki retorted with a calm voice in conjunction with a threatening glare that utterly scares the huntress.
"S-Sorry…" Nora apologized sheepishly.
BGM End
Once the local demons were neutralized, the curious Noel turns to Ghost Rider asking, "If this is where Scarlet was reborn as the Ghost Tarantula, how did you become the Ghost Rider?"
"I made a deal with Mephisto to save the life of my surrogate father, only for him to die anyway because of his trickery. My soul became bonded to a Spirit of Vengeance, and together we became the Ghost Rider. Betraying Mephisto and punishing the wicked. Until one day I can truly break my contract with that Devil." Ghost Rider briefs his new allies on his tragic origin.
"That's terrible. Is it the same with Scarlet?" Xiaoyu frowned.
"No. He's not that stupid to make deals with demons. If it wasn't for Jackal, he would've been more than okay staying dead. This Hell was his Heaven." Dark Pit claimed sternly.
"It's true. He said as much himself." Tiki commented, sadly frowning at the memory of when they were in the Divine Dragon Grounds recently.
"He shouldn't think like that. Life can be just as peaceful, even for clones." Xiaoyu argued.
"Good luck getting that through his thick skull." Dark Pit snarked.
Doctor Strange decided to move on ahead alone to investigate something that caught his eye. It didn't take him long to reach the place and widen his eyes in shock at how unusual it is, exclaiming, "By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth!", that quickly caught the others' attention.
"What's wrong?" Dante asked, with everyone joining him on a set of highways in a familiarly large city that includes an apartment where a certain Pink Hedgehog used to live in and a government building that houses a library with a famous database.
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Doom's Eye
"Is this…Central City?" Shadow remarks in shock at this deserted city from Mobius.
"This isn't right. Hell shouldn't be THIS distorted." Strange said.
"What does this mean? Central City was destroyed when our three universes collided." Rouge commented.
"Obviously its essence was also cast to this Hell." Ghost Rider stated.
"Hey! I know I'm still new to this superhero thing, but how does THAT make any sense?! How can whole CITIES be in Hell?!" Luna Snow questioned the ridiculousness of this phenomenon.
"The Convergence was a cataclysm of unparalleled destructive force. Space and time and reality itself was ripped asunder to the point of briefly giving life to cities in time for them to fall into the Underworld." Strange claimed.
"This is too much to mourn. We have to find a way to bring everything back to life. Can't we use the Life Seed for this?" Jaune proposed.
"It's gonna take a lot more than what Jin and I have, and unfortunately I don't know where we can find anymore." Angel responded.
"Just had to be selfish with the one you have." Jaune glares at Jin, his negative emotions starting to get the best of him.
"More worlds would've been destroyed if I lost control of the Devil." Jin retorted calmly.
"I know things have been frustrating, but you have to remain calm." Pyrrha said upon touching Jaune's shoulder, trying to comfort her team leader.
"We're in Hell. That's very hard to do when standing on our failure. Just like how I failed Scarlet…" Jaune frowned with his guilty conscience.
Amidst all this mystery, Shadow feels that weird sensation he had earlier become stronger through a grunt of his. "What is wrong, Shadow?" Omega noticed.
"This presence…We have company!" Shadow alerted everyone.
BGM End
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Definition of Insanity
Right on cue, a building gets destroyed and would've collapsed atop the Midnight Sons if they didn't jump out of the way in time. Shadow is the first to look up and glare at the latest threat emerging from the smoke. A fat winged space demon that resembles a cacodemon.
"What is that?!" Jin asked whilst striking a fighting stance against this new foe.
"Black Bull! Of the Black Arms!" Shadow scowled.
"Space demons that are like Ogre. Never thought we'd run into one of their souls down here." Rouge explained.
"A minor nuisance. I destroyed you once, this time I'll send you deeper into the abyss!" Shadow threatened his old enemy.
"GRAAAAAAAWWWWRRRGH!" Black Bull roars monstrously at the living prey, especially eager to destroy the black hedgehog that killed him so long ago.
BGM End
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Black Bull
The battle at the Central City ruins starts with the heat of several fireballs that Black Bull is spewing at the Midnight Sons. They all dodge, with Shadow skating ahead on the highway and swerving past more fireballs with his glare locked on the ugly black creature. Specifically his only weakpoint, which is his eye. "Man, what an ugly beast! Finish him off already!" Dark Pit said, taking flight to distract Black Bull from one side with his Dark Pit Staff while Rouge does the same with bombs from the opposite side. With their mutual foe distracted, Shadow briefly mounts Dragon Tiki, who attacks with her own fireball right before the black hedgehog launches himself at Bull's eye. Bombarding it with multiple, brutally fast Homing Attacks that quickly agonize the Black Arm into unleashing a great roar alongside a massive ring of flame that blows away his assailants. Black Bull goes a step further by shielding himself with fire and breathing a tremendous amount of it at the grounded fighters struggling to escape his path of destruction.
"He needs to cool it." Xiaoyu scowled, with she and Jaune finding cover.
"Got just the thing." Jaune spots a nearby water tower on a rooftop that gives him an idea. He runs out of his cover spot to get Black Bull's attention with his thrown vibranium shield, sliding under his firebreath before goading him toward a certain position under the water tower. The huntsman leader then throws his ricocheting shield at the water tower's supports, causing it to fall just in time for Jaune to reclaim his shield and block a powerful fireball that knocks him back. Tons of water splash on Black Bull that extinguish the flames protecting him, prompting Jaune to order his teammates, "Electrocute him! Then knock him to that building so we can bury him!", while pointing him at Black Bull's soon-to-be grave.
"By the Bolts of Balthakk!" Strange incanted, adding electricity to his wet body that severely electrifies the roaring Black Bull.
