I Woke Up in the Marvel Universe, But All the Heroes Are Women?-Chapter 79: Do Shotguns Dream of Buckshot Sheep

Venom's claws dig into my suit as she launches us through the air, her powerful legs propelling us in a single bound that sends my stomach lurching into my throat. The world blurs around me as we sail over the pristine snow, the mansion's stone walls rushing toward us at terrifying speed.
We land with barely a sound against the eastern side of the mansion, Venom's massive form absorbing the impact. Her body curls protectively around mine as we press against the cold stone, hidden from the chaos erupting at the front of the property. The distant sound of gunfire and screaming tells me Taskmistress is keeping her end of the bargain.
"Clear," Spider-Woman whispers, materializing beside us in a blur of maroon. Her symbiote ripples across her form as she presses herself against the wall, head swiveling to check for guards.
I nod, my breath fogging inside my golden mask as we creep along the mansion's perimeter. The weight of the shotgun in my hands feels reassuring, a promise of what's to come. My heart hammers against my ribs, not from fear but anticipation. Somewhere inside this fortress, Norma Osborn is waiting, unaware that her nightmare has come to collect.
We reach a service entrance, a heavy metal door set into the stone. I grab the handle and pull, but it doesn't budge.
"Locked," I mutter, stepping back.
Venom's massive head tilts downward, those blank white eyes narrowing as she flexes her claws. "Guess it's coming down," she growls.
"Hold on," I whisper, placing a restraining hand on her arm. The last thing we need is to alert everyone inside with the sound of metal being torn apart.
I move to a nearby window, peering through the frosted glass. Beyond it lies what appears to be a kitchen, industrial-sized and gleaming with stainless steel appliances. Empty. Perfect.
Focusing my eyes I pick a spot inside. The energy surges through me, and reality shifts leaving a golden after image in it’s wake. One moment I'm outside in the biting cold, the next I'm standing in the kitchen, the temperature change hitting me like a wall.
I hurry to the door, fumbling with the industrial-sized deadbolt. The mechanism slides open with a satisfying click, and I pull the heavy door toward me. Venom and Spider-Woman slip inside immediately.
The door closes behind us with a soft click, sealing us inside the warmth of the kitchen. We've barely taken three steps when I hear it, the sound of heavy boots marching down a hallway, growing louder with each passing second.
I freeze, raising my hand to signal the others. Venom and Spider-Woman immediately tense, their alien-covered forms going completely still as the footsteps draw nearer.
"Beta and Omega teams, hold position here," a gruff female voice commands from somewhere beyond the kitchen door. "Osborn wants everyone else outside to deal with Taskmistress. Now move!"
More boots thunder past, accompanied by the metallic clatter of weapons and tactical gear. I can make out fragments of panicked conversation as they rush by.
"…blew up the entire east perimeter…"
"…at least fifteen women down…"
"…fucking psychopath in a skull mask…"
The footsteps gradually fade as the majority of guards head toward the exits.
I wait a few more seconds to make sure the coast is clear before turning to Ellie and Spider-Woman. "Let's move."
With careful steps, I edge toward the kitchen doorway and slowly push it open, just enough to peek through the crack. My breath catches in my throat as I take in the massive entryway beyond.
The space is straight out of a billionaire villain's playbook, two sweeping marble staircases curve upward to a second floor landing, which itself hosts another grand staircase leading to a third level. Ornate columns and pretentious artwork line the walls, but what really grabs my attention are the guards, at least two dozen of them positioned strategically throughout the space, their weapons at the ready.
I pull my head back and whisper to my companions, "There are a ton of guards out there. Do you think we can sneak through somehow?"
Venom's massive form shifts closer, those blank white eyes narrowing as she peers through the crack. "Only you could sneak through with your teleporting," she rumbles, her dual-layered voice vibrating through my chest. "But I'd rather go in loud than let you confront Norma alone."
Before I can respond, Spider-Woman pushes past us both, the maroon symbiote rippling across her form with barely contained aggression. "Loud it is, then," she declares, shoving the door open with enough force to slam it against the wall.
The guards snap to attention, weapons swinging toward us, but Spider-Woman is already airborne. She launches herself into the center of the room, firing a web line that connects with the chandelier overhead. Using it as an anchor point, she swings in a wide arc and drives her feet directly into the spine of the nearest guard.
The impact is sickening, a wet crack echoes through the entryway as the woman's back shatters under the force. She crumples to the marble floor like a broken doll, limbs splayed at unnatural angles. Spider-Woman doesn't even pause, already launching herself toward her next target.
"Jesus," I whisper, momentarily frozen by the brutality of it. This really isn't the Spider-Woman I know.
My shock dissolves as Venom surges past me, her massive form filling the doorway. "Yell if anything happens," she growls over her shoulder, her blank white eyes narrowed with deadly intent.
"Will do," I manage, gripping the shotgun tighter.
She launches herself into the chaos, her body transforming as she moves. Her arms elongate into deadly whips, her torso expanding as dark tendrils shoot outward in all directions. The guards barely have time to scream before she's upon them, those living extensions of her body wrapping around throats, piercing chests, and snapping limbs with effortless brutality.
I take a deep breath, steadying myself as I focus on a spot behind a female guard who's frantically trying to reload her weapon. Golden energy pulses through me as I dissolve and rematerialize directly behind her.
She spins around, eyes widening with terror as she registers my presence. For just a heartbeat, I hesitate, staring into her frightened face. This isn't some faceless villain, she's just a person doing her job.
Then I remember what Norma did to me. What she took from me.
The shotgun roars in my hands, the recoil slamming against my shoulder. The buckshot tears through her at point-blank range, transforming her chest into a ruined cavity of blood and bone. She's dead before she hits the marble floor, her weapon clattering uselessly beside her.
Bile surges up my throat as the woman collapses. My first kill. The hot, metallic smell of her blood hits me even through my mask, and I double over, retching violently. Nothing comes up but stomach acid that burns my throat raw.
I've trained for this moment, rehearsed it countless times in my mind, but nothing prepares you for actually taking a human life. Her eyes were blue, I realize suddenly. Like Ellie's.
Movement blurs in my peripheral vision as Venom bounds toward me, her massive form weaving through gunfire with impossible grace. She pauses beside me, those blank white eyes somehow managing to look concerned despite their alien emptiness.
"You alright?" she asks, her voice a dual-toned rumble that cuts through the chaos around us.
I straighten up, swallowing the sour taste in my mouth. Something shifts inside me, a hardening of resolve that pushes past the nausea and shock. This is what I came here to do. This is what Norma deserves.
"Yeah," I say, surprised by the steadiness in my voice. "I'm good."
Venom's massive head tilts slightly, studying me for one more second before she launches herself back into the fray. Her claws tear through two more guards with terrifying efficiency, their screams cutting off abruptly as their bodies hit the marble floor.
Movement on the second-floor balcony catches my eye. A guard in tactical gear sets up position, sniper rifle braced against the ornate railing. She adjusts her scope, the barrel swinging toward Spider-Woman, who's completely exposed as she battles three guards below.
Without hesitation, I focus on a spot behind the sniper. The world dissolves into golden light as I teleport. The guard doesn't even register my presence, her attention fixed through her scope as she steadies her breathing for the kill shot.
I press the shotgun against the back of her head and pull the trigger.
The blast is deafening in the enclosed space. Her skull explodes in a spray of crimson and gray matter, her body pitching forward over the railing. It tumbles through the air in a grotesque ballet before crashing onto the marble below with a sickening thud.
This time, I don't feel sick. I feel powerful.