BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Story
Jaune: The name's Jaune Arc. Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue, ladies love it. What started as a night with friends ended in disaster. The Jackal attacked Houston with his army of Ogre Clones to goad Scarlet Spider into a fight. He lost, and when it looked like Tiki and Aracely died, he lost his soul to his Spirit of Vengeance. Now the Ghost Tarantula, he is hellbent in destroying everything for revenge. I gotta stop you, Kaine! Even if I have to…!
BGM End
Volume 1 Issue 23: Fated Retribution
Mall Mayhem, New Vale City. (6 Days Since the Convergence)
There's a new mall in town. Mall Mayhem. Both a colorful and lively multi-tiered shopping center that is living up to its name. Numerous shoppers are screaming, fleeing from a disruptive force just as the S.T.R.I.K.E. Heroes consisting of Jin Kazama, Doctor Strange, Xiaoyu, and Angel enter the mall to investigate.
"This is definitely the place." Xiaoyu joked about the disturbance.
"The Unknown is here. I can feel her lifeforce with my Life Seed powers. Odd since it felt like she was hiding it for a while." Angel announced, as the team have been hunting down Unknown since her attack on Kamar-Taj Academy.
BGM-Tekken 6 OST-Karma (Electric Fountain)
At an upper floor is Unknown causing a scene in a Japanese-themed store. All she's doing is walking around giving customers and employees alike a creepy smile that scares them into running for the hills. Her smile disappears upon dodging a flying punch from Jin and her back is struck by Xiaoyu. Both Tekken fighters assault her from opposite sides, keeping her distracted from Angel striking her with a point-blank blast of light. Unknown is knocked back then binded by the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak, conjured by Doctor Strange descending to his friends' side.
"Surrender and return the Life Seed to us. We do not want to hurt you." Strange tried reasoning with her.
Just like at Kamar-Taj, Unknown isn't interested in talking. She just gives them a mysterious stare that annoys Jin into retorting, "The same as before, huh? If you've got something to tell us, just come out and say it."
Unknown responds with a giant slimy hand from the ground that smacks the heroes aback while she frees herself from the mystical chains. Both floor and ceiling become corrupt by her dark power that construct spikes that keeps knocking them around in time for one of her signature moves: Kasanegasumi – Mizuchi. Strange is bounced to her enigmatic palm strike that rams him onto the others like a bowling ball, leading to all four heroes being smacked out of the store by a large hand construct.
"Just what is her deal? Any clue, Jin?" Xiaoyu grunted in annoyance at her incredible power.
"…No. And I don't want to." Jin responded stoically, having mixed feelings about Unknown since her presence reminds him of someone from his painful past.
"Despite how it appears, I'm not sensing any hostility from her. I sense a different kind of motive in her." Strange sensed, utilizing his mystical martial arts that clashes evenly with Unknown's Kazama Style, countering some of her attacks with teleportation and enduring her dark energy.
BGM End
Angel and Xiaoyu rush to lend the doctor an assist. Jin would've done the same but was caught off-guard by a length of searing hot living chain wrapping itself around his body. "What?!" He exclaimed, before being hellishly yanked to the bottom floor.
"JIN!" shouted Xiaoyu, concerned upon noticing him being attacked by a new challenger.
Jin crashes at the bottom floor near several people risking their lives to watch this upcoming showdown. As the Mishima Head recovers, he hears the sound of a motorcycle racing toward him. It's not an ordinary motorcycle as he can see the hellfire infused into it to give it that terrifying aura. Its Rider is the complete opposite of ordinary too, a flaming skullhead outfitted in black motorcyclist gear. He parks his bike before the glaring Kazama, getting off his dematerializing vehicle to confront him with, "I would pray now. A lot.", with an intimidating demonic voice.
BGM-Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 OST-Theme of Ghost Rider
"Another demon?" Jin confronted this new enemy.
"They call me Ghost Rider. I am summoned when innocent blood is shed. And YOU have shed much innocent blood." The famous Ghost Rider introduced himself.
'Ghost Rider? Isn't that the same demon Scarlet Spider is cursed with?' Jin recalled.
Jin's battle with this Spirit of Vengeance starts off him with him rigorously evading a trashing from his hellfire chains. He deflects them with his gauntlet to punch out a lightning blast that pushes back Ghost Rider, who was barely hurt by his mortal power. "I don't have time to play with you." Jin said in a hurry to defeat Unknown, striking the demon with his Shun Musatsu move that knocks him high into the air.
"I know who you are, Jin Kazama." In midair, Ghost Rider regains his composure by ensnaring the fighter with his flaming chains for some brutal throws. "Head of the Mishima Zaibatsu." He said whilst throwing him through the window of one store. "Child of the Mishima Clan." Then throws him at an ice cream stand. "Carrier of the Devil Gene." Then pulls him to be kicked down and nearly stomped by his fiery feet. The two trade fisticuffs for a bit until Rider binds his hands with his burning chains. "Your wars with Shadaloo and G Corporation ruined much of your world. I will not allow your evil to harm this one." He declared, firing a potent hellfire beam that pushes Kazama away.
His facial devil markings then manifest, signifying that Jin's Devil Gene is taking over from the threat of death. He roars out a powerful Devil Beam that shatters Rider's skullhead. He looks dead, but only divine power can truly extinguish a Ghost Rider's flame. Thus, his head regenerates no problem and just talks as if that didn't happen, "Your Devil is on the cusp of taking over. My hellfire will extinguish your agony, along with your life." He then ignites Jin with an all-consuming column of hellfire that is at the risk of eradicating his screaming soul.
BGM End
But then, his attack is interrupted when Ghost Rider is stabbed in the back by a familiar slime spike. He turns around to find his surprise assailant being Unknown, who decided to save Jin for unknown reasons. "You! You're that other presence I felt. As if you were calling me…What is it that you want?" Ghost Rider asked her. And of course, Unknown doesn't answer him with words. Just with the action of vanishing into her ooze. "Gone." He frowned.
"Was that…Was that really her?" Jin muttered through his injuries, slowly piecing together her true identity.
"Jin!" shouted Xiaoyu, with her and Angel rushing to his aid.
"Johnnathon Blaze. What a pleasant surprise." Strange said upon reuniting with his fellow demon hunter.
