20Satisfactory reward
A Satisfying Reward
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, Director's Office.
Fury looked at the images on the computer, his expression growing increasingly grim, sweat pouring down his face.
The footage playing was exactly the "field boss" that Loyahad recorded.
Watching countless bones assemble into a Tyrannosaurus Rex, the veins on Fury's forehead throbbed, and his single eye nearly bulged out of its socket.
He suddenly felt like he no longer understood this World; what on Earth were these things?
How did Vampires and Bone Dragons even connect? What was all this? Were the Vampires trying to film Jurassic Park?
However, seeing the Bone Dragon blown to smithereens by that ridiculous grenade he'd seen last time at the end, Fury let out a long sigh of relief.
At least... an ally had the means to deal with these monsters.
Otherwise, he really wouldn't know what to do; the weapons he was researching in private were unstable, and they might just take out his own people first.
*Cough, cough.*
Fury cleared his throat and turned his gaze toward the figure across from him who was scrolling through a phone. He felt somewhat fortunate that he had recruited this talent into S.H.I.E.L.D. early on; otherwise, who knows how much chaos would have ensued.
Therefore, he had to keep him!
At any cost!
He adjusted his emotions, trying to make his smile appear more sincere:
"Agent Loya, you did very well this time. The mission reward funds will be tripled on top of the original base, for a total of five times the reward!"
Hearing the voice, Loya looked up.
Shortly after dealing with that field boss, he had received a call from Fury and hurried to S.H.I.E.L.D., not even stopping to draw his rewards.
He thought there was some new mission, but it turned out to be just a bonus.
Still, being able to squeeze this much money out of a stingy miser like Fury was pretty good.
Loya asked expectantly, "Thank you, Officer. Does the Officer have any other missions?"
Fury shook his head. "No new missions for now. But your Agent level has been promoted to Level 4. With your level of ability, you are fully qualified. As for the next level up, more evaluations and judgments are required."
It wasn't that he didn't want to assign missions, but the way the person in front of him handled things was simply too terrifying.
First, he wiped out hundreds of gang members at once, then he used that large-scale weapon with such exaggerated effects.
This time, he straight up killed a Bone Dragon, and more than half of Hell's Kitchen heard that terrifying dragon roar.
S.H.I.E.L.D. recently had a mountain of cleanup and aftermath work to deal with, and they couldn't keep up. The pressure from above was also significant.
For now, it was better to stay quiet and let the heat die down.
Loya couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. If there were no missions, then what was the point? He didn't care about Agent levels at all; he'd rather go home and draw his rewards now.
Fury's brow furrowed slightly, his expression solemn. "Additionally, I have some bad news to tell you.
Shortly after you dealt with that Bone Dragon, someone on the Dark Web put out a bounty of ten million dollars for your identity, another fifty million dollars for your life, and Kingpin added another twenty million dollars to the bounty on you.
S.H.I.E.L.D. speculates that the bounty issuer is from The Hand, and that The Hand and Kingpin are cooperating to some extent. You must be careful lately; Hell's Kitchen has become completely chaotic. If you have any needs, the agency will provide assistance."
Loya nodded with an indifferent face. The higher the bounty, the more it proved they were powerless against him.
Fury asked again, "How much do you know about The Hand?"
Currently, it seemed all these incidents were linked to The Hand, which happened to be the area where S.H.I.E.L.D.'s intel was weakest.
Loya, of course, knew a lot of information about The Handfrom the plot, such as Dragon Bones, Qi, Black Sky, and so on.
But why should he tell Fury? Wanting information without even triggering a mission? That would be a huge loss.
He wasn't a philanthropist; he'd save it for when a related mission was triggered later.
So he shook his head. "What I know about The Hand is what I've already said before. I don't know anything else. However, I heard that The Bronx is where Vampires gather the most."
"Should I..."
He raised his hand and made a slicing motion across his neck, trying to guide Fury into issuing a mission.
Unexpectedly, Fury shook his head. "If Vampires appear there again, things won't be as simple as you think. I need to make some deployments. If there's a relevant mission, I'll notify you.
What you need to do now is hide yourself well, don't let The Hand find you, and keep up the mission of monitoring Tony. Do not do anything to attract attention."
He paused and added, "By the way, keep your phone on. There might be emergency missions at any time. Also, in a few days, the former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. wants to meet and chat with you."
Loya's eyes lit up upon hearing this. The former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.—wasn't that Alexander Pierce? The famous Hydra leader. He wanted to see him; could it be he was going to recruit him?
Could it be... that spring was coming?
...In a hidden room.
A massive bald man sat on a sofa.
He wore a custom-made white suit, his enormous muscles bulging so much they nearly burst the suit.
He slowly took a high-grade cigar from a drawer and began to puff. Amidst the swirling smoke, an old woman's face loomed indistinctly.
"Madame Gao, the lab is destroyed, those Vampires were all killed, and there's not even ash left of that precious Dragon Bone. Don't you have anything to say? The one behind the Vampires is not someone to be trifled with."
The bald man elegantly flicked the cigar ash, his tone calm yet questioning.
Madame Gao smiled slightly, the wrinkles on her face bunching together like a dried chrysanthemum. She spoke in accented English:
"Mr. Kingpin, none of that is actually important. At least the experiment we collaborated on has been proven feasible.
We just need to proceed with the experiments step by step. I believe it will be very soon. We have already swayed the Military, and soon we will be able to realize our respective ideals."
As she spoke, she gave a knowing look, but her fingers were moving in a rhythmic pinching motion. Wisps of black energy, invisible to ordinary people, seeped from her fingertips, enveloping the entire room.
Kingpin was unaware of these small movements. He smiled tacitly and asked again:
"With your methods, can you still not find the person who killed my men? That group of Vampires turned cowardly after providing a location once; they couldn't even describe what the face looked like, and now they're all dead, leaving no clues behind."
Madame Gao's smile deepened. "We suspect the person who killed your men and the person who sabotaged our plan is the same one. Only he has this strength in Hell's Kitchen, however..."
A look of fanaticism appeared on her face. "Through the guidance of my God, we have captured a transcendent being. As long as my God assimilates it and makes it God's proxy vessel in reality, everything will be revealed!"
Kingpin showed a rare look of curiosity. "What is it?"
Madame Gao spoke slowly, her voice low. "My God calls it an animal totem, and in another sense—a God!"
...Loya returned to the new home arranged by S.H.I.E.L.D.
A seaside Villa.
One had to say, S.H.I.E.L.D. was really rich. No, it should be that Fury had embezzled quite a lot, actually arranging a Villa for an Agent.
But the most important thing now was the prize draw.
Loya bathed meticulously before opening the system panel.
[Mission 'Extinction' Completed]
[Rewards: EXP +3,000, Item 'A Can of Mighty Spinach', Item 'third hand']
[field boss Eliminated]
[Rewards: EXP +10,000, Item 'Diamond Pickaxe', Item 'Sealing Scroll', Ability 'Haki: Armament Haki', Draw Count +1]
[Mighty Spinach: Increases strength and constitution after consumption, lasts for five minutes]
[third hand: A metal arm that can appear and be manipulated at will within a five-meter range of the body (Strength and hardness increase with attributes)]
[Diamond Pickaxe: Can destroy most minerals and rocks]
[Evaluation: Digging through the Earth is only a matter of time]
[Sealing Scroll: The sealed target will become a stone statue (The weaker the target, the higher the success rate)]
[Armament Haki: Max-level Armament Haki. Increases attack power and defense when used, and can hit targets that ordinary physical attacks cannot affect (Includes all Armament Haki techniques, strength increases with own attributes)]
[Evaluation: Only Haki can reign supreme over everything, munch munch~]
[You have leveled up, Draw Count +1, Free Attribute Points +3]
[Current Level: 8 (5000/15000)]
The rewards this time were very good; one could say every single one was useful. Loya was very satisfied.
Especially "Armament Haki," which directly improved both his attack and defense, was exactly the ability he was currently lacking.
"But how is this level-up EXP calculated?"
Loya remembered that before Level 7, the EXP needed for each level was ten thousand. Now it had become fifteen thousand. Did the EXP requirements increase in stages?
"Forget it, don't think about it. Draw first!"
After distributing his attribute points evenly, Loya prayed devoutly in his heart:
"Tathagata Buddha, Jade Emperor, Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Jesus, God... bless me to draw something good."
"System, draw!"
[Congratulations, you have obtained the item 'Horse Talisman']
[Congratulations, you have obtained the ability 'Divine Illumination']
[Horse Talisman: Cures all diseases, expels external forces, repairs damage]
[Evaluation: The noble horse makes you fearless of the 996 grind, becoming the strongest workhorse]
[Divine Illumination: An upgraded version of the illumination spell of the first mage of Middle-Earth. Includes attribute buffs, holy purification, injury recovery, stamina recovery, darkness expulsion, courage enhancement, iron will... and other buffs (Buff effects increase with own attributes)]
[Evaluation: When Illumination is active, guess the damage]
"Sweet!"
