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After two days of hard travel, Venom and Saeko Busujima finally reached the forest at the mouth of a valley. From the outside, the place didn't look any different from an ordinary canyon—nothing about it suggested a "super dangerous species" was hiding inside.
But Venom could feel it. Deep in the valley, something enormous was lurking. Its presence was stronger than anything he had ever sensed before.
"Venom, I can feel it too. There's something in there… and it feels dangerous."
Standing at his side, Saeko stared at the deceptively calm valley. Her instincts screamed that it was hiding something.
"You stay here. I'll go check it out," Venom said, his tone heavy. This might be the most dangerous enemy he had ever faced.
"I want to go with you."
Her voice held worry. She didn't like the idea of him going in alone.
"No."
The refusal was immediate.
"Why not?" she pressed, confused.
"The terror of a super dangerous species isn't as simple as you think," Venom said, his face grim. "If a fight breaks out, I won't have the time—or the ability—to protect you. And if I slip up and hit you by mistake, that's it. Game over."
Saeko hesitated, then nodded, understanding. She didn't want to be a burden.
"Don't worry," Venom added, trying to reassure her. "Even if I can't beat it, I can always melt into the shadows."
With that, he sprinted toward the valley. Saeko watched his back disappear into the trees and clasped her hands together, silently praying he'd come back alive.
Using his camouflage mode, Venom slipped quietly into the valley. The disguise was flawless—no one should be able to detect him. Step by step, he advanced deeper. Then he froze.
From somewhere ahead came the sound of… snoring?
"Don't tell me the super dangerous species is… taking a nap?"
Following the sound, he soon reached the center of the valley—and what he saw stopped him cold.
Sprawled across the ground like a living mountain was a Zinogre, its massive body radiating power. The earth around it was scorched black by lightning strikes. Its body was armored in thick, jagged plates, tufts of white fur pushing out between the gaps. Its head was unmistakably lupine, wolfish fangs bared even in sleep.
Arcs of electricity danced across its body, making the air itself hum with power.
"Strong… incredibly strong…"
Venom could hardly find words. Just standing nearby was enough to feel how overwhelming this creature was. But fighting wasn't his goal. He only needed a sample of its blood.
Moving carefully under the cover of camouflage, he crept closer.
But the Zinogre's eyes snapped open. Beast-like pupils locked straight onto him.
Venom froze. Impossible. His disguise was flawless. How did it see through him?
The Zinogre rose slowly, muscles coiled, lightning sparking louder around its body.
Inside Venom's head, his spider-sense screamed louder than ever before—warning him with a force that made his whole body shiver. He dove aside just as a bolt of lightning obliterated the spot where he'd been standing.
The ground exploded into a smoking crater, stone glowing red-hot.
Venom canceled his camouflage and looked back, exhaling in relief. One second slower and he'd have been vaporized.
"Rrrraaaghhh!"
The Zinogre's roar split the valley, shaking the earth. Its fury at the intruder was obvious.
There was no hiding now.
Venom flexed his hands and extended razor-sharp blades from his arms, charging head-on.
The Zinogre bellowed and fired another lightning strike. Venom twisted aside, but the bolt grazed his chest.
The pain was instant and unbearable. Lightning heat was no joke, and his symbiote's weakness to high temperatures only made it worse. Flesh melted into black liquid where it struck.
But Venom forced himself forward, closing the gap, and slashed down with his blades.
Clang!
The strike bounced off the monster's armor without leaving a mark. That armor was tougher than steel.
The Zinogre whipped its massive tail, forcing Venom to retreat in a hurry. He backpedaled, widening the distance between them.
Facing the beast again, he felt a stab of frustration. Its armor was insanely tough, and its attacks were perfectly suited to counter his weaknesses.
So this was a "super dangerous species." The legends weren't exaggerating.
Venom clenched his fists, pain still burning through his body. He knew this was going to be brutal. But even through the fear, his heart surged with excitement.
Finally—an enemy worth fighting.
"...."