"Strange, what is going on? First those Ogre demons have been stealing souls, and here I find you allied with this little devil in the middle of my shopping." Ghost Rider demanded.
"Like you with Zarathos, I have been helping young Kazama overcome his demons. But that woman stole the Life Seed that could free him from his fate." Strange answered, fearlessly at the Spirit of Vengeance.
"Easier said than done considering his crimes." Rider argued.
"Punish me later. My only concern is finding that woman." Jin retorted stoically.
From a grunt, Rider decides, "…I DO sense an odd connection between you two. Fine. I will join you in finding the truth, lest to prevent your Devil from awakening."
"If that does happen, stop me right then and there." Jin requested with a stern look that is acknowledged by Blaze's nod.
Park Plaza Hospital, Houston.
BGM-Mega Man ZX Advent OST- Relief (Tunes Ver.)
Hours have passed since the Jackal's attack on Houston. Tiki has been resting at the hospital since her near-death by Ancient Ogre's hand. Her recovery has been going well and her sleep was peaceful, up until her body starts reacting as a shivering mess to the nightmare she's experiencing, "Someone…stop me…Kaine…No, don't…My curse…NO!"
The Divine Dragon springs up from her bed, sweaty and panting. And in the presence of Aracely and Doctor Donald Meland. "Hey, she's awake!" Aracely smiled, consumed by happiness as she rushes to hug the confused Tiki.
"Easy! Easy…You're safe here." Donald gestured, calming her down.
"Donald…and Aracely? Where am I?" Tiki questioned.
"At the hospital. Your friends brought you in for treatment after what happened at the concert. Don't know anything about dragon physiology but I did my best. With help from Luna Snow's healing ice powers." Donald grinned in relief at her recovery.
Grateful, Tiki smiles at him, "Thank you. I'm feeling much better now.", before turning her attention to her young partner, "But what of you, Aracely? I remember you weren't moving after that creature attacked you."
"I've been alright. Luna healed me too. Sounds like you got the worst of it. You were having a nightmare." Aracely replied.
"One I haven't had since I was a child. I dreamt I lost control of my powers and endangered my friends. It was thanks to Kaine that I regained myself, but at the cost of him absorbing my darkness. Where is he now? Is he okay?" Tiki frowned, asking about her boyfriend.
Both her friends look down in sadness. Enough to confirm to her that Kaine indeed has fallen into darkness. Reborn as the Devilish Ghost Tarantula. None of his friends are happy about the aftermath. Not those in the patient room. And those in the waiting room. Luna Snow, Knuckles, Dark Pit, Viridi, Dante, Noel Vermillion, Naoto Kurogane, Heihachi Mishima, Team JNPR. All of them are in the waiting room waiting for Tiki while contemplating their massive failure at Casino Street Zone. Some are coping better than others. Others, specifically Jaune, feels the most frustrated about it by punching a wall in both anger and guilt.
"Dammit! How could I have let this happen?!" Jaune exclaimed.
"It wasn't your fault. Jackal manipulated all of us." Pyrrha frowned, trying to comfort her leader.
"I was the one that encouraged him to fight Jackal alone! I should've realized sooner that HE was the one that cursed his own son with the Ghost Rider to gain a new weapon! Why was I so stupid?!" Jaune expressed, feeling responsible for Kaine's return to evil.
"I don't think Jackal is completely to blame for all of this." Dante argued calmly, sensing a more sinister force behind the scenes.
"Stop pulling a Kaine and keep moping about it. We have to find them and stop them by any means necessary." Dark Pit declared apathetically, much to Jaune's disdain.
"You know it's not that simple! He's our friend!" Jaune retorted angrily at the unfazed angel.
"He is no longer the Scarlet Spider you knew. He has become possessed by a devil that must be killed. Trust me. My own family loves behaving this way." Heihachi coldly advised the young heroes.
"Well you've never been Grandfather of the Year." Knuckles snarked.
"No, I refuse to believe that! There HAS to be another way to save him!" Nora argues with Heihachi, refusing to give up on her friend.
"We did promise him to kill him if he lost control. Are you willing to break that promise at the risk of others?" Ren retorted calmly, willing to kill Kaine if left with no other choice and innocents are in danger.
"Ren…" Nora frowned, heartbroken from hearing his callousness.
Tensions die down for now upon the party noticing Tiki and her little group walking into the waiting room. "Tiki, you're alive!" Luna Snow expressed her joyous relief by hugging her fellow popstar.
"Thanks to you. Sorry that I left everyone worried." Tiki said to her friends, who are just as happy to see her alive and well.
"Eh, we knew you'd pull through. You're very tough for an old lady." Knuckles smiled, receiving a hit in the head by an angry Tiki for accidently insulting her age. "Ahhh! What did you do that for?!" He barks his own fury at her, who only responds with an annoyed huff.
"What has become of Casino Street Zone?" Tiki asked her other friends.
"Most of it is in ruins. Thankfully there weren't too many casualties. S.T.R.I.K.E.'s helping survivors right now…After we argued with them to leave the manhunt for Scarlet Spider to us. I'm sorry, Tiki." Pyrrha frowned, informing her of the terrible situation.
"It's fine. Better than waging war against him in his current form." Tiki sighed, doing her best to maintain her composure during these dark times.
"The Ghost Tarantula. That's what Jackal called him." Noel frowned.
"I'm reminded of the Plegian legend of the Shadow Arachnid. A Spider-Totem that hungers only for destruction and chaos. Seems that wasn't a myth after all." Ren recalled, believing that his corrupted friend is that legend come to life.
"Beating him won't be easy. I've tangled with Ghost Riders before. They're crazy powerful when their host is human. But when it's a Spider-Man with anger issues? It's a miracle this world hasn't burned down yet." Dante commented.
"Which means Scarlet is still in there somewhere. We have to find him." Jaune proclaimed.
"I've been trying but his new power is hiding him from me." Viridi stated.
"Same here." Aracely announces that her telepathy hasn't had any luck in locating her champion.
"What about your Eye of the Hunter?" Knuckles asked Naoto about his ability to see and track down lifeforces.
"If he's close by." Naoto responded.
