Chapter - 14

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Chapter - 14: Symbiote

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I took a seat on the far-left side, at the back of the bus. Tonight had really been quite a hectic night, even for me. And I had no intention of going home and further exhausting my mind, which honestly was on the verge of breaking.

I wasn't Spider-Man, the type to sacrifice my health to patrol the city nonstop, especially for a simple night shift that could be avoided for another day more suitable for me.

I had already decided: I would have more control, I would pay greater attention to my health, both mental and physical. I wouldn't be a blind hero to the point of losing myself in every single fight, without considering the consequences.

I pulled my hood down, letting the cool air brush against my face. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my heartbeat, which was still pounding in my chest from the recent fight.

My body was already recovering, returning to its best form thanks to the symbiote. I could feel my sore muscles slowly gaining strength, regenerating. The pain was still there, but it was growing fainter with every breath I took.

It was incredible how quickly it healed my wounds. Even those old scars, made over the past year, had dissolved in just a few days, as if they had never existed. The symbiote was truly restoring my body to perfection, preparing it for any future effort.

But I decided not to dwell too much on this transformation. There were other urgent matters that kept tormenting me, thoughts that required my attention. After what had happened in the ring, the last thing I wanted was to find myself making the same mistake again.

I glanced out the bus window, watching the lights of the cars passing by and the people walking along the sidewalk. In my mind, one particular scene kept repeating.

"I really overdid it," I couldn't help but mutter with a long sigh that escaped my lips.

It was evident, like the sun, a bitter reality that had been revealed to me when I looked at Crossbones' body. He was on the ground, covered in his own blood, his face turned into a mask of wounds, almost unrecognizable.

I had come so close to actually killing him. If I had continued even for just one more second, it could have happened, and that wouldn't have just been a mistake, but a terrible turning point.

The scene kept repeating in my mind, like an indelible mark that I would never erase from this new life of mine. I had lost control. I hadn't acted like Spider-Man would have, finding a clever way out or using my intelligence to resolve a critical situation.

I had let myself be overwhelmed by my spider instinct, that fierce impulse that screamed to fight until the end, to strike with all my strength, to not let my opponent win against me.

I had given in to a part of me that I still couldn't control, letting my inner spider unleash its fury on Crossbones. I never expected a stressful situation could trigger such an extreme reaction in me.

In a way, it had been a stroke of luck to discover this part of me in a fight far from the spotlight, where no innocent could witness the scene and no one would label me as a monster.

I couldn't understand why something like this had happened to me. Looking back at my past life, there had never been an event like this that had happened to Peter... at least not until his mutation had gone out of control, turning him into a giant spider.

But luckily for me, I didn't think I was at that point yet, as honestly, I felt great, with no pain that would suggest I was slowly undergoing some mutation.

It was likely that something new was happening in my body, something that I still couldn't fully understand. Maybe it was the prelude to the arrival of Other, a signal that soon the spider gods might interfere with my universe, a possibility I knew I couldn't do anything about.

But in the end, whatever the reason, I still had to face the problem. Maybe I should add some meditation to my strict schedule and conduct a thorough analysis to understand if there was really something unusual happening in my body.

My thoughts returned to the development of my abilities. My body was becoming more and more resilient, and I was healing faster. Every day I felt stronger and more skilled in hand-to-hand combat.

Underground fighting arenas had been a new idea that came to mind, especially to help foster my growth. They allowed me to absorb all the knowledge I found useful for my future development, and by now, I was able to almost perfectly replicate the fighting styles I observed.

Basically, my routine over the past few weeks had been very focused. In addition to physical training and lessons at Colleen's dojo, between the usual trips to school and the Baxter Building, I had dedicated a lot of time to in-depth research in the fields of technology and Advanced Engineering.

I knew I would have to significantly improve my skills in that field if I wanted to move forward with my plans for the future. It wasn't just a simple goal to achieve; it was a crucial component that would determine the success of everything I had in mind.

However, it wasn't just this that drove me to push myself so hard. There was also a personal challenge, an ambitious goal that gave me the motivation I needed to keep going: I wanted to create my own artificial intelligence.

In this universe, I would show everyone how Peter Parker was much more than the usual nerd they had always thought he was, and then at some point in the future, I would start preparing for the construction of my company, Parker Industries.

It wouldn't be just a simple AI; I was designing something unique and advanced, capable of continuously learning, evolving, and adapting to the most complex situations, an AI that could not only assist me but also support my actions.

I wanted something like Mommy Cortana from Halo, a reliable companion, not a threat like Ultron, with its destructive and domineering ambitions that had only led to disasters.

I had to admit it: the name I had chosen for this AI wasn't exactly... reassuring. Yet, I had chosen it intentionally because it represented something important from my childhood, a memory I wanted to incorporate into this project.

In a sense, it was a way not to forget who I truly was or at least try not to, since, in a way, I truly had a great fear that, in the end, I would change into something different from myself.

