Chapter 14

Boom!

Blazing flames lit up the night as the explosion roared, sending a massive fireball rising into the sky. Russell stood on a tree branch, watching as the combined power of two reactors unleashed far more devastation than a single one could. The shock wave surged outward, shaking the forest violently.

Russell stared, counting the seconds, waiting for the aftermath.

One second... Two seconds...

As the fireball dimmed, a voice echoed in his mind, as if from the heavens:

[Plunder entry complete!]

[Living Venom fragment detected. Chaotic will detected... Erasing...]

The voice continued: [Venom Suit (Mutation): Can extend and deform at will, enhancing the wearer's strength and speed. Immunity to flames and sonic waves.]

Russell was taken aback. So Venom's weaknesses were tied to its will, not its form.

Then came another notification:

[Armor Master (Purple): Tony Stark's expertise in armor crafting and technology.]

With all plunders complete, Russell smirked. Loading, he thought.

In a flash, new knowledge and power filled him. He jumped from the tree, dark liquid spreading over his body, forming a suit with red and gold patterns. He sprinted toward the river, his mind set on finishing the job. Venom was dead. Iron Man, too. Spider-Man wouldn't last much longer.

Cough, cough!

Peter Parker crawled from the edge of a smoking pit, gasping for air. He glanced back and saw Iron Man's body lying motionless, encased in glowing red armor that reeked of burnt metal. The suit had protected Tony from the impact, but not the heat—he hadn't survived.

Peter's heart raced. Only by commanding Venom to shield him in the final moment had he survived, but he wasn't unscathed. His internal organs were bruised, small fractures riddled his bones, and the Venom suit was gone. A chill breeze brushed against his skin, making him shiver.

Was he always this sensitive without Venom? he wondered—until his spider-sense flared.

In an instant, he rolled to the side as a massive flaming sword slammed down from above, shaking the ground and sending dirt flying. Peter looked up, furious, and locked eyes with Russell, who stood on the riverbank, dressed in his new black and gold suit.

"You killed Mordo... and set the reactor bomb?" Peter's face twisted with rage.

Russell shook his head. "You're missing the first one, Parker. Steve Rogers was the first to die," he said, flashing a cold grin.

Peter's face drained of color. The realization hit him like ice water—Russell had taken out his team, one by one, with precision. And now, he was the final target.

Peter growled, "You think I'll just let you win?"

Russell's eyes narrowed. "Go ahead and try."

Peter's gaze sharpened, waiting for the right moment. He spotted Russell's split-second distraction and seized it, launching himself sideways and firing a web at a nearby boulder. Swinging toward Russell like a cannonball, he aimed to catch him off-guard.

But Russell was ready.

He traced glowing golden lines in the air, forming a shield that Peter's attack slammed into with a loud crack. The boulder shattered, but the shield held firm. Russell sighed, impressed by his own resilience.

Peter, however, wasn't giving up. He saw Russell's small grin and grimaced, summoning all his strength. He flexed his muscles, pulling hard on the energy whip Russell had conjured. Russell felt the force and was pulled forward, as if hooked.

Perfect, Peter thought, bracing to punch Russell with all his might as the mage closed in.

But just as Russell neared, he smirked, reaching out with his other hand to summon a sword engulfed in flames. Peter's spider-sense blared in his mind, but it was too late to dodge. Instinctively, he raised his arm to block, even as he tried to pull back.

Swish!

They crossed paths. In a single stroke, the Holy Flame Sword drew a golden line through the darkness.

Russell landed lightly on his feet, taking a step forward and turning with calm precision.

Behind him, Spider-Man knelt on the ground, trembling, his right arm severed at the root, lying limp in the mud.

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