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In front of a quiet valley, the ground shook violently as Venom, riding atop his Tyrannosaurus clone, rushed forward and finally stopped at the valley entrance.
He stared at the calm landscape, remembering how badly things went the last time he was here. This time, he swore, he'd pay it back in full.
"Let's go."
The T-Rex clone snorted a heavy blast of air from its nostrils and marched into the valley.
Venom wasn't planning to sneak around like before—last time, Zinogre sniffed him out with ease.
The electromagnetic field inside the valley was way stronger than the surroundings. Anyone stepping in would disrupt its frequency, and a beast that commanded lightning itself could feel that disturbance instantly.
Better to charge in openly than skulk around pointlessly.
Venom and his mount strode into the valley and soon arrived at the place where they had clashed before.
From the massive cave, Zinogre slowly emerged, its body crackling with lightning. The beast's whole frame radiated fury at the intruder.
It stopped in front of Venom, bared its razor teeth, and let out a rumbling growl.
Venom swung down from the T-Rex clone, rolled his shoulders, and stretched like he was warming up for a workout.
"Roooaaar!"
Zinogre unleashed its power, lightning surging over its body before blasting out in a massive bolt.
Venom didn't even try to dodge. The thunderbolt struck him head-on, sparks racing across his body.
The electricity washed through him, but instead of agony, he only felt… warmth. Last time, this would have fried him. Now? Nothing.
"Raaah!"
The T-Rex clone roared in fury and lunged forward.
"Rooaaar!"
Zinogre responded in kind, charging straight at it.
The two titans collided, slamming each other into the surrounding cliffs, claws and teeth tearing into stone as much as flesh.
Venom just stood to the side, arms crossed, watching like it was front-row entertainment.
Zinogre raked its claws across the clone's hide, leaving three bloody gouges and forcing it back.
With a roar, the T-Rex whipped around and slammed its heavy tail into Zinogre, sending the beast flying into a rock wall.
The thunder beast shook itself, then howled, its body bursting with lightning that lashed out and slammed into the T-Rex. Heat it could handle—but lightning was another story. The clone was blasted off its feet, crashing into stone before sliding to the ground.
As it tried to rise, Zinogre pounced, pinning it and sinking its teeth into the dinosaur's neck. Blood sprayed in a hot arc.
Venom finally stepped in. He strode forward and kicked Zinogre aside, then extended his arm toward the fallen clone.
The T-Rex clone dissolved into black liquid, peeling off its own body and flowing onto Venom's arm, reshaping itself into a sharp blade.
Venom stabbed it straight into the clone's already torn neck. With a final gush of blood, the beast collapsed for good.
Its neck had been nearly severed anyway. Better it contribute one last thing to Venom's strength.
"You've slain a colossal lifeform. +10,000 Life Points."
The system's voice echoed in his head, and Venom's lips curved into a faint smirk.
Another bolt of lightning struck him, hissing and spitting white smoke from his skin.
Venom glanced down at the scorch mark, then slowly raised his head toward the enraged Zinogre. Without hesitation, he started forward.
The beast roared and leapt at him.
They clashed, grappling in brutal close combat.
Zinogre's lightning barely fazed Venom now, while Venom's strikes struggled to pierce its armored hide—leaving little more than white scratches across its plating.
Zinogre lunged again. This time Venom slipped aside and slashed with his blade, sparks flying as steel scraped against armor. Only a faint scar remained.
The beast spun, coming again. Venom caught its claws in both hands, pivoted, and hurled it over his shoulder in a crushing throw.
Zinogre hit the ground hard, and for a split second its throat—the only place unarmored, just covered with fur—was exposed.
Venom's eyes lit up. A weak spot.
The beast quickly rolled, trying to hide its vulnerability, and blasted another surge of lightning.
Venom dodged, rushed in, clamped one arm around its head, and with the other—transformed into a blade—drove it straight into the throat.
The blade slid through unarmored flesh like paper. Hot blood erupted, steaming as it hit the cold air.
"SKREEEAAH!"
Zinogre howled in agony, gathering all its electricity and lashing out wildly in desperation.
Venom ignored the searing blasts hammering into him and shoved the blade deeper, forcing it further into the wound.
Blood gushed again, covering him from head to toe, but he held on tight, refusing to let go.
The beast thrashed, weaker and weaker, its cries fading to a broken whimper… then silence.
Venom finally yanked the blade free and released it. The thunder beast collapsed lifeless at his feet.
Without wasting time, Venom waved his hand and stored the corpse into his system's space, sealing in its freshness.
Zinogre's body—and blood—were precious resources. No way he'd let any of it go to waste.
Once that was done, the blood soaking his body seeped into him, absorbed completely.
He turned toward the dark cave Zinogre had emerged from. His senses tingled—something was in there.
Step by step, Venom walked into the cave, curiosity sparking.
What could be waiting inside?
"....."