Dante shoots his gun that distracts Black Bull from Angel airdropping Severa toward his eye that she fiercely stabs with her sword, causing him more pain. Knuckles then punches the flying alien toward the chosen skyscraper, where Shadow delivers a teleporting axe kick that smashes the big beast to the ground. Too weak to even fly, Black Bull struggles to do anything while Omega unloads his full arsenal on the skyscraper behind him. "GRAAAAAAARGH!" Black Bull roars helplessly at his impeding defeat, watching the building collapse and crush him with the tremendous irony of how he tried to kill the heroes just a few minutes ago.
BGM End
"YEAH! How do you like it!?" Knuckles shouts out their proud victory.
"Explementary teamwork, Midnight Sons. Same to you, Jaune, for leading us to victory." Strange gestured, praising his fellow heroes.
"Awww, it was nothing…" Jaune retorted humbly with an embarrassed smile.
"Was this creature the thing that was bothering you?" Angel asked Shadow.
"Not completely. I'm sensing a far stronger Black Arm presence nearby." Shadow replied, deciding to jump toward a high vantage point that'll help him sense it better.
"It better not be Black Doom. I've had my fill of devils for the year." Rouge snarked.
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Perplexity
Shadow arrives atop a rooftop that gives him a great view of just how miserable Hell is. He ignores the screaming souls and demons partying to stare in utter shock at the one thing he never thought would be here, "What…? That's impossible!"
"What did you find?" Strange asked upon flying to his location.
What both heroes are staring at is a hell from Shadow's personal past. A dark yet massive comet with alien elements that look to have been infused with hellish magic that covers it with burning firepits. "The Black Comet." Shadow announced.
"I'm assuming the homeworld of the Black Arms." Strange deduced correctly.
"FORMER homeworld. I made certain it was destroyed with the Eclipse Cannon. Even its remnants ended up in Hell." Shadow scowled, showing his fanged disdain at Black Doom's legacy.
"Looks to have been refurbished by Mephisto's dark magic. What scheme is he plotting by reviving that alien hive?" Strange wondered sternly.
Shadow thinks about that. His thoughts reviewing everything that has transpired since his training match with Scarlet Spider. The Ogre Army attacking the world. The Jackal's mischievous involvement. Kaine falling to the dark side by forces beyond his control. Forces like Mephisto that reminds the hedgehog of Black Doom and the Black Arms invasion. "He couldn't be…" He muttered, seemingly piecing together the Devil's master plan that gets him skating alone toward the Black Comet.
"Shadow!" Strange exclaims in surprise by him leaving the others behind.
"For the love of…I hate it when he does this. It usually means something really bad is going to happen." Rouge scowls with annoyance.
"We'll catch up to him. That Comet is next to the citadel. Mephisto WILL answers for us!" Ghost Rider declared, wanting to know just how connected Mephisto is to not just Kaine's Spirit and Jin's Devil, but to Shadow's past as well.
BGM End
Mazatlán, Unified World.
Things are pretty calm at this Mexican city of the Unified World. And its all thanks to the most relaxing waves from the sea hitting the vacant beach next to it. It is night. Everyone is in town either asleep or enjoying life. Neither thing the Ghost Tarantula can do upon arriving all alone at the nightly beach. His recent hunt at Mystic Kuroyuri left him with a greater conflict between the two souls that inhabit the same body. A struggle for control, and more importantly, their fate. "GYAAAAAAAARRR! RAAAAAAARRRRGH! GOOOOOAAAAAARRR!" Ghost Tarantula roars out his agony while clenching intensely on his aching head. It's so bad that the calming sea doesn't have much effect on him upon collapsing onto his knees next to it. All he does is just glare at the moon and angrily roars, "…KAAAAIIIINNNNEEE…!"
Inside his hellish webbed mind, the costumeless Kaine was just knocked unconscious, brutally, by the overwhelming power of his Ghost Tarantula side. His demon half walks up to him all smug, expressing more intelligence in this mental world as he starts taunting his human counterpart, "Here we are. Mexico. The place you LONG dreamed of running away to." With just a gesture from Ghost, multiple weblines are conjured to wrap around Kaine until the unconscious clone is crucified in midair. "Honestly, why did you bother? It's all over, and it's your fault. Mephisto WARNED you and you didn't listen. Instead of hunting down Jackal, you wasted time going to a concert, allowing Jackal to surprise YOU and ruin everything. The one time you should've been a trusting fool." Ghost scoffs, "Wouldn't have made a difference anyway considering your history with Louise Kennedy. Those without power lose everything. Death was the only thing you'd ever known. You are a monster that tried to live as a human and failed so spectacularly at it. A home? Friends? Love? All slipped through your fingers like they were covered in oil. Never mixes well with water and burns when the oil ignites. Finally, you have found the truth you have sought for. Not every story has a happy ending. Not every sin can be redeemed. This is who you are. The Ultimate Spider-Soldier born to punish mankind…"
Ghost then stretches out a hand toward the crucified clone. A fiery aura glows around Kaine, looking like it wants to burn him into nothing so the Spirit of Vengeance can take full control of the body. But then, something strange happens. The hellflames that were consuming Kaine are replaced by a mystical green aura with a web-like design that starves off the corruption. Ghost Tarantula is bewildered by this, drawing back his hand saying, "What?! Why won't your soul surrender to me? After everything?" After a moment of thought, Ghost says, "Is this the power of Spirit Control?"
Kaine suddenly wakes up, unaware that he tapped into his Spirit Control amidst his unconscious state. He looks at his crucified state and struggles to free himself. He does and falls to the floor, gasping and struggling to endure the critical injuries he gained from his mental war with his Ghost. "Still want to struggle. It's a wonder how you survived torture in Hell for centuries." Ghost Tarantula said, continuing with the taunts.
