Knull knew they would stand against him. They always had. But this time would be different. They will face the God of Darkness itself.
Back on Earth, the heroes braced themselves for the inevitable.
Ben, now bound to the Symbitech Dragon, stood at the edge of the battlefield.
His suit of Symbitech Dragon crackled with power, its green glow a faint echo of the cosmic chaos unfolding above them.
He had seen Knull's destruction firsthand—he had no illusions about what they were facing.
Beside him, Eddie and Spider-Man readied themselves.
The Necrosword, still bound to Eddie's hand, was pulsing with an ancient hunger.
The symbiote dragons swirled overhead, their dark forms blotting out the sun.
And then, the monstrous silhouette of Knull descended—his body made of living abyss, his armor of living darkness, his presence itself is a void that threatened to swallow the very world itself.
The ground beneath them trembled, shaking with the force of Knull's rage.
"The final battle begins," Ben muttered, his eyes narrowing as he locked onto Knull.
Knull's voice boomed across the world, a call to arms to his legions.
"Knull returns to claim what is his," he declared. "The universe will bend to me once more. Your resistance is futile."
---
"Pathetic defenders of this feeble planet," Knull's voice echoed, emanating from the Celestial. "I am the harbinger of your demise. Surrender, and I may grant you a swift end."
Eddie Brock felt the weight of Knull's gaze upon him. The symbiotes writhed, sensing their creator's desire.
Knull extended an offer to them. "Give me Brock, and I shall spare this world from prolonged agony."
"I'll take care of it," Ben said, stepping forward—but the Avengers stopped him.
Captain America stepped ahead, his shield gleaming in the dim light. "We don't negotiate with threats, Knull. We stand together to protect our own."
He led the charge against Knull's dragons. "Avengers, follow my lead! We face Knull's dragons head-on!"
His unwavering resolve inspired Spider-Man to swing into action, agilely evading symbiote attacks. "Cap's right! Let's show these symbiotes we're not backing down!"
Black Widow, poised and ready, added, "Eddie may have a history, but he's one of us. You won't take him without a fight."
Iron Man's repulsors hummed to life as he retorted, "You're not the first cosmic entity to try bullying Earth—but we always find a way to win."
He soared into the sky, blasting repulsor fire to hold back the advancing threat.
The Hulk growled, his fists clenching. "Hulk not scared of symbiote-maker. Hulk smash darkness!" With a thunderous roar, he tore through masses of writhing symbiotes.
Captain America's shield crashed against the onslaught of Knull's dragons.
He shouted, "Avengers, stand firm! We won't let them take this world!"
Iron Man's repulsors blasted bright beams, Black Widow moved fast through the wave of symbiotes.
But the symbiote dragons were strong—too strong.
As the fight grew worse, Captain America locked eyes with Knull.
"Give up now," Knull said coldly. "And maybe I'll let you live."
The heroes kept fighting, but they were getting tired. Iron Man's suit sparked from damage, Black Widow stumbled.
"Hold the line! We can't let them—" Captain America shouted—
—but a wave of blackness swallowed them.
Knull stepped out from the giant Celestial, his voice booming. "Your fight is over!"
He struck hard, sending Captain America flying. The rest of the Avengers fell back, hurt and shaken.
As Cap tried to stand again, the light in his eyes dimmed. One by one, the heroes dropped. Knull stood tall.
---
In the aftermath of the Avengers' defeat, Knull's symbiotes slithered across the fallen heroes, entwining them in inky tendrils. Their struggles were futile as Knull asserted control.
"We can't... resist..." Iron Man murmured, under symbiotic influence.
Meanwhile, Scarlet Witch, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, and Captain Marvel refused to back down.
"We won't let you destroy everything!" Scarlet Witch shouted. "Avengers, rise!"
With a wave of her hands, she twisted the air itself, bending reality to slow Knull's forces. Her red magic danced through the darkness, pushing the symbiotes back.
Doctor Strange raised his hands high, golden runes spinning around him. "By the Flames of the Faltine!" he cried, casting shields of light to block Knull's shadowy strikes.
Spider-Man swung through the air, dodging black tendrils. "Don't let them take control!" he yelled. "We fight together!"
Captain Marvel glowed like a star, her fists blazing with cosmic fire. She flew straight at Knull, firing powerful blasts. "We're not afraid of you!" she roared. "This is our world!"
