Standing on the roof, Izuku furrowed his brow and began to speculate about who the target might be. In his mind, there was a version suggesting that he himself could be the target.
"Get away from there, Izuku, it's a trap!" Venom warned, but Izuku's choice was obvious due to the threats on the streets. Not wanting to burden other heroes, he decided to approach slowly in his own manner.
"Not one step back," Izuku said, analyzing his enemies, who were prepared, but their quirks remained unknown, which made him uneasy.
"There's only one way out." Aiming at the surface of the van with weapons, Izuku waited for the moment when a crowd of people would gather together for a mass and quick attack. Four opponents approached the van, and without wasting time, Izuku silently jumped off the roof. With a crash, he landed on the roof of the van, and a mass of tendrils erupted from his body, activating [Symbiote:Blast]. The spikes from the symbiote pierced instantly, and with a scream, Izuku drew the attention of two villains who began shooting at him. However, with a nimble roll, he concealed himself behind the van. Recovering from the unexpected blow, the villains began to rise and grab their weapons, trying to shoot Izuku, but a multitude of tendrils burst from his hands, seizing their weapons. The symbiotic mass forcefully yanked the weapons from their hands, leaving them without dangerous tools.
[Symbiote:Yank] grabbed them by the heads, and applying enough force, Izuku threw them to the ground, knocking out some of the villains' teeth. They were stunned, and it remained to deal with the two who were actively firing at the vehicle, trying to hit him with bullets. Thinking about how to neutralize them, Izuku used his tendrils to pull all the villains into one pile so that no one could escape.
"I need to distract them somehow," Izuku thought, watching the events unfold, his attention drawn to the weapons he had taken from the villains. The gunfire did not cease, and Izuku feared getting shot, even though he had high speed and agility.
"You're thinking what I'm thinking," Venom grinned maliciously, grabbing a weapon with a tendril and handing it to Izuku. Hesitating, Izuku didn't dare to use the assault rifle, and when they distracted themselves for a reload, he threw the automatic rifle at them, buying time and temporarily disorienting them. Jumping into the air, he grabbed one enemy by the neck, pulling him close, and tossing him over his shoulder, Izuku threw the villain towards his accomplice, causing them both pain. They started to get up, albeit reluctantly, and landing on the wet cobblestones, Izuku struck the first opponent in the temple, hit the second in the stomach with a second blow, and with a third, he spun around, hitting both with a flurry of elbow strikes, finishing the combo with a backfist.
Confirming that all the enemies were neutralized, he was instantly caught by energy whips. Before he could free himself, a powerful jolt coursed through his body, delivering pain, causing him to groan and bend his knees.
"Tough little brat," said the villain, perched on a fire escape, watching the desperately resisting masked avenger lying on the ground, struggling to break free from the energy chains. All the villains except him were knocked out, and the pain Izuku felt began to intensify with each of his resistances. Calming himself, Izuku pretended to lose consciousness and relaxed his body, falling to the ground.
"Hah, I expected much more from him," the villain smirked, observing the limp body of his target.
"Why did you let yourself get caught?" Venom whispered, but reading Izuku's thoughts, he realized it was part of his unexpected plan. Since he didn't know that the villain with the energy whips would be there, Izuku had come up with a plan on the fly. He allowed himself to be caught so they would take him to their lair.
"Good idea," Venom praised him, and without resistance, Izuku lay on the ground, not moving while the villains loaded him into the van. Carelessly, they tossed the prisoner into the van, placing additional guards for backup. His clothes were soaked through, and the metallic surface of the van was not pleasant for his skin.
The van roared to life, speeding away with the prisoner and the bounty according to his plan into the unknown. The metallic floor was cold, the rain continued to drip from his clothes, leaving wet marks on the surface. His hands were bound by energy shackles emitting a faint blue light. Although these were intended to suppress quirks, Venom wasn't entirely a quirk. For him, these handcuffs were either a threat or a minor obstacle, and he could easily burst free from the shackles while acting according to Izuku's plan to infiltrate their base.
