The morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the Abbey, casting a golden glow over the dining hall where the team was gathered for breakfast. Hunter stepped in, scanning the room, when Felicia looked up from her meal and flashed a small smile.

"Hey, Hunter," she greeted. "Mind checking in on Spider-Man? I think he finally woke up."

Hunter nodded and turned toward Spidey's dorm. As they approached, they heard a voice from inside—dramatic, confident, and clearly rehearsed.

"I am the Web-Slinger! The Amazing! The Spectacular! The Sensational—"

"Spider-Man!" Hunter called out, pushing the door open.

Spidey jumped in surprise, nearly stumbling over his own feet. "Oh! Hey, Hunter! Didn't see you there! Everything's fine, totally normal, nothing weird going on!" he blurted out, waving his hands in exaggerated motions.

Hunter arched an eyebrow. "What exactly were you doing?"

Spidey straightened up, clearing his throat. "Practicing my hero voice. Or, more specifically, my Spider-voice." He pointed at himself. "If I'm gonna be working with you guys, I need to up my game. Sound more… I don't know, intimidating?"

Hunter crossed her arms. "Your voice is definitely… noticeable."

Spidey leaned forward. "Really? Did it give you goosebumps? Strike fear into your soul?"

Hunter hesitated before offering a neutral response. "It's… something."

Spidey threw his hands up. "I'll take it! Coming from you, that means a lot." He sat on the edge of the bed, suddenly thoughtful. "You know, the only demon hunters I know are Dante and Nero from when the Convergence happened. Besides them, it's kind of nice having another expert opinion on this whole hero thing. Seriously, though—how do those guys always look so cool while doing their jobs?"

Hunter smirked. "It comes naturally to some."

Spidey groaned. "Great. Just gotta work harder, I guess. At least you're way nicer than Kraven."

Hunter chuckled but then shifted to a more serious tone. "Actually, I came here to thank you."

Spidey tilted his head. "Thank me? Oh, wow. Does this 'thank you' involve pizza? Because after fighting Eddie, I could really use a slice—or ten."

Hunter smirked. "If I were to offer you pizza, would you reveal your identity?"

Spidey leaned back slightly, folding his arms. "You wanna know the man behind the mask? Sorry, Hunter—no can do. My identity is a closely guarded secret. Not even my Aunt May knows. Wait—" He narrowed his eyes. "I see what you did there. Nice try, but the mask stays on. Hope that's not a dealbreaker."

Hunter shook her head. "The Abbey is a place of many secrets. Your identity is safe within its walls."

Spidey sighed, his usually lighthearted demeanor dimming for a moment. "It's not the walls I'm worried about. It's out there, in the real world. The people I love—if my enemies knew who I was, they'd be in danger."

Hunter studied him for a moment before responding. "No mask can hide from Lilith. Her gaze can pierce into your soul." The words were blunt but honest. Hunter understood the importance of Spider-Man's identity, but against a threat like Lilith, secrets meant little.

Spidey let out a dry chuckle. "That reminds me of my best friend's dad. And that was before he became a goblin." His mind flashed briefly to Norman Osborn—the Green Goblin—before shaking off the thought.

Hunter nodded. "I know this isn't easy for you, Spider-Man. The people here are all different from one another. They don't always see eye to eye. But if there's one truth I know, it's that I trust them with my very life. Uh… lives." Hunter corrected themselves at the end.

Spidey tilted his head. "Did you just say 'lives'? Plural?"

Hunter smirked. "Yes."

Spidey laughed, shaking his head. "I am really gonna enjoy getting to know you, Hunter."

Hunter gave a small nod. "And we can't wait to know the real you, Spider-Man."

Spidey hesitated before holding up his hands. "Can I think about it?"

Hunter simply nodded in understanding before turning to leave, giving him the space he needed.

Hunter strode into the war room, where she was met by Captain Marvel and Chun-Li standing at the central console. Their expressions were serious but not urgent.

"Something amiss?" she asked, glancing between them.

Captain Marvel shook her head. "Nope, just Bruce being Bruce."

Chun-Li folded her arms. "But more importantly, we got Spider-Man back. Not sure if you've noticed, but these end-of-the-world scenarios tend to put a damper on morale. We kinda need a little heart in the team."

Hunter nodded. "Every victory we achieve inches us closer to stopping Lilith. And every life we save—"

"—is another ally against her," Captain Marvel finished. "And in this case, a wisecracking, radioactive Spider-Man ally. Which is a good thing, considering Hydra has been augmenting their soldiers, and Shadaloo is apparently experimenting with radioactive gamma shampoo. We're gonna need all the help we can get."

Before Hunter could respond, Blade entered the room, carrying a reinforced canister. He set it down on the table and flipped the locks open. Inside, a vial of ominous blue liquid rested securely in the containment foam.

Chun-Li's eyes narrowed as she immediately recognized it. "Is that the T-Virus?"

Blade gave a grim nod. "Upgraded by Lilith and Faustus. And Wesker's been cooking."

Hunter raised a brow. "T-Virus?"

Tony Stark strolled in, only to stop dead in his tracks when he saw the vial. Keeping a healthy distance, he gestured vaguely at it. "Long story short, Wesker's part of a bioterrorist pharmaceutical organization called Umbrella. They made this lovely little concoction, and let's just say—zombie juice."

He turned on his heel and took another step back. "When the Convergence happened, AIM and Umbrella had a brief, disastrous merger. But now, it looks like Umbrella is working solo again—and they're getting creative with new ways to cook up zombies."

Blade crossed his arms. "There's only one place a quantity like this could come from. Raccoon City."

"Then we need to stop the production immediately." Hunter said to them

Raccoon City—once a thriving metropolis—now stood in eerie silence, its ruins a grim reminder of the horror that unfolded. The missile strike may have wiped out most of the city, but the viral outbreak had already sealed its fate, turning its citizens into ravenous, undead monsters.

