Second Strike

Chapter 3: Wake Up Call

As Cloke ventures deeper into the warehouse, the heat intensifies, but his determination to save whoever is inside pushes him forward. 

The crackling of the fire and the crashing of rubble create a nightmarish atmosphere, but Cloke remains undeterred. 

However, as minutes pass, the smoke becomes overwhelming, and his strength starts to wane. Dropping to his knees, he lifts his mask to gulp in some fresh air, desperately trying to combat the suffocating smoke. 

It's in this moment that he hears a voice pierce through the chaos.

"Hefesto was right, Kronos!" The voice catches Cloke's attention, and he hastily pulls his mask back on, turning to face the source.

Standing before him are two individuals, one slender with a smooth white mask, and the other larger, wearing a mask adorned with a clock. Both are dressed in business attire and sport fingerless brown gloves. 

The man wearing the clock mask responds to the other, "Never doubt Hefesto again, Dolos."

Fear and confusion grip Cloke, but he realizes he's trapped with nowhere to run. Thoughts race through his mind, the roar of the fire consuming his thoughts, but one resounds louder than the rest:

"Fight!" 

Without hesitation, he lunges towards Kronos, ready to strike, but his movement freezes. 

Time stands still, both for him and the fire that engulfs him. 

Stuck in place, Cloke can only move his eyes as he witnesses Kronos deliver a devastating blow that sends him crashing into a searing metal pole. Cloke cries out in agony, fully aware of who these two men are. 

Despite the pain, he musters up a defiant and cocky remark, "Let me guess... the Pantheon?" 

Dolos responds, "What gave us away?"

 Cloke, continuing to be cocky, responds, "I don't know, maybe your clown outfits?"

Dolos approaches Cloke, cracking his knuckles while addressing Kronos, "Ja! This one's funny! Let me handle him!" 

In the blink of an eye, Dolos creates five copies of himself, encircling Cloke. Weakened and disoriented, Cloke fights to stay on his feet. Cloke prepares to fight. Thoughts race through his mind, contemplating their next move, when suddenly the clones converge, relentlessly assaulting him. 

Cloke's body is battered, bloodied, and on the brink of collapse. During the onslaught, he can't help but think:

 "I'm going to die!" 

And then darkness consumes him.

When Cloke regains consciousness, he finds himself standing in a vast void, devoid of any surroundings. It exudes a serene and tranquil atmosphere. A blue dog, formed from energy, appears before him.

 Cloke kneels down and gently pets the dog, questioning, "Hey, buddy, am I dead?" The dog barks in response. 

Cloke's gaze wanders, and he witnesses vivid memories from his childhood—running around with capes and donning his beloved Spider-Man Halloween costume.

 A sense of joy washes over him as he recalls the moment he discovered his abilities and embarked on his first day as a vigilante, a bag on his head, brimming with excitement.

 A message materializes in blue energy before him, proclaiming:

"You can be our hero!"

Cloke's confusion gives way to a strange sense of elation. The dog stands faithfully by his side, barking in affirmation. 

Cloke's lips curl into a smirk as he declares, "I'm a hero."