upon His throne
'neath shadowed peak / from barren clay
shall flood His glory / to scourge the spray
of foetid cruor / spilled 'cross the loam
and endless swell / night's final roam
for moon and stone
veiled count'nance won
His envoy hunts / for dwindling clot
their closed hands grasp / when Mother wrought
lacunal get / on sodden field
the mirror stilled / their fates unsealed
the Midnight Sun
from brackish depths surged monstrous will
hark, the Mother calls her children from slumber
as darkness and light dance across the minds of men
His will is close at hand
when the Sun rises, the tower will fall
all shall answer the Mother's call
and His children
basked in His light
as the temple of the false gods fell
His word could not be contained
the sleeping Titan stirred
with grasp unbroken, His Herald crowned
the mirror cracked
His return!
His return!
In the desolate landscape of Transia, atop the foreboding Mount Wundagore, a squadron of Hydra soldiers diligently patrols the area. Suddenly, the sound of rotor blades fills the air as a chopper descends and touches down, revealing the figures of Brock Rumlow, known as Crossbones, and Balrog. Surveying the lined-up Hydra soldiers, they offer a perfunctory salute.
"HAIL HYDRA," the soldiers chorus in unison.
Crossbones, visibly unimpressed, lets out a weary sigh, clearly disinterested in the mystical surroundings.
"Ugh," he grumbles,
"Tell me about it." Balrog complimented
As they make their way towards a crypt, Balrog echoes Crossbones' sentiments, expressing disdain for their current location.
"You know how much I hate this hocus pocus, Faustus," Crossbones interjects, his frustration evident, "now will you tell me why you brought us here? It better be important."
Speechless, Crossbones and Balrog is taken aback by the sight that greets them at the crypt. Several Hydra agents kneel reverently, while two witches cast their spells upon a Sarcophagus. Among them stands Albert Wesker, the arrogant bio-virologist from Umbrella, and Jedah, the dark messiah, alongside Dr. Faustus, a Hydra occult scientist, who reads from a sinister spellbook.
"Sleeping Mother, sacred harbinger, awaken and reclaim what is rightfully yours," Faustus intones, his voice carrying an eerie resonance as the pages of the spellbook emit an ominous green glow. "You who rose with the in moon in darkness, who prepares for the path of the midnight sun. Turn your merciless eyes apon us AND RISE."
With an air of disappointment, Balrog breaks the silence. "Well, that was anticlimactic," he remarks, his tone laced with mild sarcasm.
Crossbones, not one to mince words, directs his dissatisfaction towards Faustus. "Nice show, Doc. Next time, call Zemo, or better yet, I'll just shoot you to save some trouble," he quips.
As if in response to Crossbones' jest, the
entire crypt begins to tremble, and the sarcophagus within slowly creaks open.
"Lilith," Faustus breathes in awe, recognizing the figure emerging from within.
"The queen of demons," Wesker adds, his voice tinged with both fear and fascination.
Approaching the sarcophagus, one of the witches extends her hand, only to have it ensnared by a clawed appendage
that emerges from within. "My child," the mysterious figure utters, caressing the witch's hand before abruptly tightening its grip, engulfing her in flames. As Lilith rises from the sarcophagus, levitating a few feet above the ground, a sinister smirk crosses her lips. With a wave of her hand, she unleashes a powerful surge of energy that courses through the entire chamber, leaving no doubt as to her formidable power.
SIX MONTHS LATER
In the vast expanse of the American southwest desert, Johnny Blaze, known as The Ghost Rider, stands solemnly before the grave of his departed love, Roxanna Simpson. The inscription on her gravestone reads: "Rest in love, Roxanna Simpson."
"I can feel it, Rox. Trouble in the air, more innocent blood joining ya soon," Johnny murmurs somberly, his gaze fixed upon the grave. Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupts his reverie.