A swirling portal crackled to life, and Hunter stepped through, followed by Iron Man, Dante, Blade, Nero, and Robbie Reyes—the Ghost Rider. As they took in their surroundings, the air felt thick with death, the remnants of a once-bustling city now reduced to abandoned cars, crumbling buildings, and flickering streetlights that had long lost their purpose.

Hunter scanned the desolate streets, feeling an unnatural chill. "This place is haunting."

Iron Man, hovering slightly above the ground in his armor, gave a casual shrug. "You get used to it."

His helmet retracted momentarily as he looked at his wrist interface. "I contacted a few friends. We should rendezvous with them soon."

The group started moving through the city, their footsteps echoing against the cracked pavement. The silence was almost suffocating—until Hunter accidentally brushed against a rusted trash can, sending it tumbling over with a loud metallic clang.

The sound carried through the empty streets like a gunshot.

A moment later, guttural growls filled the air, followed by the horrifying sight of zombies shuffling toward them from all directions. Their hollow eyes glowed faintly under the flickering streetlights, their decayed bodies moving in jerky, unnatural motions.

Blade didn't hesitate, unsheathing his sword with a smooth, practiced motion. "Here we go."

Dante grinned, cracking his neck as he pulled out Ebony and Ivory. "I was hoping for some fun."

Nero revved up the Red Queen, the blade glowing faintly with energy. "Guess we're making noise anyway. Might as well go loud."

Ghost Rider's chain ignited with hellfire as he stepped forward. "Let's send these poor souls where they belong."

As the zombies lunged forward, the team sprang into action. Blade's sword carved through the undead with precise, ruthless efficiency. Dante twirled his twin pistols, blasting rotting skulls apart with pinpoint accuracy. Nero swung the Red Queen, decimating any creature that got too close, while Robbie's hellfire-imbued chain tore through the horde like a flaming whip of destruction.

Above them, Iron Man took to the skies, unleashing repulsor blasts and micro-missiles, raining destruction upon the advancing undead.

Nero smirked as he fired a bullet straight into a zombie's gaping maw, watching as its head exploded into chunks. "What's wrong, Tony? Afraid of getting your hands dirty?"

Tony's voice crackled through the comms. "Hey, watching zombie movies is fun, but dealing with the real thing? Hard pass." He fired another missile, obliterating a cluster of undead. "Besides, I'm a big-picture guy—why punch zombies when I can blow them up?"

Hunter smirked, slicing through a zombie with his blade. "Just don't miss, Stark."

"Please. I never miss." Tony quipped as he unleashed another repulsor blast.

The battle was far from over, but they had made their presence known. And in a place like Raccoon City, that could mean only one thing—something worse was already watching them.

A sudden gunshot rang out, precise and controlled, dropping a zombie right behind Hunter before it could lunge. The group turned quickly, weapons at the ready, but relaxed when they saw two familiar figures stepping out from the shadows.

Chris Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy.

"Chris, Leon," Iron Man said, retracting his helmet as he landed beside them.

Chris lowered his rifle, nodding at the group. "Figured you guys would get mixed up in Umbrella's mess again. But something tells me there's more to this than just another outbreak."

Leon holstered his pistol, his expression serious. "If you guys are involved, then this isn't just about Umbrella anymore. We need to move before things get worse."

Nero spun the Red Queen in his hand before resting it on his shoulder. "Then let's walk and talk. We're heading to Umbrella's base anyway—might as well get everyone up to speed on the way."

Without wasting any more time, the team set off toward their destination, knowing full well that whatever waited for them inside Umbrella's stronghold wasn't going to make things easy.

Umbrella Underground Laboratory

Deep within the underground Umbrella facility, Albert Wesker sat at his terminal, fingers gliding effortlessly over the keyboard as he monitored the progress of his latest viral concoction. The eerie green glow from the monitors cast long shadows across the sterile lab, where test tubes, containment chambers, and biohazard containers lined the walls.

Behind him, the tall and imposing figure of Jedah Dohma observed the process with mild amusement, his arms crossed as his crimson eyes flickered with interest.

"Lilith is quite insistent on the evolution of your virus, Wesker," Jedah remarked, his smooth voice carrying an air of both admiration and condescension.

Wesker smirked, adjusting his sunglasses. "And she will have more than she ever dreamed of. Thanks to her... unique talents, I've been able to revive and improve upon long-lost experiments. The things Umbrella abandoned out of fear of failure—she has given them new life."

Jedah chuckled darkly. "She is quite persuasive in her own twisted way. But she wants results, Wesker. Do not mistake her generosity for patience."

Wesker barely reacted, his expression remaining cool and calculating. But before either could say another word, a deafening explosion shattered the tranquility of the lab. The room trembled violently as dust and debris rained down from above. The reinforced ceiling gave way, chunks of steel and concrete crashing onto the lab floor.

From the swirling smoke and destruction, a figure stood tall in the ruins of the collapsed ceiling, striking a confident pose—Iron Man. Behind him, the rest of the team emerged from the dust: Hunter, Dante, Nero, Chris Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy, Ghost Rider, and Blade. Each warrior stood ready, their weapons drawn and their eyes locked on the two villains before them.

Tony Stark extended his hands, repulsors glowing with energy as he quipped, "Sorry, but your local zombie pharmacy has been permanently shut down."

Wesker's expression barely changed as he slowly turned to face them, folding his arms behind his back. His voice was smooth, almost amused. "And you must be Hunter—Lilith's daughter. She's spoken so much about you." Then his gaze shifted to Chris. "And Chris... it's been far too long, hasn't it?"

Chris tightened his grip on his pistol, eyes narrowing. "Surrender, Wesker."

Jedah let out an amused scoff. "I believe that's a no."

Dante spun his sword over his shoulder and smirked. "What's wrong, Jedah? Afraid I'll kick your ass again like last time?"

Jedah's sinister grin widened. "Oh, Dante... I am far beyond that petty grudge. We have greater plans in motion. But don't worry—you won't be leaving empty-handed."

