Chapter 15: A Major Battle Begins

Chapter 15: A Major Battle Begins

It was now time for heroes to unite. So without further ado, the narrator’s roll call. Demon hunter, and half demon Dante. Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Dante’s female companion Trish. Billionaire Play-Boy, and superhero Iron-Man. The Wasp, and deity Amaterasu. The universe’s most deadly assassin Gamora, and Interpol officer Chun-Li as well as fellow street fighter Ryu. The only missing was Morrigan.

Lying face down in the dirt and badly beaten, the Succubus gasped for air amidst the aftermath of the Dark Phoenix’s ferocious attack. Her once nearly flawless skin given imperfection due to the burns that her flesh had sustained. With her body partially hidden within some tall grass she lay there. Not far from The Alliance’s HQ.

“Morrigan! We have to find her!”

Picking up the pieces of after his fight with Vergil, Tony Stark was beginning to show his resolve in the face of the ever growing crisis. Find Morrigan, find the enemy, and then find War Machine.

“Iron-Man, we need to follow Vergil. The man in the blue trench coat. You don’t know what he’s capable of.” Dante said as he stepped toward Tony. Trish tapped his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.

“No! We have to find Morrigan!”

“But Vergil is-”

“Vergil, Vergil, Vergil… He’ll get his. And why do you care so much?” Tony asked with a hint of anger and cynicism in his voice.

“He…”

“Come on Tony. Is this really the time?” Spider-Man asked.

The tension was palpable. Spider-Man try as he may could not diffuse this bomb. It would seem in this instance he wasn’t the Bomb Squad. Amaterasu barked but her words didn’t reach the bickering heroes.

It was then that Trish stepped forth and placed her hand gently on Dante’s shoulder. Taking charge of the situation. “It’s his brother. Vergil is his brother. Therefore his sins weigh on Dante. Sins of the sibling as well as the father.”

“Woah…” Chun-Li said as the group was overtaken by an awkward silence.

“…Brother?” Tony then reminisced of his friend Rhodey. “I get it. I have something of a brother myself. I understand.”

Iron-Man tracked Vergil and saw that the GPS stopped not too far from where they were. It wouldn’t be a long walk. Maybe a couple hours. But due to the nature of his nanomachine only Tony could track them. Damn… they likely won’t move again, but we can’t take that chance. We also can’t leave Morrigan.

“Tony.”

“What Pet… I mean Spider-Man?”

“It’s clear you’re dead set on finding… I guess friend?” Spider-Man said as Tony did a half thumbs up while shifting back and forth from up and down with a smirk. The ladies blushed as Dante nodded with respect. “Erm, alright then your Mary Jane I’ll say. Anyways getting back on topic. We need you to find Vergil as well as that fire lady. So we’ll have Amaterasu sniff out Morrigan. Dante, his lady friend”

Trish cut Spider-Man off from there. “Trish.” She said.

“Trish right. Dante, and Trish will follow Amaterasu, and The Wasp will fly overhead to pinpoint her exact location. All While Ryu, Chun-Li, Banner, and the green lady” Spider-Man was cut off yet again.

“Gamora.”

Spider-Man cleared his throat in embarrassment. “Right Gamora, sorry about that. Where was I? Right!” Spider-Man continued. “We’ll all head straight to the big bad guys. Get the proverbial ball rolling. Then once they hopefully find Morrigan safe and sound. Then Amaterasu can help them find us on the battlefield.”

Tony stood silently for a moment. Just watching the GPS flashing on his visor. The gang looked at him for his okay. Spider-Man seeming anxious from the lack of his response. Dante even more anxious considering he hadn’t even said his piece. I guess it can’t be helped. Dante thought.

“Well sounds like a plan Spider-Bro.” Dante said. “I’ll head off and find your succubus then. And you find the other devil.” He joked.

“Devil? What could that mean?” Chun-Li asked.

“Oh you don’t know. My Brother Vergil and I are half demon, half human.

A few of the jaws from the group dropped upon hearing that. Even Spider-Man’s. Amaterasu barked angrily at the mere mention of the word demon. Dante got a little nervous from the reactions and stepped back a bit.

“Hey woah what a miasma. Chill out guys I’m still one of the good ones I swear!” Dante yelled with a nervous chuckle. “And I swear I’ll be there in no time to help out with the fight! And Morrigan will be with me. How’s that for a Beelzebub?”

