= Chapter 179. Battle on Fire =
Commentary on Chapter 179. Battle in the Fire If anyone would like to support your favourite and invaluable author with deeds rather than words (though I appreciate comments with your detailed opinion no less), you are welcome to do so: 5469980470822129 - Sber 19 December, 2014.
A few hours later.
Washington, DC.
Life went on as usual. Tourists were taking pictures of the sights, tour guides were giving tours, children were enjoying themselves.
Until the explosions rang out.
Bombs planted in a few dozen particularly crowded places detonated.
In seconds, spreading an artificial poison, killing all people in minutes, regardless of their sex or age.
* At the same time.
Underworld.
Peter Parker.
- Phafff, kha-kha," I cough loudly and try to catch my breath, dropping to one knee.
- I should have warned you, the air here is heavy with acrid sulphur," Victor's deep voice rang out. - My mistake, I apologise.
- It's okay," I continued coughing, slowly getting used to the local air. - At least the atmosphere is breathable," I get to my feet, "and yet I thought the filter in my mask should have handled this better.
- Even my systems can barely handle it," the Latverian raised his palm. - Use magic, it'll get easier.
I'm taking the advice to let the core energy flow through me, and it's actually getting easier to breathe.
- He's already waiting for us, I'm sure," Victor said seriously, standing beside me. - No pity and don't hold back, we won't be able to kill him here anyway.
- Then what is our task?
- To hold him long enough to free my mother.
- Don't worry, Viktor, I've got a few surprises in store for Mephisto," I touched the medallion with the two Infinity Stones and channelled sparks of cosmic power through my fingers.
- Good," Doom nodded. - Come on, we'll meet his armada soon.
Oh, how disappointing that sounds...
Immediately I transform the suit, no longer hiding my space power.
- What? I left something out, too," I explain when Victor stops and stares at me dumbly. - If your instruments are glitchy, I can turn the background down a little.
- There's nothing wrong with the tech," Doom said, waving his cloak in a pathetic manner, "let's go.
I shrugged and took off, following the Latverian smoothly through the air.
I was impressed by the surrounding scenery, everything like a stereotypical Hell: rivers of lava, red rock, smoke and sulphur, horrible growling and shrieking sounds from different directions.
It's textbook.
It's my gut kicking in, snapping me out of my reverie.
- Doom, attack!
A large group of natural devils appear from behind a nearby hill, accompanied by gaunt, skinned reptiles.
- Demons! - shouted Victor
Yeah, I should have known.
- I'll take over!
I make a loop in the air and release beams of powerful whitish-golden energy from the palms of my hands.
The volleys hit the screaming creatures. Some are incinerated on the spot. Some are content to have their limbs torn off...
I continue to press with unstoppable energy.
But the enemy grows larger and larger.
The horned freaks are joined by skeletons in armour and swords.
It's like a fantasy.
That's right.
- Hold them back! - shouted Victor and took off with the help of jet engines in the boots of the armour.
- What do you think I'm doing?!
Reinforcing the onslaught.
There really are a lot of freaks... I'm even getting tired.
They must have come from all over Hell, without irony.
There's got to be a "shh, shh, shh, shh" sound.
Wow, you really keep the jokes coming...
I'm distracted from sawing up the demonoids in the best Dumgai style, only without guns or at least knives, by the bright turquoise flash of a powerful beam.
- I'M HERE, MEPHISTO, COME OUT AND FIGHT ME IN THE NAME OF THE ANCIENT LAW! - shouted the Latverian tyrant furiously.
Transparent waves rushed from him in all directions. It was like a visible sound...
As if on command, all the demons stopped attacking and turned to one side.
Slowly I plan towards Vic.
- It's spectacular," I landed. - Couldn't you do it right away?
- It takes time to cast a spell," the iron mask turned towards me. - Besides, it was interesting how strong you are in this image... Impressive.
- Yeah, cool, thanks," I put my palms behind my neck. - What now?
- Now you die," a raspy voice echoed, spreading through the space where the mockery played. - Everybody back, I'll take it from here.
We turn round and see Lord Hell walking towards us, grinning ear to ear.
