"Looks like even though it's already past midnight, you won't be getting much time to rest."
Gwen came over to Peter's side, watching Strange chat with Iron Fist and Moon Knight. She let out a heartfelt sigh, and Peter agreed with a helpless nod. "Tell me about it. Why don't you go on back first? Tomorrow is still Sunday, so you can probably sleep in a bit more."
"What about you?"
"I won't be making it to tomorrow's homecoming football game. Regardless of whether Strange has urgent business, I'm definitely going to be busy during the day tomorrow."
Peter grumbled helplessly. After listening to him, Gwen could only nod. But then, as if suddenly remembering something, she countered with a question: "I can understand that you didn't invite me this year because Senior Felicia had matters she needed your help with. But if Senior Felicia hadn't been busy this year, who would you have invited?"
Peter hadn't anticipated this question. His first instinct was that he would go with whoever invited him first, but then he realized Gwen was asking whom he had intended to invite.
At that exact moment, the truest answer in Peter Parker's heart would have been, "Cindy, because I asked you last year."
So, Peter gave his response.
"If it weren't for Felicia's situation this year, I definitely would have asked you to dance with me again."
"Really?"
"Definitely. Alright, Strange is calling for me. See you in a bit."
Taking a deep breath, Peter turned around and shuffled over to Strange's side. After wrapping up a brief conversation, Strange looked over at Peter. "Ah, Spider-Man, you've finally arrived."
"That sounds an awful lot like you need a favor. I, for one, hope you don't actually need to enlist help after midnight."
"Of course not. I'm just stopping by to hand you all an invitation in person. Tomorrow at noon, you can come to the Sanctum Sanctorum for lunch. My treat."
Peter fell silent for a brief moment, then glanced at the three individuals standing beside them: Ghost Rider, Moon Knight, and Iron Fist. After a split second, he reached a conclusion. "Wait, are you gathering superheroes whose powers are related to magic?"
"Spot on, Spider-Man. And you are one of them. What, don't plan on coming?"
You're making it sound like I'd actually refuse. Peter muttered a few words to himself, shook his head, and then asked back with a sense of satisfaction, "Is there really nothing wrong right now?"
Strange looked at Peter with a look of utter exasperation. "There's really nothing wrong. If something does happen, I will call for you in your dreams."
"No, no, no, please don't. Summoning someone in their dreams is going a bit too far, no matter how you look at it. Alright, Doctor Strange, we'll see you tomorrow."
Considering the precious little sleep time he had left for the night, Peter immediately chose to decline. Strange rolled his eyes and looked toward the others. "What about the rest of you? Perhaps you can discuss it among yourselves—coming to help out?"
"Count me in when it comes to Mephisto." Ghost Rider accepted the offer without hesitation, and Iron Fist did the same. Only Moon Knight, after listening to everything, delivered a cold, single-word response: "No."
"Don't count me in on this. I'm very busy."
The next day at noon, on the rooftop of the New York Sanctum Sanctorum, Peter spotted Moon Knight landing as well and offered a greeting. "Hey... Marc, right?"
"No, it's Jake. Marc didn't accept Doctor Strange's invitation."
Peter froze for a moment, looking at Moon Knight. "So..."
"But I'm Jake, and I accepted."
Alright, you're a psychiatric patient with a special pass, so whatever you say goes.
Peter helplessly opened the door to the rooftop loft and headed downstairs alongside Moon Knight. Along the way, he passed the corridors of the New York Sanctum Sanctorum. At the end of the hallway stood three massive doors through which various vistas could be seen. The scenery behind one of the doors struck Peter with an unexpected sense of familiarity. Just as he was pondering it, a familiar figure stepped directly through from the other side of the door, letting out a pleasantly surprised cry.
"Spider-Man?"
"Oh, hey, Wanda?"
Peter hadn't expected Strange to open a portal all the way to Genosha. He asked Wanda back with a hint of curiosity, "Do you know what Strange is gathering us all here for?"
"Hmm? Has he gathered a lot of people? I thought I was the only one he called."
Seeing that Peter had run into an acquaintance, Moon Knight walked off on his own. Peter and Wanda caught up on their current situations; they hadn't seen each other at all since the Kang Dynasty. Compared to New York, Genosha was rather peaceful and quiet.
Oh, right, only three months had actually passed since then.
They chatted as they walked, and by the time they reached the main hall of the Sanctum Sanctorum, a somewhat familiar radiance flashed before Peter's eyes. Moments later, Magik, Illyana, appeared before them while holding her Soulsword aloft. Illyana nodded at Peter, then looked toward Wanda, appearing slightly puzzled as to who this person was.
"Uh, Wanda? This is Illyana, a student at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Colossus's sister, and the Sorcerer Supreme of Limbo. Illyana, this is Wanda, Magneto's daughter, and a sorceress who studies Chaos Magic."
"Looks like that Strange fellow has put together a sorcerer gathering."
Illyana nodded to show she understood the situation, but Peter gave a shake of his head after mentally running through the participants he knew of. "I don't think that's quite it. Alright, let's keep moving. Do either of you know where the dining room of the Sanctum Sanctorum is? Because I don't."
"I know. Let me lead the way."
Illyana led the two of them toward the dining room. As they drew close to it, they could already hear a woman's voice ringing out from inside.
"What you're saying is that you're a vampire slayer? Apologies, but I've been killing monsters since I was a child and I've yet to encounter a single vampire."
As Peter and the others walked inside, they happened to see a Black man in a black trench coat and sunglasses responding bluntly, "Don't mention it. That just proves I've been doing my job thoroughly."
Peter looked toward the woman who had spoken. She appeared to be in her early twenties, dressed in tactical leather armor, and sported long red hair tied back into a simple ponytail that was exceptionally striking and rare.
The two looked over and noticed the new arrivals, looking distinctly puzzled as to why Spider-Man was there as well.
Peter scanned the room and noticed that Iron Fist was present too.
After a short while, Ghost Rider and Moon Knight entered the room one after another. Following them, Strange walked into the room alongside Wong and another Black man with distinctive white streaks in his bangs. This Black man was visibly some sort of priest.
"Let's get introduced to one another. This is my deputy, Wong, and this is a master from Haiti, Brother Voodoo."
The remaining individuals introduced themselves as well. Peter confirmed that the Black man was indeed Blade the Vampire Slayer, while the other lady was Elsa Bloodstone, the monster hunter of the Marvel Universe.
Once everyone was acquainted, Strange finally continued.
"I am fortunate enough to have invited you all here, experts who possess quite a knack for dealing with occult creatures. To put it bluntly, I have gathered you out of my duties as the Sorcerer Supreme to confront Mephisto—an unprecedented enemy."