[Third Person's PoV]
Tony and Melissa were walking through the Quantum Realm. Melissa had her fist aimed at the ground as a scanner on her wrist moved back and forth.
"Anything?" Tony asked, hands clasped behind his head as he took large strides.
"No," Melissa sighed. "All I'm getting is that this is just dirt."
Tony began tapping Melissa, who was focused on the information on her wrist. "Hm?"
When she turned toward Tony, she saw him excitedly pointing ahead. Her breath caught in her throat as she followed his gaze. There, in the near distance, rising out of the jagged landscape, stood an array of structures—buildings intricately crafted with smooth, crystalline material that shimmered like polished obsidian, spires twisting into the sky.
"Civilization!" Melissa breathed, the word slipping out as a mix of disbelief and exhilaration.
Tony turned toward the ship and commanded, "Cloak yourself."
The ship, sleek and advanced with smooth curves and glowing blue panels, shimmered as its exterior shifted, bending light until it vanished from sight. Melissa grabbed Tony's hand and led him down into the town.
As they entered, they saw many bizarrely shaped beings: some looked like insects, others like blue goo, none remotely human.
"This is incredible…" Melissa whispered, eyes wide with wonder. She fumbled for her phone, lifting it to capture the surreal beauty around them. The first few clicks passed unnoticed, but the soft glow of her flash suddenly lit up the immediate area.
A few creatures paused mid-step, their eyes—or what passed for eyes—snapping towards them, expressions unreadable but intent. Moments later, the entire town seemed to hold its collective breath.
A Few Moments Later...
"MELISSA, WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!" Tony shouted as they both ran frantically.
"I didn't know the flash was on!" Melissa yelled, casting a wild glance over her shoulder. Their pursuers were close now, a swarm of iridescent wings and chittering voices. Some figures rode on insectoid mounts, their limbs clicking and metallic as they hoisted weapons that gleamed ominously.
A barrage of laser-like projectiles zipped past them, sizzling as they grazed stone and crystal, sending up plumes of molten debris. One bolt barely missed Melissa, the heat searing the air beside her.
"Next time, just draw a picture!" Tony shouted as he spun mid-run, skidding slightly.
Tony planted a hand on the ground to stop himself as his suit materialized over him. He thrust his fists forward, and the emitters glowed a sharp blue as ripples of sound waves surged outward. The wavefront hit the flying creatures, their shrill cries filling the air as they spiraled downward, colliding into others and sending a chain reaction of chaos through the sky.
Tony's hands morphed back, and reforming into metallic red as a motorcycle materialized from his symbiote. The vehicle's design was futuristic, with sharp edges and energy lines pulsing like veins. Swinging his leg over, he motioned to Melissa, "Get on. I've bought us a few minutes."
"Not going to tell me twice," Melissa said, hopping on and grabbing Tony's waist.
The bike wavered slightly before speeding off. They rode in silence for a good half hour until Tony interrupted, "Melissa, you blinded that poor woman."
Melissa groaned, pressing her forehead against Tony's back. "Please don't. I already feel terrible. I didn't know the flash was on. How was I supposed to know they were sensitive to light?"
"Yeah, the language barrier is definitely going to be a problem..." Tony muttered as the wind whipped through his hair.
"Woah!" Tony exclaimed, bringing the bike to a sudden stop. Melissa looked ahead to see a giant crevice stretching out for meters.
A low moaning, almost like a whale's song, filled the air before a massive larva-like creature emerged from the crevice. Its enormous shadow loomed over them ominously.
Melissa nervously took out her phone and snapped a picture. The flash went off, and the sound of the shutter echoed.
The creature froze, its alien eyes locking onto them. Tony turned slowly, his expression a mixture of exasperation and disbelief as Melissa's face flushed a deep crimson. "I swear I thought I turned off the flash…"
"I swear," he began, barely above a whisper, "if we survive this…".
The larva's head turned toward them, its mouth, shaped like a contracting orifice, widened before releasing a thick green liquid.
Tony sped off on the bike as the liquid hit the ground, sizzling and corroding it before turning into a wave of acid.
"Melissa, we're going to need to have a serious conversation about this!" Tony shouted.
Melissa's voice cracked with shame, "I'M SORRY!"
Ahead, the beings from the town were still in pursuit. "DO YOU PEOPLE NOT KNOW WHEN TO GIVE UP?!" Tony yelled back.
The acidic splashes hissed dangerously as he zigzagged, narrowly avoiding them. The larva continued its chase. Tony glanced over his shoulder and shouted, "Guess someone's camera shy. Nice work, Melissa, you have a knack for finding those who hate having their pictures taken!"
"I promise I won't take any more pictures!" Melissa cried.
Seeing themselves sandwiched between two threats, Tony called out, "Melissa, hold on tight!"
Feeling her arms tighten, He slammed his foot down, symbiote armor spreading over his leg as it anchored into the ground. Using the momentum, he jerked the bike to an impossible angle, skidding sideways and redirecting their trajectory just in time.
The larva's acid splattered the ground, hitting their pursuers and drawing screams as they were engulfed. Melissa gasped in horror while Tony pressed a button on the handlebars, activating a thruster that sent them rocketing forward as a red blur.
"The crevice, Tony! Don't forget the crevice!" Melissa yelled, clinging to him.
"I KNOW! WE'RE JUMPING IT! HAHAHA!" Tony shouted, eyes wild with excitement.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?!"
The bike launched off the edge, propelled by the thrusters.
"Ahhh!" Melissa screamed.
"WOOHOO!" Tony cheered, standing slightly on the bike.
But the gap was wider than expected, and they began to dip.
"We're going to die!" Melissa cried, clutching Tony tightly.
Tony recalled the bike into his body and shouted, "Did you forget what we can do?"
"Oh, right," Melissa said, her panic fading.
"Wanna explore what's down here?" Tony yelled as they free-fell.
"Absolutely!" Melissa shouted back.
As they descended, their symbiotes covered them, a Stark Reactor forming on their chests. The symbiotes exploded outward, forming their full armor. Adjusting their stances, they extended their arms, stabilizing their fall.
Thrusters activated on their feet, slowing them until they landed smoothly, cracking the ground slightly beneath them.
They took in their surroundings and marveled at the vast caverns with walls lined with bioluminescent plants, glowing in an array of colors.
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