Turning, Johnny sees a gathering of formidable figures: Doctor Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme; Tony Stark, also known as the Invisible Armored Iron Man; Dante, the demon-hunting son of Sparda; and Megaman X, the robotic reploid from the future.
"Long time no see, Johnny. Last time I saw you, your skull was on fire," Dante remarks, offering a small smile as he acknowledges Johnny's somber mood.
In response, Johnny levels a shotgun at the group. "Get back to your magic castle. You ain't welcome here," he warns, cocking the weapon with a steely determination.
"It's called a Sanctum, and welcome or not, fate has determined that this is where the Sorcerer Supreme needs to be," Doctor Strange asserts calmly, attempting to reason with Johnny.
"Tell Fate, the answer's no," Johnny retorts firmly, his resolve unyielding.
Tony Stark, ever the pragmatist, voices his skepticism. "This is the secret guardian you dragged us 5000 miles to meet?" he queries Doctor Strange.
"Honestly, I didn't expect the Ghost Rider to be an old man," X adds, voicing his surprise aloud.
"Better watch what you say," Johnny warns, his grip tightening on the shotgun.
Ignoring the tension, Dante emphasizes the urgency of their situation. "Don't mind Tony and X. Listen, we need to cooperate. My shop is smashed by more demons than I can ever anticipate," he explains, gesturing towards the wreckage of his iconic demon-hunting establishment, Devil May Cry.
"The fabric of magic is shifting, Johnny, and it will get closer once the midnight sun arrives," Doctor Strange interjects, alluding to a prophetic event.
"Your last crusade cost me plenty," Johnny reminds them, his tone carrying the weight of past losses as he strides towards his motorcycle. "This time, I look after my own."
"Hey, in case you haven't noticed, things are changing. 2+2 no longer equals 4, up is down, and for once in my life, Strange is actually making sense," Tony remarks incredulously, grappling with the gravity of the situation.
"Do I look like someone who gives a damn?" Johnny retorts, his back still turned to them.
"No, you look like someone who'd be bouncing for the double deuce," Tony quips back, his sarcasm evident.
"Listen, all we know is hell's coming. We need your help," X implores, attempting to appeal to Johnny's sense of duty.
"That's where you're wrong. Hell's not coming," Johnny declares, his tone resolute as he points his shotgun. With a swift motion, he ignites the weapon with hellfire and fires a shot, narrowly missing the group and striking a hellhound lurking behind them. "Hell's already here. You're welcome, roboman and robokid."
Without another word, Johnny revs his motorcycle, leaving a blazing trail in his wake as he speeds off into the desert landscape.
"It's Iron Man and Mega Man," Tony corrects, calling out after Johnny's retreating figure.
"No time for chit-chat, Tony," Dante interjects, summoning the legendary Devil Sword Dante, while Megaman X readies his X Buster cannon. Dr. Strange conjures two glyph shields, and Tony aims his repulsors, as they brace themselves for the onslaught of demons rising from the ground.
They charge into battle, each member of the group unleashing their unique abilities against the encroaching horde of demons. Iron Man uses his repulsor blasts to take down several demons with precision.
"We came all the way out here, and the old man runs off with that precious page of yours... could've at least given us VIP tickets to the carnival, or better yet, taken down some of these demons before he rode off," Tony argues, his frustration evident as he continues to fight.
Meanwhile, Doctor Strange channels the winds of Watoomb, a powerful spell that pushes back the demonic forces. "Johnny Blaze has made countless sacrifices for this world already. I believe he will come around when the time is right," he asserts, his confidence unwavering amidst the chaos.
"Doctor, I don't want to be rude, but time is the one thing we don't have," X counters, charging his X-buster cannon and unleashing a devastating blast upon a group of demons.
Dante, ever the confident demon hunter, swiftly pulls out his twin pistols, Ebony and Ivory. "Well, the apocalypse is coming, and we're not gonna miss out on this party," he declares, firing several rounds at the advancing demons before summoning his sword and slashing through their ranks with expert precision.
