Chapter 15

"The wallet is in my right pocket," Holm calmly said to the approaching robber.

The robber, gripping his gun with one hand, kept his eyes locked on Holm as he extended his left hand towards Holm's right pocket.

Just as his fingers were about to reach the pocket, Holm's hands shot out like iron clamps, seizing the robber's hand with a vice-like grip. In one swift motion, Holm twisted the robber's right arm, the one holding the gun, dislocating it. The gun fell limply from the robber's grasp, clattering onto the floor.

The agonizing pain caused the robber to let out a sharp scream, but Holm didn't give him a chance to recover. In a single, fluid motion, Holm lifted the robber off the ground, spun him through the air, and slammed him to the floor.

With a heavy thud, the room fell silent. The robber, who had been screaming moments ago, was now unconscious, his head lolling to the side.

The sudden turn of events left the cashier, who had been stuffing money into the robber's bag, completely frozen. His hand was still hovering over the cash register, paralyzed with shock.

"Call the police already! What are you standing there for?" Holm shouted at the dazed cashier.

At the same time, Holm reached behind him, grabbed a length of rope from a nearby shelf, and expertly tied the unconscious robber into a twisted, unnatural shape. The speed and efficiency of his movements didn't escape Gwen Stacy's notice, who stood by watching, her curiosity about Holm growing.

This was the second time Holm had swiftly subdued criminals before she could act. His sharp reflexes and precise movements, coupled with his excellent marksmanship, suggested that Holm wasn't who he said he was.

Initially, Gwen believed Holm's story about working for the DEA. But when he dropped her off the other night, she noticed that the ID Holm flashed at the driver was an FBI badge.

"Alright, when the police arrive, just hand him over," Holm said, stepping back from the tied-up robber. "Now, that'll be $32.50. Please."

As he walked back to the counter to pack up the two large boxes of items he'd purchased, Holm glanced at the cashier, who was still standing in a daze.

Holm had calculated the amount correctly when he handed the money to the cashier earlier, but he figured the man would take his time counting before giving back the change. Holm didn't press the issue, knowing he could wait. But now, after the recent commotion, he had no time to spare.

After Holm's polite but firm request, the cashier quickly counted out the $32.50 and handed it over without a word, not even charging Holm for the rope he'd used or the large bag for his purchases. As an experienced employee, the cashier knew better than to push the matter.

"Thanks," Holm muttered as he pocketed the change. He opened a bar of chocolate, tossed it into his mouth, then picked up the two hefty bags of goods and headed for the exit.

Well, technically, the chocolate didn't make it to Holm's stomach. Venom, who had been smelling the sweet aroma, couldn't hold back anymore. In a sneaky move, Venom claimed the chocolate without revealing itself, using Holm's hand as a decoy.

"Wait, I..." Gwen Stacy called after Holm, watching his retreating figure.

The bell above the door chimed as Holm pushed it open and stepped outside. Luckily, Holm seemed to have heard her call and turned to glance back, his face showing slight confusion.

Seeing this, Gwen quickly opened the door and stepped out. She lowered her gaze and said, "I just wanted to say thank you, for today and the other time."

Suddenly, a loud crash interrupted Gwen's words. The sewer cover nearby was wrenched from the ground with tremendous force, followed by a thunderous roar as a monstrous green lizard crawled out.

Unfortunately, Holm had been standing near the sewer entrance. Even worse, when the cover was flung aside, it struck Holm squarely in his chest, sending him flying backward.

The bags of snacks Holm had been carrying were hurled into the air, their contents scattering across the pavement.

Given the force of the impact, Holm would likely be seriously injured, if not killed, under normal circumstances.

Gwen's heart raced as she took in the shocking sight before her. The memory of the green lizard monster, the innocent people caught in the chaos, and the tragedies from a few days ago flashed through her mind. The fear and helplessness she felt back then had not yet subsided, and now, here it was again.

That man—he seemed like a good person, just like Peter. Why did such terrible things keep happening to people like him?

Lizard! The thought pierced Gwen's mind. Peter had mentioned him before, the one who lured Peter into becoming a lizard monster. He's behind this!

The fear in Gwen's blue eyes quickly gave way to anger. She scanned the area where Holm had been thrown but found that both he and the manhole cover had vanished.

The green lizard monster, meanwhile, had turned its attention to the nearby pedestrians, who were frantically trying to escape.

Gwen clenched her teeth, glaring at the creature as she dashed into a nearby alley.

Moments later, Spider-Woman emerged from the shadows, her black-and-white suit clinging to her body, showing off her lithe, athletic form. She gracefully leaped onto a nearby streetlight, poised like a dancer on stage.

Under her mask, Gwen's blue eyes blazed with fury as she locked onto the lizard monster below.

The lizard creature raised its head, snarling at Spider-Woman. But before it could let out another roar, a thick stream of spider silk shot from her wrist, straight into the beast's mouth, silencing it in an instant.

As she launched her attack, Spider-Woman leaped off the streetlamp, landing a powerful kick to the monster's head.

Crack!

The pavement beneath them splintered from the impact, but the creature's skull remained unharmed, though it was momentarily dazed.

Shaking off the blow, the monster's rage intensified. With a swift flick of its massive tail, it sent Spider-Woman flying backward. Then, with its sharp claws extended, the beast charged toward her once again.

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