Hulk's Competitive Streak (Please Follow)

This was Richard's first time seeing Black Widow Natasha and Green Giant Banner in person. Before this, he had only seen information about them online.

More accurately, he had seen online reports about them and the Avengers.

Although this universe was not the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the Battle of New York—where Loki led the Chitauri invasion—had never occurred.

Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, Green Giant, and Hawkeye had still formed the Avengers under the influence of "fate."

Not only that, but the Avengers also had close ties with S.H.I.E.L.D., giving them the distinct impression of being a team under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s command.

While Richard sized up Natasha and Banner, they were sizing him up as well.

Natasha and Banner were both dressed in casual clothes, looking no different from the surrounding bystanders and possessing nothing particularly eye-catching.

If there was anything different about Natasha, it was that her figure and face were far superior to those of the women around her.

Even in loose everyday clothes rather than the form-fitting Combat Uniform that fully accentuated her graceful curves, she still stood out from the crowd.

As for Banner, he blended in perfectly with the surrounding bystanders.

Other than the unmistakable scholarly air about him, he looked like any ordinary passerby.

Of course, that would be a different matter if he transformed into the Hulk.

After looking over Natasha and Banner and briefly sensing them with Telepathic Sense, Richard withdrew his gaze.

Though he could now easily read Natasha and Banner's memories, he did not do so. He merely used Telepathy to confirm whether they harbored any hostility.

Only if they were hostile would he take further action.

Otherwise, he had no intention of reading their memories like some perverted peeping tom.

After withdrawing his gaze, Richard did not waste any more time and decisively activated Plunder.

Obtained new abilities: Super Strength, Super Constitution, Create Force Field, Release Flame, Energy Manifestation!

Obtained abilities of the same type. Ability Fusion!

Super Strength and Super Constitution have been enhanced!

Release Flame can enhance the skill 'Great Fire.' Enhance?

Without any hesitation, Richard immediately chose "Yes."

Skill Great Fire has been enhanced!

X-Gene Superpower content updated

Beta-level: Energy Emission, Energy Absorption, Invisibility, Super Vision, Telepathy, Giant Body, Gravity Restraint, Heat Vision, Air Bullet, Knockback, Attack Transfer, Telekinesis, Create Force Field, Energy Manifestation

If this had been three months ago, the Release Flame superpower would most likely have raised Great Fire by one level.

After all, Great Fire had only been level 1 at the time.

But now, Release Flame's X-Gene Superpower could only enhance Great Fire to a certain extent. It could not directly raise Great Fire by one level.

Upgrading a level 1 skill to level 2 only required 100 proficiency points.

But upgrading a level 3 skill to level 4 required 3,000 proficiency points.

If he wanted to rapidly level up skills through Plunder's X-Gene Superpower, he would have to plunder an Alpha-level superpower.

And clearly, the four Mutant Agents he had killed with Great Lightning were not Alpha-level mutants.

Among the Mutant Race, Alpha-level mutants accounted for only a few percent.

There were slightly more Beta-level mutants, accounting for around one-tenth.

More than half of all mutants were merely Delta Level mutants.

According to the evaluation system used by the United States government, level 2 mutants accounted for more than half of the entire Mutant Race.

After closing the Information Panel that only he could see, Richard was just about to use Teleportation to leave when he noticed that Banner's gaze had gained a trace of "hostility."

Having noticed this, he did not hesitate at all. He used Telepathy again and briefly read Banner's current thoughts.

He wants to help the Department of Mutant Affairs capture me? Banner may be able to transform into the incredibly strong and durable Green Giant Hulk, but his Magic Resistance isn't very high.

Whether it is the influence of Mind Ability or mental illusions, both can easily turn him into a Rampaging Hulk.

Scarlet Witch Wanda had already proven that through her actions in the movie universe.

After reading Banner's thoughts about wanting to help the Department of Mutant Affairs capture him, Richard began a deeper reading of his memories.

Very quickly, he learned why Banner had suddenly come up with that idea.

The reason was simple: Black Widow Natasha's words had stirred up his competitive spirit as a man.

