Welcome back to Ashes of Midnight. Last time, Cynder and the entire team prepared for their final battle against Malefor. Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Bruce Banner, and Caretaker much to many people's surprise got together and constructed mystically enhanced suits for everybody. And much to everyone's surprise, Bruce Banner straight up turned into the Hulk, complete with a suit of his own, and decided to come along on the final attack despite just being there and under Malefor's control. Everybody's put their faith in Cynder to see them through this darkest hour, acting at her command. So with a quick invocation of the Ancestors, everybody was off to save the world. But will they? Read on to start discovering...
(Our scene picks up outside the Temple of Chthon, where the entire team is blocked by a single obstacle, nobody can seem to figure out how to open the door.)
Doctor Strange: These gates were forged by the gods billions of years before man or dragon drew breath. All the combined armies on Earth could not...
(Getting tired of Doctor Strange's rambling, Hulk pushes his way forward, summons his gamma infused strength into one fist and just straight up punches the door open)
Spyro: I guess Hulk is officially stronger than all the combined armies on Earth.
Cynder: We're in then.
Wolverine: (Extending his claws) We're in alright, in way over our heads.
(Before anybody else can react, the scene is bathed in an eerie green light, and when it subsides, everyone finds themselves in... the same void Cynder's dreams have been set in?)
Cynder: Wait a second. I know this place, from my dreams!
(And soon the white void subsides, revealing something more cosmic as Malefor stands before the Altar of Chthon, Lilith's spirit bound up near it while he holds the Darkhold)
Malefor: Ah, the prodigal daughter returns home at last.
Cynder: Cut the charade, you are not father of mine.
Malefor: You wound me, Cynder. But it doesn't matter. Not even you can stop me, I've been waiting for this moment for...
Cynder: Enough of this. ATTACK!
(And with that command, the combined force of heroes rushes at Malefor, cutting him off)
Malefor: Very well then.
(Wasting no time, Malefor calls upon Lilith's power, causing her a great deal of pain, to cast a barrier around the scene, bringing everybody to their knees save Cynder, undoubtedly being saved by The Hunter's spirit inside of her. So now, the battle is on, father against daughter for the fate of the world. Cynder gets a good swipe in with the Gottmorder dagger before Malefor back hands her away.)
Malefor: (Feeling blood course down his cheek) That weapon... It's...
Cynder: The thing that's going to end this once and for all! You won't be freeing Chthon on my watch.
(At this point, all Malefor can do is laugh evilly, as he reveals his plan at last)
Malefor: You think I came here to free Chthon? Oh please! Not even Lilith was planning to do that! I came here to destroy him!
Cynder: Don't think your lies will work on me!
Malefor: Please, if I were lying, you'd be dead already.
(Now Malefor descends from the Altar, using Lilith's magic to lift Cynder up)
Malefor: You broke free from me only to wind up shackled by someone else. Caretaker never told you what this collar did, did she? The Hunter was meant as a vessel for Chthon. Now... (Grabs the Collar with his magic) I intend to give him that.
(With a pull of magic, the Hunter's Collar breaks completely, and Cynder falls to the ground as Malefor turns back towards the Midnight Sun, drawing in power)
Malefor: (In a commanding tone) Pick up your weapon. My greatest hour is upon us.
(Cynder seems to be under Malefor's spell again, picking up the Gottmorder dagger and approaching, only to stab Malefor in the throat with it)
Cynder: I... am not... YOUR PUPPET!
Malefor: Oh, you were never my puppet...
(At this point, it's revealed that Cynder didn't stab Malefor at all, he'd used some kind of illusion to swap himself with Lilith, causing some kind of dark magic to flow into Cynder, who's eyes suddenly glow purple as something possesses her)
Malefor: But you are his.
(At this point, the possessed Cynder starts speaking in a voice not her own)
Cynder: I suppose I owe you one, Dark Master, for setting all this up. (Turning back to face Cynder's companions) The moment is at hand, all the pieces are in proper places. It begins with sacrifice...
(With that, four pillars erupt from the ground)
Cynder: Four souls for four gods. Four warriors equal to those that bound me. Plucked from this vessel's mind...
(With that, Scarlet Witch, Doctor Strange, Iron Man, and Wolverine are bound to the four altars)
Cynder: As they fall, so too will our bonds. The light of the Midnight Sun will see to our return!
(As Chthon starts taking over Cynder completely, Lilith uses what little of her power she can muster to summon back Spyro, Blade, Ghost Rider, Nico Minoru, and Magik to fight off Cynder)
Lilith: Help me... Save your world! Save your friend!
(And as the Chthon possessed Cynder looks on at the group about to fight her, our tale ends for today)
And that looks like a good place to end for today. Well, that was a lot to take in. And now Cynder's possessed by Chthon and Spyro's leading the effort to save not just her, but the four heroes bound to the altars as well. The final battle approaches, but is this really what Malefor wants? To sacrifice his daughter to some eldritch deity? More on that next time, so be sure to tune in for all that! Same time... same channel!