But precisely because of this, I decided to keep moving down this path, to see where it would take me. I didn't consider myself so arrogant as to ignore the risks; I knew there were dangers, but I also felt that, with the right precautions, I could maintain control of everything that this messed-up universe tried to throw at me.

[Interlude]

Symbiote POV

The surge of energy hit me like a lightning bolt to the chest. It was pure explosion, an overwhelming intensity radiating to every corner of my being, filling me with complete satisfaction, almost irresistible to me.

Every molecule of my host's body vibrated, igniting with new strength, and I felt the burning desire to possess it completely, to push it beyond its limits to make it even more delicious.

Adrenaline.

That sensation was my reason for existence. The reason I lived, the purpose that drove me to always seek more. It was what fueled me, what made me crave every moment more, because that sensation was... so sweet.

I lived for that state of utter euphoria, for that thrill that spread like flames inside me, giving my existence profound meaning.

Every impulse, every burst of adrenaline from my new host was like a juicy bite of the purest, most satisfying primal energy in this universe, spreading through my symbiotic organism.

I had truly found the perfect host for my existence. It was as if we completed each other, and our symbiosis grew deeper with every passing second, intertwining our essences in a bond stronger than anything I had ever experienced since my creation.

I could feel every beat of his heart resonate like a calling, every emotion exploding in waves of power that ran through me, feeding me, making me stronger, more... alive.

He needed me, even if he didn't know it yet. Not just for the strength I gave him, but for how I could protect him, how I could amplify every instinct, every ambition, and push him to become something far greater.

I was diving deeper and deeper into his mind, learning to understand his deepest desires, his fears, and with every breath, I felt my impulse trying to give him everything I could to make him happy.

And it wasn't just because I needed him as a host. No, I was beginning to want him... not only for our union, but for how he, with all his will and desires, had become the center of my existence.

And then there was the pain...

It was a subtle annoyance, a distant sharpness, but present, a slight scratch in my existence. It wasn't unbearable, but it couldn't be ignored. That pain, though contained, had not gone unnoticed, and it certainly couldn't be disregarded.

My first thought, the primal instinct, was to destroy anyone who dared to inflict that pain on my host. But I couldn't do it at this moment, or at least not until I was strong enough.

But vengeance had already been carried out by my host. Not thanks to me, and this left me with a strange sensation that I struggled to fully understand. I felt I needed to become stronger, to be useful to him.

Even though he had already obtained his justice, that echo of desire continued to resonate within me, a visceral need to reaffirm our power, to ensure that no one would dare challenge us again.

I needed the strength to punish anyone who threatened me and my host.

For the time being, I had chosen to use the energy still pulsing within me for something more important: to repair my host's body. The wounds he had accumulated over time had honestly been terrible, but nothing I couldn't fix with a bit of effort.

I set to work, using every drop of my existence that I had held onto in that moment to not alarm my host, feeling as every muscle fiber, and every cell reconnected under my guidance, as he himself became the thread that stitched the tears back together.

The more time passed in contact with me, the more I was able to merge with my host in an even more complete way. Every injury was sealed, every tissue regenerated, as I blended deeper into his body.

I slowly began to enhance his powers, knowing full well that I wouldn't be able to do much until we were completely merged into a single entity. I focused on one of the aspects I considered crucial, pushing him toward the best version of himself.

In addition to the radioactive spider DNA already inhabiting his body, a deep analysis of his being revealed areas I could work on. I worked to optimize his body, to make his natural abilities stronger and sharper.

My host's DNA is now on the verge of reaching its full human potential. It will take time, but he will become the best of his kind. Every step he takes will bring him closer to enhancing his natural powers.

It was a slow process, but necessary. Every small connection I made brought me closer to the idea of becoming one with him, a perfect synergy, the thing I desired most.

Yet, I couldn't help but feel a growing fear, a sense of vulnerability I had never experienced before. I couldn't be discovered. I couldn't be seen. If my host suspected my presence, if he understood what I was doing, he would reject me.

And that thought terrified me, more than anything else.

I couldn't allow him to discover me. I had to remain hidden, a shadow, a silent and constant presence. I was close to him, always, but invisible. I had to protect the bond I was building until I was fully in strength, until we were truly united.

At that point, no one would be able to separate us. We would become one, a perfect, inseparable entity. Our bond would be so deep and unbreakable that no entity could ever shatter it.

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Marvel: I'm Spider-Man in this Damn Reincarnation: 2 advanced chapters

Hybrid Man (Ichigo Si/WC Fic) 1 advanced chapters

Son of Li Qiye?: 3 advanced chapters

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 Chapter - 15: White Tiger - Chapter- 16: Shocker

 Chapter: Interlude - Chapter - 8 (Incoming)

 Chapter - 7: Hobby - Chapter - 8: New Hunt - Chapter - 9: Past unknown

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