Venom: F**k You, Stark!

Peter been quite free lately.

Several months have passed since the last gathering at Avengers Tower.

"That Stark, he only does useless things!"

Venom said somewhat displeasedly in Peter's mind.

Since the Ultron Global Defense Program was launched, those Mass-produced Iron Man have been flying around New York all day, arresting all the criminals and locking them up in the Police Station's jail.

At first, Ultron only arrested criminals who were committing crimes, but later, he also targeted idle gang members on the streets.

I heard that the New York Police Department jails are already full, with more than ten prisoners crammed into a small room, and they can't even bend over to pick up a bar of soap while showering.

Now Stark Industries has contacted Primus again, planning to build several new prisons in various districts.

There are simply too many criminals to imprison.

This had nothing to do with Peter.

But now there's no one left on the streets of New York who dares to do bad things, and he and Venom have been forced to sit idle.

Venom, in particular, is no good; his mind is filled with violence and bloodshed.

When there were more criminals, it was alright. Although Peter wouldn't let him eat brains, he could still go out and vent his anger by punching a couple of scumbags and breaking their noses.

Peter is not the same person he used to be.

Ben had taught him not to be lenient with criminals, and after being subtly influenced by Venom, Peter sometimes considered whether to use slightly harsher methods when observing the behavior of criminals.

Of course, his combined strength with Venom is close to 100 tons, so what's called a heavy blow is just a light touch.

However, their style of doing things does seem much more violent.

But that's all in the past now.

Without criminals, Spider-Man seems to have become a mere figurehead. Sometimes he wanders around the city for a whole time but finds nothing, inevitably feeling a sense of melancholy like a fisherman who misses the boat.

Peter knew that the decrease in the city's crime rate was a good thing, but if things continued like this, perhaps no one would need Spider-Man anymore.

Thinking this way, Peter also felt a little unhappy.

He knew he was wrong to think that way, because his Uncle Ben often told him that doing good deeds was not for fame or fortune, but to help others.

It would be a good thing if one day the world no longer needed Super Hero.

But Peter was still very sad.

If no one litters in the city anymore, that would certainly be a good thing, but then there would be no need for sanitation workers anymore.

Sanitation workers thus lost their value and were completely abandoned.

"We were abandoned too."

Venom said immediately.

Normally, Symbiote wouldn't peek into their hosts' thoughts without their consent, but Venom never cares about these ridiculous rules.

He has no inhibitions and does whatever he wants.

Sensing Peter's inner turmoil, he immediately added fuel to the fire.

"This city doesn't need us anymore. Before long, they—everyone in this city—will forget us, forget that there was ever a Super Hero called Spider-Man!"

"How is that possible?" Peter was even more agitated.

He was still thinking that Spider-Man might no longer be needed when Venom told him that people were about to forget him.

"Impossible?"

"Haven't you noticed that news about us is almost disappearing from the internet and newspapers? Even the Daily Bugle, which used to criticize you all the time, has almost forgotten about us."

Venom continued, "Think about it, how many of your classmates still mention Spider-Man when they chat?"

Peter pursed his lips and remained silent.

But after thinking about it, he realized that it was indeed the case.

Lately, the students have been talking about Iron Man, Ultron... how many times those Iron Legion flew over their rooftops in one night, and who got arrested because they were gang members...

"That's just how it is," Venom said. "Think about those old appliances; they weren't even that long ago, and the kids already don't recognize them."

Even if you remember, you'll gradually forget.

"With so many new and exciting things happening in this world, who will remember us two insignificant characters?"

Peter was already annoyed, and his words only made him more so, so he retorted irritably, "What else do you want?"

I just feel sorry for you!

As soon as Venom opened its mouth, its belly full of wicked schemes began to spill out.

"You've contributed to this city, you've shed blood!"

"But what about them? Seeing they no longer need you, they've just abandoned you! Let's go teach them a lesson!"

Peter wasn't so easily persuaded, he sighed.

