Wade's mouth was sealed shut, and it irritated him more than not getting paid. But for Kurogai, the silence was bliss. There was no way he was unsealing Wade—not yet.
"I've found Dr. Banner. He's in a small town, about five hundred kilometers out," Kurogai muttered.
His eyes faded from a luminous white back to normal, with the fourth pupil ring settling into place. The Byakugan's ocular power had reached full maturity. Now, even from hundreds of kilometers away, Kurogai could pinpoint Banner's exact location.
Wade let out a muffled grunt, clearly wanting to say something. But Kurogai, uninterested, left the seal untouched.
"Let's move."
He opened a space portal and stepped through without hesitation. Wade, unable to object, followed him into the town.
Down in the quiet streets, a man in worn work clothes strolled along, carrying a bag of fruit like an average civilian. The moment Kurogai and Wade appeared before him, the man stopped.
"Hello, Dr. Banner."
Kurogai's voice was calm, almost disinterested. Banner, though, was immediately tense. He looked ordinary, nothing like the legendary green monster within—but Kurogai knew the truth. That frail exterior hid devastating power.
"You're military?" Banner's expression twisted, suspicion flaring in his eyes.
The military had been hunting him for years. So, the moment Kurogai said his name, Banner assumed the worst.
"Not at all. The military can't move me. I sent this guy instead." Kurogai motioned to Wade. "He's a mercenary looking to turn you in for a bounty."
Wade's eyes widened in shock. He grunted angrily and pointed at Kurogai, looking like a betrayed housewife. Kurogai ignored him—this was punishment for his endless chatter.
"So you're just more scum, huh?" Banner growled. "Mercenaries, soldiers—doesn't matter. You're all after me."
Years of running, hiding, and fear had pushed Banner to his limit. Now, rage overtook reason.
Green began spreading beneath his skin, crawling up his neck and overtaking his frame. His muscles bulged grotesquely, swelling larger by the second. The quiet man transformed into a towering beast.
ROAR!
The Hulk erupted from within Banner, shattering nearby windows with a single shout. Panic swept the streets. Civilians screamed and scattered like ants.
"What the hell is that?!" Wade's eyes nearly popped from his head. "There's a giant green guy! This is some demonic nonsense!"
In his panic, Wade accidentally broke Kurogai's vocal seal.
"Hah! I can talk again! You son of a—do you know how important my voice is?! It's like my—"
Seal.
Kurogai's fingers moved again, and Wade's mouth instantly closed.
"Not now, Wade. Stay quiet."
He turned his attention back to the Hulk, who was already slamming his chest with both fists, snarling like a beast.
To Kurogai, the Hulk posed little threat. Not because he was weak—on the contrary—but because the Hulk couldn't kill him. Still, Kurogai was intrigued. He wanted to test himself.
He wanted to see if this fight could awaken more of his ocular powers—another ring, another evolution. He hadn't even gone all out. Maybe the Hulk could push him further.
The Hulk didn't care about any of that. All he saw were enemies.
"DIE!"
With a thunderous roar, the Hulk grabbed a parked car and hurled it at Kurogai with incredible force.
"Tenseigan Chakra Mode."
Kurogai whispered.
His eyes shifted, blooming into a pale blue pupil. Chakra erupted around him, a brilliant blue aura forming an armor-like coat over his body. The pressure from it was suffocating, heavy, almost divine.
"Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!"
Light swirled into his palm, then slashed through the air. The car was sliced in half mid-flight, each half crashing to the ground in fiery bursts.
The Hulk charged from behind the wreckage, massive fist raised and aimed straight for Kurogai's skull.
Kurogai didn't flinch. The incoming shockwave already shook the ground, yet his expression didn't change. He simply threw his own punch to meet the attack.
Though he wasn't a close-combat specialist, Tenseigan Chakra Mode amplified his strength to godlike levels. His body could withstand the Hulk's raw power.
BOOM!
Their fists collided in a sonic explosion, sending shockwaves through the town and tearing up the ground around them.
The fight had only just begun.
---
Milestones
100 Power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 Power stones = 3 Bonus Chapters
__
My patreon link: patreon.com/Zphyr_