Welcome back to Ashes of Midnight. Last time, the discussion in The Forge didn't amount to much, as an argument between Iron Man and Doctor Strange left the former unable to remember what they wanted. But there wasn't much time to figure it out, as Iron Man called a meeting of everybody in this game so far to reveal his plan. To supercharge the Gamma Accelerator with energy from the Gamma Bomb detonated at Los Diablos, the same one which created The Hulk, in order to destroy the Parchment of Power in the resultant blast. And everybody was called in for this mission. But will Iron Man's plan actually work? Let's see if we can't start getting some answers...
(Our scene picks up in the middle of the desert, where driving down the road towards Los Diablos is Ghost Rider in his Hell Charger)
Iron Man: What's the word, kid?
Ghost Rider: Nothing. A whole lot of nothing.
Iron Man: Being honest, nothing is a good thing in this case.
Cynder: Tony's got a point, Robbie. We don't have The Abbey masking the Parchment's presence. Just keep a safe distance long enough for us to do our thing.
(And at that point, near the crater of Los Diablos, a Limbo portal opens, allowing Iron Man and Magik to exit with the Gamma Accelerator, setting it up in what looks like a massive rail gun)
Iron Man: With just one shot, my Gamma Cannon will drain every last bit of ambient gamma energy from this entire valley. We literally only have one shot at this.
Magik: Then don't miss.
Iron Man: Hard to do with this thing.
(And thats when we see Tony has literally marked the exact center of the crater for his strike with a cartoony X on a slip of paper. Meanwhile, Cynder, Spyro, and Wolverine are walking around the perimeter in part of the simulated town that wasn't destroyed in the blast)
Wolverine: This has to be the dumbest plan I've ever been part of. Well, beyond all those missions with Deadpool.
Spyro: Glad he's not here. He'd just be cracking jokes constantly.
Cynder: That makes three of us. But still, Robbie can't hide the page forever. If there's any chance to relieve the burden...
(But before Cynder can finish that sentence, Wolverine gets a scent, and that's when they see a dust storm moving in, rather suspiciously)
Iron Man: (Thinking it's Ghost Rider) Hey, Fast and Flameous, I thought I said to stay back!
Wolverine: (Realizing what's going on) Get the damn gun powered up!
Caretaker: (Over the comm system) There's multiple targets closing in on your position!
Spyro: They've already found us!
Cynder: Then that isn't Robbie!
(And sure enough, Cynder's right, as a massive horde of Lilin move in from the dust storm, led by Fallen Sabretooth)
Iron Man: (Realizing the danger they're in) Activating Gamma Collectors now!
Magik: How long will you need?
Iron Man: I literally just invented these damn things yesterday, how the heck would I know?!
Cynder: Just keep working, Stark! We'll hold the line!
(But just as the battle gets going, a helicopter flies over the scene, revealing Bruce Banner and Crossbones within it)
Bruce Banner: Stark. Too smart for your own good. (To Crossbones, who's flying this thing) Ignore the others and follow that page! It's time I returned home...
(Meanwhile, the Lilin are almost beat and all that remains is Fallen Sabretooth, who Wolverine is having a hard time beating)
Fallen Sabretooth: You still don't get it do you? There's magic running through these veins now!
(At this point, Magik realizes what's going on and heads into action)
Wolverine: You got that right.
(But before Fallen Sabretooth can react with a snarky comment, Magik literally stabs him with her sword, straight through the chest)
Magik: Logan!
(Getting the message, Wolverine gets out of the way, as Magik literally pulls Fallen Sabretooth into her sword, or rather through her sword, banishing him to Limbo. As that wraps up, Spyro and Cynder can be seen dealing with the remaining Lilin while Iron Man blasts what they miss)
Iron Man: Uh, guys, I'm not sure how much longer we can keep this up!
(At that point, the Hell Charger comes blazing into the scene)
Ghost Rider: Then don't wait on me!
(But just as Ghost Rider has his entrance, one of the remaining Lilin flips the Hell Charger, and Ghost Rider can just barely get out. And then, standing behind the Lilin is, of all people, Johnny Blaze.)
Ghost Rider: Cut another deal, eh Johnny? What did Lilith and Malefor offer you? Better gas mileage?
(That's when Johnny Blaze does something unexpected, he straight up blasts the two Lilins' heads off with his hellfire shotgun)
Johnny Blaze: Not quite. (Pressing his hand to Ghost Rider's chest) Return.
(And with that, Johnny Blaze literally pulls the Parchment of Power out of Ghost Rider)
Johnny Blaze: I tried to avoid this, you know.
Ghost Rider: (Confused) What?
Johnny Blaze: But you all had to decide to do this the hard way. (Chuckles to himself) You and your buddies were right, kid. I am a coward. Been running from this moment my whole life. (Gets back on his motorcycle) If the world's going to beat this thing, it'll need somebody strong. Like you. All of you.
Ghost Rider: (Realizing exactly what Johnny Blaze is up to) Johnny, wait! No!
(And with that, Johnny Blaze takes off towards the Gamma Cannon, leaping into the crater just as Iron Man starts the final countdown)
Iron Man: Three... two... one!
(But just as the countdown ends, Bruce Banner leaps into the crater from the helicopter as Johnny Blaze hits the X)
Johnny Blaze: See you soon, Rox...
(And with that, the Gamma Cannon goes off, resulting in a massive bang, and blinding the scene, as it ends for today)
And that looks like a good spot to wrap up for now. So, Johnny Blaze decided to come back and clean up the mess he started, choosing to sacrifice himself to destroy the Parchment of Power. Though something tells me Bruce Banner, the last survivor of a Gamma Bomb like this one, leaping in at the last second is going to change things. But will it be for better or worse? Probably worse, but for the exact answers, tune in next time! Same time... same channel!