Tony’s face and ears seemingly perked up. “Right! The halflings right!”

“Hey! Halfling!” Dante yelled in protest, but Tony ignored him.

“Well then we don’t have a moment to waste. The rest of us will begin heading in that direction! Dante, Trish, Wasp, and this good girl Amaterasu will find Morrigan! Team on three! One, Two!”

“Three!” They all yelled in unison.

Then without a moment to waste they got to it. Amaterasu ran breakneck into the jungle as Trish and Dante followed by bike. The Wasp took to the sky and flew close by. On that same note Tony took to the air as well and started flying slowly towards the area he tracked Vergil to. Gamora, and Chun-Li began running after Tony. Spider-Man began web swinging along the trees. Bruce Banner wouldn’t have been able to keep up in his current state. So Ryu piggyback carried him along the way.

As they ran Ryu’s feet got dirtier and dirtier as their bare sols stepped through the dirt and mud. Bruce Banner guilty that he had to literally be carried by his team. Though it wasn’t just him. Even Spider-Man was having difficulty keeping up with Iron-Man by swinging through the trees. After all the branches hung low making it hard for web swinging.

Darn. If I keep going at this rate the karate man will out pace me while carrying Banner on his back! Not only that but I’ll be compromised during battle once we get to the baddies. Especially if there’s nothing to swing on at all!

It was then that Spider-Man smartened up and began jumping from the branches. Deciding not to rely on his webbing. Banner seeing Spider-Man be able to work through and move past his weakness just served to make him more insecure about his. He let out a sigh, and Ryu took notice of this.

“What’s wrong?” Ryu asked.

“…” Banner was a bit bashful.

“Bruce. Ryu is just concerned about you. Open up!” Chun-Li said.

Bruce’s eyes widened as he looked at her, and then back at Ryu. He knew he didn’t have to work through his issues alone. Like he’d done so many times before.

“I just… all I seem to do is get in the way. The only fighting I’ve managed to do so far is against each other. And since then I haven’t let the big guy take over even once. I feel like I’m only slowing you down.”

“Is that all?” Ryu said.

That was fast! Bruce thought.

“Ryu!” Chun-Li yelled. “Don’t be rude!”

Bruce Banner started laughing. “I get the feeling rude Ryu has a point. He just strikes me as the type of guy who always speaks what’s on his mind. Is that accurate?” Banner asked as he looked toward Chun-Li for confirmation.

“…” Chun-Li bit her lip a bit. “Yeah that’s pretty much it… a little too much if you ask me!” She said.

“Well then Ryu. You’ve been my teacher in the matter calming one’s mind. I am curious as to what wisdom you can part with me on the matter.”

“Hmm, the way I see it you’re our ace in the hole.”

“Ace… in the hole?”

“That HULK of yours admittedly is out of control. I know you’re aware of this.” Ryu said as Banner began to look uncomfortable. “But you’re the strongest person I’ve ever met. Much like the power of the Satsui no Hado that runs through my veins… this HULK can be used when we’re backed into a corner! In that regard, you’re still a valuable part of the team!”

Banner seemed validated for a moment. But then it hit him. The Satsui no Hado! “What about this Satsui no Hado? It stood up to the HULK. Wouldn’t that power be able to fill in for mine if I weren’t here?”

Ryu had a look of disgust smeared across his face at the mere thought. The thought of giving in to such a dreadful power. “No. That power is driven by an evil force that consumes your mind and drowns you’re soul. It can’t be relied upon…”

Bruce fell silent for a moment. Thinking of all the times he was consumed by rage and destroyed buildings, vehicles. All the collateral damage he’d called came flooding back. Not to mention the memories of those he’d hurt. All that destruction was the HULK’s doing. So he felt like he understood better at this point than even Ryu did. They had both been fighting a battle from within for so long. But maybe together they could put the puzzle pieces together and utilize both powers for good. Find that balance that Ryu had spoken of before.

“I used to think the exact same thing in regards to the HULK. I’ve caused a lot of harm but… like you said I can do a lot of good. Maybe your power could do the same.”

“…” Ryu said nothing. Instead he closed his eyes and followed the group to the sounds of their footsteps. After all even while running, he had to meditate on this.