"I haven't been able to find him with my Eye either." Noel said, claiming that even the Eye of the Azure is unable to observe Kaine's presence. "I'm worried. We have to find him. At this rate, his hatred will destroy the whole world." She expressed worriedly.
"We'll have to track him down the old-fashioned way. Do we have any clues or something that can help?" Jaune asked, taking command of this multiversal party.
"Isn't he going through some 'Sin Hunt' right now?" Luna wondered, recalling Jackal tricking him into taking part in that.
"That's right. He's trying to find Jackal by hunting down the people that have wronged him in the past." Jaune said.
"That's a long list. He hates everyone, remember?" Nora quipped, recalling their recent trip down Kaine's tragic history.
"True, but remember the rest of his tale. There are few specific people that he despises the most." Tiki reminded her.
"We know Jackal's one of them. What about Spider-Man? He blames him for his torment." Pyrrha recalled.
Privately, Viridi uses her magic to view Spider-Man's current status. She watches him as Peter Parker working with Chris Thorndyke and Helen at W.E.B. on a little project centered around a Dragonstone-like object. "From what it looks like, he's okay for now. He seems to be in the middle of a science experiment." She informs the party.
"Curious." Dark Pit noted.
"We can cross out Ben Reilly. He's long dead." Luna said, knowing Kaine hated him too.
"The Kravinoffs? They're the ones that killed him." Nora suggested.
"There's also Adam Taurus. No doubt he sees his past sins in him." Ren recommends him as a potential target.
"Hope he's not THAT crazy to pick a fight with the Iron Hydra Empire." Donald commented.
"We're forgetting someone…Osborn." Jaune voiced sternly.
"He's locked up." Knuckles remarked, recalling his own assistance in putting Green Goblin back behind bars.
"His father is." Jaune said, implying that he wasn't referring to Norman Osborn.
Horrified upon realizing his implication, Ren retorts, "Wait…You don't think he's seriously going to kill…?"
"Does anyone have Harry's number?" Jaune asked, believing Kaine's first target on his revenge list will be the son of the Green Goblin.
BGM End
Schnee Manor, Solkaria.
A particular someone just rang the doorbell of the Schnee Manor during this rainy night. The bald butler of the Schnees goes to open the door and is met with the friendly face of Harry Osborn. "My oh my, if it isn't Mister Osborn! What a pleasant surprise." The OSI Butler smiles at the OSI President.
"Please, Mr. Osborn is my father. Good to see you again, Klein." Harry quipped, sharing a friendly handshake with Klein Sieben.
"You too, Harry. Please, come in. Don't want you to catch a cold." Klein gestures his new friend into the manor, locking the door whilst informing him, "If you're looking for Weiss, you won't find her in the country. Hear she's busy with a mission."
"I'm actually looking for her dad." Harry stated, hanging up his coat himself to spare Klein the busywork.
Swiftly, Klein sneezes that causes his light brown eyes to turn red. Shifting personalities from normal to grumpy, snarling, "Ugh, Jacques…What did he do this time?"
"I'm afraid our company's been hacked and the thief got away with our tech. Namely the Project Olympus weapons that I ORDERED him to abandon and of course he didn't." Harry said, revealing OzSchnee Industries was hacked by an unknown party.
"War makes money. That's all he cares about. Unfortunately, I don't know where he is either. Doesn't like to tell me anything that isn't an order to make him crepes or do his dirty laundry." Grumpy Klein scowled.
"Damn." Harry frowned.
Just then, Klein sneezes again. Changing his eye color to yellow and his personality to happy. "Not an excuse to give up. Wait in the dining room while I brew you some coffee." Happy Klein smiled, cheering him up with a shoulder hug that does the trick.
Harry walks down a hallway that leads to the dining room. For how big this mansion is and the few people that live in it, it's right for it to be quiet. Yet to Harry it also feels gloomy. Sad. He makes a brief stop staring at a portrait of the Schnee family. Besides Whitley, no one looks happy. They're either stern, sad, or just look plain emotionless. Harry frowns with sympathy for the family his father considers as rivals before continuing his trek to the dining room. He soon finds it, breathing a sigh of relief before opening the door. Once inside, however, he is startled by a voice from across the room.
"Hello, Mr. Osborn."
Harry looks to find the Mother of the Schnees sitting at the other end of the table. Willow Schnee. Radiating a depressive, melancholic aura that is made more bothersome by the wine bottle and glass in her hands. "Oh, sorry. Didn't mean to disturb you." Harry apologized, speaking gently toward the sad Schnee.
"It's okay. You can pretend that I'm not here." The Schnee Mother said, casually trying to brush him off.
"Hard to do with your beauty. Your children really benefited from your genes." Harry smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
"I guess…" The Schnee Mother frowned, still feeling very miserable.
There is a brief silence between them. Harry starts feeling awkward, scratching his head while resuming the conversation with, "…Sooo your name is Willow, right? Weiss's mom?"
"I suppose I am. What do you want?" Willow Schnee responded depressingly.
"Sorry, but you wouldn't happen to know where your husband is right now? Tried calling him and meeting him at his office and he wasn't available for either." Harry asked.
"I overheard he's overseeing the renovation of some Aquatic Base northeast from here. Go. Don't let me stop you." Willow answered, before drinking from her glass cup.
Watching her drinking away her problems strike another sympathetic nerve in Harry that guides him to do something about it. Just as she finishes her drink, Willow sees him taking a seat next to her. "…I have time. Looks like you could use a friend." Harry told her sincerely.
Shocked by the kindness of a stranger, Willow sadly frowns, "Don't. I'll disappoint you just like I did the others."
"You told me where Jack is. I appreciate that. Weiss told me about your family history. I know what you're going through is rough. Compared to mine, however, yours is not so bad." Harry said.
"How is abandoning my children and being disrespected by my own husband a 'not so bad' life? I know your father is a monster. I pity your mother." Willow retorted with some anger in her voice.
"At least your children still have a mom around. Mine's been dead since I was a baby." Harry replied calmly, which also calms her down.
"I'm…sorry." Willow apologized.
"It's okay. I know her death pushed my dad over the edge, among other things. Jacques is a terrible man. No argument. But he could've been so much worse." Harry argued.
"I should count myself fortunate." Willow snarked, staring at her wine.
