Part I: The Awakening/Mission: Shattering Expectations

==Mission: Shattering Expectations==
Hunter, Blade, Caretaker, Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange and Iron Man stand in a circle around the Mirror Table, observing the Sanctum Sanctorum. Caretaker notes that there's still no sign of Venom; Strange adds that the Symbiote still has a stranglehold on the Sanctum while Carol points out that Hydra has increased the number of guards again. Blade states confidently that there is always a way in.
The team of Hunter, Blade, and Captain Marvel approach from underneath the Sanctum. The area is covered in Symbiote tendrils which appear to have taken to feeding on the Hydra guards. Hunter approaches a mass of tendrils and touches them, purging them and turning them to husks. A blow from Captain Marvel knocks the husks to pieces, clearing the way. Proceeding forward, the team locates a way up into the Sanctum, but before they can enter a group of Hydra troops attacks.
While the team fights the troops, Hunter manages to purge three more sets of Symbiote tendrils, clearing the way to the Sanctum. Both Blade and Captain Marvel tell Hunter to get to the Sanctum, while they stay behind to hold off Hydra.
Inside the Sanctum, Lilith is with Banner, standing near a device with green energy inside. A group of Hydra Mystics are chanting a spell. Lilith sees Hunter, pointing out that they are late, and alone. As if on cue, Spider-Man and Doctor Strange make their entrances a moment later. Strange tells Lilith that with the power of the Sanctum returning to him, her days of plundering his secrets are over. She responds simply, "But that was never the plan," and signals to Banner. 
Banner presses the button and the energy in the nearby device bursts out, destroying the device and creating a glowing breach in the floor. Green balls of energy come forth from the breach and begin to swirl in the air. Lilith touches one and says, "Seek", and it flies away. Lilith and Banner escape through a portal, leaving the Hydra Mystics to deal with Hunter, Spider-Man, and Doctor Strange.
After defeating the Mystics and the other Hydra troops, the Sanctum begins to collapse. Strange insists he can hold it, but Spider-Man and Hunter both recognize that nothing can be done, and pull him out of the build. Just as they get clear, the Sanctum explodes in a burst of green energy. As the group looks back on where the Sanctum had just been standing, a pillar of green light extends high into the sky which Hunter and Strange recognize as a sign of Chthon.
== That Night ==
Back at the Abbey, the heroes lament the loss of the Sanctum. Strange, having just lost his home and center of power, is the most upset of them all. They realize that Lilith is much stronger than they anticipated. Hunter begins to apologize for their failure when Caretaker cuts them off, saying that they did fail, but this was only one battle and the war is far from over. While the mood is still somber, her words manage to inspire a small improvement.
Next: Part II: The Sleeping Titan
Category:Story