Chapter 21: The Gamma Mutant Project
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Just then, the phone rang.
Seeing it was Fury, Steve answered the phone.
"Hello, Rogers, how are the preparations going?"
Nick Fury's voice came through from the other end.
"Director Fury, I am ready. What are your instructions?"
Rogers answered with high spirits.
"Considering you don't have much investigative experience, I've sent an expert agent over. I hope you two cooperate well."
An expert. Steve couldn't help but imagine a seasoned, serious middle-aged man in his mind.
Thinking about working with such a person, Steve felt some anticipation and replied immediately.
"Understood, Director. I will cooperate well with him."
"Him? Heh, you'll see when the time comes."
Nick Fury gave a light chuckle and hung up the phone.
Steve put down his phone, a bit confused by what Nick Fury meant at the end.
Just then, a knock came from the door.
The expert must be here. Steve's spirits lifted, and he hurried over to open the door.
The door opened, and a glamorous red-haired woman came into view.
"Who are you?"
Had she come to the wrong door? He didn't remember knowing anyone like this. Steve was somewhat puzzled.
He didn't associate the woman in front of him with the expert.
"I'm Agent Natasha. Fury sent me."
Natasha pushed past Steve and walked straight into the room.
"You're the expert agent? A female agent?"
Steve was still a bit confused; in his impression, such matters were clearly more suited for men.
"What, is the famous Captain America some kind of sexist jerk?"
"Are women somehow inferior to men?"
Natasha raised an eyebrow, looking at Steve with some displeasure.
"Of course not. I'm just... a bit surprised."
Steve was a bit embarrassed. Women certainly weren't inferior to men, and he knew one who proved it.
He couldn't help but think of the woman he had missed his date with, that agent who was more brilliant than any man, Agent Carter.
"Alright, enough nonsense. Let's discuss the plan for this mission."
Seeing Steve's distracted look, Natasha interrupted him impatiently.
His memories interrupted, Steve snapped back to reality, realizing this was no time for that, and immediately became serious.
Seeing Steve turn serious, Natasha nodded and said,
"I've gathered all external information related to Whiplashand have narrowed it down to two locations that need investigation."
"First is the docks. A dockworker was murdered recently, and it's very likely Whiplash's doing. If we can confirm that, we can determine which ship he used to smuggle himself in."
"Second is the Hammer Industries manufacturing plant. The equipment Whiplash is wearing clearly wasn't brought with him but produced in a factory. If he did it there, there will certainly be traces left behind."
"That's our mission this time. Any questions?"
Steve nodded, looking at Natasha with considerable admiration. Such professionalism—she truly was the expert Nick Fury spoke of.
Having finished their discussion, the two didn't hesitate and took action immediately, heading to the docks.
...
Brazil, Banner's home.
Banner was lying on his bed in distress. The Hulk inside him was like a nightmare haunting him at every moment, leaving him completely at a loss.
Beep! Beep!
A notification sounded from the computer.
Banner sat up with a start and looked toward the computer.
Sure enough, it was a message from his long-awaited online friend, Dr. Blue.
Dr. Blue was a well-known professor of biology who had helped Banner a lot with his situation. Not long ago, Banner had sent some of his blood to Dr. Blue to see if there was a way to solve the problem through experimentation.
Dr. Blue's message was simple.
The experiment was very successful; Gamma energy has significantly decreased, but your original data is still needed for true success.
"Original data?"
Banner was in a difficult position. The original data was all in a laboratory in the United States. He was currently a wanted man and didn't dare go back at all.
Just then.
Banner heard a slight movement coming from downstairs. He immediately walked to the window and looked down warily.
Sure enough.
A group of well-equipped, fierce-looking special forces soldiers were advancing upstairs. Needless to say, they were definitely there to catch him.
"Damn it! They even found me here."
Banner's expression changed, and he hurriedly began packing his things.
At this point, going straight downstairs was definitely out of the question; the special forces were all down there.
"Then this is the only way down."
Banner looked at the window on the other side, quickly took out a rope from the room, and climbed down using it.
Reaching the bottom, Banner straightened his clothes, put on a hat, and pretended to be a passerby walking into the distance.
"He's over there, chase him!!!"
Contrary to his wishes, the special forces still spotted him.
Footsteps echoed from all around. Banner didn't dare delay and immediately ran toward the distance.
Relying on his familiarity with the terrain, Banner dodged through the area, but without turning into the Hulk, he was still a bit inferior to professional special forces.
Before long, he was cornered in a small alley.
"Don't move, you're surrounded. Surrender now."
Several special forces soldiers pointed their guns at Banner, closing in step by step.
"Don't come any closer, I'm about to lose control."
Banner was somewhat panicked, backing away step by step until he fell into the deep shadows.
A surge of irritability welled up in his heart; he knew that the Hulk was about to come out.
The target was right in front of them; how could the special forces give up easily? They didn't listen and continued to close in.
The next second.
Two green lights flashed in the shadows. A thick, giant green hand suddenly lunged out. One special forces soldier couldn't react in time, was grabbed, and sent flying.
"Damn it!!! Open fire!!"
The lead soldier looked into the shadows with some horror and quickly raised his rifle to fire fiercely.
The surrounding soldiers didn't hesitate either, pouring a literal storm of bullets toward the shadows.
Under such concentrated fire, normally nothing should be left.
But a moment later, a chillingly massive figure stepped out of the shadows unscathed. With hideous muscles and green skin, it was the Green Giant, Banner.
"Damn, what kind of monster is this?"
One soldier shouted in sheer panic. The bullets they were most proud of didn't leave a single mark on the monster opposite them. How were they supposed to fight this?
Hulk felt the endless rain of bullets hitting his body and frowned. Then, with a furious roar, he tore down a section of the wall beside him and threw it at the special forces.
Several soldiers couldn't react in time and took the hit full-on, immediately falling to the ground.
Seeing his attack was effective, Hulk didn't linger to fight. Instead, he let out a roar, ran out through the large hole in the nearby wall, and then with a few massive leaps, sprinted off into the distance.
