BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Story
Shadow: I'm Shadow the Hedgehog. The one and only ultimate life form. Mephisto is the mastermind behind this demon attack. He made a deal with The Jackal to have an army of Ogre Clones to conquer the world in exchange for Kaine's revival as a Spirit of Vengeance. He also recreated the Black Comet as the Inferno Comet, which is now transforming Houston into another Hell. I will NOT allow Black Doom's legacy to harm this planet!
BGM End
Volume 1 Issue 26: Overcoming Hatred
Castle Doom, Doomstadt. Latveria, Unified World. (6 Days Since the Convergence)
BGM-Marvel Future Revolution OST-A.I.M. for the Future
"There. Good as new." Albert Wesker said to a certain patient in his specialized laboratory.
"Astonishing! You sure know your biology. I was expecting a mechanical tail." That patient being Tyrian Callows, who had survived his fight with Scarlet Spider at Sparkleton and spent the days recuperating at Latveria. Allowing the genius bioterrorist to regrow the tail he lost in that fight.
"Should've bothered Octavius if you wanted that. Save me time to focus on my own work." Wesker brushes aside the faunus, returning to his work that are sealed within multiple testing containers.
"Experimenting on the locals?" Callows smirked, noting the Faunus, Mutants, and Mobians that were captured and trapped for his experiments.
"The Convergence brought me new specimen to test their compatibility with the Uroboros virus. Only time will tell if these fine samples become the next Alexia, or the next Lisa Trevor." Wesker responded stoically.
In the midst of his research, Wesker is visited by Jedah Dohma with an important announcement. "It would seem Mephisto has begun the final phase of his plan. S.T.R.I.K.E. are en route to counter his forces. No order from Doctor Doom to get ourselves involved." Jedah informed.
"Must be frustrating. If he succeeds, he'll surpass you as a Hell Lord." Wesker replied, not interested at all in Mephisto's scheme.
"Irrelevant. All souls belong to Mistress Death in the end." Jedah calmly claimed.
"She's the lady that bosses around this Thanos guy that's coming." Callows chuckles a little crazily, "I'm almost jealous. To think the literal embodiment of death has a face. It must be as beautiful as Mistress Salem. Would love to stare at it in my final hour."
"On some days they may share physical similarities. Salem is a mortal that seeks death for freedom from eternal life. Mistress Death, however, is an Abstract Entity that no mortal can ever truly comprehend until they themselves feel her final embrace. Though her form may differ, her nature remains consistent: The desire to establish order with life's absolute destruction." Jedah said, describing what he knows of Death.
"What flawed logic." Wesker scoffed.
"Makes sense to me." The nihilist Callows commented.
"Okay. What is your argument?" Jedah smiled, testing his fellow Master on how he perceives balance between life and death.
"You're looking at it." Wesker gestures to his multiversal specimen that are suffering the effects of his Uroboros virus. "Uroboros is my masterpiece that will save the world by ridding it of the valueless and empowering the worthy, with me leading the genetic superiors as their god. Life is evolution. And evolution requires sacrifice. Natural selection. THAT is order." He argued confidently.
"A commendable rebuttal. Not so dissimilar from my balance by multiversal unification. Very well. I am looking forward to this topic discussed further once Death makes planetfall." Jedah commented with a respectful smile at his human comrade.
BGM End
Hell Houston Zone.
BGM-Namco X Capcom OST-Enveloping Dark Clouds
It's Hell on the Unified World and its all thanks to the Inferno Comet. Its dark energies have corrupted Houston, transforming it into a hellish version of itself where darkness reigns supreme. Demons are rampaging. Civilians are fleeing. Police are struggling to do whatever they can do to protect their city. Amidst this carnage, a mystical portal opens atop a rooftop, and out emerge the Midnight Sons as the city's best hope to save them from the devious grip of Mephisto.
"From one Hell to another. This one's more foul than the last one." Dante glares in disgust at the corrupted city.
"Houston…What has become of it?" Tiki said, somberly staring down at civilians acting out of control. More accurately, acting on their base impulses that endangers their souls. Burglary. Cheating on your wife. Torturing lives for cash. Jaywalking. The little sin they commit attract demons to steal their souls for their master. "They have become shells of their former selves." The Divine Dragon frowned.
"All because of that." Shadow the Hedgehog glared, pointing at the Inferno Comet spreading its influence like a gas and feeding on the souls.
"I can sense Mephisto is inside alongside the original Ogre. He is growing stronger from the souls of the city." Ghost Rider announced.
"I get it. He's trying to transform him into that same monstrosity he showed at the end of the 3rd Tournament." Heihachi Mishima realizes that the Hell Lord plans to evolve Ogre into his ultimate form. True Ogre. "He's going to be a pain in the ass to beat if he continues to absorb souls." He claimed calmly.
"Just got in contact with Commander Tower. S.T.R.I.K.E.'s blockading the city to prevent the demons from spreading out." Rouge the Bat informs her team.
"It will not last. With Scarlet Spider under his control, the entire Web of Reality is at risk. All worlds will be one Hell if we do not stop Mephisto." Doctor Strange argued.
"So what do we do?" Noel Vermillion questioned their hope of saving the day.
"The Special Generator and Scarlet Spider are the keys in ending this invasion." Strange answered.
"You think he's nearby?" Severa wondered.
"It feels like it now. Had trouble sensing him before." Hummingbird proclaimed, picking up Kaine's faint mind deep within the Ghost Tarantula.
"Which means he's still fighting. Against himself. Perhaps we can use this opportunity to complete his Spirit Control training." Tiki devised.
"Spirit Control?" Strange questioned her with curiosity in his voice.
"It is a technique we conceptualized that can control the Great Web's power in order to manipulate life and destiny. Think of it as Chaos Control but for the soul. It was my hope that mastering it would lead him to master his Spirit of Vengeance." Tiki explained to the Sorcerer Supreme.
"I see. Then that must be the same power he used to save you from Ogre. Jackal expressed surprise that your soul remained intact back at the haunted ruins." Strange deduced, causing Tiki to gasp in remembering what Ogre Prime tried to do to her and how Kaine saved her soul with a strange green power.
"My Guardian…Protecting me even while falling to darkness." Tiki muttered sincerely, touching her chest in gratitude for what her boyfriend did for her.
"Scarlet Spider must surpass his Spirit of Vengeance, and the Devil himself, if he is to free himself from his current limitations." E-123 Omega suggested his solution of Kaine's rescue.
"I dunno anymore. His Spirit Control isn't perfect yet. And from what it looked like, he's gonna be imprisoned by his demons." Jaune Arc frowned, nearly losing all hope.
BGM End
"This isn't like you, Jaune. Have you completely lost faith in your friend?" Lie Ren confronted his depressed leader. "This is EXACTLY what Scarlet was lecturing you about. You can't let your emotions cloud your judgment." He reminded him.
In his shock, Jaune flashes black to his sparring match with Scarlet Spider. How he tried to unlock his Semblance and gave him a speech that might help, 'You want your emotions to COMPLEMENT your strength, NOT shackle it! If you're too desperate for heroism, if love makes you afraid, you won't be able to move forward! You'll misunderstand the problem and FAIL! …Nothing is assured in life! Whether Nikos is too afraid to love you back or we lose against the Obsidian King, your future is lost! You must accept that fact and come to terms with it! Only then can you prevail! …Don't worry. You can do it. I'm the one telling you this. Man up.'
