51: Webs That Seal Fate

Casting an eldritch spell, Strange hovered above the ground, black wings extending from his back, and a horn appearing on his forehead, "But that doesn't change the fact that I'll be taking away your powers."

'Ah, I get it now.' Erik pursed his lips, finally putting all the pieces together.

'So, pitting me against him is what Watcher actually wanted, huh...

As Strange shot out ginormous tentacles towards him, Erik could only sigh in annoyance and prepare his counter-attack.

'Honestly, I just wanna go home!'

Calling out to Beelzebuth, Erik summoned a dark vortex that sucked in the tentacles. He then flew above the ground, summoned the Sceptre, and fired a blast of pure energy.

"However, Eirikyr doesn't know that he is already under an illusion." Watcher narrated from his dimension. 

"Strange Supreme had cast a buff and protection spell on all of them before the battle against Ultron had begun. And since Eirikyr was already under a spell, Strange just had to change the attributes of his spell." 

"Eirikyr's spider senses had warned him of the danger but with no way to avoid it, and without even realizing it, he along with all the guardians were put under Strange's spell." 

"A spell that would sap his powers out of him while he's fighting Strange in the illusion." 

"Soon, the spell would extract all his life energy along with the skills he has."

"I suppose that the skills that Eirikyr possesses aren't a product of the universe he inhabits but were bestowed upon him by some external entity or entities. And they seemed to have provided him with some sort of defense mechanism in order to prevent something like this. It's working fine right now, but Strange is also giving it his all to break Eirikyr's defense."

"Given time, he might be successful..."

"However, Eirikyr was not alone in this battle. There she was, under the same illusion spell... But her soul was transported somewhere else, to her mother, the Totemic Spider Goddess, the creator of Web of Life and Destiny, the Great Weaver, the one who bargained with the Watcher, Goddess Neith."

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"Hm? Where is this..." Cindy squinted her eyes as she adjusted her eyes, she was welcomed by a short petite girl, donning a white gown and a red belt around her waist.

"Who're you?" Cindy asked as she tilted her head, her heart for some reason wanted nothing more than to bow down to her, "Why do you seem so familiar...?"

Neith smiled, "It's good to see you, My Child. I am Neith, just think of me as your mother."

Saying so, Neith embraced Cindy in a warm motherly hug. Cindy felt a surge of warmth and comfort wash over her. It was as if all her worries and fears melted away in the presence of the Totemic Spider Goddess.

"Mother..." Cindy whispered, the words escaping from her mouth unconsciously. She felt confused as to why she felt this familiarity with the woman in front of her.

"My child, it warms my heart to see you in person," Neith said softly. "I have been watching over you, waiting for the right moment to intervene."

Cindy looked up at Neith, "What do you mean? Where is this? And why do you feel so... familiar to me?"

Neith smiled and guided Cindy to a serene garden, with white flowers, however upon a closer look she found out that the flowers were just webbings. 

"This is my realm, the realm of the Great Weaver, the one who crafts the Web of Life and Destiny. I am Neith, the Totemic Spider Goddess, and you, my dear, are one of my children - a vessel for my power and the guardian of the web." 

As they spoke, Neith revealed to Cindy the true nature of her powers and the role she was destined to play in the cosmic tapestry. She spoke of the Web of Life and Destiny, the intricate weave of fate that bound all living beings together.

"However, Eirikyr, my other child is not connected to the Web of Life, he has no predetermined fate. In fact, he affects and shapes the fates of others around him. Perhaps, not having a fate is his fate..."

Neith sighed, "Anyway, right now, his life is in grave danger. It was my fault mostly."

Cindy's eyes widened, she remembered how Strange was talking about taking Eirikyr's powers away did some hand signs, and the next moment she found herself here...

"Don't get worried, now. I won't let anything happen to him. I will protect your groom, Spider Bride. However, for that, I'll be borrowing your body for a moment."

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On the battlefield, five people were enclosed in a sphere of eldritch magic. They were all in a daze, only the whites of their eyes were visible. 

Strange Supreme was standing in front of a particular sphere, his hands weaving intricate patterns in the air as he maintained the spell that held Eirikyr and the others captive to his illusions. 

[ Warning! Warning! Attempts to steal user's skills are being made! ]

Erik's system warned him continuously, however, his mind was trapped somewhere else.

'It's harder than I thought...' Strange thought as he chipped through whatever defense Erik's damaged system could provide him with.

'Huh?' Strange paused, 'Cindy Moon... What's happening to her?'

The next instant, the Eldritch Sphere surrounding Cindy dispersed in the air. 

Strange grimaced, casting a binding spell on Cindy but she just flicked it away.

Cindy's eyes glowed in mysterious energy. Countless tendrils of web emerged from her fingertips and shot towards Strange. The Sorcerer flew at high speeds to evade the webbings glowing with eerie power that announced certain death upon contact.

Walking forward Cindy, with a sweep of her hand, undid Strange's spell from everyone present. Erik along with everyone woke up from the spell with a gasp. 

As Erik kneeled on the ground, gasping for air, he witnessed Cindy's form a few meters ahead of him. "What the..."

"My Children... Come!" Cindy uttered, her voice seeming as if two people were speaking simultaneously, the ground rumbled and three giant spiders emerged from the ground. 

They leaped toward Strange and attacked him with their piercing legs.

As Strange struggled against the spiders, Cindy's webs caught up to him, "No..."

Yelling, Strange tried to cut the webs off and escape, however, he found himself unable to call forth his greatest power. His magic was sealed by the webs, webs that had the power to seal fate itself.

He was then dragged to Cindy's feet.

"You have greatly angered me, Sorcerer. And for that, you deserve death." As she said that, her hair levitated in the air, and her webs formed a cocoon around him. 

"No, don't do this Mphh!!!"

And then he was turned into cosmic dust...

Erik along with everyone gazed at the bizarre scene dumbfounded.

Cindy- no Neith turned around to give Erik a last look before she smiled and passed out.

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