UNKNOWN GUEST

#114 Ride Through Infinity

Despite Uncle Tony's best efforts, Cull Obsidian's hammer-axe came down hard, catching him mid-air. Sparks flew as the edge of the weapon struck his suit, sending him hurtling through the sky.

Both Cull and Tony crashed into a distant building, disappearing into the storm clouds and the crumbling architecture in the distance. The loud explosion echoed through the streets, shaking the ground beneath my feet.

I spun around, heart pounding, just in time to see Doctor Strange and Wong locked in combat with Ebony Maw. The two sorcerers were summoning all the mystical forces at their disposal—glowing orange circles of runes forming shields, portals swirling open and closed in rapid bursts, and enchanted whips lashing through the air like ribbons of light.

But Maw was relentless. His eyes gleamed with sinister delight as he flicked his wrist, sending a telekinetic shockwave that scattered us all like leaves in a storm.

I felt the impact in my chest before I even registered what was happening. The world spun violently around me as I was flung across the street like a ragdoll, my back slamming hard into the side of a parked car. The force of the impact left me gasping for air.

For a moment, the world was nothing but a blur of flashing lights and distant noises. I blinked several times, disoriented and dizzy, rubbing the back of my neck. My head throbbed painfully, and my limbs felt heavy, but I managed to push myself upright.

"Where the hell is Strange?" I muttered, trying to shake off the dizziness.

I glanced around, desperately scanning the street. Wong was still standing—barely—engaged in a fierce battle with Maw, summoning every ounce of magical energy he could muster. But Doctor Strange was gone. Panic crept in as I searched the rubble, until I finally spotted him:

There, floating in the distance, Strange was tied to a large chunk of concrete, bound tightly with strange glowing ropes that shimmered with a malevolent magic. The ropes coiled around him like serpents, restricting his movements. The slab of concrete hovered higher and higher, carried by some invisible force as if Maw's magic had decided to pluck Strange straight out of the battlefield.

My chest tightened. "No, no, no," I whispered, adrenaline surging through my veins. I pushed off the car, sprinting after the levitating slab as it rose into the stormy sky.

The concrete floated higher with every second, and I knew I had only one shot. I ran harder, faster—my legs burning—and just as it ascended out of reach, I jumped with everything I had, arms outstretched. My fingers latched onto the magical rope binding Strange, and for a brief second, relief washed over me.

But that feeling was short-lived. The power pulling the concrete upward was relentless. I tried to yank the slab down with all my strength, my muscles straining as I hung in mid-air, dangling off the side of the floating rock, but it was no use. The magic was stronger. We kept rising higher into the sky, and with every passing moment, the ground shrank farther below.

"Come on!" I grunted, sweat dripping down my forehead as I clung desperately to the ropes. My grip was slipping, and I knew if I fell, there'd be no second chance. I searched frantically for anything I could grab for support—and then I spotted it: a large delivery truck parked on the road beneath us.

As the chunk of concrete dragged me upward, I reached down and hooked one arm around the truck's roof, hoping to use its weight to pull us back down. For a brief second, the truck groaned, its metal frame creaking under the tension. I gritted my teeth and held on tighter, thinking this might actually work.

But Maw's magic was far too powerful.

With a terrifying jolt, the entire truck lifted off the road, rising into the sky along with us. Its wheels spun uselessly in the air, and the whole vehicle floated upwards like a balloon tied to a string. My heart sank as I realized the truck wasn't going to stop anything—instead, it was coming with us.