BGM-Marvel Future Revolution OST-The Sacrifice
"Right…" Jaune muttered upon finishing that flashback. "Thought I understood back then. Now I see I've been making the same mistake as him. Being too angry at myself for failing the people I care about." He realized, giving his friends an apologetic look, "I'm sorry, guys. I've been a terrible leader, and a terrible friend."
"Jaune, this has to stop." Ren told him.
"We heard what you said to Mephisto. You're not being fair to yourself. We love you, just like we love Kaine. We're teammates, family." Nora frowned empathetically.
"We don't want to lose you too." Pyrrha said, giving her leader a moment to ponder their words.
Recognizing Team JNPR's resolve, Ghost Rider proposes his risky idea to them, "…There may be a method to perfect his Spirit Control, in turn save him."
"What could that be?" Pyrrha responded.
"You must create a gap in the Spirit of Vengeance. Scarlet must seek the power to break free from that shell by his own will." Ghost Rider suggested.
"What does that mean? What do we gotta do?" Nora retorted in confusion.
Jaune gives himself another moment to think, then sternly announces his interpretation of Rider's plan, "…We kick his butt and wake him. And we do it like we're trying to kill him, right?"
"Wait, Jaune!" Xiaoyu retorted in shock, thinking the plan is too risky to go through.
"He's right. Those closest to him should provide the most effect on his psyche. After that, it's up to his heart. Will he be devoured by hatred? If not, that's the key in defeating Mephisto. Should he meet his end, it would show how weak his will is…" Ghost Rider elaborated.
"I understand the risks. But I…WE, made a promise to him to grow stronger, for his sake." Jaune responded confidently, sharing this expression with the rest of his huntsman team.
"Kaine…I…" Hummingbird frowned, starting to feel helpless in how she can contribute in saving her big brother figure.
"Any dark soul can be filled with light by those that love them. Scarlet's no different. Just believe in him." Dante advised the little psychic, comforting Hummingbird.
"I'm assuming the rest of us will hold off Mephisto at his Inferno Comet, while Jaune's group heads for Roxxon Tower to shut down the Generator. Have a hunch you'll run into Scarlet there." Rouge said to the huntsman leader.
"Understood." Jaune nodded in acknowledgement.
"Good luck." Jin Kazama encourages Team JNPR to save Scarlet Spider.
"Same to you. Ogre caused your family a lot of trouble." Jaune responded empathetically.
"This world never deserved to be caught by our affairs. I must put an end to this." Jin scowled, vowing to defeat Ogre by any means necessary.
"Count me in. I swore to the Professor and Maria that I'd protect this world, no matter its incarnation. I will not allow Black Doom's legacy to destroy it." Shadow glowered, announcing his declaration to dismantle the Inferno Comet.
The Midnight Sons then split into two groups, one led by Jaune and the other led by Doctor Strange. Before going their separate ways, Strange casts a protection spell on everyone. "My magic will shield us from the Inferno Comet's influence. May the Vishanti watch over thee." He wishes everyone the best in their missions.
"Let's do this!" Dark Pit shouted with eager, ready to follow Jaune's Group in raiding Roxxon Tower.
BGM End
BGM-Mega Man ZX Advent OST-Path to the Truth (Tunes Ver.)
Roxxon is just as guilty for this Hell Invasion and are taking advantage of the carnage to support their wicked energy research. Just for that, the Midnight Sons will not be showing them any mercy. All Guards are on high alert, yet wasn't expecting their underground entrance to be frozen over then busted down by an echidna warrior. Luna Snow and Knuckles are responsible for this break-in, accompanied by Tiki, Hummingbird, Dark Pit, Viridi, Severa, Noel Vermillion, Naoto Kurogane, and Team JNPR. All of them looking fiercely determined to find Jackal in his fortified headquarters.
"Intruders! Stop them!" A Roxxon Guard shouted, commanding his forces to take them down with everything they have.
"We have an appointment with your Head Researcher!" Jaune said, shield-charging through a guard's gunfire to bash him to the floor. The blonde warrior continues to fight with his sword, then activates his shield's energy blade right as Severa kicks away a troublesome goon so he may deliver a leaping shield strike that seamlessly shifts to him comboing a horde for Severa's powerful sword slash to finish off.
Jaune's Group is putting up an incredible fight with Roxxon and they just continue to impress with every pair. Naoto partners with Nora, the former uppercutting a guard's gun for the latter to bat onto another's face. Nora then hammers the floor so hard that an enemy horde is knocked into the air for Naoto to decimate with his blood axe. Afterwards is Ren knocking up a guard with a slide kick that he keeps airborne with his pistols for Noel to then kick down onto a crowd that she devastates with explosive shots. Still, Roxxon Guards manage to put both Pyrrha and Dark Pit on the ropes by showering them with bullets that the latter struggles to block with his Guardian Orbitars. Wasn't until Pyrrha uses her Semblance they regained the advantage, magnetically pulling their weapons to their side for her use while a smirking Pittoo pulls out the Doom Cannon to really scare the mooks before they are blown through a wall. Allowing the heroes to proceed into Roxxon Tower's depths.
"Mr. Warren, it's an emergency! STRIKE is heading for your lab!" A Roxxon Guard informed his boss through the comms.
'I can hear the ruckus from here. That's comin' outta your cut.' The Jackal sassed. 'Fellow mes and Ogres, please escort our guests out of the building.' He then summons several Jackal and Ogre Clones to intercept the heroes, ordering for their deaths.
"Getting real tired of your face!" Knuckles scowled, furiously smashing a Jackal Clone to the ground by his face.
More clones are frozen solid by Luna before Tiki burns them alive with her morphing arm dragon cannon. Whilst Jaune shields himself from an Ogre's strike, he asks, "How close are we?", to Hummingbird since her psychic powers are necessary in locating Warren's position.
"Just three floors down!" Hummingbird answered, right after overloading enemy minds with fright that scares them in retreating.
An eruption of plant life powered by Viridi devastates the corridor the heroes are in. Clearing some room for Jaune to order, "Knuckles, make us an elevator!"
To accomplish this, Knuckles puts his, "Shovel Claw!", on his gloves and proceeds in using his Drill Claw to break apart large openings for the rest of the group to fall down through. One, two, three. The STRIKE Teens successfully drops to their desired floor. And after pummeling a few more guards, they stand before the large metallic door where Jackal is hiding behind.
"In there." Hummingbird stated.
BGM End
Knuckles smashes down the door with all his strength and leads his friends into Jackal's laboratory. A humongous chamber big enough for the most hellish experiments. Including the Special Generator that is both active and shielded by an incredible energy in the middle of the room. "That must be the Special Generator." Knuckles commented on the dimensional device.
"It's HUGE…Let's smash it." Nora grinned, readying her hammer.
BGM-Super Street Fighter IV OST-Secret Laboratory Stage (Round 1)
"And blow up the city you're trying to save?" Raging them for their attention is none other than the Jackal. The real Miles Warren, taunting them with his evil smile from behind the window of his computer room in an upper floor, "That'll make you worse heroes than Scarlet Spider. Like he was a decent one to begin with."
"Jackal! We know about your deal with Mephisto! How could you sell out Kaine and humanity like that?" Jaune confronted him about his secret bargain with the devil.