21Crime or salvation? I want it both!
Crime or salvation? I want it all!
Boom!
A violent roar echoed through the massive Villa, and the thick walls shattered in response, stone fragments flying everywhere.
"This Armament Haki is truly powerful."
Loya looked down at his right hand. His palm had turned black, shimmering with a metallic luster. Beside his palm, invisible air currents were faintly surging.
With just a light palm strike, he had shattered the wall. The destructive power was astonishing.
The black color is a technique within Armament Haki called Hardening. It can enhance attack and defense, and can also be applied to weapons. Mom never has to worry about me being weaponless again.
As for the surging air currents, that is also a technique within Armament Haki called "Ryuo." It's a high-level technique that allows for destruction from within an object—simply put, it adds penetration.
With Armament Haki, his close-combat capabilities had improved by several levels, and his personal safety was greatly enhanced.
Immediately after, from an undamaged section of the wall, an arm forged from an unknown metal abruptly appeared, shattering the wall.
This was the "third hand." Loya had already tested it for several rounds; it could appear anywhere within a five-meter radius, even inside objects.
He had already thought of many ways to use it against enemies.
Retracting the Haki and the third hand, an octagonal stone appeared in Loya's palm, engraved with a blue horse head. This was the Horse Talisman.
He aimed the Horse Talisman at the shattered wall. A beam of blue light erupted from the talisman and shone onto the wall. Then, something incredible happened.
Guided by the blue light, the scattered rubble returned to the hole in the wall as if time were reversing. In an instant, the wall was completely restored, looking as if it had never been broken.
"I have to say, you're the most ridiculous of all. With this restoration ability, couldn't I become the World's greatest repair master? Or maybe the greatest Doctor?"
Loya was full of wonder. The Horse Talisman could cure all diseases and repair damaged objects. With it, he wouldn't fear any injury in the future, as they could be healed instantly.
Moreover, he didn't need to pretend to be a miraculous Doctor anymore; he had become a real one!
No more worrying about kidney deficiency, kidney depletion, or kidney exhaustion.
After this round of missions.
Close combat, long-range, magic, recovery, and buffs—Loya was now a combination of warrior, archer, mage, and healer, a true all-around expert.
Now that his survival capabilities had multiplied, he felt very secure.
So Loya decided that once he woke up, he would continue to grind!
After feeding the egg its daily portion of blood, he fell into a deep sleep... One night.
Loya was walking the streets of Queens, New York, looking for today's daily mission target.
Before joining S.H.I.E.L.D. to take on side quests, this was how he triggered daily missions.
If there was a commission, he'd take it; if not, he'd wander through various neighborhoods acting as a vigilante, looking for criminals.
If a criminal was in the middle of a crime and the victim saw someone approaching, most would choose to call for help, and thus a daily mission would appear.
This was also where a large portion of Loya's experience points and items had come from before.
It couldn't be helped; the crime rate in New York was simply too high, even higher than neighboring Gotham. Some "Capital of the World"—it was more like the World's center of crime.
However, such things were relatively rare in Hell's Kitchenbecause ordinary people there almost never went out at night, and gangs were fighting every day.
Loya had been a vigilante for several months, and legends of him already circulated in the underworld, though no one knew his actual appearance yet.
It wasn't that his disguise skills were so great; it was all thanks to his items.
[H-Mask: After putting on the mask, others can only see the lower half of your face from their perspective]
This mask was quite improper, but its effect was very strong. If he wore a face mask on top of it, he'd look just like a ghost.
Because of this, The Hand and Kingpin simply couldn't find him.
As for S.H.I.E.L.D., they only discovered him because he didn't have this mask yet when he was doing those things that defied common sense.
But it was a good thing they found him; otherwise, how could he have entered the side quests and leveled up so quickly?
While feeling the natural breeze, Loya leaped between skyscrapers. It wasn't long before he found a target at the entrance of an alley.
It was a Black man dressed in West Coast style, with several pairs of pants layered together, the waistlines hanging almost to his knees. He swayed as he walked, looking quite foolish.
At that moment, the Black man was waving a knife, forcing a young girl into the alley, looking like he was about to do something bad.
"Hey, man, can you listen to me for a second."
Loya spoke up, interrupting the Black man.
The Black man turned his head and saw a tall man wearing a hood and a face mask, his upper face obscured.
The Black man was slightly stunned. This outfit, and the features that couldn't be clearly seen in the night—wasn't this a fellow brother?
He grinned, his teeth flashing white. "Hey, man, you want in too? Help me hold this chick down. I'll go first, and you can wait in line."
[A Black NPC has issued a mission to you]
[Mission Objective: Help the Black man take the young girl deep into the alley]
[Reward: EXP +200]
Loya: "?"
What the hell? How did the perpetrator trigger a mission too?
Just as he was wondering, a tearful female voice came from the side: "Please, save me! I have money, I have money!"
At the same time, the system notification sounded.
[A White girl has issued a mission to you]
[Mission Objective: Protect the White girl from harm]
[Reward: EXP +200]
"Oh, an unexpected surprise?"
This was the first time both the perpetrator and the victim triggered a mission simultaneously.
Which side should he help?
The result was obvious. In the adult World, why choose? Loya chose to have it all!
So, as he walked forward, he said with a smile, "Sure thing, man. Your look today is really something."
Hearing this, the Black man straightened his back and said proudly, "Of course! This is all from a Zero-dollar shoppingspree. I'll take you with me next time."
Loya nodded, and together with the Black man, they forced the White girl deep into the alley. It could be said that if a crime were committed here, no one would notice even if she screamed her lungs out.
At this point, the White girl was utterly desperate, tears streaming down her face. Thinking she was about to be tormented by two animals, her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground, sobbing.
Hearing the crying, the Black man became even more excited. A lewd smile appeared on his face as he impatiently began to take off his pants—it was just that with so many layers, it looked quite ridiculous.
Hearing the system notification in his ear, Loya grinned. "Man, how about I help you take them off?"
The Black man turned his head in shock, his expression as if he had seen his own blood brother. He gave a thumbs up and said, moved:
"Man, you're truly my brother. I'll leave it to you then."
"Sure," Loya said with a wicked smile as he stepped forward. "I'll help you... smash those eggs!"
He suddenly raised his foot and kicked upward, right into the crotch.
Several layers of pants couldn't possibly withstand such a powerful kick.
The fabric tore, and his toe made precise contact with the man's most vulnerable spot.
The sound of eggs cracking was clearly audible in the air.
"AAAAAAGH!!!"
The Black man let out a blood-curdling scream. His eyes rolled back, and his whole body convulsed violently. He didn't even last a second before collapsing to the ground, blood pooling from his crotch.
He twitched twice and then completely passed out.
Loya looked at the girl, who was still in a daze on the ground. "Get going already."
The girl scrambled to her feet and thanked him hurriedly, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, kind sir."
She ran toward the alley entrance without looking back.
Bang!
Just then, a gunshot pierced the night sky.
Of course, the shot wasn't fired by Loya, nor was it aimed at the girl. The sound came from another block.
Loya raised an eyebrow. "Crime activities are coming one after another today. Not bad, not bad."
With a light leap, he jumped onto the wall, his figure disappearing after a few bounds.
Soon, he reached the location where the gunshot had originated.
When he saw the middle-aged man lying in a pool of blood, barely breathing, Loya couldn't help but be slightly stunned.
Because this middle-aged man was all too familiar. His name was... Ben Parker.
22Doctor, you have amazing skills!
A miracle worker indeed, Doctor.
"Uncle Ben! Uncle Ben!"
Peter roared at the top of his lungs, his face filled with confusion and hesitation, unable to believe that the person lying on the ground was his most beloved Uncle Ben.
Clearly, everything had been fine just a moment ago.
He placed a trembling hand on Uncle Ben's wound, and fresh blood soaked his palm.
He pressed down in vain, as if doing so could stop Uncle Ben's life from slipping away.
But this was merely psychological comfort. His extraordinary perception allowed Peter to clearly sense Uncle Ben's increasingly weak breathing.
An unacceptable thought appeared in his mind.
"Uncle Ben is going to die!"
"No, no, Uncle Ben, Uncle Ben!"
Large tears slid down as Peter simply couldn't accept this fact.
"Ambulance! Quick, call an ambulance!"
"Someone help me..."
"Please, I beg you, please..."
He looked around blankly, roaring hoarsely, hoping someone could help him, hoping someone could save Uncle Ben.
But the night wind was lonely, and the passersby hurried away, appearing extremely indifferent to the scene.
At this moment, Peter's heart was filled with regret.
Why? Why!
Why hadn't he stopped that robber? He clearly had great power; he clearly could have prevented all of this.
Clearly... Uncle Ben didn't have to die at all.
"Pe... Peter..."
Ben Parker's eyelids flickered, and he managed to force them open just a crack, his pupils extremely dilated.
Adrenaline played its role at the brink of death, supporting this dying body just enough to leave his final words.
