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Marvel: King of The Swarm Chapter 20: Entering Sanctuary
🕑 Added 2025-06-03 21:17:52 +0000 UTCThe strange-robed man holding a glowing golden orb unerringly led Frank and Gwen down the storm drain saying little despite Frank's constant questioning about how long it would take them to reach Sanctuary.
Meanwhile, Gwen was still skeptical, surely everything she had Frank had heard, was simply some kernel of truth blown out of proportion, like all folk tales and myths. But the pristine appearance of the robed man, his innate ability to ignore her silk sense, and the strange light in his hand all hinted at something far more problematic.
Gwen was considering ambushing the man and interrogating him for answers when she noticed a change in their surroundings. Thin golden tendrils of a metallic substance stretched across the rusted surface of the storm drain, but the more Gwen looked at them the more they looked like veins or capillaries.
"What are these things?" Gwen muttered under her breath as she slowly reached out, about to run her fingers along the strange golden aberration.
"Please do not touch," The man suddenly spoke up making Gwen flinch and retract her hand at the last second, "King Genesis, is hard at work expanding the influence of his kingdom and does not need the added burden of your corruption, seeing as you are unwilling to accept his light."
"My corruption?" Gwen repeated skeptically though she let her hand drop, "And what do you mean expand his kingdom."
"Corruption is a taint on the body, mind, and soul that festers within all of us. It is created by all the unpleasant things that one experiences in life, most can go their entire lives without feeling the true weight of it, but then there are those who can only wallow, unable to escape the consequence of their decisions and actions. There was no hope until King Genesis showed us the way. He alone can cleanse the Corruption, and offer us a safe harbor within his kingdom, a Sanctuary, from all pain and agony so the Corruption may never reach us again." The man spoke with true reverence and dedication and the light in his hand seemed to respond glowing brighter with his words.
And while Frank seemed entranced by the sermon, Gwen's doubt and suspicion only rose, "And this King, he's just doing all of this out of the kindness of his heart?"
The man shook his head as a slight smile spread across his lips, "While I do not claim to understand what grand plans his radiance has in store for us, or this world, so far he has asked for nothing. In fact, it seems that absolving our corruption takes a great deal of energy, it drains the King though he tries not to let it show. We are truly blessed that such a power has found a truly benevolent soul. In some ways, he is compelled to help all of those who seek him out. That is why I asked you not to touch his roots, he surely would have felt your corruption and attempted to cleanse you. But you are not ready to accept his light and as such are not worthy."
"W-what about me and my wife, a-are we worthy?" Frank asked, his voice pleading.
"I do not know," The man replied softly as he glanced over at Frank, "But regardless, King Genesis will heal your life, whether or not you are allowed to live within his Kingdom is up to you and your companion."
Before any more questions could be answered the storm pipe came to an end, or more accurately it had been blocked off by a film of the same substance that had comprised the golden veins which now almost completely covered the rusted pipe.
Holding out the sphere of light in his hands the man closed his eyes as if concentrating, a second later the sphere flared causing the film to recede, melting into the walls in a way that made Gwen's skin crawl as a soft golden light shone through from the other side.
"Welcome to Sanctuary," the man announced with a brilliant smile as he stepped through, with Frank quickly following. Gwen hesitated for a moment though already knew she could turn back, and ignore the ticking time bomb of a cult hiding under the city.
Stepping down from the storm drain Gwen blinked as she felt the soft graze of lush grass against her legs, and she looked down to find an expansive field of ankle-high dark purple vegetation. Picking up her gaze Gwen looked around her and found what could only be described as a paradise.
While Gwen could tell by the long windingly length and narrow width that they were in an old tunnel, most likely a subway, it had been completely transformed. The entire space was lit by a ceiling of softly glowing crystals, that looked as if someone had cracked open the world's largest geode. That light shone down on the field of indigo-hued grass which swayed gently thanks to a soft constant breeze that kept the air feeling fresh and cool. The breeze also caused the dark canopy of broad oval leaves to rustle against each other supported by golden trunks and branches that pressed against the tunnel walls.