"I know you want me to do something bad again, but don't even think about it!"

Even now, Peter is at most a bit more violent than before; he's unlikely to actually listen to Venom and do bad things.

If that were the case, let alone Uncle Ben and Aunt May, Ben would be the first to beat him up.

"It doesn't necessarily mean we have to do bad things," Venom immediately changed his tune.

He was also afraid of Ben.

"I think we can make a big splash so people don't forget about us," he said. "We're all losers. What will you do if New York really doesn't need Spider-Man anymore?"

"Back to being the unknown Peter Parker he used to be?"

Venom understands Peter's heart very well.

He knew what Peter feared most.

This kid can't let go of the Spider-Man lifestyle. Besides having Superpowers, he also has the same sense of responsibility and uses the Spider-Man identity to realize his life's value.

When he was Spider-Man, he was New York's celebrated hero.

Even if there are other heroes in this world, he can still find his place in New York.

But when he was Peter Parker, his life was largely unknown.

"If you weren't Spider-Man, what value would you have?" Venom retorted. "Would you be content to go back to how you were before?"

"Perhaps out of respect for Ben, no one bullies you, but nobody really respects you."

"Peter, admit it!" Venom continued, "The person who needs Spider-Man the most in this world is no one else but yourself."

Peter fell silent.

Because he actually knew Venom was right.

He needs the Spider-Man identity more than anyone else.

Without it, Peter Parker is just Peter Parker.

He thought that even if Benny didn't become Spider-Man, he could still become one of those Alien Hero. He would still be the leader of the Galactic Plumbers, able to go on missions to alien planets, and even Iron Man wouldn't be able to control him.

He's so smart, he started a wealthy company, and invented so many things...

Both Felicia and Mary Jane, those two beautiful girls, liked him, unlike me, who, after so much time, still received no affection from Liz.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt like a failure. Actually, he was a failure even when he was Spider-Man, but at least back then he was Spider-Man.

Peter was conflicted and distressed, but he still didn't agree to Venom's plan to cause trouble.

Instead, he shook his head and said, "Even without criminals, I can still wear my uniform and roam the city. Everyone can see us, and no one will forget that Spider-Man ever existed."

Venom:...

I've never seen anyone as spineless as you!

He was furious and cursed:

"To entertain themselves high in the city, putting on some slapstick performances for others to see?"

"Don't you think this is like something Joker would do?!"

Peter didn't argue; he simply moved to a secluded spot where no one could see him and changed into the Venom suit.

"Alright, Venom."

"Don't overthink it. The crime rate has dropped, which is a good thing."

He was comforting Venom, but more than that, he was comforting himself.

"We all disagreed with Mr. Stark's proposal at the time, but now Ultron is managing the city very well. Have you noticed that the newly built Manhattan no longer has Hell's Kitchen?"

"That's because those low-level thugs who haven't committed crimes yet have already been eliminated by those robots like trash."

Venom said irritably.

He was utterly helpless against Peter's cowardly nature; he had been possessing him for almost a year, yet he hadn't changed Peter's personality much.

That's understandable, though.

The Venom in this universe is more like the Venom from "Lethal Protector," rather than the pure Venom villain from the original Spider-Man.

His personality is very similar to Deadpool's; he's utterly despicable, but not particularly evil.

Logically speaking, he and Peter shouldn't get along very well, but he just happened to inherit Deadpool's ingrained love for Spider-Man, and even when he was being tortured, he didn't want to leave.

At this moment, it obediently transformed into a battle suit and draped it over Peter's body.

He compromised:

"Okay, okay!"

"You're such a spineless coward!"

"Alright, stop complaining, let's go for a walk." Peter said as he rushed into the air.

He didn't want to break the mold, and after working with Venom, he did notice that his temper seemed to have become a little more volatile, but he was still doing good deeds.

But Venom now wants him to do bad things, which he obviously can't accept.

"I didn't mean for you to do anything bad."

