Black Shadow, Green Hulk

New York City, a place where every inch of land is precious. Stark Industries' recently completed headquarters building was located right here.

With its futuristic, top-tier design and a rooftop platform large enough for a fighter jet to land, along with the unique "STARK" logo, this skyscraper stood out brilliantly even in the heart of New York's dense urban landscape.

At this moment, in the luxurious hall built into the rooftop platform of Stark's headquarters.

"How do you like it?"

A gentleman in a well-tailored black suit swirled his wine glass. He spread his hands outwards with unconcealed pride, a brilliant blue light emanating from the center of his chest, spilling through his shirt, giving the impression of embracing half the city visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Behind him.

A man dressed in a gray long shirt, work pants, and combat boots, with messy, unkempt hair that was starkly out of place in the sophisticated environment, walked forward.

"How should I put it," the disheveled man pushed his glasses up his nose and pondered. "It's certainly your style and signature."

Stark smiled and said, "From now on, this will also be the headquarters of our alliance."

"That couldn't be better. It instantly elevates our yet-to-be-unveiled alliance by several notches," the disheveled man shrugged. "I don't have money, so I can only contribute my strength."

"More than just strength," Stark said softly, shaking his head. He looked at him sincerely, "Banner, I also need your intellect and knowledge. With your help, I believe many of my technological concepts and ideas can be realized in the future."

The disheveled man called "Banner" remained noncommittal. Faced with Stark's extravagant praise, which was considered over-the-top even within the industry, his expression stayed remarkably calm.

This was because, in the field of technology, he indeed had the qualifications.

Banner.

Full name, "Robert Bruce Banner." As a world-renowned physicist with seven doctoral degrees, had he not gone into seclusion in recent years, he would have been a scientist frequently featured in the news!

Furthermore, he had another unknown identity, which was also the biggest reason for his years of hiding in the shadows of the world – the Hulk!

The Abomination, which appeared in Washington not long ago, was an indirect product of his actions.

"Banner."

Just as Stark was about to say something, a beeping alarm sounded from somewhere on the top floor.

"Jarvis, what's happening?" Stark asked, frowning slightly.

Instantly, from above a table in the luxurious top-floor hall, hundreds of light beams intertwined in the air, rapidly forming a three-dimensional virtual projection.

The artificial intelligence responded in a gentle, concise male voice, "Sir. Just now, an emergent incident involving the extraordinary occurred in Queens. This is the scene footage."

Upon hearing this, Banner also looked curiously at the virtual projection.

"Aaaahhh!!"

The video played by the virtual projection began with screams. On the main highway next to a bustling modern street, a specially modified muscle car roared at full throttle!

Red light, intersection!

Vroom vroom vroom!

Sparks flew!

The muscle car directly smashed through several vehicles blocking its path and, as if in a panic, continued to accelerate against traffic, barging into the oncoming main road!

Just as the muscle car was about to crash into the parked cars, the next scene caused Stark and Banner's pupils to contract sharply—

The speeding muscle car suddenly stopped. A shadow, like black mist, flashed by, and in the next instant, the front of the car inexplicably caved inward, and the entire vehicle exploded, splitting in two! It was as if it had been torn apart by some terrifying force!

Then, an even more terrifying scene unfolded.

From within the muscle car that had just disintegrated, several severed human body parts fell out, scattering in different directions onto the streets of the intersection!

Two of the body parts landed directly among the stunned crowd standing on the pedestrian walkway!

Terror and bloodshed descended!

"Ah! What jumped out?!"

"Run!!"

Screams erupted again. The black shadow flashed across the intersection and pursued down one of the streets.

The footage played by the virtual projection ended here.

"What just happened?"

Stark looked at Banner, his face filled with shock. Banner also shook his head, indicating he hadn't seen clearly either.

"Jarvis, rewind the footage," Stark commanded thoughtfully.

"Yes, sir."

Under the guidance of the artificial intelligence.

The previously played footage in the virtual projection rewound until just before the muscle car was destroyed.

"Here. Magnify the footage in front of the car's hood and play it in slow motion," Stark said in a deep voice.

The footage began to play.

Under the magnified lens in slow motion, it could be clearly seen that a small black shadow darted through the parked cars and slammed into the muscle car's hood like a cannonball!

"Play it frame by frame," Stark instructed.

In that instant, all movement seemed to freeze. What was normally invisible at regular playback speed was now clearly presented.

Banner's eyes widened in shock.

That black shadow was actually a cat!

Yes, a small cat with no fur, as if its entire body was wrapped in a layer of smooth, tough black cloth.

The moment the cat violently slammed into the muscle car, Banner's speeding muscle car stopped its forward momentum. Then, the little black cat's body suddenly swelled several times, its limbs bulging with immense, tough bones, muscles, and tendons. A pair of ferocious front paws violently tore the muscle car's body apart from both sides!

This was the source of the muscle car's explosion.

The instant it exerted its strength to tear apart the muscle car, the strange and terrifying black monster reverted to its previous kitten form and, at extreme speed, pursued one of the remaining fragments.

"What kind of creature is that?" Stark's expression grew increasingly solemn. What startled him even more was that Dr. Banner, standing beside him, suddenly turned pale and was twitching slightly, struggling to breathe!

"Jarvis!" Stark instinctively took a few steps back, entering a specific spot in the luxurious hall.

The artificial intelligence Jarvis quickly understood its master's intention. A metal lift platform rose from the floor beneath Stark's feet. With a series of mechanical hands and parts in operation, pieces of golden-red metal armor were successively attached to him.

In less than five seconds.

Stark's entire body was covered and armed with the iron suit. The energy circle on his chest and his metal eye sockets glowed white, resembling an ironclad deity.

"Calm down, Banner!" Stark, transformed into Iron Man, raised a hand to comfort the pale-faced Banner.

"I-I'm fine!" Banner clenched his fists, breathing rapidly to ease his agitated emotions.

His complexion shifted back and forth between pale and white.

Finally, Banner slumped onto the table in exhaustion, the bulging veins on his neck completely disappearing.

Seeing this, Stark breathed a sigh of relief and arranged, "Stay here and don't move. I'll go deal with the situation outside!"

"Wait, Tony!" Banner, feeling somewhat drained, leaned on his chair and called out to Stark. He pointed at the black shadow on the virtual screen, his voice filled with unease, "That monster is extremely dangerous! Seeing it is like instinctively wanting to pull the trigger of a gun pointed at my own mouth; my body's emergency response is to turn into the Hulk!"