C437 Spider-Man (Patreon)
Content
In the depths of a long-abandoned cathedral, Kaecilius and his devoted Zealots gathered, their dark cloaks casting eerie shadows in the dim candlelight. Before them lay an intricate arrangement of mystical symbols, pulsating with an otherworldly energy. Kaecilius, his eyes ablaze with fanaticism, stood at the center, his followers forming a circle around him.
With a low, resonating chant, the Zealots' voices intertwined, resonating with the vibrations of the symbols. The air itself seemed to quiver as the ritual began, their connection with the dark dimension growing stronger with every word.
As the chant reached its climax, the very fabric of reality seemed to tear, revealing a swirling vortex of darkness. From its depths emerged a presence that sent shivers down their spines, the dreaded Dormammu himself.
Kaecilius and his Zealots fell to their knees, their heads bowed in reverence as Dormammu's voice echoed around them. "Kaecilius, my loyal servant, you have called, and I have answered. Speak your desires."
Kaecilius, his voice trembling with reverence, stood and met Dormammu's gaze. "We seek your guidance and power to carry out your will."
Dormammu's presence seemed to swell, his approval tangible. "Speak."
"We beseech you to grant us more strength, so that we’re able and ready to act out your commands," Kaecilius declared, his voice unwavering. "We wish nothing but to serve you, as best as we can."
A sinister smile curled across Dormammu's formless visage. "Very well. I shall grant you the means to achieve your desires, but I’m afraid you’ll have to wait. Once you've struck down the sanctums, their barriers will crumble, and my influence shall seep into the realms. Then, and only then, will I be able to gift you more of my power."
With a wave of Dormammu's incorporeal hand, a surge of dark energy enveloped Kaecilius and his Zealots. Their bodies trembled as they felt his power, but couldn’t absorb a single grain of it. Their senses overcome with a sensation both intoxicating and nightmarish.
As the dark energy washed over them, Dormammu's voice reverberated through their minds. "Go forth, my servants, and unleash the chaos you so desire. Strike down the sanctums and let the realms tremble."
The ritual's energy peaked, and Dormammu's presence slowly began to fade. Kaecilius and his Zealots watched as the vortex of darkness closed, leaving them with an even greater lust for power than before.
"Prepare yourselves," Kaecilius ordered, his voice carrying the weight of their dark pact. "We commence our attack on the London Sanctum in two hours. The time has come to bring about the end of the Ancient One’s feeble defense."
His followers nodded, their eyes burning with power hungry desire. The Zealots scattered, each one preparing for the battle that would bring them closer to their ultimate goal… the annihilation of the Kamar-Tak and the ascent of Dormammu's reign.
—————
Almost a month had passed since Doctor Strange joined Peter's training sessions. The London Sanctum's training room was abuzz with energy as the trio stood side by side, Lily and MJ flanking Doctor Strange. The room was bathed in soft, ethereal light, illuminating their focused expressions.
Peter, standing at a distance, watched intently as the three of them practiced their Mystic arts. He had chosen the London Sanctum for these sessions, knowing that the attack from Kaecilius and his followers was imminent. In the Doctor Strange movie, the London Sanctum was the first to fall. So Peter decided to spend his time here, waiting for Kaecilius to show up.
The training sessions had been grueling, pushing Doctor Strange to his limits and beyond. Peter had been relentless, determined to bring out the Sorcerer Supreme within Strange. And his efforts had paid off. Doctor Strange had proven himself to be a prodigious student, mastering the control of Eldritch energy and learning a wide array of spells.
As Peter observed, he couldn't help but be impressed by Strange's progress. The air around him seemed to hum with energy as he conjured complex patterns of light and energy, weaving spells with a precision that was awe-inspiring.
MJ and Lily, though not as advanced as Doctor Strange, held their own. Their dedication was evident in the way they worked together, their spells complementing each other seamlessly. Lily's AI mind seemed to grasp the intricacies of the Mystic arts with remarkable ease, her natural affinity for magic shining through.
With a wave of his hand, Doctor Strange conjured a shimmering shield of energy, blocking an incoming barrage of energy projectiles. He then countered with a burst of energy from his own fingertips, sending a surge of mystical force hurtling toward Lily.
Lily reacted swiftly, weaving her own spell to redirect the energy, sending it harmlessly into the ground. MJ, on the other hand, focused her attention on Doctor Strange, her eyes glowing with determination as she conjured illusions to test his abilities.
Peter's lips quirked into a half-smile as he witnessed their training. Doctor Strange's growth had been remarkable, far surpassing his own expectations. He had learned around 40 spells, mastered telekinesis and just started delving into telepathy. He even mastered the use of the Sling Ring, a skill that had been surprisingly easy for him to acquire after his intense Eldritch energy training.
As the training session came to a close, Doctor Strange lowered his shield, his breathing steady despite the intensity of their practice. He turned to Peter, a mixture of exhaustion and satisfaction in his eyes. "I never imagined I would come this far in such a short time."