"Quite simple, really. My goal has always been to replace humanity with clones. Wasn't expecting the devil to knock on my front door, but we managed to work things out. Mephisto wipes out mankind, he keeps their souls, I get to harvest their DNA, then repopulate the world with the most perfect human/demon hybrids. Everyone wins!" Jackal revealed his maniacal reasoning for partnering with Mephisto.
"Not you. Haven't you realized Mephisto is just USING you? He'll kill you once he gets what he wants." Knuckles argued.
"Gonna have a tough time finding me through my clones. I'm the star student of the High Evolutionary, doncha know?" Jackal quipped.
"Must've been his only student. Even I can tell you're the real deal." Viridi snarked.
"If you've been the boss of Roxxon all this time, then why did you kidnap me? Was it just to get to Scarlet?" Luna Snow questioned the R Leader.
Jackal just shrugs, "Ehhh, kinda. Your powers would've been useful in harnessing Hell's energy more efficiently, but you kids just had to ruin that experiment.", before giving her a teasing grin, "Oh well. It gave me Kaine's progress report. He REALLY did not like you."
"Likewise. But hatred is a poison. I want to start anew as his friend and you're in the way." Luna vowed.
"You're a sick man. You have no right to be Kaine's dad." Noel glares at her fellow clone's creator.
"If it wasn't for me, he'd still be rotting in Hell. I'm about to remake the world where he can finally fit in. How can I be such a bad dad if all I'm doing is trying to make him happy?" Jackal argued, grinning mad.
"Don't give us that! You only care about yourself. Only see Kaine as a tool for revenge. Never ONCE considered his feelings! He's been suffering alone…Dying…Yet still fought for a purpose he believed in. So when he did die, he could atone for his crimes in peace. But YOU took that all away from him!" Nora snaps furiously at the mad scientist.
"All I'm doing is awakening his true self. Justice was never his thing. He is a creature of vengeance, a fitting host for a Spirit of one. This world is nothing but lies and pain. He'll never find peace knowing it's next door. So I say bring him back as my lead demolitionist. End it all to embrace a new beginning." Jackal refuted sinisterly.
"His power isn't meant for destruction!" Hummingbird retorted.
"That's a hard pill to swallow." Jackal quipped, leading this argument to nowhere.
"Are we gonna keep yapping or are we gonna put an end to him?" Dark Pit said, firing his Dark Pit Staff at his window that didn't leave a scratch.
"Unbreakable glass. Thought I wasn't prepared for you? That's an F for underestimating a genius." Jackal laughs, angering the dark angel.
BGM End
"JACKAL!" Suddenly, the voice of a certain Webslinger grabs the curiosity of everyone in the room.
"That voice…Scarlet?" Noel gasped.
BGM-Marvel Future Revolution OST-Amazing Friend (Spider-Man Theme)
Dropping out of an air vent is not Scarlet Spider but his more amazing brother. The Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man has arrived to deliver justice on his former substitute teacher. Much to Jaune's horror as he humorously screams, "Spider-Man! What are you doing here?!"
"Huh? What are you guys doing here? Looks like you've been through hell." Spider-Man quipped, a little surprised to be reunited with Team JNPR and their allies.
"You have no idea." Naoto sighed, snarking how they literally just escaped Hell.
"Spider-Man! You made it to class in time for once. It really is the end of the world." Jackal teases his former student.
"Not in the mood for games, Warren. Where are you keeping May's soul?" Spidey retorted with a threatening glare.
"May? That monster stole her soul too?" Tiki gasped in horror from hearing that his aunt is a victim of the Ogres' soul hunt.
"I do have a new soul storage nearby. It's called the Inferno Comet. You can check over there, if you live long enough." Jackal grinned ominously.
"Spider-Man, this is all a trap!" Pyrrha warned him.
"Obviously." Spidey snarked.
"You shouldn't be here! He's coming!" Pyrrha retorted.
"Who's coming?" Spidey then questioned her.
BGM End
And like clockwork, a huge explosion hits the lab that surprises everyone. Even Spider-Man despite his ability to sense danger, "Spider-Sense didn't tingle. How could that be?" Spidey wondered.
"Not good." Jaune muttered, knowing full well who else has invaded Roxxon Tower.
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Perplexity
A Roxxon Guard is seen being thrown out of the smoke and onto the floor, battered and bloodied by a monster beyond imagination. His only non-broken hand tries reaching for the heroes, begging them to save him from what just attacked the building, only for that hand to be brutally impaled to the floor by a spider-leg. One belonging to the snarling Ghost Tarantula walking into the room with another helpless Guard caught in his unbreakable grasp.
"Oh my god…Kaine…Is that…Is that you?" Spidey asked, with his eyes widen from the absolute shock of seeing his clone turned into a demon.
"…Peeeeterrrrrr…" Ghost Tarantula responded, stomping the impaled guard's head into a bloody mess that horrifies his friends.
"Harry called me that he was attacked by some demon spider. So, what I feared has come to pass. The Ghost Rider has taken control over you. This makes it like, what, the fourth time you've lost your mind this summer?" Spidey snarked.
Enraged, Tarantula ignites the guard in his hand and throws him like an explosive projectile that nearly blows up Spider-Man and his friends. "He's never liked your jokes before, he's definitely not gonna like 'em now!" Knuckles angrily berates Peter.
Ghost Tarantula wants to kill Peter right away but his mind is still in conflict with Kaine wanting back control. He clenches onto his flaming head that is shaking from sheer agony, causing several growls whilst struggling to get some words out, "Nn…Nghh…Parkerrrrrr! Parker…Fight…me!"
"What?!" Spidey retorts with confusion at his requestion. This inability to control his thoughts extends to his power, unleashing an excessive amount of hellflame that the heroes are struggling to defend against. "Cool down, Kaine! You're gonna torch the entire building!" He shouted at him to regain control.
"Parker…Your existence…is why I suffer…The world's greatest sin…Why…can I never…be as good…" Kaine said, losing more and more of himself to his anger, which further fuels his uncontrollable flames.
"Kaine! Kaine Parker, wake up! I don't want to fight you like this! Wake up, brother!" Spidey shouted; his words unable to penetrate his flames.
BGM End
"It seems Kaine fears nothing more than the prospect of never living up to your example of heroism. Bonded to a Spirit of Vengeance, and suddenly his hidden anxieties come to the fore!" Jackal analyzed with taunting glee.
Spidey reacts to this news with stunned silence. A fact that his aunt discussed with him before her kidnapping. That the true source of Kaine's rage is his inferiority complex when compared to his brothers. Unable to live as a hero, much less a man. Yet despite his jealously, still tried to make his family happy in his own happy but failed that too. "Power and responsibility. He's beyond that now. Tonight is his opportunity to save himself from that pain and evolve into a new man. Your death is the key. Soon, your soul will too be devoured by vengeance!" Jackal declared to his arch-nemesis, looking forward to having both Spiders fall to his scheme.
BGM-Project X Zone 2 OST- Heartwarming Feelings (Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie)
"Parker! IIIIIIIII…" Ghost Tarantula struggled, letting loose even more monstrous power than ever before.
