The Monster

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The air grew thick with tension as the creature—Harry, now merged with the symbiote—let out a thunderous, guttural roar, resonating through the hall. His new form was a nightmare made flesh, his muscular frame covered in shifting, inky blackness, streaked with slashes of white that formed a chaotic spider symbol on his chest. His eyes blazed, milky white and unblinking, a monstrous grin revealing jagged, dripping teeth as he crouched low, muscles coiled like a spring, ready to attack.

The Zeta Tubes whirred to life just in time for Zatanna, Miss Martian, Aqualad, Artemis, and Kid Flash to rush into the room. Wally skidded to a halt, eyes wide as he took in the creature. "Uh, what's going on here??"

Miss Martian's voice quivered with alarm. "Is that... is that what I think it is?"

Without hesitation, Artemis nocked an arrow and fired, her hands steady as steel. But the arrows dug into the creature's skin and were absorbed, vanishing without a trace. The creature's laughter was a sickening mix of Harry's voice and something far more twisted.

"Everyone, spread out!" Robin shouted, leaping aside as Harry lunged at them. Peter and Robin dove out of the way just in time to avoid his slashing claws, which gouged deep scars into the metal floors below them. Sparks flew as the heroes scrambled to regroup.

Kid Flash zipped around Harry in a blur of red and yellow, attempting to disorient him. "Come on, Harry! Snap out of it!" But Harry merely swatted at him, narrowly missing as Wally dodged at the last moment.

Zatanna's eyes glowed as she extended a hand, chanting, "Retsimrep su!" Bands of magical energy wrapped around Harry's limbs, but he flexed and shattered them with ease, grinning as he turned his monstrous gaze toward her.

Miss Martian hovered in the air, hands outstretched as she focused on his mind. "Harry, fight it! You're stronger than this!"

But the symbiote blocked her telepathy, its presence more overwhelming than anything she'd ever encountered. It pushed back against her mental intrusion, throwing her off balance as Harry stalked closer.

With a fierce determination, Aqualad charged, water-bearers shifting into swords. He swung, striking Harry across the chest with a powerful slash, but Harry barely flinched. Instead, he grabbed Aqualad and hurled him across the room. Aqualad hit the wall with a grunt, sliding down as he tried to recover.

Peter, his head spinning, tried to focus, but something was off. His spider-sense flared in bursts, inconsistent and weak. Every time he tried to swing away or web Harry down, his powers faltered, leaving him vulnerable.

"Come on, not now." Peter whispered to himself, his heart pounding. He glanced down at his hands, which felt heavy and numb. It was like his connection to his abilities was fading, just when he needed them the most.

Artemis gritted her teeth, backing up as she launched a volley of arrows. "Where the heck is Superboy when you need him?" she muttered, frustration evident.

The creature barreled forward, arrows bouncing off him uselessly as he focused on Peter. With terrifying speed, Harry charged and leapt, his claws slashing. Peter dodged as best he could, but his reactions were off; a blow caught him across the side, sending him sprawling.

Kid Flash zipped in, grabbing Peter by the arm to pull him to safety. "Pete, are you okay?"

"I... don't know." Peter panted, struggling to regain his footing. "Just don't kill him!"

Robin swung his staff, aiming for Harry's head, but Harry ducked, catching Robin's wrist and flinging him against a console, sparks erupting from the impact. Robin groaned, scrambling back to his feet, blood dripping from a cut on his forehead.

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