New York.
Even after the great battle, as one of the world's premier metropolises, New York quickly returned to its pre-war appearance. In fact, it seemed to be thriving even more than before.
The city's midnight streets blazed with countless lights, bright enough to rival daylight. Yet, despite the illumination, darkness still lingered in many corners.
Peter Parker stood atop a skyscraper, wearing the battle suit gifted to him by Nolan Locke. With this suit, he felt transformed not just stronger, but almost evolved into someone beyond his former self.
"This is incredible," he thought, surveying the city below. "Gianna, what's the situation around us?"
Gianna was the AI system embedded in his suit, linked directly to the LockTech network.
"All clear," Gianna replied.
Peter's face fell slightly. It wasn't that he disliked peace. It was just that ever since receiving this suit, he hadn't had the chance to truly put it to the test. Sure, he'd caught a few petty thieves, but those encounters hardly measured the suit's full power. He longed for an enemy like the Vulture someone who could push him to the limit.
Suddenly, Gianna spoke again.
"Detecting a massive energy explosion seventeen kilometers to the west."
Peter's expression hardened. A massive energy explosion… could it mean terrorists were involved?
He leapt off the building, firing a web forward to swing through the air. Ahead, a violent purple light illuminated the wetlands park plaza.
No, it wasn't lighting it was raw energy. Peter's face registered shock. As someone who patrolled New York nightly, he knew this was serious.
Sure enough, he hadn't reached the plaza when strange, eerie chanting echoed through the air.
At the center, a woman knelt in pain, surrounded by a giant pentagram glowing with unnatural light. Across from her, a middle-aged man laughed, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"Basazar, you're finished. Do you really think your little puppet can stop us?"
"Damn it, Maxim! Do you even know what you're doing? Morgana, the World-Destroyer Witch, has her own plans. Are you trying to destroy the world?" Basazar shouted.
Maxim barely blinked. "This damned world what's wrong with destroying it?" His eyes were full of hatred.
Beside him, a wizard raised his wand calmly, his expression haughty. Two others stood with him, just as confident. Maxim nodded to them.
"Basazar, die!" he roared, sending a massive spell crashing toward Basazar.
Sweating, Basazar barely blocked it, sidestepping just in time. "How… how could your magic be so powerful?"
Maxim only smiled coldly, not answering.
The other wizards were growing impatient.
"What are you waiting for? Finish him already!" one demanded. "Basazar is already in your way. Let him die, then you can talk all you want."
"Death Eaters!" Basazar grimaced. Even he, experienced in the magical world, recognized the infamous name. Death Eaters were Voldemort's followers, feared throughout the magical realm.
"David, I'll hold them off. You go save Veronica," Basazar said to a young boy, a descendant of Merlin.
David nodded, rushing toward the center of the plaza. Though he hadn't practiced magic long, the Merlin Ring in his possession amplified his power, allowing him to cast formidable spells.
But before he could reach her, the air warped. A faceless figure appeared.
"This magic… it's strange," Voldemort murmured, sensing David's unusual energy. Still, he wasn't worried. No matter how strong David was, Voldemort was supremely confident in his own power.
"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort shouted.
David raised the ring on his right hand. "Mana Shield!" A protective barrier flared to life, nullifying the deadly curse.
Before David could react further, Voldemort cast a second spell, a slippery curse that sent him crashing to the ground.
Basazar's eyes widened. "David, get up!"
David's body was powered by the Merlin Ring, unlocking magical potential far beyond his experience, yet raw in combat, he was vulnerable. More Death Eaters materialized through space magic, at least twenty, surrounding them completely.
Even Basazar's face betrayed despair. Veronica screamed in agony, her soul straining against Morgana's influence.
Suddenly, a new figure landed.
"Hey! Someone tell me what's happening here!"
Peter Parker scanned the scene, confused. These people, with wands and robes, looked like wizards straight out of a TV show. But magic didn't exist here… or so he thought.
David's eyes lit up. "Spider-Man!"
Though Basazar may not recognize him, David, like many young heroes, saw Spider-Man as someone attainable, someone real.
"They're evil wizards, trying to summon Morgana, the World-Destroyer Witch!" David shouted.
Even Peter, unfamiliar with Morgana, understood the words "World-Destroyer Witch" carried dire consequences. Seeing their serious faces confirmed the threat.
"So what should I do?" Peter asked.
"Stop the summoning ritual! If you don't, the world is finished!" David yelled.
Peter took a hard look at the scene. The woman trapped in the pentagram was clearly Morgana's conduit. His solution was simple: get her out.
"The perfect teamwork mode, Gianna," he said.
"Always ready, sir," Gianna replied, her tone flawless.
"Activate acceleration drive!" Peter leapt toward the plaza center, moving faster than ever. The Death Eaters surged toward him.
"A mere muggle Spider-Man? What can he do against us?" one sneered.
The next second, he realized the truth. Peter weaved through them with agility unmatched, his webs immobilizing opponents with precision. He was even shocking himself. Without this suit, he'd have been caught long ago. And this was only normal mode full mode promised even greater power.
Even so, the Death Eaters weren't helpless. Recognizing his speed, they gave him a clear path, confident their magic was superior.
Peter suddenly felt his body sink, as if trapped in quicksand. Around him, the wizards smirked. Spider-Man was formidable, but in absolute power, a muggle meant nothing.
"Prepare to die, Avada Kedavra!"
Peter's eyes widened. "Damn it! Veronica, move!"
As the curse neared, flames burst from beneath his feet, launching him out of harm's way.
"Peter Parker incapacitated. Activating full-power auto-combat mode per Protocol 32," Gianna's voice announced. Peter exhaled, relief washing over him.
Even without him, the suit fought flawlessly, powered by Gianna's AI and the world's most comprehensive combat database. Three wizards fell within moments.
Voldemort's gaze turned toward him. "Muggle technology… becoming dangerous," he said, more in reflection than surprise, though his intent to kill was clear.
"Leave the Merlin descendant to them. As for the muggle, I'll handle it," Voldemort said, advancing.
Without Peter's direct control, Veronica's techniques were strong, but lacking human reaction, the suit was taxed. Smoke began rising from it.
Voldemort reached Peter. "Muggle skill is impressive, but magic is the world's ultimate weapon." He raised his wand.
"Now… you die, Avada "
Boom! Smoke and debris erupted.
Between Peter and Voldemort appeared a new figure.
"You're Voldemort? You're ugly," the newcomer said.
"Mr. Locke!" Peter shouted, stunned. David's face lit up, hope restored. Others looked on, confused.
Basazar, facing Maxim, asked, "David, who is that?"
"That's Nolan Locke," David said excitedly. "The greatest hero in this world. No magic can match him!"
Even Voldemort frowned. The name Nolan Locke was familiar, but could he really be Earth's strongest?
"Better for that hero to stay out of my way," Nolan said casually to Basazar, "Standing in front of Voldemort isn't wise."
Voldemort's face darkened. "It's been a long time since anyone spoke to me like that…" Rage filled his voice.
Nolan didn't flinch. "Then let me be the first in a long time besides, you're really ugly."
"Dying!" Voldemort roared, sending a wave of unprecedented magical energy.
Full of anger, Voldemort unleashed everything he had. Nolan, however, calmly whispered, "Divine Guardian!"
A crimson figure materialized, deflecting the attack. Magic? Nolan no longer feared it.
The battlefield had just escalated beyond imagination.