The chaotic skyline of Mumbattan glowed beneath the setting sun, casting long shadows over the city streets. In this vibrant and bustling metropolis, three Spider-People had converged on their foe: Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, and Pavitr Prabhakar, the local Spider-Man.
Spot, a figure covered in swirling black holes, regarded them with an air of superiority. His face was a mask of confidence as he addressed Miles, "Hello, Spider-Man."
Gwen, her white suit with black accents contrasting sharply with the city lights, responded casually, "Hi."
Pavitr, in his vibrant red Spider-Man suit with traditional Indian patterns, greeted with a friendly, "Hello."
Miles, dressed in his sleek black suit with striking red lines along the armpits and ribs, added, "Hey."
In unison, the three Spider-People said, "Hi, hello, hey," their voices merging into a single, coordinated response.
Spot's gaze, however, was fixed on Miles. "Not you."
Gwen tilted her head, confused. "You talking to him or me or him?"
Miles, catching on, said, "Think he means me."
Spot's response was swift and direct. "Yeah. Him."
Determined, Miles took the lead. "I got this, guys." With a burst of webbing, he propelled himself toward Spot. He aimed a powerful kick, but his foot passed right through Spot's chest, which was covered in large, swirling black holes. Miles' expression turned to one of bewilderment. "Huh?" he exclaimed as his kick had no effect.
Spot smirked, seemingly unfazed by the failed attack. "Wow. How are you?" he taunted, just before a surge of black electricity erupted from his chest. The electric current struck Miles, sending him hurtling backwards into a nearby wall with a painful thud. "Aurg!" Miles groaned, slumped against the debris-strewn pavement.
Gwen and Pavitr watched with alarm as their friend and teammate was knocked back. Shock and worry flashed across their faces.
Spot, reveling in his apparent triumph, declared with a smirk, "Can you tell I leveled up my game?" He struck a dramatic pose, placing his arm over his head and diving as if to emphasize his superiority and newfound power.
Recovering from the impact, Miles exchanged a determined glance with Gwen and Pavitr. They understood that teamwork was crucial. Without missing a beat, they prepared to engage Spot once again. With synchronized resolve, they swung into action, ready to tackle the villain who continued to teleport from one spot to another, evading their grasp and wreaking havoc throughout the city.
Spot, hovering in mid-air, looked around with an air of superiority and said, "I'm on a journey of self-improvement."
Pavitr Prabhakar, the local Spider-Man with a distinctive Indian accent, replied, "And you came to India."
With a flick of his wrist, Pavitr used his yo-yo-like bangle web-slingers to ensnare Spot, binding him in mid-air. Spot struggled against the webbing, trying to free himself.
Pavitr swung closer, adding, "That's a Western culture cliché. Don't Eat, Pray, Love me, bro."
As Gwen and Miles closed in, Spot's irritation grew. "I did not mean it like that," he protested.
Pavitr continued his taunting, "Let me guess, you're gonna ask me about saffron and cardamom and naan bread." He swung gracefully through the air, his webbing still holding Spot."And naan bread, which is the same as saying 'bread' bread, which is the same as saying 'chai tea.'"
Spot responded with a grin, "Oh, I love chai tea."
Pavitr's frustration peaked. "It's not chai tea!!" he snapped, his voice echoing through the streets.
Spot seized the moment of Pavitr's distraction. Using his black portal powers, he quickly teleported. As Pavitr swung towards him, Spot's sudden disappearance caused Pavitr to collide with Gwen, who was also in mid-swing.
The two Spider-People crashed into each other, both tumbling through the air. "Oops." Pavitr muttered as he and Gwen hit the ground, their momentum sending them sprawling.
Spot, now free from the yo-yo webbing, chuckled maliciously. "Serves you right. Hehehe."
Miles lunged at Spot, their fists colliding with a powerful impact. The force of the blow sent both of them tumbling through one of Spot's black portals, teleporting them across the chaotic cityscape of Mumbattan.
As they reappeared, still mid-fight, Miles tried to reason with him. "Come on, man! I think maybe we got off on the wrong foot," he said, landing a punch squarely on Spot's face. "Let's just talk about this."
