I Woke Up in the Marvel Universe, But All the Heroes Are Women?-Chapter 86: K-Mart

The acrid smell of gunpowder hangs in the air like a memory that won't fade. My ears still ring from the barrage of shots that took down every single target in Masters' underground firing range. One week since I crushed Norma's skull between my palms, and I'm already back to training like nothing happened.
"Not bad with the shotgun," Masters says, leaning against the wall with that perpetual look of mild amusement. "Your aim's improved."
I set the weapon down carefully, my muscles aching with a familiar burn that's almost comforting. "Thanks, but I want to try something different today."
Ellie stands nearby, her massive Venom form towering over both of us, those blank white eyes fixed on me with an intensity that still makes my heart race. The symbiote ripples across her powerful frame, responding to her emotions in waves of living darkness.
"Different how?" she asks, her dual-layered voice reverberating through the concrete room.
I flex my fingers, feeling the golden energy that constantly simmers just beneath my skin. "I want to test my hand-to-hand combat. See if I can channel some of that... other power."
Masters straightens immediately, her interest piqued. "The demon stuff?"
"Yeah."
Venom moves closer, her massive form casting a shadow over me. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" The concern in her voice is palpable, even through the symbiote's distortion.
"I need to understand what I can do," I explain, rolling my shoulders to loosen them. "If I can control it, maybe I can use it without... you know, going full demon mode."
Masters nods approvingly. "Smart thinking, kid. Better to test your limits here than find out in the middle of a fight."
I turn to face Venom, taking a deep breath as I center myself. The golden energy flows through my veins, warm and familiar, but I'm reaching for something deeper now, something that's been lurking beneath the surface since that day at Osborn's mansion.
"Ready?" I ask, raising my fists in a fighting stance.
Venom nods, her massive form shifting into a defensive posture. "Don't hold back," she growls. "We can take it."
I focus, channeling the golden energy into my hands until they glow with pulsing light. The familiar warmth spreads through my fingers, up my wrists, intensifying with each heartbeat. I launch forward, throwing a punch that connects solidly with Venom's midsection.
The impact sends a satisfying jolt up my arm, but Venom barely moves, absorbing the blow like it's nothing more than a gentle tap.
"That was stronger than before," she says, sounding impressed despite the minimal effect. "But still only barely superhuman."
I step back, frustration building in my chest. All that power I'd felt when facing Norma, the raw strength that had allowed me to tear the symbiote from her body, to crush her skull between my palms, where is it now?
"Let me try something else," I mutter, shaking out my hands.
I close my eyes, digging deeper within myself, pushing past the golden energy that comes so easily now. There's something else there, something darker, more primal. I reach for it, pulling it toward the surface with desperate determination.
The change hits me like white-hot splinters. My temples flare with searing pain as raw energy floods my veins. I grit my teeth, lungs heaving, and channel power into my trembling hands, watching them glow brighter by the second. With every surge, a fierce, pulsing heat coils low, making my breath shudder and my vision blur with need.
With a sickening pop, the horns break through, erupting from my temples in twin points of agony. Blood trickles down my face as I force more power through my system, my hands now glowing even brighter.
With a sickening pop, twin horns burst through my skin, spires of agony crowned in blood, and I can’t help the groan that claws up my throat. My hands blaze brightly and I ache, desperately, unbearably, for Venom.
The pain is blinding, overwhelming, like someone's driving railroad spikes through my skull while simultaneously setting my blood on fire. It's too much, nowhere near the full transformation I underwent at the mansion, but still too much for my body to handle comfortably.
The pain is blinding, overwhelming, like someone's driving railroad spikes through my skull while simultaneously setting my blood on fire. It's too much, nowhere near the full transformation I underwent at the mansion, but still too much for my body to handle comfortably.
Venom lurches forward, her massive form looming, white eyes wide with alarm. “Shane!”
"Don't," I manage, holding up a hand to stop her advance. My voice sounds strained even to my own ears. "I'm okay. Just... give me a minute."