"It's me! It's me! Hold on, the ambulance... I'm calling the ambulance right now..."
Peter fumbled through his pockets like a madman; in his extreme fear, his fingers were stiff and wouldn't obey him.
"You'll be fine, you'll be fine. Look at me, Uncle Ben."
Ben Parker's hand moved slightly, as if he wanted to touch this grieving child, but his body was no longer under his control; his life was coming to an end.
He looked at Peter's still somewhat youthful face and used all his strength to slowly speak:
"Peter... with great... power, comes great..."
The final word was never spoken after all.
Ben Parker's pupils began to dilate rapidly, the last bit of strength supporting him completely dissipated, his heartbeat suddenly weakened, and everything seemed about to come to a close.
"No!!!"
Peter let out a heart-wrenching cry, feeling as if his heart were being squeezed by a giant hand, making it impossible to breathe.
"Hey friend, I'm a Doctor. Do you need my help? Your uncle can still be saved."
A calm voice suddenly sounded beside Peter.
Peter looked up and saw Loya's tall figure standing quietly, his expression calm.
For some reason, he suddenly felt that he saw hope.
"Please! Please..." Under the impulse of extreme emotion, Peter couldn't even speak properly. His voice was choked with sobs, leaving only instinctive pleading, "Please, save Uncle Ben, I'm willing to pay any price!"
[Peter Parker has issued a quest to you]
[Quest: Change Fate]
[Objective: Save Ben Parker]
[Rewards: EXP +1000, Random Item *1, Peter Favorability +60, Spider Totem Favorability +60]
Spider Totem favorability? That works too?
Listening to the system notification in his ear, Loya was very shocked. He knew this variant Universe was dangerous, but even the Spider Totem had shown up.
One must know that Peter's spider superpowers aren't as simple as a genetic mutation; they originate from the Spider Totem.
The Spider Totem is a mystical power, one could even say it's a god.
Peter's tragedy also stems from this; it's something involving fate.
It should be said that the fate of Spider-Men in most Universes isn't very good. How to put it... they could be called 'Uncle Killers,' and almost all are lonely and sorrowful heroes.
Furthermore, the Spider Totem is just one of the animal totems. If the Spider Totem exists, it means other animal totems exist as well. The danger level of this variant Universe is far higher than imagined.
These strange and ancient powers are the most insidious.
Loya felt a sudden sense of urgency and felt he needed to speed up his growth. Otherwise, he wouldn't feel safe. He vaguely remembered some family that specialized in eating totems, which was very dangerous.
For now, he should complete the quest and save Ben Parker first.
Changing Peter's tragic fate could actually gain favorability with the Spider Totem, and a full sixty points at that. There was a lot of information to unpack here.
In a sense, wasn't Peter's fate caused by the Spider Totem? Why would changing it increase favorability?
Many thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, but Loya reined them in and stopped overthinking. Staying grounded was what mattered.
He quickly crouched down, the Horse Talisman appearing in his right hand, and then he lightly touched Ben Parker's body with his left hand.
Peter's crying stopped abruptly, and his eyes widened in disbelief, all because he saw a miracle!
An inconspicuous pale blue light enveloped Ben Parker. Under the pull of an invisible force, the blood on the ground slowly returned to where it belonged.
The bullet was also expelled from the flesh.
Heartbeat.
Breathing.
Peter heard the heartbeat inside Uncle Ben's body rapidly becoming strong, as well as the sound of gradually steady breathing.
Uncle Ben's physical condition was recovering at an incredible speed, and his cold body gradually regained its temperature.
Slap!
Peter gave himself a hard slap to confirm that this wasn't an illusion, but something that was actually happening.
His Uncle Ben had come back to life!
"Hoo!"
Ben Parker took a deep breath and then snapped his eyes open, a trace of fear still lingering in his gaze.
His consciousness had fallen into endless darkness, and he had clearly felt his life slipping away. In the final moments of his life, he had been afraid.
He was worried that Peter would go astray; he was worried that his wife wouldn't be able to accept his passing.
Just when everything seemed set in stone, a light appeared in the dark World.
That light was incredibly dominant, directly dispelling all the darkness, and then he woke up.
Not only had he come back to life with all his injuries healed, but Ben Parker even felt his body was better than before. It seemed even his old occupational ailments had been cured.
This was simply a miracle!
"Uncle Ben, you're okay!"
Peter was overjoyed and carefully checked Ben Parker's body.
He was shocked to find that not only were Uncle Ben's injuries gone, but even the bullet holes in his clothes had been restored to their original state.
Is this something a Doctor can do? What kind of Doctor is this?
Ben Parker and Peter looked at Loya together, only then realizing they couldn't see the other person's face clearly at all. They suddenly realized they had encountered an existence beyond imagination.
"Thank you for saving me," Ben Parker thanked him cautiously.
"Thank you, thank you!" Peter also thanked him with a choked voice. Only those who have experienced the pain of loss know the preciousness of what they have.
Loya smiled slightly. "No need to thank me. I'll give you a piece of advice: don't use spider silk to save people in the future."
After saying that, he gave a light leap and reached the rooftop. Before the two men's shocked eyes... he flew away.
He flew away!!!
The uncle and nephew glanced at each other, both seeing the shock in the other's eyes. This World didn't seem so simple.
Peter swallowed. "Uncle Ben, what do you think that person was?"
Ben Parker stood up briskly, feeling light all over. He placed a hand on Peter's shoulder, his eyes full of affection.
"Listen, Peter, he might be a god, or he might be an Angel, but none of that is important. What's important is that he helped us when we needed help most.
Just as I said, with great power comes great responsibility. You must learn from him. When you have the ability to help others, you must never stand by and watch."
"Yeah!" Peter's gaze was firm, and he nodded heavily. "I will do it."
Only by being in that situation did he understand how right his Uncle Ben was.
But what did that Mysterious person mean by the last thing he said about not using spider silk to save people?
...On the other side, Loya sat on the rooftop of a tall building, watching the uncle and nephew reconcile and slowly walk away.
He rubbed his chin. "How come this Peter is The Amazing Spider-Man version?"
According to his previous experiences, theoretically, the Peter of this Universe should have been the Tobey version or the Tom Holland version.
But it happened to be the Garfield version, which was very strange.
This was also the reason Loya gave Peter a piece of advice before leaving, just to make up for a regret.
[Quest 'Change Fate' completed]
[Rewards: EXP +1000, Peter Favorability +60, Spider Totem Favorability +60, Item 'Paralysis Ring']
[Paralysis Ring: When an attack hits a target, there is a 1/15 probability of paralyzing the target for 3 seconds, making the target unable to move or attack]
[Evaluation: If you're a brother, come and hack me!]
"Paralysis Ring? Why not give me a Dragon Slaying Saber?"
Just as Loya was thinking that, the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated.
Opening it, he saw it was Tony.
"Hello, Tony. What? Your kidneys acting up again?"
Tony's somewhat kidney deficiency-sounding voice came through the phone: "Sigh, not entirely. There are also some other issues. If it's convenient, could you come over tomorrow?"
"Sure."
Hanging up the phone, Loya raised an eyebrow.
"Could it be that the palladium poisoning is about to flare up?"
23Does Ross want to rule the world?
Ross wants to rule the World?
The next day.
Loya arrived at Tony's seaside Villa right on time.
Strangely, the bodyguard Happy wasn't there this time, nor was Pepper; only the AI, Jarvis, was present.
Following Jarvis's instructions, Loya soon arrived at a room filled with various medical instruments.
Tony was slumped in a chair, his eyes deep-set with heavy dark circles.
On his neck, black lines could be clearly seen snaking upward, almost reaching his chin.
His eyes were extremely melancholy, and his whole being radiated an "emo" vibe.
Loya didn't point it out directly; instead, he casually grabbed a chair and sat opposite Tony, a slight smirk playing on his lips as he laughed:
"What's wrong? Is our genius inventor frustrated again? Love life, or career?"
In fact, Loya was also quite confused. According to the original development, Tony shouldn't be this heavily poisoned yet.
Tony shrugged with a proud expression: "Then you're going to be disappointed. I'm successful in both love and career. I'll invite you to the engagement banquet next time."
"Engagement banquet?" Loya mocked. "I think you mean a memorial service. With your level of poisoning, you'll be dead soon. Even burying you would cause serious pollution."
Tony's eyes flickered, and he sighed, his shoulders suddenly slumping as if his bones had been removed. "I really can't hide it from you. I am indeed poisoned, and it's serious."
"Duh." Loya tilted his chin. "Those black lines are almost at your chin; how could I not know? But go ahead and tell me the specifics."
Tony choked for a moment, his expression looking a bit unnatural. "Simply put, I have Palladium poisoning. The Palladium has seeped into my blood and tissues, gradually destroying my circulatory system."
He stammered, "Plus, that medicine of yours really works well... Pepper and I... we've done it quite a lot.
Then, you know, blood circulation speeds up during vigorous exercise, so the poisoning progressed faster. I've been looking for a solution lately, but I've tried many times without any luck."