Spot retaliated with a punch of his own, the impact sending Miles reeling. "Fine. But you made me feel empty, like I had a hole inside of me."
The two wrestled in mid-air, teleporting again as Spot's portals activated with each move. They crashed through buildings, smashing through walls and windows as their battle raged on.
Miles, trying to make sense of Spot's words, responded, "O-Okay weird."
Spot's voice was filled with grim determination as he replied, "Ahem, we all have holes but now I know what to fill that hole with. More holes!"
Their brawl intensified, the chaotic teleportation disorienting Miles as they careened through the city, leaving destruction in their wake. Below them, Gwen and Pavitr were hard at work, swinging through the city to save civilians caught in the crossfire.
Gwen, her eyes scanning the destruction, muttered, "Tsk, this is bad."
Pavitr, ever the optimist, quipped as he swung past panicking civilians, "What a good day."
Meanwhile, Miles and Spot's fight reached a fever pitch. They slammed into each other, wrestling as they continued to teleport. Miles, growing more frustrated, shouted, "That doesn't make any sense!"
Spot grinned maliciously. "It will." He then created another black hole behind Miles, one that the young Spider-Man didn't see.
"Oh no.." Miles muttered as he was sucked into the portal, reappearing only to crash hard into a billboard. Spot, using his unique power, teleported his foot through another portal, kicking Miles in the face and sending him flying back into the billboard with a painful thud.
Dazed but determined, Miles staggered to his feet, trying to shake off the hit. "I'm okay. I'm good. Don't worry," he assured Gwen and Pavitr, who had been watching from a distance.
Gwen, without missing a beat, swung towards Spot, her voice resolute. "We won't." she replied, ready to continue the fight.
Pavitr, following close behind, couldn't resist a quip. "This romantic tension is so palpable."
Miles sighed, shaking his head at Pavitr's comment, but quickly refocused as he swung after his fellow comrade, determined to bring Spot down. The battle was far from over.
..........
(ANOTHER UNIVERSE)
On Vormir, the air was thick with tension as Thanos and Gamora approached the altar where the Soul Stone was rumored to reside. The sky above was a swirling mass of dark clouds, casting an ominous shadow over the barren, rocky landscape.
Thanos walked with a heavy heart, each step echoing his internal struggle. He glanced at Gamora, his beloved daughter, knowing what was required of him. Yet, the weight of what he had to do was nearly unbearable. His voice trembled as he spoke, "This is my sacrifice."
Gamora, sensing something was terribly wrong, looked up at him with confusion and fear. "Wh-what do you mean, sacrifice?"
Before she could react further, the altar before them lit up, and from the shadows emerged a figure draped in a dark cloak. His face was a haunting skull, his eyes glowing with a ghostly light. It was Red Skull, the keeper of the Soul Stone.
"Is that so?" Red Skull's voice was cold and distant, as if he had witnessed countless tragedies unfold in this very place.
Thanos locked eyes with him, his resolve hardening despite the tears that threatened to fall. "Are you the stone keeper?" he asked, his voice strained.
Red Skull nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving Thanos. "Indeed, I am the stone keeper."
Gamora, now fully gripped by terror, began to struggle in Thanos's grasp. She thrashed against his iron hold, her voice rising in desperation. "Let go of me! Let go of me!" She fought with all her might, but Thanos's grip was unyielding, his immense strength far surpassing hers.
Tears welled up in Thanos's eyes as he looked down at his daughter, his heart breaking with every second. But he forced himself to maintain his composure, knowing that he had no other choice if he was to obtain the Soul Stone. With a final, heart-wrenching look at Gamora, he whispered, "I'm sorry, Gamora."
And with that, Thanos threw Gamora towards the altar with all his might.
Gamora let out a scream as she was flung through the air, her body colliding with the cold, hard stone below. "Aurg!" she cried out as she hit the altar, the impact sending shockwaves through her.
Suddenly, the altar began to shake violently, and an eerie, unnatural light enveloped Gamora. She felt a horrifying force pulling at her, as though her very essence was being ripped apart. Her vitality, her life force, was being sucked away by the altar.
