T'Challa observed as Venom, under the onslaught of Sebastian's piercing sonic waves, began to disintegrate, its viscous form dissolving into a writhing mass of inky liquid.
His keen eyes caught the faint outline of the human host within, a flicker of vulnerability amid the alien symbiote's chaos.
Without hesitation, T'Challa surged forward, his vibranium suit shielding him as he plunged into the sonic maelstrom.
With a swift grab, he seized the male host, wrenching him free from Venom's grasp and hurling him backward.
The man crashed against a wall, slumping unconscious, his body limp.
Deprived of its host, Venom squirmed desperately, slithering toward the fallen man in a bid to reconnect. But Sebastian intensified his sonic assault, his wand amplifying the waves through an unspoken Sonorus.
The symbiote trembled violently, its form fracturing, teetering on the brink of annihilation.
Just as Venom seemed doomed, a portal shimmered open beneath it, swallowing the symbiote in an instant.
Another portal flared above the unconscious host, and Venom surged out, enveloping the man once more.
Reinvigorated, the newly bonded figure sprang to its feet, crashing through a window and vanishing into the night.
Sebastian's gaze snapped to Mordo, hovering midair, his dark aura pulsing with malevolent energy. "T'Challa, go help the others," he commanded, his voice cutting through the lingering echoes of battle. "This one's mine."
"Understood!" T'Challa replied, darting toward the stairwell.
With his agility, the stairs were faster than any elevator, his vibranium-clad feet pounding with purpose.
Halfway down, T'Challa froze, confronted by a hulking figure reeking of seawater, his gray-blue skin glistening under the dim lights.
Clad in armor of an alien material, the man wielded a trident, his gill-like neck quivering as he spoke. "I expected a great white shark, but instead, I get a clownfish. What a disappointing prey."
Wakanda, privy to the world's hidden truths, knew of Atlantis's existence, its advanced technology rivaling their own. T'Challa recognized Namor, the sea's wrathful king.
Crouching low, he growled, "Sorry to disappoint, but you've met a black panther, the fiercest predator on land. A fish like you must feel out of place on solid ground, no?"
With a sharp snick, vibranium claws extended from his fingertips. T'Challa exploded into motion, his legs propelling him along the walls in a blur, launching a ferocious assault on Namor.
Meanwhile, Sebastian faced Mordo, their duel a clash of arcane titans.
His wand danced, countering Mordo's relentless attacks. Mordo, no longer a mere Kamar-Taj disciple, had siphoned power from stray sorcerers and the Dark Dimension, his mastery of Dormammu's energy far beyond a pawn's.
He wielded it with chilling precision, a thief of cosmic might.
Tendrils of starry darkness erupted from Mordo, lashing toward Sebastian with predatory intent.
These appendages, immune to most magic, regenerated instantly even when severed by Sebastian's Shadowless Sword, their resilience a testament to Mordo's newfound power.
Mordo's lips curled into a mocking sneer. "Sebastian Shaw, your so-called black magic is nothing compared to true darkness! You and your ilk lorded over me with your sorcery, but now, with the Dark Dimension's power, you're no match for me! I am the pinnacle you'll never reach.
Those who scorned me will learn—Mordo is the greatest magical master alive! If light has forsaken me, I'll embrace darkness and snuff out the light forever!"
As his words echoed, a scarlet mark blazed on Mordo's forehead, his eyes framed by charred streaks.
He drew deeper from the Dark Dimension, conjuring translucent crystal lances that shimmered with eerie light.
At his command, they rained toward Sebastian in a deadly barrage.
The sigil of the Hellfire authority glowed on Sebastian's brow, unleashing a torrent of crimson flames from within. The Hellfire consumed Mordo's crystal lances, reducing them to nothingness in its voracious embrace.
From the inferno, three molten energy bands—the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak—shot forth, piercing the Dark Dimension's barriers unhindered. They coiled around Mordo, binding him with unbreakable force, the Dimension's power dwarfing Mordo's stolen might.
Sebastian aimed his wand, crimson lightning crackling at its tip, but a sudden dark energy field swallowed the bolt, shielding Mordo.
The Mandarin descended, a whirlwind swirling around him, his rings glinting with ominous power.
The Crimson Bands dissolved from Sebastian's hand as he faced the duo. Raising an eyebrow, he said, "Mandarin, planning to join the fray? I'm curious—when did you two team up?"
The Mandarin's eyes gleamed with cold amusement. "To thrive in this world, one needs allies of shared vision. You heroes formed the Avengers; we, the oppressed, forged our own alliance to defy you—the Shadow Council."
"And that AI, Ultron, is part of your merry band?" Sebastian asked, his tone probing.
The Mandarin's lips twitched upward. "The Shadow Council welcomes all those crushed by your tyranny. Ultron, born from Stark's arrogance, is among us."
Sebastian's gaze sharpened. "You think Ultron's loyalty lies with you? You assume you can control an AI, but you've misjudged its independence. No matter—Steve and the others will handle Ultron. My task is simpler: dismantling your Shadow Council until it's nothing but ash."
As his words fell, the sky churned, dark clouds swirling with electric fury. Lightning cracked, and a tempest unleashed—gale, hail, and thunder crashing down in a cataclysmic onslaught.