"God! What the hell is that!?"
"A m-monster!"
"Run! Run!"
The moment the Hulk appeared, the students and faculty inside the school building lost all composure, screaming as they fled in total panic.
The soldiers stationed on campus also spotted the Hulk. Without hesitation, they raised their weapons and unleashed a barrage of gunfire at the giant green figure.
Ratatatatatat—!
A storm of bullets struck the Hulk's body, sparking violently on impact.
But the rounds couldn't pierce his tough skin. Instead, the provocation completely ignited his rage.
"ROAR!"
With a furious bellow, the Hulk charged forward like an out-of-control freight truck weighing a hundred tons, smashing straight into the soldiers.
Many soldiers didn't even have time to dodge. They were sent flying, bones cracking audibly as they hit the ground.
BOOM!!
Because of his sheer momentum, the Hulk couldn't brake in time. His head slammed directly into a load-bearing wall!
Cracks spider-webbed across the concrete, and large chunks of masonry tore free, collapsing toward the people below.
Two students froze in terror, about to be crushed alive.
Peter didn't have the luxury of staying hidden. He snapped his wrist forward, firing two white strands of webbing. They latched onto the students, and he yanked them out of danger at the last instant.
The area was chaotic and filled with dust; only Daniel noticed Peter's action.
After pulling the students to safety, Peter immediately turned and dashed away, unzipping his jacket as he ran to reveal the Spider-Man suit underneath.
Daniel understood he was changing into costume. He didn't interfere. Instead, he stepped into a corner and dialed Nick Fury.
"Sir, I've located Bruce Banner. But he's gone green and is currently engaged with General Ross's troops. The scene is… highly explosive."
[Mission 'The Green Monster at Midtown High' completed!]
[Reward: 1000 XP, 20 S.H.I.E.L.D. reputation, Item: 'Bottomless Liquor Bottle']
[Item: Bottomless Liquor Bottle (Refills itself after drinking; type of alcohol generated is random)]
"Motherf—! That lunatic Ross!"
Nick Fury's furious voice exploded through the phone.
He never imagined the old bastard Ross would actually open fire in a densely populated school. It was even more reckless than HYDRA.
"Do NOT let Ross take Bruce Banner!" Fury ordered sharply. "And if possible, stop him. Most importantly, do not allow any civilian casualties!"
Bruce Banner was a crucial component of Fury's Avengers Initiative.
If Hulk caused mass civilian deaths, not even Fury could protect him afterward.
[NPC Nick Fury has issued a new mission]
[Mission: The Rage of the Hulk]
[Objective: Prevent General Ross from taking Bruce Banner, and stop the Hulk from harming civilians]
[Reward: 3000 XP, +50 S.H.I.E.L.D. reputation, Random Equipment ×1, Random Item ×2]
"Understood, sir."
"And another thing—my car, did you—"
"Sir, bad signal here, gotta go!"
Daniel hung up decisively before Fury could finish.
In the short time he'd been on the call, more soldiers had flooded into the school.
Using cover and chokepoints in the hallways, they launched an even fiercer tactical assault. Gunshots and explosions echoed nonstop.
"ROOOAR!!"
Hulk, endlessly irritated by the constant attacks, slammed his massive fist downward, shattering the floor beneath him and dropping straight to the level below.
"AHHH!!"
A deafening scream suddenly pierced the building—loud enough to drown out even the Hulk's roar.
Hulk paused, startled. Looking down, he found Mary Jane—separated from her boyfriend—standing at his feet, staring up at him in terror.
"AAAAHHHH!!!"
Seeing the Hulk's gaze lock onto her, Mary Jane screamed even louder.
"ROAR!!"
The Hulk roared back, disgruntled.
This woman's scream was actually louder than his.
What Hulk didn't know was that Mary Jane's scream was a form of latent superpower that activated under extreme fear.
In the next moment, a size-42 shoe smashed squarely into the Hulk's enormous green face.
BOOM!!
The impact echoed like an explosion.
Caught off-guard, Hulk flew backward, crashing into a wall.
But Hulk's body was tough. He shook his dazed head and quickly climbed back to his feet, furious eyes locking onto the red-and-blue figure standing protectively in front of Mary Jane.
It was Peter—fully suited up as Spider-Man, summoned here by Mary Jane's scream.
"Hey, big green guy, you look pretty tense. Back itchy? Can't reach it? Don't worry—your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is always happy to help."
Once in costume, Peter's mouth moved twice as fast.
"ROAR!!"
The Hulk answered by hurling a sledgehammer-sized fist at Peter and Mary Jane.
Peter reacted instantly, scooping Mary Jane into his arms and leaping clear.
"Run! Get out of here! As far as you can!"
Mary Jane nodded, her heartbeat racing. Gazing at the figure shielding her, her eyes softened.
She now had one more person she liked.
Peter exhaled in relief. But before he could relax, his spider-sense screamed at full volume.
His body didn't even wait for conscious thought—he sprang straight upward to the ceiling.
BOOOOM!!!
The Hulk's fist smashed into the floor he'd just vacated. The entire ground cratered, sending debris flying.
Seeing the destructive force, Peter swallowed hard.
Taking that punch would have wrecked both his body and his bank account.
Hulk, enraged by the miss, glared at the Spider-Man hanging upside-down on the ceiling and charged again.
Peter dodged narrowly with his agility, firing webs rapidly to bind the Hulk as he maneuvered.
"Easy there, big guy! Hold still!"
But the Hulk's strength was monstrous.
With a roar, he tore the durable webbing apart like wet tissue.
Worse—he grabbed the strand still attached to Peter's wrist.
Swinging Peter like a flail, Hulk smashed him brutally into the nearby wall.
BOOM!!
Peter blasted through the wall and crashed into the school library in a shower of rubble.
"Ah—my back…"
He groaned in pain, clutching his spine.
Before he could stand, a massive shadow engulfed him, blotting out the light.
He looked up to see Hulk towering over him, eyes blazing with fury.
Gulp.
Peter swallowed, already mentally selecting an aesthetically pleasing death pose.
"ROAR!!"
Hulk raised his fist to crush him—
And suddenly, an arm as large as Hulk's own shot forward, blocking the blow.
Hulk stared in shock.
Standing behind Peter was Daniel—now over three meters tall, looming like a steel tower.
"Little guy," Daniel said, looking down at Hulk, "the sun's going down."