"We can take care of the two guards, and as soon as they open the van, we'll create chaos," Venom suggested, but Izuku held back his urge to make such a reckless move. The two guards kept throwing strange looks at him, and he gave no indication that he was conscious to avoid causing panic.
"If this leads me to their lair, then it's worth the risk," Izuku replied, mentally controlling his composure through shallow breathing. One guard decided to break the silence by starting a conversation with his partner.
"Well, well, I didn't even know we were trusted to escort the Silent Phantom himself," he said with a smirk, gripping his weapon tightly.
"They say this new hero has become a nightmare for people like us," he checked if the handcuffs were still in place and if he hadn't freed himself while they were on their way to the lair.
"Only looking at him now, I don't get the feeling he's a nightmare for criminals," Izuku continued to pretend to be unconscious, fixing every word of the bandits. The plan was frighteningly simple: when they brought him to their leader, deliver a pinpoint strike and disappear. If not, then engage in a fight with the consequences. The conversation between the two guards dragged on, and it would have gone on longer if not for the sudden stop of the van.
The van stopped in front of an old industrial building, concealed behind high concrete walls topped with barbed wire for security. The door of the truck creaked open, and one of the guards poked his head inside with the barrel of his gun to wake him up.
"Hey, hero, detective, wake up," the guard grumbled. To avoid raising suspicion, Izuku played the part of someone trying to free himself from the handcuffs, applying minimal effort and panicking as he surveyed his surroundings. The dimly lit interior of the industrial building was littered with scattered crates and numerous armed guards with weapons and electronics.
"Why do they need electronics?" Izuku wondered to himself, and as he walked further, some guards threw glances at him. He walked in the company of several guards through a long, damp corridor to a spacious room filled with luxury and expensive items: the heads of deer and various animals, tiger skins, and the leader of the entire gang in a white suit with his deputy.
"An office of a wealthy businessman, not a gang leader," Venom said, assessing the surroundings. Nothing suggested a threat except for the two guards with weapons at their waists. He approached the wooden chair they had kindly provided him, and as he sat down, the gang leader turned to him dramatically, spreading his arms. His confident posture and calm gaze revealed him to be the master of the situation. On the table lay snacks and expensive alcohol on a beautifully set table meant for them.
"And here he is, the Silent Phantom in the flesh," he said with a light smile, gesturing for the guards to leave his office, leaving the three of them alone.
"Great and terrifying, please, take a seat and don't hesitate to take anything from the table," Izuku sat more comfortably on the wooden chair, still in handcuffs, observing the actions of his enemies. The deputy expressed coldness, and aside from the indifference on his face, he showed nothing as the leader kindly offered him a snack. Holding back his irritation, Izuku was satisfied that his infiltration plan had worked.
"Thank you, but I'll pass," Izuku said, breaking the silence with his low voice. The deputy burned a hole through him with his gaze, watching him and his words.
"If I were you, I wouldn't refuse the offer," Tokaura smirked, who had devised the plan for his capture. Izuku raised his gaze and furrowed his brow, expressing irritation.
"If you're trying to intimidate me, don't waste your time," Izuku replied sharply. The boss smirked, took a sip of whiskey, and made a gulp.
"Intimidate? No, that's not my style. I'm here to make you an offer that I hope you can't refuse." He waved his hand at Tokaura, who approached with a case. A click of the lock, and the lid opened, revealing its contents: stacks of money and a flash drive.
"This flash drive contains information on heroes and villains that can be 'removed' or 'bought off.' It's yours if you agree to work for me." Venom inside him was satisfied, but Izuku was increasingly irritated, frowning at the thought of being bribed like a cheap prostitute or made into a personal attack dog.
"Do you think money can interest me?" Izuku's voice was cold, and releasing his hands in a gesture of relaxation, he unfurled the tendrils of the symbiote, disabling every mechanism of the handcuffs on his hands.
"Money, power, resources. I can give you all of that," the man replied, shrugging. "You see, on the bridge, you really messed up my plans. The yakuza who was supposed to be killed was my target for removal, and now he is alive thanks to you, and I suffered losses because of you." The boss tried to suppress his anger, and Tokaura, noticing this, poured him a glass of expensive champagne. "But I hold no grudge against you. On the contrary, I see potential in you."
