41) Training A Novice

"How the hell did you manage that?" asked Tigra with smirk. 

"Please tell" asked Black Bolt. 

Everyone surrounded Peter and his teammates as they entered the viewing room with much applause from the staff and other heroes. 

"Spider-Man came up with the entire thing you. If you want to ask anyone, it should be him" said Iceman.

Everyone looked at Peter waiting for his answer. 

"Well, spill the beans Spider-Man" asked Tigra. 

"Alright, do you guys know what Black Ice is?" asked Peter. 

Everyone looked at each confused and had no idea what Peter was on about. "Black Ice? What are you about?" replied Tigra. 

"Well, simply put it's just a really thin layer of Ice and transparent. Despite its name it's not actually black you may have heard heard been called clear Ice. It's what you see on the roads during winter usually." answered Peter.

"Ahh, I get you" replied Tigra. 

"How did it defeat Quicksilver though?" inquired Black Bolt.

"Well first when a bunch of snow falls the weight of the top layer compresses the bottom, compacting it and the snow undergoes re-crystallization. This leads to less air spaces between the molecules causing light to penetrate deeper without bouncing back leading to it being transparent. This creates hard packed snow." continued Peter. 

"You are one nerdy guy" interjected Tigra while Tony Stark left the room to answer a phone call.

"Let him finish" replied Black Bolt interested causing Tigra to sigh and roll her eyes.

"Thanks. With time the crystals grow bigger meaning more light passes through so it becomes even more transparent. These big and hard crystals are smooth and hard making it more slippy compared to normal ice because our shoes can't get a good grip on a molecular level. With this Quicksilver wouldn't notice the black ice and as soon as he stepped on it he couldn't get a good grip causing him to go flying. We had shadow hide where he would crash and while I try to slow him down as much as possible she would hit the button on his back" Peter finished. 

"Good work Spider-Man and an excellent plan that brilliantly executed. Quicksilver thought there was nothing in this world that could stop his super speed. I hope he learns from this to become better" said Capt. 

"Enough about Ice, what about Quicksilver?" asked Tigra.

"He's getting fixed up in the infirmary. He got a slight concussion and grazes but he should be fine a few minutes. In ten minutes we will go forward with the next battle and since Team B is still in tip top shape lets have them Team C" said Capt. 

"Hey Capt, I need to talk to you for a second in private" asked Tony. 

"Alright" Capt replied leaving the room.

"Wonder what that's about" said Tigra. 

"Well, looks like it's time for us to show we what we got" said Black Bolt.

"Dam straight" replied Tigra. 

"I agree" added Behemoth still sitting in his chair. For someone so large he doesn't have much of a presence thought Peter. 

Tony and Capt re-entered the room and there was a clear change in mood but no one mentioned it. 

"Teams B and C get ready. You'll be placed into your starting positions ready for the match. I wish both of you the best of luck. Off you go" ordered Capt. 

Everyone started to leave the room while Tigra placed her hand on Peter's shoulder and drew close to his ear, "I can't wait to hunt you down, little Spider" she whispered. 

"That's not scary at all" muttered Peter taken aback. Peter also followed the rest of the group with Tony standing in the hallway with his arms crossed. 

"Kid, come here for a moment" he said. 

"Ok" replied Peter going towards him. 

"I just wanted to say great job kid. That was a smart move and I take full credit as your mentor." Tony said. He straightened his face and a clear change in tone came across, "Stay safe alright. I need you in tip-top shape" he added. He sounded almost worried. 

"Alright, no problem" replied Peter, confused at the sudden change in tone as he wondered what happened for Tony to be like this. 

"I believe in you kid" responded Tony tapping Peter's shoulder before heading down the corridor. 

"What's wrong" asked Peter, sensing something up. 

"Don't worry about it" said Tony continuing his walk. 

"SPIDER-MAN, COME ON WE'RE WAITING ON YOU!" shouted Iceman from down the hallway. 

"GIVE ME A MOMENT" yelled Peter in response catching up to the group, with Tony's words still on his mind. 

SANCTUM SANCTORUM

Meditating while floating in the air was Doctor Strange dressed in his long blue robes and flashy red cape, with a brown tattered belt around his waist. Around his neck a large necklace that resembled an eye, that if you looked close enough held what seemed to be a green stone. He had a Black beard and mustache, with dark black hair that was slightly graying. He had blue eyes with pale skin and was fairly tall. 

The Sanctum was silent. Not a single sound could be heard. The creaking of the door opening screamed throughout the room making Strange slowly open his eyes, completely unsurprised.

"Welcome" he said. For a while there was silence with the person who had entered not replying. "I know why you are here" added Strange.

"And why is that?" replied Wanda, standing in the centre of the entrance hall. 

"I sensed you since you entered New York, but couldn't figure out your intentions. The longer you stayed the more clear they became." replied Strange. 

"You think you know everything" replied Wanda.

"I know enough" replied Strange. 

"I wonder who's stronger" asked Wanda.

"Magic isn't strength, it's skill. Before we go through with this I want to know something if you would entertain me" asked Strange walking out of his room on the stairwell. 

"Go on" replied Wanda, preparing herself as her hands became necased in dark red aura. 

"Why attack us? I know you want to destroy New York but I can't see why." asked Strange.

"To take our rightful place" replied Wanda.

"I know that, but why? No one goes through this just for the sake of it. There's a reason for everything in this world and universe, especially when it comes to the decisions of humans. Why do you want to do this?" asked Strange, curious.

"For Vulcan" she replied. 

"I see. It's for someone you hold dear to you, how boring. I expected something more interesting from someone with such dark energy. I don't understand it personally but that's not the point. Let's get this over and done with, I have better things to do than teach a novice" replied Strange while floated down with his red cape to the hall's floor and cracking his neck and knuckles.