Brooklyn, New York.
A man in a white tank top and brown shorts wandered aimlessly through the streets — Bruce Banner.
He didn't even dare to take a taxi, fearing the military might track him down.
The green monster within him had allowed Banner to survive countless attempts by General Ross to capture him.
But the sheer destructive power of the Hulk — that unstoppable creature — was something Banner dreaded more than anything.
Lately, he'd begun to notice something terrifying.
The Hulk was becoming harder and harder to control.
Even though Banner had learned techniques to suppress his emotions, the results were poor. He could feel the creature evolving — mutating — and it made his body unstable.
In a desperate attempt to rid himself of the monster once and for all, Banner reached out to a man he knew only online — Mr. Blue.
Though Banner was a brilliant scientist, his expertise lay in gamma radiation, not cellular biology.
So, through encrypted channels, he began working with Mr. Blue — a biologist — to find a solution to his condition.
Now, Banner had returned to New York to meet this mysterious Mr. Blue in person and finally confront the nightmare inside him.
For this reason, he even contacted his former lover — Betty Ross, the daughter of General Ross.
Banner could feel his body changing again. It was getting stronger.
Once, he could draw his own blood with a syringe — but now, even piercing his skin was impossible. The green monster refused to let him harm himself.
His body healed faster than ever before — completely, unnaturally.
What terrified him most, however, was the faint whisper of another consciousness deep inside him — a primal, furious mind awakening.
"Banner… Bruce, what are you thinking?"
Betty Ross's soft voice pulled him back to reality.
He turned to her, the woman he had once loved deeply, and guilt flickered in his tired eyes.
"Betty… maybe I shouldn't have dragged you into this."
Years of running had aged him; his once bright face now showed exhaustion and sorrow.
"Bruce, you know I've never cared about that," Betty said, stepping closer. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him gently.
"NO!"
A thunderous roar exploded inside his mind, shattering the moment. Banner's pulse monitor began to beep wildly. Alarmed, he pushed Betty away and struggled to steady his breathing.
"Sorry, Betty… I'm not stable right now. If I lose control… I could hurt you."
His voice trembled with pain and helplessness — the voice of a man haunted by his own power.
As Banner walked away down the dim street, Betty stood watching, her eyes full of sadness.
She understood his suffering, but she could do nothing — not even stop her own father from hunting him.
Behind them, an armored military vehicle rolled slowly down the street. Inside, soldiers monitored a tracker flashing with Banner's location. A thermal imager displayed the heat signatures of Bruce Banner and Betty Ross.
"General Ross, the target is approaching Grayburn College. Requesting further orders."
A soldier reported through the communicator. On the other end, General Thaddeus Ross frowned, his expression cold and calculating.
"Keep monitoring. I want to know exactly what Bruce Banner is planning."
Ross narrowed his eyes. He couldn't understand why Banner would head toward Grayburn College — a place where, to his knowledge, Banner knew no one.
"Yes, sir!" the soldier replied crisply.
Ross hung up, but before he could think further, a familiar face appeared on his communication screen.
"Tony Stark? What do you want?" Ross barked, his tone immediately turning serious.
"General Ross. Long time no see," said Allens, using J.A.R.V.I.S. to hack directly into Ross's secure line. A faint smirk crossed his face — he already knew everything Ross was planning.
Allens was well aware that Ross was hunting Dr. Banner, and he also knew something Ross didn't — that the Hulk's consciousness was beginning to evolve.
"The Stark Group recently decommissioned several sonic tanks," Allens said casually. "Interested in buying them?"
His voice was calm, almost playful, but Ross's eyes lit up instantly.
He had been trying to acquire Stark's sonic technology for years — ever since Stark Industries shut down its weapons division.
"Mr. Stark," Ross said coldly, "I'll send a military representative to discuss cooperation with your company soon."
Allens smiled faintly. "Then I wish you a pleasant operation, General. Oh, and one more thing — I recently purchased a private laboratory at Grayburn College. If your troops damage my property during your little mission…"
He paused, his tone suddenly sharp.
"You'll be facing a court-martial."
The message was clear — don't interfere with his plans or his lab.
Ross's jaw tightened. "Hmph. Fine. I'll keep my soldiers in check."
He ended the call abruptly and turned to the man beside him — Emil Blonsky, the hardened soldier who had volunteered for the capture.
"You heard him, Blonsky. You're authorized to enter Grayburn College. But remember — don't damage that lab. It belongs to Stark."
Ross's eyes darkened with irritation as he gave the order.
"Yes, sir," Blonsky replied firmly.
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