And his monstrous horde parting.
- And again on this day," the red-eyed man spread his hands apart. - You're annoyingly punctual, Victor. And too stubborn.
- Never. As long as I breathe, I'll never give up trying," Doom clenched his palm into a fist. - But today is the last time.
- Indeed," the demon tilted his head slightly, shifting his gaze to me. - Not alone. Was the cocky and proud dictator able to break himself? Ask for help? And from whom," Mephisto pointed in my direction with his clawed stump. - Amazing, Impressive, Sensational Grandiose... How many other definitions apply to you, Spider?
- Five or six, or twenty," I knead my hands. - I bet you've been looking forward to a rematch, huh?
- One-on-one would be preferable... but it's not too late. I just have to deal with this mama's boy!
At that very second, flames exploded near us, separating me and my partner.
- Victor!
- Attack, servants! - after Mephisto's shout, the deafening roar of the demons erased all extraneous sounds for me.
Hordes of monsters bent on destroying me.
We have to get to Doom.
- You think I'm afraid of you?! - The energy in my hands is firing. - Come on, you bastards!
The scorching rays of cosmic power never fail me.
But once I kill one, five more take its place.
The demons climb over the corpses of their comrades, trying to climb the mountain that's already piled up from the bodies of the dead.
- Pheeyap," an energy volley halves the devil that managed to scoop up my sock with its claws.
If this keeps up, they're going to be overwhelmed by numbers...
So we're not holding back...
I form bioelectricity, feeding it into the magic discs, while lifting the corpses with telekinesis.
Meanwhile, the branching green lightning bolts striking the sky and the sensation of a violent flow of powerful energy inform me that Vic is also having fun.
Raj...
From within, Bearer, already intensifying.
I can feel the molecules of symbiotic material embedding themselves in my ear buds, enhancing my hearing to unprecedented limits.
- Is that all you've learnt over the years?! - comes a cackling laugh. - It's pathetic!
Through the hordes of demons, I catch a glimpse of the edge of the green cloak.
Snap.
There it is...
- PFAAAAAAAAAAAA!
The Latverian's loud war cry sobered me up.
Gotta help.
- Okay, time to do something more than just restrain you...
A greenish haze begins to cover my eyes.
- RAAAARGH! - I land with a thud, shattering the granite ground.
I swoop down on the skeletons and devils, turning them to dust with my blows, not forgetting the rest of my powers.
The corpses lifted by telekinesis crash into their still-living counterparts.
Magical volleys like knots tie bioelectricity together, stitching through black-armoured shards or flying infernal lizards.
Mephisto and Doom, I see them.
Need more...
I slide my hand over the medallion and release the Mind Stone, which immediately makes contact with my forehead.
It stings a little, even through the mask...
- Tear each other apart! - I shout the order, using pheromones and amplifying them with a telepathic message infused with the Mind Stone's energy.
Capillaries burst from the exertion, and I feel blood running down my jaw.
If it were possible to pick out half of the untold river of demon hordes, I'd say that half of them rushed to the Infernals, who didn't get my order.
Although maybe I'm already hallucinating from the mental strain?
In any case, taking advantage of the commotion, I rush to the place where the main battle of this company is going on, scattering demons along the way, not distinguishing between "mine" and the others.
I climb the hill, where lava veins are spreading, and watch the battle of incredible power.
Even the cosmic energy flutters respectfully.
Mephisto is understandable: an ancient Lord of Hell who has amassed an incalculable number of souls.
But here's Doom... There's a reason he was my favourite non-spider Marvel villain.
This confrontation, awesome.
The demon has grown in size, to about the height of a five-story building, and a surging Victor holds him back with volleys of azure energy lightning bolts.
David and Goliath, heh.
- Futile endeavour! - The demon creates a dozen black spears out of thin air, seemingly made of charred bone. - DIE!
The projectiles rush in, but the Latverian creates a protective field, against which they shatter.
Vic, however, is feeling less and less energy.
Lord Ada continues the onslaught of spears colliding with the sphere.
- PHAAAAARGH!
Eventually the scholar-mage is thrown back.
