Kaecilius grunted and rubbed his wrists, finally freeing himself from the restraints.
This Doctor Strange proved more resourceful than anticipated.
He turned toward the unconscious student and approached him.
Kaecilius rolled his disciple over and gently tapped his forehead, bringing him back to consciousness.
"Master Kaecilius?" the student called out, shaking his head.
"Come," he said, helping him to his feet. "We have work to do."
The other two students he'd sent to handle the Rakghouls returned in a panic.
"What happened?" Kaecilius asked, startled by their condition.
"The Rider," the man closest to him gasped. "He's going to kill us all."
"We need to flee now," another said, absolute terror in his eyes.
Kaecilius's expression hardened as he glanced out the window, hearing the telltale sounds of burning chains being wielded, followed by screaming Rakghouls.
"No," Kaecilius declared. "We'll face him together."
"Together," he emphasized. "He may be a spirit of unimaginable power, but with the gifts we've received from Dormammu, we will triumph over this hellish demon."
The three students surrounding him witnessed his determination and slowly regained their composure. They all straightened, then followed their master down to the first floor and out of the Sanctum.
They all emerged just in time to witness a Rakghoul's burning corpse collapse before them.
The zealots all looked up to see Ghost Rider seize another Rakghoul by the throat and force flames to erupt from its mouth, melting it from within.
Seeing it dead, Ghost Rider discarded the unburned portions and glanced at the four mystics staring at him fearlessly.
Now, most people would anticipate an epic confrontation between them.
Instead, all five looked up as another portal suddenly opened between them, and a gasping, injured Sith Lord stumbled through, hastily sealing the portal behind him.
He collapsed to his knees, coughing as his body convulsed. A stream of animal organs and other grotesque matter temporarily broke free of his body before being forcibly dragged back inside.
The Sith Lord gasped, feeling his body healing rapidly.
Karnes Muur took a moment to regain his senses, surveying his surroundings and noticing the numerous dead Rakghouls littering the area—especially the flaming skull wielding chain and axe.
Around him lay a pile of his creations, all charred beyond recognition.
"I see," Muur hissed, and immediately unleashed a devastating burst of Sith lightning that struck Ghost Rider with such force it sent him flying.
"You," Kaecilius muttered in disbelief and fury.
The Sith Lord blinked and looked at—
"Ah yes, Kaecilius," Muur said with a vicious sneer. "Another captive who must perish by my hand."
"You possess considerable audacity coming to face me, Sith spirit," Kaecilius said.
"Correction—I'm no longer a spirit. After all these millennia, I'm alive again. Breathing. Flesh and blood," Muur declared, flashing a maniacal grin.
"If only you could remain so for long," Kaecilius said, summoning two dimensional blades.
Muur gasped and waved his left hand. A column of energy ignited from his palm. Raising it, he smiled as the dark orange-red glow illuminated his features. It felt like wielding his ancient lightsaber again.
"My disciples—do not participate in this battle. I will handle him personally."
The zealots reluctantly summoned a portal and escaped through it to return to their hideout.
Kaecilius and Muur then began slowly circling each other as the portal sealed.
They continued testing each other cautiously until both attacked simultaneously.
Their weapons collided, sparks flying as each sought to overpower the other.
Both combatants unleashed spells that began destroying the Sanctum's outer walls. Ethereal chains attempted restraining Muur, but the ancient Sith leaped and spun through the air. The resurrected practitioner used his cloak to hover and employed Force lightning to blast Kaecilius away.
Muur leaped backward, extended his hand, and unleashed another torrent of Sith lightning.
This time, however, his opponent was prepared.
Kaecilius spun his arms and thrust out his hands. The Sith lightning struck his palms.
Instead of harming him, the lightning split into multiple branches forming a barrier.
The lightning ceased, and Kaecilius spread his hands apart, gathering the divided lightning and transforming it into a crackling sphere.
He raised his arms and hurled it at Muur with all his strength. Muur sneered as his arms transformed into something more monstrous and caught the lightning orb.
The Sith Lord grunted. As he shook his head back to normal, he felt his face shifting into reptilian scales.
He crushed the lightning sphere in his grip, and the two glared at each other.
They charged one another, magic flaring. Both collided, were knocked backward, and crashed through nearby windows, tumbling onto Bleecker Street as glass shards rained down.
Rising from the debris, both combatants shook off glass fragments and stared at each other.
"How interesting," the ancient Sith said.
"For me, not particularly," Kaecilius grunted.
"Wonderful." Then, with gleaming madness in Muur's voice, "Once I kill you, your master will be next."
Kaecilius froze at this, staring at the man who'd clearly lost his sanity.
"Impossible. Dormammu is unkillable."
"Who said I'd kill him? I intend to take his power," Muur's madness was palpable. "Once I possess the power of a being like Dormammu, not just this universe—all universes will be mine. I will become the greatest Dark Lord of the Sith who ever existed."
Before they could resume their battle, an unexpected group appeared.
The two mystics turned to see two men standing before them, clearly prepared to fight.
"Mind explaining what the hell you did to mess up our city?"
"Cage, Rand—did you find the source?"
From a back alley emerged a man in a white suit reminiscent of a feline.
"Looks like it."
Muur and Kaecilius looked up to see a woman in a leather jacket descending from above, landing beside the three men.
"Are these the two assholes who caused all this chaos?" the woman asked.
"Yeah," responded who appeared to be the youngest in the group.
He raised his fist, which began emanating a golden aura that soon enveloped his entire arm.
"Guys, I know we haven't officially decided yet, but I think it's time to show these clowns who we are."
Muur regarded them with curiosity. "Interesting," he muttered, then his smile gradually widened. "I can't wait."
The African-American man in the yellow shirt sighed to himself before smiling with amusement.
"We're the Defenders now, right, Rand?"