Experiment Accident

It took Oaks some time to convince Banner that the two of them had indeed met by chance.

The surroundings had been trashed this badly—if the military were really nearby, would they have waited until now to show up?

"All right, I was actually fleeing here... You seem to know quite a bit about what happened before, so I won't repeat it."

Only then did Banner carefully look Oaks over. This young scientist who looked Asian was now wearing nothing but a short-sleeved shirt. Was that really what someone came to the tropical rainforest for research wearing?

Even with the hoodie he was currently wearing, it was still far too outrageous!

"I've been evading the military's pursuit... By the way, did you really come here alone to conduct a botanical survey?"

"You've asked me that three times already."

Oaks rolled his eyes.

"You're someone whose portrait hangs on the walls of many universities alongside giants like Newton, Einstein, and Marie Curie while you're still alive. How would I dare lie to you?"

"...Is that really a thing?"

Banner rubbed his nose, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly as if he were a little pleased. But when he remembered where they were, he immediately calmed down.

"Uh, it seems you're also a scientist with special abilities. How exactly did you survive Hulk's attack?"

"Well..."

Oaks's eyes shifted. After pondering for a moment, he decided to tell the truth.

After all, Oaks had quite a good impression of Banner, and Banner should find it easier to accept.

"I'm a Druid with some special abilities. You could call it a research accident."

"...Celtic?"

Banner froze for a moment before immediately understanding.

"Ah, a few months ago, I saw the news. A group claiming to be a Druid sect held a summer solstice celebration at Stonehenge in London."

"...I'm half Celtic, but the group you mentioned is just a civilian organization for enthusiasts."

Oaks scratched his red hair. He knew about that news as well.

Celtic Mythology was indeed where the concept of Druids originated, but the lineage had long since been severed.

That modern Druid religion was truly just a civilian group founded by enthusiasts, with nothing to do with the Druids in Irish mythology.

Still, although the inheritance of his powers did not come from Celtic Mythology, this could serve as a cover.

"Real Druids wouldn't go to Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice.

As for my abilities, they're basically like this..."

A bear, a panther, a bird...

Banner was nearly frightened into turning into Hulk.

"Thump, thump... Thump, thump..."

Banner desperately suppressed his pounding heart, the veins in his neck nearly bulging out.

"Wait... don't..."

"..."

Oaks changed back into human form. Emerald light curled around his fingertips, and Banner felt his thoughts immediately grow calmer as his heartbeat quickly returned to normal.

"Calm Animal... Well, it's a little awkward, but Hulk and animals do have a few similarities, right?"

Shuddering, Oaks discovered that Banner was staring at him like a starving wolf, green light gleaming in his eyes.

"Dr. Banner?!"

"Oaks... You, you can suppress Hulk?!"

Banner was practically so delighted that he was about to turn into Hulk...

Heaven had pity on him. How much had he suffered and endured in his search for a way to suppress Hulk?

Yet the young scientist before him had managed it so easily?

A Druid?

Transforming into beasts?

Even if he turned into a ghost, I, Bruce Banner, would seize this chance and never let go!

And he had just said it was a research accident?

Banner clutched Oaks's hand tightly, tears nearly falling from his eyes.

"You're not being pursued by the military, are you?"

"...No. I conducted my research independently."

"This accident is incredible... No, I mean, this is too much of a coincidence!"

Banner nearly threw his head back and howled—

He immediately believed it. Like him, Oaks had mutated because of an accident during human experimentation!

No wonder he could move through the tropical rainforest so freely. Had anyone ever seen a wild beast wear protective gear to run through the woods?

"You introduced animal genes into your body? Just to recreate Celtic Mythology?"

Banner shook Oaks's hands, looking grief-stricken.

"Reckless! Far too reckless! You're still so young... Sigh, when I was your age, I was just as blindly confident!"

"Uh, I think it's fine. It doesn't affect my life either, because I can control it completely."

"...All right, but animal genes come with energy manipulation too? Don't tell me you introduced plant genes into your body as well!"

Banner immediately slipped into the role of a scientist and began thinking deeply.

"What plant could possess such powerful energy manipulation? There are quite a few plants that can soothe emotions. Come to think of it, I came to the Amazon to find plants like that for experiments."

"Calm Animal? In other words, the principle is to calm the minds of targets with lower intelligence? Hulk does indeed fit that characteristic rather well."

"That's right. And after we fought for a day and a night, Hulk had released quite a bit of his nature. He even took the initiative to be friends with me."

Oaks smiled. Banner's assumptions had saved him a great deal of explanation, and this could become a standard template for explaining things to others in the future.

If an experimental accident could produce one Hulk, why couldn't it produce another Druid?

"Friends? Hulk?"

Banner's mouth fell open. He had never imagined that Hulk could communicate.

All this time, he had treated Hulk as a virus invading his body and sworn to eradicate him!

"But I don't remember any of it... Whenever Hulk appeared before, I would retain at least a few fragmented memories... Ah!"

Banner got up and took two steps, then immediately sat back down clutching his foot—he had stepped on something sharp.

"It's always like this!"

Banner fiercely swung an arm before finally covering his face weakly.

"Whenever I lose control, Hulk comes out and turns everything around me into a complete mess...

And the military's pursuit has kept me from getting a peaceful night's sleep for years!"

"You mean you came to the Amazon to find herbs for experiments in soothing emotions and suppressing transformations?"

Oaks looked thoughtful.

"If that's the case, I might be able to help."

"Really?"

Banner abruptly raised his head. He had been so shocked by Oaks's magic earlier that only now did he remember that the other party was a genius biologist.

"Of course. After all, Hulk is also a friend I just met. Finding a solution would be good for both of you."

"I found some methods through books. The herbs I want to find include those that soothe the mind, as well as those that purify the blood."

Still hugging his foot, Banner swiftly returned to professional mode.

"Although Hulk's appearance is triggered by my emotions, the root of the problem is my blood. Only by suppressing the mutation in my blood can it be cured completely!"

"Mm... Naturally, you understand Hulk best. Since you've chosen a treatment method, we'll begin by testing this route."

Oaks nodded, then glanced around again.

"But first, we should return to human society and discuss this matter properly—don't worry, with me here, I won't let you turn into Hulk so easily."

"But before that, we need to repair the damage we caused."

Banner also looked over the devastated surroundings and opened his mouth.

"Are we going to plant trees?"