With a dramatic sweep of his clawed hand, Jedah conjured a swirling portal behind him. He and Wesker stepped back into the void, their laughter echoing as they disappeared.

Before anyone could pursue them, a deep, guttural growl resonated from the shadows of the lab. The air grew thick with an oppressive presence as thunderous, heavy footsteps approached from a darkened corridor.

THOOM. THOOM. THOOM.

"STAAAAAAAARRRRRSSSSS!"

A monstrous figure emerged from the darkness, its hulking form towering over the team. Nemesis T-Type. But this was no ordinary Nemesis. His already grotesque body had been further altered—his exposed veins pulsed with an unnatural green glow, and twisted horns jutted from his skull.

Chris's breath hitched slightly as he muttered, "Nemesis..."

The creature's dead, milky-white eyes locked onto them, and with a distorted, gurgling voice, it spoke—its usual primal rage now twisted into something far more disturbing.

"OOOBEEEEYYY... MOOOTHEEERRR..."

Leon blinked in mild disbelief. "Well... guess his vocabulary improved."

Without warning, Nemesis lunged, its massive mutated arm swinging straight at them. The tension was suffocating. The team barely had a moment to process Nemesis's grotesque transformation before the hulking monstrosity lunged. Its massive, clawed hand shot forward like a wrecking ball, slamming into the group with the force of a freight train.

BOOM!

Hunter and Nero barely dodged, rolling to the side as the concrete cracked beneath the sheer weight of the attack. Blade wasn't as lucky—Nemesis's backhand sent him flying into a row of steel lab tables, shattering them like toothpicks.

Dante twirled Rebellion, flashing a cocky grin despite the overwhelming odds. "Big guy's been hitting the gym. Guess I'll just have to cut 'leg day' short." He lunged forward, blade slashing downward with demonic force—only for Nemesis to catch the sword in its bare hand.

Dante's eyes widened. "Oh, crap."

With monstrous strength, Nemesis yanked Dante off his feet, hurling him across the room like a ragdoll. He smashed into a reinforced glass chamber, the impact leaving deep cracks in the thick containment unit.

Chris fired point-blank, each round piercing Nemesis's flesh but only slowing the monster for a second before it turned, its mutated face contorted in grotesque delight. "SSSTAAARRSSSS…." it growled, recognizing its old foe.

Chris didn't hesitate, emptying an entire clip into the creature's glowing green chest. The bullets struck true, but Nemesis barely flinched. Instead, its massive tendrils erupted from its back, lashing out at Chris like living whips.

THWACK!

One tendril coiled around Chris's leg and yanked him off his feet, dragging him across the floor before slamming him into a steel support beam. Leon sprinted in, unloading his shotgun into the creature's head. The first blast staggered it. The second barely phased it. By the third—

Nemesis grabbed Leon by the throat.

Leon struggled, legs kicking wildly as he was hoisted into the air. The monster's grip tightened, the air in his lungs rapidly escaping.

FWOOOOSH!

A massive inferno erupted as Ghost Rider's hellfire chain wrapped around Nemesis's arm. Robbie Reyes yanked hard, his eyes burning with supernatural fury. "Drop him, ugly."

Nemesis roared, its skin bubbling and burning under the supernatural flames. It whipped around, using Leon as a human club, smashing him into Ghost Rider. Both heroes went tumbling into a heap.

"ENOUGH!"

Iron Man unleashed a concentrated repulsor blast, striking Nemesis in the chest and sending it skidding backward. But even as smoke rose from the impact, the beast barely staggered. It lifted its arm—and a massive bio-organic cannon emerged from its flesh.

"DOWN!" Tony shouted.

BOOOOOM!

A beam of seething green energy erupted from Nemesis's cannon, carving a destructive path through the lab. Walls exploded. Machinery was obliterated. The shockwave alone sent Hunter, Blade, and Nero sprawling.

Dante groaned as he pushed himself up, blood dripping from his forehead. "Alright… that actually hurt."

Nemesis advanced, its towering figure casting a shadow over the group. For the first time, it looked like they were losing.

Tony exhaled sharply. "Alright. You want big?" He pressed a button on his gauntlet. "Let's go big."

Above the surface, in the ruins of Raccoon City, a satellite system activated. A large, armored pod dropped from orbit, crashing through the ruins and burrowing deep underground.

THOOM!

A dust cloud erupted as the pod split open, revealing the Hulkbuster armor.

Tony rocketed toward it, landing inside as the armor sealed around him. The ground trembled beneath his now-massive form.

"Alright, Nemmy. Let's dance."

Nemesis charged. Tony met him head-on.

Their fists collided in a thunderous shockwave, the sheer force sending cracks splintering through the walls. Tony reeled back and delivered a titanic punch, sending Nemesis crashing through several reinforced support beams.

For the first time, the monster stumbled.

Dante dusted himself off, eyes gleaming. "Well, if we're bringing out the big guns…"

His body erupted in crimson energy. His form shifted, his coat lengthening into blackened, demonic wings. His skin took on an obsidian sheen, and his eyes burned with hellish power.

Dante had entered Sin Devil Trigger.

With a single beat of his wings, he was gone, reappearing behind Nemesis in an instant. His blade, now crackling with dark energy, struck down—severing one of the monster's tendrils.

Nemesis roared in pain, but Dante didn't stop. He unleashed a relentless flurry of slashes, his speed now blurring reality as every attack tore deep into the mutated behemoth.

Tony, taking advantage, grabbed Nemesis by the head, lifting the monster off the ground before slamming it through the floor. The entire base shook from the impact.

Nemesis struggled, but Dante hovered above, energy crackling between his claws.

"Let's see how you like this!"

With a devastating blast of pure hellfire, Dante unleashed an explosion of demonic energy, engulfing Nemesis in a blazing inferno.

The creature let out a final, guttural screech before the flames consumed it entirely.

