"So this is the thing causing all the trouble?" Saitama-san narrowed his eyes, staring at the crystal radiating an ominous aura. He could feel it—this crystal was the energy core of the entire dark vortex, and the source of those monsters.
Just then, the space behind and to the side of the crystal violently rippled. It tore open like a curtain of water being ripped apart. Several figures burst in, looking slightly battered—
It was Phil, leading the S.H.I.E.L.D. assault squad!
They were covered in signs of battle. Clearly, breaking through the outer defenses had cost them. And right behind them, a red-and-blue agile figure dropped in with a classic superhero landing—
A web line shot from his wrist, sticking to the last black-robed cultist who had rushed in, whipping him away like a tossed rag doll.
"Whoa! This place is seriously 'dark décor'… unique taste!" Spider-Man's voice came through the mask, full of his signature chatter, though the heaviness in his tone couldn't be hidden. He swept his gaze around, taking in the packed monster horde and the massive black crystal, then finally focused on the bald figure standing in front. "Hey! Bald guy! Looks like you found the big lightbulb?"
Phil quickly directed the squad to form a defensive perimeter, energy weapons trained on the eerily quiet monster mass. Sweat beaded on his forehead. "Saitama-san! We made it in! That crystal… is that the target?"
Saitama-san glanced back and nodded. "Yeah. You guys came too. It's probably that thing. Feels pretty sturdy."
His eyes locked onto the black crystal again, his fist slowly tightening. Whatever it was—smashing it should be the right answer, right?
Saitama-san's confirmation made Phil's heart clench.
"All units, eyes up! Target confirmed: black crystal! Open fire at will—cover Saitama-san!" he ordered decisively.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents moved immediately. High-energy lasers and pulsed beams poured down like a storm toward the area around the black crystal—trying to clear a path, or at least draw the monsters' attention.
But when the beams struck the monsters—bodies formed from pure dark energy—the effect was minimal, like mud sinking into the sea, only sending out ripples.
Worse—
The attack seemed to anger something.
The black crystal jolted violently. That summoning pulse instantly transformed into raging fury. The monsters that had been kneeling like worshipers erupted like cold water poured into boiling oil. Their vacant reverence was replaced by crimson brutality. Roars shook the space.
Some surged toward the firing S.H.I.E.L.D. squad and Spider-Man.
The rest—like a black tide—charged straight at Saitama-san, who stood at the very front.
"Alright, party's started!" Spider-Man yelped.
Facing several monsters shaped like rotting wyverns, he moved with shocking agility. Webs shot from his wrists as his body snapped through the air in impossible angles, slipping past claws and acidic breath. At the same time, he rapid-fired thick, elastic webbing, pinning joints, wings, and eyes with pinpoint accuracy.
"Try the new recipe! 'Shut-up web'—now with chili powder!"
Thup! Thup! Thup!
The webs stuck. They couldn't fully immobilize these energy monsters, but they heavily disrupted them—twisting their movements, making them crash into each other, and opening windows for the S.H.I.E.L.D. squad to strike.
"Nice work, Spider-Man! Concentrate fire—hit the restrained targets!" Phil commanded.
The squad coordinated cleanly, focusing their energy weapons on the monsters tangled by webs. This time, it worked—several of the beasts wailed and dispersed under the concentrated barrage.
(End of Chapter)
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