"…Always been…told I'm a stubborn…bastard…" Kaine snarks through the great pain that's preventing him from standing up.
"A waste of time. What is left to fight for? You have lost everything." Ghost reminded him.
"That's how I know…I can still win control over your…power…" Kaine countered, recovering some strength that finally allows him to stand on his two feet. "But…I have to thank you…" He admitted.
"Hm?" Ghost responded with a curious glare.
"You and Jackal say that I don't deserve redemption…You might be right, but what does that make me? A fool thinking all of my sins can be forgiven? People like Luna have good hearts…but others like Detective Raven and Louise's family will forever curse out my name." Kaine said.
"Countless victims result in countless sins. All because you tried to be the 'responsible' brother." Ghost taunted, pummeling the clone for a bit before smashing him into the memory of Kaine fighting his fellow Spiders, "You KNEW your mind was unstable yet still tried to be a protector for Reilly and Parker." He then smashes him into the memory of Kaine learning of Reilly's death, "Your arrogance KILLED Reilly." Then to his actions getting Peter arrested, "Imprisoned Parker." To him going berserk on Sienna Kahn, "Dethrone Sienna Kahn." To his multiple rampages throughout the likes of New York City, Empire City, The Mila Tree, Sparta, and Houston, "Your desperate obsession to be normal corrupted life, flamed such chaos and carnage." After making him suffer through those memories, Ghost appears above his weakened counterpart as a giant creepy head, "Everywhere you go, anger and hatred follow. What makes you any different from Miles Warren? From Adam Taurus? From Jin Kazama?" He asked, summoning illusions of those individuals that quickly beat Kaine to the ground, "You must live with your sins. You will only find atonement through solitude."
"THIS coming from a Spirit of Vengeance…whose sole purpose is to CLEANSE sin?" Kaine retorted, surprisingly finding the strength to stand back up while clenching onto his aching heart. "I'm aware of my mistakes. They're what give me the will to move forward." He echoes what Harry Osborn said to him during their fight at the Schnee Manor. "I see now…Now I'm aware that my sins have overwhelmed you. The light poisoned by my darkness." He finally realized his own soul corrupted Ghost Tarantula.
"Light fueled by vengeance that will bring the darkness of humanity to justice. I am the balance you seek. Your peace made manifest. You just need to ACCEPT it." Ghost Tarantula claimed.
"Even so, you flameheaded bastard, it's still missing something to control it. A fearless heart that can rise above all limitations and defy every expectation." Kaine argued, recalling the lessons he learned from Shadow and Dark Pit.
"And where can a 'clone' find this heart?" Ghost taunted, conjuring a vision of Kaine in his Regeneration Suit to confront the real Kaine.
"Not sure yet…That clone is still too angry at how cruel…how arrogant…how selfish he was. How he chose to sacrifice everything, and everyone. There is no FORGIVING YOU!" Kaine shouts angrily at the illusion and tries choking him to death. However, locking eyes with himself makes him realize a truth that he has long struggled to accept. "…No forgiving myself…" In his shock does Kaine let go of his past self, who then disappears into thin air. "Then why? A fool like me…Why did I try to be a hero? To live life despite the endless grief it caused me?" He asked himself.
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-I Am (The Story is Over)
'Your new legend is springing to life…for all lives…Threatened by strength like yours. It's for that reason you were blessed…to be reborn into the world…' Suddenly, a memory of the late Yen'fay surprises Kaine with encouragement.
'Do not undermine your will and resolve, Kaine.' Then a memory of Yen'fay's sister, Say'ri.
'Just open your heart. Everything will be alright.' His memory of Luna Snow.
'I'm happy with the family I found in you and Tiki.' Then his memory of Aracely.
'We just gotta believe in him. If he needs help, we'll give it to him, whether he likes it or not.' His memory of Jaune Arc.
'Accept your mistakes and strive to be better for the people you hold dear.' His memory of Knuckles the Echidna.
'You had no skill. Compared to then, you've improved. Better voices in your head that somehow find you attractive.' His memory of Viridi.
'Reject all the pity and expectations. You don't owe anyone that.' His memory of Dark Pit.
'Whether something is real or fake…depends on how they perceive it!' His memory of Noel Vermillion.
'Only the fearless can achieve their own destiny. Hero or monster is irrelevant when fighting for those you treasure. There is no shame respecting all that you are.' His memory of Shadow the Hedgehog.
'Believe in that voice and reach the highest of all the heavens.' Finally, his memory of his beloved Tiki.
"That's right." Kaine said with a calming tone after recalling those memories. "I fought to survive. To protect those that deserve better than me. To belong…with people that believe in me…Shaped me into who I am now. Neither a spider of justice nor a spirit of vengeance. But a man of…Hope? When all else is lost…" He then recalls the advice Aracely gave him before Jackal's attack. "I've lost everything and everyone…Is hope the truth of my fate?" He questioned himself.
BGM End
BGM-Tekken 4 OST-Ending Jin
Ghost Tarantula is growing annoyed by his host's spirit getting stronger. He wonders just how he's going to corrupt him now when the shock from sensing a familiar presence returns him to his humanoid form. "Parker…" He uttered, intriguing Kaine before laughing, "You can spout all the nonsense you like. Actions speak louder than words, and your will LOVES betraying your mouth. A newborn resolve can never overwhelm a lifetime of pain. Now the man you have failed to emulate is near for the fateful conclusion. Once I kill him, your soul will have no choice but become one with me."