Loya was speechless. So he enjoyed himself but suffered the consequences? What a talent. It truly was a "hero's grave in a gentle village," and Tony was no exception.
"So you called me here to solve this problem?"
Tony nodded, his expression melancholy. "In fact, there's almost no treatment for palladium poisoning.
But you mentioned before that you're from some top top traditional chinese medicine family. I looked into the history of TCM, and it has indeed produced many miracles, so I wanted to hear your opinion."
Loya: "..."
No, this guy actually believed it? That top traditional chinese medicine family resume was made up along with S.H.I.E.L.D.; it had no substance at all.
But thinking about it, at this point, there was no harm in trying.
Besides, now that he had the Horse Talisman, calling himself a descendant of a top traditional chinese medicine family wasn't really a problem.
Loya smiled confidently. "Regarding this, I actually do have a way."
"Really?" Tony's eyes became filled with disbelief. He was just desperately grasping at straws, not expecting a real turning point.
Thinking of this "divine Doctor's" kidney tonic, his confidence grew. "As long as you can solve my poisoning, money is no object!"
[Tony has issued a quest to you]
[Quest: Detoxification]
[Neutralize Palladium poisoning]
[Rewards: EXP +2000, Tony's Favorability +20, Random Item *2]
Loya nodded and took out... a carton of pure milk from his backpack.
[Detoxifying Pure Milk: Drinking it can remove all poisoning effects, but only after a hearty bout of diarrhea]
Loya didn't plan to use the Horse Talisman to treat Tony. Mainly, if the Horse Talisman completely cured this guy's kidney deficiency, it would be harder to farm favorability in the future.
He handed the milk over. "Here, drink this and the poison will be gone."
"Huh?" Tony took the milk, looking skeptical. He pointed at the 1L mark on the carton to confirm. "You mean drinking this 1L of milk will cure my palladium poisoning?"
"Yes." Loya nodded.
"Are you kidding me?" Tony felt like Loya was insulting his intelligence. Milk curing palladium poisoning? This was less believable than a fairy tale.
Loya spread his hands, looking indifferent. "Just like you didn't believe in my kidney tonic before, it doesn't matter if you believe this or not."
Tony's gaze moved back and forth between the milk and Loya's face. His heart struggled, but finally, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind.
Do it. If it doesn't work, it's just extra nutrition.
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
Tony raised the milk and started chugging. After taking several large gulps, he put the milk down and let out a painful milk burp: "I swear, this is the most milk I've ever drunk in my life."
Gulp! Gulp!
Ten minutes later, Tony finished the last of the milk. He then impatiently took out a small mirror to check the poisoning, but there was no effect at all.
He looked at Loya angrily. "Doctor, you..."
Before he could finish, a very strange expression appeared on his face, and his stomach began to growl loudly.
"I'll talk to you later!"
Tony clutched his rear and hopped toward the bathroom.
*Splatter...*
*Pop, crackle...*
A full half hour later.
Tony leaned against the doorknob, looking exhausted as he came out of the bathroom, his eyes full of resentment toward Loya.
"If you weren't going to treat me properly, fine, but why did you have to prank me on purpose?" he complained weakly.
Loya smiled without saying a word and pointed to the small mirror from earlier.
Tony raised the mirror and was instantly shocked. The lines on his neck representing palladium poisoning had completely disappeared.
Aside from the fact that the diarrhea had left him feeling faint, he could vaguely feel that his body was no longer as heavy as before.
He found it unbelievable. A problem that had plagued him for so long was solved just like that, and in such a dramatic fashion.
Milk could actually solve palladium poisoning, or was it only Loya's milk?
But he hadn't tasted any strange medicinal flavors in the milk. This carton looked like ordinary milk in every way; at most... it tasted quite good.
Tony looked at Loya. "Doctor, this milk..."
"Hey." Loya waved his hand. "Stop right there. This is a trade secret."
"Alright." Tony nodded sheepishly. He was incredibly curious about this milk and the previous kidney tonic. Either one could cause a massive sensation, especially the kidney tonic—a must-have for men.
[Quest 'Detoxification' Completed]
[Rewards: EXP +2000, Tony's Favorability +20, Item 'Portal *2', Item 'automatic cooking pot']
[Portal: Once established, you can teleport to another Portal.]
[automatic cooking pot: Simply put in the ingredients, and the pot will automatically cook them to perfection in color, aroma, and taste.]
Loya stood up and made a bold demand: "Wire me five million."
"Sure, I'll wire it to you later." Tony didn't hesitate for a second. To him, five million was just a drop in the bucket.
But he still didn't give up and asked, "This formula, really can't..."
"No!" Loya waved his hand repeatedly. He wanted to, but he couldn't exploit a system bug; no matter what he said, it wouldn't work... Shortly after leaving Tony's Villa, Loyareceived a call from Fury.
"Agent Loya, where are you now?" Fury's tone was very urgent; one could feel the tension even through the phone.
Loya raised an eyebrow; it sounded like a mission was coming. "I just left Tony's. Any instructions?"
Fury spoke very fast: "Go to the airport immediately. The mission is complex and urgent. I've told Black Widow all the details; she's your partner this time."
Loya hung up and quickly drove to the airport, where a private jet was already waiting.
Once in the cabin, Black Widow's expression wasn't as relaxed as before; her brow was furrowed with anxiety and tension.
Seeing Loya arrive, she didn't waste time on pleasantries and got straight to the point:
"This mission is very complex. Our primary task now is to go to Culver University in Virginia and rescue Hawkeye, who is on a mission there. His life is in danger."
She paused. "And then, there's General Ross. Based on various information collected by S.H.I.E.L.D., we reasonably suspect... he wants to rule the World."
Loya: "???"
24Put a hat on before fighting
Pinning a Label Before the Fight
"Ross wants to rule the World?"
Loya almost thought he had misheard. Was that even plausible?
In his memory, Ross was a very tough hawkish soldier, extremely obsessed with the Hulk and the Super Soldier Serum.
Although the old man was indeed quite inhumane, he wouldn't go as far as trying to rule the World. That was just too ridiculous.
Besides, talking about ruling the World in this World was essentially a death wish.
Black Widow first had the pilot take off before slowly explaining the situation:
"Ross attempted to perfectly replicate a 'Super Soldier Serum' that could significantly enhance human physical functions. An accident occurred during the experiment, causing the genius scientist Dr. Bruce Banner to undergo a genetic mutation, turning him into a green behemoth codenamed the Hulk."
"Previously, S.H.I.E.L.D. had been trying to find Dr. Bannerto help him control this power. Just recently, our people discovered he had returned to Virginia, so Fury sent Hawkeye there to try and make contact."
At this point, her face was full of worry: "That's where things went wrong. Not long after Hawkeye arrived, he lost contact after sending back one message."
"The message said that Ross had actually made a breakthrough in serum technology and had already created a large number of super soldiers. And at this critical juncture, Dr. Banner returned. We suspect Ross wants to use Banner's genes to further optimize the serum and create even more powerful warriors."
After hearing what Black Widow said, Loya understood. The Ross of this Universe wasn't stuck on serum technology like in the original plot; instead, he had developed a very mature version.
Of course, he still hadn't forgotten about the Hulk.
But what did this have to do with ruling the World?
Loya asked in confusion, "Is that enough to determine he wants to rule the World?"
"Of course, there's more to it than that."
Black Widow's expression was very grim. Hawkeye was her best friend, and his fate was currently unknown. Even though she had seen many storms, she still couldn't remain calm.
"Let's put it this way: Hawkeye is a Level 7 S.H.I.E.L.D.Agent. Even if the Military arrested him, they should have negotiated with S.H.I.E.L.D. But not only did Ross not do that, he even brushed off the notices issued by S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Not only that, he blocked information, ignored protocols, and mass-produced super soldiers without authorization, which far exceeds the scope of scientific research. Based on a comprehensive assessment, it's not an exaggeration to say he has ambitions to rule the World."
Loya suddenly realized—it was just pinning a label. First, pin an anti-peace label on him, stand on the moral high ground and point fingers, and then anything said afterward would be justified.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was really good at this trick.
But... could Ross be that stupid? S.H.I.E.L.D. is an international organization on the surface with significant influence. Why would he do this?
He couldn't possibly think a few super soldiers made him invincible, could he? Forget super soldiers; even with hundreds of Captain Americas, he wouldn't be invincible.
Wait!
Loya suddenly remembered that in the original plot, the Hulk and Abomination fought, destroying several blocks and causing massive casualties.
And the source of that disaster was actually Ross's attempt to replicate the Super Soldier Serum; it was entirely the Military's mess.
Yet even so, after that incident, Ross wasn't held accountable; instead, he later managed to become the Secretary of State.
The forces behind this old man are quite complex. There might even be other secrets behind this Hawkeye incident; perhaps the serum development was directed by someone else.
But then again, this had nothing to do with Loya. Regardless of what mission Fury assigned, he would just go all out while completing it. If anything went wrong, Furywould have to deal with it.