His goal was now set: return to the United States and get back the experimental data.
Chapter 22: Banner is Hunted
General Ross's military base.
Inside the General's office.
"General, what on earth is that monster? I sent two assault squads over, and they couldn't catch him."
"I watched the combat logs; that thing isn't even afraid of bullets. It's impossible for it to be an ordinary fugitive. What exactly is it?"
A man stood opposite Ross, looking very agitated.
"Emil, calm down."
General Ross rubbed his temples, looking somewhat irritable.
He hadn't expected the Hulk's power to be so immense that even Emil's assault team couldn't handle it.
One must know that Emil's assault team was among the best in the world and equipped with sophisticated gear; he hadn't expected the Hulk to escape even then.
"Calm? I can't calm down. My soldiers are still lying in hospital beds right now, and all because I told them it was an ordinary fugitive."
"And that so-called 'ordinary fugitive' possesses power that makes even me tremble. It's truly ironic."
Emil gave a bitter smile and sat down in a chair.
"Sigh... I won't keep it from you any longer. That monster is a Gamma Mutant, which is the origin of the Super Soldier Project we've been researching lately."
Ross couldn't bear to see Emil looking so defeated and finally revealed the cause of the situation.
"Gamma Mutant? Super Soldier Project?"
Emil was stunned for a moment. He knew about the Super Soldier Project, of course, but as a powerful individual, he had never paid much attention to it. He believed his own strength alone was enough to count as a super soldier.
Now that the reality of the Hulk was right before him, he knew this super soldier might be far stronger than he had imagined.
"We intend to study a method to withstand gamma radiation mutation from the Hulk's example. Although we have already produced a Super Soldier Serum, it's nowhere near the Hulk's strength. So, we plan to capture the Hulk and conduct a more detailed study."
General Ross laid out his entire plan.
This plan couldn't be hidden from everyone forever. Emilwas his most prized soldier, and he wasn't worried that Emil would leak the information.
"So that's how it is. In that case, it seems that guy must be caught."
"General, if possible, can you give the next capture mission to me? I want to show that guy what I'm made of."
Emil still felt a bit unwilling to accept defeat and intended to face the Hulk head-on once.
"Sigh, the latest intel I've received suggests the Hulkshould be returning here. A capture operation will likely be needed immediately."
"But your current strength is still insufficient. How about this: I'll give you an injection of an incomplete version of the Super Serum. With your skills combined with that, you might actually be able to contend with the Hulk."
General Ross didn't try to persuade Emil to give up. He knew Emil's character; he wouldn't back down from such a thing. Telling him not to go would be worse than killing him.
"Alright, General. With the power of the Super Serum, I'll have even more confidence. I hope that once there's news, you'll notify me first. When the time comes, I'll deliver that guy right to you."
Emil said firmly.
...
A hidden spot on the outskirts of Hammer Industriesheadquarters.
Natasha and Steve were huddled together, discussing their plan.
"The news from the docks has been investigated. The fingerprints on the dead sailor belong to Whiplash. It's confirmed that Whiplash arrived by boat."
"Furthermore, investigations show that a Hammer Industries vehicle appeared at the docks that day. Now, as long as we find evidence here, we can confirm the link between Hammer Industries and Whiplash."
Natasha looked at the message on her communicator and discussed it with Rogers.
"Good. Then the next step is to go inside and investigate."
Steve nodded in complete agreement.
"What, you don't think women can't be agents anymore?"
Seeing that Steve's initial disdain had completely vanished, Natasha couldn't help but tease him.
"Haven't I already apologized? That was indeed my mistake."
Steve was a bit embarrassed.
Natasha's level of professionalism exceeded his imagination; his previous doubts had been proven groundless.
"Alright, I'm done teasing you. Let's sneak in first."
Joking aside, Natasha didn't delay the mission. She had long since mastered the layout of the Hammer Industriesheadquarters, and they were currently at the weakest point of its defenses.
With Natasha leading the way, and given that both possessed extraordinary physical capabilities, they soon infiltrated the interior of Hammer Industries.
"We'll go straight to the manufacturing workshop. If there are any traces of Whiplash, they'll definitely be there."
Natasha identified the direction and then pointed to one side.
Steve was completely in the dark after entering, so he could only nod in agreement and follow Natasha's lead.
The two arrived inside the manufacturing workshop.
The workshop was pitch black, but one could still see countless assembled and unassembled machines. Being in such a place for the first time, Steve found it a bit overwhelming to take in.
"Steve, look at this."
Natasha's voice came from the side.
Steve looked toward the sound and saw Natasha facing a blueprint with a serious expression.
"This is?"
Walking to Natasha's side, Steve's brow furrowed and his expression turned grave after seeing the blueprint clearly.
"That's right. The manufacturing blueprints for the whips on Whiplash's body."
Natasha also nodded solemnly, then reached out and tore the blueprint down.
"In that case, it's confirmed that Whiplash and Hammer Industries are in league together."
"Since that's the case, our mission is complete."
Steve breathed a sigh of relief and then quite relaxed, rested his hand on a nearby lever.
The next second.
The lever was easily pulled down by Steve, and the factory lights suddenly flared to life.
Steve was startled and hurriedly tried to turn off the lights.
"What... are all these?"
Natasha's voice drifted over.
Steve turned to look and saw that the area previously obscured by darkness was filled with countless remote-controlled robots with reactors in their chests.
"Could this be the project Hammer is collaborating on with the government? What kind of project needs so many combat robots?"
Natasha walked around, her expression extremely grim.
This kind of military force was clearly not meant for ordinary combat; it was enough to start a war.
"There's something wrong here."
Steve and Natasha exchanged a glance and nodded, both clearly believing that so many robots were suspicious.
...
Early morning.
The editorial department of the Daily Planet.
Clark was tidying up the office supplies on his desk, occasionally taking a sip of the coffee beside him.
"Clark, here's the news that needs a draft. Take a look!"
"Honestly, these unscrupulous beverage manufacturers really don't care about human lives."
Lois walked over and handed Clark a file, criticizing them quite indignantly.
