BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Story
Scarlet Spider: The name's Kaine. Clone to Peter Parker, the original Spider-Man. While helping Jaune get stronger, I rescued Luna Snow in a secret Roxxon laboratory. She was once an enemy of mine and a friend to Ben Reilly, and in his name, we decided to patch things up. To make amends with her, I allowed Tiki to sing at tonight's concert. The Jackal can wait. I just hope I don't end up regretting this.
BGM End
Volume 1 Issue 22: Dark Awakening
Beehive, Unified World. (5 Days Since the Convergence)
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Team Chaotix
The Beehive. A Citadel of Science belonging to the villainous scientific organization known as The Enclave. This technological marvel of a headquarters looms high above a rocky plateau in what is possibly the remotest spot on this Unified World, completely inaccessible to any normal means of travel. Yet somehow members of Team Rival managed to not only find and infiltrate the base, but defeated the armored soldiers guarding the green Chaos Emerald.
"Got the Emerald. Are we gettin' out of this Beehive anytime today?" asked Fang the Hunter, with he and Bark the Polar Bear joining Emerald Sustrai in a laboratory after stealing the organization's Chaos Emerald.
"In a minute. Just transferring the last of the Enclave's funds to my bank account." Emerald responded, in the process of hacking the computer system.
"Do the same for me!" Fang ordered.
"Aren't you the one that wants to get outta here?" Emerald sassed.
"I can always make time for stealing money." Fang snarked.
BGM End
In the midst of messing around with the system, Emerald accidently uncovers interesting information regarding one of the Enclave's most dangerous experiments. "Look at what I just stumbled upon." She announced with an intrigued stare at the classified intel.
"What's this about?" Fang asked, looking at the viewscreen displaying images relating to a certain Golden Man.
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Doom's Eye
"Adam Warlock." Emerald stated grimly.
"The Avatar of Life that Genie lady told us about?" Fang remarked, recalling their encounter with the Jinn spirit not too long ago.
"The one man in any universe that can help us beat Thanos." Emerald also recalled, before diving into the data and relaying her findings to her teammates, "It was the Enclave that created him as part of their experiments to create the perfect being, but he rebelled when he learned they were evil and became a defender of the universe with his immeasurable cosmic power."
"So he's Shadow but a bigger pain in the neck. Finding him is gonna be annoying." Fang quipped.
While Emerald was talking, Bark took a closer look at particular info on the screen that's guiding him to a nearby vault. He opens it to find something so interesting that he whistles for the others' attention. "What is it, Scarf-Mook?" Fang questioned. Both the Mobian Hunter and Remnant Thief reunite with Bark to find his findings: a golden incubator that resembles a cocoon. "What the heck is this?!" Fang exclaimed in shock.
"Looks like some kind of pod. Very golden…And expensive." Emerald noted.
"Guessin' this is where they hatched Warlock." Fang realized, prompting a devious smile to form on his muzzle, "That gives me an idea. Let's steal it for data that'll help track him down, then capture him for his power that can help us beat Thanos. And if all else fails, let's sell it. But I keep most of the loot."
"Ignoring that last part, that's not a bad idea. If anyone can control that power, it'd be Cinder." Emerald smirked, complimenting the jerboa's idea.
BGM End
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Shut Your Mouth
The thieves are done looting the Beehive and are preparing for their exit. Bark loads Warlock's Pod into the Marvelous Queen just as Fang hops into the pilot's seat. But just as Emerald finish stealing all of the Enclave's money, their soldiers storm the lab with all their weapons targeting the surprised thieves. "HALT!" An Enclave Soldier demanded.
"Book it, Weasel!" Emerald urged, rushing onto the Marvelous Queen.
"You're the one delaying for money!" Fang bickered, flying the crew out of the lab and away from the countless bullets showering at them.
"Do not let them get away with the Emerald!" An Enclave Soldier ordered.
The entire citadel is unleashing all of their defenses at the thieves desperately trying to escape. All security guards keep firing at them, completely oblivious to a certain Warlock hovering behind them. A simple hand gesture later and the massive complex is exploding from astonishing cosmic power, annihilating all of its defenses so Team Rival can flee the scene with little issue.
"Did we do that?" Emerald wondered what caused the explosion that destroyed the Beehive.
"I'll take credit regardless!" Fang laughed, causing the deadpan Bark to roll his eyes. "Onto the next Emerald!" He announced cockily.
BGM End
The Marvelous Queen flies out into the distance, all while being observed by their unknown savior Adam Warlock near the ruins of his birthplace. "The seven Chaos Emeralds. Gems of Miracles. Counterparts to the Sol and Cosmic Emeralds. Find them all, Children of Darkness. Even then, a transdimensional miracle might not be enough to save us from annihilation." Warlock monologued, claiming the Chaos Emeralds will play a role in the coming battles.
Houston.
BGM-Spider-Man 3 (Game) OST-The City #2
"Look out! That person is going to fall!" A Woman shouted from a sidewalk.
The perfect night for commotion amongst a crowd caused by a construction worker hanging onto dear life from the edge of a tall building. "H-HELP! I CAN'T HOLD ON! I'M SLIPPING!" The Construction Worker screams for help that he desperately needs at the moment. The two hands that were grasping onto the roof reduce to one as it lost all the strength to hang on. A hero is needed but there is none in the city. Luckily this city has an anti-hero in the form of Scarlet Spider already swinging to his rescue. The construction worker loses all strength to his other hand and begins to fall, only to be caught a split-second later by the arriving arachnid.
"Gotcha!" Scarlet announced.
Claps and cheers are given to Houston's Hero for saving that helpless construction worker. The Spider-Clone swings him to a sidewalk where he can be safely dropped off. Grateful, the Worker smiles, "You rescued me. Thank you so much, Scarlet Spider.", while shaking his savior's hand.
"Just don't pull that stunt again and we'll call it even." Scarlet replied stoically.
Just before Scarlet spins out a webline, he is stopped by someone calling him out, "Scarlet Spider! Scarlet Spider, wait!" That someone being a female high schooler joined by her fellow friendly high schoolers, telling their local hero, "That was so awesome! Can I have a selfie with you?"
"Uh…okay?" Scarlet responded awkwardly, not used to selfies.
Scarlet gets into position for the selfie with the girl, only for the situation to get humorous when all of her friends cramp him at the last second before the photo is taken. "Love it! See ya, Scar!" The High School Girl smiled, waving goodbye to the grim hero as her party leaves him alone.
BGM End
Letting out an exhausted sigh, Scarlet swings back to the sky to continue his patrol. Everything is at peace, allowing his mind to monologue for a moment. 'A lot really has changed for me these past few months. Wasn't that long ago when I was one of the bastards terrorizing their cities. Now here I am defending them, taking in their cheers and having selfies with them. So weird. Yet…it doesn't feel so terrible. I don't cringe to this stuff as much as I did before.' Upon noticing the light in his soul, Kaine immediately shakes his head to rid himself of such hopeful thoughts, 'Focus, Kaine. You should be lucky you're wearing a mask. If these people knew the monster I was, what I'm hiding, you can kiss their love goodbye. Fear is greater than love. They'll prefer death than my help if they figure out the truth. It's only a matter of time 'til I mess up. It's the Parker way.' But just as he notices his inner darkness taking hold, Kaine shakes his head again with an annoyed grunt at his conflicting emotions, 'Don't know why I should give a shit what anyone thinks of me. Shadow, Noel, and Dark Pit may have been onto something. Screw pity and expectations and limits and all that crap. I do what I want, however I do it. And I'll do whatever it takes to protect this city. Even if it's from myself.'
BGM-Spider-Man 3 (Game) OST-Black Suit Theme #2
Suddenly, the midair Scarlet finds himself dodging fireballs thrown by several Soulless Minions from a reclusive rooftop. 'Soulless again? What do they want?' The annoyed arachnid wastes no time rushing to their destruction. He crushes one demon with a Web-Strike and pops out his stingers to kill the others, decapitating some before slicing the last Soulless in two. "I don't have time for this. I'm going to run late for the concert. Why did I agree to that again? Those punks are making me soft." Kaine grunted, retracting his stingers before turning the other way.
"Sounds worse than Hell. You should know. I mean, you were a guest at my home for a while." A Mysterious Entity then speaks to Scarlet Spider out of nowhere with a tone that implies he is too familiar with the angsty clone.
That sudden voice alone warps Kaine's apathetic demeanor that prompts him to stop in a state of horrific shock. Just like how the entity appears to know Kaine, the vice versa is true. The demonic presence that is surrounding him is all too familiar. His taunting laugh enrages the clone into popping out a stinger infused with hellfire, turning around in a flash in an attempt to stab the materializing demon in the face. Alas, his attack was in vain. His full-powered strike halted effortlessly by a single finger of the red humanoid demon outfitted in demonic skeletal armor. "Oooh, as feisty as ever. Nice to see you too, Kaine." The demon smiles at the paralyzed spider, giving his stinger a simple poke that repels him to the ground with such violent force that can be considered outworldly.