However even more eye-catching than the strange vegetation, were the people going about their day with smiles firmly affixed on their faces. Similarly, they all wore the same clothes white flowing robes that seemed soft as silk.
Most of the people were concentrated around what seemed to be a village of some kind, though instead of individual buildings, the entire populous was concentrated within a collection of wide expansive columns that people walked in, out, around, and between using a series of connected series of pathways and bridges.
Both the walkways and the columns themselves consisted of the same golden material Gwen had spotted earlier, and rather than constructed the structures seemed as if they had grown organically over time. However none of that concerned Gwen nearly as much as the fact that she couldn't feel any of them with her senses.
"Please follow me, his radiance is awaiting your arrival," The guide spoke as he turned in the opposite direction of the golden towers, "You may visit the village later if the King decides to offer you an invitation."
Gwen and Frank followed the man through the field go grass, which seemed to come alive, gently brushing against their legs, moving against the breeze to caress them. It took Gwen every shred of her will not to recoil at the alien vegetation, and she found herself wishing to wrap up the entire debacle as quickly as possible.
After a blissfully short walk, they arrived at what must have been Genesis' private and not-so-humorable abode. The entire tunnel had been covered in a golden film, narrowing down the only way forward into a narrow tunnel, like that of a funnel web spider.
Walking into the passage Gwen felt the hair on the back of her arm stand upright, a silent alarm as her intuition honed from months of fighting crime started going off. Still, Gwen's steps didn't falter as they reached the end of the funnel which opened up into a large chamber empty and unadorned beside the alcove carved into the wall in which sat a robed figure concealed entirely by purple and gold silk that stirred at their approach.
"Thank you Gideon for guiding these souls through my Kingdom," The figure spoke his voice soft and gentle, like a stoic father complimenting a child.
The man, Gideon, bowed deeply, "It is my greatest pleasure to usher those seeking your light, King Genesis. I believe two of them may be ready to step through and fully enter your kingdom."
Unable to contain himself any longer Frank stepped forward holding Mary in his arms, "Please, y-you have to save her! S-she's all I have!"
Genesis raised a hand to stall Frank's cries, "Please there is no need to beg, I do detest desperation, such an ugly emotion."
The room around them shifted as two golden amorphous appendages rose from the floor and gently wrapped around Mary's limp body carrying her into the air until she dangled before Genesis who placed a hand on Mary's still bleeding wound, "Hmm, it's a shame that tragedy often strikes those least deserving."
A golden light then began to spill out from Genesis' hand, making Mary's body seize like she was being shocked.
"What is he doing?!" Gwen demanded and was almost about to interfere when suddenly Gideon was standing in front of her, having moved far faster than a normal human should, staring down at her with righteous fury, "Do not intervene."
Before Gwen could respond a loud gasp echoed through the chamber and everyone looked over as Mary jerked away looking very confused but in perfect health, Genesis pulled away his hand, "Gideon please show Frank and Mary a place where they may convene and discuss their future."
Gideon nodded as Mary was lowered back to the ground before Frank who immediately leaped up to embrace his wife. They seemed inseparable as Gideon guided them out of the chamber, though Gwen couldn't afford to watch the heartbreaking scene, without her precognition she would never taker her eyes off of Genesis.
Once they were alone, silence dominated the chamber for a minute before a soft sigh echoed out from the King's robes, "Why are you here Spiderwoman, I thought you only concerned yourself with fighting crime and protecting the innocent."
Gwen's hands balled into fists, sensing the tension in the air, "I heard rumors about your supposed Sanctuary so I thought I'd stop by and see what all the buzz was about."a
"Hmm, tell me does it live up to its reputation," Genesis asked as he leaned against his fist in a decidedly non-kingly manner, "A paradise free from all pain and suffering."
Gwen scoffed, "Alright normally I like a little banter before a big fight, but right now I'm on edge. So how about if we just cut to the chase and get right too-"
Before Gwen could react the floor beneath her came alive as a swarm of countless tendrils erupted into the air leaving no room for her to evade. In the blink of an eye, Gwen found her arms and legs bound against her body as Genesis slowly stood up in his alcove, "A bit of advice...you should never attack a god within his kingdom."