Chapter 23: Is Hulk Coming?
"What news has made you so angry?"
Clark opened the file with some confusion.
A seventy-year-old man died while drinking a beverage; an investigation determined that the drink caused radiation infection.
This information met his eyes, causing him to frown.
No wonder his girlfriend Lois was so furious. This was entirely a problem caused by the merchant, leading to the innocent loss of a life. Anyone would feel indignant; even he felt a deep loathing for such people.
"Alright, don't be angry. Those businessmen are all like that; the law will sanction them eventually."
Clark comforted Lois, showing little emotional fluctuation himself.
Such things happened too often in society, especially in the news industry where they saw it even more. A woman like Lois would be more emotional, but Clark had long since become desensitized.
Unlike Clark...
"Radiation poisoning from a drink? Holy crap, isn't this the plot from Hulk?"
Su Cheng, inside Clark's mind, was somewhat surprised.
Familiar with the original plot, he recognized at a glance that this was the plot of The Incredible Hulk.
Because Banner was working in a bottling plant, his blood got into a bottle. In the original story, an old man played by Stan Lee drank it and died on the spot.
"This news was probably suppressed by the military for a few days before being released. That means Bannershould be arriving soon."
Su Cheng murmured to himself.
According to the original plot, the next step should be Banner risking a return to the university to find his old research data, only to be surrounded by Ross, Emil, and the others.
"That's when Ross and the others will feel the terror of the Hulk for the first time. If Clark goes and intervenes at that moment and the Hulk is defeated, I wonder if something interesting will happen."
Su Cheng certainly didn't care about the safety of Ross and the others; he was considering whether this event could be used to push Clark toward the dark side.
The previous Whiplash incident had already caused Clarkto kill for the first time, greatly affecting his psyche. Hydrashould have also placed Clark on their list of people who must be dealt with.
General Ross and his people were much like those in Hydra. Judging by their attitude toward the Hulk, their philosophy regarding those with great power was to either control them or destroy them.
If Clark went there while the Hulk was rampaging and defeated him, showcasing his immense power, he didn't believe Ross and the others wouldn't be afraid.
When the time came for Hydra and General Ross's group to unite and sanction Clark, he didn't believe Clark would remain unaffected.
Thinking of this, Su Cheng made up his mind and immediately sent a mental suggestion to Clark that there was something wrong with the news and it needed to be investigated.
"Hmm?"
Clark shook his head, suddenly feeling a strange sensation.
Looking at the news draft in his hand again, he frowned.
"That's not right. How could a drink bottle have radiation?"
"There's something wrong with this news. I need to go to the scene and take a look."
Clark didn't know what had come over him, but he just felt the news was suspicious. He wouldn't feel at ease without a field investigation, so he immediately spoke to Loisbeside him.
"Lois, there's something off about this news. I'm going to the scene to check it out."
Seeing Clark stand up and put on his coat, Lois didn't know what was wrong, but she still agreed.
...
Early morning, a street in New York.
Betty and Banner were walking side by side on the road.
"Betty, it's really thanks to you that I was able to get that experimental data back."
Banner looked at his girlfriend Betty with a face full of gratitude, tightly clutching a USB drive in his hand.
Inside was his previous research data, which Betty had saved and returned to him when they happened to cross paths.
"Banner, you don't need to say those things between us. After all, this was all caused by my father."
Betty cupped Banner's cheeks and shook her head.
As they were talking, the rumbling sound of tracks scraping against the ground suddenly came from not far away.
Banner looked toward the sound, and his expression changed instantly.
Several military trucks were driving toward them from a distance, followed by many tanks and soldiers marching forward.
On the lead truck was none other than his old father-in-law, General Ross. Clearly, they were all coming for him.
"I have to go, Betty."
Without hesitation, Banner spoke to Betty and turned to run wildly in the opposite direction.
Seeing this, the soldiers behind them formed ranks to give chase, but Banner's speed still left them far behind.
Just then...
"Don't fire, everyone. This guy is my prey."
A figure with an arrogant smile burst out from the crowd of soldiers at a speed far exceeding the others, comparable to a cheetah. It was Emil, who had recently been injected with the Super Soldier Serum.
After the injection, his physical attributes had received an unprecedented boost. Combined with his formidable skills, he felt that even ten Hulks wouldn't be enough to beat him.
The pursuit of numerous soldiers and tanks soon forced Banner into a building ahead.
"Fire the tear gas! Force that monster inside him out!"
Arriving at the scene, Emil sneered and waved for the soldiers behind him to take action.
A group of soldiers obeyed the order, standing in a line. They took out their launchers and fired countless canisters of tear gas toward Banner's location.
Under the coverage of the gas, the house before them was instantly submerged in a thick fog of tear gas.
"What's the situation?"
Ross walked up to Emil and asked.
"It should be soon. This is specially formulated tear gas; he won't be able to hold back."
Emil said with full confidence.
ROAR!!!!
Just as he finished speaking, a roar erupted from within the smoke.
CRASH!!!
Hulk's massive frame burst through a window.
"Fire!!!"
General Ross immediately gave the command.
Instantly, a rain of bullets poured down upon Hulk's body.
Seemingly unwilling to tangle with the soldiers, Hulk didn't fight back, shielding himself from the hail of bullets as he ran in one direction.
"Don't let him get away! After him!!!"
The soldiers thought Hulk was afraid and pressed the advantage. Tanks and military trucks all gave chase.
Seeing that they were pushing their luck despite his reluctance to engage, Hulk finally grew impatient.
With a roar, he grabbed the nearest armored vehicle and slammed it violently into the ground.
The armored vehicle shattered on the spot. He didn't stop, lifting the wreckage and tearing it in half with a single pull.
Then, with a swing of his right arm toward the vehicles behind him, the half-chassis in his hand flew like a lethal arrow toward a following tank.
BOOM!!!!
The vehicle behind couldn't dodge in time and was pierced straight through.
Seeing this, the surrounding armored vehicles and tanks recoiled, pulling back from Hulk and not daring to approach for a moment.