"Mephisto…" Scarlet snarls at one of his oldest enemies. A literal demon from his past. The Great Corrupter. The Devourer of Souls. The Devil himself. Mephisto. "So that was you I saw back at Sparkleton. The Soulless were your messengers." He realized, recalling that it was Mephisto he saw in the dimensional rift.
"I just wanted to say hello and catch up, but you replied with zilch. How cruel. I thought we were buddies." Mephisto taunted, expressing a very nonchalant demeanor that hides his immortal evil.
"I was your PRISONER, not your buddy!" Kaine scowled, hinting at a secretive history with the devil.
"You were still one of my favorites. Only you could've handled the tasks I assigned you." Mephisto quipped.
"You mean FORCED upon me or TRICKED me into doing?" Kaine retorted.
"Semantics. You were enjoying Hell way too boring. Had to liven up your afterlife." Mephisto snarked. "But enough about that. Heard through the grapevine you've been having demon problems lately. Even now, the Spirit of Vengeance within you is growing stronger by the minute." He said, claiming to be here to deal with his awakening demon powers.
"Yeah, and I know exactly who to blame for bonding me with this demon symbiote." Scarlet glared, suspecting the devil to be responsible for his current agony.
"The Jackal does like to play dangerously." Mephisto quipped, pinning the blame on Kaine's creator.
"What? How is this his fault?" Kaine retorted in confusion.
"He was the one that dragged you out of Hell without my consent. The way he did it dragged a piece of my realm along for the ride, i.e. your Ghost Rider." Mephisto claimed. Believing this, Kaine growls with a quiet rage that is causing a strange throbbing in his heart, interrupted thanks to Mephisto's continuous babbling, "But this is a blessing. We can use your power to our advantage. Both of us desire revenge on that madman for playing god. With our powers combined, we can make his soul suffer damnation."
"No way! I know better than to partner with the devil! I'll kill Warren my own way!" Kaine retorted, denying any help from him.
"Then why are you wasting your time going to a concert when you should be hunting him down right now? Have you already forgotten what he's done to you? Birth you as a freak with no chance at a normal life? Dragged you out of the paradise called Hell just to be his mind-controlled pet? With your new powers, you can easily find him and crush him." Mephisto reminds him of his past trauma, stoking his raging flames even more.
"I…promised my friends." Scarlet hesitated.
Disgusted, the grunting Mephisto facepalms, "You say that so halfheartedly. Not very manly, but that's expected from a clone." He mocked. "If you do see them as friends, you would've told them about your secret past with me already. Are you just THAT afraid of yourself? Once a monster, always a monster. Dead or alive." He said, continuing to both taunt and enrage his former prisoner.
"Tell me something I don't know. But I HAVE proven that monsters can be used for good." Scarlet argued angrily.
"Not with someone of your baggage. Combine that with the Parker Luck, you're nothing but a ticking time bomb." Mephisto refuted, shutting him up. "The only way to defuse yourself is with the Ghost Rider. You have all the necessary ingredients to control it. What's with the delay? Vengeance can only be wielded by the vengeful, and your soul makes you the perfect soul." He advised him.
"I never wanted to be vengeful! I never asked for this power or be brought back to life! If you hated that I left Hell so soon, then just kill me and let's hurry on back!" Kaine snapped, popping out his stingers that fail to intimidate the demon in the slightest.
"So quick to abandon your friends like how your father abandoned you?" Mephisto taunted.
"I am…NOTHING…like him…" Scarlet growls, feeling that weird throbbing sensation again that is triggering the Ghost Rider within to alight flames in his glaring eyes.
"Oh, of course not. You're FAR more special. A Spider-Totem born with greater power than his brothers and an even greater sense of irresponsibility. Yet despite your best efforts, you failed to protect them. Even led one of them to his death. All because life got in your way. Shunned you for being a protector." Mephisto once again reminds him of his miserable past, causing his hatred for mankind to boil as he warns him of his fate, "I'm saying this for your own good, Kaine. If you don't do this now, then you and all those you claim to care about will suffer the consequences. Your family will rot. Your friends will feel betrayed. This city will curse out your name. And the love you found will be destroyed ALL over again."
"Tiki…" Kaine muttered, flinching with worry for his girlfriend.
"You must amass revenge on your enemies! Unleash your anger and AMAZING powers on them! Your history is the key to your destiny. Will you keep complicating the inevitable?" Mephisto tested the spider-clone, encouraging him to give into his darkness.
Scarlet has lost the patience to share more words with the Devil. He just swings off in a rage mixed with utter confusion of his destiny while Mephisto watches on. "Suit yourself." He said, displaying a devious smile that hints of a grand plan requiring Kaine's rage.
BGM End
Casino Street Zone, Houston.
BGM-Sonic the Hedgehog 4 OST-Casino Street Zone (Act 2)
"What's taking Kaine so long? He's going to miss the concert." Aracely wondered.
Tonight's the night for Luna Snow's concert and all of Kaine's friends were invited to participate. From his partners, Aracely and Tiki. His huntsmen friends in Team JNPR. His Houston friends, Annabelle Adams and Doctor Donal Meland. His friends in the Cotta-Arc family, Saphron, Terra, and Adrian. All the way to his fellow clones, Dark Pit and Noel Vermillion. They have gathered here in the bright and busy casino-inspired neighborhood, Casino Street Zone, where shining neon lights fill the busy streets.
"Proving to be like his brother every day." Nora Valkyrie joked about Kaine's tardiness.
"Quit it. You know he hates being compared to him. The concert's over an hour long. He has time." Ren retorted, believing Kaine will show.
"In the meantime, I'll be stretching my legs on his seat." Nora quipped.
"I heard he had problems with Luna, but he was the one that got us the tickets, right?" Donald Meland asked the heroes.
"Kaine's a superhero with tons of responsibilities. He'll make it." Jaune Arc smiled, having faith in his spider-friend.
"Responsibilities that he is heavily reluctant towards." Pyrrha Nikos snarked.
"Alright, that's enough gossiping behind his back. Let's just have faith he'll make it." Tiki speaks up in the defense of her boyfriend.
Several walks later and the party arrives at the main concert stage out in the open. And it is massive in both design and the hundreds of fans filling up the seats. The stage is ablaze with flashing neon lights and resembling a pinball-styled slot machine mixed with Luna's snowflake emblem. Hot-air party balloons float beside the stage, noticed by Noel as she beams, "Oh woooow. This place is massive. Luna sure has a lot of fans."
"There you guys are." Announced by Wally Layton, Donald's husband, approaching the party in his police uniform.
"Hey dear. Protected our seats?" Meland smiled.
"Right over there unharmed." Layton responded, thumbing at their exclusive seats.
"First time getting the VIP treatment." The glasses-wearing Terra said, taking a seat next to her wife and child.
"First time I'm joining a concert. Wish Tsubaki and Makoto weren't too busy. They would've loved this." Noel responded, just as the whole party took their seats that's giving them the best view of the stage.
"Invite them next time." Jaune suggested.
"I will." Noel smiled.
"Can they hurry this up? I'm getting bored." Dark Pit complained.
"Then why did you come?" Annabelle snarked dryly.
"Because I'm bored." Dark Pit sasses back.
BGM-Marvel Super War OST-Flow (feat. Luna)
"I LOVE YOU, LUNA!"
"SHH, IT'S STARTING!"
It looks like all of Houston have come to watch Luna sing. It certainly sounds like it with the number of screams and cheers flooding from the audience. Snow begins to fall that is getting everyone even more excited as they can tell this is the work of the Pop Star Heroine. An icy aura shrouds the main stage that doesn't hide the silhouette of the Ice Princess arising to her position. The heroes let out their own wild cheers for their latest friend, just as an announcer readies everyone for the opening act from the loudspeakers, 'AND NOW, THE MOMENT HOUSTON HAS BEEN WAITING FOR. LUNA SNOW ENTERPRISES INTRODUCES YOU TO ITS ICY IDOL HEROINE, LUNA SNOW!'
Swiftly emerging from the icy fog is Luna Snow already showing off her astonishing dancing skills at the crowd and singing one of her best songs, Flow, "억지로 웃어주는 게 괜찮다 말하는게. Don't give up, give up (희망에 찬 난). You don't know me yet. 내가 겉보기 엔 좀 달라 Moonlight Stage. 위에 날 나오다 (Oh it's on now). I can't stop dancing tonight."
This concert gets cooler as Luna uses her powers to create falling snowflakes around herself in conjunction to her singing, "Nobody can hold me down (I will fight). You don't know, know my name. 내가 바라던 그대로. 내가 원한 모습으로. Don't bother me tonight."
