The destructive force of gamma rays is terrifyingly potent—far beyond most conventional forms of energy. Nathan knew this all too well, which is why he had absolutely no intention of taking such power head-on.
From a scientific standpoint, the deadly force of a nuclear explosion—whether it be an atomic bomb or a hydrogen bomb—consists of four critical factors: shockwaves, optical radiation, radioactive contamination, and most dangerously, penetrating radiation. The last of these is primarily composed of gamma rays and neutron streams.
A nuclear explosion is, in essence, a massive gamma-ray light source.
Gamma rays are devastating due to two primary reasons.
First, their energy is immense. Thanks to their extremely short wavelengths and high frequencies, gamma rays possess immense energy levels. High-energy gamma radiation can cause severe biological damage. For instance:
At 200–600 rems, bone marrow and hematopoietic systems begin to break down. White blood cell counts plummet, internal bleeding ensues, and the individual might experience hair loss. The chance of death within two months ranges from 0% to 80%.
At 600–1000 rems, the probability of death skyrockets to 80% to 100% within two weeks.
Between 1000–1500 rems, the gastrointestinal system collapses. Victims experience fever, diarrhea, hormonal imbalance, and almost certain death within 14 days.
And if the dose exceeds 5000 rems, the central nervous system is obliterated. Convulsions, tremors, and coma set in, leading to 100% fatality within 48 hours.
Now imagine a body radiating gamma rays not as a one-time blast, but continuously.
That's exactly what the Abomination's mutated cells were doing. The gamma radiation emitted by that creature was not only intense but sustained, blanketing everything nearby in a constant flood of fatal energy. Nathan realized this could vaporize the organs of any living creature, even those with superhuman regenerative abilities.
Not only that.
Secondly, gamma rays have monstrous penetrating ability.
Unlike a neutron bomb—which mainly disperses neutrons and is limited to a tactical range of about 500–700 meters—gamma ray bombs have a theoretical kill zone covering up to 1 million square kilometers, enough to wipe out all of Southern Europe in one go.
Although the Abomination's gamma emissions didn't reach such catastrophic distances, they were still powerful enough to irradiate an entire facility or city block.
Nathan couldn't risk exposing his lab personnel or civilians to this invisible death. He didn't want an experiment to end in tragedy or for a simple mistake to irradiate his base—or worse, turn his staff into casualties of science.
Thus, Nathan concluded that specialized containment was critical. He needed a fully insulated facility and custom protective suits that would block gamma radiation entirely.
His gaze returned to the cellular sample on screen—Abomination tissue.
There was awe in Nathan's eyes.
"Whether it's Abomination or the Hulk... these cells are indestructible. They endure the full onslaught of gamma radiation—and not only survive, but thrive."
"These monstrous cells don't just resist destruction… they convert it into raw power."
Nathan saw the potential. If he could harness even a fraction of that power—if he could create similar cellular structures within his own body—his capabilities would skyrocket to unimaginable heights.
"The Abomination only scratched the surface of his potential," Nathan muttered to himself. "If it were me… I'd train methodically. I'd design systems that extract every drop of potential from these gamma-rich cells."
He wasn't interested in brute force mutations or accidental strength like the Hulk's transformation. He craved intelligent evolution—scientific mastery over power.
"But to begin, I must build a proper containment lab," he reminded himself. "No hot tofu—patience is key."
With scientific focus, he began laying out the principles.
"To block gamma rays, I need materials with high atomic number and high density," Nathan said, pulling up reference charts.
Gamma rays interact with matter through two main effects: the photoelectric effect and the Compton effect.
In the photoelectric effect, photons are absorbed by electrons, reducing gamma energy.
In the Compton effect, photons transfer energy to electrons, becoming scattered photons with lower energy.
Both effects become more effective when the atomic number of the absorbing material is higher.
"Lead has an atomic number of 82 and is one of the most commonly used blockers," Nathan said. "Even Superman's X-ray vision gets blocked by lead—that has to mean something."
Gold (79) and bismuth (83) have similar properties but are rare, expensive, or radioactive. They weren't ideal for large-scale lab construction.
"Lead it is," Nathan concluded. "I'll construct the chamber walls from reinforced lead plating. But for my personal suit... I'll go further."
For his protective suit, he intended to use composite materials with even higher atomic numbers and densities, layering them in a flexible weave to allow mobility while maintaining shielding.
He dove into material databases and began to filter for high-Z elements that were stable, non-radioactive, and manufacturable.
Once the list was ready, he began procurement for both the isolation chamber and the protective gear.
During all this preparation, something else gnawed at Nathan's mind.
Hei Kong, the demonic entity bound to him, had gone strangely silent.
The last time Nathan used the strength meter, Hei Kong would have been screaming, demanding sacrifices, urging bloodshed. But now… there was only eerie silence.
Nathan didn't believe Hei Kong had simply fallen asleep.
This ancient demon wasn't the type to go dormant without cause. No, Nathan suspected something else—something far more sinister.
"He must be planning something," Nathan thought, grimacing. "Something secret."
Though Hei Kong had fallen from power long ago, he was still a primeval demon, once feared across dimensions. His silence was not peace—it was strategy.
Nathan knew this wasn't the time to lower his guard.
"If I know what he's plotting, I can stop him."
Meanwhile, in another corner of the world...
Kurt had just stepped out of a vehicle. Around him, a group of Agent Zero clones emerged from the shadows, surrounding him.
Their target? Kurt.
Not because of who he was—but because of what was inside him.
His thick tail swept across two of them in an instant, sending them flying. But instead of falling, they absorbed the kinetic energy like sponges, stabilized, and came charging back—unharmed.
A man in a black suit grinned smugly.
"Our soldiers can absorb twenty to thirty tons of force. You won't leave a scratch."
One of the clones slashed at Kurt—the alloy blade slicing through his tough hide. Pain wracked Kurt's face, but he didn't fall. His wounds began closing immediately—the signature of his regenerative ability.
The agents observed silently.
Then, with a twist, they embedded acid enzymes into their blades. These special enzymes would travel into the wound and inhibit the self-healing process.
"Impressive regeneration," the suit-wearing man sneered. "You must be the secret behind your company's healing tech. Well, we're taking you in."
PSSST! PSSST!
Stabs rained down. Kurt grunted in agony. His healing was slowing. Blood stained his chest.
Just then—
A roar of air ripped through the sky.
Another man leapt into the fray—a dark-skinned juggernaut with fists like wrecking balls.
The man in the suit scoffed, "Do you really think your backup will help?"
But the new arrival didn't flinch. "You can absorb thirty tons? Fine. What about fifty?"
He punched. HARD. The air cracked like thunder.
Luke Cage had entered the battle.
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