"That won't last if you keep idle like this. I made the mistake of doing drugs when I felt abandoned and being treated like trash by everyone. Thought it would ease my pain…Instead it turned me into a Goblin that made me no different from the man I hated. In fact, one could argue I was worse than my dad. I should've learned from his mistakes instead of repeating them. Just didn't have the courage back then. My greatest sin that got me killed. Yet here I am, making amends and being envious of your family." Harry revealed, shocking the mother with his secret dark past.
"Why? Why would you want this life?" Willow asked with genuine confusion in both face and tone.
"Because your family still has a chance to fix things. I'm not talking about the Schnees' reputation, but the bond between you guys." Harry answered.
"There was never a bond between me and Jacques. He used me to get the company. And my children…They just…left. Because of us." Willow frowned, realizing just how much she failed her family.
"And you thought drinking away your problems will change all that?" Harry glares at the guilt-ridden mother, "You're a Schnee! A family of badasses! Take pride in your heritage! If you don't love Jack, then just divorce him. If you want your children back, then go to THEM. Just making the tiniest effort shows real strength! My family is all but broken in so many ways. I don't want another family to suffer like we have. It's not too late to take action. No matter what we're up against, we have to stand up for ourselves. For the people we love and for those that still love us. I can deal with Jacques for now. You can just focus on being a mother, alright?"
His encouraging speech ends with Harry giving Willow a cheery smile. She was left stunned by his words. The words of a man that understands her pain like no other and truly wants to help her reconnect with both her family and herself. Feeling a little hopeful, Willow gives him a small smile. A feeling that is immediately overcome with fright from the thunderous dark weather outside the windows. "Thanks for ruining my speech, weather." Harry quips, before asking Willow, "Know a less scary place we can hang out while I wait for my coffee?"
BGM-Spider-Man 3 (Game) OST-Black Suit Theme #3
"Y-Yes. Follow me." Willow frowned, quickly grabbing her wine bottle and leading Harry outside the dining room. Completely unaware of the Ghost Tarantula outside, appearing as a terrifying silhouette between thunderstrikes, getting himself ready to exact vengeance on Harry Osborn.
BGM End
Meanwhile at Kingdom Valley Zone…
BGM-Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) OST-Kingdom Valley
A fearsome battle had erupted at the abandoned castles of Soleanna that has since been flooded. Flames and Chaos clash at intense speeds in the air, zipping everywhere until the red flames knock the yellow chaos toward grassy grounds. That was Shadow the Hedgehog that was knocked down, sliding backwards with a glare at his mystery adversary, then a glance at the three Ogre Clones behind him about to attack. Using Chaos Snap, Shadow warps and attacks two clones swiftly before grabbing the third one by the arm and throwing him at a nearby crowd. The hedgehog grinds on a rail made of air, racing against his flaming adversary flying beside him. His adversary happens to be Cinder Fall, smirking whilst firing fireballs that Shadow jumps away from so they could strike some Ogre Clones instead. Shadow invokes a midair Chaos Control with a snap of his fingers, hitting Cinder with distorted space that knocks her out of the air for him to use as a skateboard that rams through more Ogres, annoying Cinder into bursting out symbiotic tendrils that force him off and grabbing him by the neck whilst smashing him through a glass window where they can continue their heated rivalry inside a tower.
"Stay out of my business!" Shadow threatened, wielding a Chaos Spear like an actual weapon.
"I can say the same to you!" Cinder retorted, conjuring a symbiote sword to wield for their intense clash all across the interior of the tower.
"The Ogres are my targets. You're just in the way." Shadow said, firing more Chaos Spears that the symbiote maiden deflects.
"Like a weakling like you can beat them. They only came after me because I'm clearly the strongest between the two of us." Cinder taunted, unleashing fireballs that the black hedgehog dodges with teleportation.
"You've become delusional since bonding to that parasite." Shadow sassed, managing to stab Cinder with his Chaos Spear weapon.
"Toxin hates it when you call him that." Cinder snarked, bursting out a wave of tendrils from her chest that briefly overwhelms Shadow.
Shadow and Cinder are getting annoyed with each other, charging up a Chaos Spear and fireball to full power respectively to express that. They fire their attacks that sparks a fierce collision that quickly results in the entire tower blowing up. They are fine. As are the rest of Teams Dark and Rival. Rival battles are happening everywhere, with hero and villain alike killing the Ogre Clones that want to interrupt.
Rouge the Bat and Mercury Black are trading kicks. One such powerful collision prompts Rouge to stick to the air throwing bombs that Mercury does a decent job dodging, deflecting, or reflecting. "I have a new trick for you." Glowing blue thanks to his unlocked Cross Art, Mercury begins running around at Mach Speed. It doesn't bring him to Shadow's level, but his sonic boom is enough to knock Rouge out of the sky for him to strike with a flying shotgun-enhanced kick. "Would've loved for Dad to try and steal this power from me." Mercury joked, as his Semblance was once stolen by his abusive father that led to his own son killing him in vengeance.
"You're not special, honey. Black Wave!" Rouge retaliates with her own Cross Art, striking Mercury with a black ripple that stuns him long enough to be struck by her Screw Kick.
"Why do I have to fight the crazy duck?" Severa complained, in the midst of her annoying struggle with Bean the Dynamite.
"Uh, actually I'm a woodpecker. For that mistake, you get more bombs!" Bean quipped, bombarding bombs at the mercenary.
"Wonderful…" Severa scowled, using her Escutcheon skill to shield herself against the bombs. Then leap through the resulting smoke to nearly slice Bean's head off, much to his humorous horror.
Juri Han's battle with E-123 Omega is the second most intense fight here in Kingdom Valley. His furious gunfire is keeping the Dark Spider afar and on her toes, flipping away from his bullets easily. She starts resisting his attacks by activating her Feng Shui Engine and jumps at him for retaliation, only to be intercepted by a crashing Cinder that swiftly regains her footing.
"You interrupted me. That'll cost you double." Juri teased, subtly suggesting for the two of them to combo Omega.
"Gladly." Cinder grinned sinisterly.