"You can try!" Kaine lunges at his demon just to be smacked afar and struggle to defend against his overwhelming flames. "No longer will I succumb to my rage and hatred…I'll live on, together with my sins…If there's anyone that can annoy me into overcoming my past and finding the strength to purify both of us, it'll be that punk. 'Til then, I'll keep busy by kicking your ass!" He vowed, fiercely dispelling the hellflames with his growing spiritual power just before he and Ghost rush at each other for their final showdown.
Back in the real world, the demonic Scarlet Spider continues to suffer his inner turmoil and decides to flee the beach. In order to hunt down the one man that can lead him to peace. Either with his words, or with his death, "PAAAAAAARKERRRRRRRR…!"
BGM End
Back in Hell…
BGM-Sonic Generations (3DS) OST-Radical Highway (Act 2)
Shadow is raising hell in Hell in the midst of his hunt for Mephisto. He is holding nothing back against the hordes of demons struggling to claim his soul. The intimidating Black Hedgehog walks out of an explosion that he caused to glare at a demonic horde running at him, shouting at them, "Chaos Spear!", and murdering them with his energy bolts. "Show yourself, Mephisto!" He demands for their showdown, receiving two Fire Giants as compensation. Both throw down a punch that the hedgehog warps away from, toppling them with a ricocheting Spin Dash that bowls through another horde and grabs a Soulless Minion in the process, just for it to be slammed hard and explosively on yet another pack of demons.
The hedgehog's chaotic rampage has finally led him outside his destination: The Citadel of Sin. Shadow is ready to raid it, just as ready to sense two more demons trying to ambush him. Thankfully his power wasn't wasted on them, as Dante's bullets were more than enough to destroy them. "You saved us a lot of time." Dante joked, with him and the rest of the Midnight Sons reuniting with the hedgehog after he ditched them.
"What's with the urgency?" Doctor Strange asked Shadow.
"I believe I have figured out Mephisto's endgame. If we don't stop him here, then the order between the living and the dead will cease to exist." Shadow claimed.
"Don't like the sound of that." Heihachi commented.
"Then let's go break his legs already!" Nora scowled, using her grenade launcher to obliterate an incoming demon horde that were blocking their entry.
BGM End
The Citadel of Sin is the home to the Lord of Hell. Lava flows through every corner of this devilish palace, even in the massive throne room that bears some resemblance to a gladiatorial arena. There is no ceiling, giving the Midnight Sons that run into the throne room a foreboding view of the Black Comet stationed outside. "MEPHISTO!" Strange shouts for the attention of the Devil King.
BGM-Marvel Ultimate Alliance OST-Mephisto's Realm (Inferno)
Mephisto himself is found on his throne, sitting so nonchalant with a wine glass in his hand that it took him a second to notice the intruders. "Strange! Long time no see. This is a pleasant surprise. Is it that time of the month again where we squabble over the fate of the world? Give me a sec. I wanna finish this." He greeted them all with jokes before taking a sip of his wine.
"This guy is just like Hades." Viridi grunted with disgust, reminded of the deceased God of the Underworld.
"Some people love to call my realm by that name. Others would be the Underworld, Netherworld, I don't have a preference." Mephisto quipped. He takes another sip of his glass, which annoys Dante into shattering it with his gun. "That's just rude." He commented, again not taking anything seriously.
"We're not here to play nice, Devil. What did you do to Scarlet Spider's soul?" Dante questioned him.
"Oh, the Spider-Sinner? Nothing that he hasn't earned himself." Mephisto claimed.
"Enough stalling. We know he was your prisoner after he died." Shadow retorted.
"Yes, yes. By the Kravinoffs, if I remember. That was so long ago. You figured out how time works down here." Mephisto said as he begins to reminisce his history with Kaine. Of the times he isolated himself from other souls and demons. And the times he was tortured by the Devil Lord, "For what must've been centuries, he spent all of his afterlife as an angry hermit. Inbetween his physical therapy sessions with me."
"You tortured him." Nora realized with a scowl.
"Potato, potahto." Mephisto snarked, right before remembering Kaine being brutal on demons that kept bothering him, "He could take my crap but not everyone else that loved bothering him. Such a destructive spirit he is. And an unusual one too. All the souls that move-in cannot STAND this place. I mean, why? Hell is awesome! Kaine thought so too. But the way HE enjoyed here…bothered me." He said with visible disdain.
"It's because he showed no fear. He was genuine in wanting punishment for his crimes. Hence why your torture was never able to break him." Ren stated.
"So different yet so similar to his fellow insects. His weird sense of fulfillment in saving Spider-Man that day really soured his stay. Regardless, I will always respect his power. And I am SO happy to hear he's been very RESPONSIBLE with it lately." Mephisto said with a teasing smile.
"Because of YOU! Bonding him to a demon!" Naoto Kurogane retorted angrily.
"Oh, please. That's not something I can just FORCE onto anybody. I wish, but rules are rules." Mephisto claimed.
"Rules that you twist to your liking." Jin Kazama scowled.
Mephisto deviously argues, "That's not true. They're simple and clean. I'll prove it. I could return your mother to you, alive and well. I could get rid of that Devil Gene of yours and kill Kazuya and Old Young Man Heihachi over there, erase the Mishima Bloodline completely. All I would require is-."
"Shut up. You're not fooling me." Jin sassed, refusing to give in to Mephisto's trickery.
"Just what is your plan this time, demon?" Strange demanded.
Sinisterly, Mephisto chuckles, "What has changed? It's always been to conquer your world and its souls. You've seen how crowded the Convergence has made my realm. So many souls, so little space to play with them. Gotta expand the territory and your Unified World has some extra space. But like I said, how I express my power is limited by rules and deals. Luckily, I have new friends in high places and a remodeled Black Comet down here ripe for transport."
