Outside the cave, Tony Stark and Valen Mining's senior executives were closely monitoring the live footage transmitted by the expedition team's cameras.
The eerie underground nest, untouched for what seemed like eons, was finally echoing with the sound of human footsteps.
The expedition team moved cautiously, holding mobile cameras as they documented their surroundings. Meanwhile, specialists sketched notable discoveries in their notebooks with quick, rough lines.
Tony's attention remained fixed on the footage.
If there's something remarkable hidden in this underground labyrinth, he thought, it might just earn me the title of "great explorer" to add to my collection.
He chuckled to himself. If only I had been born a few centuries earlier, Edgar Allan Poe might have written me into "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym."
As the team ventured deeper into the twisting tunnels, the environment shifted. Ancient stone ruins emerged, revealing what seemed to be an underground city.
The lower sections of the buildings were surprisingly well-preserved, though the architecture was complex, almost maze-like. The roofs were gone, leaving gaping holes that extended upward. Stone ramps and ridged slopes, likely serving as stairs, dominated the structures.
The voice of an explorer came through the equipment:
"The rooms average about thirty by thirty feet and are twenty feet high, though there could be larger chambers deeper in."
Tony watched intently as the explorers continued their investigation.
The immense structures projected an oppressive weight, their sheer size and design exuding an alien energy that seemed to challenge human understanding.
Tony glanced at Danvers and quipped, "What is this? Easter Island statues? I can't imagine how anyone managed to balance these giant stones so perfectly."
Soon, the explorers stumbled upon murals that immediately captured Tony's attention.
The carvings adorned wide, horizontal boards, each about three feet tall. Intricate geometric vine patterns alternated with elaborate carvings from floor to ceiling, covering entire walls.
As the camera focused on the murals, Tony couldn't help but admire the craftsmanship.
The carvings displayed meticulous proportions, with vivid depictions of plants and animals rendered in astonishing detail. Despite his lack of expertise in art, Tony recognized the technical mastery behind the work.
Yet, it was the content of the murals that left him stunned.
The first panels depicted a spaceship falling from the sky as humans knelt in reverence. From the spacecraft emerged black, animal-like creatures that seemed to spread chaos.
The following panels showed humans sacrificing themselves on stone altars, seemingly in worship of an otherworldly god.
Later, winged creatures darkened the skies, engaging in fierce battles with the alien invaders. In the final scenes, the vampire-like beings fell into a deep, collective slumber.
Tony stared at the images, his mind racing.
Could this explain the strange creature that killed the werewolf on Bear Mountain? Did these beings really arrive from space in a spaceship?
He glanced toward the cave's dark depths.
Could this be where those ancient, vampire-like creatures are still hibernating?
Danvers, standing beside him, frowned at the murals. "What on earth are we looking at?"
Tony shrugged, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Maybe it's the brainchild of some avant-garde futurists with overactive imaginations."
Before he could say more, chaos erupted in the live feed.
Suddenly, a shadowy creature lunged out of the darkness, attacking the expedition team.
Terrified screams and frantic shouting filled the speakers as the camera shook violently. The security personnel accompanying the team opened fire, the echoes of gunfire ringing through the cavern.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
But the bullets were useless against the predators lurking in the shadows.
One by one, the team members fell silent, their screams abruptly cut off.
Tony shot to his feet, fury blazing in his eyes. "Damn it! Get in there and save them!"
Danvers, pale and shaken, shook his head. "We can't. It's too late."
"You've got armed personnel—send them in!" Tony demanded, his voice rising.
But Danvers remained unmoved. "That's not an option, Mr. Stark."
Tony clenched his fists. "You can't just let them die!"
Danvers gave a signal to his men, who quickly began sealing the cave entrance with heavy machinery.
Realizing what was happening, Tony's anger boiled over. "You're sealing them in? This is murder!"
Danvers turned to him, his voice cold and calculated. "Sometimes sacrifices are necessary. Surely Stark Industries has made similar decisions during its rise to power. Capital is always built on bones, Mr. Stark. None of us are innocent."
Tony's voice was sharp with disdain. "That's you, not me!"
Danvers smirked. "Really? Your reputation says otherwise, Mr. Stark."
---
Meanwhile, in a café, Peter Parker sipped his coffee and grinned at Gwen Stacy.
"Really? I thought my reputation was worse," Peter joked.
"You just saved the president of Stark Industries at the airport. I think you're doing fine," Gwen teased as she stirred her drink.
Her expression shifted, and she gave Peter a curious look. "Wait a second. Didn't we just agree to talk about Ms. Aguilar? How did you manage to change the subject again?"
Peter chuckled. "What can I say? It's a skill."
Gwen rolled her eyes. "Anyway, do you think Ms. Aguilar was really behind the weird smell in class?"
Peter nodded. "Yep. She's like a walking magician, releasing plant-like hormones. She's also annoyingly curious. Last time we fought, she didn't take it well."
"That explains her grudge against you," Gwen mused. "But magicians? Really? I'd sooner believe in aliens."
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