Both their eyes suddenly glow with malicious intent on Omega. Cinder starts their deadly combo with a skillful flurry of flaming slashes before throwing the robot at her tag partner with a tendril throw. Juri follows up with her special, Kaisen Dankairaku, knocking Omega into the air with a rising barrage of sweepkicks that ends with an energized axe kick that knocks him down at the peak of her combo. Omega is damaged and would've been made critical by the two leaping ladies if Chaos Spears didn't push them back followed by Shadow's intimidating appearance.
"Got held up by Ogres. You okay, Omega?" Shadow asked him.
"Just a flesh wound. The cybernetic meatbag is decently formidable." Omega claimed, standing up through his injuries.
"Just playing with you like the toy you are. I'm so happy we ran into each other. Our mission so far has been so boring." Juri snarked sadistically.
"You're Juri Han of the Masters of Evil. Which means they hired Toxin and the Hooligans for a very important assignment. What do you want here in Solkaria?" Shadow questioned the villainesses.
"Just trying to balance the powers of life and death. You'll thank me if we survive this." Cinder smiled, cryptically warning him of Thanos and Adam Warlock's assistance. "Now if you'll excuse me…" She said whilst web-swinging away from Kingdom Valley.
"Get back here!" Shadow scowled, teleporting after her.
Omega wants to join the pursuit but is repelled by Juri's kick. Bean and Mercury then join her, just as Rouge and Severa do the same for Omega. "Nuh-uh-uh. Keep playing with us until you break." Juri smirked, prompting all rivals to strike fighting poses for another round of fighting.
BGM End
Aniana.
"Weiss said he was meeting him here…" Jaune said, with his group walking out of the OzSchnee Building in Solkaria after failing to find Harry inside.
"You don't think Kaine got to him already." Noel frowned worriedly.
"Without leaving a mess? He was never neat, even before becoming a demon." Tiki quipped.
"By the by, what's with the fashion change?" The confused Naoto asks her about her Fated Divinity outfit, complete with the Marvel Girl-like mask.
"This is my superhero garb when I'm patrolling as The Jade Dragon. Hopefully this will remind Kaine of our bond and recover his sanity." Tiki explained.
"Hope the kid realizes he struck gold when he caught a babe like you." Dante whistled, flirting with the divine dragon.
"Hummingbird, see if you can use your telepathy to track down Harry. He's looking for Jacques Schnee." Jaune ordered the Mexican telepath.
"Right!" Hummingbird nodded before focusing her powers.
"Hurry it up. Want to give the kid tips how to run his shitty company." Heihachi said.
"What, by stealing it?" Jaune snarked.
"If Jin doesn't fork over the Zaibatsu." Heihachi sassed nonchalantly.
"Are you sure you're okay with helping us, Luna? Kaine's back to being the monster that nearly killed you." Ren asked the heroic popstar joining them on this dangerous quest.
"I've seen the goodness in him just like Ben did. I want to help in any way I can." Luna Snow replied, sincerely wanting to help her former enemy.
"Just hope we're not too late." Ren frowned sadly.
"Or else you'll kill him?" Nora confronted her partner with a stern glare, still a little mad from their last conversation about Kaine's fate.
"You know that's the last thing I want to do. Kaine has suffered as much as me. I know what it's like to lose family and live with that hatred…" Ren stated, reminiscing about his own tragic past when Grimm killed his family. A memory that fills him with rage and survivor's guilt. "At least mine was kept in check with you around." He said whilst sharing smiles with his bubbly partner. "Kaine had no one. Lost trust in everything and everyone, and himself. He never got the chance to experience a real childhood." He said with sympathy for his corrupted friend.
"I know. And if it comes down to it…we'll put him down." Nora declared reluctantly. "But fulfilling that part of the promise will only justify what he feels about himself. That he doesn't deserve life. We promised him to become stronger for his sake. Let's try to use that strength first to help him cherish his own life." She decided, gently holding up Ren's hand as he agrees with her with a stern nod.
Back at the Schnee Manor…
"Look at what I found. Haven't been able to confirm if this is Dust." Willow Schnee said.
In the library, Harry Osborn was drinking his coffee when he is shown the blue Chaos Emerald in a box. "I think this is a Chaos Emerald! Hear S.T.R.I.K.E.'s been looking for these that could reverse the Convergence." Harry retorted with surprise at her mystic find.
"Lucky I found it and not Jacques." Willow said.
"He would use it to power the most expensive trimmer." Harry joked, eliciting a little chuckle from his new friend.
BGM-Spider-Man 3 (Game) OST-Black Tension
The atmosphere gets haunting when both of them suddenly hear a loud crash from outside the library. Harry immediately puts on a stern glare while that sound scared Willow into clenching her wine glass and shouting, "What was that?!"
"Calm down and stay here. I'll check it out." Harry told her.
Carefully, Harry investigates the hallway where the mystery sound originated from and is shocked to find a massive burning hole in a wall caused by some unknown infiltrator. "What the…?" He uttered.
Just then, Klein shows up looking grumpy at this mess that he knows he must clean up. "Oh, look at this mess. Who did this? This's going to take a whole day to get fixed." Grumpy Klein growled. This scenario is starting to feel like a horror movie to Harry because the next thing he knew, Klein screams from being web-pulled into the shadows of the ceiling, "AAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"KLEIN!" Harry yelled.
The butler is silent. His fate unknown. The only thing Harry can see are six creepy, spider-like eyes seeing through the darkness with scarlet hellfire before the Ghost Tarantula that has them pounces at the young president. Harry rolls away from his attack, just barely. Standing back up to confront him while asking, "What the hell are you?", in a scowling fighting stance.
"…Vengeance." Ghost Tarantula answered maliciously.
BGM End
BGM-Ultimate Spider-Man (Game) OST-Venom Fight Theme
The Tarantula of Vengeance is quick to throw a claw swipe that Harry ducks under to unload a swift punch barrage that pushes him back. Harry may not be the Green Goblin anymore, but he still has its formula flowing through his veins giving him that superhuman strength to hold his own against this arachnid berserker. He launches a spinning heel kick that Kaine catches with one hand, repeatedly and brutally slamming him around the hallway before throwing him to the other side of it that causes his back to crack the wall. Briefly dazed, Harry looks up to find Klein, unconscious and webbed to the ceiling. He uses Tarantula's shoulder as a bounce pad after the monster rushes at him and grabs onto the butler, barely pulling him out of the webbing before Kaine's flamebreath struck them.
