Thick smoke billowed across the lower deck. Broken panels lay at an angle, and shorting circuits crackled and popped all around. The place was a complete wreck.
Banner knelt on one knee, his breathing growing heavier and heavier. His chest heaved, veins bulged across his body, and his skin turned an increasingly deep shade of green. The reason in his eyes was on the very brink of collapse. Violent rage was building, and in another second, he would transform completely into the uncontrollable Hulk.
Seeing how close he was to going berserk, Rimuru calmly stepped forward and spoke in a soothing, easy tone.
"Calm down. Don't get so worked up."
"I didn't bring S.H.I.E.L.D.'s special sedative, but I have another method. It works exactly the same, or even better."
With that, Rimuru bent slightly and gently breathed a faint, colorless paralyzing sleep breath into Banner's face.
It made no sound and carried no force, simply enveloping Banner's entire body.
Banner's taut body suddenly froze.
His surging fury, turbulent emotions, and uncontrolled savagery were forcibly suppressed in an instant. The ferocity rapidly faded from his bloodshot, terrifying eyes, leaving them vacant, dazed, and unfocused.
Rimuru continued to soothe him gently from the side.
"Relax. It's normal to feel dizzy."
As Natasha stared, utterly dumbstruck and unable to think, Dr. Banner, who had been terrifyingly violent and on the verge of transforming just moments ago, went limp. His eyelids drooped, and he slowly fell into a sound, peaceful sleep. He collapsed onto the battered deck, breathing evenly, and became completely quiet.
The whole process took less than three seconds.
Natasha stood rooted to the spot, utterly bewildered.
She had been terrified and on edge, racking her brains for the right words to calm Banner down. Her palms had been sweating, and her