"Look out, more incoming!" X warns, as they witness more demons rising from the ground. Despite their valiant efforts, the sheer number of demons proves overwhelming for the group.
"Do I have to bring out the big guns?" Iron Man questions, surveying the ever-growing horde of demons.
"Dante, it's time to open Pandora's Box," Iron Man suggests, prompting a confident smile from Dante. Summoning one of his old Devil Arms, the Pandora, Dante reveals a black suitcase adorned with demonic engravings. With a deft motion, he activates its Argument mode, transforming it into a formidable rocket turret.
Meanwhile, Iron Man takes to the skies, positioning himself above the swarm of demons. "Alright, light it up!" Tony commands, as both he and Dante unleash a barrage of rockets upon the demonic horde. The resulting explosion engulfs the demons, reducing them to nothing but dust in the wind.
"If I'm being honest, that encounter went better than I expected," Doctor Strange remarks, his tone reflecting a sense of relief as the group collectively calms themselves from the intense battle.
Tony's comms device beeps, drawing his attention, and he activates his gauntlet to display a holographic projection of Bruce Banner, the calm and scientific alter ego of the Hulk. "Tony, I've been noticing a recurring gamma spike..." Bruce begins to report.
"See, this is why you shouldn't eat spicy food," Tony jokes, referencing the Hulk's creation through gamma radiation with his trademark wit.
"Localized in the West Village, converging in the Sanctum," Bruce specifies, his expression grave.
"Wanda!" Doctor Strange exclaims, realization dawning upon him as he recalls that Wanda Maximoff, also known as The Scarlet Witch, is currently inside the Sanctum.
Inside the sacred halls of the Sanctum Sanctorum, Wanda Maximoff, known as The Scarlet Witch, sits amidst a sea of scrolls and books, her brow furrowed in concentration. "The collective works of the universe's greatest sorcerers, and he left it under the take-out menus," she mutters in frustration, casting a critical glance at the eclectic array of items scattered around her.
"Could be worse, he could've left them in the vacuum cleaner," Morrigan Aensland, the seductive succubus, quips as she gracefully descends to join Wanda.
Suddenly, a portal materializes before them, and Doctor Strange, Tony Stark, Megaman X, and Dante stumble through, their arrival marked by the portal's unstable nature. "That was more rocky than normal, Doc," Dante remarks, noting the unusual turbulence of their journey.
"The shifting mystical polarities are wreaking havoc on my portals," Doctor Strange explains, his tone tinged with concern as he surveys the now-closing portal and examines his hands, sensing a disturbance in his magical abilities.
"You don't say?" Iron Man quips, noting the obvious tension in the air. "How's it going, you two? You good?" he asks, addressing Morrigan and Wanda as they descend to join the group.
"Better if we had company," Morrigan flirts playfully, earning a playful slap on the arm from Wanda to dial it back.
"Put a pin on that," Tony interjects, redirecting their focus as Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers, bursts through the roof of the Sanctum and lands in the center of the hall.
"Carol," Tony acknowledges her presence.
"Bruce and I've been trying to reach you. He'd have come himself, but he's..." Carol begins to explain, her voice trailing off.
"You did the big green guy proud," Tony reassures her, acknowledging her efforts.
"The last thing we need is a Hulk rampage," X comments, voicing the concerns shared by the group.
Suddenly, a green portal materializes within the Sanctum, and Hydra soldiers begin to emerge. "I really should up my homeowners insurance," Doctor Strange quips, his tone laced with dry humor.
"HAIL HYDRA!" the soldiers chant, aiming their guns at the group with hostile intent.
"Ms. Maximoff, the wards of protection, if you please," Doctor Strange instructs Wanda, trusting in her abilities.
"Stephen, I can fight. I've got control now," Wanda insists, her hands glowing with chaotic energy.