At the same time, not far from Iron-Man’s party. Dante and his group were following high and low on Amaterasu’s tail. The Wasp’s wings fluttered throughout the air at unparalleled speeds. *Bark! Bark!* Amaterasu’s lungs beckoned forth as the Wasp took notice. Using only the scent of Morrigan’s hair she was able to find the succubus though perhaps only because her scent was so distinct.

Like an ant curled up after having been stomped out, Morrigan appeared as only a speck to The Wasp who’d been flying so high above, appearing as not even so much as a speck dur to her ability to shrink in size.

“Down there! I’ve spotted her, in a direction a few feet to your left!”

“On it!”

Dante hit the gas shredding grass and mud beneath the tires of his motorcycle. As it kicked up he sped past Amaterasu and through the trees. Pulling a Shotaro Kaneda from Akira as his bike slid sideways and stopped right in front of Morrigan’s tired nearly lifeless body. Dante jumped off his bike as he ran to her aid.

“Morrigan! Are you okay!?”

No response.

“She’s pretty badly burned. On top of that the blunt force trauma she received is incredible. There’s a good chance she’s not walking away from this…” Trish noted. It was then that Amaterasu and the Wasp managed to catch up. Their presence was enough to awaken the fallen succubus, though she was weak. Still she fought hard to utter a single sentence.

“Dante… come closer…” She said as Dante looked on in shock.

What… for? Dante thought. He then looked at Trish. Looking back she gave a single head nod in agreement.

“Okay…” Dante begrudgingly agreed as he leaned in closer as Morrigan requested.

*Kiss*

Dante was stricken with a sense of shock. Morrigan’s lips meeting his. Eyes wide he didn’t pull away. Hoping this awkward encounter had some sort of a point, and that Morrigan had used her last moments simply to play the part of a coy succubus.

“…” Trish standing awkwardly and uncomfortable before the unfolding scene.

Morrigan then pulled her lips away from his, and suddenly seemed to be regaining her strength. “Thank you Dante, your male vitality has sustained me for a while longer.” She said with a wink and a cute Scottish accent.

“Woah! Uh I mean… glad I could help!” Dante yelled with an embarrassed chuckle and blushing cheeks, unbecoming of a demon hunter such as himself.

“You think you could deliver one of those to Tony for me!” She said seductively as she puckered up her lips once more. Dante fighting to pull away, but not fighting hard enough by Trish’s estimate.

“Uh well maybe…” He then noticed Trish’s evil glare placed upon him.

“Hmph!” She uttered as she shut her eyes and looked away.

“Ha, well you might have to give that one to him yourself!” She nervously muttered as he stood up from her side. He then held out his hand to help her up. “Can you stand?”

She grabbed his hand delightfully before replying “I can now. Thank you.” Saying it with a more genuine disposition this time. Then while looking at Trish she followed with “Sorry about that. I wasn’t trying to steal your man or anything.”

Trish blushed; in that moment she would have surely looked away even harder if she could. “Why would I care! Personally I’m starting to become fonder of that spider guy we met myself!” She said as Dante panicked.

“Come on Trish! She just kissed me to recover some of her strength!”

“That’s true, that Phoenix or whatever she’s called is quite powerful. Just a word of warning, but if you find yourself face to face with her it’s best to retreat and find reinforcements.” Morrigan said as she looked at some of the burns that hadn’t fully recovered despite how potent Dante’s vitality was to the average man.

It was then that a sense of urgency spread across the groups faces. The Wasp especially considering Peter Parker, Bruce Banner, and Tony Stark were her friends.

“Then there’s no time to waste!” The Wasp yelled. “We have to back up our friends ASAP!”

The Wasp then flew into the air as she motioned for Amaterasu to begin tracking Iron-Man’s and the others’ scent. As Amaterasu rushed into the jungle the others began to follow.

(MOMENTS LATER)

It was getting dark out and the gang were hot on the villains heels. As they rushed through the jungle it was Ryu, Gamora, Spider-Man, and Tony Stark who first noticed something off. Soon after Bruce and Chun-Li. The wind. It doesn’t flow as freely here. Chun-Li had noticed.

“I smell something rotten. We’re almost there so everyone stay on your toes.” Iron-Man calmly told the group as all were in agreement.

Now in the full blackness of the night they emerged and were suddenly stopped in their collective tracks. Spidey’s expression and animated reaction was so potent that it would have seemed the eyelids of his mask had widened. The rest of them were equally taken aback. Ryu and Gamora both calm with a looming sense of dread that filled their whole bodies and as for Bruce… he was taking it the worst. His whole body shaking.