One of the floating slot machines is then activated by Luna's powers, "'Cause I will fight, fighting by your side. Just you and I, flowing, flowing. We chill the beats my way. We shining through the sky. Show the light, you and I, thru the night."
Her lovely luck strikes three jackpots that rains hundreds of Rings at her, "Realize, wonderful moonlight. Realize, magical snow night. 네 안에 갇혀 있던 흐름에서 벗어나 (Light them up). Finally now you feel alive."
The icy winds she wields catches the falling Rings and blows them to her grateful fans, the poor and homeless alike, "Luna Snow, your favorite show. Crescent and l-O. They already know as the moon glow. Just feel the flow, warriors of the sky. Haters be afraid of us, baby, keep on shaking. Don't stop grooving. Look at those, those moonlight falls like snow. I can't stop dancing tonight (Careful guys don't catch a cold)."
Her dancing doesn't stop. In fact, it livens up when she starts skating on giant cards that are acting like a magic card-pet twisting around her concert, "Nobody can hold me down (I will fight). You don't know, know my name. 내가 바라던 그대로. 내가 원한 모습으로. Don't bother me tonight."
The cards slide her to her fans to exchange pleasantries and gift snowflakes. Even doing the same to the heroes when she happily passes them, "'Cause I will fight, fighting by your side. Just you and I, flowing, flowing. We chill the beats my way. We shining through the sky. Show the light, you and I, thru the night."
Luna then slides off the card coaster to hop down floating cards, "Realize, wonderful moonlight. Realize, magical snow night. 네 안에 갇혀 있던 흐름에서 벗어나 (Light them up). Finally now you feel alive."
The Ice Idol returns to the stage, slowing down on both her dancing and singing to give this part of her song a somber tone, "We will never lose 안개가 걷히고 나면. 나아갈 길엔 밝은 빛만 가득 해. Our time has come, our turn to shine. Look at me, 차가운 달빛 아래 감은 눈을 떠 (Get up). 난 겨울의 심장을 노리 지 여긴 내 놀이터."
Her dancing music gets excited again. Exploding to its peak that erupts intense cheers from the audience, "Realize, wonderful moonlight. Realize, magical snow night. 네 안에 갇혀 있던 흐름에서 벗오나 (Mix them up). Finally now we feel alive." Luna finishes her number with an explosion of snow infused with light, raining on her entire concert brimming with the loudest cheers Houston can offer.
BGM End
"THAT WAS AMAZING!" Saphron cheered as happily as her baby Adrian is attempting to clap at the wonderful song.
"WAY TO GO, LUNA!" Aracely expressed.
"Gotta admit, she wasn't half-bad." Dark Pit smirked.
"Right?" Nora smiles at him.
Meanwhile, Tiki looks to be distracted. Looking around for any sign of a certain spider-clone that is running late to the festivities. "He's still not here…" She frowned sadly.
"He'll make it for yours. That's a guarantee." Jaune smiled, easing her worries by reminding her of the love Kaine has for her. "You should start heading backstage to prepare." He advised her.
"Right. Come along, Aracely." Tiki responded, with her and Aracely heading out so the former could prepare for her guest star performance.
BGM-Spider-Man 3 (Game) OST-Shared Tension (Part 1)
Unbeknownst to the heroes, they are being spied on by a particular villain blending into the crowd by appearing as an ordinary man with classes. He watches Tiki leave her seating whilst talking to himself. "Such power hiding in that one. But compared to Gwen in looks, she's far below average. What does he see in you? Doesn't matter. The stage is set. Time to sing the song of awakening, Kaine." Miles Warren said, ready for something disastrous that might ruin Kaine's new life.
BGM End
S.T.R.I.K.E. Command Tricarrier.
BGM-LEGO Marvel Super Heroes OST-Helicarrier
"You made it. This is urgent." said Abraham Tower, the G.U.N. Commander that is hosting an urgent meeting in the War Room with his selected heroes: Severa, Viridi, Knuckles the Echidna, Naoto Kurogane, Heihachi Mishima, and Team Dark.
"Then hurry it up. I can only tolerate listening to mortals for so long." Viridi snarked, annoying the human commander.
"Then I'll cut right to the chase." Tower responds by projecting images of Ogre Clones attacking various parts of the world, "Your mission is to find the source of these creatures and destroy it before they steal the souls of every living being on the planet."
"What!? Are those…Ogres?!" Heihachi Mishima recognized, shocked by these images.
"You know those things, Heihachi?" Naoto Kurogane questioned.
"I know they're not supposed to be red. The Ogre I know was a demon from my world that we refer to as Toshin, the God of Fighting due to his near-insurmountable power and imposing figure. Rumor has it that he is a biological weapon that was left behind on Earth by an ancient alien race. The last time I saw him was during the 3rd King of Iron Fist Tournament. I thought he was killed in battle." Heihachi explained.
"An alien demon? We've dealt with those types before, right Shadow?" Rouge teases him about their battles with the Black Arms.
"Destroying them will be child's play." Shadow scoffed arrogantly.
"I fought one of those Ogres back when A.I.M. captured him from his dimension. Why are there so many now?" Knuckles asked, recalling the Dimensional Avengers killing the Toshin.
"SHIELD had his corpse in custody until a traitor stole him without a trace. Wasn't until recently when we discovered his clones attacking our agents, notably huntsmen, and stealing their souls for an unknown purpose." Tower said, showing images of various heroes that lost their souls to Ogres such as The Thing, Team CFVY, Antoine D'Coolette, Shang Chi, Ray the Flying Squirrel, and the Happy Huntresses.
"Probably to become stronger. Ogre did much the same in the past." Heihachi claimed.
"I'm curious how you know so much about him." Severa glared, suspecting there is a deeper history between Heihachi and Ogre.
"The strong will always have my attention." Heihachi grinned.
"Are you implying that I don't intrigue you?" E-123 Omega retorted.
"You're about as worthless as JACK robots." Heihachi snarked.
"Let me prove you wrong this instant." Omega threatened, with him and Heihachi ready to fight each other.
"Enough games, boys!" Rouge intervened, pushing the fighting maniacs away from each other. "Do we have a clue who's cloning Ogre? If the original is still alive?" She then asked her commander.
"We suspect Mister Sinister. No one has been able to confirm if he perished during the destruction of his lab." Tower suspected.
"It must be The Jackal." Shadow argued sternly.
"That guy? What makes you so sure?" Naoto reacted with shock, recalling Jackal being Kaine's creator.
"Clones are his forte and he has been MIA since the Spider-Virus incident that he played a key role in. His status as a minor criminal is what caught us by surprise last time. Personally, this feels beyond coincidental with the awakening of a new Ghost Rider." Shadow explained, sensing Jackal's plans involves his prototype son.
"Then we gotta head to Houston and make sure everything's okay." Knuckles declared.
"Alright then. Severa and Team Dark, I'm placing you in Alpha to deal with the Ogre Clones. Everyone else will be in Gamma. Head to Houston and find clues on the Jackal's location. I even hired a Devil Hunter from Arcadia to assist you." Tower ordered.
BGM End
BGM-Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite OST-Theme of Dante
"That's my cue." Walking into the War Room is a silver-haired flamboyant swordsman with an affinity for red coats that doesn't hide his demonic smell. The son of a Legendary Dark Knight that barely makes money from his career as a demon slayer. It is Dante. The Legendary Devil Hunter from the Arcadia Cross World. "Let's rock, boys and babes!" Dante smiles at his allies, old and new.
"And this weirdo is…" Viridi snarked.
"Dante!" Knuckles grinned excitedly, recalling their recent adventure together against Ultron Sigma.
"The owner of Devil May Cry. This should be interesting. Had thoughts of hiring your skills to deal with my own devil problems." Heihachi said to the devil hunter.
"All the money in the world won't be enough to be your family therapist." Dante quipped, aware of the Mishimas' constant feuds with each other.
"Dante's experience fighting demons will give us an edge against these Ogres. You have your assignments. Send this evil back to Hell." Tower declared, dismissing this STRIKE Force to save the world from the Stealer of Souls.
BGM End
Meanwhile at Houston…
"Five minutes 'til you're up, Ms. Voice!" A Concert Worker shouted from outside Tiki's dressing room.
"Almost done, thank you!" Tiki responded while putting on the finishing touches to her concert uniform. An outfit reminiscent of her child attire, she wears a pink fur-neck minidress and black gloves. She puts on her headphones inspired by dragon wings, before activating her neon-lit holographic cape based on musical sheets and created by Kaine. "How do I look?" Tiki smiles at her friend, Aracely, for her opinion on her completed stage performance costume.
