Venom: Shadows of Extinction

Chapter 3: "The Awakened Power"

The desolate wasteland lay still, except for the faint hum of the device clutched in Venom's hand. Rae was at his side, eyes wide with both awe and trepidation as she watched the Purifier leader smirk, his own device resonating in response.

Purifier Leader:
"You have no idea what you're holding, do you? That device is your downfall, Venom. It's connected to something older than you, older than any of us."

The leader's words sliced through the silence, igniting a spark of fury in Venom's chest. He had been hunted, betrayed, stripped of everything—but to be taunted with mystery when his blood was still hot from the battle was almost too much.

Eddie's Voice (to Venom):
"I don't like this, Venom. He knows something we don't, something dangerous."

Venom's Voice (to Eddie):
"Then we will rip the answers from him."

Venom's black tendrils twitched with anticipation, his form shifting into a monstrous stance as he charged at the Purifier leader, claws extended. But before he could strike, the leader activated the device in his hand, and Venom was hit by a shockwave that brought him to his knees.

Venom's POV:

For a brief moment, everything went dark. He was plunged into a chaotic void, where memories, images, and sensations flickered past him in rapid succession. He saw glimpses of worlds—some ravaged by destruction, others filled with life forms unlike any he'd ever seen. He could feel Eddie struggling within him, both confused and overwhelmed by the flood of sensations.

The device pulsed with energy, pulling him deeper into the void, and he felt a strange resonance within him—an ancient, raw power he'd never fully tapped into. It felt like something was awakening within him, something bound to the device but tied to his very essence.

Eddie's Voice:
"Venom! Pull back, this isn't right!"

But Venom couldn't. He was drawn into the power, a dark hunger deepening in his soul as he succumbed to the pull.

Rae's POV:

Rae watched in horror as Venom knelt, visibly struggling as if trapped in an unseen force. The Purifier leader stood a few feet away, unfazed, watching with an expression of smug satisfaction.

Purifier Leader:
"You see, Rae, this world is on the brink of purification. The monster you're so eager to ally with is nothing more than a tool—a vessel for the very force that will cleanse this world."

Rae's hands clenched into fists. She wasn't sure what the leader meant, but she knew one thing: Venom was her only chance at revenge against the Purifiers. If they controlled him, she'd be left powerless.

Rae's Voice:
"Let him go! You can't just use him like this."

The leader merely chuckled. "Oh, but we can. We've been waiting for this moment for decades. Venom is one of the last true powers in this world, and soon he'll serve us."

The leader tightened his grip on his device, causing the hum to intensify, and Venom let out a roar of agony as the energy pulsed through him. Rae knew she had to act—she couldn't let the Purifiers turn Venom into their weapon.

Back to Venom's POV:

Venom's vision cleared, and his anger surged back, stronger than before. He felt Eddie's panic, but he pushed it aside, letting the raw, ancient energy fuel him. With a guttural snarl, he pushed back against the device's grip, focusing on the Purifier leader, who held him captive.