DC Heroes in Marvel

As the young, internet-obsessed man watched from afar, he couldn't shake his curiosity about the other monster's identity. But as Batman—Anton in disguise—shut off the sonic weapon, silence flooded the bridge. 

The ringing in his ears faded just in time to hear the low growl of the remaining monster.

For a brief, electrifying moment, the monster's dark, hollow eyes turned towards him. Panic surged through the young man. His adrenaline spiked, and suddenly, his body snapped out of its frozen state. He scrambled to his feet, hands shaking, legs barely holding him up. 

Without a second thought, he bolted down the bridge, fighting his way into the crowd for safety, all questions about the monster's true identity forgotten. He only stopped once he was deep within the chaotic throng of people, finally able to breathe as the fear slowly ebbed away.

Back on the bridge, Anton gripped the wounded, barely-conscious Drake and glanced over at Venom. "You don't need to stay here any longer. It's too risky for you to be seen like this. Go on, I'll handle the cleanup."

Venom, with Eddie Brock struggling to stay upright within the symbiote, nodded. "Understood." 

With a surge of energy, Venom leapt over the side of the bridge, plunging into the murky waters below, disappearing from sight.

Anton hefted Drake's limp body onto the Batmobile, activating its flight mode, and set off in the direction of the San Francisco Police Department.

As they soared above the city, police sirens wailed below. The entire force, from patrol units to specialized squads, was converging on the Golden Gate Bridge in response to the chaos. 

Near the bridge, one of the patrol officers froze, staring in disbelief as a sleek black car glided over the rooftops, boosted by thrusters. 

Its body, intimidating and bristling with weaponry, seemed plucked straight from a sci-fi movie. Even more surreal, a caped figure stood on the car's hood, holding a battered Drake in one hand.

"Batman!" one of the officers gasped, recognizing the unmistakable figure. Another officer, eyes wide, stammered, "Who… is he holding?"

"That's Drake! The CEO of the Life Foundation!" The officers exchanged bewildered glances, struggling to understand the implications.

Suddenly, without warning, Anton dropped Drake's nearly unconscious body onto the hood of a police car. 

The CEO landed with a heavy thud, slumped against the windshield, struggling to breathe. His face was marred by burns, his breathing shallow. If not for the now dead symbiote's protective shell, he would have been reduced to ashes by the flame attack.

"He's all yours," Anton said coldly. "Let's hope the San Francisco Police Department can handle him from here." 

Without another word, he activated the Batmobile's thrusters, ascending into the sky with a dramatic, powerful departure.

A growing crowd gathered around the scene, drawn by the spectacle. Phones flashed as people documented every angle of the fallen Drake and the departing Batman. 

The officers, wary of the frenzied onlookers, scrambled to maintain order and secure Drake.

Meanwhile, a short distance away, Annie and Dan Lewis, who had initially rushed to the bridge, observed the aftermath from afar. They exchanged relieved smiles, finally letting the tension drain from their bodies. 

It was over. The threat had been contained.

Anton didn't return to Annie's house immediately. He took a detour, heading to a secluded spot on the outskirts of the city, where he had stashed his own car. After swapping vehicles, he drove leisurely back, a rare sense of satisfaction settling over him.

The fight itself had been intense, but Anton had anticipated as much. What pleased him even more was the notification he received from his "system":

"Mission complete: neutralize Riot and incapacitate the Life Foundation. Reward: 8 million Justice Points."

His Justice Points now totaled 10 million, enough to unlock a variety of gadgets and enhancements from his system's arsenal. He was no longer starting from scratch; he had the means to level up significantly.

"Finally, no more basic equipment," he muttered to himself, a grin spreading across his face. With his Justice Points, he could exchange for specialized armor, adding layers of protection and combat features. 

Yet, he found himself debating: should he invest in several smaller upgrades or save up for one monumental piece of gear? He decided to mull it over on his way back.

Upon arriving at Annie's house, he was greeted by Eddie, Annie, and Dan, all visibly relieved.

"Anton, I owe you one," Eddie said, his gratitude evident. "If you hadn't shown up… Venom and I wouldn't have made it. Drake and Riot had us backed into a corner."

Anton accepted the thanks with a nod, although he downplayed his role internally. Today had been a wake-up call, a reminder that in this version of the Marvel world, things didn't always unfold as expected. 

Venom's strength, while formidable, hadn't been quite as impressive as he'd anticipated. Then again, the Venom in his memory hadn't faced Riot in such an all-out confrontation before.

He realized that even the most "fated" events could shift, and the power of key players could be vastly different. This wasn't just Marvel as he knew it; his actions were already altering the landscape.

"Drake is in police custody now," Anton said, his tone resolute. "He won't be getting out anytime soon, not with the evidence stacked against him and the media coverage of his experiments."

"But…" Eddie's face clouded as he remembered the other threat, "what about Oscorp?"

Anton placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. 

"Oscorp isn't as reckless as the Life Foundation. They won't come after you directly. Besides, with the Daily Bugle's influence, I have some leverage there. Going up against Norman Osborn would be a massive undertaking, and right now, we're not in the position for that."

Eddie nodded in understanding. He knew Osborn was interested in the symbiotes, but with Drake's downfall, Oscorp might shift focus. And with Anton's influence, there was a layer of protection in place. 

Still, he couldn't ignore the looming threat entirely.

Anton, sensing the tension, changed the subject. "Enough about business. Tonight, let's celebrate!"

At his words, the room's atmosphere lightened. The group quickly agreed, and Anton insisted the night was on him. They spent the evening in a lively nightclub, enjoying the temporary peace.

In the early hours, they finally returned to their hotel, barely able to keep their eyes open. But their sleep was soon interrupted by a sharp knock on the door.

Each opened their doors to find a stern-looking man in a suit. He flashed a badge with the emblem of S.H.I.E.L.D. 

"Good morning," he greeted in a calm, yet firm tone. "My name is Phil Coulson from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division. We've been assigned to investigate the recent… unusual activity at the Golden Gate Bridge."

…

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