"Then show me control by activating the wards. In the meantime, in honor of our missing companion," Doctor Strange jests, a wry smile playing on his lips, "the rest of you feel free to smash away."
"Hydra immortallis," a Hydra soldier chants ominously before Morrigan, with a graceful flourish, transforms into a flurry of bats, momentarily startling the soldier. However, Morrigan swiftly reappears and unleashes her shadow blade attack, sending the soldier hurtling high into the air before crashing onto a nearby bookshelf.
"Obedient little pests, aren't they?" Morrigan quips aloud as she continues to engage the Hydra soldiers in combat.
"I still don't like the odds," Tony remarks, his fists meeting the Hydra soldiers with precision strikes.
"Always with the direct approach, Captain Marvel?" X questions Carol as he deftly wields his X-Saber, dispatching another soldier with a well-placed kick that sends them crashing through a nearby table.
"You know I don't mess around," Carol replies confidently, delivering a powerful punch to a Hydra soldier before unleashing a devastating plasma beam that incapacitates three more. "Besides, we picked up some crazy gamma readings coming from, well... here," she adds, her expression growing more serious as she references the ominous energy signatures detected within the Sanctum. "Guess that explain the Hydra goons and green lights."
"Yes, why didn't you use the front door? Even Dante uses it when he visits," Doctor Strange questions, his voice tinged with amusement as he utilizes the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak to bind several Hydra soldiers in place.
"True, but sometimes I kick the door down if I have my hands full," Dante admits with a smirk, summoning the King Cerberus devil arm in its three-handled nunchaku form to freeze a few Hydra soldiers in their tracks.
"How about we discuss this at a proper hero landing after we take down the bad guys?" Tony suggests, his tone laced with determination as he blasts a few more Hydra soldiers with his repulsors, clearing a path for the group to regroup and strategize.
As the battle rages on, Tony Stark notices the surprising strength and resilience of the Hydra agents, a stark contrast to his previous encounters with them. "You guys should talk to your union rep. I don't think you're supposed to be fighting at our level yet," Tony quips, his repulsor blasts knocking a Hydra agent off their feet as the fight intensifies.
"I've punched through Skrull skull crushers before, and this feels off," Captain Marvel remarks, delivering a powerful blow that renders another goon unconscious.
"Yes, Hydra has clearly raised their game," Doctor Strange observes grimly, his brows furrowing in concern. "And I have a terrible suspicion as to how."
"Well let me guess, a demon?" Dante guessed
"Not just any demon son of Sparda." Morrigan corrected
The wards of protections spell are activated the sanctum but Wanda is barely holding on her own. "The wards something is blocking them." Wanda said
"Not something." Strange looks at the main staircase of the sanctum. "Someone." A green portal opens and Lillith, the mother of demons walked into the sanctum with two shadow hounds.
"Gozer?" Iron Man jests, his attempt at humor falling flat in the face of the looming threat.
"Lillith," Morrigan confirms, her tone tinged with apprehension as she recognizes the powerful entity before them.
"Mother of Demons, Harbinger of the midnight sun, prophecy or not challenging the sorcerer supreme in the sanc…"
"Silence." Lillith uses a spell to pin Strange to the wall and silence him. "Shhhh." She shushed him
Tony, Carol, Dante, Morrigan and X knew this is a threat. Dante fired ebony and ivory, X fired his X-buster and full charge, Morrigan fires her soul fist, Tony fires rockets, and Carol flies in with a punch. "Be still." Lillith said Soon the heroes are frozen in place by a spell, Dante's bullets, Morrigians soul fist, and the X Buster shot are frozen in the air.
"Be gone!" Lillith is ready to slaughter them all
"NO!" Wanda blasts chaos magic a Lillith and it pushes her back.
"A fellow daughter of Transia," Lillith observes, intrigued by Wanda's display of power. "It reminds me of my own beloved."
In the midst of her infringement Strnage quickly broke free.