While Richard was checking the Information Panel, Banner had asked Natasha whether they should help the Department of Mutant Affairs out.

Although they were responsible for different areas, both the Department of Mutant Affairs and S.H.I.E.L.D. were government agencies, making them allies on the same side.

Banner had seven doctoral degrees.

But clearly, he did not understand the unspoken rules between government agencies very well.

Before receiving an official request for assistance from the Department of Mutant Affairs, rashly capturing one of their wanted targets would not only earn them no gratitude, but also make them think that S.H.I.E.L.D. did not respect them.

Natasha and Banner had come to San Francisco not because they had received a request for assistance from the Department of Mutant Affairs, but to capture a wanted target of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Although Richard had killed the Department of Mutant Affairs' Mutant Agents and Special Forces Members right in front of them, Natasha did not think they needed to intervene and stop Richard.

So, she rejected Banner's suggestion.

There would have been nothing wrong with that, but perhaps because she had been with Banner, she had relaxed a little too much and said something that easily stirred Banner—or rather, Hulk's—competitive spirit.

"I don't want to see you get hurt."

To Banner, those words were perfectly normal.

But to Hulk, they were different.

Banner could now control, to a certain extent, whether he transformed or not, but if Hulk insisted on coming out, it was difficult for him to stop Hulk.

Likewise, if Hulk did not want to come out, it was difficult for Banner to make him do so.

Natasha's careless remark made Hulk, whose mind was much like that of a child, feel intensely unconvinced.

I would get hurt?

How could I possibly get hurt?

I'm Hulk!

Although Richard was currently reading Banner's memories, he also read Hulk's thoughts.

Not only that, he could clearly sense Hulk's intense defiance.

When Richard looked at him again, Banner also noticed that something was wrong.

Before he could think further, his skin turned a strange green, and the veins on his forehead and neck began to bulge.

Natasha noticed Banner's abnormality immediately.

Just as she was about to calm Banner down, Banner let out a beast-like roar, startling the surrounding Bystanders and young mutants.

Roar! Under everyone's gaze, Banner's body began to visibly "expand."

The jacket and shirt on his upper body were stretched and torn apart by his rapidly growing body, turning into scraps of cloth that fell to the ground.

The jeans on his lower body could not withstand his legs thickening at an astonishing rate either, changing from long pants into tight, shorts-like garments.

"Green Giant!" Only after seeing Banner transform did the surrounding Bystanders and young mutants realize that this refined-looking middle-aged man was actually the Green Giant from the Avengers.

If Natasha, standing beside Banner before his transformation, had been the one who stood out like a crane among chickens and drew everyone's attention, then now, the beautiful and voluptuous Natasha had become mere foil for Banner—or more accurately, for Hulk.

After seeing Banner begin transforming into Hulk, Richard summoned Masamune from the System Space.

Then, after slightly activating his Mind Power, he said to the people around him:

"Anyone who doesn't want to die, get the hell out!"

Although his voice was not loud, enhanced by Mind Power, his words not only reached everyone's ears clearly, but also carried an overwhelming pressure that ordinary people could not resist.

Upon hearing him, whether they were ordinary Bystanders or young mutants who acted like his fans, they scattered in panic as though fleeing a disaster, rushing away as quickly as they could.

Very soon, the once bustling street, which had been crowded with people, was left with only Richard and the other two.

Natasha did not leave. Instead, she stared at Hulk with a surprised expression.

At this point, she still had not realized that her careless remark had stirred such intense competitiveness in Hulk.

Although Richard knew Hulk merely wanted to prove to Natasha that he was the strongest and did not truly want to become his enemy, an expectant expression still appeared on his face.

Among the current Avengers, there were only two opponents who interested him.

One was Thor.

The other was Hulk before him.

Iron Man Tony and Captain America Rogers were no less famous than the two of them, but Richard had little interest in either Tony or Rogers.

After Banner had completely transformed into Hulk, Richard said to Natasha, who had yet to leave:

"If only half of San Francisco is left, will S.H.I.E.L.D. compensate for it?"