Marvel: The Ultimate Superman-Chapter 157. It’s Yours Now

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Back in his lab, Nolan continued dissecting symbiote genetic sequences.

He noticed a clear hierarchy:

Riot had the most expansive genetic arsenal.

Venom was close behind.

Shade (the blue symbiote) had less variation.

And Screamer (the yellow one) trailed far behind.

"Genetic recognition... and mimicry," Nolan muttered. "That's their real strength."

He wasn't interested in being a host. That was inefficient.

Symbiotes could amplify their host, yes but only in proportion to the host's base Shade strength. Riot had turned an ordinary man like Drake into a monster.

But Venom couldn't elevate Spider-Man to match someone like him.

The stronger the host, the less the symbiote contributed. That meant...

Attachment had diminishing returns.

He wanted to repurpose them. Tools. Armor. Weapons.

"Tell me something," Nolan said, tapping on Venom's container. "How do you reproduce?"

Inside the black ooze stirred.

"...Eggs," Venom replied after a pause. "Symbiotes lay eggs. But only when our core is too full to hold more genetic data. It drains our reservoir."

Nolan blinked. "You're oviparous?"

Venom nodded or at least pulsed in a way that resembled agreement.

"But the eggs need immediate host contact. No nourishment, no survival."

"Good answer," Nolan said.

A small panel in the lab wall opened. A still-clucking live chicken was dropped into the chamber.

Venom pounced.

It consumed the bird in seconds, body twitching as it digested.

Riot, in the neighboring chamber, thrashed violently. "TRAITOR! YOU'RE A DISGRACE TO OUR LINEAGE!"

Nolan ignored the tantrum.

Instead, he pressed further. "What about your god? Knull. Still sealed?"

"Yes. Still trapped. Locked away by our ancestors millions of us, coiled around him like a prison shell."

"Then why did Drake find you on a comet?" Nolan asked. "You're describing a moon-sized mass."

Venom replied, "We detected his rocket and made contact. We're the vanguard. The others are still circling the outer solar system... waiting."

Nolan's expression darkened.

So the rest are here already in the system.

They're just waiting.

He turned to summon help but before he could, a golden spark lit up behind him.

Wong stepped through a portal.

"The Ancient One is expecting you," he said flatly. "Also... she says New York Sanctum is now yours."

Nolan blinked. "Just like that?"

"No. With responsibility," Wong added. "And headaches."

Nolan opened a return portal, four floating symbiote containers orbiting him like drones, and stepped through.

...

Inside Kamar-Taj

As always, the Ancient One sat beneath cherry blossoms, sipping tea.

"You're here," she said calmly, watching the symbiotes float behind him. "Symbiotes?"

"Yeah," Nolan said, cutting to the chase. "Knull is real. Or at least his projection. They're circling the solar system."

The Ancient One smiled faintly. "Don't panic. He's not fully manifest. Not yet. At worst, what you're facing is a Father-Class entity. Single-universe tier."

Nolan exhaled. Relief, but not comfort.

"I already spoke with Vishanti," she added. "Their focus remains on the Black Abyss. This projection is nothing more than a tether."

"Great. So when do you deal with it?"

The Ancient One smirked. freewebnøvel.com

"I'm retired."

Nolan blinked. "...You're giving Knull to me?"

"You're the next Sorcerer Supreme," she said smoothly, sipping her tea. "He's yours."

"I'm not ready," Nolan said honestly.

"Which is why he hasn't broken free," she replied. "But you have time. And knowledge. And me for now."

She stood. "I'll shield Earth. You focus on learning. If you can study this tether... perhaps you'll find a way to sever it completely."

Nolan gave a slow nod.

"...Understood."

"And don't forget," she added, tone soft but unwavering. "As long as you don't threaten Earth... I'll always cover your back."

She said it casually.

But even against gods, she meant it.

"Thank you," Nolan said, genuinely.

"Just don't take too long. I'm not immortal."

...

Back in the lab, Wong stayed behind.

"I'm to instruct you," he said, "on your duties as Sorcerer Supreme."

"Fine," Nolan said. "But after this research."

Wong glanced at the symbiotes. "Still playing with parasites?"

"They're not just parasites."

Nolan stared into the containers.

Riot, once wild, was eerily silent.

The others? Subdued.

It wasn't just containment.

They'd felt her.

Even Venom stirred.

"...What was that presence?" it asked.

"The Ancient One," Nolan replied. "Earth's protector."

Venom shuddered. "A god?"

"In some places," Nolan said with a smirk. "Yes."

Even Riot had stopped thrashing.

These symbiotes had crossed galaxies. But here on Earth, they'd felt something they hadn't since their creator.

Fear.

Respect.

Reverence.

Nolan turned to Wong. "Give me one day. Then I'll take over the Sanctum."

Wong nodded.

The real training was about to begin.

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