Izuku remained silent, observing his interlocutor and analyzing every possible development of events.
"You've become a problem for all of us. But instead of destroying you, I'm offering you a deal. Work for me. Your skills and abilities will be put to good use. And believe me, the reward will not be long in coming." The man took a piece of cheese from the tray and slowly ate it, as if demonstrating his calmness.
"And to show you that I am serious," he continued, pointing at the guards, "if you refuse, I can make your life unbearable. You know how it goes. False information about you, provocations, pressure from all sides. Heroes and citizens will fear you even more than they do now." Izuku clenched his fists, internally battling with anger. Venom whispered to him not to refuse the lucrative offer, persistently outlining the benefits of this deal.
"Do you think you can break me?" he quietly asked, staring intently at the man, who carelessly continued to eat before him, showing his relaxation and disregard for his guest.
"No, but I can convince you that resisting is pointless," the man replied gently, refilling his glass with expensive champagne. Venom whispered in Izuku's head:
"This guy knows what he's doing. But he's miscalculated. He doesn't understand who he's dealing with."
"You have five minutes to think about my offer," the man said, leaning back in his chair. "Use this time wisely." Izuku, maintaining his composure, leaned forward. He was almost free from the handcuffs, and a little more and he would be ready to fight to bring everything to the ground. Tokaura didn't take his eyes off him, and at the slightest movement from their guest, he was ready to pounce.
"Your five minutes are nothing more than a delay for your defeat." A slight shadow of irritation flickered across the man's face, but he held back.
"We'll see about that." Izuku silently leaned back in the chair, trying to hide his tension behind a mask of calmness. He studied his opponent carefully: the man looked relaxed, but his gestures revealed hidden vigilance. The guards by the walls were clearly waiting for orders. It was a nerve-wracking game, and Izuku understood that every second of silence was giving him an advantage.
"I see you're silent. That's good," the man spoke again, clearing the empty glass from the table. "People who know how to listen are valued more than those who just chatter. But I advise you not to delay with your answer." Izuku's patience was running out, and the leader of the gang, though not openly, threatened him.
"Are you suggesting I become your attack dog? What else can you offer besides money and threats?" The man smirked, standing up and waving his glass in front of him.
"What else do you need in this world? Money opens doors you don't even know about. Threats are just a tool to keep those who forget their place in line." Izuku frowned at his answer and removed the handcuffs.
"No compromises in the face of a threat." The man seemed to expect such an answer. He shrugged and pressed a button under his desk.
"You're bold. And I like that, but I'm not the person you can speak to like this." The guards moved closer, one of them holding a folder. The man took it and threw it onto the table.
"Here's the file on those you've saved recently. Names, addresses, weaknesses. Everything. If you refuse, these people will pay for your stubbornness." Izuku slowly approached the table, glancing at the folder. His heart sank when he saw familiar faces of those he had saved, including Kota.
"That's low, even for you," he said coldly, clenching his fists.
"This is business," the man replied calmly, sitting back in his chair. "Your hero act is of no use to anyone. People hate those like you. But if you work with me, they will see you in a different light. Respect and fear — you'll get all that." Flipping through each page, Izuku wondered how to start the attack without provoking the armed men in the warehouse.
"He's too dangerous to live. We should kill him." But Izuku remained composed, although he was ready to spring into action and kill everyone present. There were too many of them, though he was faster and stronger than all of them, but he didn't underestimate their numbers and quirks.
"I know," Izuku whispered in his head, but alongside Venom's voice, he heard the voices of his desires, which were persistent.
"He's a threat…"
"He threatens us…"
"We are heroes…"
"He can't buy us…"
"A pathetic man…"
"You want me to be your mercenary. To destroy lives for your interests. That's not my path," Izuku replied firmly. The man leaned back in his chair, this time with evident irritation.
"You're too naive, kid. The world isn't black and white. You either accept the rules or become their victim. You have one last chance." Izuku stood up from the chair and scanned the guards, assessing the distance.