“Is this Shadaloo’s doing?” Chun-Li speculated.

Laughing started echoing from behind what their vision had taken hold of. A giant matte black structure rounded out. Forming a full circle around what their eyes had yet to grasp. A fortress. Flags had hung strewn up, flapping in the night air each one bearing a different insignia or creed. Shadaloo, The Brotherhood, Umbrella, and Hydra amongst others. The laughing continued until it abruptly stopped.

“That is only one piece to a much larger puzzle!” The sinister voice of a female rang out. “I’m absolutely pleased with your inability to see the full picture. I guess the only thing full here is how full of yourselves you Interpol agents are!” The voice cackled.

“Juri?” Ryu questioned.

“It sure sounds like her!” Chun-Li confirmed. “Show yourself!” She roared.

“Ah, ah, ah… Most meals have an appetizer before the main course!”

*Click-Clack-Crack-Creak* The sound of wood clapping together echoed. Our heroes stood steadfast with Tony taking point. As though shadow of a man was cast upon them it grew closer and closer. So close that they readied themselves even more. Then as the light of the moon illuminated it. It, it… was a puppet? A puppet held up by strings that went un into seemingly nonexistence. It’s movements were strange and dictated by the strings. It was dressed in strange attire that was perhaps old Victorian in design. Perplexing.

Though worst of all wasn’t it’s clothes, movements, or even the strange clacking of wood. But what was protruding from it’s forearms. Long, sharp sickles came out of the strange wooden puppet. Then as the puppet began to chatter it clumsily raised it’s arm and attacked. *BLAST!* The puppet exploded into a shower of splinters as Tony blasted it with a propulsion blast. Soon more came out of the woodwork. Or more accurately they were the woodwork.

“There’s more of them! Attack!” Tony yelled as the group leapt in.

Gamora began slicing with her sword. Easily slicing through them, but their upper bodies continued to fight and float. Stunned she could only think of cutting them apart limb to limb. This worked but took far longer. She’d have to hope her teammates were just as capable. Then just as she was struggling *Thwip-Thwip-Thwip!* Spider-Man had webbed up the wires controlling many of them. Making it easier for Gamora to cut them apart. Even Spidey, with his immense strength got some hits in. Shattering them to bits.

Ryu set Bruce down. “Here, we can handle this! No need to let out that power of yours!” Ryu had told him.

“Are you sure!?”

Chun-Li then patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, no green meanie for this one. Besides we already have one of those.” Chun-Li laughed as she pointed out Gamora.

The two street fighters then jumped into the battle with their awesome agility and began swipes of the scythes left and right. The countering with attacks that’d leave a puppet devastated. Though compared to Gamora their attacks were slow. Soon they found themselves surrounded. In that moment Ryu yelled “Tatsumaki!” Ryu then leaped towards the largest part of the crowd as he began spinning in circles with one leg extended. His signature Hurricane Kick. As he spun ferociously many puppets were vanquished.

“Let me get in on this! Hyakuretsukyaku!” She yelled as she positioned herself in front of a few more puppets. It was then while one foot was planted firmly on the ground that a flurry of high kicks began to decimate. Wooden limbs and heads cracking apart and flying off her targets.

And as for Iron-Man… well if it ain’t broke then don’t fix it.

He had just kept blasting them one after the other until like a tasty meal it was all gone.

“That wasn’t so hard now was it?” He asked as he gave a thumbs up to the rest of the team. They all happily shared in his enthusiasm. Though a little winded. He then stepped forward facing the fortress. “Now let’s crack this bad boy open like a can of beer!”

“Hell… you’re starting to sound like Dante.” Gamora remarked.

“Hey! I can be witty too!”

It was just as their enthusiasm was rising that the enemy thought they’d curb it. The soil before them began to bulge and pop as if it were bubbling up. Then suddenly *Petrified moans* Short, cartoonish zombies came up from the ground. Sprouting like weeds. Soldiers dressed in all back with silver skull insignias were plastered all over their uniforms. Hydra agents. And lastly martial artists dressed in blue formal attire appeared, adorning logos of a skull with a lightning bolt and wings. Not too different from that of the Hydra logo. All ready to fight our heroes head on.