Chapter 252: Venom's Weakness
Even though Peter was struggling, he could still disrupt Venom from within, preventing the symbiote from utilizing their full combined strength. After all, the body was still Peter's, and the ultimate control rested with him. Venom knew he had to gain Peter's absolute trust.
"How about we leave first? We can come back after we've investigated things properly," Peter suggested internally.
"Why?! Peter, you still don't trust me!" Venom's voice hissed with anger. He was furious that Peter was resisting, even though he knew he was the one lying.
Peter addressed the symbiote directly: "If you aren't afraid of your lies being exposed, then there's no need to rush this."
"...But we symbiotes can switch hosts. Who knows where Riot will hide next?" Venom argued. He couldn't let Peter know the truth, or Peter would reject him completely.
Peter didn't say anything more. He focused on reclaiming control of his limbs.
"No! You can't do this!" Venom suddenly knelt on the ground in agony. His black form began to liquefy, and the human underneath looked as though he were about to burst through the surface.
"Heh... Hahaha!" Riot watched with amusement. He could see Spider-Man was fighting back.
"Argh!" Peter tore at the black substance. Just as he was about to reveal his true face, the Shadow Kingdom opened beneath his feet, swallowing him whole.
"A shame. I almost saw who was under the mask," Riot muttered, retracting into Carlton Drake's body as the man regained control.
Drake adjusted his tie, suddenly feeling a wave of hunger and weakness wash over him.
"Drake, get some people in here immediately. I need to feast," Riot's voice echoed in Drake's mind. He was starving—hungry enough to go insane. The battle with Venom had drained his energy, and he needed food to recover. He wondered if Spider-Man knew that their primary food source was humans.
According to Drake's intel, Spider-Man had never killed a criminal. He seemed to be a man of strict principles.
"I'm looking forward to you more and more, Venom..." Drake chuckled.
The Shadow Kingdom
Once inside the strange, dark dimension, Venom chose to compromise, shrinking back into Peter's body.
"Is this the Shadow Kingdom?" Peter asked, looking at the familiar but eerie surroundings.
"It is," Silas said, stepping forward. He had stopped watching the show and pulled Peter out of the lab just in time.
"Thanks," Peter breathed. He then whispered, "I think something is wrong with Venom."
"I can hear you," Venom interjected.
"..." Peter fell silent.
Silas turned to his Shadow Ninja assistant. "Display the data on the screen."
"Yes, Master." The ninja pulled up the files stolen from the Life Foundation.
Peter looked up at the massive screen. It detailed the symbiotes' biology, and one sentence stood out in bold: Symbiotes are vulnerable to high-frequency sound waves and intense heat.
"Venom, is this true?" Peter's resolve wavered. He was seriously considering removing the symbiote, especially after Venom had forcibly taken control of his body.
"Yes, it's true. Do you want to cast me out?" Venom asked quietly.
"I don't know yet. But your behavior just now... it really disappointed me," Peter said, sitting down on a nearby platform.
"I'm sorry, Peter. I'll ask for permission next time," Venom said apologetically. He couldn't afford to lose Peter.
Peter remained silent, not offering an answer. Silas waved his hand, sending Peter back to their tent on the roadside.
"Don't overthink it for now, Peter. Goodnight," Silas said, lying back on his sleeping bag. He immediately used the Astral Projection of the Sheep Talisman to head back to the Shadow Kingdom to study with his ninjas.
For Peter, it was a sleepless night. The realization that Venom could override his will was terrifying.
Venom wasn't faring much better. He could tell Peter wanted to abandon him, but if he left Peter, he wouldn't survive long. Finding a compatible host required immense luck; not everyone's physiology could sustain a symbiote. This was especially true for a "weak" symbiote like Venom.
Unlike the powerful Riot, who could jump between temporary hosts easily while searching for a perfect match, Venom needed a "key" that fit his specific "lock."
"So hungry..." Venom felt the gnawing pain of starvation. He craved meat, but Peter would never allow him to hunt. He knew that if Peter found out he needed to eat people, he would be kicked out for good.
"I can't... I can't go on like this. I have to eat something." Venom decided that the next time Peter went out, he would risk being discovered just to get a meal. Better to be a full ghost than a starving one—that was Venom's principle.
Morning
"Ah... another day." Silas woke up, appreciating the Goat Talisman once again. It was the ultimate cure for insomnia; even if your mind was busy all night in the Shadow Kingdom, your body got perfect rest.
"Morning, Silas," Peter said. He had massive dark circles under his eyes. He had spent the entire night agonizing over the Venom situation. Similarly, Venom had spent the night worrying about being evicted.
"You look like you didn't sleep a wink," Silas noted.
"Ugh... yeah." Peter let out a long yawn. He wanted to collapse and sleep, but at least he could nap in the car today.
Since Peter was a mess, the task of packing up the tent fell to Silas.
"Shadow Legion, come out," Silas whispered while Ben and May were still asleep.
If a task could be handled by his ninjas, Silas refused to lift a finger. They were the ultimate domestic staff; in less than fifteen minutes, the entire campsite was spotless and packed away.
"Master, breakfast is served." A ninja stepped forward, holding a plate. It was much better than just toast and cereal—it was a scallion pancake wrap that the ninjas had prepared themselves.
"Silas, that looks delicious," Peter said, crouching nearby as he brushed his teeth. He looked at his own "Spider Squad" of ninjas, who seemed a lot less domestic than Silas's.
Silas chuckled and handed a wrap to Peter. "Want one? Try it out, see if you like the taste."
Peter quickly rinsed his mouth and took a big bite. "Mmm! Silas, this is amazing!"
"Of course it is. My Shadow Legion has skills." Silas took a sip of juice provided by another ninja. The humanoid ninjas were the best—they anticipated his every need.
"Eat up quickly. We won't be able to explain this once Uncle Ben and Aunt May wake up," Silas warned.
Peter began to wolf down the food. A ninja handed Silas another wrap—this one wasn't homemade; they had gone around the world to buy it fresh.
"Oh, Venom..." Silas looked at Peter, but his eyes were really on the symbiote hiding within.
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