A deafening boom reverberated through the night sky as a torrent of Hellfire erupted, its crimson flames casting an infernal glow over the city's skyline.
Yet, this time, the blaze wasn't Sebastian's to command—it surged under Victor's control, a stolen power wielded with chilling mastery.
Victor's spell, a masterful theft of an enemy's power, harnessed it with seamless precision, turning the foe's strength against them.
It doubled the drain on Sebastian's reserves while sapping his might, a dual-edged tactic both cunning and devastating.
In Earth's magical annals, this spell stood among the elite, a cornerstone of Victor's arsenal, unveiled now in the face of Sebastian's formidable prowess.
"Doom, stealing my power to attack me?" Sebastian said, his voice laced with grim admiration. "That's a hell of a spell you've got there."
Victor, wreathed in stolen Hellfire, met Sebastian's gaze through his scorched mask. "Against you, I can't hold back. Wandering through time, studying across ages, my drive to surpass you fueled every spell I mastered.
You, Sebastian, is my ultimate magical rival. Show me the true extent of your power!"
Sebastian nodded slowly, his expression hardening with resolve.
Raising his wand aloft, he summoned a tempest above, the heavens roiling as dark clouds converged, their edges crackling with latent energy.
The air grew heavy, enveloping Sebastian and Victor in a stormy cocoon, the city below fading into shadow.
Odin's Thunder Eye!
A thunderous roar split the sky as lightning coalesced into a singular, glowing orb within the clouds, its gaze-like intensity fixed on Victor.
Sensing the spell's potency, Victor intensified his draw on Sebastian's Hellfire authority, but the power's essence remained tethered to Sebastian.
While Victor could wield the flames, their scope was limited, far from the cataclysmic infernos Sebastian could unleash.
As Victor hurled the stolen Hellfire toward him, Sebastian extended his left hand, absorbing the flames back into his body with a ripple of magical command. "Doom, a word of advice for next time," he said, his tone calm but pointed.
"Never siphon an authority's power. It undermines your spell's strength."
With a downward sweep of his wand, Sebastian unleashed the storm's fury.
Lightning arced from the surrounding clouds, weaving a vast electric net that converged with a blinding pillar from the Odin's Thunder Eye.
The onslaught obliterated Victor's Hellfire aura and magical defenses, ravaging his silver armor until it blackened and smoked.
His magical and mental reserves teetered on collapse, the assault pushing him to the brink.
Had Sebastian not restrained himself, the spell could have ended Victor's life.
Victor's green cloak and hood burned to ash, his armor charred and warped, he plummeted from the sky, trails of black smoke streaming behind him. His descent accelerated, hurtling toward a skyscraper's rooftop, but at the last moment, his fall slowed, cushioned by Sebastian's subtle Wingardium Leviosa.
He landed lightly, sprawled but alive.
Sebastian emerged from a swirling vortex, his Animagus death raven's Phase Form dissipating as he sat beside Victor, the city's distant hum a quiet backdrop to their stillness.
After a long silence, Victor spoke, his voice hoarse. "Sebastian, was that your trump card?"
"It was," Sebastian replied, his tone deliberately even. "If you'd withstood it, I'd have been out of tricks."
Victor chuckled weakly. "You're a terrible liar. Your voice gives you away. You held back—a lot. I never imagined you'd show such restraint. I thought a decade studying in the golden age of dark magic would close the gap between us. Clearly, I was naive. I need to delve deeper into magic to even come close."
Sebastian's gaze softened, a flicker of empathy breaking through his stoic demeanor. "Victor, you don't have to face Latveria's struggles alone. If you'd asked, I'd have helped—whether you aim to rule with an iron fist or find another way to save your nation. I'd stand by you.
To me, your intent matters more than your methods. You want your people to thrive, your country to rise. That's enough. Whatever path you choose, it's bound to be better than Latveria's current king."
Victor let out a heartfelt laugh, the sound raw and unguarded. He sat up slowly, removing his mask to reveal a face half-marred by burns, his eyes meeting Sebastian's with unguarded sincerity. "I know you mean that, Sebastian. But I can't drag you into this. You're a hero now—the Dark Wizard, celebrated by all. If you allied with me, your reputation would be ruined. 'Accomplice to a dictator'—that stain would cling to you forever. Latveria is my homeland; I'll sacrifice anything for her. But you owe her nothing. I won't let you bear her infamy.
I'll work with anyone else, but not you—not even for the smallest favor.
Unless one day I'm truly weary, I'll come as Victor, not Doom, to share tea and talk, like old times. If you don't turn me away then, that's more than enough."
Sebastian extended his hand, gripping Victor's firmly. "I understand, Doom.
I'll steer clear of Latveria's affairs. But if you ever grow tired, find me. We'll have tea, debate magic, just like we did at university."
Their hands parted, and they shared a quiet smile, a moment of reconciliation amid their clash. Sebastian stood, pulling Victor to his feet.
Stepping back, he dissolved into black smoke, vanishing in a swirl of his Phase Form.
Victor donned his mask, his armor's thrusters flaring as he soared into the night, heading in the opposite direction.
Reappearing atop Avengers Tower, Sebastian found Tony nursing his head with an ice pack, T'Challa's face bruised but barely visible against his dark skin, and Steve and Thor listening intently as the two recounted the battle. The tension in the room was palpable, the aftermath of their encounter with the Shadow Council still raw.
Spotting Sebastian, Tony strode over, his voice urgent. "Sebastian, what happened with that guy you fought?"
"I defeated him," Sebastian said, his tone measured. "But he's a master of both tech and magic. He slipped away."
Tony grimaced. "Same here. T'Challa and I lost our targets, too. Where did these super villains come from? Who are they? And that AI-controlled Iron Soldier—what genius built that thing? When I find them, they're in for it!"
Sebastian's lips twitched, a cryptic smile forming as he regarded Tony, choosing silence over revelation.