"My answer remains the same," Izuku said with a firm voice, ready for an attack.
"Well, it was nice talking to you, but you've chosen your fate," the man replied coldly, signaling the guards. Izuku heard the sound of a gun's bolt behind him, and that was the signal for the attack.
"It's time," Izuku whispered. Two tendrils shot out from his back and grabbed the villains' guns, while two more tendrils emerged from his coat, seizing the guards' faces and lifting them off the ground. Izuku commanded them to throw them forcefully to the ground.
"Bravo, bravo," the boss clapped his hands, watching his opponent. Returning the tendrils to his back, Izuku was ready to spring into action to attack, but he felt his legs being caught by metallic shackles. It was some quirk, either from the deputy or the boss.
"You live up to the rumors about you. Well, now my deputy will take the courtesy to show you what happens to those who dare to refuse me." Taking a sip from his glass, he made a big gulp. The symbiote didn't have time to break free from the shackles when Izuku was hurled against the nearest wall, and quickly getting up, he met the deputy's gaze.
"I expected more from you. Honestly, since your first appearance here, you've annoyed me." Expressing his displeasure, Tokaura pulled out six knives from his belt, tossing them into the air, and they shot towards Izuku at high speed.
"He can control metal," Izuku concluded and dodged the pursuing knives, doing rolls and tumbles.
"There's nothing metallic on us," Venom commented, and while avoiding the trajectory of the knives, Izuku created [Symbiote:Shield] in the shape of a web. The knives stuck firmly in the living shield, and when Tokaura tried to retrieve the knives, they were firmly lodged in the shield, not returning to the sender.
"Not bad," he said, attracting other metallic objects in the room while the boss quietly dined at his table, biting into well-done steak. Izuku shot the shield, directing the knives in different directions, but he had to dodge even more metallic objects flying at him, and one of the metal trays hit him squarely in the face. Izuku groaned in pain and closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he saw a huge metallic object flying straight at him, trying to crush him. Using the tendrils on his back, he quickly jumped up, deftly avoiding it.
"This is starting to annoy me," Venom said in an angry voice. "Give me the freedom, and I'll rip this man to shreds."
Izuku continued to dodge the attacks, but Tokaura didn't allow him to get too close. Waiting for the moment, Izuku suddenly approached him, encountering no resistance, but how wrong he was when the six knives he had initially fought with pierced his back, driven by Tokaura's quirk of metal manipulation. Izuku collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain, but the symbiote quickly healed his wounds. Lying before Tokaura, five meters away, he made a serious mistake by getting close to him. Izuku used [Symbiote:Blast], pulling out the knives from his body, and with a scream, he [Tendrill Pull] grabbed Tokaura by the throat, pulling him closer, and delivered three precise blows to Tokaura's head, disorienting him. Tokaura staggered back a couple of steps, and with animal rage, he lunged at him, knocking him to the ground and using [Beatdown], beating him like a puppy. Tokaura was a long-range fighter, and he needed concentration to control the metal. Beating his face out of irritation and anger from the inflicted pain, Izuku gouged out his eyes so he couldn't see him. Tokaura screamed in pain until he finally fell silent. Izuku raised his gaze and met the gang leader's eyes, who watched his fight with a sly smile.
"That was magnificent, bravo!" he grinned, extending a glass of wine. Izuku, irritated, lunged at him but was immediately struck by a jolt, as there was a force field created by electricity in front of him.
"Did you think I wouldn't prepare for this meeting? How naive of you!" At that moment, the alarm went off, and Izuku realized he would have to engage in a fight with a mini-army.
"Well, good luck to you, Silent Phantom. I hope you reconsider," he said, drinking champagne and grinning widely. Various grenades flew into the room, from regular to flashbangs. With varying intervals, they exploded, and a flashbang grenade emitting high-frequency sound effectively affected him, causing him to shudder and writhe in pain on the floor, clutching his ears.
