Venom: Shadows of Extinction

Chapter 7: "The Shadow's Bargain"

Eddie's POV:

The voice came from the shadows, creeping around Eddie and Rae, forming figures that resembled the creatures they'd fought earlier. Only this time, the shadows were more solid, more menacing, as if they were ready to consume them whole.

Eddie (gritting his teeth):
"Venom, you ready for round two?"

Venom (growling):
"We will tear them apart."

The shadowy figures swirled around the Dominion crystal, mutating into dark, armored forms with piercing red eyes. They weren't just spirits; they were guardians of this ancient power, wielding its energy like a weapon.

Rae (readying her weapon):
"There's no running now, Eddie. We either take that crystal or die trying."

The battle erupted. The shadows attacked with speed and precision, their bodies shifting in and out of solidity as if taunting Eddie and Venom. Eddie struck, slashing through one creature only to find his claws slicing through air as it vanished, reappearing moments later to strike from behind.

Rae's POV:

Rae aimed her gun, firing shots that barely slowed the shadow guardians. But she was relentless, her movements precise as she weaved through their attacks, giving Eddie cover. She'd never seen anything like this—a creature whose very existence seemed to defy logic, yet here they were, forced to confront it head-on.

Rae (shouting to Eddie):
"They're guarding the crystal, Eddie! We need a way to get it free!"

Eddie's POV:

As Eddie struggled, Venom's voice echoed in his mind, darker, more desperate.

Venom:
"Eddie... if we want to win, we must consume."

Eddie felt the weight of those words. To consume the Dominion energy would change them—maybe forever. But in that moment, with shadows clawing at his flesh and Rae in danger, he didn't care.

Eddie (grimly):
"Then let's take it."

He surged forward, using Venom's claws to swipe the crystal from its pedestal. As his hand connected, a blinding energy shot through him, fusing with Venom in a burst of fiery pain. The shadows howled, recoiling from the intensity of the crystal's power now infused with Venom.

Eddie's body writhed, the raw energy seeping into his veins, expanding his muscles and distorting Venom's form. The shadows came at him again, but this time, Eddie and Venom were ready.

Venom (roaring):
"You will suffer!"

With renewed power, Venom's tendrils lashed out, tearing through the shadow guardians with ease. The remaining figures retreated, dissipating into the darkness with eerie shrieks.

Rae's POV:

She watched as Eddie, now transformed into something beyond Venom, unleashed his fury on the shadows. His body was a massive, twisted blend of symbiote and Dominion energy, radiating a power so intense she had to shield her eyes.

When the last shadow disappeared, Eddie staggered, his body flickering with residual energy. Rae approached cautiously, her face both awed and horrified.

Rae:
"Eddie... what have you done?"

Eddie looked down at his hands, watching as Venom's form twisted back to normal, though he could feel the Dominion energy simmering beneath the surface.

Eddie (breathing heavily):
"I did what I had to. It's... it's a part of us now."

She stared at him, the horror and admiration clear in her gaze. "Then let's make sure it was worth it."

They turned back, the Dominion crystal now a faint shadow of its former self. But in Eddie's chest, he could feel its energy alive within him, a ticking bomb ready to explode.

Venom (whispering, almost uncertainly):
"We are... changed, Eddie. For better or worse."

As they left the vault...

The Purifiers had regrouped outside, alerted to the disturbance. Eddie and Rae could see the exosuited soldiers lining up, ready to fight. But as Eddie stepped forward, energy flared around him, sending a shockwave that made even the hardened soldier's falter.

Eddie (to Rae, quietly):
"Let's finish this."

The fight that ensued was brutal and swift. Eddie, with Venom and the Dominion's power, tore through the exosuits, moving faster and striking harder than ever before. Rae followed suit; her own skill amplified as she moved with fierce determination.

The Purifiers, unprepared for such an assault, fell one by one. When the last soldier dropped, Eddie and Rae were left alone in the blood-stained field, victorious but forever changed by what they'd unleashed.

End of Chapter 7