Seeing the soldiers around him hesitating, Emilimmediately grabbed a grenade launcher and charged forward.
"Cover me!"
Chapter 24: Clark Discovers the Hulk! Joining the Battle!
Bang!!!
The Hulk, who was in the middle of his rampage, was hit by an explosion and instinctively ducked his head.
"Your opponent is me."
Emil held a grenade launcher and bombarded him relentlessly.
The Hulk defended himself while picking up two pieces of armor fragments from the side to block his front. Using the fragments as a shield, he approached Emil step by step.
Seeing that the grenade launcher was out of ammo, Emilgritted his teeth, immediately threw it away, and dodged the Hulk's attack.
Bang!!!
The ground shattered instantly.
Seeing the Hulk's power, Emil knew he couldn't face him head-on. He immediately ran back, trying to create some distance.
The Hulk, of course, was unwilling to let Emil leave. With a roar of anger, he gave chase.
As Emil ran, he saw General Ross driving several Sonic Cannons ahead. He immediately shouted.
"Do it!!!"
After saying that, he leaped high over them.
The Sonic Cannons fired instantly, pinning the Hulk behind them in place.
Everyone thought the Hulk had been subdued and breathed a sigh of relief. However, to their surprise, the Hulk endured the discomfort and threw the fragments in his hand at the Sonic Cannons.
Bang! Bang!!
The two Sonic Cannons shattered on the spot, clearly rendered inoperable.
"Damn it!!!"
Seeing this, Emil cursed under his breath, picked up a rifle from the side, and charged at the Hulk.
The Hulk saw Emil daring to approach again despite the danger and walked toward him step by step.
"Is this all the strength you have?"
Emil showed no fear as he saw the Hulk approaching.
In the distance, Ross's face changed drastically. He frantically called for Emil to retreat, but Emil ignored him.
Hearing Emil's continued arrogance, the Hulk raised his right leg, intending to kick him away.
...
A few minutes earlier.
In a nearby neighborhood.
Clark was holding his camera, heading toward the scene of the incident.
BOOM!!!!!
A massive explosion echoed from not far away.
The crowd immediately fell into chaos, fleeing in all directions.
"What happened?"
Clark's expression changed as he looked into the distance with confusion.
"It looks like the good show is about to start."
Su Cheng laughed with interest in his mind.
Using his super hearing, Clark confirmed that a firefight was taking place in a nearby block.
Worried that civilians might be hurt, Clark quickly found a hidden corner and changed into his Suit.
After changing into his Suit, he immediately flew into the sky and headed toward the location.
The battle was not far away. As soon as Clark took to the sky, he saw the area.
He saw armored vehicles and tanks everywhere, with a large number of soldiers attacking a single spot. And at that spot...
"What kind of monster is this?"
Clark was somewhat surprised to see all the soldiers attacking a massive green monster.
However, the green monster clearly had the upper hand, destroying everything in its path with no one able to stop it.
Seeing that the soldiers were no match, Clark was about to fly over to save the day.
Just then.
Clark saw Emil enter the battlefield and start fighting the Hulk.
"That soldier isn't an ordinary person either."
"With the fire support from elsewhere, I probably don't need to go, right?"
Clark nodded to himself.
Although the soldier's strength was still insufficient in his eyes, being able to go back and forth with a monster like that was already beyond what an ordinary person could do.
But just as he said that, the situation on the field changed in an instant. That soldier actually walked straight toward the monster, seemingly indifferent to the danger.
"Not good!!!"
Seeing the monster lift its foot, clearly intending to kick the soldier away, Superman didn't dare delay. He dove toward the field in a flash.
...
Back at the Hulk's battlefield.
General Ross watched the Hulk's kick, his eyes nearly bursting from their sockets.
He knew that with the Hulk's strength, there was no hope for Emil to survive that kick, but there was nothing he could do now.
Emil's mind was also a blank at this moment. He felt some regret for approaching so impulsively, but the Hulk's kick wouldn't give him a chance; it was about to land on him.
The next second.
A figure instantly dropped between the two of them from the sky.
Bang!!!
The powerful impact instantly smashed a large crater into the ground. A strong shockwave erupted from where the figure landed, sweeping away rubble and dust as it spread to both sides.
Before Emil could react, he was blown away by the powerful impact. He crashed heavily into a tree, spat out a mouthful of blood, and his body went limp.
It wasn't easy for the Hulk either. The violent impact was more than even he could easily withstand. He hurriedly held the armored car fragment in front of him, but he was still pushed back by the powerful force, plowing two deep furrows into the ground.
General Ross's side was also affected by the shockwave, but because they were far away, the soldiers were only knocked over in a mess. Ross, sitting in the car, only had his hat blown off and his hair ruffled.
"Emil!!! Medics, go and treat him immediately!"
General Ross was incredibly anxious as he ordered the medics to treat Emil. Even at their distance, they had felt such a strong impact; the force Emil had taken at ground zero was unimaginable.
After giving the orders, Ross turned to look back at the Hulk's side, where the dust was thick and obscured the view. He said with a heavy expression.
"What on earth is that?"
At that moment, the dust in the center was gradually dissipating, revealing a strong figure wearing a cape.
"That is... Superman!!!"
General Ross's face changed as he cried out in surprise.
Of course he recognized who it was. It was the Supermanhe and Pierce had been discussing how to deal with just a few days ago.
What was Superman doing here? And he had seriously injured Emil as soon as he arrived. Was he planning to kill them this time? Ross felt some trepidation in his heart.
Meanwhile, Clark stood in place, rubbed his head, and looked somewhat awkwardly at Emil not far away.
He hadn't expected to leave Emil in such a state.
He had originally thought that since Emil could trade blows with a big monster like the Hulk, he wouldn't be weak.
He didn't expect that Emil was, at best, just a human slightly stronger than normal. The mere aftershock of his landing had turned him into this. Thinking of this, Clark felt a bit apologetic.
Roar!!!
Just as Clark was thinking about how to apologize, the Hulk's roar interrupted his thoughts.
