chapter 16

Rick staggered back from Captain Marvel's photon blast, clutching his side with a pained groan. "Feisty, aren't we?" he wheezed, wiping a smear of alien goo from his lab coat. President Morty, momentarily dazed from the impact, scrambled to his feet, a calculating glint returning to his eyes.

"Impressive display," he said, addressing Captain Marvel with a sardonic bow. "But I'm afraid brute force won't be enough to stop us."

Spider-Man, ever the optimist, shot a web towards Rick, attempting to ensnare him once more. But Rick was prepared. He activated a device concealed in his pocket, generating a localized gravity field that deflected the web with a sizzle.

"Nice try, kid," Rick taunted, "but I've got a few tricks up my sleeve, too."

Captain Marvel launched another energy blast, but President Morty intercepted it with a shimmering force field, his expression impassive.

"You're outmatched," he said calmly. "Surrender now, and we'll make this quick and painless."

Captain Marvel's eyes narrowed. "Never," she growled, her hands glowing with cosmic energy.

The battle escalated, a whirlwind of punches, kicks, and energy blasts. Spider-Man used his agility to dodge and weave, while Captain Marvel unleashed her full power, her photon blasts scorching the ground. Yet, Rick and President Morty remained elusive, their combined intellect and technological prowess proving a formidable challenge.

As the fight dragged on, Rick's eyes darted around, taking in the chaotic scene. He noticed a nearby rock formation, its jagged edges glinting in the dim light. An idea sparked in his mind, a desperate gamble that could turn the tide of the battle.

With a sudden burst of speed, he broke away from the fray, dodging a punch from Captain Marvel and a web from Spider-Man. He scrambled towards the rock formation, his eyes fixed on a particular crevice.

"Morty!" he shouted. "Now!"

President Morty, understanding his cue, activated the Reality Remixer. A wave of energy washed over the battlefield, warping the landscape and distorting the very fabric of reality. The ground beneath the heroes' feet shifted and buckled, throwing them off balance.

Rick, having reached the crevice, pulled out a small, cylindrical device. He pressed a button, and the device emitted a high-pitched whine. The ground beneath them trembled violently, and a massive fissure opened up, swallowing Rick and President Morty whole.

Captain Marvel and Spider-Man scrambled to safety, their eyes wide with disbelief as the ground closed up behind their adversaries. The Reality Remixer, abandoned in the chaos, sputtered and died.

The two heroes stood in silence, the only sound the wind whistling through the alien landscape. They had lost. Rick and President Morty had escaped, their twisted plans still in motion.

"What now?" Spider-Man asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.

Captain Marvel met his gaze, her eyes blazing with renewed determination. "We fight back," she said. "We track them down, we stop them, and we save the multiverse."