BGM End
"HUH?" The Midnight Sons gasped in horror.
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Definition of Insanity
"That's your cue, Jackal! Power up the Special Generator and show the neighborhood my new crib!" Mephisto ordered telepathically upon standing up.
'Gladly!' The Jackal responded, just as his devil master keeps the heroes at bay with a hellish shockwave.
"NO!" Shadow exclaimed, realizing he was too late to stop what is about to happen.
BGM End
Houston, Unified World.
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-The World Came Crumbling Down
At his secret base, the Jackal activates the massive Special Generator with maniacal glee. The machine begins spinning at supersonic speeds with Convergium energy infused into the mix until it shatters the dimensional barrier between the Unified World and Hell. An energy field appears above Downtown Houston for all its residents to see and be horrified by the Black Comet that is pulls out. It crushes several buildings upon landing and shoots out roots which burrow into the planet, spreading a dark magic that looks to be fusing Hell with Houston. Transforming the city into an apocalyptic setting, with lava oozing out of ruined buildings underneath a fiery sky. This dark magic is also affecting the civilians in a way that leads to their souls being absorbed by the Black Comet itself, all while unleashing the biggest demon army ever to wreak havoc on the newly-formed Hell Houston Zone.
BGM End
Back in Hell…
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-My Perfect Plan
"Wh-What just happened?!" The frightened Xiaoyu wondered.
"Just as I feared…While we were distracted by the Ogres, he had the Jackal build a device that'd warp the Black Comet STRAIGHT to the Mortal World!" Shadow revealed to everyone what he had deduced earlier.
"B-But that's impossible?!" Luna Snow reacted with horrific shock.
"You have brought Hell to the Earth." Ghost Rider confronted his arch-nemesis with this realization.
Mephisto just laughs. A dead giveaway of him no longer having to hide his devilish scheme from them. From his nightmarish smile, the Devil King goes into detail of how this plan works, "That's right. I designed my Inferno Comet to be my new home in your world. Its energies should now be changing Houston as we speak, including its citizens. They have now given in to their very base instincts and impulses. No matter how miniscule the sin they commit, their souls are now mine." To further his boast, he shows the heroes the dozens of souls he just collected before sending them away, "And mine to feed Ogre until his true power can destroy the rest of your world. And I would've never gotten this far without Jackal willing to cooperate."
"Huh?!" Jaune gasped in shock upon hearing Jackal's involvement in all this.
"Wh-What did he do?!" Tiki demanded, wanting to know here and now of how all this ties into Kaine's demonic rebirth.
BGM End
A Long Time Ago…
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Commander's Memories
A lifeless, naked Kaine is sealed inside a tube in the same secret lab that he was created in so long ago. Standing near the tube is the gleeful Jackal rubbing his hands together and smiling at his creation, while Mephisto narrates what happened in this secret past, 'Miles Warren was testing out a new cloning procedure that can basically bring people back from the dead. Using ISO-8, it allows his subjects to retain old memories to the point of death. Clones, indistinguishable from the real. His first guinea pig was Kaine, but because of his cellular degeneration, and my lovely grip on his soul, he wasn't making much progress. Kept killing and reviving him over and over again to try and find some solution.'
Then, approaching Warren's side is the Mephisto of the past. He shares an evil smile with his new mortal partner while the Devil of the present continues narrating, 'That's when I stepped in to offer a deal…I'd return him Kaine's soul with an additional Spirit of Vengeance to stabilize his condition. In return, he would clone me an unstoppable world-conquering army that would eventually be the Ogres, after we found out SHIELD was experimenting with the original's corpse.'
Their experiments complete, the Professor and the Devil awakens their shared creation. The tube is lifted up, and the once dead Kaine is brought back to life with a fiery glare that could scare the living and the dead alike, 'Kaine was remade as the key to our ambitions…My vanguard of damnation!'
BGM End
Back in the Present…
"Kaine was revived as the Ghost Tarantula…by Jackal and Mephisto…?!" Hummingbird summarized the shocking truth she and the Midnight Sons just learned.
"His revival is what led to Ogre's revival." Jin commented somberly.
"Could he be lying?" Angel asked Strange in disbelief, knowing Mephisto is also an expert liar.
"Always difficult to tell with him…But considering the evidence…" Doctor Strange remarked, reluctantly believing this claim.
"Was this the past he was hiding from us…?" Pyrrha questioned sadly.
"I doubt his trauma allowed him to figure out the truth until it was too late." Knuckles responded solemnly.
"That heartless BASTARD! How can anyone just sell their own son's SOUL like that?! Treating him as nothing but a LAB RAT?!" Nora shouted, exploding with rage and empathy for what her spider-friend had to suffer through, both in life and afterlife.
"No wonder you felt so attached to him. It's no different from how Gerald betrayed the world for Black Doom." Rouge frowns to her hedgehog partner.
"At least the Professor realized his mistake and helped me stop them. Jackal has no intent in reclaiming his humanity." Shadow compared.
"All this…because his soul proved too strong for you to break!" Tiki glares at the devil, scolding him with tranquil fury that she is having the hardest time to contain because of her love for Kaine. Evident by her gritted, half-transformed teeth.
"Blame my job description. Kaine is EVIL. Doesn't matter how guilty he feels about it now. He must pay for his crimes against humanity. Helping me destroy them should cover the cost." Mephisto snarked.
"What is wrong with you…?" Jaune seethes at the devil, having been awfully quiet since confronting him. Mephisto takes notice of the little huntsman as his brave heart keeps berating him, "How can you be so heartless…to torture so many lives, even those that just wanted to rest here in peace, and then attack our world when we did nothing to you?!"
"Jaune…" Pyrrha frowns at her crush.
