Something came hurtling toward him from the other side, a sigh by his ear then a screech from one of the bats as it was struck and knocked to the ground. In the chaotic flurry of the bats that followed, several scattering in a panicked surprise, then falling down on the alien object with their claws out, a muffled voice called, "Keep running!" The bats that had been distracted suddenly burst into flame, sending them whirling with dying calls and in trails of spark and ash in desperation into the sky.

From a crumbling doorway, Tony encouraged again, "Come on!," eyes already on that larger body moving through the dark, its posture alert and its head expanding awfully before it unleashed its own cold cry toward the flare of heat. Tony wound up and threw another grenade toward it, not watching for the bomb to land and instead holding a hand out for Donnie to pull him through into the dark halls where they might be able to retreat into a warren.