Boom!!
The tremendous crash shook the heavens!
As the two monsters fought, streets collapsed and buildings shattered, turning the entire block into battlefield ruins!
But the more Hulk fought, the angrier he grew, and the more he was hurt, the stronger he became!
"Hahaha, fight, fight! Are these the two monsters humanity created? I only wish there were more monsters like these!"
In an apartment somewhere in San Francisco, an invisible force kept a coin rolling across the fingers of a white-haired old man!
His sharp eyes fixed on the live television footage of Hulk and Abomination, and he laughed heartily!
This man was none other than the renowned Magneto.
During the Alcatraz Island incident, he had been injected with the mutant cure and lost his abilities, but now he had already recovered some of his power!
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Westchester County, New York State.
A bald old man in a wheelchair was watching the live broadcast as well.
Watching Broadway crumble, he felt helpless and heartbroken. He wanted to stop it, but after his reincarnation into his vegetative younger brother's body, his abilities had not recovered either. He could do nothing to stop it!
"Professor, should we go stop them?"
A blue-skinned, beastlike man standing beside him spoke.
"It won't help. You wouldn't be a match for them. Going would accomplish nothing and only upset those politicians. Besides, that greener Hulk has the upper hand. It should be over soon!"
Professor X shook his head slightly as he spoke.
Beast nodded. Over the past two years, the government had deliberately downplayed the mutants' presence to reduce their influence. If they suddenly appeared and failed to solve the problem, they would only provoke an even greater conflict!
On the live television feed, the battle was indeed nearing its end, just as Professor X had said.
Hulk's core ability was rage amplification: the angrier he became, the stronger he grew.
Earlier, the cure had suppressed him, preventing him from using his full strength. Now its negative effects had been completely eliminated, and his strength was even more savage.
Finally, seizing the instant Abomination lost his balance, he viciously flung out a heavy chain!
Whoosh!!
The chain instantly wound tight around Abomination's neck!
It locked around his throat, cinching tight!
"Aaaargh-!!"
Abomination instantly choked in excruciating pain. He struggled wildly, resisting with everything he had, pounding Hulk's back with both fists and viciously stabbing his bone spurs into Hulk's body!
The pain pierced him to the core, but Hulk ignored it completely!
The more it hurt, the more vicious he became! The more he fought, the wilder he grew!
He clamped his legs around Abomination's body and pulled with all the strength in his arms, keeping the chain strangling him as it tightened further!
No matter how Abomination unleashed his full strength to struggle, roar, and pound at him, the chain around his neck did not budge!
Abomination's breathing grew weaker, his strength rapidly drained away, and his pupils kept losing focus!
The outcome was already decided!
Just as Abomination was about to be strangled to death and perish for good!
From the helicopter in the distance, Betty shouted anxiously:
"Bruce! Stop! Don't kill him!!"
Her call instantly brought Hulk back to his senses a little!
He slowly loosened the chain, then viciously kicked the dying Abomination aside!
Deep beneath Salia Base.
The place was furnished like a secluded luxury residence, yet it carried a suffocating sense of confinement.
Dr. Sterns slowly awoke on the cold floor, sporting an enormous green head.
At that moment, he felt completely different.
His brain was like a fully unlocked supercomputer, his thoughts racing at a terrifying speed. Its immense processing power almost left him inwardly horrified.
"What happened... my head..."
Dr. Sterns instinctively clutched his unusually heavy head with both hands, his face pale as he muttered to himself in terror.
"Clack, clack-"
The heavy iron door was pushed open, and Wenwu walked in with steady steps, dressed in a black suit.
"Who are you? What happened to me? My head..." Dr. Sterns abruptly raised his head, his eyes filled with panic and unease.
Razor Fist reached behind him and securely locked the heavy alloy door.
Wenwu walked over to the leather sofa and sat down, his gaze settling on Dr. Sterns as the faintest hint of a smile curved his lips.
"Dr. Sterns, honestly, your performance was very convincing. But I know that with your brain's current processing power, there's no way you don't know what happened to you, much less fail to understand your current situation."
"All right... you saw through me?"
Dr. Sterns shrugged. The terror on his face instantly vanished, replaced by an eerie calm. "Then may I ask who you are? Why did you capture me?"
"My name is Wenwu, leader of the Ten Rings."
Wenwu personally picked up the teapot on the table and poured him a cup of black tea, gesturing for him to help himself with his slender fingers.
"Naturally, I invited you here because I need you to work for me. Your brain has enhanced your gifts to another dimension. My Ten Rings needs you."
Dr. Sterns picked up the teacup and threw his head back, taking a large gulp as though using it to suppress the turmoil within him.
Then he stood and walked over to a mirror on the wall. Looking at his enormous green head in the reflection, a trace of gloom flashed through his eyes.
"Don't worry about it!"
Watching his back, Wenwu offered a casual word of comfort. "With your current capabilities, you'll surely be able to restore yourself in the future."
Dr. Sterns did not respond. He simply turned around silently and returned to sit before the coffee table.
He poured himself a cup of black tea and took a small sip, speaking in an even tone. "The Ten Rings. I've heard of it. An ancient organization, but in the eyes of the world, you're nothing more than a terrorist organization."
"The world simply misunderstands us."
Wenwu leaned forward slightly, ambition showing in his eyes. "My goal is the stars and the sea-to establish an interstellar empire, not some terrorist organization. With you joining us, Dr. Sterns, that will no longer be a flight of fancy. What do you think?"
"A very grand dream."
Dr. Sterns set down his teacup, his gaze sweeping over the cold metal walls around him. "But judging by this place, you don't intend to let me leave, do you?"
He was frighteningly calm at that moment. That absolute rationality instead sent chills down one's spine.
Fortunately, although Wenwu was young, he had integrated all of Xu Wenwu's memories and temperament. He was far beyond any inexperienced youngster.
His expression unchanged, he said frankly, "Dr. Sterns, you know how wary that brain of yours makes people. I have to take precautions. Please forgive me."
"But rest assured, it'll only be three years."
Wenwu held up three fingers, his tone certain. "Around three years. I swear I'll let you out. Provided you work for me sincerely. With the resources of the Ten Rings, you'll certainly be able to put your talents to full use."
As he spoke, Wenwu waved a hand behind him.
Understanding his meaning, Razor Fist immediately took a thick stack of documents from the bag he carried and placed it on the coffee table.
They included Dr. Burstein's human enhancement research, data on synthesizing source material, Peter Parker's mutation data, Columbia University's research records on mutated spiders, and even Tony Stark's blueprints for the Arc Reactor and Iron Man Armor.
Dr. Sterns's gaze settled on the documents, his pupils tightening slightly.
He reached out and picked up the top stack of papers, then displayed an astonishing reading speed.