In contrast, Mephisto just smiles at him. Mocking him with a little laugh that enrages Jaune past his boiling point, "ALL WITH THAT DAMN SMILE ON YOUR FACE!", and causes tears streaming from his eyes.
BGM-Marvel Ultimate Alliance OST-Mephisto's Realm (Mephisto Battle)
The rest of the heroes ready themselves for an intense, as Strange warns them, "Everybody, stay calm!"
"I'm gonna make you pay for what you did! Do you hear me?!" Jaune threatened the literal Devil, who just continues to smile at him.
"Jaune!" Strange shouts at him to be silent before he does something reckless.
"Well?! SAY SOMETHING!" Jaune shouted at the Hell Lord.
And after a short pause, this is what Mephisto has to say to him. "…Are you important or something?" He mocked with a teasing grin.
At this, Jaune gains a look of shock, and then of anger. He transforms Crocea Mors to its two-handler form and advances to face Mephisto alone. "You idiot!" Shadow shouted at him to stop since the Devil is completely out of his league. Mephisto demonstrates this by standing motionless. Doing nothing but await Jaune's attack that he effortlessly blocks with an invisible forcefield. Which then explodes with such overpowering destructive force that it sends Jaune flying and crashing into a wall that collapses atop of him immediately after, rendering him out cold without Mephisto touching him at all.
"JAUNE!" Pyrrha screamed in horror, before she and Luna rush to his aid.
"That was low, redface." Dante scowled, attacking next with blinding-fast Stingers that the Hell Lord also deflects with little difficulty.
"Don't know what his problem was. I've already stopped caring. Welp, I'm going to conquer your world now." Mephisto joked, casually walking away until he was forced to stop with an annoyed look by some Chaos Spears.
"Not without a fight!" Jin retorted, joining Shadow and the other Midnight Sons in surrounding the devil.
"And you'll get plenty. Hopefully I'll get yours and Shadow's souls at the end. That'll satisfy Ogre. Blackheart!" Mephisto smiled, snapping his fingers in order to summon a new demonic adversary for the heroes to face.
BGM End
BGM-Marvel Super Heroes OST-Theme of Blackheart
Emerging from a bloody portal beside the Hell Lord, accompanied by several smaller demons, is the black Prince of Hell himself. A tall tailed demon with a spiky hairstyle that looks more sinister than Shadow's. His name, Blackheart. His shadowy presence alone is enough to worry some of the heroes into striking defensive stances, realizing Blackheart will be an extremely tough one to beat.
"Try not to be a disappointment of a son and kill them for me." Mephisto tasked his progeny.
With annoyed reluctance, Blackheart just scoffs, "…Fine.", before his father teleports to Houston.
"Just our luck. We have to fight the Prince of Hell after all." Viridi scowled, standing next to Ghost Rider.
"It's unlike you to follow Daddy's orders." Ghost Rider taunted his old rival.
"You know as well as I, Blaze, that it's difficult escaping his control. Rest assured. After I kill you, he's next!" Blackheart proclaimed, flaunting his tremendous power that he's ready to obliterate the Midnight Sons with.
"I've had enough of fathers and sons trying to kill each other." Xiaoyu glared, posing beside the Mishima family against their mutual foe.
The cross-armed pose of the Devil Son unleashes his Heart of Darkness technique, summoning a horde of demons and damned souls that attack the heroes relentlessly. All of them fight them off, with Ghost Rider holding his own the best. That prompts Blackheart into erupting a powerful energy from below that knocks the Demon Hunter high into the air, followed by the Demon Prince that claws him back down. Ghost Rider recovers swiftly to grab his enemy's leg with his fiery chain and throws him around through anything smashable, including Jin's Thrusting Uppercut that knocks the prince back into the air. Blackheart regains his composure in time to deflect the twin blows of Shadow and Angel before unleashing another frightening power at the Midnight Sons. "This is the power of Hell's true ruler! ARMAGEDDON!" He shouted, summoning a meteor shower that devastates the Citadel of Sin.
Dante is the only one doing a stylish job evading the meteors by bouncing and slicing through them while making his way to attack Blackheart. The Hell Prince prepares a counterattack but finds himself binded by Viridi's thorny vines that are weakening him with their holy magic. "Don't underestimate the Goddess of Nature, chump!" Viridi taunted. With him immobilized, Dante combos Blackheart with Rebellion before smacking him out of the air with a swift Beowulf axe kick, followed up by Dragon Tiki's holy fireball barrage that further pushes the demon into making a brutal landing pose.
"The power of the gods? Nature and Dragons tremble before my unholy might. INFERNO!" Blackheart then hits the ground with energy spheres, spawning a lightning-fast ice pillar that freezes the airborne Divine Dragon.
"Too cold to be hot!" Dante joked, falling into Blackheart's grasp that electrocutes before throwing him hard at Viridi. Both are knocked toward a lava pool and only saved by Dante's stylish thinking, holding onto Viridi before throwing his sword down, just as quickly as him bouncing off its hilt to return to land, and as fast as his telekinesis retrieving his blade a mere second before it touches any fire. Alive, Dante gives the petite goddess a flirty smile to celebrate, just for her to slap him across the face.
"Dark Thunder!" Blackheart exclaimed, continuing his terror on the heroes with his lightning bolts of darkness. Just as Luna finished using her light ice to heal Jaune back to consciousness.
"…Ow…What truck hit me…?" Jaune groans himself awake, right before noticing a Dark Thunder targeting both him and Luna as well as Pyrrha beside them. "WHOA!" He exclaimed, with the trio narrowly evading the blast.
