chapter 190 part 2
"It's no good!"
In D-Sector, inside the sealed-off experimental area.
A few Hydra researchers gathered together with anxious expressions. One of them took out his identity card and swiped it at the passageway entrance.
The researcher shook his head and said with a frown to the others behind him. With the entire D-Sector on lockdown, their work badges had become useless, unable to grant them the free passage they were used to.
"Looks like we can only wait until the danger is cleared before we can get out."
The group didn't look too surprised by this outcome. In fact, they had already tried multiple times since the lockdown began.
They had basically confirmed that they couldn't leave the sealed D-Sector through normal means.
"Does anyone know what exactly happened?"
Most of them were actually unaware of the full story; they had just subconsciously followed the crowd and ran out upon hearing the warning from the radio.
"Not sure, I was in the lab recording data the whole time..."
"Me too..."
"I heard the announcement on the radio, so I just..."
"Maybe it was an accidental trigger, perhaps like that explosion before..."
When asked, most of the researchers looked bewildered.
"I know a little something."
When no one else knew anything, one researcher spoke up, sharing what he knew. "I was about to leave D-Sector, but on my way out, I suddenly realized I hadn't saved some important experiment data, so I had to go back. On the way back, I heard some people saying there was an accident in Dr. Bruce Banner's lab. It seems there was an error during the use of gamma rays..."
Because he had only overheard the conversation on his way and was preoccupied with his experiment at the time, he hadn't heard everything clearly.
"A gamma ray accident?!"
Hearing this researcher's words, the others around him showed a mix of belief and doubt.
"If there was really a gamma ray accident, none of us would still be alive right now, and the people who witnessed the accident up close couldn't possibly have escaped from the laboratory."
Being able to conduct research for a large corporation like Hydra, none of the people present were ordinary.
Because of this, they understood the dangers of gamma rays all too well. Although humanity had successfully applied this ray to research and treatment fields, they would not overlook its inherent dangers. An overdose of this high-frequency electromagnetic wave radiation could easily cause irreversible and fatal damage to humans. This damage intensified with the increase in gamma ray radiation levels. If an accident of the magnitude the researcher described had really occurred, it would have been enough to kill everyone in D-Sector instantly, leaving them no time to evacuate.
After all, no matter how fast a person could run, how could they possibly outrun the speed of gamma ray radiation?
"That's why I'm only offering it as one possibility. Of course, it's also possible that I misheard," the researcher who spoke up said, also half-doubting his own words.
"Do you guys hear something?"
Just as everyone was voicing their own theories and speculating about the accident, someone suddenly frowned, listened carefully, and asked, "Do you guys hear something?"
"..."
Hearing his question, the others present also stopped their discussions.
Boom—
Then, in the silence, a faint rumbling sound came from deep within the laboratory corridor.
At first, the rumbling was extremely faint, easily missed if one wasn't paying attention.
But before long, the sound grew louder and louder, until it became deafening by the time it reached their ears.
Rumble—
"ROAR!"
Amidst the intense vibrations, the corridor wall in front of the researchers shattered. A massive green figure then burst through the broken wall, letting out a sharp, ear-piercing scream at the researchers by the passageway.
...
"Doctor Zola, what's going on?"
Stepping out of the elevator, Helmut frowned as he looked at the bustling personnel in the Base and directed his question to the screen before him.
Recent events within Hydra, especially Hank's disappearance, had already put Helmut's position in question. If it weren't for the fact that Ophelia (Madame Hydra) had also failed at the previous Hydra base, causing unexpected losses for Hydra, she would not have let Helmut off so easily, given her personality.
"There was an accident with the Serum experiment."
In response to Helmut's inquiry, Doctor Zola played the surveillance footage.
Turning to look at the green creature on the footage, Helmut's frown deepened, and he couldn't help but blurt out, "What is that?"
"Theoretically, that is Bruce Banner."
Answering Helmut's question, Doctor Zola relayed the information he had just received from his researchers.
"What?!"
Hearing Doctor Zola's answer, the surprise on Helmut's face was even more pronounced than Doctor Zola's had been.
As someone who had direct contact with Banner, Helmut simply could not connect the massive monster on the surveillance footage with the frail Bruce Banner he remembered.
"I am also investigating the specifics. However, according to those who came out of the D-Sector laboratory, the root cause of Bruce Banner's mutation should be the gamma rays used in the experiment. During their experiments on animals with the Serum, there was a problem with the gamma rays they were using. Bruce Banner himself was directly exposed to the gamma radiation. However, these rays did not kill him instantly. Instead, they stimulated his cells, causing a mutation..."
"This mutation is somewhat similar to the transformation from the 'Hyde Formula,' but there are clear differences between the two. At the very least, even a transformed Mister Hyde would have no chance of surviving this level of gamma rays. But Bruce Banner not only survived, he is also exhibiting extraordinary destructive power."
"Perhaps the 'Super Soldier' research he was conducting played a role. Furthermore, and more critically, I just tested the gamma rays in the D-Sector laboratory. They have been consistently maintained at a low, harmless level. This clearly indicates that Bruce Banner absorbed the gamma rays released by the machine during his mutation. Even one-thousandth of that level of gamma rays would be enough to kill everyone in this building except for me. No, perhaps we should add Brock Rumlow to that list. He now exists within the 'Consciousness Register' and would not be affected by gamma rays..."
"Doctor Zola."
Interrupting Doctor Zola's confident speech from the screen, Helmut looked at the green monster Banner had become.
"Do you think there's any possibility of Dr. Bruce Banner recovering?"
"Well..."
Interrupted, the expression on Doctor Zola's screen showed a hint of annoyance, but he still considered the question before replying.
"It is currently unknown. After all, this is the first time I have witnessed such a mutation. Perhaps after he expends the gamma rays in his body, Bruce Banner will change back. Or perhaps, he will remain in this state forever."
Thanks to Mi_le for the 5000 Qidian Coin donation, and Hou Caixia for the 1500 Qidian Coin donation.
(end of chapter)