Episode 114: Phoevix Rising!
Without hesitation, Peter followed Jean through the swirling vortex in front of the statue of Pietro Maximoff in the Sokovia City Plaza. On the other side, he found himself in a place very similar to the Danger Room at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters which was dark with reflective glass on the ceiling, retractable pillars, and floor blocks that moved revealing hidden trapdoors and booby-traps. Jean stood between two pillars on one side while Peter stood across from her.
"You can only use two Marémon in this match," Jean said. "If you try using a third, you'll be immediately disqualified. And you must have both Marémon out, even when you're only using one of them."
"Understood," Peter responded. "Can I use a PDB when my Marémon has fainted or is too weak to continue battling?"
"That I will allow. So, which Marémon will you be using?"
Peter held up a PDB (Pocket Dimension Ball) and from a beam of light emerged Rikoshay, who advanced forward along with Spidermin.
"A Spidermin, and a Rikoshay," Jean observed. "Not bad choices, though my Kitmar and Phoevix won't go down without a fight!"
Behind one of the pillars emerged Phoevix, which resembled an adult female fox with nine feather-like tails, red-and-yellow fur, and glowing eyes with no pupils. There was a simmering heat wave that came off Phoevix's tails, which intimidated Rikoshay and Spidermin.
"Don't let Phoevix get you down, guys," Peter said encouragingly. "I know we can beat her."
While Spidermin nodded confidently, Rikoshay's head lowered.
"Send out your first Marémon," Jean ordered.
"Okay," Peter said. "Rikoshay, I choose you!"
"Kitmar, to the battlefield!" Jean ordered, causing the green-and-yellow fox to step forward.
"Rikoshay, Throwing Discs!"
Immediately, the golden discs on Rikoshay's body detached and flew towards Kitmar.
"Use Forcefield!" said Jean.
A transparent barrier appeared around Kitmar's body, causing Rikoshay's discs to bounce off.
"Now use Psychic Blast!" Jean added.
This made Kitmar's eyes glow as an invisible wave of energy hit Rikoshay. But when Rikoshay looked at himself, there was no physical damage. A moment later, he held the sides of his head and fell to his knees.
"No, Rikoshay!" Peter urged. "Don't let that attack get to you! Kitmar's trying to make you feel less confident."
"Well, that is the idea," Jean said snidely. "It's the same attack Kitmar used on your friend Quill's Brax before she wiped the floor with him."
"But Quill was already screwed using a Super-Type Marémon against a Mutant-Type. I'm not making the same mistake he did! Keep your Danger Sense sharp, Rikoshay!"
Suddenly, Rikoshay flinched and leaped away as another Kitmar suddenly appeared behind him.
"Kitmar used Astral Projection," Peter realized. "That means one of the two Kitmars is real."
"Good luck figuring that out," Jean chuckled. "Quill's Brax couldn't decide, so he destroyed the wrong one in a fit of rage."
"Funny you should mention that, because Rikoshay's Danger Sense ability will help him determine the real one on intuition. Use Exploding Discs on the right Kitmar, Rikoshay!"
Nodding, Rikoshay leaped into the air and sent a new set of discs at the Kitmar behind him. The discs detonated on impact, causing the other Kitmar to vanish. When the debris cleared, Kitmar was looking battered and had her eyes closed.
"Very good," Jean said as she used a PDB to summon Kitmar back to her. "Your Rikoshay is better trained than I thought."
"Well, he did belong to an assassin before he ended up with me," Peter said.
"Even so, I'm impressed that you were able tell him what he needed to do to win even after being hit with Kitmar's Psychic Blast. Let's see how well you fare against Phoevix!"
As Phoevix stepped forward in an intimidating strut, Peter returned Rikoshay to his PDB and Spidermin took Rikoshay's place.
"Something tells me you have something up your sleeve," Jean said to Peter. "And I don't have to read your mind to know that."
Peter realized he was gripping the coin-shaped Upgrade Module in his jean jacket and let it go.
"Might want to save that plan of yours for later," suggested Jean. "Because you don't want to blow it too early and risk losing any advantage you might have."
"I'll keep that in mind. Spidermin, Stun Web!"
"Use Teleblast, Phoevix!"
While Spidermin sent webs full of bio-electricity at Phoevix, the red-and-yellow fox sent an invisible wave that cut the webs to shreds causing electrical sparks to fly everywhere. Spidermin used the sparks as cover to leap over to Phoevix with his Stingers out. But Phoevix was prepared and sent another Teleblast to send Spidermin flying backward.
Luckily, Spidermin caught himself on a pillar and fired another Stun Web. Phoevix returned fire with another Teleblast, causing a stalemate.
"This isn't going to get us anywhere," remarked Jean. "Phoevix, Mind Control!"
Remembering what happened to Spidermin when was under Psylocke's control, Peter said, "Avert your eyes, Spidermin!"
So Spidermin did as Peter asked and used his Spidey-Sense to attack Phoevix with his eyes closed. Yet Phoevix was able to dodge most of his attacks.
"I think it's time to activate our trump card." Holding up the coin-shaped Upgrade Module, Peter shouted, "Spidermin, Upgrade!"
On the coin's surface, the triangle that was similar to the one on the PDB glowed before Spidermin was bathed in its light. Phoevix and Jean were briefly blinded by this light until it subsided. Spidermin was now in his Upgraded form Iron Spider, which included four extra golden limbs, metallic skin, and glowing blue eyes.
"Where did you get an Upgrade Module?" Jean asked, looking shocked. "I've heard they're difficult to obtain."
"A girl I met in Xander City gave it to me," Peter said. "She helped me defeat a dangerous Marémon named Veneo, and this module was her parting gift."
Jean raised her arms. "How nice of her. Let's put it to the test, shall we? Phoevix, we'll finish this match with Psychic Firebird!"
Phoevix's feather-like tails glowed as a transparent firebird flew towards Spidermin.
To be continued…