"Gwen, do you think we can awaken abilities like this someday?"
Gwen rolled her eyes. "We're Spider-People, not shadow users."
Peter looked disappointed.
Half an hour later, members of the Shadow Legion returned one after another.
Because the mask of the Dust Spirit had also been upgraded to its highest level, the Ninja Corps, the most intelligent unit of the Shadow Legion, had now gained the ability to speak.
"Master, I've located the Symbiote. It's at a mercenary base to the east. They're conducting Symbiote separation experiments and have already produced six Symbiote samples."
"Take us there, Bumblebee!"
Luke called Gwen and Peter into the car. Guided by the Ninja Corps, they arrived at a hastily constructed research facility in less than ten minutes.
"Don't move! Hands behind your back! State your purpose! This is a restricted area. Unauthorized personnel are forbidden!"
Several armed mercenaries at the entrance raised their submachine guns, aiming cautiously at the strangely transformed Bumblebee.
Their vigilance was understandable. Anyone would feel uneasy at the sight of a Hellfire-covered war vehicle.
"Hey, guys, we just want to talk to your boss."
Peter Parker leaned out of the window, trying to negotiate peacefully.
Luke, however, remained expressionless. "Ram through them."
"Hey, wait!" Peter froze. "According to movies, shouldn't we at least try talking first?"
"Talking only works when the other side is still human."
Luke glanced at the 3D map filled with red markers.
Including the seemingly normal mercenaries in front of them, every single one had already been parasitized by Symbiotes.
Although the Symbiotes inside them were still developing, there was no doubt—they were no longer human.
If they wasted even half a minute negotiating, multiple new Symbiotes could be born, forming an even larger force.
Hearing this, the Hellfire-enhanced Bumblebee slammed the accelerator and charged forward.
Seeing this, the mercenaries triggered the alarm and opened fire.
Da da da—!!!!!!!
Bullets struck Bumblebee's body but caused no damage.
Hellfire had not only transformed Bumblebee's structure but also greatly enhanced its durability.
As Bumblebee crashed through the gate, blazing flames erupted from its rear, engulfing the mercenaries.
They frantically tore off their equipment, only to realize the Hellfire was already consuming their flesh.
In moments, they were reduced to white bones, then to ash.
Peter's face turned pale. It was the first time he had witnessed death, especially such a brutal one.
Burned alive.
"Guys… we didn't have to go that far, did we?"
He wasn't ready to kill.
Or rather, he had never imagined he would.
Gwen looked at him expressionlessly. "Peter, maybe you have a no-kill rule. I won't force you to change that. But there's one thing you need to understand."
"This isn't a game. This is a war for survival."
Gwen had once been like Peter, subduing enemies so they could face legal consequences.
But after the Symbiote army appeared, she realized something—
The foundation of not killing is humanity.
Once a person is parasitized by a Symbiote, they are no longer human, but flesh-eating monsters.
"..."
Peter was still in a daze.
More mercenaries responded to the alarm and rushed toward them.
Gwen looked at Luke, blinking as if asking for confirmation.
Luke nodded. "They've all been parasitized by Symbiotes. Do what you have to do."
"Oh, and use this."
Hellfire flickered from Luke's fingertip as he lightly touched Gwen's right hand.
Under Gwen's astonished gaze, the Hellfire spread across her entire body, yet caused her no harm.
Luke continued, "Symbiotes can reproduce on their own. They can continuously split off offspring that become independent individuals once they find new hosts."
"Generally speaking, the offspring have a chance of being stronger than the previous generation, and they may develop different abilities depending on their host."
"They also operate with a hive mentality. In simple terms, all Symbiotes can share a unified consciousness and exchange information."
"In addition, they possess exceptional learning ability, along with replication and inheritance capabilities."
"Do not let even a fragment of their tissue touch you, or they may copy your genetic traits and abilities, allowing them to mass-produce stronger variants."
"As for their weaknesses, you should already know—high temperature and sound."
"You'll be safe as long as the Hellfire remains, but there's one thing you must keep in mind. You have to eliminate them at the source."
"Because in theory, their offspring have a small chance of developing resistance to heat and sound. The probability is low, but we can't ignore it."
Gwen nodded firmly, smiling brightly. "Got it. Thank you!"
With that, she pushed open the car door. Webs shot out from her wrist, tough and elastic, now wrapped in Hellfire.
She didn't have time to wonder why the Hellfire didn't burn through her webs.
As the webs bound the mercenaries, the Hellfire flared violently, as if fed with fuel.
Perhaps influenced by the hive mind and having learned from earlier, the Symbiotes immediately abandoned their hosts and crawled out.
Their bodies were sticky, gelatinous masses about the size of eggs. Compared to fully developed Symbiotes, they were clearly still in their early stages.
They lacked the ability to differentiate and transform like mature Symbiotes, but they still posed a serious threat to ordinary people.
Once they found a host, they could quietly grow into a complete form within a few days.
Gwen remembered Luke's warning. Seeing the Symbiotes trying to escape, she flicked her fingers, releasing streams of Hellfire that burned them to nothing.
Luke nodded to himself, then turned to Peter Parker. A small flame of Hellfire also appeared at his fingertip.
"Do you need it?"
Peter pulled his gaze away from Gwen. Thinking about being engulfed in flames, he shook his head repeatedly.
"No, no. I'll use something else."
Peter looked around as the Hellfire-enhanced Bumblebee produced two steel pipes from somewhere.
"Use these."
"Thanks!"
Peter took a deep breath, gripping the pipes tightly before stepping out of the car.
"Peter, remember one thing. Symbiotes don't feel pain."
"Be decisive when you strike."
Peter waved the steel pipes to show he understood.
Luke shook his head slightly, choosing to respect his decision and no longer offering help.
Even if Peter ended up becoming only a second-rate hero, that would be his own choice.
Showing too much mercy to enemies was unacceptable.
"Boss, what do we do next?"
Bumblebee's eager voice came through.
Luke patted the steering wheel, opened the door, and stepped out with a smile.
"Do whatever you want. Just make it quick."
"Yes, Sir!"
As Luke stepped out of the vehicle, Bumblebee, eager to test its new body, quickly transformed into its Autobot form, becoming a nine-meter-tall demonic figure wreathed in red flames.
"Hahaha! I'm taller and stronger now!"
"You scum, taste the iron fist of justice!"
"Take this!!"
After being enhanced by Hellfire, Bumblebee's strength was now comparable to leader-class Transformers like Optimus Prime and Megatron.
Not only that, it had also gained the ability to deal with evil spirits.
It was no longer an ordinary Transformer, but one wreathed in flames.
Luke casually crushed a reckless mercenary, then walked toward the central building.
...
At this very moment,
inside the central building,
"Mr. Marco, what decision has Mr. Killian made? As long as our Life Foundation and your Vanguard Science join forces, we can conquer this world!"
Drake, the well-dressed founder of the Life Foundation, spoke to a scar-faced man across from him.
"The alien Symbiote suit… it's an interesting idea, but are you sure those aliens are controllable?"
Marco looked clearly tempted.
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