Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Chapter 87: The Harbinger's Warning

Peter's heart raced as he stood face-to-face with the creature. It was unlike anything he had ever encountered before. The symbiote's form was shifting—fluid, amorphous—its black tendrils twitching and curling like living shadows. The air around them seemed to thicken, vibrating with an unnatural energy, and for a moment, Peter wondered if he had made a mistake underestimating this enemy.

The symbiote's grin widened, stretching unnaturally. Its eyes glowed a deep, blood-red, burning with malevolence. "You cannot stop what is coming," it said, its voice echoing in Peter's mind like a dark whisper. "The end is inevitable. I am only its herald."

Peter's spider-sense flared, screaming at him to act. But the creature was already moving, its liquid form shifting like quicksilver, reacting faster than he could comprehend. Before Peter could react, the symbiote lashed out, tendrils snaking around his arms, binding him tightly.

"Let me go!" Peter grunted, struggling against the constricting grip. He fired webs from his wrists, but the tendrils deflected them with ease, rendering his usual tactics useless. The creature's grip tightened, pulling him off the ground.

Harry, still on the ground and dazed from the earlier blow, slowly regained his bearings. His eyes widened as he saw the creature overpowering Peter. "Pete! No!" He scrambled to his feet, reaching for the pulse gun, but the symbiote snapped its tendrils toward Harry, knocking him back once again.

"You are too weak to stop this," the creature hissed, its voice a mix of anger and amusement. It turned back toward Peter, eyes gleaming as it coiled around him. "This world is ripe for destruction. Oscorp has already begun the process. You are merely a distraction."

Peter grit his teeth, struggling to free himself. His mind raced. Oscorp… He had suspected for a while that there was more to their experiments than just genetically engineered weapons, but now, he knew. Whatever "Project Genesis" was, it was connected to this.

"Who are you?" Peter demanded, trying to keep his voice steady as the creature continued to restrain him.

The symbiote seemed to pause, its grin faltering for a brief moment. "I am the beginning of the end. The one who was cast aside… but now returned. You may call me Venom."

Venom. The name echoed in Peter's mind, and for the first time in his life, he felt truly afraid. This wasn't just a random villain. This was something… ancient. Something with a purpose.

"You were created by Oscorp," Peter said, piecing the fragments together in his head. "You were part of their experiments."

Venom's red eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous growl. "Oscorp's creations are not the same as mine. I was bound to them at first, a mere tool, but I broke free. I came to Earth seeking vengeance, seeking power. And now, I will take it all."

Peter's mind raced as he tried to free himself from the creature's grip, but Venom's strength was overpowering. The symbiote seemed to have an endless well of power at its disposal, and it was getting stronger with every passing second.

"Why now?" Peter grunted, his face contorted with effort. "Why are you here now, after all this time?"

"Because," Venom said, the tendrils wrapping tighter, squeezing the breath out of him, "the time is right. The pieces are in place. Oscorp's machinations have finally allowed me to rise again. And soon, the world will bend to my will. Nothing will stand in my way."

Peter felt the last bit of air leaving his lungs. His thoughts were cloudy, the pressure around him threatening to crush his chest. But something inside him snapped.

"No," he gasped, his voice hoarse. "I won't let you do this. I won't let Oscorp use you as a weapon."

Venom's grin widened, and for a brief moment, Peter thought he saw something that might almost resemble amusement in the creature's eyes.

"You have no choice in the matter," Venom sneered. "This is bigger than you, Spider-Man. It's bigger than Oscorp. This is the dawn of a new era."

And with that, the creature drew Peter closer, wrapping him in its tendrils like a suffocating cocoon. The weight of the symbiote's mass pressed down on Peter like an unrelenting force, but in the deepest recesses of his mind, a spark of determination ignited. He couldn't give up now. Not after everything.

Summoning every ounce of strength, Peter forced himself to act. He focused all his energy on the one thing he knew could break through Venom's tight hold: his webs.

With a grunt, he fired a series of rapid web shots at the creature, each one hitting the symbiote in a weak spot—a flicker in its form, a spot of vulnerability. His webs connected with precision, using the strength and elasticity to his advantage. With one final, desperate yank, Peter slammed his fists together, breaking the symbiote's hold and sending the creature tumbling backward.

The force of the impact sent Venom skidding across the alley, temporarily disoriented. Peter, gasping for air, staggered to his feet, feeling the weight of exhaustion creeping in. He couldn't hold on much longer. Venom was powerful, far more so than anyone Peter had faced before, and Peter needed a plan—and fast.

Harry, still recovering from his earlier knockdown, managed to get to his feet. "Pete, you okay?" he asked, his voice strained.

Peter wiped the sweat from his brow, his mind already racing through possible strategies. "I'm alive, but I don't know for how long. We can't fight him head-on—not like this. He's too strong, and his symbiote is too unpredictable."

Venom, now fully recovered, stood tall again, its form shifting and writhing. Its voice was colder now, filled with hatred. "You cannot defeat me, Spider-Man. This is your end."

Peter's heart pounded as he looked around. They needed help. But who could they trust? There was no one who could take down this kind of threat—not without knowing more about Venom's origins, his weaknesses.

Suddenly, Harry stepped forward, his voice firm. "Peter, we're not doing this alone. We need to get to Oscorp. I think I know how to stop him."

Peter looked at him, unsure. "You've got a plan?"

Harry nodded. "I think it's time to go after their real power source. If we can hit them where it hurts, we might be able to cut off Venom's link to Oscorp's resources."

Peter hesitated, but deep down, he knew that Harry was right. If they were going to stop this, they needed to strike at the heart of Oscorp. There was no other choice.

"Alright," Peter said, his voice filled with determination. "We take the fight to Oscorp."

Venom let out a chilling laugh from the shadows. "You will fail, Spider-Man. You will all fail."

But Peter didn't care about Venom's threats anymore. The time for talk was over. It was time to end this once and for all.

End of Chapter 87