He only cared about fighting; everything else could be left to Fury.
He had to admit, the feeling of having someone else take the fall was truly great.
So he asked Black Widow, "What does Fury want us to do?"
Black Widow replied, "Once we reach Culver University, we'll first find a way to confirm if Hawkeye is safe and rescue him. Fury will issue further tasks depending on the situation."
At that moment, a system prompt sounded in Loya's ear.
[Fury has issued a mission to you]
[Mission: Rescue Operation]
[Current Objective: Rescue Hawkeye (Barton)]
[Rewards: Experience Points +2000, HawkeyeFavorability +10, Black Widow Favorability +40, Random Item *2]
...In less than an hour, the plane arrived at the Virginia airport.
After Loya and Black Widow disguised themselves, they headed toward Culver University.
Upon arriving near the university, they received some very bad news.
Culver University was going on a two-week break due to laboratory equipment updates and school building renovations.
Needless to say, this was definitely Ross's doing.
Hearing this news, Black Widow couldn't help but feel a bit tense.
This meant the entire school had been taken over by Ross's people, making it extremely difficult to gather information or sneak in.
Previously, she might have been confident; after all, it wasn't like she hadn't infiltrated Military Bases before.
But now it was hard to say. Ross's soldiers were no longer just veteran soldiers.
They were super-veterans enhanced by the serum. Even Hawkeye had been captured, so she couldn't guarantee she wouldn't be exposed.
So, Black Widow turned her gaze toward Loya, wondering if this mysterious guy had any other ideas: "Loya, any thoughts? Infiltrating right now will be difficult."
Loya smiled slightly. "My idea is simple: fight our way in and capture that old dog Ross alive."
"Stop joking," Black Widow rolled her eyes. "This place is practically a Military Base now, equipped with all sorts of weaponry, even heavy weapons like tanks."
"Not to mention those super soldiers; they're nothing like that Japanese Gang from before. Besides, doing that might put Hawkeye in danger."
Loya shrugged. "Alright, let's try another way then."
Black Widow's concern was reasonable. Ross was brushing off S.H.I.E.L.D.'s messages; if provoked, he might actually harm Hawkeye.
Loya rolled up his sleeve and checked his watch. "It's forty minutes until noon. There's enough time. Dealing with what comes next should be fine. Follow me."
Black Widow was confused. Enough time for what? Enough time to run away?
But seeing Loya's confident expression, she followed him anyway.
A few minutes later.
The two arrived at a wooded area about a hundred meters away from Culver University.
The trees here were lush and provided great cover. Even if students were exchanging genetic material in broad daylight, they wouldn't be easily discovered.
Loya held a map of Culver University, comparing the distance and direction between the Underground Laboratory and his current position.
If Hawkeye were to be held anywhere, it would most likely be the Underground Laboratory.
Even if he wasn't there, they were probably conducting some shady experiments, and getting some candid photos would be a major bargaining chip.
Black Widow scanned the surroundings in confusion. She really couldn't understand what Loya was up to. So what if he determined the lab's location? Was he going to dig a tunnel?
By the time he dug through, the flowers would have withered.
In the brief moment she was distracted, she turned back to see a Pixel-style Pickaxe, seemingly made of diamonds, resting on Loya's shoulder.
"What are you doing? You're not actually going to dig a tunnel, are you?" Black Widow asked in surprise, hoping for a negative answer.
Loya grinned. "The path is beneath our feet. If there's no way through, I'll just dig one with a pickaxe!"
25The strongest moment is coming.
The strongest moment is coming soon.
Culver University, underground laboratory.
"Hiss~"
Hawkeye sucked in a breath of cold air, a sharp pain in his chest jolting him awake from unconsciousness.
He scanned his surroundings with a dazed expression.
The room was small, with various cleaning tools scattered around. There were three surveillance cameras in the top corners, and the air was filled with the smell of disinfectant.
As for himself, he was tied tightly to a chair with ropes, and his weapons were nowhere to be found.
"This is the laboratory storage room."
Based on the surrounding environment and items, Hawkeye quickly made a judgment.
He struggled slightly, but the ropes didn't budge. He sighed:
"I probably won't be able to get out on my own now."
The person who tied him up was very professional, completely restricting his movements, and he was currently too weak to struggle.
At least three of his ribs were broken, his left arm was fractured, his left lower leg was bent unnaturally, and his internal organs likely suffered varying degrees of damage.
Hawkeye was experienced and quickly assessed the general extent of his bodily injuries.
He hadn't suffered such a serious injury in a long time, but he was resigned to it because what he had faced could hardly be considered human.
That was a monster capable of snapping ribs with a light punch, tearing through steel at will, and even disregarding explosive arrows—a super soldier injected with the Vampire gene serum.
He was lucky not to have been killed by a single punch.
Click!
At that moment, the sound of a door opening suddenly came.
An exceptionally tall man in military uniform pushed the door open and walked in.
He was staggeringly burly, having to lower his head slightly when entering to avoid hitting the doorframe.
His muscles were even more exaggerated, unable to be hidden by his relatively loose military uniform, nearly bursting through the fabric.
Such a powerful-looking man had an extremely fair face, with skin so good that pores were invisible. A faint, lingering smile played on his lips, and his pupils were an eerie blood-red.
He looked at Hawkeye and chuckled softly, "A S.H.I.E.L.D.Level 7 Agent, and this is it? You're far too weak."
Hawkeye looked up and sneered, "Bronski? There are Vampire genes in the serum; you'll regret this."
"Regret?" Bronski's tone was full of mockery. "You talk as if your S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn't done this before. Why do you think you haven't been released yet?"
He pointed at the ceiling: "Someone up there has taken an interest in the potential of this super serum and won't let you pass the evidence to the opposition.
However, S.H.I.E.L.D. actually managed to keep you alive. But until the Hulk experiment is fully concluded, you definitely won't be getting out. Just stay here quietly."
Hawkeye glared at Bronski: "It's precisely because we've done it that we know the flaws. Those flaws can't be detected by technology. You think you can control it, but in reality, you're being assimilated. In the end, you'll just become a mindless monster with nothing left but bloodthirsty killing instincts."
"Pfft."
This statement directly amused Bronski, who mocked: "Who do you think you are? Just because you can't do it, you deny others? General Ross has already found a new solution and created the most perfect serum.
The Hulk experiment is already underway. Once it's successful, I can become the most perfect ultimate lifeform. By then, the mouths of the opposition will be shut, and S.H.I.E.L.D. will become a thing of the past."
"Hahahaha."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but burst into loud laughter, as if he looked down on everything.
"Look, your symptoms are already starting." Hawkeyecoldly interrupted at this moment.
The laughter stopped abruptly.
The smile on Bronski's face vanished instantly, and he stared at Hawkeye ferociously. If Ross hadn't strictly ordered not to kill him, he would have wanted to kill Hawkeye right now.
He couldn't kill him, but that didn't mean he couldn't use other methods.
He turned and left the room with a gloomy face, returning a moment later with a syringe in his hand.
"What are you going to do?" Hawkeye had a very ominous premonition.
Bronski's mouth widened almost to his ears, revealing a morbid smile: "This is a muscle relaxant, originally prepared for the Hulk. After injecting this, you won't be able to control your muscles for a long time. You might even lose control of your bladder."
He suddenly leaned close to Hawkeye's ear and whispered in a low voice: "We know you sent a message to S.H.I.E.L.D. Guess what... will they send someone to save you?"
Hawkeye's expression instantly became extremely grim. He couldn't think of who could come. Natasha? Or Loya?
Neither seemed viable. Although Loya had superpowers, with the strength he had previously shown, he probably wouldn't be enough to handle the situation here. If he came, he'd likely just become another prisoner.
Bronski's smile grew increasingly evil, the curve of his mouth no longer looking human.
He rubbed Hawkeye's head as if he were dribbling a ball.
"Did you know? My enhanced sense of smell from the serum allows me to smell the scent of blood on you, even distinguishing strength and judging emotions by it. Infiltrating this place is impossible in a lifetime!"
After speaking, he took a deep breath, seemingly wanting to savor the scent of Hawkeye's fear.
However, that single breath caused Bronski's face to change drastically!
He took another breath in disbelief.
Wrong! Something was absolutely, completely wrong!
He smelled an unusually scorching scent. It was blood, yes, but it seemed... it seemed like there was sunlight in the blood.
This scent was coming from underground!
And it was approaching rapidly!
But how was that possible?
Thump, thump, thump!
As if to confirm his suspicion, a rhythmic digging sound suddenly came from beneath the floor, approaching fast.
Bronski looked at the ground in shock and uncertainty, completely unaware that his legs were trembling involuntarily.
Thud!
A soft sound.
Under the horrified gazes of the two people in the room, a square hole one meter wide with neat edges suddenly appeared on the floor, as if that piece of the ground had been swallowed by space.
Loya's head suddenly popped out of the hole, looking straight at Hawkeye, and said excitedly: "Hawkeye, I finally found you!"
