Thirst, hunger, and endless pain.
Bruce Banner didn't know how much time had passed.
They say a person can only truly understand himself when he loses his freedom.
Now, Banner couldn't agree more.
In the past, he had hated that Green Monster with all his heart.
It was the one who had turned his life into a complete mess.
Banner had despised that Green Monster. He had destroyed everything Banner had!
But after General Ross captured him and held him for all these days,
Banner realized that things didn't seem to be that way.
That Green Monster was actually himself. Banner was the Hulk, and the Hulk was Banner.
He simply couldn't bear the destruction he'd caused, so he'd shifted the blame onto the "Hulk" he'd imagined.
Now, Banner had lost that power, and he was being strung up.
General Ross was torturing him, trying to enrage him and bring the Hulk out again.
He refused to accept that the Hulk was gone. Otherwise, wouldn't everything he'd done to capture Banner have been meaningless?
"What will it take for you to turn into the Green Monster again?"
General Ross glared at Bruce Banner, who was hanging before him, suppressing his seething fury.
"Hahaha, the Hulk is gone. He's dead, hahaha! You'll never get him back, haha."
"He's not dead! You've just hidden him away!"
General Ross's furious roar cut off Banner's laughter. His fingers trembled as he stiffly raised a hand and pointed at Banner.
"Let him out right now! That's an order!"
General Ross absolutely refused to accept the fact that the Hulk was gone. If the Hulk really had disappeared,
how could he use the Hulk's blood for research? How could he create Super Soldiers?
Without a new generation of Captain America, how could he make any progress?
"Fine, fine, fine! If you won't let him out, then stay here and wait to die!"
General Ross cursed angrily and left without looking back.
"Hahaha, am I going to die?"
Banner let out a bitter laugh. He was already trapped in a hopeless situation. He really was going to die.
"But I don't want to die. I don't want to!"
Only now did Banner truly understand what he wanted.
He wanted to live—to live freely!
"An unyielding soul. You look rather wretched, but with a little training, I'm sure you'll have a bright future."
A deep, powerful voice reached Banner's ears, making him snap back to his senses.
Before him stood a monster with red skin, covered in coarse fur and brass armor. A pair of wings sprouted from its back, and a pair of horns grew from its head. It had appeared right before Banner as if it owned the place.
Its appearance was exactly like the Devil described in religious teachings.
But after a monster like this appeared, why were the guards below standing perfectly still, as if they couldn't see him?
"Have I really gone to Hell?"
Banner let out another bitter laugh. It made sense, really. He'd killed so many people and caused so much destruction. Shouldn't he go to Hell when he died?
"You haven't gone to Hell. The Blood God is calling to you!"
"The Blood God?"
A trace of confusion flashed through Banner's eyes. What kind of deity was that? He'd never heard of any Blood God.
Still, there were so many deities in the country. It was probably some obscure one.
"That's right. The great Blood God. He is the Lord of War, the embodiment of slaughter, the source of unending fury and violence!"
The Devil's voice rang in Banner's ears, making his head spin.
"In your name, we fight, we slaughter, and we spread fear to every corner of the world. Your power gives us boundless courage and strength, making us invincible on the battlefield!"
The Devil's praise grew more and more fervent, as if countless restless spirits were whispering in Banner's ears about the joys of slaughter.
"Why has your god come looking for me?"
Banner took a deep breath and voiced his question.
He had never worshiped this deity, or even heard of him. So why had he sent his messenger to find Banner?
Well, for now, he'd assume that the "Devil" before him was his messenger.
"The Blood God has watched you. He believes you're a fine warrior. You never retreat from your enemies; instead, you tear them apart head-on.
"He's very pleased with your actions, so the Blood God wants you. That's why I've come before you."
The Devil explained his reason for coming in an unhurried manner. Though ugly in appearance, his manners were as refined as a gentleman's.
This strange impression made Banner feel as if he weren't hanging there, but sharing a friendly dinner with a gentleman at a fancy restaurant.
Except this gentleman was a Devil!
Banner shook his head sharply. "I'm sorry, sir, but I'm afraid I can't agree to your request."
After saying no in one breath, Banner took a deep breath and waited for the storm that was sure to come. The consequences of refusing a Devil's request went without saying.
But, to his surprise, the Devil did nothing to him. He merely shrugged, looking unconcerned.
Then he turned and left without hesitation.
As the Devil walked farther and farther away, fear and confusion crept into Banner's heart.
Why was this "Devil" just leaving?
He hadn't even stopped for a moment. Was he really not going to try again?
When Banner could barely see him anymore, he finally began to panic.
The Devil was really leaving, just abandoning Banner here?
Leaving him in this lightless place? Leaving him here to die?
Letting him die of thirst, little by little, and starve to death, little by little?
No, no, no!
He absolutely couldn't let that happen!
"W-wait! We can talk! I'll talk about anything! I can worship the Blood God, too. I can become his property!"
Banner blurted it out, and at once felt a wave of relief wash over him.
He'd said it. He'd finally said it. He'd sold his soul to the "Devil"!
He'd sold his soul just to live. Was it really worth it?
"Ha, my brother, I knew you'd agree."
The Devil appeared before Banner once more, still as elegant as ever.
But Banner wasn't in the mood to appreciate it now.
"Bring it here. Bring me the Devil's contract. If you can save me, I'll sign it."
Once you bowed your head, it became much easier to keep bowing.
At least Banner had now learned to ask for the Devil's contract himself.
"No, no, my brother. I think you may have misunderstood something."
As Banner looked at him in confusion, the Devil continued.
"The great Blood God doesn't need a contract to bind his followers. All you have to do is open your heart, and the Blood God's blessing will protect you.
"Do you feel it? That unparalleled power!"
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