"IN VERTUTE VISHANTI!" Doctor Strange summons the mystical forces of the Vishanti, casting a powerful spell that banishes Lillith back through the portal from whence she came. As the portal closes, the heroes are released from Lillith's spell, their frozen attacks causing only minor damage to the surroundings.
"But still, Lillith is getting stronger with that prophecy in play upon the arrival of the midnight sun," Morrigan informs them, her tone grave with concern.
"Define stronger," Carol challenges, frustration evident in her voice as she recalls her futile attempts to land a blow on Lillith.
"If we are to have any chance of stopping her, there is only one option left to us," Doctor Strange declares, waving his hand to open a portal.
"I won't go back there," Wanda protests, her voice tinged with guilt over a past event that weighs heavily on her conscience. The group understands her reluctance.
"We all must eventually face our demons, Ms. Maximoff. However, one of us should remain behind to maintain the wards of protection," Doctor Strange asserts, emphasizing the importance and purpose of safeguarding the Sanctum.
"See you on the other side." Tony said and the group walk through the portal.
In an old tomb near Salem, Massachusetts, a portal materializes a few feet above the ground. Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, Megaman X, Dante, and Morrigan gracefully descend from the portal, landing gently on the ground. However, Tony Stark isn't as fortunate, landing face-first on the ground after an awkward fall.
"Okay, you did that on purpose," Tony accuses Doctor Strange, pointing an accusatory finger at him.
"The fabric of magic is unwinding. We are fortunate to be here at all," Doctor Strange explains solemnly, his tone carrying a sense of urgency as he addresses the group.
"And where is here?" Carol inquires, her voice betraying a hint of curiosity.
"Salem, Massachusetts," Doctor Strange replies. "A pocket dimension within Salem, Massachusetts."
"Of course, nothing says a safe space like a crypt in the location where several witches were burned by New England puritans," Morrigan remarks dryly, pointing out the irony of their current location.
"Seriously, Doc, are we in a haunted forest?" Dante questions, his skepticism evident as he surveys their surroundings.
"Yes, but we're allies, so don't worry too much," Doctor Strange reassures them, leading the group towards the tomb. "Welcome to the Abbey, home of the..."
"Midnight Suns," a voice interrupts, drawing their attention to the arrival of a new team: the Midnight Suns. The group consists of the half-vampire Blade, the new Ghost Rider Robbie Reyes, the limbo mutant Illyana Rasputin aka Magik, the mystical runaway Nico Minoru, the grandson of Sparta Nero, the catwoman with a heart Felicia, the lightning demon Trish, and the French sky pirate Ruby Heart.
"The hell is this?" Tony demands, raising his repulsors in a defensive stance. "Lillith's junior demon league?"
"Hey, it's that jerk from TV," Nico remarks, recognizing Tony.
"Which one?" Magik questions, her tone laced with sarcasm.
"I'm guessing it's the one who's swimming in his own money," Nero adds, eyeing Tony skeptically.
Tensions escalate as both the Avengers and the Midnight Suns arm themselves, with Robbie even transforming into the Ghost Rider in anticipation of a confrontation.
"Hey, ease off the brakes for a moment," Dante interjects, attempting to diffuse the situation.
"Yes, thank you, Dante. Would everyone take a moment..." Doctor Strange begins, but his words are cut short by a sudden magical blast that strikes the ground, halting both teams in their tracks. They turn to see Sera, the caretaker and founder of the Midnight Suns, standing before them, her expression stern.
"Enough!" Sera commands diffusing the tension, her gaze fixed on Tony. "You're stepping on my flowers." Tony cautiously steps back onto the gravel path, realizing the gravity of the situation.
"It's been a long time, Sera," Doctor Strange acknowledges, his tone tinged with nostalgia.
"It's Caretaker now," Sera corrects him curtly, emphasizing her new role.