Spider-Man stands alone against the flames with an iron body powered by his unbreakable will. He closes his eyes to process his clone's feelings and consider the best action to save him from his hatred. "…Go ahead." Then he opens his eyes that glares with calming determination, "You'll never be my equal. Not as you are now." He told him without hesitation. Touching the wrist device hiding within his glove, he thinks to himself, 'Alright, Chris…Time to bust out the secret weapon. Let's hope it works.', before confronting his corrupted brother by himself.
"OOOOOOAAAAARRRRRR!" The raging Ghost Tarantula rushes at his brother immediately with his Hellcrawler Assault, attacking him with a fiery flurry consisting of fists and spider-limbs. Yet surprisingly, Spidey is evading all of his blows with a calm mind that sees through his rage. Readying the Webslinger for his devastating counterattack upon cancelling his last attack.
"Say hello to W.E.B.'s latest and most awesome invention!" Spidey then backflips into binding his brother with webbing, "Capable of sealing away demon/spider power!", before bombarding him with the full fury of the Way of the Spider. Moving and striking his weakpoints at hyperfast acrobatic speeds. Just when it looks like Kaine is going to counter himself after bursting free from the webbing, Peter dodges it seamlessly. His right wrist sparks a red glow before connecting a jaw-breaking spinning uppercut onto the demonic arachnid that completely clears his flames. "THE SPIDERSTONE!" He roared, right as Kaine is sent crashing high into a wall.
All his friends just could not believe what they had witnessed. Spider-Man overpowered Ghost Tarantula with one spectacular move. All of them are left slack-jawed, with Viridi exclaiming, "W-W-W-W-What did he just do? All that excess energy from Kaine…It's gone!"
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! YOU WEAKENED THE GHOST TARANTULA!" Jackal slams his hands on the console, just as flabbergasted as to how his enemy managed to wound his greatest creation.
"I just borrowed a page from the Divine Dragons playbook." Spidey quipped, before showing his friends the wrist device with the Spiderstone, "When they were suffering degeneration and going crazy, they had to seal their power inside stones. So, me and my new science pals made our own. Using ISO-8 with a sample of my blood."
Tiki giggles, "To think my joke would become a reality. You never cease to amaze me, Spi-Spi."
"You knew Scarlet was in trouble all along." Luna realized.
"What, you thought I was gonna sit out of this adventure while my little bro is suffering? I was the first one to find out about his inner demon. Kaine likes to piss me off, but he's still family. And a family of spiders always stick together. Just wish I finished in time before the city went to hell." Spidey explained himself, expressing guilt for the trouble Kaine and Jackal caused.
"It's not too late. Glad you could make it." Jaune smiled, cheering him up with a shoulder touch.
BGM End
BGM-Tekken 5 OST-Antares
Ghost Tarantula falls to the floor on all limbs looking furious at the Spider that hurt him. He lets out an infuriating roar that startles the heroes in striking fighting poses against him. "That didn't fix him?" Hummingbird wondered why his power hasn't been sealed by the Spiderstone.
"This Spiderstone is a prototype. It can only absorb so much energy." Spidey answered. "When this is over, bro, we're putting you on a diet." He teases his clone.
"I no longer need a brother! I'LL GRIND YOUR BONES TO DUST!" Ghost Tarantula snapped furiously.
"Just be careful not to swallow it." Spidey quipped.
"I have a plan to save him." Jaune told the Avenger.
"Does it involve pummeling?" Spidey joked.
"Lots of it, and you as bait."
"Glad you know I love being a target."
"Just follow my lead."
"Sure. Like I know what's been going on. But that won't stop me from taking responsibility and put an END to this!" Spidey declared, unleashing the full force of his azure X-Factor.
"GWWWAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGH!" Ghost Tarantula responds by activating his own dark X-Factor, hitting his full power at last. Once again, the Spider-Brothers face each other for an epic battle that will reshape their fate. Power and responsibility. Kaine and Peter. The answer for truth is ready to be unleashed.
BGM End
Meanwhile, in the Inferno Comet…
"Hurry up. Mephisto and Ogre must be at the heart of this comet." Shadow commands his team that consists of Jin Kazama, Xiaoyu, Heihachi, Doctor Strange, Angel, Ghost Rider, Dante, and the rest of Team Dark.
These Midnight Sons have been showing no mercy to the demons impeding their path to the Inferno Comet's depths. So many open caves for them to travel through. Lots of lava rivers they must be careful to traverse over. This is a Hell born from alien technology enhanced with demonic magic. Its best is yet to punish these dimensional heroes that are well-experienced in combating darkness. This could all change in an instant.
A large gate opens just as the Midnight Sons run through it to enter a foreboding room. "Everything here looks the same. You sure we're going the right way?" Dante jokes about this comet lacking in creativity.
"No doubt." Shadow assured him.
BGM-Project X Zone 2 OST- Opening Intro ~ Massive Mix (Tekken Tag Tournament)
Just then, a familiar figure first noticed by Jin prompts the crew to halt their progress. It's Unknown again, looking as emotionless as ever, which no longer bothers anyone anymore. "It's her!" Jin announced grimly.
"Unknown." Doctor Strange said.
"Again? Why are you still bothering us? Stop it." Xiaoyu expresses her annoyance at her constant interference in their missions.
"…Beware…Ogre…Power…beyond…True…" Unknown suddenly speaks to warn them of what lies ahead.
"What?! She's never spoken a word up till now…" Jin remarked in shock at her voice.
"…Devil…Chaos…Spider…together…" Unknown said cryptically.
"Are you referring to me and Kazama and Scarlet Spider? What do you want from us?" Shadow questioned her.
"She's been guiding us all this time. Bringing us together to grow stronger for this fight against Mephisto." Jin noted. Pausing for a moment to ponder both her words and his own, he then solemnly announces to, "…Shadow. You lead the others ahead. I must settle things with her."
"You sure about this?" Angel questioned his decision.
"Yes. I must test how much stronger I've gotten." Jin responded.
"Then you should bother me for a match. I'm more than happy to crush you." Heihachi snarked.
"…Hei…ha…chi…" Unknown said, revealing her familiarity with the Iron Fist King.
Annoyed, Heihachi scoffs, "You know, do what you like. I'll kill you AFTER you send her back to the underworld."
"Catch up once you're done." Shadow told the Fatal Lightning.
"Understood." Jin nodded.
"Know I'll be rooting for you." Xiaoyu told her love interest, before everyone but Jin leave to continue hunting down Mephisto.
BGM-Super Smash Bros. Ultimate OST-Landscape Under the Ghost-Kaminano
Left in the battle arena is the Kazama Son and the woman that resembles his late mother. Throughout this Hell Mission, Unknown has maintained her position as a mysterious obstacle. Neither friend nor foe, acting based on her own agenda. Even now, it's hard to exactly grasp her character as Jin faces her for one last showdown. "…Whether you've been brought back from the dead or from another world doesn't matter anymore. I'm glad we get to share a moment. Please, spar with me…" He says whilst striking his fighting stance, "One last time."
"…Jin…" Unknown said, before assuming the Kazama fighting stance.
