Peter dragged a certain alternate-universe demonic Nightcrawler into the Limbo dimension. He was quite sure this Nightcrawler wasn't a native of Limbo.
Because the moment he entered Limbo, he was immediately met by countless Nightcrawlers who had been completely demonized, swarming him like a horde. Peter took a deep breath, preparing to rely on his Spider-Sense for an all-out battle—
[Aha! I am filled with power now!]
Venom instantly completed an "explosion." The demonic Nightcrawlers were pierced by Symbiote spikes. Peter was surprised to discover two facts: first, Venom's attributes were greatly enhanced; second, he could feel a stronger connection to magic. In Limbo, Spider-Man's spellcasting was actually easier.
What was going on?
[I don't know, but this place feels a bit like Knull (the Symbiote God).]
Peter looked at the demonic Nightcrawlers, some injured, some outright dead. Whether these people were transformed by Belasco or naturally influenced by Limbo, it was hard to consider them human anymore, though Nightcrawler wasn't exactly human to begin with.
"Alright, what's next? I need to use a divination spell to pinpoint the X-Men's and Illyana's direction... hmm?"
Peter's Spider-Sense flared violently. He looked around and saw a tall man with prominent cheekbones, wearing green robes and a purple cloak, walk out.
"Spider-Man, I am the great Immortus! I bring you an insight into destiny!" The man, who called himself Immortus, appeared before Peter and began speaking to himself: "The X-Men have fallen to this state because they tried to change destiny, to change history! And you, Spider-Man, you must set everything back on the correct course of destiny."
Peter looked at the man for a while—silent, thinking, recalling the face, recalling the comics he had read—and finally reached a conclusion.
"Kang?"
"I am Immortus!"
"Uh, are you a Kang variant called Immortus, or are you just Kang the Conqueror in a different costume?"
Immortus looked at Peter for a moment in silence, then said righteously: "I am merely Immortus now, no one else."
Alright, this wasn't a variant Kang created for himself; this was just Kang wearing a different costume and calling himself Immortus. Peter sighed and looked at Immortus-Kang, finally understanding what he was doing: "Is this because the X-Men are protecting Illyana from being kidnapped by Belasco, and you're pushing for that to happen?"
"It is you who are trying to alter the path of destiny, Avengers. You are attempting to deviate from history. I am correcting it, including Curt Connors. All destiny should be corrected."
Peter didn't bother arguing with Kang. He simply webbed his face and slammed him to the ground, but Kang quickly returned to his original state, proving that possessing the Time Gem indeed made one somewhat omnipotent, or at least very tough to beat.
"I have protected the X-Men, Spider-Man. Their time is frozen by me; they will not suffer any corruption. If you can reach them, the time on them will resume. But be warned, you must first find Illyana Rasputin. She is the key to everything."
Ignoring the Symbiote spike that pierced his chest, Immortus spoke while departing. He was truly an Immortal, unable to die normally. Peter frowned as Immortus reappeared and then fled once more.
Kang the Conqueror was trying to stop the Avengers from using that list to change history, or at least the history Kang believed in. But at the same time, as long as history was back on track, he would actually offer assistance to ensure the timeline progressed in the direction he designated.
In other words, unless they found a way to take out Kang and get the Time Gem from him, this guy would endlessly try to ensure every potential villain became one. He might go to every point in time where a villain could be born and personally create all the villains.
Perhaps this was what Korvac meant when he said—the Dynasty of Kang must come.
"We will stop you, Kang."
"It matters not. At least for now, you have a task to complete, Spider-Man."
Immortus flashed away again. Peter frowned and began to roughly cast a spell. As a student of magic, he hadn't even scratched the surface, but at this moment, Peter's divination spell proceeded surprisingly smoothly. The Spider-Sense was no longer just a simple buzz; clear, fragmented visions appeared, as sharp as the epitaph of the Crimson King.
"Alright, looks like I've found the way forward. I just need to head there."
Peter said this while vigilantly watching his surroundings. He was quite certain Belasco had discovered him. Now, he needed to be constantly wary of the demon's actions. Just in case, he awkwardly borrowed Neith's (the Egyptian Spider-Goddess) power, placing a shield over his soul.
At this very moment, in the palace in Limbo, Belasco had prepared a spell to corrupt Spider-Man's soul. The souls of countless lives were sacrificed at this moment, black magic was activated, and Belasco let out a cackling laugh.
"You are but a mortal. Your soul is mine. Open the door to the supreme universe for me—Whoa, Knull!"
When the soul-attacking magic surged towards Spider-Man, all Belasco saw was a void, as if the other's soul didn't exist. Then, he felt the power of the Living Abyss. This power represented a deeper void and darkness than the Dark Dimension. Instead of corrupting Spider-Man's soul, it instead enhanced the energy he was borrowing from Limbo's magic.
As for the Symbiote, it would naturally be strengthened here due to the similar environments of Limbo and the Living Abyss.
Why is Knull's consciousness sealed within this mortal's body!
A cursing Belasco then reconsidered. He only suffered Knull's backlash because he tried to claim the other's soul. But Knull's consciousness was sealed inside the other's soul. In other words, if he changed his approach, destroyed Spider-Man, and liberated Knull, the Symbiote God certainly wouldn't stop him. The Living Abyss was a force rooted in every universe; Knull would definitely be able to return. And then, in exchange for saving him, getting a ride out wasn't out of the question.
"Then, your soul shall be annihilated, Spider-Man!"
Belasco initiated a new ritual that would channel power to destroy Spider-Man's soul!
This time, he didn't see Knull, but it also didn't trigger the defense Spider-Man had placed on his soul.
That's because Belasco only saw a giant web extending from the depths of Spider-Man's soul, followed by a giant golden spider reaching out its claws towards Belasco.
"Whoa, Neith!"
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