"Amazing!" Aracely happily praised her new look, "I just KNOW you're gonna knock it out of the park out there. Your singing will be so awesome you'll be a bigger star than Luna in no time."
"Let us not get carried away, but thank you for the voice of confidence, Ara-Ara. I could surely use it right now." Tiki frowned, feeling upset about something. Or rather about someone.
"You're not having stage fright, are you?" Aracely asked.
"A little. But it is nothing compared to my concerns for Kaine. He should be here by now…" Tiki expressed her worries for her boyfriend's tardiness.
"It is getting late. You don't think the Ghost Rider has taken over him?" Aracely wondered, getting worried herself.
"I pray to Naga that isn't true. I do not want to betray his love like Louise did." Tiki professed, wanting to be a better girlfriend to Kaine than his previous criminal lover.
"But he was the one that agreed to this." Aracely reminded her.
"Only to make me happy at the cost of his wellbeing." Tiki said, feeling guilty.
"Isn't that what love is about? What Louise did to Kaine was cruel and you're nowhere like that. Just do what makes you happy." Aracely advised the dragon princess.
Taking her words to heart and consideration, a solemn Tiki decides, "…I must talk to Luna. Apologize that I have decided not to perform.", while approaching the door.
And just after Tiki opens the door, both she and Aracely are shocked to find Kaine standing before them. Looking very awkward as he was a second late from opening the door himself, "…Hiiiiii…"
BGM-Fire Emblem Awakening OST- "You have power…like mine."
"Kai-Kai, you're okay! You made it!" Overwhelmed with joy, Tiki delivers a leaping hug at the embarrassed Kaine that is struggling to pull her off before bystanders notice them.
"H-Hey! Quiet! Inside! Before anyone sees!" Kaine retorted, blushing while moving everyone back into the dressing room and locking the door behind him.
"And you had us all worried." Aracely teased her hero.
"Where have you been?! I've been worried sick!" Tiki angrily scolds her boyfriend.
"S-Sorry. Was held up by some…surprises while I was crimefighting. Had to clear my head. Never wanted to worry you." Kaine responded sadly, without revealing his surprise meeting with Mephisto.
"It's okay. I'm just happy you're safe and sound." Tiki smiled, quickly forgiving him.
"You're looking beautiful by the way. How's that holo-cape working out? No glitches?" Kaine asked, complimenting her concert outfit.
"It's working marvelously, thanks to your genius. I would love for people to commend you for your craftsmanship." Tiki said, flaunting her holo-cape.
"Rather not. I prefer being an unknown. Fans can be troublesome." Kaine replied stoically.
"A lot seems that way to you." Tiki frowned.
"Not you. I'm not gonna lose sleep missing Luna's crap-pop. Your voice is what's most important to me." Kaine said with such sincerity that he flusters the princess into blushing adorably.
"You two are cute together. I wonder if my parents are like that." Aracely giggled.
Alongside a stoic sigh of regret, Kaine retorts, "Right…I've been caught up in my own issues that I haven't done much to find your family. I'm sorry, Aracely."
"It's alright. I'm happy with the family I found in you and Tiki." Aracely smiled to cheer him up.
"You consider me family?" Kaine responded with shock.
"Well duh. You saved me from traffickers and gave me a home and taught me how to be strong. You're not just family. You're my champion." Aracely declared.
"Champion and Guardian…" Kaine muttered the two titles he was given by Aracely and Tiki respectively. "I just wanted to give you a second chance, the same chance I was getting. A life, for the first time. I dunno if I'm the right man to guide you through it…I failed being a guardian to Ben, and this champion is at risk in becoming the monster he once was. How can I change all of that? And if it's possible, what's to prevent me from messing things up again?" He wondered, no doubt haunted by what Mephisto told him.
"Just have hope." Aracely suggested casually.
"Hope has lied to me before." Kaine retorted sternly.
"Hope always leads us to the truth. It is what helps us live. It is what we fight with when all else is lost." Aracely claimed, sounding unusually wise.
"Hope can be killed and lead to death. I should know. Perhaps that's why I live with this curse…" Kaine argued coldly, igniting his clenched fist that is swiftly calmed by Tiki's own fiery hand of gentleness.
"Yet something within you cried out when you first fled the Jackal. In spite of all the pain, something fought to live. Believe in that voice and reach the highest of all the heavens." Tiki advised him.
Feeling a little better about himself, Kaine snarks at his girlfriend, "…Mind if I go to yours as the rebound?"
"Unless you want to be eaten." Tiki smirked, playfully threatening to eat him with her dragon-morphed teeth that gets a little laugh from grim clone.
"One more minute, Miss Voice!" The Concert Worker warned her that her performance is next.
"Break a leg, Tiks." Kaine smiled, giving her an encouraging pat on the shoulder that is responded by Tiki's smiling thumbs-up before following her toward her grand debut.
BGM End
Meanwhile, Luna Snow had just finished singing another of her fantastic songs before her uncountable fans. She smiles and waves at their cheers before calming them down with an important announcement, "Thank you, thank you! Now this next performance is special and sung by one of my new friends in the idol industry. In one dimension, she is a legendary hero that has saved her world from evil dragons. And in this unified universe, she is a rookie popstar that has conquered the digital kingdom with both her divine voice and Uta-Loid. Ladies and gentlemen! Making her live debut before a worldwide audience, give your prayers to the Dragon Scion…THE VOICE!"
BGM- Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE OST-This World Isn't An Illusion
Luna exits the stage with a respectful gesture that introduces Tiki to the massive audience. Microphone in hand. Lights shining down on the divinity. As Tiki begins slow dancing, her gloves activate the holo-cape that spreads around her back, all in conjunction with her singing aloud and clear from the bottom of her heart, "That was the season I'd stare up, into the blue sky. With my tears running down. Drifting, and wandering in search of something. That I'd never know if I found."
All of Casino Street is mesmerized by her singing. Most notably her friends. Those with Team JNPR are loving it, with the likes of Donald, Pyrrha, and Noel getting teary-eyed. The trio of Kaine, Aracely, and Luna are watching her elegant performance from backstage, with Kaine himself displaying a proud little smirk at her singing, "But then, the tears that I cried felt so new. Gentlest and warmest since lifetimes ago. I'll always keep them held close in my heart. No matter how distant or far I must go."
Tiki noticed the clone's smirk and shoots him a wink before creating something grand to complement her singing. Using her Dragonstone to project a large mystical glyph above her head, "All the kindness I missed, you gave to me. Locked in a shard that I called my own. I can feel the warmth, melting my long-frozen heart. Cold from being alone. I know this world's not an illusion. You were the one who showed me. I see it so clear, thanks to you."
"Even more amazing in-person." Luna compliments her singing, just as she gets into the second half of her song.
"Naturally. She is my girlfriend after all." Kaine scoffed amongst his stoic boasting.
"Rare of you to admit that out-loud." Aracely smiled.
"Only when I get to rub it in." Kaine smirked, annoying Luna with his tease.
"You do know it's illegal for idols to date, right?" Luna sassed.
"Like I give a damn about rules." Kaine snarked, causing the icy popstar to shake her sassy head.
BGM End
BGM-Tekken: Bloodline OST-Ogre
Out of nowhere, the entire atmosphere around them darkens just as Kaine feels a terrible throbbing in his chest. It came to him as a shock that forces him down on his knees. He struggles in his gasps for air, fighting even harder to suppress the dark energy that's emitting from his body. "Kaine? What's wrong?" Luna exclaimed, wondering why he's in pain suddenly.
In agony, Kaine grunts, "Gurrghhh…M-My body…What's happening…? I…I don't have a Spider-Sense anymore…Yet I feel…something…"
"What?" Luna retorted with confusion stuck on her face.
At the audience seatings, Ren remains in control when his Aura picks up a disturbance in the atmosphere that both prompts his stern look and Dark Pit's attention. "What is it?" Dark Pit asked the huntsman.
"Trouble." Ren announced, concerning his friends around him.
The sky darkens into a stormy green that immediately forces Tiki to stop singing so she and her countless fans can look up at whatever is causing this phenomenon. A portal appears to be forming in the center of the storm, and dropping from it is an army of Ogre Clones. One of them letting out a terrifying, "ROOOAAAAAAAARRRRRR!", before his brethren begin destroying Casino Street Zone and forcing the populace to flee screaming.
"Get everyone out of here!" Jaune ordered the nearby Officer Layton.
"On it!" Layton retorted, quick in evacuating his husband, Annabelle, and the Cotta-Arc Family.
"Everyone, please remain calm and evacuate the premises immediately! This is NOT part of the performance-!" Tiki directed, using her microphone to reach the endangered civilians from atop her stage. Unfortunately, her efforts are interrupted by a surprise Ogre Clone that smacks her to the ground. It was going to attack again but was shoulder-tackled by Kaine, who is quick to carry Tiki to safety while Luna and Aracely combine their powers to kill the Toshin copy.