Jin attacks first, launching a flurry of punches that pushes back the blockative Unknown. She retaliates with her Getsukankyaku kick that her opponent crouches under using his Mental Awareness stance that allows him to unleash his Joudan Tsukiage Niren counter, pushing back the demonic woman. Unknown begins showing an emotion: A proud smile of his perfect counter. Jin continues his fierce assault with his Leaping Side Kick that is caught by Unknown's Falling Rain throw. The dark warrior follows up with her Wheel Kick Renchu – Sho, knocking back the Fatal Lightning before forcing him to evade her erupting slime spikes. Jin remains on the defensive while running toward his enemy, smashing through some spikes with his electric blasts. He catches then throws one broken spike to catch Unknown off-guard for his raging combo, striking her with a right punch that is followed up by a fast jabbing flurry before sending her flying with a powerful Median Line Destruction.
Countering any opponent's size and strength with surprise and technique. That is what Jin learned from his mother. Unknown knows of that lesson too as she immobilizes his legs with her slime for her own special attack. Two spikes erupt in succession to knock Jin into a whirlwind whilst she summons a massive Mizuchi Claw that then slams him hard to the ground. Jin struggles to stand through his severe injuries, then notices Unknown healing herself with a breathing technique that only practitioners of the Kazama Style can do. Reminding him of his training that prompts Jin to follow her example to regain his calm composure.
Unknown gets serious, conjuring another Mizuchi Claw that goes to punch him across the room. Jin counters this by adopting a new stance that symbolizes his newfound control over his Devil and destiny. The Omen Stance. His third eye and devil tattoos manifest just as he throws a powerful electrical punch that obliterates the Mizuchi Claw. His devil wings briefly emerge to gift him a lightning-fast dash in order to strike Unknown with a Dragon Uppercut, a Mishima move that he allows himself to use only through Omen. The Omen hits keep on coming, from his Laser Cannon to his own style of the Spinning Demon that knocks the lady down. Mere seconds later, Unknown gets back up using her Moon Scent Renchu – Raku, knocking Jin down and nearly impaling him with raining spikes. Jin destroys the unavoidable ones with his Devil Beam, then beams Unknown into paralysis for the finishing blow.
"This is it!" Jin announced, readying his Kazama Style 6 Hit Combo. This Devil-infused Kazama technique proceeds to overpower Unknown. Utterly. Until she loses all strength to stand up. Definitive proof that Jin has surpassed this mystery warrior.
BGM End
After her defeat, Unknown falls unconscious, only for Jin to catch her in his arms. He maintains his silence while watching her dark power evaporate as purple smoke. Her form then changes into a human, one wearing a white sleeveless jumpsuit with black crow designs and a dark blue shawl along the right shoulder. Jin's sad eyes say all. This is his mother he's holding. The Unknown warrior that has been testing him all this time. Jun Kazama.
Her time in this world is almost up. But before leaving, Jun awakens with the strength to tell her son this, "…Go…Our worlds…is in…your…ha…nds…" With a proud smile on her face, Jun dematerializes into light, leaving Jin alone in the darkness of Inferno Comet.
Contemplative for a short while, Jin was feeling anguish until his love for his mother suppresses it for him to respond with, "…Don't worry. I'll make sure you never need to come back again." Jin then leaves to catch up with Shadow's group with a sombering look. He still doesn't know if that was his revived mother that he just killed or her counterpart from another dimension that sensed he needed help. Like Jin said before, it doesn't matter anymore. He got to see his mom.
Back at Roxxon Tower…
BGM-Marvel's Spider-Man 2 OST-Fighting Back
"Catch me if you can, little bro!" Spider-Man taunted his corrupted clone that is roaring for his demise.
The Spider-Brothers are still in the Jackal's laboratory testing their acrobatic skills, empowered by the full power of their X-Factors, against each other in the most tragic sibling brawl of the year. Spidey is bouncing around the massive chamber, with Ghost Tarantula in hot pursuit. Kaine is so lost in his berserker rage that he doesn't see his brother leading him to be smacked into a wall by Nora's hammer. Spidey takes quick advantage of his stunned state to pummel and further drain him of his power using the Spiderstone before his claw swipe forces him to backflip away. The Shadow Arachnid tries web-pulling him back for more punishment but was stopped by Jaune cleaving the webline, giving both him and Peter a quick breather.
"Stay in position!" Jaune ordered everyone to follow his plan.
Tarantula's raging flames pushes the two back, retaliated by Spidey goading him into another focused rampage with web shots to the face. The Webhead retreats to a wall just before Knuckles intercepts the lunging Man-Spider with a brutal punch, followed by blitzing strikes from everyone else except Tiki, Hummingbird, and Viridi. The plan takes advantage of Kaine's undying hatred for Spider-Man, making him blind to other nuisances but his brother. While he's distracted, others attack with their full strength, while the Spiderstone drains him wirelessly. Whenever Tarantula does notice and overpowers the nuisances, the divine duo of Viridi and Dragon Tiki lend their support to turn back the tide since their holy power are perfect counter for his hellish strength. All while Hummingbird lends a hand with her telepathy from a safe distance, doing whatever she can to assist Kaine retake control of his body. Sensing his spirit putting up a ferocious fight with the Spirit of Vengeance.
"Time for that fight, you spider-dressed bastard!" Naoto Kurogane roared, tapping into his white-haired form that empowers his Divine Smasher punch.
The roaring Ghost Tarantula collides his fiery punch with his bloody attack, overpowering Kurogane after a heated clash. "Six eyes over here!" Spidey shouted, taunting his clone into his eyes being webbed then web-throwing him into a hallway outside the lab.
"You're in the way, Parker!" Ghost Tarantula snarled, spitting out a massive fireball that burns the entire corridor after Peter dodges it. "ALWAYS in the way!" The Spiders clash spectacular fisticuffs that Kaine wins by impaling Peter with a fiery claw that lifts him up for his whole body to be ignited. "Always UPSTAGING my purpose!" Then he smashes his head into an electrical panel swiftly before slamming him into the floor just so his brutal stomps can push him closer to death's door. "This is it! After I kill you, I will be complete! My suffering will end and my vengeance will succeed where your justice has failed!" He declares his intention to take full control of Kaine's body, whilst his spider-limbs ready to deliver the kill.
"How? By wiping out mankind?!" Spidey snarked, dodging the attack at the last second. "You're better than that!" He said, knocking him back with large web hands that deliver a double open palm strike.
"Enough mentoring me!" Kaine retorted, overpowering the trio of Pittoo, Jaune, and Noel after they tried to rush him. "You're the one that let the Convergence happen! YOU'RE the one that has killed our worlds!" He argued, before being frozen by Luna and being smashed out of the ice by Knuckles's wall-bouncing Spin Dash. Swiftly leading to the spinballing echidna being caught and used as Kaine's flaming bowling ball that knocks down all enemies except for Spider-Man.
"Maybe so! That's why I'm atoning too! That's why I'm trying to save you!" Spidey refuted, being assisted by Viridi's magic that immobilize his brother for his destructive spinkick to smash him into another room. One with pods containing all the Ogre and Jackal Clones.
"You're not better than me!" Tarantula snapped, bursting with flames that obliterate several clone pods.
"I'm not saying that! You're stronger than any demon, Kaine! Don't listen to it!" Spidey said, webbing up his uncontrollable brother to cool him off.
Creepily, Tarantula laughs, "MWAHAHAHA, and what? Listen to you? These weaklings?", mocking him while bursting free from his binds with ease.
"We grew STRONGER because of YOU! To help you fight your fears!" Pyrrha suddenly appears hovering in the air within an electromagnetic barrier, all thanks to her Cross Art.
