Day after day after day.
Time passed steadily. Hulk drank countless jars of bizarre liquids, enduring the ordeal for an entire week.
Inside a remote castle, Molly stood solemnly before Hulk and asked, "Are you ready?"
"Ready!" Hulk answered loudly. He knew exactly what came next. Though he was not particularly confident, he had to say it, because he... really did not want to keep drinking those enhancement potions.
"Good." Molly nodded, looked toward Su and the others, and said, "Begin the second fusion attempt."
"Yes." Su and the others nodded. They moved into their assigned positions around Hulk, murmuring incantations as energy rippled within them and their spells took shape.
Molly looked back at Hulk, drew a deep breath, and took a Stone Box from her clothes. Inside, after opening it, was the Energy Furnace retrieved from the ruins.
Energy enveloped Molly's hands as she carefully removed the Energy Furnace. Hulk had already taken off his shirt, baring his chest. Molly showed no mercy as she pressed the Energy Furnace against it.
Sizzle!
The instant the Energy Furnace touched Hulk's skin, it glimmered faintly. Like a branding iron pressed against pigskin, it produced a scorched smell.
Hulk's brow twitched, but he did not cry out. Compared to the agony of drinking enhancement potions over the past few days, this was nothing.
"Hold on," Molly said.
"Mm," Hulk responded.
Molly pressed her lips together and forcefully pushed the Energy Furnace beneath Hulk's flesh. Its front end grew brighter and brighter until it almost completely transformed into light, piercing into Hulk's body.
One millimeter, then another, then another...
After several minutes, the entire Energy Furnace had turned into light and entered Hulk's chest.
Bright light shone through Hulk's flesh, illuminating his entire body. It was as though a super-bright searchlight had