Symbiotic Agent

Although the bullet didn't hit directly, the fire and fragments from the explosion still left Dr. Lizard's left eye bloodshot.

The injury didn't significantly affect him. It didn't cause any bleeding, just some minor trouble with his vision. Within a short time, it would heal completely. However, what infuriated him more than the bullet was Holm's attitude and behavior.

Dr. Lizard had recognized Holm as someone extraordinary and extended an invitation for him to join the "glorious and great evolution." But his gesture of goodwill was mercilessly trampled upon.

"In that case, die!" he roared, charging at Holm like a landslide.

Seeing the massive figure rushing toward him, Holm fired his pistol repeatedly. However, these bullets were even less effective than before. They merely caused tiny sparks to flicker on Dr. Lizard's scaly hide.

Unperturbed, Holm threw the empty pistol directly at Dr. Lizard's face. Simultaneously, a sticky black liquid surged over Holm's arms, transforming into a shield on his left hand and a sleek, black blade on his right.

"Bang!" Dr. Lizard's massive claws, each the size of a tire, slammed into Holm's black shield with a deafening crash.

Holm staggered slightly under the immense force. The ground beneath his feet cracked under the pressure. Yet, behind the shield, Holm's eyes burned with unrelenting determination. His gaze locked with Dr. Lizard's, unshaken.

"You're strong," Holm admitted, his voice calm but laced with excitement.

Dr. Lizard's eyes reflected a hint of surprise. He hadn't expected Holm to stand his ground so firmly.

Holm felt the immense power emanating from Dr. Lizard, and instead of fear, it filled him with exhilaration. Inside him, Venom shared this sentiment. The symbiote was snarling and howling, eager to teach this towering foe a lesson.

The clash lasted only seconds. When his first attack was blocked, Dr. Lizard wasted no time and swung his other claw toward Holm. However, sharp black tentacles sprouted from Holm's body and intercepted the blow.

The tentacles stabbed into Dr. Lizard's palm, but they only left shallow wounds, failing to penetrate deeply. Realizing the limited effect, Venom adapted, softening the tentacles and wrapping them tightly around Dr. Lizard's arm. The viscous black tendrils coiled and restricted his movements.

"What is this?!" Dr. Lizard bellowed in confusion. The strange black liquid—flexible, strong, and alive—was unlike anything he had ever encountered. Even more shocking was its strength, rivaling his own.

No wonder Holm had defeated his lizardmen subordinates so easily. This peculiar ability was beyond anything he had imagined.

Holm seized the opportunity. With his right hand, he aimed the black blade at Dr. Lizard's neck and thrust forward.

The blade sliced through the air. Dr. Lizard reacted quickly, turning his head to avoid a fatal blow. The weapon only grazed his skin, leaving a shallow cut instead of a deep wound.

"No matter how special you are," Dr. Lizard sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance, "you can never defeat me. I am the future!"

With a powerful sweep of his tail, he struck Holm and broke free from the symbiote's grasp. The sheer force of the blow sent Holm sliding backward, but he remained on his feet.

Dr. Lizard tore away the remaining black tentacles constraining him. His claws, now free, flexed menacingly.

Listening to the lizard's confident declaration, Holm smirked coldly. "Your dream will never come true," he retorted.

As Holm spoke, a mechanical voice interrupted their battle.

"The program has been paused. The program has started. Reloading. Countdown continues. One minute and twenty seconds."

The electronic announcement drew Dr. Lizard's attention. He turned his head sharply toward the Canary device behind him.

There, Spider-Woman crouched beside the machine. She wore a sleek black-and-white uniform, her movements swift and precise. The green lizard reagent within the Canary device had been replaced with a blue one. Several more blue vials sat neatly in her backpack.

In that moment, Dr. Lizard realized he had been deceived. Holm's fierce confrontation had merely been a distraction. Spider-Woman was the true threat, working methodically to sabotage his plans.

With only 1 minute and 20 seconds left in the countdown, the lizard reagent had been switched. If he couldn't reinstall his formula in time, his grand scheme to evolve all of New York would collapse.

"Damn it! How dare you!" Dr. Lizard's roar echoed across the rooftop, his rage boiling over.

His frustration and desperation ignited something primal within him. His sanity gave way to raw savagery. His scales darkened, his nails grew sharper and longer, and his eyes burned with feral intensity.

With a guttural roar, he lunged toward Spider-Woman. But before he could reach her, black tentacles shot out once more, coiling around his arms and legs. The sharp tendrils pierced his flesh, embedding themselves deeper than before.

Holm leaped from the ground, his hands morphing into twin black blades. He aimed for Dr. Lizard's neck and struck with precision.

"Where do you think you're going? Our fight isn't over yet," Holm taunted, a sinister grin stretching across his face.

The blades dug into the back of Dr. Lizard's neck, releasing a spray of green-tinged blood. The sight of Holm, face spattered with blood and grinning maniacally, was almost as terrifying as the lizard himself.

Dr. Lizard roared in pain and fury. In a desperate move, he slammed his massive body backward, pinning Holm against the elevator shaft on the rooftop. The force of the collision shook the structure.

Holm groaned under the impact but refused to relinquish his grip. The symbiote's tentacles tightened their hold, piercing deeper into Dr. Lizard's flesh. Yet, the lizard's strength seemed to grow with his rage.

Finally, with a burst of raw power, Dr. Lizard broke free. His expanded limbs snapped the tendrils apart. He swung his claws toward Holm, aiming to end the battle with a single blow.

Holm reacted quickly, leaping off the lizard's back just in time. He landed lightly on the ground, his movements fluid and calculated. As Dr. Lizard's momentum carried him forward, Holm planted his feet firmly and kicked off, using the lizard's head as a springboard.

Dr. Lizard stumbled, crashing headfirst into the elevator shaft. The collision reverberated loudly, disorienting him momentarily.

Holm, now repositioned, stood between Dr. Lizard and the Canary device. The symbiote's black tendrils writhed around him, ready for the next clash.

The device emitted a faint beeping sound, signaling the final minute of the countdown.

Holm's gaze remained steady. "One more minute," he thought, "and this nightmare ends."

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