More clone pods are magnetically ripped apart for Pyrrha to throw one at a time at Ghost Tarantula, who effortlessly smacks them away. This distracted him from Ren's Cross Art, showering his mind with psychic bullets that disorient him for Pyrrha's EM Beam to be effective. Then comes Nora using her own Cross Art, activating her Valkyrie Mode just in time to hammer her corrupted friend down several floors with outrageous thunderous power that annihilates all the remaining clone pods in the large room.
Spider-Man and Team NPR look down at the massive hole they made to see how far Kaine fell. What a sin they committed. Punishable by four spider-limbs erupting out of the hole to stab then drag them down into being devoured by a terrifying Man-Spider head made of hellflame. Binded by webbing in a hellish dimension, the four heroes are confronted by Ghost Tarantula claiming, "Power is everything! Responsibility is nothing! Nothing but misery!", before igniting his twin wrist stingers.
"It DOESN'T have to be that way!" Ren argued, but Kaine was not listening.
The Corrupted Clone hits them all with a roaring cross slash, exploding them out of his realm and sending them flying upwards through an elevator shaft at Roxxon Tower. "Anyone who outshines my independence into triviality will suffer for their arrogance!" Tarantula chases them down, specifically climbing towards Peter.
Suddenly, Dark Pit flies in for a brief clash with his bow-blades saying, "That's why rivalries are so fun to have! Inspires us to grow stronger until we surpass those idiots!", before kicking Kaine through an elevator door, causing him to slide backwards in a hallway and sense that Severa wants to duel him too.
"You have the responsibility to make your OWN choices in life! I became a mercenary instead of a pegasus knight like my mother! To stop the comparisons to her perfection! To grow into my own warrior! You can too!" Severa argued, managing to slice off his spider-limbs that will regenerate in time.
Tarantula roars at the mercenary, almost clawing her head off if it wasn't for Knuckles and Pittoo's double flying punch that smashes him back into Jackal's laboratory. Where Luna Snow awaits with her full strength, bombarding him with numerous ice blasts that end with her throw a large snowflake made from the combo of dark and light ice. It's a winter wonderland around the disoriented Ghost, struggling to control himself while saying, "Stop…Stop confusing me! Should've never let any of you into my life!", before exploding with hellwebbing that snares all the heroes that have regrouped in the lab.
"I know you don't mean that!" Nora retorted.
Ghost then goes on a vengeful frenzy on all his ensnared enemies. Exploding into a blur of motion that beats down everyone, from the usage of his vicious claws to his destructive hellfire, all while ranting about his inner feelings, "All I wanted was to protect a brother! Whether it was Parker or Reilly! Then I tried to protect you punks! But the world keeps thinking that I'M the problem. YOU ALL think I'm nothing but a loser! Because I'm just a FAKE! Well, the punishment I will give this world will be MORE than real!"
One final destructive stomp scatter everyone, with Spidey managing to bounce off a wall to grind on Kaine's morphing spear arm to paralyze him with electric webbing in time to smash him away. He checks his Spiderstone and notices it has reached its limit of how much spirit energy it can absorb. "Spiderstone's full, and he's still giving us a run for our money! For someone who has given up on life, he sure remains stubborn." Spidey joked.
"Give me the Stone!" Jaune gestured to him, having a risky idea in mind.
Meanwhile, Pittoo uses his Electroshock Arm to uppercut Tarantula into the air where he's about to be hit by Noel's missile. Tarantula catches it and throws it down at his two fellow clones, knocking them back while he lands on a web net. "I was born hatred incarnate that survived Hell itself. This is my fate. This world will be baptized by my undying fury!" Ghost then rockets himself as a flaming drill that targets the shocked Pittoo, only for Noel to shield him with her guns, using all her strength to just barely repel the giant arachnid.
BGM End
"I was like that too, Kaine. A piece of me is still that. Let me show you! Lux Sanctus…Summoning!" Noel announced with a determined glare.
BGM-BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma OST-Sword of Doom II
Summoned behind Noel Vermillion is a large broadsword that then activates, fusing with her to form mechanized armor with a short red necktie and bladed legs alongside eight floating swords. Making her look very similar to Nu-13, much to Spider-Man's surprise, "The heck…? Noel?"
"So this is Mu-12. Kusanagi. Sword of the Godslayer." Naoto commented, realizing through his own shock that this is the true form Noel talked about at the Tricarrier.
"Didn't know we had another artificial human in the lab! Doubt you can surpass mine!" Jackal grinned, still watching this climactic fight from the safety of his control room.
Her little transformation doesn't scare Ghost Tarantula one bit. Just goads him into focusing his berserker rage on her. His quick claw strikes clash with her floating blades, pressuring Mu-12 into jumping back and telling Kaine, "You say you want to protect your friends, and here you are trying to kill them!" Multiple floating drones are summoned by her. Her Steins Gunner, blasting Kaine down when he tried pouncing her. "My hatred nearly destroyed my friends, and it was my love for them that helped me control this power!" More beams are fired, only for Ghost to warp himself behind Mu and nearly claw her head off, popping out a stinger immediately after to collide with her armblade. "I told you all this before, I'm JUST like you! It doesn't matter what people think of us! Just the opposite!" She then pushes him back, firing a laser above her head that misses but does bounce around her tricky Steins to hit him. "We can be hope! We're PEOPLE! HUMAN BEINGS!" She shouted at him, trying her best to get him to listen.
Again, Ghost Tarantula refuses to listen to anyone but his insatiable hunger for destruction that guides him into destroying the Steins that consume him within their explosion. That was reckless. Or so Noel thought, as suddenly her body is swamped with spiders that terrify her into losing her guard right before Kaine attacks her with a leaping claw swipe. "I AM DEATH! YOU ARE PREY!" He retorted, looking demonically terrifying.
"Life will never be perfect! You think YOUR death will make everyone happy? I know you're hurting, Kaine, but you're better than this!" Mu believed, getting up from that last blow with little trouble.
"I…know…but…" Kaine clenches onto his head and struggles to suppress all the rage he has accumulated since his tragic creation. His power is growing uncontrollable. His head is flinging wildly as a massive fiery wave spews from his mouth, obliterating everything in its path and nearly killing his friends that are struggling to survive. Even obscuring Ghost himself to display him as nothing more than a monstrous beast-like shadow.
Mu-12 decides to end his rampage with her ultimate move: Sword of the Godslayer. She rises to the air gathering her eight swords for the finishing blow but needs time. That's where Spider-Man comes in to try and talk some sense into his brother, "Listen to me, Kaine! People keep calling you a monster! If that's true, then you're MY monster! Birthed from the darkness in my own psyche! You're right that I caused you so much suffering. Look at it one way and Ben Reilly was a reflection of my best, while you were a shadow of my worst. But life doesn't work that way. PEOPLE don't work that way. Noel's right! No matter how much you deny it, you're HUMAN! Every bit as human as I am! As Jaune and Aracely and everyone else!"
"SHUT UP!" Kaine retorted, nearly burning him alive before returning to his excruciating headaches.
