Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Chapter 84: The Final Showdown

Erebus let out a primal scream, its form flickering and distorting with each passing second. Tendrils shot out in every direction, tearing through the lab, ripping apart anything in its path. The creature was growing stronger, feeding off the energy from the environment and the chaos it created. Peter could feel it—the air was thick with tension, and every moment spent in the creature's presence seemed to drain his strength.

Harry's pulse gun had made an impact, but it hadn't been enough. Erebus was evolving faster than they could react, the symbiote shifting and adapting with terrifying precision.

"We can't keep doing this," Peter muttered, his breath coming in quick gasps as he swung around the lab, dodging a barrage of black tendrils that lashed toward him. "He's only getting stronger."

Harry, still holding the energy weapon, gritted his teeth. "We need to find its weak point, Pete. That's the only way we're going to stop it."

Peter nodded, trying to stay focused. His mind was racing, but every plan he came up with felt inadequate. Erebus was no longer just a symbiote—it was something else, something more dangerous. Oscorp's experiments had pushed the limits of what was possible, and now, it was all coming crashing down.

The lab was a war zone, with broken glass, twisted metal, and malfunctioning equipment scattered everywhere. Erebus was a living nightmare, and Peter's heart pounded in his chest as he fought to keep up.

"I need a plan!" Peter yelled over the chaos, narrowly avoiding another strike from Erebus's tendrils. He fired a webbing blast at one of the lab's support beams, causing the structure to groan under the pressure. The beam snapped, sending debris falling in front of Erebus and momentarily blocking its path.

"Harry, distract it!" Peter shouted. "I need a second to think."

Harry wasted no time. He leaped forward, firing his pulse gun at Erebus, hitting the creature with another burst of energy. Erebus screeched, recoiling in pain, but it quickly recovered, its tendrils shooting out like whips, striking at Harry. He ducked and dodged, keeping Erebus's attention on him as Peter quickly formulated a new plan.

Think, Peter. What worked against Venom? What weakness did it have?

Peter's mind flashed back to his previous encounters with symbiotes. He remembered the one thing that had always been effective—separating the symbiote from its host. In the case of Venom, it had been the sonic sound waves that had weakened the bond. If he could separate Erebus from its host, he could take down the creature once and for all.

But there was no sonic weapon here, and no time to get one.

Wait…

Peter's eyes landed on a nearby generator, its hum filling the air as it powered the entire lab. He wasn't sure if it would work, but it was their best shot. If he could overload the generator, it might create an electrical surge that could disrupt Erebus's form. It wouldn't destroy the symbiote, but it could weaken it enough to give them a fighting chance.

"Harry, the generator!" Peter shouted, pointing to the large machine on the far side of the room.

Harry turned, understanding the plan immediately. "Got it. I'll keep him distracted."

Peter nodded, his heart racing as he sprinted toward the generator, his legs burning with each step. Erebus, sensing his movements, turned its glowing eyes on Peter, tendrils shooting toward him at lightning speed. Peter dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly appendages as they slammed into the ground, creating a shockwave that rattled the walls.

"Come on, come on," Peter muttered to himself as he reached the generator. The machine was massive, filled with wires and blinking lights. It was the heart of the lab, and if Peter could overload it, it might just give them the edge they needed.

Peter ripped off a panel, exposing the inner wiring. His fingers worked quickly, frantically disconnecting and reconnecting wires, trying to set off a chain reaction. The machine hummed louder, and Peter knew it wouldn't be long before Erebus realized what he was doing.

Behind him, Harry continued to fire his pulse gun, keeping Erebus at bay, but the creature was relentless. Tendrils whipped around Harry, each strike dangerously close. Peter's heart pounded in his chest as he finally found the right wire and yanked it free. A spark flew from the generator, and the lights in the lab flickered ominously.

"It's now or never," Peter whispered.

With one last burst of energy, Peter kicked the exposed wiring into place, sending a massive surge of electricity through the generator. The lab shook, and a high-pitched screech erupted from Erebus as the electrical current coursed through the symbiote's form.

Erebus writhed, its body convulsing violently as the electricity tore through its neural network. The creature let out a guttural scream, its form flickering and distorting, as though it were being torn apart from the inside. The tendrils flailed wildly, trying to find purchase, but the electrical surge was too powerful.

"Peter! Now!" Harry yelled, as Erebus staggered, its body unstable.

Peter didn't hesitate. He swung into action, firing webs at Erebus's core—the center of the symbiote's form. His webs stuck, and he quickly pulled the creature toward him, using all his strength to bring it down.

With one final, devastating punch, Peter struck Erebus directly in the center of its dark, liquid mass. The force of the blow, combined with the electrical surge, was enough to destabilize the symbiote entirely. Erebus screeched once more, its form splintering apart into a mass of tendrils that flailed wildly before finally collapsing into an inky, lifeless pile on the ground.

The lab fell silent.

Peter's body trembled with exhaustion, his heart racing as the danger finally seemed to pass. He looked over at Harry, who was also panting heavily, sweat dripping down his face.

"We did it," Harry said, a small smile breaking through his exhaustion.

Peter nodded, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. They had won this battle, but the war was far from over. Oscorp's experiments had gone much further than they had ever imagined, and if Erebus was any indication, there were far worse things lurking in the shadows.

"We've got to stop Oscorp," Peter said, his voice grim. "Before they can create something worse than this."

Harry gave a nod of agreement. "We will. But for now, let's get out of here."

As the two friends walked out of the wrecked lab, the weight of the battle hung heavy on their shoulders. They had fought and won, but the threat was far from over. And with Oscorp's reach expanding, there was no telling what other horrors awaited them.

End of Chapter 84