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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones. or 500 Collections
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"Impossible!! I've never even seen Homelander's costume tear!"
Tony gasped in terror inside the helmet, his chest heaving as his heart rate spiked to 200.
"Sir! Abnormal brain-wave interference detected! Attempting to sever the link!" Jarvis sounded in his ear.
"Ssshh—!"
An electric arrow ripped through the air.
It struck the puddle at Wanda's feet with pinpoint accuracy.
"Zzzzt!!"
High-voltage current surged through the water.
"Ahh!"
Wanda shrieked; her crimson magic vanished.
Tony snapped back to his senses, cold sweat soaking his undersuit.
"Thanks... Clint..."
"Don't mention it." Barton nodded, giving Tony a grin. "I've got experience—that trick works great on mind control."
Wanda, clutching her numbed calf, glared furiously at Barton.
At that moment the green giant burst through the wall and stormed into the hall.
"Hulk! Smash!!"
Wanda eyed the green monster; a vicious glint flashed across her gaze.
Since she couldn't control Stark, she'd control this big guy instead.
Biting back the pain, she gathered scarlet energy once more and thrust it at Hulk's occiput.
Crimson mist instantly seeped into Hulk's brain.
Hulk froze.
The green eyes once filled only with rage now crawled with red veins.
"Hurr-ahh—!"
The sound Hulk emitted changed into a raw Beast's roar—pure murderous intent.
"Hey, big guy, the Sun's getting real low..."
Tony Stark stepped forward, trying to wake Banner.
Hulk glared at Tony and stretched out a massive palm.
With one swipe he sent him flying.
"Hurr-ahh—!"
A victory roar, then indiscriminate attacks on Iron Legionnaires and HYDRA soldiers alike.
Iron Man, slammed to the ground, was seized by Wanda again.
Scarlet energy enveloped the armor.
Alarms screamed.
Tony felt an invisible hand crush him against the wall.
Struggling, he lifted his gaze and saw the girl.
In red leathers, hands weaving eerie red light.
"Stark."
Wanda's voice was icy.
She clapped her hands together violently.
Tony felt the very air squeeze his suit.
"Crack—crack—"
The titanium armor actually began to deform!
"Who the heck is this chick?!" Tony blurted. "Trying to squeeze me like a tin can?!"
"Natasha! Clint! I need backup—I'm getting bullied mentally AND physically!"
Right then.
A silver streak flashed.
"Wanda! Stop!!"
Pietro burst into the battlefield, placing himself between Tony and Wanda.
"Pietro?" Wanda faltered, the energy in her hands slackening.
"Move! He's Stark—the murderer of our parents!"
"No! Listen!"
Pietro grabbed her hands, shouting urgently.
"That isn't true—or... it was a misunderstanding! He's already apologized!"
"Apologized?!" Wanda's emotions surged. "An apology can't bring Mom and Dad back!"
"But he saved me—and lots of others!"
Pietro pointed at Tony.
"He's been busting his butt trying to save even more!"
"Wanda, look at me!"
Pietro cupped his sister's face.
"We can't live on hatred. The Baron has been using that hate to control us!"
"Come with me... see the outside World."
"If after that you still want to kill him..." Pietro glanced at Tony pinned to the wall, "...I'll hand you the knife myself. But not now!"
Wanda stared at her brother.
Crimson light flickered in her eyes—rage and reason intertwining.
Just then.
The rampaging Hulk, finding the space too cramped, whirled around.
He smashed the castle's outer wall and leapt downhill.
Downhill... lay downtown Sokovia.
Hundreds of thousands of civilians lived there.
"No! Damn it!!" Tony's heart nearly stopped at the sight.
"He's heading for the city!"
"Oh! No!" Startled, Wanda let the scarlet energy fade.
Tony didn't waste words; he shot out through the hole in pursuit.
If Hulk reached the city it would be a massacre—the Avengers would be condemned by the World.
"Jarvis! Deploy Veronica!!"
"Send every single module!"
"Very well, sir. Veronica systems launching from orbit."
Beyond the atmosphere.
A gigantic satellite broke apart; a dozen massive components, wreathed in flame, plummeted toward Sokovia like meteors.
Tony dove at full speed, chasing the green figure.
"Hang in there, Banner... don't do anything stupid..."
Tony clenched his teeth, eyes full of urgency.
Back inside the castle.
Wanda, staring at the bustling city in the distance, turned pale. "I've made a mess, Pietro."
Pietro clenched his fists.
"Wanda, you go first."
"What are you going to do?" she asked nervously.
"I can't pretend I didn't see it, Wanda."
"I'm one of The Seven—a hero..."
With a flash of silver, Pietro vanished.
Wanda stood frozen, staring after him.
The brother born twelve minutes before her, the eternal kid who always made trouble she had to clean up... now charged straight into the greatest danger like a true warrior.
For people he'd never met.
"Pietro..."
She felt he was glowing.
Is... this what a hero is?
Wanda remembered the place Pietro had spoken of.
What kind of environment could turn a punk into someone like this?
Suddenly she was filled with curiosity and longing for that unknown World... Sokovia Market Square.
The peaceful day shattered with a thunderous crash.
Hulk descended like a green meteor, slamming into the plaza and flipping a dozen cars.
Screaming crowds scattered in panic.
"Roooar—!!"
Hulk hoisted a police car, ready to hurl it into the fleeing mass.
"Don't do it, big guy!!"
Iron Man arrived.
He rammed Hulk with everything he had, pushing him away from the dense crowd.
"Listen! Don't let that Witch play with your head! You're stronger than this! You're Bruce Banner!!"
"Hurr—!!"
Hulk wouldn't listen; he grabbed Tony's leg and smashed him into the ground.
"Okay, therapy failed."
Tony eyed the massive components descending from the sky.
"Time for physical therapy."
"Clack-clack-clack-clack—!!"
Colossal armor modules fell, locking precisely over his suit.
Chest, gauntlets, greaves... two seconds later.
A steel titan a head taller than Hulk towered over the street.
Mark 44 - Hulkbuster Armor
"All right."
Tony's voice, amplified, sounded deep and heavy.
"Everyone stand back."
"We're about to start demolition."
"Send the bill to Stark Industries."
Hulk's red-tinged eyes blazed at the metal giant.
The two behemoths collided in the heart of the city.
BOOM—!!!