Gamora's screams of agony echoed across the desolate landscape. "No! Please, please! Someone, help me! Help me!" The pain was indescribable, as if her body was being torn apart, piece by piece, and burned alive at the same time. Her cries grew weaker, more desperate, as the life drained from her.
Thanos stood there, watching helplessly as his daughter suffered, tears streaming down his face. "I'm sorry, Gamora." he whispered, his voice choked with sorrow. "I'm sorry, my child, but this is the only way to get the Soul Stone."
Minutes passed like an eternity, and finally, Gamora's screams ceased. Her body, now lifeless, slumped to the ground, reduced to a grotesque, boneless mass, as if all that had made her whole was stripped away. The altar's glow dimmed, and in its place, the Soul Stone appeared, hovering above the altar, gleaming with an ominous light.
Thanos, overcome with grief, approached Gamora's lifeless form. He knelt beside her, cradling her body in his arms, his tears falling onto her ashen skin and bone. "I'm sorry, daughter," he murmured, his voice breaking. "I'm so sorry."
With a heavy heart, he reached out and took the Soul Stone, its power surging through him. Red Skull watched in silence, a witness to yet another tragic sacrifice made for the stone.
As Thanos stood up, clutching the Soul Stone in his hand, he looked down at Gamora one last time. His voice was barely above a whisper as he said, "Soon, everything will be mine."
And with that, Thanos turned away, his heart heavy with the weight of his actions, leaving Vormir behind, the Soul Stone now in his possession.
........
As Miles, Gwen, and Pavitr pursued Spot, who kept teleporting using his black portals, they swung through the city with determination. The three of them moved in unison, weaving through buildings and dodging obstacles with precision. Spot's teleportations were unpredictable, but they were relentless in their chase.
Miles, positioned between Gwen and Pavitr, spoke up as they swung through the air. "If Spot gets more holes…"
Pavitr, swinging on Miles' right side, quipped, "Will they, won't they?"
Miles, his tone serious, continued, "...he'll be unstoppable!"
He glanced at Gwen and Pavitr, his voice filled with urgency. "We can't let him get to—"
Gwen, understanding immediately, filled in the blank, "Alchemax."
Pavitr, with his usual humor, chimed in, "See? How can you guys even concentrate?"
Just then, Spot created another portal, stepping through it effortlessly. In an instant, he was inside Alchemax, the high-tech research facility, known for its cutting-edge science—and dangerous experiments.
Inside Alchemax, scientists who were going about their work suddenly froze in fear as Spot's bizarre appearance, covered in shifting black spots, materialized in their midst. Panic set in as they scrambled to get away from him.
Miles, Gwen, and Pavitr didn't waste a second. They dove through the same black portal Spot had used, finding themselves inside the sterile, white halls of Alchemax.
Pavitr, catching his breath, turned to his friends with a curious look. "Hey, does he know about Hobie?"
Miles, slightly thrown off by the question, felt a twinge of jealousy. "What should I know about Hobie?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion.
Pavitr smirked, "Oh, looks like he did not know."
Miles frowned, but there was no time to dwell on it. Ahead of them, Spot was making his way toward the collider—a massive, dangerous piece of technology capable of tearing holes in the very fabric of reality.
Spot approached the scientists at the collider's control panel. With a flick of his wrist, he used his black portal powers to teleport the scientists out of the room one by one, sending them away with a casual, "Boop. Go away. Go away."
The scientists screamed in panic, disappearing through the portals. "Aurg!!" one cried as he vanished.
Spot, now alone in the control room, grinned wickedly. "See you later. Thanks for coming."
Miles, Gwen, and Pavitr arrived at the collider room entrance, but just as they were about to confront Spot, they were stopped by a powerful energy barrier that sprung up between them and the villain.
Miles skidded to a halt, frustration evident in his voice. "Crap, we can't get to him!"
Gwen punched the barrier in frustration, her voice tinged with worry. "Tsk, this just became a problem."
They could only watch helplessly as Spot prepared to activate the collider, the very device that could give him unlimited power by creating even more portals—and more holes. Time was running out, and they needed a plan, fast.
With the collider humming ominously in the background, the tension was thick. Spot was on the brink of something catastrophic, and Miles, Gwen, and Pavitr had to stop him—no matter the cost.
To be continue