My chest heaves, I can’t tear my gaze from her, from the way her symbiote ripples around Ellie’s anxious face.
"I think this much..." I pause, taking a deep breath as the last wave of pain recedes to a manageable level. "I think this is an amount of pain I could handle every day. Any more than this, and I feel like I'll die."
Masters approaches cautiously, her eyes fixed on the horns protruding from my temples. "Interesting," she says, circling me with a clinical gaze. "They look smaller than they did at the mansion."
"They are," I confirm, carefully reaching up to touch one. The surface is smooth and hard, like polished bone. "At the mansion, I went full demon. Wings, tail, the whole deal. This is all I can really do without much motivation."
Venom's massive form shifts, the symbiote pulling back to reveal Ellie's concerned face. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asks, her blue eyes searching mine.
I manage a weak smile. "Yeah. It hurts, but it's bearable. And I think I'm stronger like this." I flex my fingers, feeling the enhanced power flowing through them. "Not full demon strong, but definitely more than human."
Venom's nostrils flare as the symbiote pulls back completely from her face, Ellie's blue eyes locking with mine. A knowing smile spreads across her lips.
"Shane, I can practically taste your horniness in the air," she says, her voice husky as she glances pointedly at the obvious tent in my pants. "The pheromones you're pumping out right now are... intense."
I feel my face flush hot with embarrassment, but there's no point denying it. "Yeah, well... I wish I didn't have horniness-based powers," I mutter, shifting uncomfortably.
Ellie nods sympathetically, though I catch the hungry glint in her eyes before the symbiote flows back over her face, reforming Venom's monstrous visage.
"Let me throw another punch," I say, refocusing on the task at hand. "I want to see what I can really do with these." I gesture to the horns protruding from my temples, still slick with blood.
Venom widens her stance, massive arms spread in invitation. "Whenever you're ready."
I take a deep breath, channeling the power surging through my transformed body. The pain from the horns has settled into a dull throb, manageable enough that I can concentrate. With a quick step forward, I launch a punch at about three-quarters of my new strength, connecting solidly with Venom's chest.
To my surprise, she actually slides backward several feet, her claws leaving deep grooves in the concrete floor as she braces against the impact.
Masters' eyes go wide. "Holy shit," she whispers, straightening up from the wall.
The golden energy pulses brighter around my fists, feeding off my exhilaration at this newfound strength. I flex my fingers, feeling power coursing through every muscle.
"Can you do better?" Masters asks, her clinical detachment giving way to genuine interest.
I turn to Venom, who's regained her balance and stands ready once more. "Can you take more?" I ask, uncertain if I've already pushed too far.
Those blank white eyes narrow, and I swear I can see excitement in them despite their alien emptiness. "Yes," Venom growls, her voice thick with anticipation. "Show us everything."
The symbiote ripples across her massive form, thickening in places, preparing for a stronger impact.
I take a deep breath, centering myself as I face Venom's massive form. The golden energy swirls through my veins, hot and electric, pooling in my fists.
"Alright, here it comes," I mutter.
Summoning every ounce of strength my half-transformed body possesses, I launch forward. The concrete floor cracks beneath my feet as I push off, my body moving faster than I've ever experienced. Time seems to slow as I drive my glowing fist toward Venom with everything I have.
At the last possible second, her massive hand snaps up to catch my punch.
For a split second, I think I've failed. But then I see it, the symbiote around her hand bubbles violently, the force of my blow sending visible waves pulsing up her arm like a stone dropped in dark water. The living substance convulses and shudders, unable to fully absorb the impact.
"Holy shit," Venom growls, her blank white eyes widening in surprise.
She turns toward Masters, the symbiote still quivering around her arm where my fist connected. "That one actually hurt," she says, something like pride in her dual-layered voice.
Masters pushes away from the wall, her expression shifting from clinical assessment to a maternal warmth. "Well, I'll be damned."