It had been a while since Venom was gone, and though I didn't have his symbiote to enhance my abilities anymore, I'd found other ways to carry on. My new suit was a sleek black, a nod to Venom—a way to honor him and the bond we shared.

Now, Spider-Man and I were on an island called the Savage Land, a place where the most prehistoric and savage creatures roamed free. Nasty, if you ask me. But hey, I'm not one to judge. Not much of a vacation spot, though. The air was thick with humidity, and every sound seemed like it came from something that wanted to eat us.

Still, something else had been gnawing at me—her. The voice. Godzilla, or whatever she claimed to be, had been pestering me constantly. It was like she was always there, lingering in the back of my mind, whispering things I didn't want to hear. It was starting to get under my skin.

I leaped from branch to branch, my boots sinking slightly into the damp wood. The humidity had turned the branches slick, and my footing slipped. A glob of something oozy caught my attention, and I nearly lost my grip completely. My heart lurched.

Before I could even cry out, a web shot past me, and Spider-Man swung in, catching me by the arm.

"Gotcha!" he quipped, pulling me upright with ease. "You okay there, Shadow? Or are you planning on hugging the ground today?"

I glared at him, pulling my arm free as soon as I was steady. "The branch was slippery, Spider. Don't get cocky."

He chuckled, flipping to land on the branch next to me. "You're welcome, by the way. And maybe watch where you're stepping. This place isn't exactly OSHA-approved."

I rolled my eyes, muttering, "Thanks," under my breath. But my attention went back to the ooze on the branch. Something about it seemed... off. It wasn't like mud or sap—it was darker, almost alive. My stomach twisted uneasily.

Spider-Man noticed my hesitation. "What's up? Find something gross?"

"Maybe," I said, crouching to get a closer look. The substance clung to the bark, shimmering faintly in the dim light filtering through the canopy. My instincts screamed at me to back away, but I reached out, brushing my fingers against it.

A chill shot up my arm, and for a moment, I swore I heard her voice again.

"You'll see soon enough, Y/N. You'll see who you're meant to be."

I yanked my hand back, stumbling slightly. Spider-Man looked at me, concern creeping into his expression.

"Shadow?" he asked cautiously. "You good?"

I nodded quickly, shaking off the lingering unease. "Yeah. Just... this place is getting to me. Let's keep moving."

But as we swung deeper into the Savage Land, I couldn't shake the feeling that whatever was waiting for us here was far more dangerous than the creatures lurking in the shadows. And somehow, it was tied to me.

Just then, Wolverine shot out of the high grass, tackling a kid off a vine he had been using as a swing to get to us. I yelped when he landed, claws extended, snarling like the wild animal he was. His nostrils flared, and his sharp eyes darted past us to something—or someone—hidden in the trees.

I followed his gaze just in time to see it: an arrow whizzed through the air, embedding itself into the tree trunk behind me with a solid thunk.

Kraven.

I bristled, my muscles tensing instinctively. The Savage Land wasn't dangerous enough, apparently—now we had this psychotic hunter on our tail. Perfect.

"Stay sharp," Spider-Man muttered, crouching low beside me. His lenses narrowed as he scanned the area. Wolverine growled low in his throat, rising slowly from his crouched position as the kid he tackled scrambled away in fear.

"I can smell him," Logan snarled, his claws gleaming in the dim light. "He's close."

I narrowed my eyes, focusing on the thick foliage ahead. Venom's voice wasn't there to hum warnings in the back of my mind anymore, but I didn't need him to know we were being watched. The tension in the air was suffocating.

Another arrow streaked toward us, but this time, I was ready. I whipped out a web line, snagging it midair and yanking it to the ground. "He's playing games," I hissed. "Trying to rile us up."

"Yeah, well, it's working," Spider-Man quipped, his tone strained as he flipped onto a branch above. "I hate being target practice."

Logan sniffed the air again, then grunted. "He's upwind, moving fast. Probably got traps set up."

"Of course he does," I muttered. "Why would he make this easy?"

Before anyone could respond, a deep, accented voice echoed through the jungle, calm and taunting. "You've entered my hunting grounds, little spiders and beasts. You should know, no one leaves without bleeding."

Spider-Man groaned, his head tilting back. "Why do villains always have to monologue? Can't they just show up and fight already?"

Wolverine growled, baring his teeth. "Careful what you wish for, web-head. He's here."

The underbrush rustled, and Kraven stepped out, a confident smirk on his face. His muscular frame was adorned with animal pelts, and his bow was drawn, the arrowhead gleaming wickedly. "Let's see how long you survive, shall we?" he sneered, raising the bow.

I didn't wait for him to shoot. My instincts kicked in, and I shot a web toward the bow, yanking it from his hands. "Not today, Kraven," I snapped, leaping toward him.

Kraven merely laughed, sidestepping my attack with ease. "Oh, little shadow," he taunted. "You're more fun without your parasite."

That hit a nerve. My vision flashed with anger, and I lunged again, this time landing a kick square in his chest. He staggered back, his smirk faltering for a split second before he regained his footing.

Spider-Man swung in, webbing Kraven's feet to the ground. "Teamwork makes the dream work, right?" he said with a grin.

But before we could press the advantage, the jungle around us came alive with movement. More figures emerged from the shadows—Kraven's men, armed with spears and knives, their faces painted with warlike designs.

"Oh, great," I muttered, raising my fists. "It's a party."

Wolverine cracked his neck, his claws sliding out with a metallic snikt. "Good. I was getting bored."

And with that, all hell broke loose.