As the last embers flickered and the thick smoke curled toward the shattered ceiling, the towering form of Nemesis lay still, its grotesque body charred and broken. The once-unstoppable monstrosity was reduced to nothing more than a burning, lifeless husk, its twisted enhancements from Lilith now nothing but smoldering remnants. The battlefield, littered with debris and scorch marks from their intense fight, was eerily silent except for the distant sound of crackling flames and the occasional groan of the collapsing structure.

Tony exhaled sharply, retracting his helmet as he surveyed the wreckage. "Alright, time to wrap this up before something even worse crawls out of the shadows." He strode toward the control center, his gauntlet flickering as he activated a compact explosive device. With a swift motion, he planted it onto the terminal, its display blinking red as he armed it with a timed countdown. "Consider this Umbrella's final recall notice."

The others watched as the device whirred to life, its internal mechanisms priming for detonation. Hunter turned to the group, nodding. "We need to move—now."

With a hum of arcane energy, a swirling portal tore open before them, casting an eerie glow across the ruined lab. One by one, they stepped through, disappearing into the vortex. Just as Tony was about to follow, he glanced back at the destruction one last time, ensuring there was no coming back from this for Wesker's twisted experiments.

Then, without hesitation, he stepped through the portal.

Moments later, a deafening explosion erupted behind them, sending a massive fireball surging through the collapsing base. The shockwave roared like an enraged beast, swallowing the remnants of Umbrella's nightmarish creations and sealing their fate beneath tons of rubble and flame.

As the group walked back into the Abbey, Tony removed his helmet with a sigh, examining the heavy damage to his modular armor. The once-pristine metal plating was scorched and dented from the brutal fight with Nemesis.

"Damn it," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Modular armor's busted. Good thing I've got a few backups, but repairs are gonna be a pain."

Chris glanced around the gothic halls of the Abbey, his military-trained eyes taking in the strange architecture and eerie atmosphere. "So… this is where we're staying?" he asked, crossing his arms. "Not exactly what I expected."

"Yep," Dante said with a grin, already kicking back on the sofa with a slice of pizza in hand. "So relax, grab a slice, and let the nightmares kick in later."

"Meanwhile, I'm hitting the showers," Nero said, waving a dismissive hand. "I don't want even a speck of Nemesis goo on me." He turned and walked off toward the dorms.

As the group settled in, Nico approached Hunter and gestured for a private conversation. "Hey, can we talk in my room?"

Hunter nodded and followed. Once inside, Nico shut the door behind them, leaning against the desk. "I need your help," she admitted. "Magik's birthday is coming up, and I wanna throw her a surprise party. But I can't do it alone."

Hunter smiled. "What do you need me to do?"

"If you could get the other Midnight Suns on board, that'd take a huge weight off my shoulders," Nico said, rubbing the back of her neck.

Hunter nodded. "Alright, let me know what you have in mind."

"Still figuring it out, but I'll let you know tomorrow." Nico gave a small grin before Hunter left the room.

Later, in the main hall, Hunter noticed Spider-Man sitting at the bar, talking with Robbie Reyes.

"So, you actually slept in that thing?" Robbie asked, raising an eyebrow at Spidey's suit.

"That was probably a mistake," Spidey admitted, rubbing his masked head. "I kept having dreams about being swallowed by Sandman. Which, uh… actually happened once. Not fun."

Robbie chuckled. "Look, man, I get it. It's not an easy decision to take lightly. I struggled with it for a while myself."

"What changed your mind?" Spidey asked, curious.

Robbie exhaled. "I guess I finally trusted them. Sure, they're a little crazy, but they're like family."

Spidey hesitated. "What about your real family? Don't you worry about what could happen? I mean, you fought a giant, zombie-mutant-monster thing tonight. What if you died?"

"They're back in L.A.," Robbie said, his expression briefly softening. "As much as my little brother Gabe would love this place, they don't know a thing. Whatever happens here, it never reaches them."

Spider-Man tilted his head. "Wait, what?"

. "Point is, Spider-Man, the Abbey is the safest place with some amazing people. If there's anyone who can keep secrets, it's us." Felicia strolled behind the bar with a smile

"We were just kids, but the Abbey turned us into something greater." Robbie said. "With a demonic forge that might help us cook pizza."

Spidey blinked. "Okay, I need a minute." Without another word, he walked off toward his dorm.

Robbie watched him go. "Damn. I thought I had him with the pizza."

Hunter shook their head. "What is it with you and pizza?"

"Never underestimate pizza, Hunter," Dante called out, taking a bite of his slice.

A few moments later, a voice echoed from the hall.

"Alright, is this what you wanted?"

Everyone turned as Spider-Man re-entered the room—this time, without his mask. The young man standing before them had short brown hair, brown eyes, and wore a worn-out Empire State University sweater.

"I give you, by popular demand, the man behind Spider-Man," he said, holding his arms out.

Tony grinned, crossing his arms. "Peter Parker from Forest Hills, Queens." He took a step forward. "Nice to see you finally ditched the spider-faced doily. We're all friends here." His expression turned serious. "You've got our attention, Pete. What do you want to say?"

Peter swallowed, his nerves briefly getting the better of him. "Uh… hi?"

The group smiled as Peter finally let himself relax, stepping fully into the crowd. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, shifting his weight from foot to foot.

"Man, after all that build-up, I hope I didn't disappoint anybody," he said with an awkward chuckle. "I mean, I can't shoot laser beams, set my skull on fire, glow like the sun, or open magic portals. Like Tony said—outside the suit, I'm just boring old Peter Parker. I don't even have a cool screen name."

Hunter crossed his arms and regarded Peter with a knowing look. "Peter, I've seen you in battle against Venom. Believe me when I say you are anything but boring. You are… amazing."

Peter blinked before laughing. "Wow, you're gonna make me blush."

"I didn't know you embarrassed so easily," Hunter teased.