- I've got him," I fly up and intercept Victor. - He's strong," I said, returning to the hill.
- He always has been," Vic whispered, grabbing the unravelling cloak. - But you're right. Something's wrong, he seems... Fiercer.
- Mephisto and fiercer? Isn't he a paragon of that condition?
- No, usually he's more sarcastic, mocking, but now...
- It's like he's not playing around, he's trying to tear you apart?
- Exactly.
I exhale loudly, watching as the fifteen metre tall demon brushes aside the veil left by Doom's shield blast.
Perhaps my presence didn't play right into Vic's hands...
- So what now?
- I can't do it alone," the metal mask turned. - Thank you for containing the demons, such help is already invaluable... and I'll definitely question that artefact at your forehead, but I need it now," the Latverian grimaced. I didn't need to see his face to realise that, - help...
- Not another word," I finally unlocked the medallion. - I'll be direct, you wait for the right moment and strike. Together.
- What the-
- Just watch!
I'm taking off and heading for Mephisto.
- It's a thin thread for a spider, but it keeps on crawling," the red-eyed one sang mockingly. - You become stronger, you can fly... Good for you. But if I take away your Enigma powers, what then?
- I'd kick your arse like a spider," I slam my palm on my fist. - Just like last time. Not even the Ghost Rider shell could save you.
- Arrogant young man," the demon hissed. - At that moment you were nothing more than an interesting phenomenon, considered mould... And now you're an annoying snag sticking out of the soil of my beautiful garden," the Hell Lord's eyes glittered.
- So try to uproot me, if you have the guts!
I charge volleys of cosmic energy, which Mephisto covers with his cloak.
I intensify the onslaught until the demon begins to move backwards.
Millimetre by millimetre. But every second costs me a hail of sweat.
I rip out huge chunks of granite soil with my telekinesis.
The blood is flowing again. My head is buzzing, my eyes are blurry.
But I don't care.
- That's it? - the demon sneers.
- Your world, your kingdom," I said breathlessly. - Your rules. But you forget," I fly, shooting at the demon from different angles. - I don't need to defeat you, just ood... kha!
I lower my eyes and stare at the claws sticking out of my chest.
- A fitting finale," the Lord of Hell smirked, moving behind me. - And now Du-
But Mephisto didn't have time to finish.
The spider was enveloped in emerald green energy.
- I'm going to kick your arse like a spider," I slammed my palm into my fist. - Just like last time. Not even the Ghost Rider shell could save you," I shake my head. - Whoa!
- What happened? - Mephisto looked round.
- So it didn't work the first time," I clench and unclench my hands. - Let's try a new approach.
I grab the Time Stone and clasp it in my palms, surrounding myself and Mephisto with a twenty-by-twenty time dome.
- WHAT DID YOU DO!? - roared the demon.
- I evened the odds," I swallowed the lump in my throat.
Or prolonged the agony...
* Ibid.
Dr Doom.
Spider had a plan. He went after the demon. Without a second thought. Boldly. Unstoppable. Like a true hero.
Fearless.
Foolishly.
He said to wait. That I'd understand.
But such a foolish attack ended foolishly. With a demon's claws in his stomach.
But then the unspeakable happened.
An emerald energy flash.
And everything went back to before Mephisto's attack. It was as if the spider had rewound time itself.
- Amazing.
They collided again.
And the Spider would die again.
But for what?
Stop.
Activating the scanner in my glove.
Mephisto's energy... It's dissipating.
Isn't he just rewinding time?
- Waiting for the moment...
* Peter Parker.
- Pfha! - I grab the mask sharply and lift the fabric up to my nose, spitting back the blood. - Fuck it, let's do it again!
- I can feel that power," the demon snarled. - It won't break through. But you won't be able to do this for long. THIS IS MY WORLD! - The Lord of Hell waved his hands and hundreds of multi-metre granite-lava stakes erupted from the ground. - MY KINGDOM!
I close myself with energy shields, compacting myself as much as I can. But the pile of matter still throws me off.
- Fuck, Victor, can you hurry up! - I spit, screaming into the void.
- YOU'RE NOTHING IN HERE! - The demon continues its rampage, dumping everything on me.