"Master Harry…" Klein regained consciousness, just as Harry uppercuts the demon aback to give them space.
"Willow's in the library! You two get outta here!" Harry ordered, rushing Klein to flee while he stays behind to distract the roaring Ghost Tarantula.
In the library, Willow is struggling to keep herself calm from all the commotion she's hearing. She poured herself a drink but that's only making things worse. Her hands shake violently, and she loses her grip on the cup and bottle when Klein surprises her, "Willow, it's me! We must hurry out of here!"
"Where is Harry?" Willow asked, even on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Right on cue, the two witness Harry being rammed into the library by Ghost Tarantula, who slams the young man onto a table and tries smashing him. Harry rolls away just to deliver a powerful kick that sends the demon flying until he hits a bookshelf that falls atop of him. "GO!" Harry urges his friends to escape, just before flames explode from Tarantula that both frees him and burns the massive library.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRR!" Ghost Tarantula roared nightmarishly.
"IS THAT A GRIMM!?" Willow screamed, losing all her nerves as she panics out the burning library. Leaving behind her Chaos Emerald in the process.
"A demon far worse!" Klein said, following her.
"My life spiraled out of control when my mom died. The Schnees will NOT go through the same thing!" Harry fiercely declared, angering Tarantula into monstrous snarls.
The mutated Kaine starts getting smart by webbing two bookshelves on the second floor above Harry and pulling them down. Harry avoids them just as Kaine swings his claws along the ground, unleashing a rolling fiery wave resembling a spider head that smashes the rich kid through multiple rooms like Willow's, Jacques', and Weiss's. Harry ends up in a room with a piano that he lifts to smack Kaine across the face upon his rampaging arrival. "Why are you after me?!" Harry demanded.
Kaine answers, but not before protruding a spider-arm that both pierces and lifts Harry into the air, "The sins of the father shall be visited upon the son…Your cursed bloodline will be burned for eternity!"
"If I'm going to hell, I'm taking you along for the ride!" Harry grunted, fighting through the pain to grab onto the limb and throw Kaine through a wall that frees him from his grasp. Kaine throws some debris that his prey avoids, then tricks him into dodging a webline that pulls him into a fearsome lariat that smashes Harry into another room. "Man, I'm really missing pumpkin bombs…" Harry joked, losing this bloody fight. Lucky for him, he finds himself in a room storing Dust. He grabs the ones in containers, commenting, "These will do.", and uses them as his weapons. Fire. Electricity. Ice. He throws what he has that could hurt the Ghost Tarantula. But nothing can hurt him. Not anymore. Not with his rage triggering an explosion of hellfire erupting as a massive pillar that both blows back Harry and pierces through all the ceilings in the Schnee Manor until most of Solkaria can see what is happening.
Shadow and Cinder were the first to notice. They were in the middle of intense combat nearby when that got interrupted by whatever's happening at the manor. "That looks interesting." Cinder commented with interest.
Back with Jaune's Group, Hummingbird finally detected Harry's presence with her telepathy. "I found Harry! He's in trouble!" She informed the team.
"Let's move!" Jaune retorted, ordering everyone to run to Harry's location.
Meanwhile, Willow and Klein just escaped the burning manor. Willow is breathing heavily, completely scared out of her mind. She still has vodka in her hand and tries to drink from it. She wants to drink from it. Until Klein reminds her about Harry, "He's still inside."
A monstrous roar is heard from within the burning manor as the two see Ghost Tarantula leaping out of it with Harry grabbed by his clenched claw. Brutally, he slams his face onto the ground, causing Willow to scream, "HARRY!", while dropping her bottle. Kaine then lifts him back up, this time by the throat as he slowly chokes the life out of him for everything the Osborns have done to him.
"Go right ahead. After all my crimes as Green Goblin…I deserve to rot in Hell…But being aware of my sins…is how I've found the strength to…move forward…" Harry grunted, which reached Willow's heart but mattered so little to Kaine.
Ghost Tarantula just snarls, "…Let them guide you to death…", before using his Penace Stare on Harry. Ruining his mind by burying it under the colossal weight of all his sins. Like doing drugs. Taking up the mantle of Green Goblin. Fighting his best friend. Betraying his father during their brief alliance against Spider-Man.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGH!" Harry screamed with complete agony, terrified from the full extent of the suffering he has caused others.
The Penance Stare would've killed Harry if a summoned Boarbatusk didn't interrupt Ghost Tarantula, pinning him to a wall that forced him to let go of the unconscious Harry. Klein goes to his aid while Kaine breaks free. He wonders who saved Osborn, and much to his rising fury, he finds out it was Willow. "KILL YOU!" Kaine scowled, lunging to kill the terrified mother.
BGM End
However, at the last moment, a new hope arrives to save her. It came in the combo of Shadow and Cinder delivering an intercepting kick that knocks Kaine away. Willow is surprised by the rescue but ain't complaining. Just listens to Shadow telling her, "Get Osborn out of here. I'll handle this.", and complies to his command.
Ghost Tarantula stands back up from that surprise attack and shakes off the pain. He looks to recognize his latest prey, snarling at both of them despite Shadow being his friend. The Ghost Rider is really having a negative effect on his psyche as he can't tell from friend or foe anymore. He's just lost in a berserker rage.
"This isn't what I wanted to find. Are you going to step aside or let me squash you like the bug you are?" Cinder taunts the spider-demon. The roaring Ghost Tarantula rushes in to attack her, only for his attack to be caught effortlessly by the transformed maiden in her symbiote suit. A Spider-Man-like costume colored black and red and with symbiotic hair. "The latter then." Symbiote Maiden Toxin said.
BGM-Street Fighter 5 OST-Theme of Kage
Toxin and Tarantula start brawling. Symbiote and Ghost trading flaming hits at ferocious speeds out on the driveway of the Schnee Manor. Shadow wants in on the action too as he powers up to his Chaos Dark form, glowing red with destructive energy that empowers his, "Chaos Lance!", firing a stronger Chaos Spear that interrupts their fighting for a moment. "I know that's you, Scarlet Spider. How disappointing to allow that power consume you. You've left me no choice but to put you down." Dark Shadow proclaimed.