By now, the Hulk had regained his footing and was looking at Clark with a displeased expression. He didn't know where this guy had come from, but the fact that he had dared to beat him to the punch by knocking that human away made him furious. He wanted to give the human in front of him a severe beating.
Clark finally realized there was still a monster to deal with and immediately turned his head to look at the Hulk.
Seeing Clark dare to look at him, the Hulk became even more enraged. With a roar, he threw a punch at Clark.
Bang!!!
Struck by a fist that could punch through a tank, Clark only furrowed his brows. His body didn't sway at all, and the spot where he was hit remained completely unscathed.
Chapter 25: Hulk Driven Away?
"Hmm?"
Seeing Clark looking as if he hadn't been attacked at all, Hulk was stunned for a moment. Had he missed? He looked at his fist in confusion.
Failing to land the hit, Hulk didn't hesitate and threw another punch, this time with even more power than before.
Bang!!!
Clark remained motionless, but Hulk was actually shaken back a few steps by the counter-shock force.
"That's enough."
Seeing that Hulk was about to attack again, Clark finally grew a bit impatient.
Bang!!!
He flickered and instantly appeared in front of Hulk, the surrounding air rippling from his extreme speed.
Seeing Superman in front of him, Hulk let out a roar and swung his right fist violently at Clark.
To Clark, this speed was like slow motion. With a faint smile on his face, he lightly stepped aside to dodge Hulk's fist, then flew toward the right side of Hulk's head and landed a punch squarely on his face.
Bang!!!
Hulk's body was sent flying as if hit by a heavy truck. After sliding for a distance, he crashed heavily into the ground, smashing out a large crater.
Ptooey!!!
The fallen Hulk shook his dizzy head, spat out some bloody water, and stood up to look at Superman.
Clark's blow was heavy, causing the anger in Hulk's heart to surge. The green on his body deepened as his rage rose, and his muscles grew slightly larger.
Feeling the increase in his power, Hulk's confidence soared. He let out a roar and made a massive leap, jumping high into the air to strike at Clark.
Clark shook his head helplessly. Not wanting to waste any more time, he immediately accelerated, flying beneath Hulk and delivering a heavy punch to his abdomen.
Bang!!!
Unable to dodge mid-air, Hulk took the hit full force. His body was sent flying high before crashing heavily back to the ground, creating another large crater.
With his strong regenerative abilities, it didn't take long for Hulk to crawl out of the pit. He rubbed his stomach in pain as he stood up, clearly hurt by Clark's strike.
Seeing Superman walking toward him again as if to continue the fight, he shuddered on the spot.
After being easily crushed by Superman time and time again, Hulk realized the vast difference in their strength and had developed a hint of fear toward him.
At this thought, Hulk felt the urge to retreat. As Clark drew closer, the urge grew stronger.
Just as Clark was about to reach him, Hulk finally made a decision.
He struck a combat pose, let out a roar at Superman, and then turned around and fled in the opposite direction in a panic.
The surroundings were dead silent. All the soldiers swallowed hard as they watched Banner's fleeing back, unable to believe that was the same monster that had easily crushed them just moments ago.
"This... this..."
General Ross couldn't even finish a sentence, standing there in a daze.
He hadn't expected Superman's power to be so immense. The Hulk, whom they couldn't take down despite deploying so many troops, had been like a big toy in Superman's hands just now, ravaged at will without any room to fight back.
After the shock, Ross remembered the incident where Superman massacred a military camp and realized that Superman was on the opposite side.
Since such powerful strength wasn't for their use, it definitely couldn't be allowed to remain. At this thought, Ross couldn't help but glare fiercely at Superman.
"Huh? He ran."
Clark was somewhat surprised. Seeing Hulk's roar, he thought he was preparing to continue the fight, but he hadn't expected him to run away.
But such speed was still not enough in his eyes. Clarkshook his head and prepared to chase Hulk down.
"Can't fight anymore, or Banner won't be able to take it."
Feeling Clark's intention to give chase, Su Cheng's expression changed in his mind.
He quite liked the character of Banner, and he wasn't a bad person. If his interference led to Banner's Death, he would feel a bit guilty.
He couldn't let Clark continue the pursuit. With that in mind, Su Cheng quickly transmitted the information that Banner was a good person into Clark's mind.
Seeing that quite a bit of time had passed, Clark was afraid Lois would worry, so he didn't continue chasing Hulk.
"Hmm?"
Superman's forward steps faltered, and he came to a stop.
He suddenly felt something was fishy. Was the green monster that fled really a bad guy? Looking at the surroundings, other than the soldiers who attacked him being injured, there were no other injured civilians.
And why did the army arrive so quickly? Shouldn't they have received word only after the monster caused casualties?
Could there be some misunderstanding? Supermancouldn't help but think carefully.
Just then.
With his super-sensory abilities, Clark keenly felt a malicious gaze and immediately turned to look.
The surrounding soldiers saw Superman looking over and stood on high alert, fearing a sudden attack. However, the fear in their hearts made their hands shake so much they could barely hold their guns.
Ross was also broken into a cold sweat by that glance, a chill running down his spine.
Not long ago, Superman had killed everyone in a military camp. Ross felt a bit panicked, wondering if he wouldn't let them off this time either.
Thinking of Superman's formidable strength, Ross secretly calculated his chances of winning. The result was despairing; there was no chance of winning at all.
Clark let out a light chuckle seeing Ross's nervous state.
He knew what these government soldiers were thinking. Weren't they just afraid of his power and wanting to destroy him?
It was truly incomprehensible that these people would hate him even though he had saved them.
Clark shook his head, not bothering with them. With a kick off the ground, he soared into the sky and left.
Seeing Clark leave, Ross couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
He hadn't expected Superman not to kill them, after all, Pierce had said Superman massacred a military camp.
From this contact, he found that Superman wasn't as brutal as Pierce had claimed; instead, he was quite restrained.
Could there be some misunderstanding? Ross thought to himself.
As he was thinking, several medics slowly passed by carrying the injured Emil on a stretcher. Emil was covered in blood, his body slumped limply on the stretcher, unconscious and looking like he was on the verge of Death.