"Oh yeah. I actually surprise myself with the things that embarrass me," Peter admitted. "Speaking of—now that we've addressed the giant radioactive spider elephant in the room, we might as well get to know each other. If anyone has any questions about me, fire away." He flashed a smile.

Hunter tilted his head slightly. "I have encountered vampires, werewolves, succubi, half-demons, even dragon-men… but never a Spider-Man. How exactly did that come to be?"

Peter grinned. "Not exactly an epic tale—more of a 'field trip gone horribly wrong' scenario, if you get me." He could still remember the day clearly. "I was at the Empire State Museum, trying to work up the nerve to ask Mary Jane Watson if she wanted to check out an exhibit with me. Next thing I knew, a tiny, irradiated spider decided I was its new best friend and gave me a little love bite. Turns out, the high-energy photons in its venom messed with my DNA. At first, I thought I was just having an allergic reaction… then I started climbing walls."

Hunter raised an eyebrow. "And how did you explain that to your family?"

Peter sighed dramatically. "Told Aunt May it was late-onset puberty. She, uh… actually believed me, for some reason."

Hunter smirked. "A convenient excuse."

"Yeah, well, it worked." Peter shrugged. Then, his eyes lit up with curiosity. "What about you? Were you bitten by a radioactive hunter?"

Hunter's smirk faded slightly. "My mother is the harbinger of a dark god. A normal life was never in the cards for me."

Here's a more polished and detailed version of your scene:

Peter's expression softened. "Eeesh. And here I thought high school was hard to deal with. That's gotta be a heavy load to carry."

Hunter nodded solemnly. "It's never easy." She studied him for a moment, tilting her head slightly. "You don't seem like a typical Avenger." Compared to the likes of Tony Stark and Carol Danvers, Peter carried himself with a certain lightheartedness—a juvenile energy that set him apart.

Peter laughed. "Avenger? Me? Oh, no. Between my double major at Empire State, taking photos for the Bugle, and, you know, the whole protecting-the-neighborhood thing, who has the time?" He gestured vaguely, emphasizing just how packed his schedule already was. "Besides, they haven't exactly asked me to join yet." He smirked before turning the question around. "What about you? How's the whole Midnight Suns thing working out?"

Hunter gave a small nod. "Perhaps we are together according to prophecy. But in truth, only by standing united can we prevail against Lilith and Chthon. Ego is simply the tool of our enemy."

Peter grinned. "You sure you're not an Avenger? Because I definitely know a guy who'd love to hear that. Rhymes with… Smaptain Hermerica." He waggled his eyebrows, hinting at the star-spangled super soldier.

Hunter smirked. "How long have you been doing this, Peter?"

"A few years now," Peter answered. "You should've seen my original suit—might still have it lying around the dorm somewhere. Makes a great blanket." He grinned before returning the question. "What about you?"

"Three centuries," Hunter stated matter-of-factly.

Peter blinked. "I, uh… wow. Okay. Definitely can't top that." He let out an impressed whistle before something clicked in his mind. "Oh, right—you mentioned Venom earlier. What's with the curiosity?"

Hunter's expression grew serious. "What is your relationship with Venom?"

Peter let out a small sigh. "Yeah, that's… complicated." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Eddie—the guy underneath the giant oozing mouth—used to be a reporter at the Daily Bugle, like me. A while back, I, uh… might've ruined his career when I exposed a phony source he used for a murder case."

Hunter listened intently as Peter continued.

"After that, Eddie hit rock bottom. That's when he came across the alien symbiote—the same one that had secretly bonded with me after my original suit got trashed on Battleworld." Peter paused, shaking his head. "Long story. We can talk about that later. But the point is, I thought I destroyed the suit using a church bell, but nope—turns out, it was alive and really good at holding grudges."

"It bonded with Eddie," Hunter deduced.

Peter snapped his fingers. "Bingo. And ever since then, he's been hunting me down like I owe him rent money."

Hunter folded her arms, considering everything she had just learned. "Thank you, Peter. This has been… eye-opening."

Peter chuckled. "I should be the one thanking you. I was kinda nervous at first, but this place? It just made me open the floodgates." He smiled. "Guess I had a lot more to say than I thought."

The next morning, as Hunter stepped in the halls, the sharp voices of the Midnight Suns caught her attention. They were arguing, and it was clear tensions were running high.

"Don't tell me to calm down, Robbie!" Nico snapped, her arms crossed in frustration. "The others are in there with Carefaker, planning their next move against Lilith, and they're leaving us out again."

"This is the Avengers we're talking about," Robbie countered, his expression firm.

"Right, and who had to bail them out when their big-shot heroes couldn't find Spider-Man? Us!" Nico shot back. "Plus, didn't Dante say Nero was dead weight because of the Qliphoth Tree?"

"Good point," Blade muttered, nodding in agreement.

"If they're so powerful, why haven't they saved Wanda yet?" Magik challenged, her voice cold but heavy with emotion.

"Drop it, Illyana," Felicia growled, knowing all too well how deep that wound ran.

Peter, who had been lingering on the edges of the conversation, stepped in with a half-hearted chuckle. "Look, Doc's a great guy. He's patched up a Spider-knee or two since I started this gig. Flaming pumpkin bombs? Not exactly covered by insurance."

Magik scoffed. "I wouldn't trust him to patch a tire."

Nico's frustration boiled over. "They move into our home, take over, and have the nerve to sit out every mission." She turned away, shaking her head. "You wanna cozy up to Stark and Strange? Go ahead! But I'm done waiting around—I'm going out."

"Nico!" Felicia sighed as she watched her storm off, but there was no stopping her now.

Hunter approached the group, noting the tension in the air. The argument from earlier still lingered, frustration evident on their faces.

"Hunter," Blade addressed her first. "Nico has a point, but the Avengers are a good team. Sure, Tony can be insufferable, but not all of them are like that." He crossed his arms. "It does make you wonder, though—what do they think of us?"

