Spider-Man was speechless. He recognized Venom and the man with the camera immediately. Phil Urich, the same person who had helped him get his photos sold to the Daily Bugle, was standing there, eagerly snapping away.
The familiarity felt almost surreal.
"Your Daily Bugle is too…" Peter trailed off, struggling to find the right word to describe the absurdity of the situation.
He looked from Venom to Phil, wondering how every Daily Bugle employee seemed to share the same questionable moral compass.
Phil shrugged nonchalantly, grinning. "What can I say? I'm just doing my job!" He greeted Spider-Man with casual familiarity, snapping several photos before motioning for Venom to continue.
Eddie, still in his Venom form, maintained his intimidating appearance. He looked at Spider-Man and asked, "What exactly are you doing?"
Spider-Man replied, "I'm making an antidote. The Lizard transformed because of a genetic serum he used. The serum rewrote his DNA. Think of it like a poison, and this antidote will 'detoxify' him, returning him to his normal form."
He hesitated before adding, "But there's a problem. The Lizard escaped, and I'm not sure when he'll resurface. We need to capture him to cure him."
Venom nodded thoughtfully. "Don't worry, you'll be seeing him very soon."
Spider-Man's eyes widened beneath his mask as he heard a rumbling from behind. He turned, and there it was—a sleek, black Batmobile floating in mid-air.
Batman stood on the vehicle, and at his feet was the Lizard, now battered and weakened, his limbs visibly broken.
With a thud, Batman kicked the Lizard forward. "I assume you know what to do with him?" he said, casting a piercing look at Spider-Man.
The young hero felt a shiver, as though Batman could see right through him.
Minutes later, the antidote was complete, and Connors reverted back from his monstrous Lizard form. He was once again human, but with one haunting difference—his right arm and leg, which had regrown as the Lizard, were now missing again.
The transformation left him broken, his remaining limbs shaking as he realized his loss. Dr. Connors collapsed, his eyes filled with despair.
"Why?" Connors murmured, his gaze darkening as he looked up at Batman. "Why would you do this to me? All I wanted was to be whole."
Batman's expression remained stoic. "Your intentions and actions were reckless. You endangered countless lives. Think about the damage you caused, and consider the price others have paid for your ambition."
He added coldly, "The loss of your leg is the least of your punishments. Consider it a small price for the harm you've done."
At that moment, George Stacey and a group of police officers arrived, surrounding the heroes and the weakened Dr. Connors. George's gaze shifted from Batman to Connors, piecing together the situation.
His respect for Batman grew; he understood now why the masked hero had refused to hand Connors over without first neutralizing him.
"Batman, hand him over," George said calmly, eyeing the defeated Connors.
Batman nodded, stepping back and letting the police officers approach. With that, he turned to leave, his Batmobile vanishing into the night sky as silently as it had arrived.
Venom and Spider-Man exchanged a final glance before also making their exits, each slipping into the shadows.
Meanwhile, Phil's camera was still rolling. He couldn't contain his excitement as he captured everything—Batman, Spider-Man, Venom, and the aftermath of the fight.
He knew the Daily Bugle would make front-page news with these shots. After getting everything he needed, Phil turned to George Stacey, hoping to get an official statement.
"Captain Stacey, congratulations on capturing the Lizard!" Phil chimed in, thrusting his microphone forward. "How do you feel about this incident? What does it mean for the New York Police Department?"
George, thoroughly unamused, waved Phil off. "Get him out of here," he ordered one of his men, motioning for them to escort Phil outside.
Phil left the Oscorp Building, waiting in the shadows. He had no intention of leaving entirely, though, knowing that Eddie and Anton would be close behind. And as expected, they soon appeared.
Eddie clapped Phil on the shoulder, grinning. "So, did you get it all?"
Phil beamed, patting his camera. "Of course! Don't forget who taught me the ropes, Eddie. I got every shot."
"Good work," Eddie nodded approvingly. "This story is going to be big."
Just then, Anton noticed a black car pulling up to the Oscorp Building. Out of the vehicle stepped none other than Norman Osborn, adjusting his suit as he prepared to enter. He looked calm but determined, and the crowd of reporters swarmed around him.
"Mr. Osborn!" a reporter shouted. "What's your response to the Lizard incident?"
"Is it true that Oscorp was involved in developing the serum that turned a man into the Lizard?"
Another reporter joined in, "What about your acquisition of the Life Foundation? Is there any connection between that and the recent events?"
The questions came in a flurry, accompanied by a frenzy of flashing lights. Osborn raised his hands, commanding silence.
"I'll answer questions," he announced, his tone cool and composed. "But I'll take questions from only one reporter."
The crowd erupted in murmurs, the reporters vying for his attention, but Norman looked straight at Phil. "The Daily Bugle is here, yes?"
Phil perked up, grinning as he pushed forward. "Right here, Mr. Osborn! I'm Phil Urich from the Daily Bugle."
"Excellent. Come with me." Osborn signaled for Phil, then turned to Anton and Eddie. "You two—would you like to join us?"
Anton and Eddie exchanged a glance before stepping forward, ignoring the envious stares of the other reporters. As they entered the Oscorp Building, Osborn's bodyguards surrounded them, clearing the path.
When they reached the private elevator, Osborn waved the guards off. "Stay here. We won't be needing any security inside."
One guard hesitated. "But, sir…"
Osborn raised a brow, his tone dismissive. "I'm perfectly safe here. No one in this room poses a threat to me." His gaze flickered to Anton, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips. "Isn't that right, Anton?"
Anton raised an eyebrow, but he matched Osborn's smile. "Of course. Nothing to worry about."
…
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