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Chapter: The Worst 1st Host

The golden arm, strong as steel, effortlessly pierced into the wall, halting Eddie's fall abruptly, leaving him suspended more than ten meters above the ground.

He swiftly turned and leaped, landing firmly on the ground.

"Get him!" Shouted the Life Foundation personnel, as more guards converged from all directions.

"Maria is still inside," a voice echoed within Eddie, as if something had infused him with extraordinary power.

"She's dead. Not everyone's body can adapt to symbiosis," the gruff voice interjected.

"But..." Eddie attempted to speak.

"Stop babbling. Get out of here," Eddie lost control again and bolted away.

Despite a circle of barbed wire fencing the building, it posed no hindrance. Eddie tore through it as easily as paper, striding into the nearby woods, attempting to shake off the increasing number of pursuers.

Gasping heavily, Eddie muttered, "Who are you?"

"My name is Eddie. Eddie is also my name. We share that coincidence," Venom replied. "It's quite a common name."

"No, it's not just the name. Your body is a perfect match for me. I can survive in your body for a long time without harming you, which is rare," Venom explained.

Eddie recalled Dora's words: "You're the symbiote, the alien?"

"I'm one of them. There are others like me on Earth," Venom clarified.

"Including a guy named Riot, a ruthless warmonger. He plans to lead his followers in an invasion. If you want to prevent Earth's doom, you need to help me find him," Venom urged.

Eddie's face twisted in disbelief, "You want me to save the Earth?"

"Almost. Are you up for it?" Venom asked. "Excited?"

"Are you kidding me?" Eddie scoffed. "I can't even save myself, let alone the world. That's Avengers-level stuff. I'm just a reporter!"

"It's not that difficult, at least for now," Venom reassured. "You're a good match for me. Riot won't find a better host easily."

"Three to seven odds if we team up against Riot," Eddie blurted out.

"Why do you give us only a 30% chance?" Venom queried.

"Thirty percent chance for Riot," Venom corrected. "We're at seventy percent, conservatively."

"I don't believe it," Eddie retorted.

"You know nothing about power. I'm the only Light-Cast Symbiote on Klyntar. There are few symbiotes stronger than me in the entire universe, and none brighter," Venom asserted proudly. "One of my former hosts was even a god!"

"I'm an atheist," Eddie quipped.

Venom paused, clearly irked.

Before Venom could continue, several cars sped towards them from all directions, followed closely by more vehicles.

A dozen cars surrounded them, armed guards aiming dozens of guns at Eddie and Venom.

Panic-stricken, Eddie instinctively raised his hands in a French military salute.

"What are you doing?" Venom demanded, forcing Eddie's hands down.

"We're surrounded!" Eddie stammered, almost saluting again.

Venom restrained Eddie, admonishing, "You're the worst host I've ever had!"

Seizing complete control, Venom's golden symbiote enveloped Eddie from head to toe.

Eddie's body expanded, heightening to over two meters. Exaggerated muscle lines rippled across his body, brimming with explosive power.

His eyes glowed like two light bulbs, akin to Ultraman's.

"Behold the power bestowed upon me by the Sun God!" Venom proclaimed, facing the surrounding enemies. "For the Holy Light!"

---

A narrow road cut through the wild, where two motorcycles raced at deadly speeds, their riders still finding time to converse.

"...If I help you find that child, can you truly lift my curse?" Johnny Blaze glanced at the black-robed priest beside him.

"Absolutely," Father Moru affirmed. "But you must weigh the cost. The Ghost Rider's curse brings suffering, yet it grants immense power."

"After the curse is lifted, you'll return to being a regular person. No more dangerous stunts," Johnny replied calmly. "I've thought it over. I want a normal life."

Moru nodded silently.

They continued speeding down the highway, covering dozens of kilometers in no time.

"It seems we've found a good partnership," Moru remarked with a smile.

Johnny, half-dozing, perked up at Moru's words. Glancing ahead, he spotted another motorcycle racing faster than them.

As a seasoned rider, Johnny instinctively revved his engine without a word, leaving Moru behind as he chased the speeding bike ahead.

Moru accelerated slightly to keep up.

Unexpectedly, after a minute of pursuit, the front motorcycle abruptly slowed and halted.

A stout man with spiky hair emerged from the bike, turning to face them.

Moru frowned, about to speak.

"Ah—!" Suddenly, Johnny emitted a long, piercing whistle. Uncontrolled hellfire burst from his body, engulfing him and his motorcycle.

"Johnny!" Moru's expression turned grave.

In the aftermath, Johnny ceased to be human. Flames danced atop his skull, transforming him into the Ghost Rider.

His motorcycle blazed like a furnace, revealing skeletal patterns amid the fiery orange-red.

The Ghost Rider, emanating an aura of infernal judgment, sped towards the man blocking their path.

"You face your doom!" Johnny roared, chains whipping through the air as he aimed to obliterate his opponent.

Undaunted, the man produced two crescent-shaped golden blades from nowhere, one in each hand, and retorted defiantly:

"Your end awaits!"