Deciding to get serious, Shadow taps into his Dark Chaos Mode just before punching a Dark Thunder aside and Homing Attacking the Demon Prince to the ground. "The Ultimate Progeny of Black Doom. His soul told me how you bested him." Blackheart said, claiming his familiarity with Shadow's past.
"Let me demonstrate how." Dark Shadow sassed coldly.
"Try. I'll accomplish what he couldn't by enslaving your soul." Blackheart vowed.
The Sons of Darkness then go at it one-on-one for an epic moment. Skillful fists and kicks were traded between the two. Then clashing their high speeds together, red against black. Until Blackheart gains the upper hand by smashing Dark Shadow to the edge of the arena. Multiple Infernos of varying elements are unleashed at Shadow while his lightning speed aids him in avoiding them all and landing a ferocious combo that blows back his opponent into Angel's firing range.
"I got him!" Angel swoops in to land a punch, which is effortlessly caught by Blackheart. Things get even creepier when his dark energy begins overtaking the mutant. "W-What are you…doing…" Angel grunted, struggling to free himself from his darkness.
"Reawakening the remnants of the Death Seed within you. Your true self." Blackheart said forebodingly, just as Angel's corruption reaches completion.
BGM End
"Angel!" Jin shouted with concern upon rushing into the scene.
BGM-Tekken: Blood Vengeance OST-Collapse
Dark smoke is emanating from Angel as it becomes apparent the darkness has transformed him into an entity that is no different from one corrupted by the Devil Gene. "The name 'Angel' no longer applies." His razor-sharp wings flap away the smoke to reveal his new, blue-skinned form. Wearing a black-and-silver uniform that goes well with his menacing red eyes that are glowing solely at Jin Kazama. "I am Archangel, a Horseman of Death. And I will see to it that all devils bow to Lord Blackheart." The reborn Archangel threatened his former ally.
"So this is the dark power that once consumed you." Jin said, recalling Angel's sympathy back at the X-Mansion. "Just hold on. I'll beat it out of you." He declared, readying himself to fight Archangel alone.
Jin's eyes glow red as he taps into his regular Devil form to level the playing field between him and Archangel. Devil and Angel take their fight to the sky where it's quickly made obvious that Archangel has the advantage. His flying feathers are barely dodged by Devil Jin, who throws a punch that is caught easily and allows his right arm to be elbowed brutally. Jin seems to be once again losing control over the Devil Gene despite absorbing the Life Seed, wildly unleashing his Devil Beam in a vain struggle to free himself from his corrupted friend's grasp. Archangel lets him go, just to bait him into being kneed in the chest and then ripping his horns off before kicking him down deep into a mountain. Devil Jin lets out roars and lasers that are ripping apart the mountain from within, just more evidence to confirm that he cannot control the Devil Gene no matter what he does.
"Even with the Life Seed, you're too weak for this. You can't control the Devil's power." Archangel taunted him.
BGM End
The entire mountain collapses, watched by Archangel landing on another. All he can see now is the strange silhouette of Devil Jin perching within the smokescreen. "Hm?" Archangel muttered, sensing a change within his devilish foe. As the smoke disappears, his murderous red eyes shift to a calm blue. His crystallized third eye starts glowing, triggering a dark whirlwind that completely consumes Devil Jin with its energy before exploding with tremendous force that forces even the Fallen Angel to defend against. "This can't be…" Archangel uttered in shock upon realizing what is happening.
BGM-Tekken: Blood Vengeance OST-Awaken
Devil Jin has been reborn. Looking like a sleeker version of his berserk state from when he fought Ghost Tarantula. The same blue armored form he utilized in the final battle against Ultron Omega. This time powered by the Life Seed within him. Finally under his absolute control. "The Life Seed's power is mine. I can control both now." Super Devil Jin proclaimed, radiating a fiery blue aura.
"What? You're able to control them with reason alone?" Archangel uttered his surprise by this.
Round two between Devil and Angel begins and is quick to favor the former this time. Instantly, Super Devil Jin flies up close and stun Archangel with his sudden presence before him. The corrupted X-Man throws several punches that are avoided seamlessly, with the last one being caught by Jin. Both winged warriors share a moment avoiding each other's high-speed blows before Archangel flies up high and rains bladed feathers at the Devil that has long disappeared from his sight. Jin re-emerges from the hellish heavens to ram his friend downward like a meteorite. He throws an energized punch that agonizes him, then follows them up with a flurry of jabs that quakes the sky with each powerful blow that lands on the chest. "Haaaaa! SEEEEYAAAAAAAA!" Finally, Jin ends this fight with a devastating right punch brimming with blue energy that was enough to shatter the X-Man out of his Archangel form. "Take it easy for now." Jin said, after catching his friend by the arm.
"Yeah…Thanks…" The freed Angel smiled weakly.
"I should be thanking you." Jin scoffs out a little smile, grateful to Angel for helping him control his Devil Gene.
BGM End
Blackheart, who witnessed Archangel's defeat, expresses his furious displeasure at how it came to be. "That boy! He conquered his Devil? Impossible!" He snarled.
BGM-Marvel Super Heroes VS Street Fighter OST-Theme of Blackheart
"You'll accept it once I destroy your darkness!" Dark Shadow snarked, landing a teleporting roundhouse kick that still knocks back the Demon Prince despite putting up his defense.
"Not with that power! I FEED off negativity!" Blackheart states his Dark Form is useless against him, absorbing its energy to empower his Judgement Day attack. Hordes of little demons bombard Shadow at a rapid pace that forces him to think of a decisive counterattack before his soul is taken.
