Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Chapter 56: A Race Against Time

Peter swung through the city with relentless speed, his mind racing as he replayed the encounter with Carnage. The symbiote's strength was unlike anything he'd faced before. Venom was dangerous, but Carnage felt unrestrained, like a wildfire with no regard for what it consumed.

He had no choice now. If anyone could help him understand this new enemy, it was Eddie Brock. But finding him was another challenge entirely. Venom didn't exactly have a permanent address.

Peter landed on a rooftop, pulling out his phone. "Alright, Eddie, where would you hide out?" he muttered, scrolling through the notes he'd saved from their previous encounters. Eddie had been spotted near warehouses by the docks a few months ago. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

His phone buzzed with a text from MJ:

MJ: "Hey, where are you? Thought you were coming to study group."

Peter stared at the screen, guilt gnawing at him. He typed a quick reply.

Peter: "Sorry, got caught up in something. Raincheck?"

The docks were eerily quiet when Peter arrived. A heavy fog rolled in from the river, muffling the distant sounds of the city. He crouched on a shipping container, scanning the area.

"Alright, Eddie," he whispered. "If you're here, show yourself."

He didn't have to wait long. A low, guttural growl echoed through the air, followed by the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps.

Peter turned just in time to see Venom emerge from the shadows. The massive, black-suited figure loomed over him, its white, jagged eyes narrowing.

"Spider-Man," Venom growled, its voice a blend of Eddie's and the symbiote's. "Why are you here?"

Peter raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, big guy. I'm not here to fight. I need your help."

Venom's lips curled into a sneer, revealing rows of sharp teeth. "The last time we helped you, it didn't end well."

Peter sighed. "Yeah, I remember. But this is different. There's another symbiote in the city—something worse than you. Calls itself Carnage."

At the mention of the name, Venom stiffened, its demeanor shifting from smug to deadly serious.

"Carnage," Venom said, the word dripping with venomous hatred.

Peter nodded. "You know him?"

Venom's form rippled, the symbiote's tendrils twitching like they were alive. "He is… our offspring. A mistake. Dangerous. Uncontrollable."

"Great," Peter muttered. "So you're saying it's a family reunion?"

Venom ignored the sarcasm. "If Carnage is here, your world is already in danger. He will destroy everything."

"That's why I need your help," Peter said, stepping closer. "We need to stop him before it's too late."

Venom's eyes narrowed. "We do not trust you, Spider-Man. But we cannot let Carnage live."

Back at the Sanctum Sanctorum, Peter introduced Venom to Strange and Wong. The tension in the room was palpable; Strange's disapproval was written all over his face.

"This is your solution?" Strange asked, gesturing to Venom. "A creature of chaos to fight another?"

"Look, I know it's not ideal," Peter said. "But Venom knows Carnage better than anyone else. We need him."

Venom growled but didn't argue, its focus entirely on the glowing orb that Strange had placed on a pedestal.

"The orb," Venom said, its voice low and reverent. "It calls to the hive."

Peter frowned. "The hive? What are you talking about?"

Venom's tendrils quivered as it spoke. "The symbiotes are connected. A collective mind. The orb is a beacon, summoning the hive to this world."

Strange looked at Peter. "I told you. The symbiotes don't act alone. This is bigger than Carnage."

Venom turned to Strange, its voice growing more urgent. "You must destroy the orb. If the hive arrives, even you will not survive."

Strange shook his head. "Destroying it isn't an option. The energy contained within could rip a hole in reality."

"Then we fight," Venom growled.

Meanwhile, Carnage was making its presence known across the city. Reports of brutal attacks flooded the news, each scene more gruesome than the last. Buildings were torn apart, streets left in chaos, and survivors spoke of a red monster that seemed to revel in the destruction.

At the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson wasted no time blaming Spider-Man.

"This menace has brought another monster into our city!" Jameson shouted on live TV. "We need to stop Spider-Man before it's too late!"

Peter watched the broadcast from his apartment, frustration boiling inside him. He turned off the TV and suited up, his resolve hardening.

Peter and Venom tracked Carnage to an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city. The air inside was heavy with the stench of blood and decay. Peter's spider-sense was on overdrive, warning him of danger from every direction.

Carnage emerged from the shadows, its form twisted and monstrous. It laughed, a high-pitched, maniacal sound that sent chills down Peter's spine.

"So the prodigal son returns," Carnage sneered, its gaze fixed on Venom. "And you've brought the little bug with you. How touching."

Venom growled, stepping forward. "This ends now, Carnage."

The two symbiotes clashed, their forms colliding in a blur of tendrils and teeth. Peter dodged a stray attack, firing webbing to pull Carnage off balance.

But Carnage was faster than either of them anticipated. It grabbed Peter with a tendril, slamming him into the ground.

"You're out of your depth, Spider-Man," Carnage hissed. "This world is mine."

Peter struggled to break free, his strength no match for Carnage's raw power. But Venom intervened, tearing Carnage away with a roar.

"You will not take this world!" Venom bellowed.

The fight raged on, the factory crumbling around them. Peter knew they couldn't keep this up forever. They needed a plan—and fast.

End of Chapter 56