Seeing this, Ross snapped out of it.
Not brutal? If he's not brutal, how did Emil end up like this? I must be out of my mind!
Ross cursed silently to himself.
...
Stark Industries' high-end private hospital.
In the director's private ward.
Happy Hogan lay in bed wrapped in some bandages, with Pepper lying in another bed next to him. Tony sat by the side, peeling an apple.
"Tony, you don't have to stay here and watch over me. The danger has passed."
Looking at Tony, who had come early in the morning, Pepper said somewhat helplessly.
"And I'm not really hurt, just a bit shaken up."
Chapter 26: Tony Establishes the Damage Control Department
"I wasn't looking at you, Ms. Pepper, it's... Happy. Happy needs someone to take care of him."
Tony made excuses while cutting a piece of apple and stuffing it into Pepper's mouth.
"That's right, Ms. Potts, he came to take care of me, though I personally prefer to be self-reliant."
Happy shrugged, picked up an apple from the side, and began peeling it himself.
Seeing this, Pepper rolled her eyes and said nothing more.
Just then, a news report played on the television in the hospital room.
"Recently, Superman's actions have led to the destruction of many buildings and significant property damage. Many citizens are very dissatisfied and are demanding that the government handle the Superman issue immediately."
"The government considers Superman's behavior irresponsible and has decided to subject him to legal sanctions."
The news continued with interviews of citizens expressing their negative opinions about Superman.
Hearing the news, Pepper's face filled with concern. She tugged on Tony's sleeve and said,
"Tony, Superman saved our lives. We share some responsibility here. A hero like him shouldn't be punished."
Happy also looked worried and added,
"Yeah, Boss, Superman did us a favor first. We can't just sit back and watch."
Since being saved by Superman, the two hadn't had a chance to thank him. Seeing him being criticized now, neither intended to stand idly by.
"Don't worry, you two. I'm quite fond of that guy myself, so rest easy."
Tony gestured for them to calm down, then rested his chin on his hand as he thought of a strategy.
He had already tried expressing support in Stark's name last time, but it had little effect. He didn't plan on using the same method this time.
In that case, solving Superman's problem would require a different path.
However, public opinion had already turned against Superman, and changing that would be difficult. Tony felt a bit frustrated.
He thought for a moment.
A flash of inspiration hit Tony as he recalled what Fury had told him after their previous meeting.
Fury had said that in many cases, he couldn't directly intervene or clean up the aftermath of superhero battles because he lacked the authorization—but Tony could.
Exactly. Fury couldn't handle it directly, so no one was doing the cleanup work for superheroes, which was why the public opposed their existence.
But he could do it. He didn't have much else, but he definitely had plenty of money.
At this thought, Tony couldn't help but smile.
"You thought of a way?"
Seeing his expression, Pepper and Happy immediately leaned in expectantly.
"Of course. I am the world's most brilliant scientist; something like this is easy."
"The solution I've come up with is for us to establish a department specifically to help heroes with the aftermath. As long as the cleanup is handled well, no matter how intense Superman's battles are or how much damage is caused, we'll be there to fix it. Affected citizens will even receive subsidies. That should solve it."
Tony explained his idea with full confidence.
"Indeed, if that's the case, Superman's problem is solved. Tony, you're brilliant."
Pepper nodded happily. She finally had a chance to repay Superman's kindness.
"It's a great idea. So, what exactly will this department be called, Boss?"
Happy asked curiously.
Tony smiled confidently and said,
"I've already thought of it. It will be called the Damage Control Department."
...
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Central Command Hall.
Nick Fury looked at the mission data in his hand with considerable distress, wondering who to assign to this task.
All agents were currently deployed; there was no one available.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The communicator at his waist rang.
Frowning at the interruption, Nick Fury picked up the communicator and saw it was a call from Coulson.
"Yes, Coulson, what is it?"
Nick Fury rubbed his temples as he leaned back in his chair.
"Chief, something happened here again."
"General Ross and his men, in an attempt to capture a Mutant, brought in a large number of troops and heavy weaponry. A fight broke out in the New Town District."
Coulson said over the line.
"What? A Mutant?"
"And they're fighting in the streets? Ross and his people really are..."
Fury jumped up from his chair, his expression turning extremely grim. He followed up with a question:
"Is the fight over? Were any civilians affected?"
"The battle is over, and no civilians were harmed. Superman defeated the Mutant. General Ross's forces were completely useless against it. In the end, Supermanarrived and took it down."
Coulson reported through the communicator.
"Whew! It's good no one was hurt. Thank goodness Superman showed up. By the way, where is that Mutant? Did General Ross and his men take him away?"
Nick Fury breathed a sigh of relief and continued asking.
Although not as powerful as Superman, the value of a Mutant capable of defeating such a large force was immeasurable. It wouldn't be a good thing for the military to get their hands on that kind of power.
"No. After Superman defeated the Mutant, he let him escape without pursuing him."
Coulson clarified.
"Let him go? What exactly is this Superman thinking?"
Nick Fury's already dark face darkened further.
Having Superman around was already enough of a headache; now there was a Mutant too. Things were getting even messier.
"Chief, that's all I have from here. Are there any other missions?"
"Missions? There is one, actually."
As he spoke, Fury opened a file beside him and said,
"Recently, a hammer fell from the sky in New Mexico. No matter what, it can't be lifted. Head over there and investigate what's going on."
"Understood, Chief. I'll get there as soon as possible."
Coulson accepted the mission and hung up the phone.
After putting down the communicator, Nick Fury sat back in his chair, feeling troubled, and began to think of a countermeasure.
There had been a lot going on lately, and all available agents had been sent out. Even if they were all here, finding someone to deal with the Hulk would be quite a challenge.
"It looks like I'll have to notify Tony. Next time the Hulkappears, I'll have him help out."
Nick Fury muttered to himself.
Only Tony's iron armor stood a chance against power like the Hulk's. Although Tony was frivolous, Nick Fury trusted him to handle this sort of thing properly.