Working side by side, Strange opened a magical portal, and Captain Marvel flew through it—appearing right behind Knull with a surprise attack.
Their teamwork lit up the sky. The battle was far from over—but the heroes had found their second wind.
Earth still had defenders.
Despite all their courage, Knull was too strong. With a dark, echoing laugh, he struck back.
Black tendrils shot out from him like snakes, wrapping around the heroes. Scarlet Witch was pulled from the sky. Doctor Strange's spells shattered. Captain Marvel was slammed to the ground. Even Spider-Man couldn't escape.
"Your resistance is useless," Knull growled, his voice like thunder. "Join the hive. Your will... is mine."
One by one, the heroes were trapped—bound in living black chains. Their lights dimmed. Their voices fell silent.
The Avengers lay defeated, darkness spreading across the battlefield.
But then—a bright burst of energy lit up the sky. The X-Men had arrived.
Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, and Jean Grey stepped into the chaos, ready to fight.
"X-Men, move in!" Cyclops shouted, firing his optic blasts. "We can't let Knull win!"
Storm raised her arms to the sky. Thunder rumbled as strong winds and lightning struck the swarming symbiotes. "The storm fights with us!" she declared.
Wolverine growled with a grin. "Time to slice through these freaks!" His claws tore into the black tendrils around him.
Jean Grey's voice echoed in their minds. "Stay together! Fight as one!" Her mind guided the team, linking them through her powers.
The X-Men fought fiercely. Blasts, lightning, claws, and psychic energy cut through the enemy. But there were too many. Knull's forces kept coming.
"We can't hold much longer!" Cyclops called, struggling to stay on his feet. "Where's our backup?!"
More symbiotes surged forward, drowning the battlefield. Even Wolverine was pushed back, covered in writhing black goo.
"This ain't good," he growled. "But we don't fall back. Hold the line!"
In the midst of the intense battle against Knull's symbiotes, reinforcements for the X-Men arrived, expanding their ranks.
"New mutants, join the fight! We can't let the Earth fall!" Professor X, telepathically coordinating the team.
"For the future of mankind! We stand united!" Colossus shouted, with armored might, charged into the fray alongside Nightcrawler, who swiftly teleported, creating pockets of resistance.
"Got a taste of their own medicine!" Rogue said, while absorbing the strengths of fallen symbiotes, unleashed a formidable combination of powers.
Gambit, with charged cards in hand, added explosive flair to the battlefield.
The X-Men, reinforced and reinvigorated, fought with renewed determination. Amid the chaos and teamwork, the heroes battle fiercely against Knull's onslaught.
Symbiotic tendrils test their resilience, but a beacon of hope emerges as they rally against the overwhelming odds, united by a common purpose—to stand against the darkness and preserve the world they call home.
But it was futile in front of Knull. Despite their courageous efforts, the X-Men fell one by one, ensnared by the relentless symbiotes.
Jean Grey, the last X-Man standing, collapsed to her knees. Her voice trembled as darkness closed in.
"I'm... sorry... we tried..."
As she fell, silence swept across the battlefield. The Earth stood still, wrapped in shadows. All hope seemed lost.
Among the chaos, a terrible decision loomed—sacrifice one to save the many, or resist and face the fury of the god of darkness. No easy choice. No clear path.
Suddenly, a golden streak of light pierced the sky—The Sentry had arrived.
"You won't destroy Earth on my watch, Knull!" he shouted, blazing through the swarm of dragons toward the dark god himself.
He tackled Knull, lifting him high into the sky, aiming to rip him in half just like he once did to Carnage.
But Knull didn't flinch.
With terrifying strength, he reversed their positions mid-air. "Foolish mortal. You dare defy me?"
In a flash, Knull tore the Sentry apart—body and soul. Then, with a sinister grin, he reached into the remains and absorbed the dark entity that had always haunted Sentry.
"You were never the master of your darkness. I am," Knull said, his voice echoing like thunder. The sky darkened further as his power surged.
All across the battlefield, the heroes—Iron Man, Captain America, Wolverine, Cyclops, and more—fell under Knull's control. One by one, they were consumed and transformed.
Iron Man stood up, his suit now twisted with black tendrils, turned to the battlefield.
"Resistance is futile. Knull's will is supreme."
A cold silence followed.