"AAAAAA!!!" Izuku screamed, lying on the ground, writhing from the pain in his ears and all over his body. When the grenades stopped, enemies with guns aimed at him burst through the door. They wasted no time with him and opened fire without holding back bullets. Izuku used [Symbiote:Shield] and shielded himself, absorbing all the bullets they shot at him. Having absorbed enough bullets, he used [Counter], firing all the bullets back at them, hitting some of them. Enraged by the noise, Izuku stopped holding back, shouting at everyone.
"I've had enough!" he whispered with an animal roar, and with a wave of his hand towards the crowd of enemies, reinforced by the symbiote, he used [Symbiote:Punch], sending most of the enemies flying. With blinding speed, he charged into the crowd of villains, clenching his fist and striking the ground with all his might using [Groundpound]. Tendrils burst from the ground, throwing most of the opponents back.
"Do you think you'll leave here alive?" Izuku whispered with a menacing voice, unleashing a torrent of quirks directed at them, and transforming his hands into symbiotic whips, he spun around, hitting enemies and dealing area damage, not allowing the opponents to approach. Twenty opponents were neutralized, and trying to turn off [Rage mod], Izuku froze for five seconds, during which he was shot in the chest with a large-caliber rifle. Izuku felt pain but didn't give it much thought; under the adrenaline, he found his opponent and tried to hit him, but Izuku deftly dodged his attacks, avoiding the lines of fire. Running along the walls and pulling the enemy towards him with a tendril, Izuku grabbed him by the throat and looked into his eyes with a fierce glare; the enemy was audacious and didn't back down under the threat of death, even spitting in Izuku's face. Unable to withstand such audacity, Izuku threw the villain into one of the many crates.
"Everyone is taken care of, only one remains," Venom whispered, watching as his host quickly and ruthlessly dealt with the villains, only killing Tokaura, who had caused the most problems.
"We need to turn off the electricity," Izuku said with malice, stepping over the fallen opponents. In the first office, there were only shelves with ammunition, in the second only electronics, and in the third electrical panels and servers.
"Bingo!" Venom exclaimed. A mass of tendrils erupted from Izuku's hands, grabbing all the wires. With tendrils, Izuku pulled on them, cutting off all power in the room, including the force field.
Izuku burst back into the boss's office, kicking the door off its hinges. Once the office of the self-assured boss lay empty, in the center lay the dead Tokaura, pieces of broken furniture and equipment, scattered food along with glasses, and important documents burned in places. Now this office lay empty; the once self-assured boss had fled like a coward, terrified for his life.
"He ran away!" Venom hissed in Izuku's head, sounding as if recalling a beast.
Izuku carefully examined the room for clues and useful information until his gaze fell on the control panel by the table. Charred wires sparking from a short circuit indicated that the force field had been disabled. Approaching the table, Izuku inspected it until he heard the sound of an engine starting up in the distance, trying to escape this nightmare.
"He's getting away," Venom hissed in his head.
Not wasting any time, Izuku dashed to the window. His hands were covered in living tendrils, which shattered the glass, sending shards flying in all directions. Skillfully jumping through the opening, he rushed towards the warehouse. Outside, it was cold, and the rain continued to pour, filling the air with the smell of oil and gasoline. At the very exit of the warehouse, a truck roared to life, its tires screeching as they left marks on the asphalt.
"I won't let you get away!" Izuku roared, activating [Symbiote:Dash]. His legs merged with the symbiote, allowing him to move with inhuman speed.
He charged forward, dodging neatly arranged crates and old containers. The truck was picking up speed, weaving through the narrow passages of the warehouse. The driver was clearly trying to throw off his pursuer, but Izuku wasn't about to fall behind.
"Come on, faster!" Venom demanded. "We need to catch him before he reaches the open road!"
Izuku swung his tendrils, gripping the nearest container, and made a huge leap, landing several meters behind the truck. His eyes, filled with rage, searched for an opportunity to get closer.
Suddenly, the truck braked sharply, forcing Izuku to dodge to avoid crashing into it. The driver jumped out — one of the boss's henchmen, armed with a large-caliber assault rifle.
