Peter's reckless actions naturally didn't go unnoticed by Knull. In fact, as soon as the Codex of Riot was lost, Knull realized that something unexpected might have happened. He chose a swift and decisive solution: change all tactics.
The Sanctum Sanctorum was the only place Knull couldn't enter and was also the most heavily fortified. Since Knull had already launched one surprise attack, the entire Sanctum Sanctorum had sealed itself off, screening and vetting everyone who entered to prevent symbiotes from getting in.
But as the saying goes, "a hundred precautions are not enough for one oversight." This oversight came from the X-Men, who originally had very little screen time and were just spectators in the Sanctum Sanctorum. The reason was simple: Nightcrawler arrived.
Of course, Nightcrawler couldn't just teleport inside the Sanctum Sanctorum. He had passed through the barrier and encountered many ordinary people who needed rescue. He led them on an escape, and along the way, he met the Thunderbolts, who were on a secret mission, but Goliath had been possessed. After helping them take down Goliath, he heard where the Sanctum Sanctorum was located and led the ordinary people there.
He also didn't violate the Sanctum Sanctorum's rules; when he saw the instructions to quarantine, he obediently stayed outside. But to his complete surprise, Knull didn't need anyone to sneak in—the symbiotes on the survivors immediately surged out, coalesced into a giant monster, and charged directly into the Sanctum Sanctorum, wreaking havoc.
All he needed was the Sanctum Sanctorum's coordinates.
Fortunately, Nightcrawler dodged just in time; otherwise, if Knull had gotten teleportation abilities, the entire planet would have basically been finished.
—All the above intelligence was provided by Emma Frost through telepathy.
"So, this giant blob is the mole Knull sent in? Doesn't look that tough," Peter muttered to himself as he watched the massive puddle of goo charge toward the X-Men's Cyclops and Colossus. Cyclops immediately unleashed a beam, shattering the goo, but the mass hadn't finished its transformation. Just as Peter was about to step forward, he saw the huge mass transform into something incredibly familiar.
Enormous wings spread from the back of the symbiote creature. Its towering body burst through the Sanctum Sanctorum's floors, and its head reared high, spewing forth terrifying black flames toward the ceiling. This was a fearsome dragon, a dragon composed of pure symbiotes.
Peter would soon realize that Knull had no intention of a sneak attack on the Sanctum Sanctorum to reverse the situation. He chose to flip the table entirely!
An endless tide of symbiotes surged out like a liquid. Captain America, standing at the front, didn't even have time to give a command before he was swallowed by the overwhelming tide. A moment later, a symbiote-possessed Captain America holding a shield stood up with a blank expression.
Cyclops tried to use the high-energy beams from his eyes to block the roaring tide, but the black liquid came from all directions like an ocean, engulfing him in an instant. Wolverine, Colossus, and the other X-Men were swallowed as well. Even Iceman couldn't escape; he continuously released low temperatures to stop the symbiotes' spread, but in the end, he could only manage to freeze a small portion of the symbiote mass into ice.
Thor, with quick reflexes, grabbed Peter and Cindy and flew up. Hulk, meanwhile, let Kitty Pryde climb onto his back and quickly leaped up, climbing to the rooftop. They stopped on the rooftop of a tall building next to the Sanctum Sanctorum, watching the symbiote tide spread like a wave, devouring everyone it encountered and reabsorbing them into the symbiote's embrace.
"This is just... too absurd. We've worked so hard for so long, thought of so many ways to deal with Knull, but now, he can break through our defenses in an instant." Watching this scene, Peter suddenly felt that their previous actions were somewhat comical. The Captain and the others had been saving survivors and stopping Knull's attacks again and again, but now, Knull had swallowed the Captain, most of the X-Men, and everyone else in one fell swoop.
It was predictable that others, such as the Defenders who couldn't fly, or the Thunderbolts who were outside, would basically be unable to resist this.
Peter even looked at Thor in frustration: "Thor, how did you deal with him back then?"
"I defeated him directly. But it's a pity, now Knull's consciousness has been severed from his body. My lightning might kill it, but it can't seal it."
Peter took a deep breath. The symbiote tide continued to spread. It heavily slammed against the barrier, then began to spread and pile up, growing higher and higher, gradually submerging the first floor, then the second. The entire Manhattan was being slowly consumed by the viscous symbiote ocean.
Even Doctor Octopus, hiding in his underground lab, noticed the problem and quickly activated his molecular force field shield, hoping to hold out until everything was over or his research was complete.
As for Peter and the others, they could only head to the Avengers' only remaining stronghold, the Baxter Building. Just as they were about to leave, a portal opened directly, leading to the Baxter Building's lab.
They immediately rushed inside.
"The Captain's communication is lost. The X-Men, the U.S. Avengers, and the Thunderbolts have also gone silent," Tony's voice grew anxious. When he saw Peter and the others enter through the portal, he forced a joke: "Brought another new girl, eh, Spider-Man?"
"This isn't a time for jokes, Mr. Stark. The entire New York is in mortal danger right now."
As Peter spoke, he looked at the lab: "So, how are your molecular stabilizers coming along?"
"We might not have enough time. We've been working on it all this time, and it only lasts for about three minutes. But we can't be sure that three minutes is enough for you, or rather, for Venom, to take down Knull," Reed said, delivering the bad news. He then added a second piece of bad news: "And, given the current situation, we need someone to break through to Knull and deliver the molecular stabilizer to the Grendel's main body. And most importantly, we can't be sure your method will work."
"Spider-Man's method is effective."
Doctor Strange opened a portal and stepped out. "I just completed a divination. I saw a future where Knull is sealed."
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