Hawkeye didn't look happy; instead, he shouted at the top of his lungs: "Loya, watch out! He's very—"
Unfortunately, it was too late. Everything was too late.
Before he could finish his sentence.
Bronski instinctively exerted his full strength, his fist cutting through the air with a whistling sound, striking straight at the head on the ground.
Boom!!!
A deafening impact was accompanied by the cringeworthy sound of bones cracking.
Blood splattered everywhere, almost covering the entire room.
Hawkeye's face was covered in blood, and he couldn't see anything. At this moment, his heart was filled with nothing but regret.
The Agent whose shooting was even better than his own had died just like that. He was so young, he had an infinite future, he... "Hey, Hawkeye, time to get out of here." Just then, that familiar voice rang in his ear.
"Huh?"
Before Hawkeye could react, a breeze swept past his eyes, blowing away the blood and allowing him to see the state of the room.
The room was covered in blood, but it wasn't Loya's—it was Bronski's.
Now, only Bronski's head remained connected to half of his chest. The rest of him... was on the walls.
"How... how is this possible?"
Relying on his abnormal vitality, Bronski was still alive, but he couldn't believe what had just happened. His eyes were wide with shock, stunned beyond measure.
He had struck first, yet he was the one who had been beaten until almost only his head remained. He hadn't even seen how the other person had moved; he only felt an irresistible force explode from the inside out.
Could it be... that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s serum had already surpassed the Super Soldier Serum?
"How on earth did you get in?"
Hawkeye looked incredulous, watching Loya climb out of the hole, followed closely by Black Widow.
Black Widow shrugged: "Don't ask me, I don't know either. We just got here anyway."
She was still questioning her life right now. That guy Loya, with a strange pickaxe, had dug a tunnel several hundred meters long in just over ten minutes.
And that included the time they spent getting lost in the middle. What kind of talent had Fury found?
"Don't worry about that... Let's get out of here first."
Loya stepped forward quickly, tore through the ropes binding Hawkeye with one pull, and prepared to carry him away.
"Wait... wait!" Hawkeye almost passed out from the rough movement. Loya's lift seemed to have pushed a rib into his lung. "Broken... they're broken. My ribs are broken."
"Sigh, why didn't you say so earlier?"
Loya sighed, let Black Widow enter the tunnel first, and then took the weak Hawkeye down, followed by destroying the tunnel entrance.
Inside the tunnel, Hawkeye's mouth bled, and he looked like he had lost all hope in life.
What is the most heartless thing in the world?
Nothing compares to being about to escape, only to be dealt a painful blow by a teammate.
With a rib piercing his lung, he figured he wouldn't last until they reached a hospital.
Hawkeye looked at Black Widow and Loya and said weakly: "Take care of... my wife and children..."
"What? I haven't even spoken yet, what's with the last words?"
Loya tapped Hawkeye with a finger, and a blue light flashed briefly.
Hawkeye's near-fatal injuries were instantly restored, and other ailments were cleared as well.
The Horse Talisman was just that powerful.
Black Widow: "???"
Hawkeye: "???"
"What kind of ability is this?" Hawkeye was completely bewildered, feeling his body explode with health, not knowing what to say.
Beside him, Black Widow saw Hawkeye healed in an instant, and a strange glint flashed in her eyes.
Loya talked nonsense with a melancholy face: "This is the blessing of the god of cattle and horses. As long as you are a conscientious beast of burden, you can obtain unparalleled healing abilities to ensure you never miss a day of work."
Hawkeye: "..."
What on earth is this.
"Never mind that, let's get out of here. After reporting to Fury, we'll decide what to do next." Loya urged as he ran ahead.
"Aren't we going to finish him off? Bronski isn't dead yet." Hawkeye followed and asked.
"That's not important; your safety comes first."
Just kidding, how could Loya finish him off? This guy was the Abomination, likely a boss. If he finished him now, wouldn't he have one less boss to farm?
Soon, the three of them ran out of the tunnel. Just as they emerged, a roar like that of an ancient behemoth came from within Culver University.
Loya's eyes lit up. He ran toward Culver University while dialing Fury's number.
"Director, Hawkeye has been rescued and is safe and sound."
"Good job, Agent Loya." Fury's tone had a hint of excitement.
[Mission 'Rescue Operation' Completed]
[Rewards: Experience +2000, Hawkeye Favorability +10, Black Widow Favorability +40, Item "TNT*99", Item 'invisibility cloak']
[TNT: Extremely powerful explosive, detonation time can be controlled by thought]
[invisibility cloak: Renders the covered parts invisible when worn]
"So, what are our next arrangements?" Loya asked impatiently.
Fury said quickly: "Did Hawkeye find Banner's location?"
At this moment, Loya had just leaped onto the wall of Culver University and happened to see Banner wildly smashing a tank.
"Uh... I think I've found him, except he's turned green and is stained with a bit of red."
"Motherf*cker! What kind of mess has that damn Rossmade now!"
Fury cursed in exasperation.
He didn't expect that Ross would actually dare to use Vampire genes; he was a complete lunatic.
Fury forced himself to calm down and asked in a low voice: "Agent Loya, can you subdue the Rampaging Hulk? If you can, bring him back. If not, then you all should evacuate quickly."
One was the Banner from his plans, the other was a very useful Agent.
Fury still knew how to prioritize; only what he held in his hand was truly his.
[Fury has issued you a mission]
[Mission: Rampaging Hulk]
[Objective: Subdue the Hulk and bring him back to S.H.I.E.L.D.]
[Rewards: Experience +5000, Fury Favorability +10, Random Item*3]
"Director, trust me, and remember to give me a bonus."
Loya hung up the phone and looked up at the sky.
At this moment, the Sun was about to climb to the center of the vault of heaven; it was almost noon.
His strongest moment was about to arrive!
26The perverted version of Hulk
The Abnormal Hulk
Culver University.
"Roar!"
A roar like that of an ancient behemoth suddenly exploded, nearly piercing the eardrums.
The violent sound waves formed visible Impacts, sweeping up dust and gravel from the ground.
The Impacts even shook several ordinary soldiers holding machine guns until they bled from their seven orifices, killing them on the spot.
A green monster roared at the sky, a bloody and tyrannical aura sweeping through every corner.
This was the Hulk, but a different kind of Hulk.
His height had swollen to nearly four meters, like a small mountain. His body was covered in a lustrous dark green, and at his chest, a mass of blood-red color, like ink in water, had stained nearly half of his chest.
His purple shorts were still worn on his lower body like a divine artifact, undamaged. His muscles were piled up like stones, displaying explosive power.
By now, the Hulk's eyes had turned completely blood-red, radiating killing intent as he glared fixedly at the heavy tanks gradually surrounding him.
"Fire!"
General Ross's firm command came through the walkie-talkie.
The soldiers obeyed the order immediately and opened fire.
A torrent of artillery fire swept out, frantically pouring firepower toward the Hulk.
"Boom!"
The sound of violent explosions was continuous, and the entire Culver University seemed to be shaking.
After a round of volleys.
Thick smoke billowed, dust filled the air, and the atmosphere went still, falling into a complete dead silence.
"No!"
On a helicopter circling high in the sky, Banner's girlfriend, Betty, cried out hoarsely.
"Dad, I beg you to let Bruce go. Didn't you agree to let him leave?"
Ross, with a cold expression, pressed Betty back into her seat: "Stop your wishful thinking. Banner's power is completely out of control; it's a fatal threat to everyone."
A strange madness flashed in his eyes, "And his potential is far more than I imagined. Becoming a piece of the puzzle for my grand plan is his only destiny."
Don't worry, I'll let you see him in the future, but letting him go? Impossible!"
Roar!
Just then, a deafening roar sounded from within the smoke and artillery fire.
The sound waves billowed, instantly blowing away the thick smoke and revealing the Hulk, whose size had grown even larger. By now, the blood-red color on his chest had spread to almost his entire torso.
The heavy tank cannons hadn't even managed to damage a single hair on him; instead, they had only made him angrier.
Bang!
With a slight exertion of his legs, the Hulk's entire body appeared in front of a tank as if he had teleported.
He raised his arm and smashed it down heavily; the tank was crushed flat, its tracks sinking deep into the soil.
Traces of blood seeped out from the damaged tank.
The Hulk didn't seem satisfied yet. He grabbed the tank's turret with one hand and, with a light pull of his arm, ripped the turret off.
The alloy tank was no different from a toy in his hands.
Just then, something unexpected happened.
The soldiers inside the tank actually hadn't died. Their bodies were recovering at a visible rate, and they quickly returned to a combat state.
Obviously, these soldiers had been injected with a Super Soldier Serum containing Vampire genes. Their recovery ability was freakishly strong, making them like cockroaches that couldn't be killed.
As soon as the soldiers recovered, they lunged at the Hulk, overestimating themselves like mayflies trying to shake a tree.