"You won't reach him!" he shouted, opening fire. Izuku created [Symbiote:Shield], absorbing the barrage of bullets. Then, with fury, he lunged forward, striking the rifle with a tendril and knocking it out of the enemy's hands. In the next movement, he grabbed the man by the chest and forcefully threw him aside, maintaining his momentum.
With a leap, he soared onto the roof of the truck, entering through the hatch. The driver screamed upon seeing him, but before he could do anything, a tendril seized him by the throat, forcefully pulling him out of the vehicle.
"Where is he?!" Izuku asked coldly, tightening his grip on the captured man's throat, inflicting pain to make him more cooperative.
"He… he already left! In another car!" the man gasped. Izuku slightly relaxed his grip, allowing him to breathe. With a swift punch, he knocked the villain out.
Izuku's eyes narrowed. He felt the blood boiling in his veins. With a sharp motion, he tossed the henchman aside and jumped to the ground. Looking around, he saw tire tracks leading out of the warehouse area.
"We're not done yet," Venom said, urging Izuku to charge forward again.
"The chase has just begun," Venom whispered, grinning internally.
Izuku raced through the streets like a shadow. The tire tracks on the wet asphalt led away from the warehouse, and each step brought him closer to his target. Rage boiled in his chest, fueled by Venom's fury. The boss thought he could escape, but Izuku had already decided: no one would get away.
Ahead, around the corner, he spotted a car — a black luxury sedan with tinted windows speeding at full throttle. Izuku accelerated, his muscles tensed, and his tendrils flared out, gripping walls and poles to gain more momentum.
"Does he think this will help?" Venom hissed maliciously. Gripping the poles and edges of the building, the tendrils swung him faster.
"It won't help," Izuku replied, his voice sharp, almost beastly. With each jump, he closed the distance. The car attempted to turn into a narrow alley, but that only slowed it down. Jumping onto the roof of the adjacent building, Izuku, like a predator, watched the movement of his prey. Then, with a powerful leap, he jumped straight onto the roof of the car.
"What the…?!" a frightened voice came from inside. The roof of the car dented under Izuku's weight. The boss shouted orders at the driver in desperation, but the driver, panicking, simply pressed the gas, not knowing what to do. Izuku clenched his fingers, and symbiotic tendrils pierced the metal, breaking through the roof.
"You're not getting away," he said in a low, threatening voice, peering inside.
"Damn it! Get him off!" the boss screamed, but the guard sitting in the front seat didn't even have time to raise his weapon. One of the tendrils yanked him from the seat and tossed him out of the car like trash.
"Please! We can negotiate!" the boss shouted, gasping in fear as Izuku ripped off a piece of the roof, exposing the interior.
"It's too late to negotiate when you decided to threaten me," Izuku growled, grabbing the boss by the collar. The car began to tilt, the driver lost control, and it slammed into a wall. The impact barely affected Izuku, who yanked the boss out as if he were a rag doll.
"Did you think you could hide?" Izuku whispered with hatred, lifting him off the ground.
"No… no, you don't understand! It was… just business!" the boss gasped, clutching Izuku's hands, but the symbiote's grip only tightened.
"And now it's personal," Izuku replied coldly, his eyes gleaming in the darkness. He threw the boss to the ground and then hovered over him, ready to finish what he started.
"Please, ask for anything, just don't hurt me!" The boss shielded himself with his hands, trying to protect himself, but Izuku grabbed him with his tendrils, pulling him closer. Watching the alley, Izuku thought about conspiracies, and seeing a manhole cover, he jumped down with his prisoner so that no extra eyes would witness the scene.
"What do you want? Leave me alone!" the boss of the crime group screamed.
In the dim light of the sewer lamps, the crime boss gasped from the stench and fear. His legs trembled as Izuku tossed him onto the damp concrete floor. The symbiotic tendrils clung to the walls like threatening carnivorous plants, ready to strike at any moment.
"Tell me why you decided to kill a key member of the yakuza," Izuku said in a voice laced with malice and hatred.
"I won't say, it's classified information," the boss replied, his voice trembling, and this was his fatal mistake, as a tendril seized him by the chest and yanked him sharply toward Silent Phantom, whose pupils were more strained than usual.
