Chapter 200

"Originally, I had no interest in this interview topic at all, because I knew nothing about any related disciplines, like biology or medicine."

"But I also knew that if I failed this assignment, the editor would give me a hard time—after all, my reporting records over the past few issues had been poor, and I had to complete this task to salvage my professional reputation."

"I started searching online for information about the immortality factor. I read many explanations from professional doctors about this substance, but for some reason, I always felt they were just making things up."

"It was strange—I'd never studied medicine, yet whenever I heard their terminology, it felt like a voice inside my head was telling me all of it was fabricated."

"Coincidentally, my girlfriend had once worked at the Life Foundation. One morning, her computer screen lit up with a message—the contact's note read 'Life Foundation researcher.'"

"You see, for me, tomorrow's interview was crucial—I needed more information, so I decided to check what the message said…"

"What I saw was a document exposing the Life Foundation's use of homeless people and other vulnerable groups as human test subjects—it was utterly inhumane."

"So the next day, during my interview with Drake, I demanded to know why he conducted such inhumane experiments. I lost my temper and punched him right in front of everyone."

"I caused a huge scandal, lost my job, broke up with my girlfriend, got evicted from my luxury apartment for failing to pay rent, lost my wallet, and was left with only a few coins in my pocket—forced to move into this cheap apartment…"

Eddie covered his eyes and said: "I know I was impulsive, but you have no idea what I saw in those documents—I…"

"Alright, I admit—I used to be a terrible person. I published false reports and often misled audiences with words and images. But I believe I was right this time."

Eddie drank the last sip of beer from the can, crushed it, and tossed it into the nearby trash bin. He fell silent for a long time.

His eyes were bloodshot; he winced in pain and said: "Even more unbelievable—I think I might be… suffering from dissociative identity disorder. You probably won't believe me, but…"

"Can you imagine? After Drake denied everything, I stood up and punched him right in the face…"

Thor raised an eyebrow and scanned Eddie up and down. "I didn't notice anything like that. You don't seem like the type."

Thor spoke the truth—Eddie wasn't particularly tall, just an average adult Ma Lei build, with speech and mannerisms fitting his journalist profession—he clearly worked with words, not fists.

"That's why I say I might be split—I…" Eddie seemed unsure how to express this feeling. He gathered his thoughts and said: "I keep feeling… that wasn't me who did that!"

"When I first saw those documents, I was angry—but then my rage exploded. I didn't know where that fury came from, enough to make me act so wildly during the interview."

"Just think I'm delirious…" Eddie covered his forehead with both hands. "I feel like something else inside me is controlling me—just like you just saw—I…"

Suddenly, Eddie convulsed. He widened his eyes and growled at Thor. Thor clearly saw black patterns spreading across Eddie's face.

Thor instinctively reached for his side—then remembered he was on Earth, with no weapons. But in that moment, Eddie suddenly returned to normal, shaking his head as if nothing had happened.

Thor tapped the coffee table. "You might be parasitized."

Eddie looked at Thor in confusion. He thought his own words had been crazy enough—yet this big guy had just suggested something even more absurd.

But Thor wasn't joking. He spoke seriously to Eddie: "I've seen this before—back in the constellation Pegasus. One of my soldiers was infected the same way. This must be dealt with immediately, or it could cause catastrophic consequences—you don't know what kind of thing is parasitizing you."

"If it's a symbiotic organism, fine—just remove it. But if it's something that reproduces and lays eggs inside you, that's a problem."

"So… you've seen this as a special forces member?" Eddie immediately thought of human experiments, biohazards, alien invasions. He grabbed at Thor like a lifeline: "How did you handle it back then?"

"Usually, we use lightning. It solves most problems. And our physiology is far superior to yours—we can take several strikes without issue."

"Use lightning? You mean electricity? But…"

"Oh, damn it!"

Eddie suddenly convulsed uncontrollably, stood up, and lunged toward the door—tripped over boxes piled at the threshold, staggered back up, swaying left and right as he tried to flee.

Thor chased after him, trying to subdue him—but Eddie's strength was unbelievable. One swing of his arm sent Thor crashing to the floor.

"Damn it," Thor cursed. "What's wrong with humans? How did they get this strong?"

Thor got up and reached for Eddie's shoulder—but Eddie turned and roared at him. Thor saw a mouth full of sharp teeth flash for an instant, then vanish.

"It's you!" Thor punched Eddie square in the face. "You symbiotic entity! You dare come to the Nine Realms? I'll teach you another lesson—on behalf of the Allfather!"

