"Err, but... sir, I don't quite understand what the Life Stone project is? I just heard about this project and decided to give it a try."
"Well, that means you surely have talent." Drake patted Peter's shoulder and led him to a cylindrical experimental table, where a cube projection was playing.
Drake spread his arms out and explained to Peter, "I know, at school, teachers tell you that humanity hasn't yet found definite proof of extraterrestrials. To average people, that's the case."
"But since you're here, I'll naturally show you something different, especially to talented and promising children like you. You should realize the truth about this world earlier."
"Erm... You mean aliens?"
"No, that's too narrow. Humans are all too used to judging others by themselves, believing that all other life forms in the cosmos should resemble humans, with arms and legs. But in reality, human physique and strength are too weak. Life in the cosmos is far more evolved than the human race."
"Really?" Peter asked curiously, "Do they look different from humans? But what could they possibly look like?"
Drake said somewhat helplessly, "You see, you lack a bit of imagination."
"That's alright, you're young. There's time to learn."
"But you still haven't told me what exactly is the Life Stone Project."
"Don't rush, child. Didn't I say? You're going to be among the first to carry out this project."
Saying that, Drake's tone got more excited. He turned around and addressed a dozen or so volunteers who were around the same age as Peter, "You'll become the strongest warriors among humans, the guards of the Life Foundation!"
"With you, neither Stark Group nor that damn Osborn Group would be able to intervene with my great project."
"Alright, but what are we supposed to do?" Peter asked Drake.
"Peter, come here..." Drake moved towards a glass observation window and beckoned Peter.
Peter walked over and saw another cylindrical lab table in the middle of the room. There was a box on it, containing bubbling purple liquid.
"This will be your next task. In a moment, you will enter the room and help me retrieve this box."
As Peter squinted at the box, he muttered to himself, "Why does this thing look familiar? And why is it purple? Shouldn't it be black?"
"Familiar?" Drake chuckled, "This isn't ketchup, kid, now go on in."
A few scientists in lab coats walked over and helped Peter open the door. He stepped inside, making his way towards the box.
Just as he reached out to touch the box, Drake, who was outside, waved at the scientists who then pressed a few buttons on the door's control panel.
The lid of the box popped open as Peter's hand hovered above it. Purple slime instantly enveloped his arm, quickly covering his entire body.
A raspy female voice came out from Peter's throat, "Huh??"
The purple slime slowly solidified, forming the shape of a head. Spider-like eyes emerged, and a white web pattern began to surface along with a spider symbol on the chest.
Moving his neck and wrists, Peter instructed, "Make the stripes across the chest denser... enlarge the spider symbol, yes…"
The symbiote possessing him was bewildered, the female voice in his head queried, "Are you really human? Why are you so familiar with this?"
"Because I know your relative. He's named Venom, and he's black. Do you know him?"
"You mean who?? Venom???"
"Damn it, you're Venom's previous host! Goodbye!!!"
Outside the glass window, Drake noticed that the blob of purple slime quickly retreated from Peter's body, hastily returning to the box like it was making an escape. It even extended a tentacle to cover the lid.
Peter was evidently taken aback by this sudden turn of events. He opened the lid, reaching out to touch the purple slime, "Why are you running away? Why are you so repulsed by me?"
"We could have worked well together, maybe even..."
The moment Peter's fingers made contact with the slime, it roared furiously, "That's exactly why I am repulsed by you! You're surely a maniac, get away!!!"
With that, it glued the lid back on, then extended multiple tentacles and sealed the lid tightly onto the box.
Peter wasn't one to keep his temper either. Rolling up his sleeves, he grabbed onto the lid of the box. As he was unable to apply much force while standing upright, he placed a foot on the lab table and tried to pull the lid open, like pulling out a radish from the ground.
"We can talk this through! You must have some misunderstanding. I can't have you spreading bad words about me. Open the lid at once, or I will exert my strength!"
"Dream on! There's absolutely no room for discussion between me and a psycho. I'm a normal symbiote. Stay away from me!!"
"Open it!! Don't say I didn't warn you, I'm really strong!"
"No way, I don't believe you!!"
"Bang!!!"
When the lab table smashed into pieces, Drake and all the researchers gasped in shock.
Peter bent down to pick up the blob of purple slime that had fallen to the floor, "I told you I'm really strong. Now you hurry up and explain, did Venom spread any bad words about me?"
The purple symbiote sounded desperate, "Just as I expected! Green Sting and Thunder were right. Not a single host who has been possessed by the crazy Venom is normal. They're all mad!!!"
"You're wasting your effort, I don't want to bond with you, holding onto me is useless, and moreover, you're already so strong, what do you need me for?! "
"I need to figure out why my reputation among your species is not so good? What's the exact reason for this? If there's any misunderstanding, I can clarify..."
"The fact is, my cooperation with Venom was pretty pleasant. Though we quarrel from time to time, it's no biggie. I am genuinely a good person, I never went hard on him, you've got to believe me..."
Just as he finished, there was a sudden, loud noise in the lab. The blob of slime screamed in fear and darted off towards a corner.