"Are you okay?" Kaine asked his girlfriend, after putting some distance between them and danger.
Tiki nods that assure him she's alright. Aracely and Luna quickly reunite with them, right before Jaune catches up to check their safety personally. "Kaine!" Jaune shouted, wondering where he's been and why the Ogres are attacking.
The concert stage has been deserted. All part of the plan of a certain Jackal in a lab coat that grabs the dropped microphone to make an important announcement to all of Casino Street, "HELLOOOOOO! Is this thing on? Testing, testing, can everyone hear me?"
Kaine is the first to notice the voice and spot its owner. The second he found him, his face was struck with shock before becoming ensnared by rage and hatred. "No…!" He snarled.
Laughing maniacally is The Jackal in all his psychotic glory. His bestial look is terrifying the masses and his crazy flaunts are taunting the heroes aware of his presence. His evil voice corrupts the soundwaves as he takes over Luna Snow's equipment to give the crowd exactly what they don't want to hear, "HELLO, HOUSTON! Sorry to crash the musical but I have my own symphony that I've been dying to share! The name's Jackal, Professor of Chaos and Tragedy, and boy do I have a song that you'll love to DEATH! What my Ogres are giving you now is just a sample! To complete the tune, I need a Scarlet Singer that can shoot webs as pathetic as his DNA! Better hope he's listening in or my band will tour the rest of the city! Don't keep me waiting, my boy! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
BGM End
"Warren, you bastard…Finally you show yourself." Kaine scowled, glaring at his creator from afar.
"That's your dad?" Jaune noted.
"Your what?" Luna exclaimed in shock.
"The source of all of my suffering, and Ben's. He saved me trouble by coming to me. Vengeance will finally be mine!" Kaine declared with a clenched fist, enduring that demonic throbbing he felt again.
BGM-Tekken: Bloodline OST-Reminiscence
Kaine barely got a step in when suddenly Tiki grabs him by the hand to stop him from advancing his path of revenge. "No, Kaine! This is obviously a trap! Why come now of all times?" She questioned, pleading with her lover to stop.
"Who cares! He ruined your spotlight! The city is in danger because of me! This is what I've been training for! I must face my destiny, alone!" Kaine retorted, rudely shrugging off her hand.
"But, at this rate, you'll…" Tiki frowned, worried for his life that is in danger of expiring. Or worse, be consumed by the darkness of the Ghost Rider.
A comforting hand on her shoulder from Jaune then reassures her of his wellbeing. "We just gotta believe in him. If he needs help, we'll give it to him, whether he likes it or not." He smiled, sharing a silent stare of understanding with the brooding clone.
Jaune's reassurance isn't enough. She wants to hear it from Kaine himself. "Kai-Kai…Just…I don't want to be left alone again…" Tiki said, bringing up her past trauma with loneliness.
"You're not anymore. You have Aracely and the others." Kaine reminded her.
"I know, but…I love you." Tiki said with tears streaming down her eyes.
Softly, Kaine dries her tears and tells her, "…I love you too. That's why I HAVE to do this. I'm your guardian, but most importantly we're family. I won't fail again. I'll be back for you. I promise." He assured her, which was enough to get her to smile while putting her mind at ease for now.
"Stay strong for me, kid." Kaine told Aracely.
"Okay!" Aracely responded confidently.
BGM End
Kaine said what said, and with a determined glare at his fatherly objective, races off to his destiny. "Let's get everyone out of here." Luna suggested to Jaune.
BGM-Tekken 6 OST-Burning
"Right. Those Ogres will regret interrupting your singing." Jaune nodded. The huntsman leader then gives the divine dragon a concerned look, saying, "Tiki?" She responds with a stern nod that assures him she's ready to fight instead of worry, much to his relief. "The rest is up to him." He stated, with the four multiversal heroes staring at the direction their spider-defender went.
Civilians fleeing from the danger in one direction. Kaine is running toward the danger in the opposite direction. Zipping between their shadows to put on pieces of his costume. "You can do this, Scarlet Spider." Jaune said, unheard by the fully-costumed Scarlet Spider dashing into the fight as a menacing fireball. Ogre Clones are endangering civilians in his way and makes the effort to save them, starting with a Mobian family that had their Ogre killed by his spine-crushing kick. Web Strikes are delivered to more Ogres in rapid succession before going for a spinning, web-slinging flaming kick that smashes through all but one, who is used as a makeshift bounce pad that he crushes sends him to a higher platform. From here, he has a good view of the Jackal and his two Ogre bodyguards at the music stage. Vengeful yet cunning, Scarlet knocks over a nearby card stack that pulls him forward on their card-pet for a sneak attack. His hellwebbing surprises the demons by pulling and ensnaring them together as a giant fireball. After leaping into the air to initiate his Ultimate Hellweb Throw, Scarlet lets out a furious roar while executing the attack, confusing Jackal seconds before he is struck by the explosive throw.
BGM End
BGM-Spider-Man 3 (Game) OST-Scorpion #1
Kaine lands before the hellish flames with a glare that is awaiting Warren's survival. A sinister laugh confirms his suspicions as the imposing Jackal walks out of the flames unscathed and in a good mood, having been looking forward to this family reunion for months. "Ah, there you are. My little monster hiding as a wannabe hero that continues to do more harm than good. Anything you want to say to dear old daddy?" Jackal mockingly greets his wayward creation.
"Miles…" Scarlet uttered with such venom in his tongue. Expressing his absolute hatred for the man that created him to be a monster. Such rage awakens his inner Ghost Rider, shrouding his body in flames and demonizing his voice, "Jackal…", just briefly before he regains enough control to roar, "WARREN!", much to Jackal's disappointment. "You've had this coming for a very long time. Your very existence brings tragedy to the world!" He confronts him with this.
"You're one to talk. You've tortured worlds in more ways than I designed you for." Jackal countered.
"This is all to exterminate the evils that have threatened good people." Scarlet fiercely claimed.
"Hah! Does that extend to yourself?" Jackal notes his suicidal thoughts. He then smirks, "Still a miserable prototype, Kaine Warren.", all just to taunt him further.
"Shut up!" Scarlet snapped, ready to snap his neck after years of torture and abuse thanks to him.
The fist of the Spider is clenched. The claws of the Jackal are popped. Both dark forces charge at each other with roars filled with either rage or maniacal, as father and son strike each other that signifies the start of their epic showdown.
Swiftly, Jackal recovers to roll away from his son's raging fireball and throw an uppercut that Kaine backflips away from multiple times. Gaining the distance for a blitzing web-zip kick that his father ducks under with a smile, then hits his back with a chemical grenade that disorients him. "Ethyl Chloride…" Kaine coughs within the smoke while noting the one weakness all Spiders have.
Jackal then unleashes his surprising martial arts skills on his weakened creation by striking him with swift and powerful blows at high speeds. He goes for a deadly swipe, grinning, "You're grounded!", right before it connects on Kaine.
"Pathetic old man!" Scarlet regained the strength to quickly endure his strike and retaliate with a repelling kick. With much power focused on his next roundhouse punch, Scarlet delivers a single powerful blow directly to Warren's shocked face, smashing him into backstage where Scarlet angrily tells him, "It was you! YOU cursed me with the Spirit of Vengeance!"
"Guilty as charged. And I see you're still not living up to my very low expectations." Jackal grunted with a taunting grin, noting Kaine's refusal to give in to the Ghost Rider.
"I'll skin you outta that fur coat!" Kaine yelled, launching a dashing claw swipe.
"Sorry, the Convergence made me quite attach to it." Jackal quips while easily jumping over his son's attack. "I'm a full-blown Faunus now. Made superior to the average Cross-Species thanks to my own modifications." He then throws his lab coat to blind Scarlet and proceeds to beat on him. "I should show off my claws to that catgirl you seem to like so much." He grinningly threatens to kill Blake Belladonna.
"Leave her out of this!" Scarlet furiously bursts out flames that both burns the coat and knocks his enemy aback, then punches the ground that sends a fire wave that travels the ground to smash Warren back to the main stage.
"Touchy. Where was this dedication for Ben? Oh right. You were more dedicated in slaughtering him! And everyone else that got in your way! You think putting on a mask and stealing his mantle will bring either of you peace? How long did you torment him? TORTURE him? And now you believe yourself a hero?" Jackal's taunts keep fueling Kaine's rage and recklessness, making it far too easy to counter all of his moves. Even after Kaine lands a somewhat decent counterstrike, his father continues to mock him, "Once a monster, always a monster. A villain from beginning to end and beyond death, just like his old man. Do you even realize the countless lives you've sacrificed for your pathetic crusade?" He questioned before throwing another attack at him.
