Symbiotic Agent

As Holm swung his sharp blade, one of the two lizardmen charging toward him had his neck cleaved open, and the other had his head sent crashing to the ground.

"It was a mistake," Holm thought, watching as his second strike went wide. "I swung too many times and my movements became sloppy, failing to sever the head with a single blow."

His eyes shifted to the lizardman whose neck, now rapidly healing, was already regenerating as the creature continued charging toward him, claws slashing through the air.

"Hehehe! Don't forget about me!" Venom gleefully chimed in, extending two dark, sinuous tentacles. With a swift, fluid motion, they stabbed directly into the neck of the healing lizardman.

"Puff!" A large geyser of blood erupted from the wound.

Venom's tentacles twisted, pulling the lizardman's head off with a sickening rip.

"It's a shame to waste so many heads, but I have no appetite for them." Venom remarked, eyeing the severed lizard heads that tumbled to the floor.

Unlike the sweet, rich taste of human brains, the lizardmen's brains had a strange, complex flavor that did nothing for Venom's refined palate. It was as though industrial additives had been mixed in, making the taste unappealing.

Even if the venom could eat them, it didn't want to. Why bother with such a mutated brain when a piece of chocolate would suffice? After all, chocolate's mellow richness was a flavor far superior to anything these lizardmen could offer.

"Don't worry, you'll get a chance to savor a fresh head later," Holm responded, wiping the blood from the sharp blade now formed from his palm. He had already cleared this floor of lizardmen, with only two or three more to go before reaching the top.

The distance wasn't far, and judging by his earlier pace, he would reach the top in just a few minutes.

He glanced up, catching sight of Spider-Woman clinging to the glass outside. He nodded in acknowledgment before continuing toward the stairs.

Seeing Holm's swift progress, Gwen climbed upward as well. She had observed his fight moments ago. Though it had been brutal, she couldn't deny the impressive speed with which he fought.

At the base of the stairs, as Holm was just about to ascend, a massive, dark green tail lashed toward his head.

Venom was quick to respond, alerting Holm just before the tail reached him.

Holm bent low, allowing the tail to swipe above his head, crashing into the wall next to him and splintering it.

With the tail momentarily pinned against the wall, Holm stomped down on it, using the moment to propel himself upward.

Before the lizardman's claws could even reach for his face, Holm kneed him squarely in the chin, sending the creature flying backward.

Had Holm been an ordinary person, the impact would've likely shattered his knee, but with Venom enhancing his physical abilities, the strike caused no pain. Instead, Holm sent the lizardman, larger than the others, flying backward with ease.

"How can such weak humans possess this much strength?!" The larger lizardman exclaimed, rubbing his sore chin in disbelief, his voice filled with both astonishment and irritation.

Holm, realizing this wasn't just any mutated beast, understood that this was a veteran lizardman—one who had once been human.

"You must be delusional if you think I'm just an ordinary human," Holm said, his tone sarcastic. "Is your size the result of too many drugs, or were you always this large before the mutation?"

As he spoke, the dark, sticky black substance surged from his hands, coalescing into two long, wickedly sharp swords. Behind him, several tentacles writhed, twisting and coiling like deadly serpents.

"You don't seem like one of those mindless beasts," Holm continued. "So before I take action, let me offer you a chance. If you let me pass, I'll make sure you turn back into a human in due time."

Rarely did Holm encounter a rational lizardman, so he made an effort to reason with him. If they could avoid a fight, it would save valuable time—something he couldn't afford to waste.

The large lizardman, sizing up the venom surging from Holm's body and the tentacles twisting dangerously behind him, growled, "You think I'll let you return me to my weak human state? Not a chance! I'll never let you ruin the Doctor's great plan!"

His eyes narrowed as he added, "I see you're not ordinary, but that disgusting substance covering you won't make you my equal. I'll crush every bone in your body, piece by piece. There's no way you'll stop the Doctor from turning us into a superior race!"

With a battle cry, the lizardman lunged toward Holm, his enormous claws extending several centimeters further, making them look even more menacing.

Holm said nothing in response; he didn't care to understand how Dr. Lizard had brainwashed the creature—or if the potion had some mind-altering properties. Either way, it was clear that this fight could not be avoided.

The moment the charge came, Holm met it head-on.

"Sizzle!" The sharp claws of the lizardman met Holm's black sword with a deafening screech as metal clashed against metal.

As the two were locked in a struggle, Holm's tentacles quickly morphed into razor-sharp blades, stabbing toward the large lizardman's body.

"Puff!" The tentacles ripped through the lizardman's flesh, leaving multiple bloody holes. But almost instantly, Holm watched in disbelief as the wounds began to heal right before his eyes.

The sight of such rapid regeneration only reinforced the unnatural reality of this world.

Frustrated but not dissuaded, Holm relaxed his grip just enough, causing the large lizardman to stumble forward, losing his balance.

Seizing the opportunity, Holm slid beneath the lizardman and swiftly moved behind him. With a powerful thrust of his legs, he sprang to his feet and slashed downward, aiming for the large lizardman's neck.

Despite his massive size, the lizardman lacked the flexibility to pivot quickly, giving Holm the perfect opening.

The blade descended, but in a desperate bid to protect himself, the lizardman used his massive claws to shield his neck, attempting to deflect the strike.

With a quick twist of his wrist, the lizardman parried the blade, but not before Holm's sword left a deep, jagged wound along the back of his neck.

At the same time, the lizardman swung his heavy tail at Holm, its impact sending the man crashing through several layers of glass. He slammed into the wall behind him, dazed but not defeated.

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