Ghost Tarantula growls, firing an explosive fireball that Dark Shadow jumped away from. Toxin charges up her own fireball that she unleashes on his back at point-blank range. Her attack didn't faze him at all. Only a surprise teleporting kick to the face from Shadow budged him, just barely.
"…He's tough…!" Dark Shadow grunted.
"Keep getting in my way, will you?!" Toxin scowled with annoyance, arrogantly believing she can beat Kaine by herself.
Kaine starts taking this fight seriously by deploying all four spider-limbs from his back to aid him in this three-way showdown. Dark Shadow versus Ghost Tarantula versus Toxin. Three dark rivals from three different worlds, battling it out against one another at the same time. The three prove to all be on par with each other, all of them colliding fists with such titanic force that it erupts a massive shockwave that it forces them to give each other space. At least for their final attacks. Shadow's in the air charging up a purple beam in his palm. Toxin powers herself up, conjuring a giant flaming symbiote sword and dashing at her enemies swordfirst. All while Tarantula gathers massive amount of hellfire in his mouth.
"CHAOS BLAST!" Dark Shadow shouted, firing a large purple beam.
"SEISMIC DISRUPTION!" Toxin screamed, slamming her sword down with the volcanic force to crack the earth.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAARRRR!" Ghost Tarantula roared, unleashing his Hellweb Breath with hellish fury.
BGM End
The battle ends with all three special attacks colliding, causing a huge explosion that further decimates Schnee Manor. Willow and Klein spectated the fight and were left amazed by how awesome it ended. Massive smoke enshrouds the combatants that makes it difficult to see who won. It slowly dissipates to reveal who fell unconscious. First was Shadow. Next was Toxin. The smoke clears completely to reveal Ghost Tarantula standing tall and victorious, albeit with severe injuries himself. In frustration, Kaine tries to kill the weakened hedgehog. He prepares a foot-stomp just as Shadow regains some consciousness. He launches the attack but misses, thanks to the timely arrival of Rouge the Bat flying her teammate to safety.
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Shadow Android
The rest of Team Dark and Jaune's Group then arrive, the former having somehow slip past Team Rival at Kingdom Valley. "Where did you guys come from?" Severa asked Jaune's Group.
"Was about to ask you the same thing." Naoto quipped, just as Rouge and Shadow reconvenes with them.
Omega fires his bullets at Ghost Tarantula that distract him from Dragon Tiki spewing her holy breath on him, weakening him to the point of screaming in agony. "Holy Magic is the one power that can harm a Ghost Rider." Dragon Tiki stated, recalling Doctor Strange's advice.
"I hear ya." Viridi smiled, using her divine power over nature to erupt massive vines from the ground that surround them entrap Ghost Tarantula.
BGM End
"GRAAAAAARRR! RAAAAAAAAR! RAAAAAAAAAAWWWR!" Ghost Tarantula roared in the midst of his furious struggle to break free.
"Calm him down. We need to reach him." Jaune ordered Hummingbird to use her telepathy on him.
Hummingbird complies, finding herself using all of her power that is struggling to penetrate his negative emotions. "I'm trying…So much rage…and hatred…" She grunted.
"Kaine…" Severa muttered, hurt from seeing her crush suffering. This angers her into helping him regain his senses, shouting, "You idiot, fight back! Why did you let the Ghost Rider's power take control!?"
Kaine doesn't listen to her as he continues growling and struggling out of his bindings. It's Tiki's turn to talk some sense into him, staring at him with concerned eyes and saying, "It's me, Scar-Scar! It's Tiki! Me and Hummingbird are okay! Please, snap out of it!" Again, he just roars at her. Too lost in his own rage to realize his girlfriend is still alive. "Kaine…Have you really forgotten me…?" Tiki asked sadly.
"Don't give in, Kaine! If you fight with hatred in your heart, you'll lose what it means to be human! Defeating hatred with reason! That's the first step in controlling the Ghost Rider!" Ren shouted, encouraging him to fight.
Slowly, Kaine growls less and less. Ren's words seem to be having an effect on him. His mannerisms start to calm as his multiple eyes look down at Tiki before his mouth struggles to say, "T-Tiki…"
"K-Kaine? Is that you? Keep trying! You're almost there!" Tiki encouraged, noticing his humanity fighting back for control.
BGM-Dragon Ball Super: Broly OST-Broly Evolves
His friends seem to be getting through to him. Alas, "KKKKK…KKKAA…Kaine…is…MINE!", it was in vain. The calm that had been taking form in him was shattered by his limitless rage, causing his flames to surge out of control and explode, burning away the divine vines that were wrapping him. "MINE!" He claimed whilst pounding the ground. "And you…can't…have him!" Ghost Tarantula declared to the heroes.
"Give. Him. Back." Tiki coldly threatened the demon possessing her boyfriend.
The devilish Tarantula responds with a smirk, firing off a powerful fiery shockwave with a swing of his claw that knocks back most of his enemies. Ren stands alone against his corrupted friend, pelleting him with bullets that have no effect on the unstoppable demon. Tarantula webs his pistols, yanking then throwing them back with concussive force that knocks him down before leaping to further smash him into the ground. Aura means nothing to a Ghost Rider, meaning Ren felt so hurt he coughs out blood. Kaine growls at the beaten huntsman before sensing Nora rushing to save her partner from him. Nora and Kaine duke it out, with the latter easily overcoming her and scaring Ren into shouting, "NORA!"
Ren gets back up, weaponless but still determined to save Kaine from himself by any means necessary. His resolve evolves his Semblance, allowing him to sense the negative emotions that has all but consumed Kaine. Not only that but he has also unlocked a new dimensional power, in the form of a green energy field wrapping around his head. Suddenly his own thoughts paralyze Tarantula mid-combat, causing the confused Ren to go, "What?", before noticing his hands conjuring astral energy guns that resemble his discarded StormFlower. "Psionic Power…This is my Cross Art." He realized.