Hunter arched an eyebrow. "When slaying a demon, always aim for the heart." She smirked. "Instead of wondering, why don't you ask them yourself?" Her sharp gaze flicked toward Blade. "Or better yet… ask her."

Blade stiffened. "No idea what you're talking about."

Nero leaned in with a grin. "Blade, you're blushing."

Hunter chuckled. "And you're not exactly a good liar."

Blade scowled. "What am I supposed to say? That she's a respected ally and a skilled fighter?"

"Just admit it, Blade—you've got a crush on Captain Marvel," Nero teased, earning a giggle from Felicia.

"You're delusional," Blade shot back, his voice firm but his composure wavering.

Hunter folded her arms. "You're afraid."

Blade narrowed his eyes. "I'm not going in there." He turned away. "Let's just drop it, Hunter."

She nodded, deciding to let it go. As she turned, she caught Felicia sighing, her expression troubled.

"To be honest," Felicia admitted, "seeing Nico and Magik so worried… it gets to me."

Hunter gave her a thoughtful look. "I can see why. Tell me, Felicia—what was your life like?"

Felicia's ears twitched slightly as she reminisced. "I was an orphan. When I was a young kitten, a nun named Sister Rose took me in. She was like a mother to me. I used to tell her I wanted to be a singer, a musical star. We used to sing together all the time." A soft smile tugged at her lips before it faded. "When she passed away, I focused on my career."

Hunter listened intently as Felicia continued. "Being a Darkstalker in the human world wasn't easy—the prejudice was rough. But I pushed through. I believed in coexistence between humans and Darkstalkers. Even though I made a name for myself as a singer, I wanted to give back, so I opened an orphanage. Charles Xavier even donated a large sum of money to support it."

Hunter smiled. "That's quite a lot for a nekomata."

Felicia smirked playfully. "You'd be surprised. When i was told to join the suns, i took care of Robbie, Magik, and Nico. The rest are easy but those three are the hardest kids i ever took care of."

"Sounds like you have a mother's heart." Hunter said

"I might not being their mother but raising a orphange full of kids gave me that." Felicia said

Hunter glanced at Robbie. "Hey, Robbie, can we talk in private?"

Robbie nodded, sensing the seriousness in her tone. "Yeah, sure."

The two made their way to Hunter's room, shutting the door behind them.

"Nico needs help preparing Magik's surprise party," Hunter explained.

Robbie crossed his arms. "Alright. What does she need me to do?"

Hunter pulled out her phone, scrolling through her messages. "She texted me earlier—she wants you to pick out the team's present for Magik."

Robbie smirked. "Oh, I already have something in mind. Something unforgettable."

At the training grounds, Hunter spotted Nico, who was still fuming about being left out. She stood with her arms crossed, her expression dark with frustration.

"You don't need to check up on me, Hunter. I'm fine," Nico muttered without even looking at her.

"Perhaps I just wanted some fresh air," Hunter replied casually.

Nico scoffed. "Well, enjoy it while you can, because I'm sure they'll be opening an Avengers satellite outpost here any day now."

Hunter groaned. "The gods spare us all."

Nico turned to her, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "The Abbey might be ancient and full of runes, but it's our home. The Avengers waltzed in, started treating it like their own, and now we're playing second fiddle while Caretaker lets it happen! I just want to scream!"

Hunter folded her arms. "Well then, do it."

Nico blinked. "Do what?"

"Scream," Hunter said simply. "No one will hear you but me."

Nico stared at her in disbelief. "What?! You want me to just yell 'Screw you, Avengers! Go back to your stupid tower?!'"

Hunter shrugged. "If it makes you feel better."

Nico hesitated, then let out a breath. "I'll be honest—I don't usually scream at people unless they're shooting at me or throwing a fireball at my head." She sighed, rubbing her temples. "But yeah… just saying the words feels kind of cathartic."

She exhaled sharply, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. "Maybe all of this wouldn't feel so bad if they actually focused on saving Wanda. They didn't even mention her. Not even Caretaker."

Hunter nodded, understanding her frustration.

"Thanks, Hunter. I needed that," Nico said, her voice softer now. "And uh… don't tell Caretaker."

Hunter entered the War Room, where Captain Marvel stood with Tony Stark, Professor X, and Chun-Li. The tension in the air was palpable, and Carol turned as soon as Hunter stepped in.

"Hunter, just the person I wanted to see," she said before sighing. "Actually, scratch that—anyone is the person I want to see right now. At this point, I'd be down to have tea with Galactus if it meant I didn't have to look at another gamma radiation reading."

"They're turning into one massive, unstable blob of gamma energy," Chun-Li added. "Which our not-so-jolly green giant is definitely going to have an issue with."

Hunter crossed their arms. "I've seen both of you fight against impossible odds. I believe in you. You'll figure it out—Doctor Banner or not."

Carol exhaled, nodding. "I hear ya. Still, just because I can absorb energy doesn't mean I can teach a class on it." She leaned against the table, rubbing her temples. "Besides… I've got a bad feeling. Especially when it comes to you and Bruce."

Hunter raised an eyebrow. "What kind of bad feeling?"

Carol hesitated before explaining, "I'm what they call a pre-cog. I get flashes—glimpses of the future. Nothing concrete, just… impressions." She folded her arms. "And something about you and Bruce doesn't feel right. I don't know what it means, but I'm sure channeling the power of a white hole through your entire body might have something to do with it."

Hunter remained calm. "What exactly did you see?"

"Nothing specific," Carol admitted. "Just you and Bruce… and your faces. Something was off." She let out a frustrated sigh. "Is this what Stephen deals with all the time?"

"Hey, Carol, it's okay," Chun-Li placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Hunter nodded. "Visions of different moments in time can be overwhelming. But you're not alone in this, Carol."

Carol let out a breath and smirked slightly. "I almost forgot I was talking to the Chosen One." She shook her head. "It's actually kind of comforting. Makes me think we should start a book club or something."