"Yeah…" Scarlet retorts while infusing hellflame into his right hand. His mind flashes back to all the atrocities he has caused over the years, from his fights with Ben Reilly to the chaos he spread during the Spider-Virus incident, "I must atone for my sins!" He delivers a swift spinning backfist that knocks Warren aback before recalling his Peter Parker memories and the times he lost control of his Ghost Rider powers, "The radioactive spider-blood running through my veins…And the Ghost Rider hungering in my soul…" He briefly summons his Ghost Rider power to drag his ignited hand on the ground, yelling, "I SHALL DESTROY YOU!", whilst unleashing a fiery claw slash that left a crispy mark on the Jackal.
BGM End
BGM-Spider-Man 3 (Game) OST-The Mad Bomber #1
It's become clear Scarlet won this round. His overall power trumps his father's. Despite that and his injuries, Jackal stands back up laughing accompanied with more taunts, "You're becoming as funny as Parker. Come on, reunite me with Tarantula."
"If only you were dead…" The snarling Kaine begins tapping into his Semblance to bulk up. "Once I kill you…" Then his mask gains the extra spider-eyes. "IT'LL ALL BE OVER!" He gives into the Tarantula power completely and launches himself straight for Warren while unveiling his four spider-legs, landing an unseeable flying kick that sends Jackal flying to a barely populated section of Casino Street that he follows him to.
"Is that Scarlet Spider?!"
"There are monsters everywhere!"
Civilians flee in terror from the mutated Scarlet Tarantula who doesn't care about them at all. His rage is focused on one person and one person only. The Jackal. He goes for another roaring attack when it is suddenly blocked by a green Ogre's buckler shield. This Ancient Ogre is far stronger than the clones, easily pushing back the transformed Kaine with a single monstrous uppercut.
"This one's green." Scarlet Tarantula grunted. Then he feels that weird sensation again. It's looking like he's suffering a heart attack after collapsing onto a knee. His Ghost Rider is being affected by something. And from what Kaine can tell, it's reacting to the presence of this Ogre, "And his power…It's calling to my Spirit…Why…? So infuriating…"
"This God of Fighting is the original Ogre. Brought back to life using the same tech that dragged your ass outta Hell. Had to clone a SHIELD Agent to adopt your new brother." Jackal explained.
"God or brother…I'll kill ANYONE that gets in my way of killing you!" Kaine scowled, fighting through the growing corruption to focus his abilities in destroying Ogre.
"Better stick to that. Ogre, keep pissing him off for me." Jackal ordered.
"3XF$VD24!" Ogre Prime declared his intention in his alien language, that being to begin the slaughter.
BGM End
At the outskirts of Casino Street Zone, a set of plant doors appears out of nowhere through divine magic. Walking out of the doors is their creator Viridi and the S.T.R.I.K.E. team tasked to investigate Houston for the Jackal's whereabouts. And from the looks of civilians fleeing from Ogre Clones, they are close to their target. "Look at this party." Dante whistles nonchalantly at this terrible situation.
"Dammit, we're too late! Ogres are flooding the place!" Heihachi scowled.
"Viridi, you're our navigator! Update us on everything and Scarlet Spider's location! Rest of us, split into two! Take down as many Ogres and rescue as many people as you can!" Knuckles commanded his team.
BGM-Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order OST-Under Siege
The five heroes split up, all of them coordinating with each other to save Casino Street in the best and coolest way possible. Knuckles and Dante form a pair. Fists and sword working in harmony to punish all Ogres threatening innocents. Dante spins his sword that keeps an Ogre suspended in midair, then strikes with his Million Stabs technique from the ground while Knuckles assists with his Drill Claw from the air. The party gets heated as Knuckles knocks several Ogres upward with a dashing punch, getting them all caught in the electrifying solo of Dante's Nevan, jamming on the guitar-like devil weapon that controls both electricity and bloodthirsty bats.
The battle is going smoothly for the heroes, especially as Dante reunites with a huntress that attended Luna Snow's concert. It's Pyrrha Nikos, impressively holding her own against some Ogres. "Lemme give ya a hand with those." Dante whips out his dual pistols to assist, shooting at the demons from the side and showering them from above, swiftly switching to his sword to bisect an Ogre before being noticed by Pyrrha.
"You're…Dante?" The shocked Pyrrha recalls him from his participation in the Goblin War. "What are you doing here?" She asked her fellow hunter.
"I'm a Devil Hunter. I go where the demons are with the hope they pay off my debt." Dante quipped, just as Knuckles makes his presence known to the huntress.
"Where's Scarlet?" Knuckles asked her.
"Fighting Jackal alone. Rest of my team's been busy with evacuation." Pyrrha answered.
"So Jackal IS behind this. Keep up the evacuation. We'll help you out." Knuckles retorted. Immediately after, the trio is confronted by two Ogres eager for battle. Dante equips his Beowulf gauntlets for the fight right as Knuckles scowls, "Want to steal our souls too? Not without a fight!" The brawlers and demons then collide destructive punches that quake the battlefield. Pyrrha goes for the assist but is intercepted by a third Ogre that smacks her afar.
"Kid!" Dante shouted with concern for the Grimm Huntress.
Pyrrha crashes near a scared family with children that are at risk of being killed by the arriving Ogre Clone. "Get out of here! I'll get its attention!" Pyrrha shouts at them to run, which they do past the alien demon. The Ogre Clone looks at them, contemplating to kill, until he is shot in the head by Pyrrha's rifle. "You're fighting me!" She glared whilst striking a determined fighting stance.
Pyrrha rushes for a quick combo that is easily blocked by the Ogre Clone and gets hammered in the back, then brutally smacked through several slot machines. The huntress weakly walks back into the fight and is kicked back for her troubles. Her shield does its best blocking all of the demon's blows, annoying it into throwing a mighty punch that Pyrrha subtly deflects by using her Polarity Semblance on his metallic bracelets, granting her the opportunity for a swift counterstrike that briefly knocks him down. Both fighters are extremely skilled in the midst of their clash, but it is Pyrrha that gains the killing edge with a spear toss into his heart. She pulls out her weapon from the dead clone, right before a squadron of clones ambush her into near-death and force her to scatter her weapons.
BGM End
"Aura's gone and disarmed of weapons. Oh well…" Pyrrha muttered, sounding and looking weak in the center of the Ogres surrounding her. "At least those people got to safety. That's all that matters…That's what it means to be a huntress." She stands panting, almost as if she is surrendering her fate to the murderous demons. Her mind struggles to stay conscious. As it does, it flashes back to her recent talks with Nora, then Kaine.
'You take your responsibilities way too seriously…'
'With great power there must also come great responsibility, but what he refuses to accept that it also comes with great suffering for everyone connected to him…'
BGM-RWBY: Ice Queendom OST-Fight Mode
Grunting from those memories puts Pyrrha on the path of regaining her composure as she admits in her thoughts, '…Hate to admit it, but they might have a point. I've always felt as though I was destined to become a Huntress, to protect the world. No matter the cost. I would gladly sacrifice my life if it'll bring peace. But, at the expense of my friends' happiness?' That last thought alone enrages her. Causing her clenched fist to shake with an awakened electrifying power, 'That I cannot allow.' The Ogres ready themselves to kill her and steal her soul just as the huntress continues her monologue, 'Jaune…There are still things I want to say to you…I won't die until I find the courage to tell you…And I'll make certain I won't die until we enjoy our lives to their fullest! Fate isn't predetermined! It's a goal!' She thought, with her eyes suddenly glowing with red electromagnetic energy.
An electrical bubble soon surrounds Pyrrha that levitates her to the air. It doubles as a magnetic shield attracting objects the size of cars. The Ogres, as well as the red heroes that were fighting them, become stunned by the appearance of the Celebrity Huntress levitating in the eye of her spinning scrap metal of a hurricane. "I WILL KEEP FIGHTING FOR THE DESTINY WHERE WE ALL LIVE HAPPY!" Pyrrha declared with a strengthened resolve and the awakened Cross Power of Electromagnetism. With this new power, she fires off a tidal wave of metal that dissects all but one Ogre Clone. The last one taken apart by Pyrrha's new technique through electromagnetism. "Magnetic Shockwave!" She slams her hand to the ground that unleashes a cascading eruption of energy that tears apart the demonic copy.
"Whoa, intense. Kid got an electromagnetic upgrade." Dante noted.
"Her Cross Art! Getting in a fight like this pushed her beyond her limits! She's on her way into becoming an unstoppable huntress!" Knuckles smiled proudly.
"A Huntress of Magnetism." Dante joked with his own proud grin.
BGM End
Pyrrha exhausted herself from her unmastered power and collapses onto a knee. Another Ogre is nearby but is quickly killed by Jaune's Adamantium Sword upon arriving to check on his teammate. "Pyrrha!" Jaune shouted, rushing to her aid, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, thanks to you." Pyrrha smiled gratefully, as it was their bond that awakened her Cross Art.
