Just as she was about to rush in to assist, Holm suddenly transformed into a grotesque and terrifying black monster, instantly killing the two lizardmen.
The remaining lizardmen reacted swiftly, launching a fierce counterattack, but they were no match for Holm. One by one, they were torn apart with minimal resistance.
Thud!
Venom tossed the last lizardman's corpse to the ground, gazing at his handiwork with evident satisfaction.
"Even though none of you can hear me now, I must say—this was an exhilarating workout!" Venom's voice dripped with amusement, his laughter echoing unpleasantly.
The sticky black liquid that had enveloped Holm began to flow again, gradually retreating and merging back into his body.
In a matter of seconds, the hideous black monster reverted to Holm's original form.
"Whew! It feels amazing to go all out like that," Holm remarked, surveying the aftermath of the battle. His eyes shifted to Spider-Woman, who was observing from a distance. He smiled faintly and gestured toward the rooftop.
Seeing Holm's signal, Gwen pushed aside the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind, nodded, and resumed moving forward.
With the lizardmen on the upper floors eliminated in a single stroke, Holm and Gwen quickly ascended to the rooftop. One stayed in the open while the other worked in the shadows, adhering to the plan they had just devised.
The rooftop was dimly lit. Apart from the occasional sweep of distant searchlights, the only illumination came from the Canary device operating nearby.
Next to the Canary device squatted a massive figure, nearly as large as a hill. Dressed in an oversized, somewhat tattered white coat, the figure meticulously adjusted the equipment. At the same moment Holm reached the rooftop, it pressed the start button.
"The program is now running. Countdown: three minutes."
A crisp electronic voice rang out. The enormous figure began trembling with apparent excitement, accompanied by a strange, unsettling laughter.
"Hey, big guy! What's so funny? Care to share the joke? Maybe I could use a laugh, too!" Holm shouted, his tone mocking.
As Holm's voice echoed, Gwen silently crept along the edge of the rooftop, inching closer to the Canary device. Her eyes remained fixed on Dr. Lizard, monitoring his every move. The moment he distanced himself from the device, she would extract the reagents and install the serum.
Dr. Lizard straightened up slowly, his massive frame looming over the Canary device, creating an even more intimidating presence.
Now fully upright, his enormous stature was accompanied by an unsettling transformation. His skin had turned a deep, dark green, its texture resembling that of a real reptile but appearing even more robust.
His scales gleamed like polished armor, and the subtle ridges across his body made him resemble a dinosaur more than a lizard. His yellow eyes, larger and brighter than those of ordinary lizardmen, glowed with a chilling combination of cold savagery and intellectual cunning.
"Little human, are you here to stop me?" Dr. Lizard's hoarse voice rumbled, his yellow eyes filled with mockery.
"What if I am?" Holm retorted with a smirk.
"We're of the same species, you and I. The lizardmen below were just as arrogant and overconfident as you. It wasn't until I ripped their heads off that they realized I wasn't joking."
As he spoke, Holm drew his pistol, loading it with practiced precision while keeping his gaze locked on Dr. Lizard.
"Your skill in taking down those weaklings is commendable, but you are still insignificant compared to me," Dr. Lizard replied, his voice brimming with contempt.
"Taking their heads doesn't mean you can even scratch me. You won't make me bleed—not with that little gun of yours."
As Dr. Lizard moved closer, the ground beneath him seemed to quake with each step.
"Technology has undeniably revolutionized human life," he continued, his tone almost philosophical. "It's given you the audacity to point that pathetic contraption at me. But humans themselves? They haven't evolved at all."
Pausing briefly, Dr. Lizard gestured grandly, his excitement evident.
"I've corrected this flaw. Look at me—can't you see how magnificent I am? This form is superior in every way!"
He began listing his traits with fervor. "A powerful body. A sharp intellect. Unmatched regenerative abilities. Even severed limbs can grow back!"
"This evolution wasn't achieved through mere technology. A single faulty gene can end a human life with illness or injury. But now, by integrating my latest discoveries, we can transcend these limitations and become a new species—the pinnacle of evolution!"
Dr. Lizard's monstrous face twisted with an unsettling mixture of pride and anticipation, as though envisioning a glorious future.
He took a few steps closer to Holm, extending one of his massive claws, which was as large as a car tire.
"You've proven yourself exceptional by dealing with my creations downstairs. You're far above the ordinary masses," he said, his tone almost inviting.
"So, I'm offering you an opportunity. Join me. Together, we can usher in a new era. As the architect of this revolution, I can elevate you further—make you extraordinary! You could become the progenitor of a new species, akin to Adam in the Bible."
Holm's eyes flicked briefly to the distance between Dr. Lizard and the Canary device. Not yet. He's not close enough.
Judging the timing, Holm raised his pistol, aiming it at Dr. Lizard's eye. His voice rang out decisively:
"Sorry, Doc, but I'd rather remain human than turn into a lizard freak!"
He added with a smirk, "Oh, and one more thing—I don't believe in God."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Holm's words were punctuated by three sharp gunshots.
Flames erupted from the muzzle, and bullets whizzed through the air, heading straight for Dr. Lizard's face.
Reacting swiftly, Dr. Lizard lowered his head slightly, raising a massive hand to intercept the bullets.
But Holm had anticipated this. The trajectory of the final shot was markedly different from the first two. Despite Dr. Lizard's quick reflexes, the bullet slipped past his defenses, striking just beneath his eye.
Boom!
The shot landed with a violent impact, the explosion reverberating across the rooftop.
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