Venom's voice rang out in Eddie's mind again, weak but relieved to have survived:
"Eddie... I think we're safe. That power just now completely severed Knull's mental control over me."
Eddie's consciousness lingered amid the fading golden light. Before he could respond, a majestic golden figure slowly emerged from the depths of the Temple.
The figure had no distinct facial features, yet radiated a pressure that made people instinctively want to bow their heads. With every step, golden light rippled outward beneath his feet like waves across water.
His voice came from within the light, deep and steady, like an echo rising from the heart of a mountain:
"I heard your prayer. All danger has been eliminated. Let us praise Ohm Messiah once more."
Eddie looked up at the golden figure and swallowed.
Instinctively, he took the figure for Russell. He looked completely different, but that air of "everything about you is under my control" was far too familiar.
Eddie didn't know whether to feel grateful or conflicted. More than anything, he felt an unease he couldn't quite explain.
He'd been getting along fine in New York before. Life hadn't been easy, and he'd been competing with Peter for a full-time job at the Daily Bugle, but at least he'd been living at his own pace.
Then Russell had caused that massive battle in New York, and the whole city had changed. Mutants had stepped out of the shadows, a Prism Tower had appeared in the sky, and people with powers could be seen patrolling the streets at any time.
Just a few nights ago, Eddie had packed everything he could carry and taken an overnight ride to Washington, hoping to get as far from that man as possible. But only days after settling in, he'd found a sticky black