The Guardian Of The Multiverse: A Hero's Burden

Conviction

(Marvel, DC, images, manhuas, and every anime that will be mentioned and used in this story are not mine. They all belong to their respective owners. The main character "Karito/Adriel Josue Valdez" and the story are mine)

Their fists crashed into each other's faces at the same time.

The impact snapped both their heads back.

For one brutal instant, neither of them moved. The recoil traveled through their necks, shoulders, spines, and down into their feet. The ground beneath them buckled outward in a ring. Every loose piece of metal in the commune rattled. Windows shattered in buildings that were already half-abandoned. The entire sanctuary shook like the cavern itself had flinched.

Adriel staggered one step.

Anansi staggered one step.

Then both of them planted their feet at the exact same time.

Stone cracked under their soles.

Their balance locked.

And they swung again.

Two hooks tore through the air and connected at the same time, each fist smashing into the other's jaw with enough force to make the commune scream. The second shockwave was worse. It rolled outward like a bomb had gone off between them, ripping through the pale structures, folding cloth canopies backward, tearing loose wooden beams from their frames, and sending dust blasting through the streets.

For a second, the whole place looked like it was about to come apart.

Then both of them focused.

The testing was over.

Adriel moved first.

His right hook came sharp and heavy, shoulder turning, foot cutting into the ground, the punch meant to crush straight through Anansi's guard and take his head with it.

Anansi bent around it.

His spine folded with disgusting flexibility, his upper body slipping under the punch by a hair. Then his hands touched the ground, his body spun sideways, and his heel came around in a bright cosmic arc.

The kick smashed into the side of Adriel's cheek.

Adriel's head whipped to the side. His body nearly followed, the force trying to tear him off his feet and send him flying through the street. But his heel dug into the ground, stone splitting under the pressure as he forced himself to stay upright.

He tasted blood.

Anansi was already smiling.

Adriel answered with violence.

Bio-electricity crawled over his fist, snapping blue-white across his knuckles as he stepped in and drove an uppercut straight toward Anansi's stomach. The punch should have folded him in half. Should have detonated through his ribs and launched him into the air.

Anansi snapped his fingers.

The electricity died.

Just like that.

One second, Adriel's fist burned with Venom energy.

The next, nothing.

Dead air.

Adriel's eyes widened a fraction.

Anansi's foot was already coming up.

The front kick slammed into Adriel's face.

His skull snapped back.

The entire world blurred.

And Adriel was sent rocketing away.