Quick in mastering his Psionic StormFlower, Ren fires mental bullets at Ghost Tarantula. While they don't cause any external effect, they do instead pierce his mental barrier and cause surprise mental damage that gives him a major headache. The roaring Kaine tries fighting back but his disoriented state made it easy for Ren to counter with a powerful palm strike powered by his Aura, pushing him back. Kaine is eager to crush him, but became more eager to flee upon hearing police sirens and fire trucks rushing in because of the mess he made trying to kill Harry Osborn. The Ghost Tarantula then teleports away with a snarl, deciding to hunt down his next target.
BGM End
Shortly After…
Firefighters are almost done dousing the flames that were burning the Schnee Manor. While they are doing their job, the unified heroes are taking a breather. Getting everyone in the group up to speed on current events involved in this demonic mission.
"As I thought. The Jackal stole Ogre's corpse to revive him and used his DNA to create a clone army. Then awakened Scarlet Spider's demonic power by ruining his reputation in order to regain him as his ultimate weapon in world domination." Shadow summarized what has happened so far, hanging out with most of his allies from Team Dark to Jaune's Group.
"Not so sure about that last part. Scarlet seems very eager to kill him too." Dark Pit commented.
"Doesn't matter if he manipulates him right. With his clones he's practically immortal." Rouge argued.
"I'm still wondering how a human like him got his hands on a Spirit of Vengeance. That's not something you can just clone from another Ghost Rider." Dante wondered.
"You think there's another player involved?" Shadow questioned the devil hunter.
"Smells like it." Dante frowned, believing Jackal has a partner with ties to demonic forces.
"I do remember seeing some things when I was in Scarlet's mind. Or minds, because of the Ghost. I saw a lot of fire and demons…And a name. What's a Mephisto?" Hummingbird asked, having sensed a greater demonic force that seems to be influencing her friend.
"Sounds like Hell. What's the kid's history with all this?" Heihachi wondered.
"Dunno. That's the one part of his past he refused to talk about." Pyrrha responded.
"We need to hurry and find him before he hurts anyone else." Noel urged everyone, not wanting Kaine to suffer any longer.
"By the way, Shadow, we heard Jackal is also after you. Said he wanted to capture the 'Alien Hedgehog' and a 'Devil Boy'. We're assuming he's also after Jin Kazama." Jaune informed the hedgehog.
"Interesting that he seems to know a lot about us." Shadow commented curiously.
"You three including Scarlet Spider possess evil blood. There must be a link that had caught his interest." Tiki pondered sternly.
"Maybe." Shadow remarked stoically.
"Doesn't matter to me. The Devil Gene is mine! I won't allow Jackal get his hands on it!" Heihachi declared with fearsome determination.
"Same with Ghost Tarantula! I still need his power to punish humanity for their sins against nature!" Viridi exclaimed, voicing her selfish declaration too.
"You two are the epitome of selfless." Naoto remarked sarcastically.
Nearby, the small group consisting of Ren, Nora, Willow, and Klein are overseeing Harry's recovery after succumbing to the Penance Stare. Happy gasps were made by them when they hear Harry groaning himself awake, opening his eyes while holding onto his aching head. "Harry! You're alive!" Willow exclaimed with relief.
"Had us worried." Ren smiled.
"…We Osborns have a hard time staying dead…" Harry joked after a pained grunt, "What happened to that monster? What was that thing anyway?"
"An unfortunate pawn of the Jackal." Ren frowned sadly, refusing to reveal Ghost Tarantula's true identity for his protection.
"Miles Warren. Remember having that creep as a substitute teacher. Makes sense why he went after me. My dad did him dirty with one of his schemes." Harry scowled, not a fan of the Jackal himself.
"Daddy issues have been a problem lately." Nora frowned, recalling Kaine's issues with his evil creator.
"Won't make that mistake again. That thing's Stare reminded me of the monster I once was. The pain I caused on my loved ones…I swear on my mother's grave that I WON'T go down that road again! I WILL make the Osborn name mean something good and do right with my future child, unlike Dad was to me!" Harry declared to all his friends around that he will surpass Norman Osborn by being a better man than him.
"We'll support you all the way, Har." Nora smiled proudly, sharing a hug with him.
"Same. I could use the help with my redemption." Willow grins a little, motivated by Harry's resolve to fight back against her husband's tyranny.
"Sure. We can talk to your hubby together about how his house burned down." Harry quipped, gesturing her to her burnt mansion.
"…I need a drink." Willow sighed tiredly.
BGM-Shadow the Hedgehog OST-Doom's Eye
Knuckles steps closer to the ruined Schnee Manor. He looks at it confused, glancing around before turning to the rich people saying, "Funny. Didn't I sense a Chaos Emerald was here or was that just my imagination?"
"Oh dammit! That's right! Think we left it inside during the fight!" Harry realized, much to his regret.
"Unable to locate Cinder Fall and her accomplices." E-123 Omega announced, noticing Toxin disappeared during the fight.
"Cinder was here too?" Pyrrha retorted with glaring shock.
"So, that's what they were after." Shadow scoffs after realizing Team Rival's true purpose for being in Solkaria. "A hunt for another time. We must seek both Scarlet Spider and Jin Kazama before their powers are used to spread further chaos." He vowed. Unaware that somewhere in Solkaria, Cinder and her team are looking deviously proud at the blue Chaos Emerald they stole right under the heroes' noses.
BGM End
BGM-Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 OST-Gallery
KFX Here: Been wanting to write a big fight between Scarlet Spider, Shadow the Hedgehog, and Cinder Fall. The three great rivals of three great heroes from three different worlds. And the fanservice doesn't stop there. Felt like I've been neglecting Ghost Rider throughout this series. He's part of the reason why I wanted to do this Devil Arc.
Cross Arts:
- Mercury Black: Mach Speed – run at superspeed for a short time (Based on the Blue Gem Level Up Item from the video game, Sonic the Hedgehog 2006)
- Rouge the Bat: Black Wave – create a black ripple that stuns the target (Inspired by the character's special attack from the video game, Sonic Adventure 2)
- Lie Ren: Telepathy – manipulate minds as well as create psionic weapons (Inspired by Psylocke from Marvel's X-Men)
Renato Chacin: Team JNPR have already claimed Scarlet Spider as their spider-friend. Been thinking of having Miles interact with Team CFVY.
Next Time: All Devils Converge! Ghost Tarantula vs. Devil Jin!
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BGM End