"What did I do?" Jaune retorts with adorable confusion at her statement.
Right after Jaune helps her up, Viridi contacts the party via telepathy to inform them of something, 'I got a fix on Scarlet's location!'
"Where?" Knuckles retorted.
His question is answered by the notice of an explosion in the distance followed by the loud clashing of fierce fighting. "Kaine, you're being reckless…" Pyrrha scowls, sensing that he's losing control of his rage in the middle of his own fight.
BGM-Spider-Man 3 (Game) OST-Carlyle #3 ~ Subway Bombs
Spider and Toshin continue to go at it in a pinball area. Ogre Prime strikes Scarlet Tarantula with his Infinite Kick Combo until he is knocked to the ground, only for the raging webhead to bounce back and claw the demon in the face immediately with his spider-legs. Both his punches are caught by Ogre but Kaine's pincers are still able to skewer him, pull him for a point-blank Hellweb Breath to the face that pushes him back. Ogre returns the favor with his Ispusteke, throwing around the surprised arachnid with telekinesis. Annoyed, Kaine distracts him with a blinding web shot before bouncing around the arena with his superfast agility. The second Ogre rips off his blinds, he is met by the terrifying Tarantula and his Spider Sting uppercut that sends him flying upwards, which is followed up by his flaming Spider Bite that slams to the grounds near the floating platform where the Jackal is observing their showdown with glee.
"You're holding your own against the Toshin quite well, sonny-boy. This is exactly what I've dreamed of. To clone life itself and make it superior in all ways to ordinary man. You, Kaine, have met that goal. Transcended it! You have ALWAYS stood above the laws and pathetic moralities of humanity! For that, you have made me prouder than that failure we called Ben Reilly." Jackal grinned, explaining his dream in life.
"Bullshit! ALL OF IT! Your only intention was to use me as a weapon against Spider-Man! I was DYING, body and mind, from your lousy experiments the second I came outta that damn pod and did EVERYTHING to control that pain!" Scarlet retorted angrily, both in voice and in the fisticuffs he's trading with Ogre Prime.
"My intentions were sincere. Noble. The pride of my heart! Though I will admit your cellular structure IS irregular. But what if those very irregularities are what made you stronger than both Reilly and Parker? Giving you extraordinary abilities that neither of them possessed?!" Jackal argued.
"And I suppose that's why I'm bonded to a Ghost Rider right now, taking advantage of my Anti-Convergium that is eating me alive from the inside out, to turn me into a zombie demon that will destroy the world?" Scarlet snarked, ferociously throwing Ogre at Warren, who easily avoids him.
"Now, son, I never told you life would be easy. That said, have you ever considered the fact that you were never dying at all? That the Ghost Rider is cleansing you of your sins? That, perhaps, your body has been fighting, all this time, to absorb the incredible power within your cells, within your soul, and find a new balance? Perhaps this isn't the end of your life, Kaine, but the beginning?" Jackal claimed.
Kaine is too busy being consumed by rage to argue. He lunges at the evasive Jackal and accidently gets himself used as a pinball that keeps getting ricochetted by bumpers and get stuck in a slot machine. "So perhaps the wisest course would be for you to surrender to your anguish. ALLOW yourself to be torn down…and then raised up again a new man. One utterly devoted to vengeance." Jackal advised evilly, being the one behind the pinball controls until he earns 100,000 points and the machine spits out the bruised Scarlet Tarantula.
"You're…lying!" Scarlet weakly claimed, before being stomped and pinned in the back by the returning Ogre Prime.
"Why would I lie? I'm sure your so-called friends have been saying much the same. Except they believe that you can change for heroism. That's foolish. You chase a redemption that you know you can never deserve. I am your creator. Your father. I know you better than you know yourself. And we both know that your hatred for me surpasses any love you have for them." Jackal argued with a stern glare.
Scarlet acknowledges his solid argument with a simmering growl. Pushing himself to ignite his body in order to force Ogre off of him. "…I know this 'family' of ours have no place in this world. I'll send you and this Ogre to Hell…and join you soon after!" Scarlet declared solemnly. Backflipping onto a large web he just created to crouch on, Scarlet Tarantula binds Ogre with webbing to prevent him from fleeing this devastating attack. The spider-clone rips apart multiple slot machines with ease with multiple weblines, not intimidating Ogre in the slightest even with this cold taunt, "Just try and survive this…" With roaring ferocity, Kaine throws the machines that bury the Fighting God. His spider-eyes glow alongside his X-Factor activating, powering up his Hellweb Breath to its maximum potential. Kaine stands on business and proceeds to spew a massive flaming wave that torches the whole arena.
BGM End
"This is the end for you!" Scarlet Tarantula declared after jumping off his web.
BGM-Tekken 7 OST-Desperate Struggle
Ogre lies motionless in the ground that makes it effortless for Scarlet Tarantula to pick him up by the face. Growling, he smashes him through a wall and continues to use him as a battering ram across the whole Zone. His roars intensify upon going for a leaping slam dunk through a manhole, smashing Ogre to the depths of the sewers to continue their explosive smackdown. None sees what is happening down there. Who is winning and who is losing. It is all realized when someone is spotted being uppercutted out of the sewers. It is Scarlet, suddenly losing to Ogre and his full power unleashed. Flight aids him in pursuit of Kaine, and his own fire powers empowers his blows that quickly overwhelm the tiring arachnid. The one-sided clash flies over the teams of Jaune and Knuckles, where they all catch a glimpse of the tragic action.
"Ogre!" Heihachi shouted.
"Scarlet Spider!" Ren exclaimed, with additional concern.
A fiery kick smacks Kaine down amidst some fiery ruins in Casino Street. Ogre hovers above his foe, saying, "K#F24DF%!", with his alien tongue that basically states his intention to finish this fight. He charges a fiery punch at Scarlet, who retaliates with his own flaming fist.
The awestrucking collision of fists is noticed by the trio of Naoto, Hummingbird, and Tiki nearby. The former wondering, "What the hell is going on over there?!"
"He's…losing." Hummingbird sensed with dread, using her telepathy to detect Kaine at the losing end. Hearing that worries Tiki. Pushing the determined dragon to transform and fly to his assistance despite his earlier protest. "Tiki! Wait for me!" Hummingbird shouted while rushing to catch up with her.
Meanwhile, Scarlet loses his clash to Ogre and proceeds to get beat by the abilities he absorbed from his victims. The raw power of The Thing overwhelms him. The masterful skills of Shang Chi surpass him. The Auras of Team CFVY amplify his defenses, truly securing his dominance in this climactic battle before the observing eyes of Jackal.
"You're really ignoring Parker's 'genius', aren't you? What part of 'God of Fighting' didn't you understand? He was created to be the ultimate combat weapon that grows stronger from souls. And thanks to the soul-searching his clones have been on, Ogre is the most powerful weapon in the world! Unrivaled by those that are too scared to embrace their true nature!" Jackal grinned sinisterly, claiming that Kaine would stand a better chance if he surrendered to his Ghost Rider.
"Keep spouting crap. I WILL beat you…Even if it costs me everything!" Kaine voiced, utilizing all his remaining strength to put up his best counterstrike yet that pushes Ogre back for a moment.
"Just keep proving my point. FINISH HIM ALREADY!" Jackal ordered Ogre Prime to unleash the finishing blow.
Ogre complies by unleashing his ultimate attack on Scarlet Tarantula: Hell Inferno. His fiery punch knocks the bug high into the air before assaults him with a spinning attack covered in darkness. The darkness then clears from the wings he sprouts from his flames, the same power that also manifest horns and a tail. With this flaming armor, Ogre promptly crashes the screaming Kaine onto the ground, resulting in a massive explosion that signifies the battle's end.
BGM End
Ancient Ogre ascends into the air victorious, hovering near his resurrector and their defeated enemy. That last attack forced Kaine back to his human force, battered and with a damaged costume. One of his lenses broke completely as his legs struggle to stand and confront his taunting enemies. "What a sad performance from a superhero. Not only you got your ass beat in front of everyone but you made an awesome mess of the joint." Jackal gets him noticing the collateral damage that he caused during the fight, "I doubt you can count the total casualties your rampage racked up. You're a shoo-in for that F on the test, even if you score the bonus question."
BGM-Sonic Frontiers OST-The Losing Soul
Gleefully, Jackal turns his attention to the arriving Tiki and Hummingbird. Realizing the bonus question refers to their demise, the horrified Scarlet yells, "NO!", but is too weak to stop what happens next. Ogre darts for Hummingbird and smashes her to a death-like state in one blow. "ARACELY!" Scarlet exclaimed. Dragon Tiki holds her own against the Toshin, but it didn't take long for her to be defeated thanks to Ogre stealing her soul. "TIKI!" Kaine cried out. He finds the strength to both move again and punch the demon away thanks to a mysterious green energy surrounding his body. Kaine had no idea what he did nor cared in the slightest. All his focus is on holding Tiki's human and motionless body.
