Back at the pizza shop, Bruce Banner looked down at the coin in his hand. Though he had originally planned to flee, he now decided to stay and fight in the Dragon Ball Tournament.
Skipping his plans to pack and leave, Bruce instead asked his old friend if he had a computer. He needed to research Smith Dole and the Assassin's League.
After all, living so far away in Brazil, he'd only heard the name Smith Dole and knew about the Capsule Corporation. He knew very little about the Assassin's League—or the Dragon Balls.
But just as Bruce stepped down from the attic and pushed open the kitchen door, he saw someone unexpected in the living room—his ex-girlfriend, Betty.
Knowing he shouldn't disrupt her life, Bruce immediately turned around to leave. But Betty had already seen him and ran after him.
"Bruce?"
Uncertain of how to face her, Bruce ducked and hid behind a dumpster.
Betty, unable to find him, returned to the pizza shop and confronted the owner.
"Tell me what I just saw was real."
The owner hesitated.
"I… I don't know what to say."
With teary eyes, Betty pressed him.
"Please, just tell me the truth."
The owner finally nodded—yes, she had seen right.
Outside, the rain poured down. Bruce walked aimlessly in the storm until Betty, driving around in search of him, found him.
She stopped the car and stepped out. Bruce turned back and saw her running toward him. This time, he didn't run. He stepped forward and embraced her.
Holding him tightly, Betty cried out,
"Don't go again. Please, don't leave again."
After the embrace, she cupped his face and said,
"I want you with me. Please, come with me."
Bruce didn't refuse. He got in the car with her and went back to her home.
There, Betty pulled out a small box. Inside was a USB drive.
"These are your research files. I copied them before they could. I brought them with me."
"I always hoped they might help us find an answer someday."
Clearly, she still didn't know that the Hulk who attacked the lab was Bruce himself.
Holding the USB, Bruce looked at her with concern.
"Does the General know you took them?"
Betty shook her head.
"He shouldn't. I haven't spoken to him in years."
She was clearly furious at her father for issuing the warrant on Bruce. Despite her pleading, he had refused to cancel it and continued the pursuit. Because of this, she hadn't spoken to him for several years.
Hearing that, Bruce's face turned serious.
"He can't know. You must not let him find out."
Betty, confused, asked:
"Why can't we just talk to him together?"
Bruce explained:
"He told me he wants the mutated cells in my body."
"He wants to analyze and replicate them. He wants to turn them into weapons."
"But don't worry. I've found a permanent solution."
"If I win in the end, those mutated cells will cease to exist."
While the two were talking—
Elsewhere, General Ross entered a weapons vault and unlocked a room containing the Super Soldier Serum. He retrieved a vial.
This particular serum had been partly developed with the help of Stark Industries.
In the lab, he looked at Blonsky and said:
"This serum has side effects. It amplifies personality traits."
"That's why I'm only giving you a small dose. I need you to stay rational and follow orders."
"If side effects appear, the project stops. You'll return once you've recovered."
But Blonsky disagreed.
"General, a small dose won't be enough against that monster."
"I want the full injection. If there are side effects, pause my missions until I've recovered."
Ross was impressed by Blonsky's resolve.
"You're sure?"
Blonsky nodded.
"I may be nothing compared to that monster, but I'm an enhanced soldier. I can control this power."
Ross thought back to Captain America—how even a scrawny man had managed the serum. Blonsky, already a super soldier, should be fine.
"I respect your decision."
One of the waiting doctors spoke:
"The injection has two parts. One goes into deep muscle tissue. The other into the spinal marrow."
"The second part will be very painful. Be prepared."
The first injection began. Two doctors inserted the serum into Blonsky's neck muscles.
Then they flipped him over and injected it into his spinal marrow.
Even someone as tough as Blonsky groaned in pain.
Once both injections were complete, his body began to transform.
The serum started reshaping him—his already muscular frame grew even stronger.
Once the transformation was done, General Ross strapped on a combat power detector to run a test.
Blonsky's original power level had been 8.5.
Now, the meter began to climb—
"10, 20, 30... 52."
It finally stopped at 52.
Before seeing Hulk, Ross would've been thrilled by this result. In a world where 8 was considered rare, 52 was astounding.
For a normal soldier, this meant he could take down an entire battalion alone—he was practically Captain America 2.0.
But with Hulk reaching over 150, Blonsky still fell far short.
Clearly, they still needed Bruce Banner—needed to study the cells in his body—to create a controlled Hulk.
Blonsky, now recovered, was thrilled. He could feel the power coursing through him. He felt like he could crush his former self like an ant.
With a flex, he snapped all the bandages restraining him and stepped down from the table.
"General, what's my power level?"
Ross replied as he watched him admire his new body:
"52. You gained 43.5 points."
Hearing that, Blonsky instantly recalled the guy who tossed a forklift like a football… and his excitement faded.
…
(End of Chapter)
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