Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Chapter 83: The Darkness Within

Peter's mind raced as he dodged another brutal strike from Erebus. The creature's tendrils lashed out with an almost animalistic hunger, and every time Peter thought he was getting an opening, the symbiote adapted, changing its form, weaving through the air, and attacking with incredible precision.

"Harry, I need backup now!" Peter repeated, his voice laced with urgency. He was growing increasingly aware that this fight wasn't just about him. The city was at stake, and with Erebus wreaking havoc inside Oscorp, who knew what kind of damage this creature could do if it was allowed to escape.

His thoughts were interrupted by a brutal, gut-wrenching strike as a tendril wrapped around his midsection, lifting him off the ground with ease. Peter grunted, struggling to break free, but Erebus squeezed tighter, lifting him high into the air.

"You are nothing more than an insect, Spider-Man," Erebus hissed, his voice echoing in Peter's mind. "All your power, your webbing, your tricks—none of it will save you now."

Peter's heart pounded as he fought for air, the pressure of the tendril restricting his breathing. Panic crept into his chest, but he fought to keep calm. Think, Parker. Think! His mind raced for any advantage, but Erebus seemed to have an answer for everything. He had to outsmart the creature, not just outfight it.

His web-shooters clicked as he desperately shot a burst of webbing at one of the high-tech lab panels nearby. The webbing stuck to the panel, and with a burst of strength, Peter yanked it off the wall, slamming it directly into Erebus's face.

The creature hissed, momentarily disoriented by the impact. Peter didn't waste a second. He flipped out of the tendril's grip and landed hard on the ground. His body was sore, his ribs aching from the pressure of the attack, but he couldn't afford to slow down. Erebus was already recovering.

"That was your last mistake, Spider-Man," Erebus growled, his voice vibrating with rage.

Peter quickly gathered his bearings, looking for any advantage. The lab was filled with high-tech equipment, and as Erebus's tendrils reached for him again, Peter sprang into action. He launched himself at one of the nearby consoles, using his webs to pull a large piece of machinery free. With all his strength, he hurled it toward Erebus.

The machine collided with Erebus, but this time, the symbiote seemed unfazed. It shifted around the projectile like liquid, absorbing it, then reformed into its monstrous shape. Erebus's eyes glowed with a cold fury.

"Is that the best you've got?" Erebus taunted.

Peter's mind raced as he barely dodged another attack. This creature wasn't just a physical threat; it was mental warfare. Erebus was trying to break him down, get inside his head.

"Harry," Peter gasped, his voice strained as he backed away from the symbiote's relentless assault. "Where are you?"

Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the lab. Peter turned just in time to see a figure emerge from the shadows—Harry Osborn, his face set with grim determination.

"I'm not letting you do this alone, Pete," Harry said, his voice steady despite the danger.

Peter's eyes widened in disbelief. "Harry, what are you doing here? This is dangerous! Get out of here!"

But Harry was already pulling a weapon from behind his back—a large, sleek, and dangerous-looking device.

"Not a chance," Harry replied. "I'm not going to sit on the sidelines. Let's finish this together."

Erebus hissed in anger as he turned toward Harry, sensing the threat from the new arrival. His tendrils lashed out in fury, but Harry was quick, leaping to the side with agility that surprised even Peter. He fired the device in his hand—an energy pulse that struck Erebus square in the chest. The blast hit with the force of a small explosion, knocking the symbiote back a few paces. Erebus snarled, growling in frustration.

"Nice shot," Peter said, grateful for Harry's timing, but he knew this wasn't over.

"We've only just begun," Harry said grimly, his gaze locked on the creature that had once again begun to reform.

Erebus, now angered, rushed toward Harry, his black tendrils surging forward like whips. But Peter was ready. He sprang into the air, landing on top of Erebus and driving his knee into the creature's back with a powerful strike.

Erebus recoiled, but instead of crumpling, it released a shrill screech, its body contorting with fury. Peter gritted his teeth, pushing forward. He could feel the creature's strength surging through him as the symbiote fought to throw him off. It was adapting, just like Venom had—growing stronger with every strike.

"We need to end this now!" Peter shouted, his chest heaving with exertion.

Harry nodded, pulling out a secondary weapon from his belt—a specialized energy weapon that looked like a modified version of the Pulse Gun from Oscorp's arsenal. "I've been working on this for weeks. It's got enough juice to fry the symbiote's neural network."

Peter's eyes widened. "Are you sure it'll work?"

Harry didn't hesitate. "If I fire it at the core, it should disrupt the symbiote's control over the host. We'll need to time it just right."

Peter turned back to Erebus, who was now thrashing against the walls of the lab, trying to reassemble itself after their last barrage. The creature's eyes burned with malice, and Peter knew that time was running out.

"We can't wait much longer," Peter said. "I'll distract it. You take the shot."

Harry nodded, tightening his grip on the energy weapon. "Ready when you are."

Peter surged forward, flipping through the air to land behind Erebus. He fired a webbing blast directly at the creature's face, blinding it temporarily. Erebus screeched and swung wildly, its tendrils whizzing past Peter's head as he ducked and dodged.

"Now, Harry!" Peter yelled.

Harry didn't hesitate. He took a deep breath, aimed the energy weapon at Erebus's core, and fired.

The blast hit its target dead center, and the resulting explosion of light and energy sent shockwaves through the lab. Erebus roared in agony, the black tendrils convulsing and snapping in all directions. For a brief moment, Peter thought they had done it—until Erebus's form began to shift again, darker, more dangerous, and more chaotic than before.

"No… it's too strong!" Peter realized with a sinking feeling.

The symbiote wasn't just struggling—it was evolving. Erebus was adapting to the pulse gun's energy, becoming something more than they had anticipated.

"We need to finish this now," Peter said, urgency in his voice. But it was clear to both of them that this battle was far from over. The creature was changing, and Peter had no idea what it would become.

As Erebus began to regrow and transform again, Peter's mind raced. Oscorp's experiments had created something far beyond his understanding, and now, for the first time in his career as Spider-Man, he realized that what they had unleashed was a force of nature—something that couldn't just be stopped with brute force.

It had to be outsmarted. It had to be outmaneuvered.

"Let's finish this," Peter said, determination burning in his eyes.

End of Chapter 83