Using the turret as a weapon, the Hulk swatted at the lunging soldiers like flies, slamming them into the ground. Their bodies shattered into pieces, and blood splattered everywhere.
But even so, these soldiers still weren't dead; their bodies repaired and fused back together at an extremely fast speed as they continued to fight.
Super Soldiers from other tanks also jumped out. Time and again, they were sent flying or shattered, yet they repeatedly charged forward to fight the Hulk, providing continuous harassment.
From the sky, Ross watched this scene, his eyes full of appreciation and a twisted desire for control.
As expected, the Hulk was the most perfect upgrade template for the Super Soldier Serum. The current Super Soldier Serum still had flaws; to achieve absolute perfection, he still needed the help of those people.
Fortunately, he had saved a few canisters of Banner's blood; otherwise, given the Hulk's current combat power, it was hard to say if he could be subdued.
Ross thought for a moment and decisively switched the walkie-talkie channel: "Bronski, have you recovered? Lead your squad to subdue the Hulk. I must have him."
Inside the laboratory, Bronski stood up from a pool of blood. By now, he had completely recovered his damaged body.
This was the power of this Super Soldier Serum; it not only enhanced bodily functions in all aspects but also extended lifespan.
In terms of recovery, it was even more of an absolute authority.
As long as there was enough fresh blood, even if only a head remained, the rest of the body parts could grow back.
Bronski felt some lingering fear: "General, has that S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent who saved Hawkeye disappeared? Does S.H.I.E.L.D. have no interest in the Hulk?"
Thinking of that S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent from a few minutes ago, his whole body trembled.
Even when facing the Hulk, he didn't have this feeling of helplessness, but that Mysterious person just now had given him a fear that originated from deep within his heart.
Clearly, that guy was so small, yet so powerful.
"Soldier!" Ross roared from the other side. "Losing to him one-on-one doesn't mean we can't win if we attack together. We are soldiers; what we need is teamwork, not some individual heroism. With your squad, are you still afraid you can't beat him?"
Ross had watched the surveillance; that person was indeed strong, but not to the point of being unmanageable. Many ants can bite an elephant to death; the Super Soldier Squad is invincible.
That's right.
Bronski suddenly realized. He had been thinking about a duel all along, forgetting that he led a Super Soldier Squadof dozens of people.
Unity is strength!
"General! I understand!"
Bronski straightened his back again... On the other side.
"Loya, let's just go back. Don't try to be a hero. If you're short on money, I'll lend it to you. One Hulk is enough of a headache, let alone dozens of Super Soldiers here. We can't take the Hulk away."
In a hidden corner near the battlefield, Hawkeye tried to persuade him earnestly; he shouldn't value money over his life.
He saw dozens of Super Soldiers had appeared around the Hulk and were currently besieging him.
And Bronski, who hadn't been finished off, had as expected fully recovered, acting as the Commander among the dozens of Super Soldiers.
Relying on his rich experience, he directed the dozens of people to cooperate, taking turns to get hit to exhaust the Hulk's stamina, annoying the Hulk into roaring repeatedly.
Even if the Hulk smashed them to pieces, they could quickly recover using the power of the serum. The Hulkcould only roar in impotent rage.
"Don't worry, Hawkeye, I have a very perfect plan." Loyafrequently looked up at the position of the Sun, feeling his own power swelling more and more.
Seeing the Hulk's freakish size, far exceeding the original work, and his red-and-green look, he must have been injected with some strange things by the perverted Ross.
Before noon, he really wasn't sure about taking down the Hulk. It was great to have this group of Super Soldiers stalling for time.
"Your perfect plan is to just blast them all? The Hulk and Bronski aren't on the same level. Not only that, to take the Hulk away, you'll have to face the remaining Super Soldiers. With that kind of healing power, they'll tire you to death."
Hawkeye sighed repeatedly. When he learned that Loyawas determined to take the Hulk away to complete the mission, he was stunned.
The Hulk was no longer in the realm of humans; even if one has superpowers, they shouldn't be used like this.
That guy is at least four meters tall, while Loya isn't even two meters. What are you going to fight him with? Jump up and hit his knees?
He knew Loya indeed had some clever little tricks, but the current gap was clearly not something little tricks could bridge. Fury shouldn't have given this mission.
"Just trust me, okay? I'm going to wipe out that whole group of Super Soldiers later." Loya stared straight at the battlefield and said confidently.
It wasn't that he didn't want to explain, but it simply couldn't be explained. People can't imagine things they've never seen; he'd let them see for themselves in a bit.
Seeing that Loya's mind was made up, Hawkeye helplessly shot a look at Black Widow.
Black Widow understood immediately.
The two of them quietly raised their hands, preparing to knock Loya unconscious and forcibly take him away. Saving his life was more important; there would always be time to earn money.
However, just as they raised their hands and were about to strike, they stopped simultaneously as if they had seen something incredible, their eyes filled with surprise.
This guy... why is he glowing?
27Hulk was hammered until he questioned his existence.
Hammering Hulk until He Doubts Life
"Don't even think about knocking me out; I see your every move clearly."
Loya spoke without looking back, his tone carrying an indefinable hint of arrogance.
Meanwhile, the light on his body grew brighter, becoming exceptionally eye-catching.
"This... you..."
Black Widow and Hawkeye exchanged puzzled glances; it seemed that some change beyond their understanding had occurred within Loya.
Loya did not offer much explanation. Words were pale and powerless; it was better to let them face and feel for themselves what the true Sun was.
Lest they fail to trust him in the future.
Of course, before that, he still had some preparations to make.
Subsequently, under the bewildered gaze of Hawkeye and Black Widow.
Loya took out a can of popeyes spinach, pulled out a leaf, and swallowed it.
Mmm, it was actually quite tasty, a fresh flavor.
Then, he took out a silver ring inlaid with a blue gemstone and put it on his hand.
Once ready, he silently counted in his heart.
"3..."
"2..."
"1..."
"Time's up!"
"Divine Illumination!"
A golden sphere of light slowly rose behind Loya's head, emitting a blinding radiance.
The holy light was blindingly bright; behind him, Hawkeyeand Black Widow instinctively raised their arms to shield their eyes.
Meanwhile, the sound of fabric tearing rang in their ears; someone's clothes had exploded.
The holy light flashed and vanished.
The two lowered their arms and looked forward, their eyes widening in shock, wearing expressions as if they had seen a ghost.
Standing before them was a reborn Loya.
His height had soared to over two meters, resembling a small giant.
His shirt had completely burst open, revealing well-defined muscles that looked like a work of art meticulously carved by an artist, shimmering with a charming luster under the sunlight.
Behind his head was a golden sphere of light; its glow was no longer blinding but extremely gentle, making him look like a God descended to earth.
Black Widow's eyes glazed over as she watched; she couldn't help but swallow, and reflexively took out the camera she carried to start recording.
Hawkeye, on the other hand, looked bewildered, thinking to himself: "Does this superpower come with special lighting effects?"
"This feeling is amazing!"
Loya wore a wild grin; this was his first time going all out.
The "Grace of the Sun" ability normally increased attributes during the day, but within this one minute at noon, it could change his physique.
Now, boosted by the "Divine Illumination" and having eaten the can of popeyes spinach, Loya felt terrifyingly strong. For this one minute, he was invincible!
He looked toward the battlefield, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly: "One-minute speedrun!"
With a light tap of his toes, a gust of wind rose, carrying him as he flew toward the battlefield.
With his attributes fully boosted, his "Wind Control Swordsmanship" had reached an incredibly powerful level, allowing him to harness the power of the wind to fly directly and even conjure tornadoes.
In just two seconds, Loya crossed several hundred meters and arrived at the edge of the battlefield.
Such a flashy entrance naturally attracted the attention of Bronski, who was busy issuing orders.
"It... it's you!?" The strange sight of only seeing the lower half of his face confirmed to Bronski that the newcomer was the mysterious Agent who had rescued Hawkeye.
But this tall and perfect body made him hesitate; this physique was even more astonishing than theirs, the Super Soldiers.
Bronski suppressed the fear remaining from their previous encounter and looked up, staring at Loya: "S.H.I.E.L.D.cannot take Hulk away."
Loya looked down at Bronski with a calm gaze and spoke slowly: "Sorry, I'm in a hurry. Excuse me."
He approached Bronski as if teleporting, throwing a punch with a current of wind wrapped around his fist.
"Boom!"
Fast! Too fast!
Bronski could only see a blur flash by before the fist had already struck his abdomen.
Pain! So painful!
An indescribable, intense pain erupted in every part of his body as a strange and domineering power drilled into him.
This power destroyed everything inside.
In an instant, his internal organs, blood vessels, and bones were completely pulverized and churned into a mess, yet the outside of his body remained unscathed.
Bronski only heard the whistling wind in his ears before his body was smashed like a rag into a school building several hundred meters away.
As luck would have it, he crashed right into a restroom.
He lay on the damp, filthy floor, smelling the stench of the restroom, feeling his body lose control, his eyes filled with fear, anger, and an absolute craving for power!