Venom immediately began to defend itself.

"I just want you to make some big news. That mustachioed Stark made us lose our jobs, so let's capture one of his robots and take it apart to vent our anger, okay... Look, there's a wild Ultron Robot flying over there. Let's trap it with our webs, twist off its robot head, swallow all its parts in one go, then twist all the wires together, tie a knot, and spell 'f**k' on the wall of Stark Tower."

Venom doesn't refer to Avengers Tower, but rather to several newly built towers by Stark Industries.

All of Ultron Robot were produced in those buildings, which infuriated Venom.

"Alright, that's enough, I can't afford to pay for it!"

Peter replied curtly.

Even a mass-produced model of such a robot would cost tens of millions of dollars.

Although Ben was wealthy, Peter did not treat Ben's money as his own.

Those are completely different things.

Then he looked at the Ultron Robot flying towards him from a distance.

Actually, it wasn't just one, but five, arranged in a V-shape like geese flying south.

Suddenly, I felt strange again.

"Why have so many Ultron Robot been deployed all at once? What's going on?"

It's important to understand that although the Ultron Robot is a mass-produced model, its technological content has been upgraded over several generations, making it actually very powerful.

Five robots even have the power to Carnage a small country.

In New York today, you can hardly see any criminals. Even those with prior convictions who have been released from prison dare not show their faces easily. Not long ago, someone was arrested on suspicion of committing a crime before he had even done anything.

Therefore, Peter was puzzled as to what situation would require all five Ultron Robot to be deployed together.

"Could it be that a new supervillain has appeared?"

His and Venom's eyes lit up at the same time.

"Hey!" Venom exclaimed excitedly, "This is a great opportunity!"

"If we can take care of the criminals before Ultron Robot, then they'll be out of the picture," Venom said.

This was also what Peter was thinking.

"Let me see if I can get some information out of them." Peter's mind started working.

He'd heard Ben say that Ultron was highly intelligent, and since it was Stark's invention, he figured he might as well go up and say a few words out of respect for Stark.

But something Peter happened to Peter.

The Ultron Robot flying at the very front suddenly raised its arm towards him, and in the next instant, bullets were fired!

Bump!

Spider-Sense was not triggered.

Because Ultron was targeting Peter's Silk.

However, Peter was also taken aback by the sudden attack. He plummeted instantly, but quickly regained his balance in mid-air and shot out another Silk, pulling himself back to the roof of the mobile building.

The next moment, five Ultron Robot, spewing flames, hovered above his head, scrutinizing him like gods.

What are you guys doing?!

Venom instantly sprang up a head, enraged, and began spewing filth at Ultron.

"I bet the code Tony Stark wrote in your heads is all crap! Don't you know who Venom is?!"

Peter frowned, suppressing his anger, and said, "What are you doing? Why did you attack me!"

Spider-Man.

"You have violated traffic safety regulations!" The lead robot adopted an attack stance, its glowing Repulsor Ray aimed at Peter.

"This is the first warning. If it happens again, you will be arrested!"

Now, Peter's Spider-Sense kicked in.

That piece of junk might actually be used!

Oh shit!

Are you crazy?!

Peter cursed under his breath, but still retorted defiantly, "What traffic safety regulations? I'm in the sky!"

"The New Traffic Law was passed a month ago, Spider-Man. The skies above the city are for hovercars and Ultron patrol robots, not for law-breaking insects like you."

Peter was speechless for a moment.

He had indeed forgotten about it.

After all, very few people own hovercars these days, so who would care about these things?

But he had no choice but to surrender, saying, "Fine, now I'm completely unemployed. Goodbye, I never want to see you tin men again."

But Ultron Robot remained unmoved.

Five machines surrounded him in a circle, raising their arms simultaneously, and a weapon-like device rose from the arms.

Peter immediately became alert and assumed a fighting stance.

What do you want to do?

"We need to control the alien viral Symbiote!" Ultron coldly declared. "Surrender, Venom!"