"I don't care how classified this information is. You will tell me everything," the boss stared at Izuku in fear, but summoning all his courage, he decided to respond.
"Hell, I'm not going to tell you anything. You think you're the strongest, you think you're the smartest? Aah!!" With a defiant face, he decided to look at his captor, but Izuku was dissatisfied with that answer.
"Wrong answer." Finishing his sentence, Izuku broke the boss's finger, and he screamed in pain throughout the sewer, clutching his suit tighter as he shook him until he sobered from the pain.
"You can scream as much as you want, no one will help you," Izuku threatened in a menacing tone.
"Okay, okay, I'll tell you," he gasped.
"He's a key member of the yakuza who handles important issues in the yakuza system, and by eliminating him, we would gain significant influence over the territory where the yakuza trades in weapons, thereby increasing profits from the sale of illegal electronics and arms." Izuku frowned harder and with a tendril grabbed the boss by the leg, suspending him upside down over the sewage.
"You will tell me about all the criminal families in the city that you know," he said, glaring at the boss, who was trying to help himself with his hands.
"This is classified information; anyone who finds out is either dead or in captivity."
The boss wheezed, feeling the blood rushing to his head as his helpless body dangled over the sewage waters. The tendrils held him tightly despite his attempts to break free.
"You're mistaken if you think I'll believe your excuses," Izuku said, his voice icy, and his eyes like two projectors of hatred. "Start talking. Otherwise, I'll make sure you become part of this sewer." The boss gasped, but the fear of the inevitable forced him to speak.
"Alright, alright! I'll tell you!" he babbled. "There are several major crime families in the city that control the main sectors. They oversee everything from arms trafficking to rare technology supply and managing the shadow economy."
"Continue," Izuku ordered, tightening his grip with a tendril to remind him who was in charge.
"The Tokugawa family!" the boss blurted out. "They are the main players in the arms smuggling market. They have access to military stockpiles and even trade experimental weaponry!"
"More!" Izuku coldly asked, waiting for him to continue. Izuku tightened his tendril grip further so he wouldn't dare lie to him even in such a desperate situation.
"The Miyamoto family," he spat out. Izuku clenched his teeth but continued to listen to the gang leader.
"They control human trafficking," the boss blurted out, turning away as if feeling shame himself. "They hunt people with unique quirks. They are sold on the black market… or used for their own needs."
"There's also the Yotsushima family," he said but didn't add any details, prompting Izuku to break another finger on his hand. The boss screamed in agony throughout the sewer.
"Okay, okay, I'll tell you. They control drug trafficking in the city on the underground market. New types of quirky enhancers and drugs are their doing. Their labs are hidden all over the city," he gasped from the screams he had let out, and Izuku was not going to be gentle with him.
"What else do you know?" Izuku released him, allowing him to sit on the wet floor. The boss cradled his broken fingers and looked at him anxiously.
"There's also the Yaoyorozu family," he said coldly, fearing that anyone who found out about this family's dealings would be dead or working for them. The boss nervously swallowed, avoiding Izuku's gaze.
"That's not what you think," he tried to justify himself. Izuku crouched down to his level and grabbed his chin, looking him in the eyes.
"You're starting poorly," Izuku said through clenched teeth. "Why would such a family engage in dark dealings?"
"Officially… the Yaoyorozu family is known for its clean reputation," the boss admitted, his voice trembling. "They operate in pharmaceuticals and high technology. Charity, research… the perfect family! But it's all a cover!"
"What are they responsible for?" Izuku loomed over him like a shadow, towering over him, but the boss stubbornly remained silent.
"You will tell me everything, or you will become food for the rats," Izuku threatened. The boss nervously swallowed a lump in his throat but finally agreed to provide the information.
"They run a network of illegal operations through their corporations," the boss whispered, pleading for mercy. "Their influence is enormous; they can pressure anyone, from the police to heroes. They finance the yakuza, covering everything with their projects." The boss's words hung in the air. The name Yaoyorozu evoked memories of a family he once admired. The ideal of purity and virtue now tarnished by the filth of the shadow world.
