The surveillance footage is frozen on the moment the dark figure disappeared through the Wall Phasing.
General Ross stood in the center of the operations room, his fingers gripping the edge of his tactical belt tightly. The large screen was replaying live footage from ten minutes earlier— Abomination was pinned to his knees, Ye Mo stood atop the ruins, clutching a piece of metal that glowed blue, and Emma Frost and Tony flanked the unconscious Bruce. The whole process was clean and efficient, like a well-rehearsed counterattack.
"It's him again," Thaddeus Ross said in a low, deep voice. "It's always him."
The adjutant stood to the side, not daring to speak. The intelligence analyst kept his head down, refreshing the data stream, only daring to glance at the general's face out of the corner of his eye. The results of the battle had already spread throughout the command system: three special forces teams were destroyed, the EMP prototype overloaded and was scrapped, and Project Abomination was declared a failure.
The conference room door was closed and well-insulated, but the faint sounds of officers talking could be heard outside.
"This target is too tough; if we continue fighting, Congress will really cut our budget."
"The higher-ups have started questioning why gamma weapons were used, and international public opinion is in an uproar."
Thaddeus Ross heard these words clearly. He didn't get angry or slam his fist on the table; he simply turned around, walked to the control panel, pulled out the memory card, and replayed the video.
The image zooms out to its clearest frame: Ye Mo leaps into the air, his body passing directly through the concrete wall, as if passing through a film of water.
" Wall Phasing?" Thaddeus Ross sneered. "That Mutants stuff? What exactly is he?"
No one answered. This ability wasn't in the military's known database. What's even more terrifying is that this guy isn't just good at fighting, he's also good at strategizing. From the drainage pipe raid to the psychological interference coordination, his control of the rhythm is like a veteran giving a practical lesson to a newbie.
"He's no longer just an intervener," the chief of staff finally spoke. "He's building a team. The Hulk, Iron Man, that white-haired woman... they're on the same side now."
Thaddeus Ross stared intently at the screen. "Then include it all."
He then pressed the communication button. "Summon Teams B, D, and F. Activate the ' Thunder Suppression Protocol.' I need the operational plan within three hours."
The adjutant froze. "General, you just said you wanted to assess the risks..."
"I didn't ask for your opinion." Thaddeus Ross turned to look at him. "I asked for your execution. From now on, all external communications must be consistent—military exercises in the northern mountains. Anyone who leaks details of the operation will be suspended immediately for investigation."
The air suddenly tensed.
No one spoke. Several operators quickly pulled up satellite maps and marked the current battlefield coordinates. The abandoned research base was located in a no-man's-land on the border, surrounded by mountains, with only an old road connecting it to the outside world. It was perfect for an encirclement and annihilation operation.
"Notify the stealth transport formation, two aircraft prepare for takeoff." Thaddeus Ross said, taking off his jacket to reveal a close-fitting bulletproof combat suit underneath. "Is the EMP weapon repaired?"
The tech expert hesitated for a moment. "The core module is still cooling down; it will take at least four hours to restart."
"Then take two backup generators with you." Thaddeus Ross grabbed the military pistol on the table and clicked it shut. "I don't need it to be 100% functional, just enough to immobilize him."
The adjutant caught up. "Are you really going personally? That's not standard procedure. We can request support from S.H.I.E.L.D.., or have a swarm of remote drones suppress the enemy first—"
"Enough," Thaddeus Ross interrupted, raising his hand. "I've been following Bruce Banner for twenty years. You were still in military school then. I've seen his first lab report and witnessed his first transformation. I know who he is, and I know what's behind him."
He paused, his voice lower. "And now, someone wants to take him away. Not for research, not for control, but for cooperation. They see him as a teammate."
These words pierced the room like nails.
A moment later, Thaddeus Ross added, "This operation is codenamed ' Wall Breaker.' Objective remains the same: capture Bruce Banner alive. All obstacles—eliminate."
The adjutant opened his mouth, but ultimately just nodded.
Five minutes later, the combat order was encrypted and sent out across the entire network. The three special operations forces entered a state of first-level combat readiness, two V-22 Osprey transport aircraft were on standby on the runway, and the EMP prototype vehicle was pushed onto a flatbed trailer and escorted to the takeoff area.
