I have added this story to my Patreon. You can support me and read the 40 latest and advanced chapters there. It also fed and motivate me to write more chapters!
Link: Patreon.com/Heroicverse
—------------------—
William Baker, that was the name of this man who looked honest.
That's right, he was the accomplice to the robber who killed Uncle Ben in the original Spider Demon story.
However, in this Universe, because of Ryan Parker's intrusion, it was clear that the plot where Uncle Ben was killed did not happen.
After all, whenever Peter caused trouble or ran away from home, with Ryan Parker around, there was no need for Uncle Ben to go catch him personally.
Ryan Parker would let Peter know what the "Gothic Fist" meant!
And because he had a peer like Ryan Parker to keep him company, Peter had someone to confide in, making him more cheerful than in the original story.
Therefore, the plot where Peter ran away from home or went to fight in underground matches for money never happened.
This also meant that after that robbery, William Baker did not become Sandman; instead, he and his accomplice failed to steal a car and were caught by the police and thrown into prison.
It wasn't until recently that Dormammu noticed the hidden potential of Sandman within him, causing Kaecilius to lure him into becoming a follower, and just like with Skye, his Sandman abilities were activated.
That's right, in this Universe, Skye's vibrational superpowers were not awakened by Terrigen Crystals.
Sandman did not become who he was by falling into radioactive sand, causing every molecule of his body to fuse with the sand.
Both of their superpowers were activated by Dormammu using His dark magic.
In other words... what the two of them wanted to do was not actually up to them!
Just as Sandman and Skye had decided to turn over a new leaf, the eyes within their purple-black eye sockets suddenly became vacant.
"Hey, buddy, do me another favor. Help me trap those guys so they don't run away. This will count as performance for the new job I introduced you to; you can get a raise!"
Strange clearly didn't notice the abnormality in Sandman, and at that moment, he was still patting the other's shoulder in a friendly manner, trying to trick him into helping.
However, the next moment... *Bang*—a dull thud, and Strange was sent flying by a fist that was truly the size of a sandbag!
Fortunately, although Strange hadn't expected the other party to flip sides again, his Cloak of Levitation reacted in time and blocked the punch for him!
Strange stopped his momentum in mid-air, his mouth twitching: "No way, man, you're playing Mission: Impossible with me? I only trusted you to turn over a new leaf because you looked honest!"
"Huh? Wait, something doesn't feel right!"
But Strange was, after all, the successor to the next Sorcerer Supreme, and he immediately noticed something wrong with Sandman's state.
"So his body has been taken over by Dormammu. Fine, although I didn't get an ally, at least it proves my judgment was good, and I didn't misjudge the person, right~"
"But sorry, Ancient One, I might not be able to help you for now. You're on your own!"
Finally, Strange shouted over to the Ancient One, instantly switching into battle mode. His face became ferocious, and two fire-breathing dragon heads extended from his shoulders, charging toward Sandman!
It seemed that although Strange was no longer corrupted on the surface, deep down, he was still influenced by that corruption, and his methods didn't look righteous at all!
However, the results were really effective!
The fire dragons summoned by Strange perfectly countered Sandman's sand-based abilities, and the scorching flames spewed out caused the sand on Sandman's body to constantly crystallize!
While Strange had gained the upper hand in his 1v1, what about the Ancient One, who was fighting outnumbered?
The answer was... she had gained an overwhelming advantage!
Time to go back one minute earlier, when Kaecilius had just led people to besiege the Ancient One.
Don't be fooled by the fact that Kaecilius brought several super-powered followers to besiege the Ancient One; in the face of absolute strength, numbers really didn't matter much!
Especially for an existence like the Ancient One.
She didn't even make a move herself. Facing the many followers of Dormammu rushing toward her, a beach chair appeared behind her instead, and she lay down on it leisurely.
It was as if she were just slacking off.
But when the dark followers led by Kaecilius approached the Ancient One, preparing to kill her, a human wall suddenly appeared in front of them like a mirage, and they all kicked out in unison, sending them flying back!
This caused the dark followers led by Kaecilius to roll comically on the floor several times before stopping.
When they scrambled back up and looked up, they discovered in horror that the Ancient One, who had originally been alone, had suddenly turned into a crowd, outnumbering their own side!
Only Kaecilius, also being a mage, narrowed his eyes, realizing what was going on!
"Advanced secret art 'Images of Ikonn', which can create magical physical clones. The stronger the caster, the stronger the physical clones!"
A super-powered follower heard this, swallowed hard, and said in disbelief: "Physical clones? How can there be such unscientific magic!"
Kaecilius: ... Do you want to listen to what you are saying? If it were scientific, would it still be called magic?
Another more rational follower nudged Kaecilius, who was leading them: "Didn't you say you were also a powerful mage? Use that clone magic to deal with her clones!"
Kaecilius: ...
"My talent among mages is indeed strong, but I haven't been studying for long enough..."
"What do you mean?" The follower who had just asked him to use the clones was stunned.
Kaecilius gritted his teeth: "It means I defected before I could learn the clone magic, so I don't know the clone magic, is that clear?!"
Damn it, are all these lackeys this stupid? They really had to make me spell it out!
He was a man, and a man needed his pride!
"Then what do we do? We couldn't beat her before, and now she outnumbers us. Maybe we should retreat..."
Hearing this, some followers couldn't help but want to retreat.
Kaecilius heard this, couldn't help but look back at the purple-robed woman who was still standing there, looking at him with an inexplicable smile, and quickly shook his head like a rattle-drum: "Retreat? If you dare to retreat, Lord Dormammu will let you know what a punishment more painful than death is. If you don't want to experience it, get in there!"
"Don't worry, among these people, only one is her true body. As long as we kill the true body, these clones will naturally dissipate!"
Speaking of this, Kaecilius rolled his eyes, immediately locking onto the leisure Ancient One who was lying on the beach chair, drinking juice through a straw, and reading a magic book.
"That one lying down is the true body! Attack together, kill her, charge!"
With a loud shout from Kaecilius, the followers, having no other choice, gritted their teeth and all charged forward, unleashing the superpowers activated by Dormammu!
But Kaecilius himself, although he shouted the loudest, did not charge; instead, he looked at Skye, who was standing beside him, vacant-eyed under Dormammu's mind control.
He immediately hatched an evil plan!