After the departure of the female symbiote, Alex followed her—but not alone. An orange cat rested casually on his shoulder.
"So, big girl, what were you doing in a place like that?"
"Mew... mew."
While chasing the purple-haired symbiote across the rooftops, Alex found himself having a strangely serious conversation with the most unusual cat he had ever met.
"You're not an Earth cat, are you?"
"Meow!"
The confirmation was immediate—and unsettling. The cat opened its mouth slightly, releasing a dense, dark aura powerful enough to make Alex break into a cold sweat.
"...Right. Got it. I don't care where you come from or what you want—we're friends, right?"
"Mew..." (for now)
Alex looked away, swinging through the rain-soaked skyline of New York. Below him, chaos was spreading.
Car crashes. Street fights. Looting.
The population was becoming increasingly aggressive—clear signs of the virus taking hold.
He tightened his jaw.
(Things are escalating too fast…)
The only solution he had for now was to accelerate the spread of AL-Dream. Fortunately, the tower had granted him that formula early on.
As he moved, the cat let out another soft sound—its gaze fixed somewhere far beyond what Alex could see.
…
Half an hour later, Leslie—Agony—arrived at Fisk Tower.
The situation there was no better. Crowds had gathered, shouting, protesting. Their anger, already fueled by years of oppression, was now amplified by the infection.
"Future zombies protesting… that's almost funny."
"Meow."
"Me? Racist? Come on—I'm probably the least racist guy on Earth. I mean, I'm a freaking D—… uh… anyway, I was just trying to lighten the mood!"
"Miaw." (Calm down. You're going to get noticed.)
In front of Fisk Tower, armed guards struggled to contain the crowd. It was already a miracle they hadn't opened fire.
Agony was quickly escorted inside by Life Foundation personnel, delivering her samples.
"Stay here—and don't kill anyone… who isn't already infected."
Meanwhile, Alex narrowed his eyes.
He wasn't worried about the cat.
He was worried about what the cat might do.
Focusing, his body melted into black symbiotic fluid, slipping into the building's pipe system.
His target: Wilson Fisk.
…
Above, in his tower, Fisk stood before a massive window overlooking the collapsing city.
"The situation is… problematic. Trade is collapsing, transportation is failing…"
He paused.
"But it doesn't matter. While heroes and authorities are overwhelmed, this is an opportunity."
An opportunity.
"To take total control."
A subordinate hesitated.
"Kingpin… we risk infection as well. Without a cure, how do you expect us to—"
Fisk turned slowly.
The room froze.
Then—he smiled.
"An excellent question. Fortunately, we have developed an antidote. And since you seem so concerned… you'll be the first to receive it."
"R-Really? That's—"
The man was shoved into a sealed glass chamber.
Gas began to fill it.
"Where's the antidote?!"
No answer.
Below the vents, hidden in the darkness, Alex watched—casually eating popcorn.
(This guy really knows how to entertain.)
(The transformation is too fast compared to natural infections, Venna noted.)
(Yeah… I'm bored.)
With a flick of his hand, Alex dropped several symbiotic bombs into the room.
Purple smoke exploded outward.
Chaos erupted.
"What is this?! Fisk, are you—"
"You idiot! There's an intruder!"
A violent impact slammed into Fisk, sending his massive body sliding across the floor.
"Who are you?! Show yourself!"
"Agony! You didn't sense anything?" a man demanded as his body morphed into a gray symbiote.
"Nothing! It's like he erased his presence… but that voice—oh no… it's him. The new Venom!"
She was right.
But not entirely.
Alex wasn't just hiding with symbiote abilities—he was using magic.
Figures emerged through the smoke:
Symbiotes. Enhanced humans. Mercenaries.
A rhino-armored brute. A scorpion-like woman. An electrified fighter. Even mechanized appendages extended from one of the scientists.
But Alex didn't move.
His gaze remained locked on Fisk.
"I liked your little performance," he said calmly. "But seriously… are you stupid, or just pretending?"
Fisk barely had time to react before a crushing blow sent him staggering.
"You're playing with a virus while your tower is surrounded by thousands of infected. All for what? A cure for your family?"
Another strike.
"You think control matters if everything turns into hell?"
Fisk blocked the next hit—but his arms trembled under the force.
"I'm giving you a chance," Alex continued. "I can help you save them. But if you keep playing king instead of acting—don't cry when they get eaten because of you."
Silence.
Even the villains hesitated.
"Bastard! Don't you dare speak about Vanessa and Richard like that!"
Fisk drew his cane—releasing a violent burst of ultrasonic energy.
(Shit.)
"Use sound and fire!" Fisk roared.
Flames ignited.
The symbiote recoiled, peeling away from Alex's body.
Gasps filled the room.
His true form was revealed.
"…Why does he look like—" someone whispered.
Too late.
A blur.
A devastating punch.
Fisk was launched backward, crashing into the others.
Standing there, wings spread wide, was something far beyond human.
Horns.
Scales.
A tail.
A dragon-like presence radiating overwhelming power.
"Who the hell are you?!" Fisk demanded, struggling to stand.
Alex smiled.
"I'm Venom."
A pause.
"And my name… is Alex A*****."
The storm outside roared louder.
And deep within the city…
Something answered.