"I should mention it to Rogers as well."
Nick Fury thought of Steve again.
Against a flying opponent like Superman, Steve was at a disadvantage. But against a Mutant like the Hulk, Steve's Super Soldier strength could still be put to good use.
Chapter 27: The Military Seems to Have a Problem
As they were speaking, the doors to the hall opened, and Natasha and Steve walked in.
"The results are in. Did you find anything?"
Fury stood up to greet them and asked.
"There's a big discovery this time, Director Fury."
Natasha handed over a file, which Nick Fury took and opened.
"This is...?"
Seeing the blueprints for Whiplash's weapons inside, Fury's expression changed as he asked gravely.
"We found this in Hammer Industries' manufacturing workshop. It's basically certain that Hammer and Whiplashare in collusion; Hammer obtained the reactor technology from Whiplash."
Natasha pointed at the blueprints and said with certainty.
"I knew it."
At these words, Fury's face darkened.
He had previously felt it was impossible for Hammer Industries to develop a miniature nuclear reactor. He hadn't expected them to actually collude with a criminal like Whiplash to manufacture it. It seemed Pierce and the others had been deceived by Hammer.
"There's one more thing."
Natasha flipped the file to the next page, revealing images of Hammer's manufacturing workshop filled with Remote-Controlled Armor.
"This is the situation inside Hammer's workshop. This is what he's manufacturing in collaboration with the government."
"So many."
Fury's expression shifted. Such military force clearly didn't seem to be for self-defense as Pierce and the others had claimed. What exactly was their purpose?
"We're not sure of their purpose for manufacturing these, but it's certain that it's definitely nothing good."
Natasha said with a serious expression.
"Director Fury, I also believe there's a problem here. We need to investigate as soon as possible."
Steve also looked serious at this moment.
"This matter still needs careful consideration."
Nick Fury rubbed his temples with a bit of a headache, then handed the file he had been looking at earlier to Natasha.
"A S.H.I.E.L.D. official has been kidnapped overseas. You two go on this rescue mission first. We'll discuss the rest when you return."
Steve glanced at Fury, wanting to say something, but he held back.
Natasha fell silent for a moment. She knew what Nick Furymeant. Despite her many doubts, she didn't ask. Instead, she took the file and left without a word.
Seeing Natasha leave, Steve could only sigh and turn to follow.
After seeing Natasha and Steve leave, Fury remained silent for a while.
He also knew what Natasha and Steve meant, but the government wasn't something that could be easily dealt with. Even S.H.I.E.L.D. was subject to the government's control. If there was a problem within the government, he couldn't imagine what the consequences would be.
He then picked up his communicator and called Pierce.
"Hello! Director Fury, what is it?"
Pierce's hearty voice came from the other end.
"Director Pierce, I remember you mentioned last time that Hammer had collaborated with the government. I'm a bit curious about what kind of projects they're working on."
Nick Fury asked tentatively.
Hearing this question, Pierce paused for a moment before responding.
"Hammer has developed a miniature nuclear reactor, which is of great use to the government. So the government chose to collaborate with him. Moreover, Hammer has now become the military's Chief Consultant, taking full charge of weapon manufacturing."
"As for what projects they're manufacturing, that's currently classified. With your level, Fury, you can't access it for now."
Pierce didn't answer directly, instead steering the conversation away.
"Then I understand. Goodbye, Director Pierce."
Fury hung up the phone and became even more silent. Pierce was using classification to suppress him, clearly hiding something on purpose.
It seemed the issues involved were extensive; many thoughts raced through Nick Fury's mind.
The Daily Planet editorial department.
After fighting the Hulk, Clark hurried back, holding the firsthand material he had filmed at the scene.
"Lois, this is the firsthand material from the Mutant attack in the neighborhood."
Walking into the office, Clark handed the material to Loisand spoke.
"You're amazing, my Superman."
Lois was all smiles. This was truly firsthand material; no one could get the news faster than the person involved.
Just then.
Clark noticed a news page open on Lois's computer.
"The damage recently caused by Superman has sparked dissatisfaction among many people," the headline read.
Below were many comments, one-sidedly criticizing Superman.
"What right does Superman have to damage our interests? He should go to jail."
"Superman is just a criminal."
"My house is gone, and it's all Superman's fault."
Seeing the accusations from the public in the news, Clark's expression couldn't help but turn sour. He hadn't expected that the people he had done his best to save would turn around and blame him.
"Clark, it's not your fault."
Seeing Clark's dejected expression, Lois hugged him distressedly and comforted him.
Just then.
Clark noticed a new news notification pop up on the computer.
"The head of Stark Industries publicly expresses support for Superman's actions."
Remembering that Stark had supported him before, Clarkinstinctively clicked on the news.
"I want to tell those people criticizing Superman: you're a bunch of ungrateful bastards."
The video began with Stark arrogantly scolding everyone who criticized Superman.
"Superman saved you, yet instead of being grateful, you criticize him for damaging your interests. It's truly disgusting."
"My people have also been saved by Superman, and I won't be ungrateful. So, I'm here to announce my support for Superman's actions, and..."
As he spoke, Tony in the video pulled back a backdrop, revealing a massive title that read: Damage Control Department.
"This is the project Stark Industries is about to invest in. The main purpose of this project is to help superheroes with cleanup work. We will repair the damage they cause, and we will compensate those who suffer losses."
"We are the superheroes, and also the support group behind Superman."
The video ended abruptly there.
"Look, Clark, that Stark guy actually spoke up for you."
Lois was quite pleased to see Tony speaking out in support of her boyfriend.
Clark felt much more at ease now. He hadn't expected that Tony, a wealthy playboy he had previously looked down upon, would stand up for him and even establish such an organization to resolve his future worries.
This made him feel a bit apologetic for having misunderstood such a sensible person who dared to speak out.
...
Congressional Meeting Room.
Tony's statement video was playing on the large screen.
*Bang!*
"This Tony Stark, honestly, always coming around to ruin our plans."
Senator Stern slammed the table in anger, speaking with a grim expression.
