"The posture is a bit ugly," Holm remarked as he glanced at Grant Ward, who knelt before him.
Grant struggled to raise his head, his vicious eyes glaring at Holm as if he wanted to devour him alive.
Holm remained unfazed by the hostility. He waved his hand, dragging Grant Ward forward. Then, settling onto the sofa, he stared down at him. "Now, whether it's SHIELD or HYDRA, you're already a confirmed traitor," Holm declared.
"And," he continued, "I've even gone ahead and bought you plane tickets to Mexico, Brazil, Tanzania, and a few other destinations. That way, even after your death, they'll think you fled abroad."
Grant's eyes widened in shock as he processed Holm's words. He struggled more violently now, as if sheer willpower could set him free.
The arrangement Holm described struck a disturbingly familiar chord. It mirrored the methods Grant had once employed to frame Nathan Landis. But unlike Nathan, who had escaped, Grant now realized he was going to die here, with no chance of evading Holm's hands. From this point forward, his name would only exist on wanted lists.
"Familiar, isn't it?" Holm said, leaning forward, his voice calm and deliberate. "I knew you'd recognize it. Don't worry. I'll make full use of your death, squeezing every ounce of value out of it."
Holm stood, his tone steady and cold. "I'll take your place, use your identity, and climb higher in both SHIELD and HYDRA."
As he finished speaking, a sticky black liquid began to ooze over Holm's body, coating him entirely.
Grant's expression morphed from anger to outright terror as the transformation unfolded. Before his horrified eyes, Holm became a hideous, monstrous figure.
Tentacles emerged from the black mass, wrapping tightly around Grant and dragging him closer to the creature. Its pale, narrow eyes gleamed malevolently. A gaping maw filled with jagged teeth stretched wide, revealing a scarlet tongue that flickered like a serpent in front of Grant's face.
For the first time in his life, Grant Ward felt a visceral, uncontrollable fear. He trembled, his body betraying him as sheer terror set in.
As he shook uncontrollably, the monster's cheek partially retracted, revealing half of Holm's face.
Holm leaned in, locking eyes with the trembling Grant. "Oh, I almost forgot," he said, his voice eerily casual. "Nathan Landis wanted me to deliver a message."
He smiled coldly. "He said he'll be waiting for you in hell."
With that, the black liquid covered Holm's face again.
The monstrous form that Holm had become opened its mouth impossibly wide and bit down on Grant Ward's head, severing it in one swift motion.
The unique aroma of the "snack" filled Venom with delight. After suppressing its hunger for so long, it finally had its reward. Without hesitation, the monstrous creature devoured the rest of Grant's body, ensuring not a single trace was left behind.
Before Grant's blood could even spill, Venom had already swallowed the remainder of his body. It consumed everything—brain, organs, and all. Holm had instructed Venom to be thorough, and the symbiote complied, making sure there were no traces of Grant Ward left.
Venom, pleased with the meal, lingered in Holm's body, savoring the taste. A few minutes passed before the sticky black liquid receded and returned to Holm's form.
"Are you satisfied now?" Holm asked mentally, as he meticulously checked the room, ensuring there were no remaining traces of their gruesome task.
Venom's contentment radiated within Holm's mind. "Hehehe, I knew you wouldn't lie to me," it replied with satisfaction. "But I can't help but wonder when the next meal will be."
Holm smiled faintly, shaking his head in amusement. "I can't guarantee the exact time, but I won't keep you waiting too long."
While Holm's response was cautious, Venom was still pleased. It knew Holm always kept his word. Having just enjoyed such a "snack," Venom was content for the moment, though it eagerly anticipated the next opportunity.
After a final inspection of the room, Holm turned to leave.
He stood in front of the mirror in the hallway, looking at his reflection. With a thought, the symbiote covered his clothes, morphing them into the same style and color as Grant Ward's.
"The clothes are the same, but the body shape is slightly different," Holm muttered to himself, examining his appearance. "If only the shoulders were a bit broader, I'd look just like him."
After another small adjustment, Holm was virtually identical to Grant Ward, aside from the obvious difference in face.
"Not bad. I didn't expect your memory to be so precise, like a printed photograph," Holm commented, satisfied with the transformation.
As Holm admired his new appearance, Venom responded with pride, "Of course. I'm a symbiote! Everything I see is like a video recorder I can rewind or pause at will."
"I've meticulously gone over every detail of your appearance," Venom added confidently. "There won't be any issues."
Holm smiled, touched by Venom's pride. He reached up and patted the symbiote's head, which protruded from his shoulder. Though Venom's appearance was far from pleasant, its big head felt oddly cool and comfortable to the touch. Aside from its terrifying look, it was almost pleasant to interact with.
Holm nodded and said, "I need a hat. My face is still different from his."
With a simple command, a venomous tentacle emerged from Holm's head. It circled twice, forming a black hat that fit perfectly atop his head.
"Now, that's better," Holm said, examining himself one last time.
He tucked the venom back into his body, straightened his clothes, and lowered his head slightly before opening the door and stepping outside.
As Holm moved through the streets, he remained aware of every detail around him. With Venom's assistance, he could sense the SHIELD agents observing him from their hidden vantage points. Thanks to this heightened awareness, Holm was able to slip through their blind spots, ensuring no one realized that Grant Ward had been replaced.
Holm continued walking, seemingly unaware of the surveillance, while the agents were left confused and searching for the figure they had lost track of. As he turned the corner and disappeared from their sight, the agents were still scanning the area, unaware of the switch that had just occurred.
.
.
.
Please vote with power stones and write a review if possible.