"It was your humanity that drove you to commit unspeakable acts. And that same humanity drove you to seek ATONEMENT for them. Redemption's not something you earn by yourself. Jackal may be right that tonight is your opportunity. To grow beyond what you've been and embrace a new future. You're not the ONLY one that's made mistakes. Everyone in this room has made at least one! You're not the only one that lost a Ben! For all the good I've done as Spider-Man, there's not a day that goes by I don't live with that guilt. Not a day. But the thing about life is…It just keeps going. And WE keep going, if we've got the courage. And I know YOU'VE got the courage, Kaine. Because I gave it to you. What you do with that courage is up to YOU." Spidey finished with the encouraging words.
"Only YOU can save yourself, Kaine!" Mu proclaimed, merging her swords to form an enormous one brimming with energy.
BGM End
From a fierce battle cry, Mu swings her ultimate attack down on Ghost Tarantula. A direct hit emphasized by the massive explosion that blows away most of the heroes. Even cracking Jackal's glass protection, causing him to flinch with worry that his plans may be faltering. Mu descends to Spider-Man's side as they see what has become of Kaine. The smoke clears, just to reveal Ghost Tarantula covered in critical injuries yet still standing somewhat. "But…I am…the Tarantula of…Vengeance…!" He said, right before collapsing onto all four limbs and struggling to stay conscious.
Seeing him in that state triggers a concerned emotion within Hummingbird. She then rushes to confront her corrupted hero face-to-face. All by herself, which is strongly argued against by Knuckles, "Hummingbird, stay back! It's too dangerous! He's already…!"
"No, he's not!" Hummingbird snapped, shocking the echidna with this attitude. "Kaine…Kaine just lost! My Champion would never give up so soon! No true hero would!" She expressed her undying faith in Scarlet Spider.
"You really care for him that much…?" Knuckles frowned empathetically.
BGM-Namco X Capcom OST-Sakura
Hearing Aracely's innocent voice seem to be giving Kaine the strength to stand back up again for another round in his weakened state. His threatening glare and growl doesn't intimidate his protégé at all. Just encourages her to remain fearless and assume her fighting stance. "That's why…Kaine! I'll open your eyes myself! This is my best shot!" Hummingbird vowed.
Ghost Tarantula launches the first move, throwing a claw swipe that Hummingbird dodges. The psychic fighter reminds herself of her training with Knuckles at the Arc House and rushes down her opponent with impressive quick strikes, ending the combo by thrusting both her palms into his chest in order to blast him back with psychic energy. A little girl overpowering him enrages Ghost into spitting acid that she avoids then spits a fireball that was only countered by the surprise intervention of Dragon Tiki.
"Tiki!" Hummingbird exclaimed.
"Let's save him together!" Dragon Tiki declared.
Working together to save the man they love, Hummingbird begins charging up a ball of psychic energy. Tiki buys her time by overwhelming Ghost Tarantula with the full force of her holy breath. Ghost tries fighting against her power but it was too late as Hummingbird finished charging up her power, amassing a massive psychic ball that impresses the spectators. With all her strength, Aracely throws it at her corrupted mentor and watch it explode right on his face.
BGM End
BGM-Namco X Capcom OST-Enveloping Dark Clouds
Tiki returns to her human form, looking as exhausted as Hummingbird beside her. They threw their best at Ghost Tarantula and hope that did him in. They were dead wrong as they could do nothing but watch him lunge out of the smoke roaring, "GRAAAAAAAWWWWR!", with berserker fury and a flaming stinger ready to kill his family. But out of nowhere is Jaune coming to their defense. Using his own body to take the hit instead. Horrifying all his friends with THIS selfless act. Most definitely Pyrrha.
"JAAAAAAUNE!" Pyrrha yelled.
His Aura is shattered. Blood coughing out of his mouth. And yet Jaune remains strong. Giving his corrupted friend a cocky chuckle, "…Didn't sting at all…"
"Why won't you die!? WHY!?" Ghost questioned whilst furiously pulling his stinger out of his body. Completely oblivious to the Spiderstone bracelet that Jaune secretly equipped to his arm.
BGM End
BGM-Project X Zone 2 OST- Heartwarming Feelings (Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie)
Jaune pants, "You look pathetic…", while his frustration prompts him into unsheathing his adamantium sword. The weapon that Kaine upgraded for him out of the goodness of his heart. "This Spirit of Vengeance sucks. Don't let that crap tell YOU what to do!" He scowled. His yellow Aura begins to manifest despite its earlier depletion. More than that, it's becoming stronger than ever. Amplifying itself to impressive heights that both heal his wound and strengthen his sword. "You won't be free with how you are now! Show everyone your Spirit Control!" He taunted him confidently.
Seeing Jaune like this is reminding Kaine of Ben Reilly. In fact, his eyes seem to have caught a glimpse of his spirit within Jaune. "Reilly?" Kaine exclaimed, struck with fear by that vision which quickly transforms into all-consuming rage. "…DIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!" He then explodes with overwhelming flames that wrap around him.
This is all the power they can muster. Jaune Arc and Ghost Tarantula. Facing off for one last clash. Both charging at the other. Both intending to finish this in one shot. Ghost launches the first attack, his hellish scarlet fire seamlessly turning into a mystical emerald because of his unconscious tapping into his Spiderstone. "SPIRIT CONTROL!" He roared, swinging his stinger down at the huntsman leader.
"HRAAAAAAAAARRRH!" Jaune roared, deflecting it with a mighty sword swing before thrusting it straight into Ghost's raging heart.
"GWOOOOAH! GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOH…!" Ghost expressed his defeat with an ear-deafening scream of sheer agony.
Jaune's Aura-amplifying attack was just enough to finally put Ghost Tarantula down for the count. The Tarantula of Vengeance falls flat on the ground, the flames on his skullhead dispersing upon impact. Everyone in the lab was left amazed by Jaune's feat. Some having a comment to express it. "Wh…What was that power? It was awesome!" Mu-12 said.
"Did he…do it?" Knuckles wondered.
"T-That move…!? By me, that may have reached Kaine's heart…!" Viridi exclaimed.
"About time you awakened your Semblance." Nora smiles proudly at her leader. Making Jaune realize that he has awakened the power to amplify his own Aura. An Aura Amp.
Spider-Man uses this victorious moment to scan Kaine with his lenses. To confirm if he's alive or not. What he discovers doesn't sit well with him, "His life readings are…Were you planning to kill him all along? Jaune!?"
Jaune just responds with a sombering look. "No way! Kaine!" Hummingbird exclaimed with tears that fear her hero died.
But then, to the shock of heroes and villain alike, a miracle happens. "UUUUAAAAAARRGGH…!" Ghost Tarantula revives just to let out a painful roar. The darkness that has consumed his flesh is being burned away by Spirit Control. Light returns Kaine to his Scarlet Spider costume, leaving him on a knee and panting, "Uhhh…Uhhh…Arc…", with his original human voice.
"Kaine! It's me, Jaune! Have you snapped out of it?" The concerned Jaune asked him.
"W-What have I…been…?" Scarlet Spider wondered weakly.
Naoto gasps, "His numbers…"
"His Spirit of Vengeance has been completely suppressed!" Viridi announced, much to her own shock.
"WHAT THE HELL!? He regained his sanity?! IMPOSSIBLE! He was all but consumed by the Ghost Tarantula!" Jackal expressed his surprise with a frustrated slam on his console.
"Well done, Jaune. Had me worried for a sec. Looks like things didn't go your way after all, Warren." Spidey said.