Chapter 28: Tony's Support, Hydra's Conspiracy
This public opinion attack was the method Senator Sternhad devised to deal with Superman.
In his view, as long as public opinion was controlled, the public's outcry against Superman would grow louder and louder. By then, the entire government would have to fully support their plan to eliminate Superman.
But he hadn't expected that just as they were about to succeed, Tony Stark would interfere again. Not only did he issue a statement supporting Superman this time, but he also established something called the Damage Control Department.
Once this department was established, the issue of Superman causing losses to the public was immediately debunked.
Thinking of this, the senator took several heavy breaths, trying to suppress his anger.
"If it were anyone else, it would be fine. After all, establishing such a department costs a fortune and is purely a money-sink; no smart person would do it. But it just had to be Stark—someone who is both rich and reckless."
Sitwell also shook his head, feeling helpless against someone like Tony.
"Since Stark has intervened, let's drop this matter for now. It's not the time to deal with him yet. If he wants to make a scene like this, let him be."
Pierce directly put an end to the matter. Fighting someone as wealthy and willful as Tony was a cost they couldn't afford, regardless of whether they won or lost.
Sitwell nodded; he shared the same thought as Pierce. There was no need to waste time on such things.
Stern nodded reluctantly. Although he was unwilling to let Stark off the hook, he had no choice since Pierce had spoken.
"By the way, Sitwell, what's the news on Ross and that Mutant?"
Pierce changed the subject and asked about General Ross.
"After the Mutant was defeated by Superman, his tracks were temporarily lost. However, according to current intelligence, he likely hasn't escaped the New City area."
Sitwell adjusted his glasses and stated his deduction.
"Hmm, that unstable factor also needs to be dealt with, otherwise it might affect our subsequent plans."
Pierce's eyes flickered as he contemplated a plan to deal with the Mutant.
Although the Mutant wasn't a monster on the level of Superman, he was still not to be underestimated.
However, it could be seen from the battle with Ross's forces that an ordinary unit, even with heavy weapons, was no match for that Mutant.
Pierce wondered for a moment if they would need to rely on the power from headquarters.
"We can send Hammer over. With the firepower of his Mechanical Legion, dealing with that Mutant shouldn't be a problem," Stern suddenly suggested.
"I think that's fine. Hammer's mechs are perfectly suited for dealing with a Mutant," Sitwell agreed with a nod.
"Hammer, eh?"
Pierce nodded thoughtfully. Hammer's Mechanical Legion, which utilized Miniature Arc Reactor technology, should be the most suitable choice. Besides, it had been developed for so long; it was time to let Hammer show what he could do.
Thinking of this, Pierce took out his communicator and dialed Hammer's number.
...
Hammer Industries' manufacturing workshop.
Hammer was smoking a cigar, looking at the Mechanical Legion spread throughout the workshop with an intoxicated expression.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The phone in his pocket suddenly rang.
Seeing it was a call from Pierce, he answered it.
"Hello! Commander Pierce, it's been a long time since I heard your voice. I wonder what orders you have for me this time?"
Hammer said with a fawning smile. Pierce was his backer in the government, and he didn't dare be negligent.
"It's nothing much. You know about that Mutant that appeared recently, right?" Pierce's voice came through.
"Of course, the one who was driven away by Superman," Hammer nodded.
"We've decided that the next time the Mutant appears, your Mechanical Legion will go and handle it," Piercestated his purpose.
"Sure, of course! I guarantee the mission will be completed."
Hearing that he finally had a chance to show off, Hammerwas ecstatic.
"Good, as long as you understand. That's all."
Pierce hung up after saying that.
"It's finally time for you to perform, my babies."
After putting down the phone, Hammer touched a suit of armor with a smug face, imagining his Mechanical Legiongoing on a killing spree in his mind.
...
The Daily Planet Building.
Clark was organizing the photos in his hand.
"I remember in the original story, Hulk is about to have a decisive battle with Abomination. I can't miss such a good opportunity."
Su Cheng thought to himself. The Hulk's final battle would be another great opportunity to show the military a power that would make them tremble; he didn't intend to let it go.
With that in mind, Su Cheng began to transmit suggestions into Clark's mind.
"Photos alone aren't enough; the information is still a bit lacking."
Clark looked at the photos in his hand and thought for a moment. He remembered he had a former classmate who was a teacher at the university over there; he could ask for some information from that side.
No sooner said than done.
Clark didn't hesitate. After telling Lois, he walked out of the Daily Planet and headed straight for the university.
...
In Dr. Blue's laboratory.
The lab was filled with blood samples. Dr. Blue led Bannerand Betty inside with an excited look on his face.
"These are all your blood samples. I've almost finished my research. Once I have thoroughly researched the Hulk's genes, it will benefit all of humanity."
Dr. Blue excitedly showed Banner his results.
Hearing Dr. Blue's plan, Banner frowned.
Not long after he escaped from Superman, he contacted Betty again, and together they found Dr. Blue. As soon as Dr. Blue saw him, he excitedly wanted to show him the research results, but he hadn't expected it to be this.
He knew how ferocious the Hulk was; he couldn't control the Hulk at all. If such genes were obtained by others, it would likely not help at all but instead lead to many terrible consequences.
Thinking of this, Banner's expression became serious. He turned to Dr. Blue and said,
"Dr. Blue, please, you must stop all research here as soon as possible."
"Why?" Dr. Blue was full of confusion.
As the two were talking, they didn't notice that the situation outside had already changed drastically.
General Ross's army had already surrounded the laboratory building. Numerous fully equipped special forces units were quietly infiltrating the interior.
A sniper from a high vantage point saw Banner arguing with Dr. Blue in the building. The dart gun in his hand slowly aimed at Banner's neck, and his index finger pulled the trigger.
The next second,
The anesthetic dart shot out.
"Because no one can control Banner's genes; it will cause major problems," Banner warned Dr. Blue solemnly.
Dr. Blue was just about to retort.
Crash!!!
The glass nearby suddenly shattered.
An anesthetic dart flew straight in and hit Banner in the neck.