Chapter 203: Gathering of Heroes (Part 2)_2

"For instance, the moment we parasitize a host's body, we need to analyze all their physical data, then devise a parasitic plan based on these findings. Our top priority, in the meantime, is to ensure the host's safety. That's why I stopped you from jumping off the building earlier."

Phantom's voice sounded helpless as she said, "When I first arrived on Earth, I had parasitized a few standard humans, so I understand humans' physical capabilities as well as what we can sustain when united."

"According to your growth rate, you cannot be considered an average adult human. You're merely a cub."

"Also, I'm not a symbiote that enhances strength. Even with us together, jumping from a thirty-story building could lead to injuries, which is why I wanted to prevent you."

"Well, couldn't you check my memories? You should've seen me swinging around skyscrapers."

"That's also against the rules of a cosmic special agent. Unless consented by the host, we can only access superficial memories."

"This is because the majority of intelligent races are extremely averse to their memories being pried into. Hence, for a harmonious symbiotic relationship, we wouldn't pry into the host's memories."

"You guys are pretty polite then, but Venom..."

Peter paused and continued, "he's always leading me into trouble. I assumed all symbiotes were like him."

"That's because he's a special case," said the female symbiote, her voice carrying a peculiar intonation. "Venom was born during the war that erupted after the cosmic special agents split up. He was born in one of the zones taken over by the riot."

"Most of the symbiotes who followed the riot were both chaotic and evil, which led to Venom developing a lack of discipline."

"Their rivalry also traces back to those times."

"The riot was the boss during those times, and since it was wartime, the riot wished for symbiotes who could actually confront these cosmic special agents. But Venom was born weak and incapable of combat, so he received little food and was often bullied."

Peter glanced at the two creatures fighting and said, "It seems the tables have turned."

"That's because Venom is insane, and I don't mean it as an insult, it's simply a fact." Phantom sounded rather troubled.

"Maybe it's because of his traumatic childhood or maybe he was just born deranged, but Venom is a symbiote gone mad."

"Typically, the symbiotes are influenced by their host but this influence is limited, as we too possess intelligence. We have the choice to selectively absorb part of the host's traits to enhance ourselves."

"The more hosts a symbiote has resided in, the stronger its control becomes, just like the leaders of the cosmic special agents."

"Venom, however, is different. He doesn't discriminate against the host's traits and haphazardly inscribes them into his genes."

"His first host was a maniac dressed in red and black. The parasite inside him just made Venom even crazier."

"They caused so much trouble in the cosmos. The most infamous incident was when he visited the Star Port in Andromeda and insulted a group of dwarfs."

"The dwarfs recognized the host's parasite and blamed it all on the cosmic special agents, causing us a lot of trouble."

"Also, Venom is incredibly gifted."

"As a parasitic species, symbiotes influence over the host is limited, especially in the case of resolute intelligent races, who can ignore all effects using sheer will."

"However, Venom's erosion of the host is boundless. He can entirely alter the host's behavior, even without the host realizing it."

"That's why all symbiotes of order know to stay clear of Venom and the hosts he has resided in. This is why I didn't want to parasitize you at first."

"But I don't feel myself being crazy though?"

"I find it strange too," Phantom's voice was filled with confusion. "When you wanted to jump down from such a tall building earlier, I thought you were crazy. But since you have extraordinary abilities, it means you're thinking straight and weren't influenced by Venom. Could it be that Venom has actually turned good?"

Peter continued, "So, why did you come to Earth then?"

"That... it begins with Nal. Not long ago, the cosmic special agents found that Nal was creating a new symbiote."

"During the time he was locked up, there hadn't been much activity. But when he suddenly started to create offspring, we suspected he was planning an escape."

"Aside from the cosmic special agents, the riot and his rebels also found out about this. They eagerly awaited the birth of the newcomer, hoping this newborn symbiote could reclaim their creator and lead them to invade the cosmos."

"Both of us were on edge, keeping a close eye on our home planet, Klinta, waiting for the unique symbiote to be born."

"However, on the day we expected it to be born, it vanished."

"Vanished?"

"Yes, it vanished. The unique symbiote that was supposed to be born disappeared all of the sudden."

"Both the cosmic special agents and the rebels were puzzled. But as it turned out, it was a boon for us, as once the unique symbiote was born, a war to extradite Nal would likely begin."

"We assumed there was a glitch in the process of Nal creating the symbiote, only to find out that the riot, a close servant of Nal, had received Nal's orders to retrieve the newborn symbiote."

"Which meant that the symbiote was stolen, and the riot was commanded to retrieve it."

"Once the riot received the orders, he headed straight for the Nine Major Kingdoms. And the cosmic special agents had to stop him, we couldn't allow Nal a chance to escape."

"The riot could disregard the rules and infiltrate directly, but the cosmic special agents couldn't. We sent some people to inform Asgard first and got permission from Divine King Odin, and then I reached Midgard of the Nine Major Kingdoms through the Asgard pathway."

"So how did you end up getting caught?"

"The riot arrived here before me and found a human to work with, which is currently his host. He felt the cosmic special agents were trailing him, so he set up a trap."

Phantom sounded somewhat angry as she continued, "He used to be one of us, and we've fought together for a long time, so he knows everyone's vulnerabilities."

"They designed a trap targeting my host, who was just an ordinary human. To keep him safe, I had no choice but to leave him."

"A symbiote without a host struggles to move freely, got caught by the riot, and was locked up."