"Shut your mouth! You think I didn't prepare a contingency?" Jackal retorted, furiously slamming on a button. Emerging from a hidden door is an Ogre Clone, but something about this one is different from the others. "I made this Clone as powerful as the one that kicked his ass at Casino Street! Devour that failure's soul!" He ordered the alien demon.
The Ogre Clone complies by preparing his Hell Inferno move. The same fiery technique that once defeated Scarlet Spider. "You'll never touch his soul again!" Dark Pit argued fiercely.
"L-Look out! Kaine!" Luna Snow warned her former enemy.
BGM End
BGM-BlazBlue: Alter Memory OST-Rebellion
Kaine heard her as he struggles through the pain to stand and face the Ogre Clone that just finished equipping his flaming armor. The Toshin Copy wastes no time rocketing for the killing blow, but Kaine has other plans for him. In an instant, his fist is infused with green energy, and Scarlet Spider lets out a loud battle cry alongside a punch to the alien's midsection, vanquishing his flames in a blink of an eye. The Ogre Clone gasps for air before his disintegration leaves behind nothing except for several souls that fly off to their original bodies.
"Spirit Control…" Jaune uttered, left amazed by his friend's mastered power.
"He freed all the souls that Ogre absorbed!" Tiki commented.
"This shouldn't be happening…" Jackal remarked with stunning disbelief at his son's accomplishment. "You're nothing but a failed prototype that sucks at being good or evil! Couldn't do what I say or save anyone! How can an insignificant bug like YOU dominate the powers of Hell?!" He questioned angrily.
In response, Kaine takes off his mask to glare at his creator saying, "My name is Kaine Parker! The Scarlet Spider who has overcome his past! I don't fight for justice and adhere to no vengeance! I will take you down, in my OWN way!", which enrages Warren to no end.
"Kaine!" Hummingbird said, happy to see him back to his old self.
"I'm so sorry. I slept far too long…Let myself be at the mercy of my anger, and my hatred. Pretty lame, huh?" Scarlet apologized, feeling sincere guilt for all the trouble he put his friends through.
Hummingbird laughs, "I knew you'd come through. Just had to believe your strength was for real."
"Shouldering the immoral is what made you strong. Leading you to the man I love today. And to savor your own future." Tiki smiled. Then surprises her lover with a tearful hug, sobbing, "Thank you…for keeping your promise.", reminding him of the vow he made to return to her at Casino Street Zone.
Deeply moved by her feelings, Kaine gives her a warm smile that calms her, "You're welcome. Thank you, Hummingbird. Tiki." Then gives a grateful look at his friends and brother, "Oh, and you guys too."
"No need for the thanks, Kaine. We have a city to save, y'know?" Jaune informed him.
"Right. Let's finish this, punks!" Kaine declared with new resolve upon putting his mask back on.
"You dare to defy ME?! The one who created you and risked his own soul to bring you back to life?!" Jackal vented his frustration at Kaine breaking free from his control once again. "Well, have it your way, boy! I'll see to it Mephisto burns your soul to oblivion!" He vowed before fleeing the control room.
"Wait! Warren!" Scarlet Spider crashes himself through the cracked glass to enter the control room, but it was too late as Warren is long gone. "No clone will save you from my wrath this time! We're settling this tonight!" He sworn with a scowl.
BGM End
"Forget about him for now. Shut down this Generator." Spider-Man ordered his clone.
Scarlet complies by interacting with the control console to find a way to reverse what the Hell Generator did to his city. "No good! He locked down the system! Can't even find the emergency shutdown!" He announced, before asking his former rival for help, "Luna, can you try and freeze the thing?"
Luna fires a full-powered ice beam at the Hell Generator but it did nothing. "I can't! Feels like something's blocking me." She tried.
"Mephisto, that trickster. His magic's all over this thing. Won't be able to return the city to normal unless we beat him." Viridi scowled, claiming the key to fix everything is Mephisto's defeat.
"Then let's reunite with the others at the Inferno Comet. They'll need all the help they can get." Knuckles suggested, prompting Viridi to teleport the whole group out of Roxxon Tower.
Back at the Inferno Comet…
Mephisto is sitting in his specialized throne room observing the progress of his invasion with his magic projections. Hearing human screams just inspire a yawn from the Devil King before joking, "Watching all these humans flee in terror can only be so amusing. I should've installed a casino or…"
Then to his humorous surprise, the door to his chamber is broken apart by Shadow the Hedgehog. He and his team, minus Jin Kazama, have finally arrived to confront the Hell Lord for one last battle. "Well, well, you made it. Honestly, I'm amazed. Gotta give you props for surviving this far." Mephisto smiles at the Midnight Sons.
"Go back to the depths where you belong, Mephisto! Your tyranny ends tonight!" Shadow threatened him.
"You have gone through such unusual lengths for this invasion. The Convergence has weakened you, Hell Lord." Doctor Strange claimed.
"Hmm, maybe a little. But your deaths will make it ALL worth it." Mephisto grinned forebodingly, right as he snaps his fingers.
BGM-Tekken: Bloodline OST-Ogre
Appearing in midair above the heroes is Ogre Prime glaring down at them. The heroes ready themselves for battle, sensing something is different about him. His humanoid body begins to glow an ominous green, all thanks to the countless souls this invasion has allowed him to absorb. He looks to be struggling to contain the power and unleashes a frightening, "AAAAAAARRRRRRRGH!", alongside an explosion of energy that the heroes are struggling to defend themselves against.
"Look out!" Xiaoyu gasped just before the green light consumes them all.
A moment later, everyone found themselves groaning and on the floor in pain from the light that smacked them down. Shadow recovers first on his feet to glare at the monster responsible, now in a transformed state. His right arm has been replaced with hissing snakes. His feet looking more demonic than ever. Horns have grown out of his head. The eyes on his monstrous face open up with a terrifying glow, all while the massive True Ogre hovers above all the heroes thanks to his new wings.
"T-This is…?" Rouge the Bat commented with a horrified look on her face.
"Ogre's true form!" Heihachi Mishima stated sternly.
"A minor inconvenience." Shadow scoffed, unimpressed by his transformation under the belief his ultimate power can crush both him and Mephisto at once.
"The appetizers are finished! Time for the main dish! HUMANITY!" Mephisto laughed manically, prompting True Ogre to roar monstrously at the Midnight Sons that are now truly ready for this final battle against Hell.
BGM End
BGM-Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 OST-Gallery
KFX Here: Scarlet Spider has returned in time for the final battle against Mephisto! Congratulations to Jaune for finally awakening his Semblance. Funny how in the original show it took Weiss nearly dying to unlock his, whereas here it was through his promise to kill Kaine. Both times involved someone being stabbed, how about that. Don't think I'll give him a Cross Art in this story, but if I ever do, what do you guys think it should be? It has to be based on any of Jaune's crossover appearances in other media or heroes/villains from either Sega or Marvel.
SuperJoeyF721: Yeah, they were only called Midnight Suns in the video game and that one time in the comics to promote said game. Every other time it was just Midnight Sons.
conortristan: Considering other stories like Family Business and The P.H.A.N.T.O.M. Menace, they might.
Next Time: Three Against the Darkness! The Ultimate Power beyond Justice and Vengeance!
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BGM End