Hunter chuckled. "Sounds interesting."

"Thanks, Hunter," Carol said, giving a grateful nod before turning back to the others.

she walked to the mirror table wher caretaker is watching reports. She barely looked up as she spoke.

"I heard shouting in the other room. What happened?" she asked.

Hunter stood before her. "It's Nico. You should talk to her directly. She's worried that you might be forgetting about Wanda."

Caretaker finally looked up, her expression unreadable. "What? You think I have time to grieve while the world is hanging by a thread?" She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "I'll speak to her when I have time. Thank you, Hunter."

Hunter studied her for a moment, but there was nothing more to say. With a nod, they turned and left, leaving Caretaker to her thoughts.

Hunter walked into the central command hub, spotting Carol and Chun-Li staring at the monitor with a mix of confusion and disbelief.

"New York? Is there a problem? Another one?" Hunter asked.

"It's not the gamma signature," Carol said, still fixated on the screen. "Central is picking up unusual activity at the New York Museum of Art. Looks like a break-in."

She pulled up a live CCTV feed, and the footage showed a masked figure sneaking through the museum, weaving between security lasers with surprising agility.

Hunter leaned in. "A break-in at an art museum? Who would—?"

Then, Carol squinted at the screen as the system identified the suspect.

"…DEADPOOL?!"

"You've got to be kidding me," Chun-Li groaned.

Sure enough, the Merc with a Mouth was on-screen, slinking through the museum in an exaggerated, cartoonish manner. At one point, he even lay on his stomach, dramatically inching forward like a snail just to avoid the lasers.

"That harlequin is an art thief now?" Hunter asked.

Carol sighed. "No, Red Skull is an art thief. Deadpool is… uh…"

Their confusion only grew as Deadpool suddenly stood up, did a flawless moonwalk across the security grid like Michael Jackson, and struck a dramatic pose.

Chun-Li shook her head. "Let's just say you need to see for yourself."

A swirling portal opened inside the New York Museum of Art, and Hunter stepped out cautiously, scanning the darkened halls.

"Okay, any updates on our museum thieves?" Hunter asked over the comms.

Carol's voice crackled in. "Let me guess—Captain Mayo in the archives with the candlestick?"

"Nope. Hydra and Shadaloo are in the warehouse. No candles, but they haven't found whatever they're looking for yet."

"Just don't let them find you," Carol warned.

Before Hunter could respond, a click sounded behind them—a Hydra goon leveling a gun at their back.

"DIARRHEA JOKE KICK!"

Out of nowhere, Deadpool came flying in with a dropkick, slamming the Hydra thug straight into a crate. The impact forced an unfortunate noise out of him, and Deadpool dramatically recoiled.

"Oh, buddy. You might want to see a doctor about that one i should tell Ryu about it," Deadpool quipped before turning to Hunter. "You the new guy?"

"What?" Hunter blinked in confusion.

"Sorry, I mean the new customizable OC monster hunter that makes Capcom's games so jelly," Deadpool continued. "Wise-cracking anti-hero, merc, whatever…" He suddenly turned, breaking the fourth wall entirely. "See? I'm adaptable! This is a big franchise now, ever since that mess with Infinite—"

Deadpool, we agreed—no fourth-wall breaks!

Deadpool scoffed. "Tell that to the guy struggling with the pacing in their early fanfic."

Don't make me delete this scene. I have she-hulk on speed dial since she put a lawsuit to ban you from entering lego mission demolition

"Fine! Ugh, narrators in these fanfics are always such a pain," Deadpool muttered before looking back at Hunter, who stared at him like he had grown a second head.

"…Are you here for the statue?" Deadpool finally asked.

"What statue?"

"The one my very aggressive and very direct client from a certain small but powerful Eastern European country wants so badly," Deadpool replied.

Hunter pointed across the room, where a Hydra goon was hurriedly shoving a small yet ornate statue into a duffel bag.

"That one?"

Deadpool's eyes widened. "Holy chimichangas, YES—that one!"

Without another word, Deadpool leaped onto the main floor, drawing his pistols.

"ALRIGHT, EVERYONE—HANDS UP AND PANTS DOWN! THIS IS A ROBBERY!" he shouted.

The room went dead silent as a tall woman in elegant 1920s-style clothing stepped forward, her piercing golden eyes narrowing at him.

"I'm sorry, have we met?" Deadpool squinted, tilting his head. "Amy? Alison? Alissa?"

"Kill him," the woman said coldly.

Deadpool snapped his fingers. "Alcina! That's it! Dommy Mommy Alcina Dimitrescu!"

Lady Dimitrescu let out an irritated sigh. "Now."

The Hydra and Shadaloo goons opened fire, and Hunter leaped in, sword drawn, just as the chaos erupted.

Hunter swiftly dodged a barrage of bullets, slicing through a goon's rifle before casting a mystical whip spell. The glowing arc of energy wrapped around an enemy, and with a sharp pull, she sent them flying into a nearby generator. Sparks erupted as the goon convulsed from the electric shock.

Meanwhile, Deadpool was in his usual element. "STEP RIGHT UP! LET'S TEST YOUR STRENGTH!" he shouted, delivering a devastating kick between a Hydra soldier's legs. The poor guy let out a high-pitched wheeze before collapsing.

Not missing a beat, Deadpool casually pulled a grenade from his belt, popped the pin, and dropped it into the pants of another unfortunate goon. "Hold this for me, will ya?" He patted the guy's chest before cartwheeling away.

Hunter landed beside him, blocking a strike from a Shadaloo soldier. "Are you trying to make this worse?"

Deadpool gasped, feigning offense. "Worse?! I'm making this cinematic!"

Before Hunter could respond, a deep, guttural roar echoed through the museum, shaking the very walls. Lady Dimitrescu loomed over them, her golden eyes glowing with fury as she flexed her clawed fingers, the sharp tips gleaming under the dim museum lights.