As Thaddeus Ross walked toward the tarmac, the sky began to darken.
The wind whipped sand against his face. He wasn't wearing a helmet or heavy armor, only an old-fashioned tactical backpack. The pilot, seeing his attire in the cockpit, hesitated and didn't start the engine.
"General, non-combat personnel are not allowed to enter high-risk areas. This is stipulated in Joint Regulations --"
"Regulations?" Thaddeus Ross pulled out a yellowed photocopy of a document and slapped it on the dashboard. "This is a presidential decree, number G-1987-0421, authorizing me to handle all gamma-related threats. You now have two choices: take off, or change pilots."
The pilot glanced at the blurry stamp, swallowed hard, and silently closed the cabin door.
The engine roared to life.
Thaddeus Ross sat in the back command seat, clutching the file in his hand. The cover read "Project G-Beta: Bruce Banner," its edges worn and blackened. He didn't look out the window or touch the communicator; he simply placed the gun on his lap, his fingers repeatedly rubbing the trigger guard.
The plane slowly took off.
The lights of the base below faded into the distance, and several officers on the control tower remained motionless. One of them whispered, "Has the general... gone mad this time?"
No one answered.
The cabin was quiet. Thaddeus Ross closed his eyes, his mind filled with the last scene of the video— Ye Mo glanced back at the unconscious Emma Frost, then raised the Vibranium shard and plunged it into the back of Abomination's neck.
That strike was so precise it couldn't have been a coincidence.
"You think you're saving people?" Thaddeus Ross opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling. "You're just paving the way for monsters."
He pressed the intercom button. "Once we land, blow up all the exits. I want that area to be an impenetrable fortress. Anyone who dares to transmit signals outwards, destroy their equipment."
The communications officer responded, "Yes, General."
"And," Thaddeus Ross paused, "If Ye Mo tries to escape... don't capture him alive. Prioritize lethal strikes."
After giving the order, he leaned back in his seat, finally relaxing his tense expression. The look in that instant wasn't a smile, but more like a muscle twitch.
He knew what he was gambling with in this battle. The pressure from Congress, the doubts from the military, and the restrictions of international treaties were all forcing him to back down. But as soon as he thought of the names lying in the files—seventeen soldiers, three laboratories, and the reconnaissance vehicle that was torn in two by the Hulk in the Alaska snowfields—he couldn't stop.
This is no longer a mission.
This is the end.
The aircraft broke through the clouds, heading straight for the northern mountains. Radar showed that there were still weak energy fluctuations in the target area, with frequencies highly consistent with Gamma Radiation.
Thaddeus Ross glanced down at his watch: fifty-three minutes until their expected arrival.
He rechecked the chamber, made sure the bullet was loaded, and then stuffed the yellowed file into his inner breast pocket.
It's located near the heart.
Outside the cabin, the sky was dark and the air was turbulent. An adjutant came over to report the latest intelligence, but Thaddeus Ross stopped him with a gesture before he could even speak.
"Quiet," he said. "Let me have some peace and quiet."
The adjutant stepped aside.
Thaddeus Ross closed his eyes, his fingers still resting on the gun handle.
The next second, he suddenly opened his eyes, grabbed the communicator, and said, "Notify the EMP team that the first thing to do after landing is to set up the jamming array. I want that kid named Ye Mo —he won't be able to send a single text message."
After the command was given, he breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back.
But in that instant when the plane shook slightly, he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye.
In the corner of the main screen, a live stream with a 30-second delay is playing on a loop. It's the last footage taken by the drones previously deployed around the ruins.
In the scene, Ye Mo is standing up, leaning against the wall, holding Emma Frost in his arms. He looks up at the sky, as if he has noticed something.
Then he raised his right hand and made a gesture towards the camera.
Thaddeus Ross sat up abruptly.
"Replay! That part from just now!"
The operator quickly rewound. The image froze on that gesture—the thumb brushing against the index finger, as if striking a match.
"What do you mean?" someone asked.
Thaddeus Ross didn't say anything.
He recognized him.
That's the military sign language for "ignition".
It means: I know you're watching, and I'm ready to burn everything you own.