Loya had just used the "Armament Haki" technique, infiltrating and destroying internally, directly mincing all of Bronski's internal organs.
Even with his powerful regenerative abilities, it would take time to fully recover from injuries of this level.
There was no help for it; to be able to fight another boss in the future, he had to send this one away with the wind first.
Next were the remaining Super Soldiers.
Discovering their Commander had been sent flying with one punch, the remaining Super Soldiers split into two groups; one part continued to pin down Hulk, while the other rushed toward Loya.
Loya's expression remained unchanged as he quickly took the "heavenly halberd" from his system inventory.
With a series of clicks, the "heavenly halberd" instantly transformed into a longsword, with Armament Haki slowly covering the entire blade.
Loya gripped the longsword, took a deep breath, and an invisible hurricane gathered around him.
"Sweeping Blade!"
Swish, swish, swish!
Loya's figure seemed to merge with the wind, turning into a blur as he wove back and forth between the dozens of Super Soldiers.
A moment later, he stopped and slowly exhaled.
This breath seemed to trigger the first domino.
Crash!
All the Super Soldiers present suddenly froze, and immediately after, a line of blood appeared on everyone, splitting them evenly from top to bottom, spilling blood and internal organs all over the ground.
But even after being split vertically, they were not dead; strands of flesh buds extended from the cuts, attempting to merge the two halves of their bodies back together.
Loya naturally wouldn't give them a chance; he raised his sword and swung again, the power of the wind elementgathering once more.
A tornado dozens of meters high rose out of thin air, sweeping up all the Super Soldiers' bodies. The tornado instantly turned blood-red and rushed into the distance, uprooting turf and churning up soil along the way, leaving a scene of devastation.
At this moment, everyone watching the battle was dumbfounded.
Black Widow and Hawkeye exchanged a look, both swallowing in unison.
Black Widow tightened her grip on the miniature camera, her expression disheveled: "Are we still on Earth?"
Hawkeye smiled bitterly: "No wonder Fury dared to let Loya execute this mission, and Loya was so confident. It turns out he had reached such a level of strength. I was foolishly advising him not to act rashly; it's truly ridiculous."
Ross, on the helicopter, witnessed the whole process and was shocked beyond measure.
When he saw Loya flying over, he already felt something was very wrong.
But he never expected that all his Super Soldiers wouldn't even last ten seconds before being completely wiped out.
"Is this a superpower? Or is it the serum technology that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been hiding?"
Ross couldn't figure it out. Loya's performance had made him doubt life itself, and he even began to wonder if his plan was really feasible.
ROAR!
A sudden roar brought Ross back to his senses, and he looked toward the ground.
"That's right, I still have Hulk. Hulk is invincible; my plan is feasible!"
After the Super Soldiers were cleared, a trace of confusion flashed in Hulk's eyes.
But this confusion was instantly swallowed by rage and killing intent.
"ROAR!"
Hulk roared wildly, his mountain-like body instantly accelerating, his thick shoulders charging toward Loya like a steamroller.
Loya did not dodge or evade, charging toward him in the same manner.
Boom!
Small shoulder against big shoulder; the two shoulders collided, and a violent airflow erupted from the point of impact, blowing the sand and stones on the ground away like bullets.
Just when everyone thought Loya wouldn't last long and would soon be knocked flying.
A jaw-dropping scene occurred.
Loya's body, nearly half the size, suddenly thrust upward, and Hulk's massive body was actually knocked several meters off the ground.
Within those sculpted muscles seemed to lie the great power to pry the World apart.
Taking advantage of the time Hulk was in the air, Loyaquickly said: "Banner, wake up! I'm here to take you back!"
Hulk's eyes didn't change in the slightest, still filled with killing intent and rage. Using the force of his descent, he clenched his fists and smashed them toward Loya.
"Looks like I'll have to use my fists to help you recall the truth, goodness, and beauty of the World."
Loya stood his ground, Armament Haki instantly covering his arms; the black fists looked lethal at a glance.
Boom!
He met Hulk's fists head-on, his body sinking suddenly, half of it driven into the ground.
Loya was not worried but happy, laughing: "Got you!"
Taking advantage of the split second when Hulk had no leverage in the air, Loya had already grabbed one of Hulk's thick arms.
Following that was a powerful, heavy swing.
Boom!
Hulk's mountain-like body instantly smashed into the ground, shaking him into a moment of confusion.
Before he could make any other reaction, Loya's attack arrived again.
He grabbed Hulk's arm and swung him in the opposite direction again.
Boom!
Another powerful, heavy smash.
Not stopping there, Loya gave Hulk no reaction time at all, swinging his massive body back and forth like this, causing the ground to shake incessantly.
The scene was as absurd as a baby beating up an adult.
Looking at Hulk's confused but still murderous eyes, Loyaknew this wouldn't work and had to try another way.
Just as Hulk smashed onto the ground again, Loya flashed to his head, his fists blurring as he unleashed a barrage of attacks on his face.
Finally, through the accumulation of hits, the 1/15 probability paralysis effect of the "Paralysis Ring" was triggered.
Hulk's body suddenly paused, freezing in place as if petrified, unable to move even a finger.
At this moment, a new emotion called fear appeared in his eyes.
Seeing that it worked, Loya punched even faster. From a distance, it looked as if he had two wheels spinning at high speed in his hands.
"Paralysis! Paralysis! Paralysis! Still paralysis!"
He triggered paralysis several times in a row.
Hulk's greatest strength was his unparalleled power, but now, under the effect of paralysis, he couldn't use even a shred of it.
The blood-red color in his eyes faded, and the feeling of fear grew more and more.
"Five seconds left!"
Loya had been counting the one-minute limit; only five seconds remained. A flash of inspiration hit him, and he suddenly thought of a method.
"ROAR!"
Hulk let out a roar, but this time the roar was not of rage, but of deep fear.
He looked at Loya as if looking at a devil, because he felt a hand suddenly appear inside his body.
One moment it was squeezing his heart, the next poking his kidney, then digging at his lungs.
"third hand!"
Hulk's psychological defenses were completely broken; the blood-red color vanished completely, replaced by deep fear and clear confusion.
His body shrank rapidly, visible to the naked eye, and soon he turned back into Bruce Banner.
Before that, Loya had also retracted the third hand.
Time was up.
Loya's body returned to its original size as if shrinking, and the powerful strength dissipated rapidly.
He profoundly realized that the one-minute boost at noon was vastly different from any other time.
"Who are you?" Banner looked at the person who only had the lower half of his face visible and felt inexplicably afraid.
Loya said: "Don't be afraid, my name is Loya. This is a mask. Besides, I am from S.H.I.E.L.D., specifically here to take you back, to protect you from the persecution of that evil father-in-law of yours."
"Did you defeat Hulk?" Banner pressed his head, seemingly accepting a few fragments of Hulk's memories.
"That's right." Loya smiled, "What, did he want to fight me again?"
"No... no." Banner stammered. He felt it was incredible; Hulk, that lawless guy with astonishing destructive power, was actually afraid—afraid of the man in front of him.
He said truthfully: "Hulk is very afraid of you. And thank you for your help."
"Oh?" Loya raised an eyebrow. Looks like he'd beaten Hulkinto submission.
The stats for that one minute of "Grace of the Sun" were truly outrageous; he could actually pin Hulk down and beat him. It was just a pity it only lasted one minute.
"Don't thank me. Let's get out of here quickly, lest your father-in-law cook up more trash experiments to annoy me." Loya said.
"Wait a minute." Banner seemed to think of something crucial and suddenly shouted.
"What's wrong?" Loya tilted his head in confusion.
"Betty, my girlfriend Betty. She helped me; Ross definitely won't let her go. Ross has gone crazy!" Banner said loudly, his eyes turning red.
Loya was just about to comfort him when he suddenly thought of something and said: "Do you need me to help you bring Betty back?"
Banner's spirits lifted: "Can you?"
[Bruce Banner has issued a mission to you]
[Mission: Hand in Hand]
[Objective: Bring back Bruce Banner's girlfriend]
[Reward: EXP +1000, Banner Favorability +30, Random Item *1]
There was an unexpected surprise.
"Wait for me a moment, I'll be right back."
Loya didn't delay any longer, took the hovering flying carpet from his system inventory, and chased after Ross's helicopter, leaving the bewildered Banner sitting in place.
"Go! Go!" Ross urged the pilot loudly. He never expected that Hulk would also lose, and lose so miserably—it was simply a crushing defeat.
How could there be such a terrifying person in the World?
"Why aren't we moving?" Ross was furious. The Super Soldiers were wiped out, Hulk couldn't be caught, and now even the pilot was going against him.
"General... outside the window." The pilot's voice was helpless.
Hearing this, Ross looked out the window, his pupils suddenly contracting.
He saw Loya sitting on a flying carpet, a golden handgun pointed right at the pilot's forehead.
He raised an eyebrow at Ross: "Hey, old man, give me your daughter, or I'll break your legs."