"Tiki! TIKI! Damn you…Don't do this to me. Don't…Please…" Kaine said, desperately trying to wake her up. But it was all in vain. To his eyes, she looks dead. Those same eyes start tearing up and his whole face weeps quietly on the girl he was supposed to protect as her guardian. On the woman that he loved.
"Her soul's gone, boy. You're not cut out for this hero stuff after all." Jackal mocked his son.
"Peter…Ben…I still can't protect anybody!" Kaine sadly muttered, now being haunted with the memories of Ben Reilly and Louise Kennedy. His brother and first love respectively. Remembering how they both died because of him. Those painful memories light a dark fire in his soul. Causing that weird sensation he has been feeling all night go into overdrive. His despair being consumed by the rage and hatred that he has been at war with since forever. His arms let go of Tiki as his whole body is starting to become consumed by hellfire.
"You can still get revenge for them. Kaine, let forth the demon within you. Wield your webs with fury!" Jackal goaded, pressuring him into surrendering to vengeance.
BGM End
The other STRIKE heroes finally arrive at this tragic scene, with a concerned Nora asking, "What happened here?"
"That's the original Ogre! How did Jackal bring him back to life?" Knuckles wondered upon noticing Ogre Prime.
"Knuckles! Something is wrong with Scarlet!" Naoto shouted, getting everyone to notice Scarlet's flaming agony.
"Scarlet!?" Noel shouted with great concern for her fellow clone.
BGM-Dragon Ball Super: Broly OST-Broly's Rage and Sorrow
"Gwuuuuaah…GWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Consumed with grief and anger and hatred, Kaine lets out a mighty scream while his body explodes absolutely. The seal on his power shatters from the intensity of an erupting volcano. That is what Scarlet Spider is feeling right now. His body darkens into a terrifying silhouette within demonic energy resembling a massive fiery geyser that blows back some of his allies. 'Have I been lying… about my true nature all this time? The power is building within. It wants me to destroy everything! The Spirit of Vengeance Mephisto and the others mentioned…This…is…my…destiny…' Kaine thought, feeling his humanity being consumed by hellflame and replaced with a soul beyond monsters.
"Hey, Scarlet! What's wrong!?" Jaune shouted, noticing the flames dying down.
"I…" In the midst of the hellflames is a hulkish Man-Spider that resembles Scarlet Tarantula but barely sounds like Kaine at all. His voice has become more demonic than monstrous. His head appearing as a skull wrapped with scarlet fire.
"Your head is on fire…? Hey, no way, Kaine!" Jaune noted in great horror.
"I am the…Tarantula…of…!" This Man-Tarantula continues to speak. His flames revealing his clothless black-furred body with a red spider-symbol manifesting on his chest.
"Kaine, what are you talking about!? Get a grip, man!" Jaune tried reasoning with him in vain. As this Spider is no longer the Scarlet he knew.
"I AM THE TARANTULA OF VENGEANCE!" The demonic Kaine revealed himself in all his petrifying glory, unleashing a roar so intense that the shockwave fans the surrounding flames into nothing.
"FINALLY! THE GHOST TARANTULA HAS AWAKENED!" Jackal laughed triumphantly.
'Kaine. Has the…the day finally come?' Jaune thought sadly, recalling his promise to kill Kaine if he ever lost control. Unfortunately for the huntsman, it would appear that day is today.
"I will destroy all sinners…! Must destroy everything!" The newly-transformed Ghost Tarantula snarled. His bloody red aura boiling, Kaine uses his new power of teleportation to suddenly appear before Ogre Prime and grab then lift him up by the face, "My Spirit thirst for your blood!" His hand ignites alongside his six lifeless eyes erupting in hellfire. His newfound Penance Stare and his classic Mark of Kaine fuse into a force unequaled in the Spider-Verse. The Penance Mark. Body, mind, and soul. Ogre feels all three being flamed by his countless sins. His whole, roaring body bursting into scarlet flames before being dropped motionless on the ground with a scarred face.
BGM End
"I-Incredible!" Pyrrha said, left astonished by his demonic power that's beyond her awakened Cross Art.
"Nice upgrade to the Mark of Kaine. You must've missed doing that." Jackal joked.
"W-What just happened? Scarlet Spider!?" The confused Heihachi questioned his Devil-like power.
"Be devoured!" Ghost Tarantula snarled at the weakened Ogre.
BGM-Tekken: Bloodline OST-Lamentation
Surprisingly, Ogre still has enough strength to fly himself back to Jackal's side as the mad scientist tells his demonic son, "Can't let you do that. It's tiresome bringing you pets back to life. Save your energy for the Sin Hunt. You haven't earned the privilege to kill the REAL me yet. I'm just a clone, that's still more handsome than you. If you want me, you have to kill the other sinners that have made your life miserable. Don't let humanity drag you down like before. In the meantime, I have an Alien Hedgehog and a Devil Boy to capture."
"Alien Hedgehog and Devil Boy…? Jackal, what are you planning?! Did you awaken Kaine's power on purpose?!" Knuckles angrily questioned him.
"Just fulfilling my end of the bargain. Ta-Ta!" Jackal smiled cryptically, having Ogre conjure a portal for the two of them to retreat to.
Ghost Tarantula tries to follow them but the portal closed before he could claw out some fur off his creator. He lets out a furious roar to the heavens, all while Noel rushes to help him regain his senses. "Kaine, calm down-!" She said, viciously interrupted by him smacking her to Dark Pit's arms.
"HEY! We're on YOUR side, you idiot!" Dark Pit snarked.
Blinded by rage and darkness, Kaine sees all friends as prey that must be exterminated. He tries roasting them all with his fire breath until Dante forces him to stop with a leaping sword slash. "Don't want to hurt you, kid. We're a lot alike. Remember your humanity." Dante scowled, trying to help his fellow half-demon return to normal.
Ghost Tarantula growls maliciously at the Devil Hunter and wants to kill him for getting in his way. But then one of his eyes catch a look at Tiki. She's under Luna Snow's care and is being healed by her light ice powers. Arousing her from unconsciousness just enough to whisper, "Kai-Kai…"
Seeing her alive awakens his inner humanity that isn't putting up much of a fight against his inner demon, "…I…I…am…" Still, it was enough to convince Ghost Tarantula to retreat for now. Leaping high into the night sky like a flying tragic fireball that roars, "GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!", all the way at the heavens before vanishing without a trace. His friends tried to stop him, particularly Jaune, Noel, and Dark Pit, but they were too late and left heartbroken at what has become of their friend. Scarlet Spider no more. The rampage of the Ghost Tarantula has begun.
BGM End
BGM-Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 OST-Gallery
KFX Here: Things should start speeding up now that we're halfway done with this Devil Arc. A few things to note: Tiki's whole popstar career was inspired by her character from the crossover video game, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, where she was basically Hatsune Miku. Another thing is Dante still sporting his DMC 4 attire. Lastly, I have begun brainstorming the next saga after the Time War Saga. I know a lot of you have waited over 2 years for the sequel to The Solaris Dynasty. It's coming, but you might have to wait another year. The next saga will be focused with crossing over with other Sega franchises, that's the current plan. Please be patient. I would really appreciate it.
Merged Locations:
- Casino Street Zone (Sonic 4): Relocated to Houston (Marvel)
Cross Arts:
- Pyrrha Nikos: Electromagnetism – manipulate all forms of energy within the electromagnetic spectrum like electricity and gamma rays (Inspired by Magneto/Polaris from Marvel Comics)
XenoSlayer983: I wanted to watch Deadpool & Wolverine in theaters but I just don't have the time. It's on my To-Do List. I'll watch it once it's on Disney Plus or something.
KnightSpark: You sure the forum link is not working? I tested it multiple times. It works. Try again. If it doesn't, you might have to search for it the long way.
Spider-Sonic Prime: As of now, 5 chapters left in the Devil Arc.
Renato Chacin: Not including the Sentry or the Ever After anytime soon.
Next Time: Vengeance on Harry Osborn! Three Scarlet Rivals Clash in the Ultimate Brawl!
Please leave a review that'll tell me what you thought of this chapter! What did you like? What didn't you like? Would really appreciate the feedback.
Feel free to check out my TV Tropes Page titled "Fanfic/United Heroes". Some fans of mine created it and I am thankful to them. You are welcome to edit the page.
Remember: I have a forum page! Link can be found on my homepage or search for the "United Heroes" forums!
BGM End