"Enough playing around," she snarled, her towering figure casting a long, menacing shadow across the floor.

Hunter stood her ground, tightening her grip on her sword. "Step away from the artifact."

Click.

Hunter frowned and turned to Deadpool, who was dramatically posing with his pistols.

"Did you just say 'click'?" she asked, unimpressed.

"Yes, for emphasis," Deadpool replied casually, spinning his guns before pointing them at Lady Dimitrescu. "Now, the statue, tall, dark, and stabby!"

Dimitrescu sneered. "You fool, do you really think—"

"Ahhhh! No monologues! That's in my contract!" Deadpool interrupted, waving his hands dramatically. "And while I am very tempted to let you step on me and then spank you with a fly swatter, let's respect the click and hand… over…"

His voice trailed off as multiple gun barrels clicked into place around them.

Hunter tensed, glancing around as Hydra and Shadaloo goons raised their rifles, fingers on the triggers.

Deadpool tilted his head. "Oh. Big click energy."

Suddenly, the lights went out, plunging the room into darkness. The only illumination came from the erratic bursts of muzzle flashes as gunfire erupted. In one brief flash, Hunter caught a glimpse of something—something feral, its eyes glowing like embers.

Another flash—this time, from Deadpool's phone as he casually took a selfie with the creature mid-battle.

The lights flickered back on, revealing the aftermath—several bodies sprawled across the floor, their throats ripped open. Deadpool, somehow unharmed, twirled his katanas before dramatically sheathing them.

Hunter scanned the room. "Where's Dimitrescu?"

Deadpool pointed to the ground, where massive footprints trailed away toward a darkened corridor. "If I had to guess? Following the obvious path conveniently left for us by our beautiful and handsome author."

Hunter ignored his antics, her expression turning serious. "Why would she betray Hydra and Shadaloo?"

Deadpool tapped his chin. "Ooooh, plot twist?"

The footprints led toward an open sewer grate. A damp, musty breeze drifted up from below.

Deadpool and Hunter landed in the sewers with a splash, the murky water rippling beneath their boots. The dim tunnel stretched out before them, the air thick with the stench of rot and mildew.

Deadpool wrinkled his nose beneath his mask. "Okay, I know this smell—either we've walked into an abandoned Taco Bell, or this is definitely a Mole Man thing." He turned to Hunter. "If it's Mole Man, I swear I'm calling Johnny Storm. That guy lives for roasting—"

Before he could finish, a guttural screech echoed through the tunnels.

Hunter barely had time to react before a swarm of feral, unhinged vampires lunged from the shadows, their eyes glowing with hunger, fangs bared, and claws scraping against the tunnel walls as they rushed toward them.

Deadpool blinked. "Aaaand it's door number two. Cool, cool, cool—TIME TO DANCE!"

He whipped out his katanas, spinning them dramatically before striking a battle pose.

Hunter tightened her grip on her sword, her stance firm. "Less talking, more fighting!"

The first wave of vampires leaped at them, and the battle was on.

The first vampire lunged at Deadpool with inhuman speed, claws swiping for his throat. With a quick side-step, he ducked and slashed upward, his katana slicing clean through the creature's wrist. "Oops! Someone's gonna need a hand with that!" he quipped as the severed limb hit the sewer floor. Another vampire tackled him from behind, sinking its fangs into his shoulder. Deadpool groaned, rolling his eyes. "Oh great, now I gotta get a rabies shot." He flipped his katana backward and impaled the creature through the chest, yanking it free just in time to parry another attacker.

Hunter, meanwhile, was a blur of movement, her sword flashing with every precise strike. A vampire lunged from the side, but with a flick of her wrist, she conjured a mystical whip, wrapping it around the creature's neck and yanking it forward. As it stumbled, she brought her sword down, cleaving through its torso. Another vampire leaped from the shadows, but Hunter dodged, sliding beneath its claws and slashing upward in one fluid motion. The sewer walls were soon painted with the remains of their monstrous foes, but the creatures just kept coming. "There's too many!" she called out, glancing at Deadpool.

"Too many? Pfft! That just means more XP!" Deadpool cackled, unloading a barrage of bullets into the oncoming horde. One particularly large vampire snarled and lunged, knocking him into the grimy water. "Oh, come on! I just cleaned this suit—like, two months ago!" He kicked the beast off, slicing through its neck as he scrambled back up. Hunter flicked her whip again, wrapping it around a pipe and pulling herself onto a ledge to gain higher ground. "We need to end this now!" she shouted. Deadpool reloaded his pistols and grinned beneath his mask. "Agreed. Time for a little—boom therapy." He tossed a grenade into the swarm, and with a deafening explosion, the sewer was momentarily bathed in fire and smoke.

As the swirling portal illuminated the damp, bloodstained sewer, Hunter took a deep breath, satisfied that their mission was complete. Deadpool, however, slumped his shoulders dramatically. "Without that statue, not even the sparkling portal can cheer me up," he groaned, his head hanging low.

Hunter arched an eyebrow. "Is this about your very scary client?"

Deadpool let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "When he finds out how I royally fucked up this job—or worse, finds me—I'll be…" He ran a gloved finger across his neck in a slicing motion.

"Deader Pool?" Hunter quipped, smirking.

"There you go, new guy," Deadpool said, pointing at him approvingly.

Hunter crossed his arms. "Come with us to the Abbey. The wards will protect you."

"NO!" Caretaker's voice snapped through the comms.

"HELL NO!" Blade followed.

"ARE YOU NUTS?!" Nero shouted.

"You can hide there and track Lady Dimitrescu," Hunter reasoned.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" the three voices screamed in unison.

Deadpool, unfazed, stretched his arms and cracked his neck. "Fine, fine, we'll hash it out later. But first…" He twirled his katanas and grinned. "Time to clean up the leftovers. LOOK OUT, MA! I'M DLC!"

With that, he and Hunter stepped through the portal, ready to bring the chaos to the Abbey.