Eddie clearly wanted no fight—he only wanted to escape, stumbling toward the door. As Thor approached, Eddie convulsed again and began vomiting in place.

Every time Thor moved closer, Eddie convulsed violently—until Thor himself hesitated, afraid to approach.

But this stalemate couldn't last. Thor extended his hand. "Listen—I don't care who you are. Leave this human body. You can't control him like this. This is evil!"

A raspy voice came from Eddie's throat: "Get away—I'm allergic to you!"

Thor blinked. "Allergic? What's that?"

"It's—I see you and I want to vomit. Puke…"

"You're insulting me!" Thor shouted angrily.

"I'm not! I'm genuinely allergic… Help, I'm going to throw up—puke…"

Watching Eddie's eyes roll back in his head, Thor stepped back. "Alright, symbiote, listen—I know you've kidnapped this human and are using him to threaten me. Let's talk. You can't keep torturing him—human bodies are fragile. He'll die…"

"I'm not joking!" The raspy voice cracked. "I don't even know what's happening! I thought this idiot drank too much alcohol! Puke…"

Thor realized he was serious. He stood still, thought for a moment, then said: "Could it be… Asgardian lightning? Back then, we blasted you so badly—even your creators…"

"Puke…"

Seeing Eddie nearly foaming at the mouth, Thor darted to the room's corner. "Then why didn't this happen before?"

"How should I know? Wait—alcohol! Alcohol! Get me some! Quick, or I really will vomit…"

Hearing this, Thor hurried around Eddie, returned to his room, grabbed two beers, popped the caps, and poured them straight into Eddie's mouth.

After downing one beer, Eddie calmed down. Thor frowned in confusion: "In battle, I've encountered many symbiotes. They fought me evenly—I've never seen one like you…"

"How should I know?! It's been happening a lot lately! Do you think I can call an ambulance?!"

"What the hell is going on?" Thor stood there. "Get out of this human's body—he's about to die!"

"Not even close."

Eddie stood up, shook his head, and looked at Thor. "What happened? Did I have another episode?"

Thor stared at Eddie. He had no way to expel the symbiote—he had neither godly power nor Mjolnir. Otherwise, he'd have already struck him with lightning.

As Thor pondered, faint "whooshing" sounds came from the window. Thor lunged and tackled Eddie—black projectiles whizzed past their heads.

"Boom!" "Boom!" Two clouds of black smoke coalesced into two figures, each wielding a dagger, lunging at Eddie. Thor blocked one with his arm—the blade sliced a deep gash. He shoved Eddie hard, sending him clear of the second blade.

"What the hell are those?" Thor stared at the two black figures. Eddie saw them too. "What? Ninjas? Why do they look like cartoon ninjas? How did they get in?"

The two ninjas gave them no time to think—they charged forward. Thor swung a nearby box at them.

One ninja exploded into smoke, then reappeared behind Eddie, dagger gleaming, aimed straight for his heart.

Eddie had no time to react—just as the dagger neared his body, a red-and-blue figure swung in through the window and kicked the ninja in the head. The ninja vanished again.

The arriving Spider-Man spun and punched the second ninja—also turning to smoke. Thor grabbed a shirt from nearby, wrapped it around his bleeding arm, then dragged Eddie to the room's corner, shoving him behind the dining table. He picked up a chair and joined the fight.

After a moment, Spider-Man stuck one ninja with webbing; the other was hit by Thor's thrown chair. Seeing they were outmatched, both ninjas dissolved into smoke. Spider-Man exhaled, walked over, and asked: "You two okay?"

He went to the window, picked up a backpack, pulled out a spray can, and sprayed it on Thor's arm wound—the bleeding stopped instantly.

Still half-drunk, Eddie shook his head violently, thinking he was dreaming. Spider-Man asked Thor: "What's going on here?"

Thor recognized the voice. He frowned. "Peter? Is that you, Peter?"

Seeing a familiar face, Spider-Man removed his mask—revealing Peter Parker's face. "I've been tailing these two for a while—followed them all the way from Brooklyn."

He turned his gaze to Eddie. "Who is he? And why are you here? Why are the Hand ninjas trying to kill you?"

Thor sighed. "You'll have to ask him. I just happened to move nearby."

Then, lying on the floor, Eddie convulsed again—a thick black sludge burst from his body. Instantly, a mouth full of sharp teeth replaced his face. A black monster stood in the center of the room.

Spider-Man stared, eyes wide with shock. "It's you?!"