How about looking into social security?

In the end, Joss’s rational mind managed to suppress his troublesome impulses. Mainly, it was the sight of Venom’s gleaming fangs—so menacing they made him feel even more uneasy than when he’d once seen a close-up of a feline tongue while wrestling with cats in his youth.

Yet even when fighting seriously, Joss was no match for Venom. Venom’s strength was indisputable. Even an ordinary human like Eddie, once possessed by Venom, wielded combat power equivalent to at least two or even three Captain Americas. With extendable, shapeshifting limbs, formidable regenerative abilities, and astonishing agility, Venom—though considered one of the weaker symbiotes—still possessed power far beyond the reach of most. Likewise, Walker, the head of a vampire clan whom even Blade, the infamous vampire hunter, approached with caution, boasted a base strength on par with at least two Captain Americas.

When these two forces combined, the result was not a mere sum but a terrifying multiplication—a power so great it would make any elementary school math teacher faint in frustration. This was, without question, the most formidable enemy Joss had encountered since his arrival in this world.

The reality of the battle was just as grim as Joss had feared. Venom’s speed and strength surpassed his own by a wide margin; even on that basis alone, he was being utterly outclassed. On top of that, Venom’s slime-like body allowed for endlessly varied attacks, striking from unexpected angles and keeping Joss constantly on the defensive.

By contrast, Joss’s own attacks—whether punches, kicks, or sword strikes—barely scratched Venom. Except for fire and ultrasonic waves, most forms of damage were ineffectual against Venom, and those were precisely the two means Joss did not possess. As the fight grew ever more perilous, Joss rapidly reviewed his arsenal and found that he had no special abilities that could counter Venom’s unique defenses; he would have to win this fight through sheer force.

“Tch, if I’d known it would come to this, I wouldn’t have bothered with that idiot Blade. I should have just carpet-bombed the place with C4 and saved myself all this trouble.”

After parrying several attacks, Joss was beginning to feel out of breath, while Venom showed no sign of fatigue.

“If I want to win… there are only two options left.”

As he paused to catch his breath, Joss quickly clarified the situation in his mind. Defeating this vampire-Venom hybrid head-on was out of the question, but he still saw two possible paths to victory.

The first was to subdue Venom with his Diamond Star Fist technique and call Captain America for backup. Even if he couldn’t summon other Avengers, with that shield-wielding legend and his uncanny ability to level the playing field, defeating Venom would be a simple matter.

But although this plan was available, Joss had no intention of using it—not yet, at least.

“If my life isn’t in danger, at worst I’ll fail the mission and lose a few skills. So naturally, I want to test myself against you.”

After considering his second plan, a confident smile spread across Joss’s face. The first plan was for survival; the second, for victory.

Perhaps sensing the change in his demeanor, Venom’s assault briefly paused. With a manic laugh, Venom flicked out his tongue and made an exaggerated licking gesture.

“Good, good! Food that’s put up a fight always tastes better. The old guy’s diet was utterly revolting—now, a lively morsel like you is much more appetizing!”

Venom had never been known for his gentle nature, but Joss noticed that the symbiote, influenced by the vampire host, had become even more bloodthirsty and violent.

“With your taste in food? You’d be lucky to call it feed, let alone a meal.” Joss was never one to lose a battle of words, and he retorted sharply to Venom’s taunt.

“Foolish creature! You Earthlings exist only as food for symbiotes!”

With a frenzied bellow, Venom lunged at Joss, oblivious to the sly grin tugging at his opponent’s lips. Joss’s aim was to enrage Venom, but not so much that the symbiote would lose all reason—otherwise, a crude insult would have sufficed.

“Wait! Venom, he’s provoking you on purpose!” Suddenly, a somewhat aged voice rang out. Venom’s body jerked awkwardly to a halt, giving Joss an easy opportunity to dodge the attack.

“Walker, you idiot! Stay out of my way!” Venom whipped his head around, shouting as if struggling with an invisible adversary.

Upon seeing this, Joss’s grin widened in a manner reminiscent of a certain duelist from the city. He had succeeded!

When two beings shared a symbiotic body, any disagreement led to a struggle for control. In most stories, the symbiote and host either coexisted peacefully due to aligned goals or one completely overwhelmed the other. Rarely did one see a deadlock like this, where equally matched wills clashed and the body’s actions became discordant. It was reminiscent of the early days between Eddie and Venom, both trying to act in their own way—but now, with Walker’s strength far surpassing Eddie’s, even Venom could not simply override his host’s will.

This was precisely why Joss hadn’t used his Fly power. If Venom got too angry and seized full control, this opportunity would be lost.

Joss wasn’t about to let a chance like this slip by. Sword in hand, he charged at Venom, raining down a flurry of wild slashes.

However, even as the two argued, they did not let their guard down. Two black, gelatinous claws seized Joss’s hands, and a tendril shot from Venom’s chest, binding Joss in a crucifixion pose and suspending him mid-air.

“Hmph! Foolish hunter, do you really think you can harm me with an ordinary blade?” Having restrained Joss, Walker sneered at the steel longsword in his hand. Even without Venom, such weapons were useless against a vampire; now, the symbiote allowed him to rapidly recover from even silver, let alone steel.

He was the perfect being—Walker had thought so more than once.

“You know,” Joss remarked from his place dangling in mid-air, “the more I look at that big mouth of yours, the more I like it.”

“Huh? What nonsense are you spouting?” Walker’s face emerged halfway from Venom’s head, staring incredulously at Joss.

“I mean…” Joss narrowed his eyes at Walker. “I’m about to show you something really special.”

A brilliant golden light shot forth, passing straight through Walker’s skull without resistance.