- It may be a little heavy for me," I move away from the epicentre of the infernal power. - But not for him," I point my finger behind the demon's back.
- You really think I'll fall for such a cheap trick...
The demon didn't have time to finish.
Doom struck from behind with an azure weapon that looked like a spear. At least, judging by the tip sticking out of the Hell Lord's chest.
- What took you so long? - I wander over to my tyrannical partner, holding my side.
- Magical weaves," the Latverian raised his head, "and we should have waited for it to weaken.
As soon as Vic had finished speaking, Mephisto's giant figure turned to black smoke.
Doom started to fall, but I grabbed him and landed us on the hard ground, then sent the Infinity Stones into the amulet. Enough of them.
- What now? - Turning to Doom.
- Я... I don't.
However, our dialogue was interrupted.
- Congratulations," Mephisto said dryly, appearing in black smoke, but already in a humanoid, two-metre tall form. - You've won," the demon turned to Vic.
As soon as the Lord of Hell had finished speaking, a blinding white glow appeared from above.
Seconds later, it began to descend, taking the form of a sphere.
Until it froze in front of the Latverian, looking like a firefly.
- It..." The scholar wizard's fingers trembled, but he reached for the orb.
- She's free," the red-eyed man growled unhappily. - The ancient law is honoured, but you-" The Lord of Hell growled, turning in my direction. - No matter the passing of days or eras, I will avenge this humiliation. I will never forget...
- Shut up, demon! - Victor raised his head and looked Mephisto straight in the eyes. - You've lost. It's over," then the Latverian turned to me, "we're leaving.
Doom reverently clasped the orb in his palm and stepped closer and placed his other hand on my shoulder, beginning to recite the spell.
I turn to the demon, but I don't have time to say anything.
We are transported in a turquoise flash.
* Same place.
After the teleportation.
- I lost the battle," the Lord of Hell said grimly. - But you lost the war a long time ago, Peter Parker, and you didn't even realise it," Mephisto smiled gloatingly as he returned to his throne.
The demon waved his hand and a regular crystal ball appeared out of the smoke.
Images began to appear in the sphere.
The main ones were only two.
A teenager suffering from nightmares.
And an elderly woman washing dishes.
- The nightmare man would give you a nightmare, but her...
Mephisto scratched the surface of the artefact.
In the same second, the old woman coughed.
The woman went to the sink and stared in horror at the traces of blood that stained the metal.
The demon only laughed hysterically.
* Later.
Earth. Latveria.
Peter Parker.
When the flash goes out, we find ourselves back at Castle Doom.
- Finally, after all these years," Vic spoke softly.
I turn around and see the Latverian raise a clenched palm. His limb shakes slightly.
With a silent exhalation, the ruler of Latveria slowly unclenched his hand.
A spherical firefly slowly began to float through the air, rising upwards.
A silhouette appeared in the glow.
- Mum..." Dr Doom said in a trembling voice.
The silhouette of a young, dark-haired woman smiled warmly.
Victor held out his hand, but the glow faded away, disintegrating into decaying sparks that travelled upwards.
- I made it," the Latverian clutched his eyes. - I saved you, Mum...
I could have sworn I saw tears glistening in the corners of his eyes as I looked through the slits of the emotionless metal mask.
- Well... victory," I say awkwardly, interrupting the deafening silence. - And I think I'm already por...
- When I saw the way you fought, that strength, those artefacts, that power, - von Doom turned around. - I wanted to get to the source, to find out where you got that kind of power," the Latverian approached slowly.
I stepped back reflexively.
- It's not a trope when a recent ally succumbs to his manic tendencies and betrays the hero, is it? - I said the question out loud out of nervousness.
- No," Victor paused. - Not at all, I just wanted to say," the scholarly sorcerer exhaled slowly. - I hate unsolved mysteries, but I'm not going to dig into it. Out of respect," Doom held out his hand to me. - And gratitude, my... friend.
I looked at the ruler of Latveria carefully and nodded, shaking his hand firmly. Commentary on Chapter 179. Battle in the Fire Here he is, fangy mook - .ru/i/hEaRjG9WUzSRkw