Peter nodded approvingly. "You've put in the effort, and it shows. But remember, don’t get too full of yourself. You’re still incredibly weak compared to most Masters."
Doctor Strange's gaze turned solemn. "I understand."
Peter's eyes met Strange's, a shared determination passing between them. "Good. Because if you start getting an ego, I’ll be forced to beat it out of you."
MJ and Lily joined them, their faces flushed from the intense training. Lily smiled up at her father. “How was I? Did I do good?”
Peter smiled warmly toward his daughter. "You did amazing, My love."
Lily perked up, her excitement palpable. "Hehe! I can't wait to show off my new spells!"
Peter ruffled Lily's hair affectionately. "You'll get your chance."
As the group began to make their way out of the training room, a loud explosion shook the Sanctum, echoing through the hallways. Peter's senses tingled with anticipation as he turned to face the entrance of the building, his expression growing serious.
"They're here," he murmured, his voice carrying a weight of certainty.
The air crackled with tension as Peter opened a swirling portal, leading to the entrance of the Sanctum. Stepping through, he found the once-intact door obliterated, the protective spells that had guarded it now nothing but ashes. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed the destruction, knowing that Kaecilius and his Zealots had breached their defenses.
Entering the Sanctum's interior, Peter's gaze fell upon the figure of Kaecilius, casually strolling inside with an air of arrogance. Behind him, the Zealots followed in eerie silence, their eyes gleaming with the twisted devotion that had ensnared them.
Kaecilius's gaze locked onto Peter, a sinister smile curling his lips. "Well, well, if it isn't the Ancient One's favorite student."
Peter waved, his demeanor nonchalant. "Yo."
Kaecilius's smile twisted with envy, his jealousy clear in his tone. "You're nothing more than a pet to her, aren't you? A mangy dog she picked up along the-"
Peter waved his hand, interrupting him. "Save the monologue for someone else. I could care less about your insecurities."
Kaecilius's lips curved into an annoyed frown. "Oh, don't worry. I’ll be sure say it all for the Ancient one when I deliver your lifeless corpse to her, a gift that will shatter her precious illusions."
Peter wave him over. "Enough talk. Let’s get this over with. I got sh*t to do today…"
With a sudden motion, Kaecilius raised his hands, his fingers dancing with arcane symbols. Dark energy surged around him as he launched a barrage of projectiles toward Peter. The air crackled as Peter deflected them with a shimmering barrier of Eldritch energy, the impacts causing ripples of energy to cascade through the room.
Kaecilius's attacks came relentless, the Zealots watching with unblinking eyes as their leader attempted to overpower Peter. But Peter's mastery of the Mystic arts was undeniable. He wove intricate spells, conjuring defensive wards and launching counterattacks with fluid precision.
The battle danced between them, the room bathed in the swirling lights of their magic. Peter's movements were swift and calculated, his control of Eldritch energy evident as he twisted and redirected Kaecilius's assaults.
As the confrontation escalated, the air seemed to crackle with energy, MJ, Lily, and Doctor Strange stepped through the open portal, their eyes widening as they took in the spectacle before them.
Doctor Strange watched in awe as Peter's movements flowed seamlessly, each spell executed with a mastery that left him speechless. He had never witnessed such finesse in the Mystic arts, and his respect for Peter's abilities grew exponentially.
Even MJ and Lily were shocked by how skilled Peter truly was. They had seen him in action before, but he rarely used much more than a portal when fighting. Luckily, this time around, Peter couldn’t use his spider powers, for fear of revealing his identity as Spider-Man, so it was all about magic today.
Soon enough, the tide of battle shifted, Peter's attacks gaining momentum as he forced Kaecilius to retreat. With a sudden surge of power, he summoned a sword of pure Eldritch energy into his hand. The weapon gleamed with an otherworldly light as Peter advanced, his expression focused and determined.
Kaecilius stumbled back as Peter snapped his finger, sending a huge gust of wind his way. Before he knew what happened Peter appeared in front of him, his sword pressed close to his throat. The Zealots watched in horror, their leader’s dominance shattered.
Peter's voice was steady, devoid of emotion. "Any last words?"
Kaecilius's lips moved, but before he could utter a single syllable, Peter sensed the Ancient One’s presence drawing near. Acting quickly, before she could interfere, Peter’s grip tightened as the blade of Eldritch energy slicing through flesh and bone with ease. Kaecilius’s severed head fell to the ground, his vacant eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.
Peter's expression remained impassive as he gazed down at the lifeless body. "You know what? I didn’t really care what you had to say."
As he spoke, the Ancient One appeared beside him, frowning down at what was supposed to be her killers headless body, a conflicted look in her face. “…”
A/N: 1785 words :) I wanted to draw the fighting out more, but then I remembered that Peter is far stronger than Kaecilius, so that wouldn’t be possible. Though I do have a big fight planned for Dormammu…