"Then get overstuffed with THIS!" Shadow unleashes a great burst of energy that not only dispels his enemy's attack but transforms him into his Hero State. His empowered Chaos Control is invoked multiple times as Hero Shadow delivers an onslaught of teleporting strikes around the increasingly annoyed Blackheart. Just as the demon finds his opening to counter, Shadow repels him with a field of distorted space. Blackheart is left stunned, allowing Viridi's impaling thorns to rake him briefly before he erases them. Dante's Stingers then overwhelm him, leading to Tiki's fireballs pushing him back, and him getting ignited by Ghost Rider's all-consuming column of hellfire.
"INSIGNIFICANT!" Blackheart exclaims with fearsome rage that dispels all flames and blows away nearly all that dared to oppose him. "NONE of you are a match for the future master of the underworld!" He shouted arrogantly. Sensing and then launching a deathly blow at the warping Hero Shadow, "Especially you, Ultimate Life Form!"
"Oh yeah?" Hero Shadow retorted, dodging enough of the demon's attack that only damaged his quills to shout, "Take this! Chaos Control!", before impaling Blackheart with his energized fist.
Shadow then drops out of his Hero State and jumps away from Blackheart as soon as he felt his body aching. His black skin is turning blue, feeling himself being electrocuted from the inside out by strange chaotic energy. "What did you do…?" Blackheart asked in pain.
"I transferred to you all of my positive energy. Neutralizing your negative energy. You can't stomach that. Allow me to relieve you of your pain." Shadow then goes for the finishing blow that starts with him pummeling Blackheart with punches, the last of which sends him to the air. And from just a snap of his fingers, he coldly says, "CHAOS BLAST!", before the Hell Prince explodes. His negativity crushed by the positive power of the Ultimate Life Form.
BGM End
"We did it! We just beat up the Son of Satan. Never dreamed I'd ever do that." Luna Snow celebrated, reuniting with her friends that all managed to survive that demonic showdown.
"Where is Mister Angel?" Noel Vermillion wondered, looking around for the former Archangel.
"Here, Noel." Angel announced, descending from the sky alongside Super Devil Jin. "Sorry for scaring you with my bad side." He apologized for his actions while under Blackheart's control.
"Speaking of, you still in there, Jin?" Xiaoyu asked her love interest.
"I'm here, Xiao." Super Devil Jin assured her.
"Thank goodness things are finally working out for you." Xiaoyu sighed in relief to see him in full control of his Devil powers.
"That's one devil problem down. But we still have Mephisto invading Houston. We have to stop him." Knuckles said, whilst Jin returns to his human form.
Too exhausted from battle, Blackheart was struggling to pick himself back up when he is threatened by the sharp tip of Dante's sword. "No mouth's not an excuse to not talk." He mocked him.
"And why should I?" Blackheart grunted, resting on one knee.
"We're ALL enemies of Mephisto. If you wish to see your father dethroned, then tell us how to stop his invasion." Ghost Rider interrogated his defeated nemesis.
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Preparation for Ritual
Scoffing with reluctance to help his enemies, Blackheart gives in to the temporary truce, "Suppose I have no other choice. You must steal control of his Special Generator. It is a device powered by Convergium that allows transport between dimensions. The Jackal was tasked to build it to transport the Inferno Comet to your world. You will find it and the REAL Miles Warren in a secret lab underneath Roxxon Tower."
"Roxxon? We were just at one of their labs! Jackal's been working for them this whole time?" Jaune reacts with surprise at this news, recalling how he helped save Luna Snow from the evil company.
"Since the Convergence. Dead employees and a proposal to harness Hell's energy for themselves made it easy for him to be hired as Head of Research and Development. All in preparation for this day." Blackheart explained.
"I REALLY hate humans…" Viridi snarled, seething with rage over human's self-destructive greed.
"Let's go teach them a lesson. Mephisto and Roxxon together. It's not too late. Remember, time moves slower here." Strange rallied everyone, right before opening a portal back to the Unified World. "Thank you for your cooperation, Blackheart. We will let you go for now as gratitude. But be warned. Misbehave beyond this realm and we will return with no mercy." He threatened the Devil Heir.
"Don't make me laugh, human. Begone. And crush my fool of a father." Blackheart retorted, placing his trust in the Midnight Sons to defeat Mephisto.
"With pleasure. I'm an expert in that department." Heihachi boasted.
"Can we leave him here!?" Naoto retorted, growing tired being the villain's ally as the multiversal defenders leave Hell to reclaim the one that has consumed Houston. And soon the world.
BGM End
BGM-Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 OST-Gallery
KFX Here: The Devil Arc is almost done. Just two chapters left. Kaine's hidden past has finally been revealed, and Spider-Man returns to the story to help the Midnight Sons retake Houston from Mephisto. Should be a doozy. Some things to note: Jin's Super Devil Form is based on his final transformation from the movie, Tekken: Blood Vengeance. And the Special Generator is based on the same device from the video game, Sonic Rush. Anyway, I'm gonna take a short break. Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is close to release around this time. Gonna play it like crazy and return to finish this current arc. See ya soon.
XenoSlayer983: I still have no interest in watching Venom 3 right now. Maybe I will use it for research whenever I get started on the King in Black Saga.
B4ttwell: I do want to adapt Sonic Frontiers, but I'm not sure if it's gonna fit in with the "Sega Superstars" Saga I'm getting ready for. I am thinking of a way to combine both endings somehow. As for the Justice League, don't hold your breath.
Myriad Hopes: I don't know why people are offering commissions to me. At the rate I received them and how copy and paste they are, I'm pretty sure they're scammers.
To all those offering me commissions, NO THANK YOU!
Next Time: Hell on the Unified World! The Final Fateful Battle between Spider-Brothers!
Please leave a review that'll tell me what you thought of this chapter! What did you like? What didn't you like? Would really appreciate the feedback.
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BGM End