"Are you sure of your words?" Izuku asked coldly, clenching his fist and pressing it to the boss's face.
"I swear! I've seen their deals with other families! They control everything through their fronts. No one can get close to them!"
Izuku was silent for several seconds, pondering what he had heard. The name Yaoyorozu didn't fit into his worldview, but it was now clear that even the "cleanest" could hide filth beneath a shiny facade.
"That's not enough," he said firmly, leaning back in towards the boss again. "I need informants. People who know the city, its dark corners. Who can give me names, evidence, contacts?" The boss, breathing heavily, looked up at Izuku from below. He understood that denying was pointless.
"There's one," he began, his voice shaking. "The Shadow Broker."
"Who is he?" Izuku asked coldly, tightening his grip with a tendril.
"No one knows his real name," the boss quickly replied, fearing for his life. "He's… a middle-aged man; no one even knows his real name. The Broker sells everything: information, weapons, people, technology. If you have money or something valuable to trade, the Broker will find what you need." Izuku frowned upon hearing this information.
"Where can I find him?" he asked with malice.
"He operates in the gray zone," the boss said, trying not to meet Izuku's eyes.
"It's a territory where no crime group dares to start a war. It's a neutral zone for everyone. The Broker and his people maintain order. Any violation — and the guilty parties vanish." Izuku sighed heavily from all the new information, allowing the boss a moment to catch his breath.
"And how do I get there?" he asked, moving closer, looking him in the eyes.
"He's on the outskirts of the city in one of the rough neighborhoods, but don't underestimate him; the heroes there work for him," he informed Izuku as he grasped the boss's suit, lifting him off the ground. Izuku pondered what he had heard for a moment. His face remained cold and impenetrable, but emotions boiled within him.
The boss relaxed slightly, feeling the tension between him and his formidable interlocutor begin to ease.
"Well then," Izuku finally spoke, his voice becoming slightly quieter but no less terrifying. "You've been useful."
"Can I go now?" the boss asked hopefully, nervously licking his lips.
Izuku paused for a moment, as if considering his question. Then he coldly replied:
"Of course, you can." The boss struggled to his feet, rubbing his hand, which still throbbed with pain from the recent "interrogation." He cautiously took a few steps toward the sewer exit, but suddenly heard Izuku say:
"Only first, you will meet those who have been waiting for you."
The boss turned around but had no time to say anything. A tendril wrapped around his torso, and Izuku yanked him sharply through the dark passages of the sewer.
A few minutes later, they found themselves near the nearest police station. Checking carefully to ensure there was no one around, Izuku tossed the bound boss right in front of the entrance.
The boss screamed loudly, attracting the attention of the police. They peered out of the doors of the station in surprise, noticing the man lying in front of them. One officer raised a flashlight and directed the beam of light straight at the boss.
"What's going on here?" a stern voice of the officer rang out.
"It's him!" the boss suddenly screamed, pointing towards the shadow where Izuku had just stood. "He... he did all this!"
But by the time the officers turned their attention to the darkness, Izuku was already gone.
Izuku swiftly moved across the rooftops, rapidly distancing himself from the police station. His long coat billowed in the wind, and his thoughts were focused on a new target — the Shadow Broker.
"Heroes who work for him…" the boss's words echoed in his mind.
Now he had to not only reach this mysterious figure but also find out who among those he once respected might be involved in dirty dealings.
"Time is on my side," Izuku thought, dissolving into the night.
"This is the beginning of cleansing the city. We will become heroes who help society," Venom whispered, anticipating the start of something new.
[Combo's]
Symbiote Yank
Symbiote Blast
Tentacle Attack
Symbiote Charge
Elbow Smash
Beatdown
Tendril Pull
Symbiote Slam
Uppercut
[Passive Abilities]
Symbiote Body Coating
Regeneration
Wingsuit Wings
Speed and Agility
Strength
Symbiote Armour
Rage Mode
Defuse
New!Symbitoe:Shield
New!Symbiote:Dash
To be continued