Not By Chance, But By Destiny

Kino fell into thought. Seeing his hesitation, Gwen couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment, her eyes dimming slightly.

However, just as Gwen was lost in her sadness, Kino suddenly reached into his pocket and pulled out a cyan ring. "The Whirlwind Ring," he said, "I feel this ability is most suited for you."

Gwen stared at the ring in Kino's hand, stunned into silence, completely unable to process it.

Seeing Gwen's dazed, adorable reaction, Kino's lips curved upwards. He teased, "Do you want me to put it on for you myself?"

Gwen snapped back to reality, snatched the ring, and declared, "No way, hmph!" She then turned and ran towards the door.

Just as she was about to leave, she hesitated, her footsteps stopping.

Then, she ran back, pecked Kino on the lips, and said with a blush, "Don't overthink it, this is just a thank you."

Without looking back, she bolted out, leaving Kino standing there with a smile on his face.

Trading a ring for a Ghost-Spider? A huge profit.

After Gwen ran out of the manor, she leaned against the main gate and slowly crouched down, an irrepressible smile blooming on her face.

She carefully slipped the ring onto her middle finger. Looking at the ring on her hand, she beamed like a child who had just received their most beloved toy.

"Heehee, I actually have a ring now," Gwen muttered to herself, her eyes never leaving the ring.

After a while, she seemed to wake from a dream. She glanced around, saw no one was paying attention to her, and quickly composed her overly obvious expression of joy. She stood up and, feigning composure, left the manor.

However, her light, skipping steps betrayed her current jubilant mood.

Once Gwen was gone, Frank, Blonsky, and Banner emerged from the shadows. A hint of relief flickered across Frank's usually stern face.

Banner sighed wistfully, "It reminds me of my time with Betty."

Blonsky, however, said unfeelingly, "What's so great about women? Only power is everything."

Banner and Frank ignored his words. Frank said, "Let's go, the Young Master is waiting."

The two people the Young Master had arranged for yesterday had asked them to come see him this morning.

The three walked towards the manor together. Banner, lost in memories of the past, looked somewhat melancholic.

Blonsky, on the other hand, had a determined expression, as if constantly reinforcing his pursuit of power in his mind.

Frank walked with steady steps, his thoughts entirely focused on the upcoming meeting with Kino.

"Young Master, we're here."

Frank and the others arrived in the hall and saw Kino sitting on the sofa. They greeted him in unison. Kino waved his hand, gesturing for them to sit.

"Frank, how was the wine you were asked to buy yesterday?"

"Young Master, it's being arranged. It will arrive this afternoon."

"What are your thoughts on yesterday's battle?"

"Guns and cannons were useless against them, Young Master. I want to know if their appearance was an accident or inevitable."

Frank had been sent home yesterday because he didn't have any Special Abilities. He had also seen their power on TV.

Human weapons were no different from toys to them.

Blonsky and Banner also looked at Kino.

"Their appearance is inevitable. More and more people like them will appear in the future."

Banner vehemently retorted, "Impossible! I was an accident! How could so many Hulks appear in this world!"

His voice sharpened with agitation, his eyes wide, his face filled with disbelief.

Thinking of a future Earth with more and more monsters like the Hulk, Banner grew increasingly agitated, his body beginning to turn green.

Before he could unleash his fury, a large hand pinned him to the ground – it was Blonsky, transformed into the Abomination.

"Calm down, Banner! Don't go crazy here!" Blonsky said.

"Hulk..."

Banner... Hulk had already emerged, his gaze suddenly locking with a pair of scarlet eyes.

"Hulk, be quiet. My beloved is sleeping."

The situation froze. Hulk's powerful body trembled slightly. For the first time, fear appeared in his eyes. Under the gaze of those scarlet eyes, he actually retreated obediently.

Banner panted heavily, his face covered in sweat. This was the first time he had successfully controlled Hulk's emergence without causing destruction.

Kino watched the scene quietly.

Frank's face was grim. He hadn't expected that the two monsters the Young Master had brought back yesterday were the very ones he had arranged to stay in the room next to his.

Silence filled the hall, broken only by Banner's heavy breaths. After a long while, Banner gradually calmed down, sitting on the floor, looking exhausted.

"I'm sorry, I got too excited."

"It's alright."

Kino looked at Frank, whose face was etched with seriousness, and said, "Just as I said, their appearance is not an accident, but inevitable. I'm not saying there will be many Hulks, but there will definitely be no shortage of various super-powered individuals.

Frank, do you want to gain extraordinary power?"

Frank was silent for a moment, then said, "I think I have the power to protect my family, both now and in the future."

Kino waved his hand, and a portal appeared in the center.

"Follow me."

Frank followed without a word. Blonsky glanced at Banner and also walked through.

Banner worried it was a trap. As he hesitated, the portal began to slowly disappear.

Gritting his teeth, he finally rushed in at the last moment before it vanished.

Banner's eyes opened and closed, and he found himself in a black palace.

No one was in front of him. Where were they?

Is this a trap to imprison me?

Banner's heart leaped, and he instinctively assumed a defensive stance.

"Banner, what are you doing?"

Blonsky's voice came from behind him.

Turning his head, he saw Kino, Frank, and Blonsky looking at him strangely.

"I... cough cough... I'm practicing Chinese martial arts." Banner even struck a pose like a roc spreading its wings.

"Your Majesty, you've brought a fool."

Yū, standing nearby, couldn't bear to watch, wondering which demon would be unlucky enough to make a contract with him.

"Yū, have all the demons you arranged arrived?"

"They have, Your Majesty."

Speaking of this, Yū also became serious.

Led by Yū, they arrived at a high platform with a metal throne. Below was a vast square filled with densely packed demons of various forms.

Some were as massive as mountains, with bulging muscles covered in iron-hard scales that shimmered with a cold luster. Others had bat-like wings with feathers like sharp blades. Still others had huge heads with eyes burning like raging flames, spewing black smoke from their mouths.

"Your Majesty, as you requested, all the elite combat-type demons are present!"

With that, Yū knelt on one knee.