For the entire battle, Ben had never once tried to communicate. He saw Venom as just another beast—more intelligent, sure, but still just another monster to be put down. His words were nothing more than taunts, his actions solely focused on the fight.
But Venom was different. Among the Elemental Ravagers, he was the smartest. Capable of thought beyond instinct and survival. And while Ben had been testing his limits, Venom had been learning.
From the moment he approached Ben's base, curiosity had gripped him. The walls, the weapons, the way the Krell moved with coordination, the traps—all of it was new. He could have avoided the pitfalls, maneuvered around the defenses, but instead, he let the Ravagers trigger them. Studying. Adapting.