"If I could have avoided this moment, I would..." Doctor Strange begins, but Sera interrupts him.
"Oh, spare me the speech. I know Lillith's back; we are sisters," Sera declares bluntly, cutting him off before leading the group into the tomb.
"Okay, I guess we're invisible," Nico remarks dryly to the rest of the group, noting the lack of attention directed towards them.
"Shall we chat, Stephen?" Caretaker asks, gesturing towards the open doors of the tomb, indicating that they have matters to discuss.
"No one can argue that The Hunter earned her rest in the first battle against Lillith," Doctor Strange reflects, his gaze settling on a gold and silver sarcophagus. "I hope she's up to the task." He summons a spell book to glean some details, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"You wizards always make everything sound so lofty. I raised my sister's only child as a weapon against her," Caretaker remarks, her eyes fixed on the sarcophagus.
"And saved the world in the process," Doctor Strange points out, acknowledging the sacrifices made in the fight against evil.
"Now you want me to dig her up and ask her to do it again?" Caretaker questions Doctor Strange with a hint of guilt in her voice.
"I did not write the prophecy, Sera. Besides, I am no common grave robber. We are requiring their ethereal essence with their corporal form," Doctor Strange explains, firing some orange aura into the sarcophagus, causing runes to light up on its surface. "Speaking of, it would be helpful to have a mental image for the procedure. Spare no detail; spiritual identity theft is no laughing matter."
Sera provides every single detail of The Hunter's appearance, and Doctor Strange prepares to begin the resurrection ritual. "Quando Temidu Venari, at Ultima!" he chants, his voice resonating with power. Outside the tomb, Nico holds her Staff of One as a last resort, ready to assist if needed.
"Child of light and darkness, you who tamed the night," Doctor Strange intones as the sarcophagus begins to open. The Hunter emerges, a beautiful woman in her twenties with tan skin, black hair, and medieval armor adorned with a golden collar around her neck. However, Sera notices something is wrong and the aura around the collar is turning green, indicating danger.
"Wait, the collar," Caretaker observes, realizing the peril. Any further attempt to resurrect The Hunter could destroy the collar and potentially harm her.
Nico rushes in with the Staff of One, assisting Doctor Strange and Caretaker in completing the resurrection. "WAKE UP!" She screams and uses the staff one and uses its magic to assist with the resurrection.
As The Hunter awakens, her eyes glowing green, she utters a single word: "Mother," before unleashing a powerful beam into the sky, leaving the group outside stunned.
"Um, is that a good thing?" Carol questions, voicing the uncertainty felt by all.
"I'm gonna say 60/40 on this one," Ruby remarks, assessing the situation cautiously.
The intense surge of power causes The Hunter to pass out from exhaustion, but she is alive, breathing, and awake. Before losing consciousness, she asks for her mother's whereabouts, revealing her vulnerability and need for reassurance.
"As far as resurrection spells go, I've seen worse," Doctor Strange admits, acknowledging the success of their endeavor.
The hunter opens her eyes and sees Dante, Trish and Nero.
"Well, I have to say she's getting a bit hazy, but I think she needs more rest." Trish commented.
"Gotta admit, Stranges spell is crazy, but it worked." Nero commented.
The hunter closes her eyes and open to see Tony and Carol
"Tony come on she's safe." Carol said to her
"Carol we live in a world where the umbrella corporation is a thing and if she take a bite out of you, don't blame me." Tony said before the Hunter black outs and closed her eyes
She opens them to see Blade with Caretaker and Felicia brings a cup of tea.
"You can't stay here forever." Blade said
"There's nowhere else I should be." Caretaker said
"Here at least we can be there for you and Hunter." Felicia said giving the tea to her
" Thank you Felicia." Caretaker said
"Just saw Stark poking around the mirror table." Blade reminded them how this is a bad idea.
"Find me as soon as Hunter awakes and blade…be nice." Caretaker said and Hunter blacked out again.