"Dr. Banner, it's a pleasure to meet you." Alex Ray sat comfortably on the sofa, offering Bruce Banner a warm smile.
This was the first time Alex had met Dr. Banner in person. He'd never had the opportunity before, so now that they finally had the chance, he made sure to invite Banner to the Good Luck Restaurant for a proper chat.
Dr. Banner smiled back, his eyes filled with sincere gratitude. "It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Ray. Thank you—truly."
Although they had never met before, Banner's appreciation toward Alex was unmistakable. Ever since the Hulk took residence in his body, Banner's life had been turned upside down.
He had been forced to live on the run, always one step ahead of the military. The constant fear that the Hulk might take over at any moment left him in a state of perpetual anxiety.
Once a brilliant scientist with seven doctoral degrees, Banner's life—while far from perfect—had once been stable and rewarding.
That changed the day the Hulk was born.
He lost the woman he loved, and every day became a struggle to avoid capture—especially with his ex-girlfriend's father relentlessly pursuing him. It was like living in hell.
Fortunately, he eventually found refuge in Hell's Kitchen—where he met Alex Ray.
Alex not only gave him a safe place to live, but also developed a suppressor device capable of keeping the Hulk in check.
For the first time in years, Banner could live a somewhat stable life. The chaos had quieted, and he regained a portion of his former peace.
When he looked at Alex now, his heart swelled with gratitude.
Without Alex's intervention, he might still be on the run—lost in fear, with no end in sight.
Now, he finally had a second chance.
"You're too generous," Alex replied lightly. "Honestly, I didn't do anything extraordinary. Even without me, I believe someone with your intelligence and determination would've eventually gained control over the Hulk."
Alex recalled how the movie version of Bruce Banner eventually learned to coexist with the Hulk—after years of trials and failures. That process had taken over a decade. All he had done was use the system's power to speed things up a bit.
Besides, this version of Banner was different from his comic counterpart. The comic iteration was tormented by multiple personalities, with various alter-egos battling for dominance, which complicated his efforts to control the Hulk.
In this real-world version, though the Hulk was still a formidable force, at least there were no other personalities warring inside Banner's mind. That made the road to control much smoother.
"I still want to thank you," Banner said with a faint hint of embarrassment. "You took me in when I had nowhere else to go."
He remembered the time S.H.I.E.L.D. launched a covert assault on Hell's Kitchen. Though he hadn't participated willingly—and the mission didn't cause significant damage—he still felt guilty. Especially after seeing how S.H.I.E.L.D. discarded him, like a weapon past its usefulness.
"I honestly don't know how to repay you. Just say the word—whatever you need, I'm there," Banner offered earnestly.
Alex smiled, waving off the sentiment. "You don't owe me anything, Banner. I didn't help you out of obligation. I did it because I saw your potential."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone more casual. "You're not someone who thrives on violence. You prefer using your brain to help others. That's something I deeply respect. So how about this—stay on at the school and help teach the kids? They need your knowledge more than I do."
Banner was stunned. A warm feeling flooded his chest. He hadn't expected such high regard from Alex—let alone an invitation to become a mentor.
"Thank you, Alex. I'll give it everything I've got," Banner replied solemnly.
Just then, a sudden system notification echoed in Alex's mind:
"Congratulations, host. Bruce Banner's friendship level has increased to three stars."
"Congratulations, host. Bruce Banner's friendship level has reached maximum (six stars)."
"Congratulations, host. Bruce Banner has become a family member."
"Congratulations, host. You have acquired all of Bruce Banner's skills."
The moment the prompts ended, Alex could feel a distinct surge in physical power. Simultaneously, something foreign began to form in the depths of his consciousness—a new personality.
Without hesitation, Alex activated his telepathy, immediately targeting the forming personality and wiping it out.
He had no intention of sharing his body with a secondary entity. He wasn't like Banner. He wouldn't tolerate another mind trying to coexist inside him.
After pouring his full mental focus into the task, he finally succeeded in erasing the nascent persona.
Only then did he let out a breath of relief.
Banner, noticing Alex's closed eyes and tense expression, asked with concern, "Mr. Ray, are you okay?"
Alex opened his eyes and smiled faintly. "It's nothing—just a minor hiccup. Everything's fine now. How about staying for a meal? There's still a lot of academic ground I'd love to cover with you."
"No problem at all. I'd be honored."
Meanwhile, inside S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters...
"He handled the Abomination without even stepping in personally," Director Alexander Pierce said through clenched teeth, rubbing his temple in frustration. "It's clear Hell's Kitchen has become even more dangerous. If this continues, no one will be able to stop it. So—what's our next move?"
Though he kept a calm facade, the agents around him could feel the simmering fury beneath his words.
Now Pierce finally understood what Nick Fury had meant. Hell's Kitchen was a nightmare—a powder keg ready to ignite.
No one dared speak. The atmosphere in the room was suffocating. One wrong word, and they'd be on the receiving end of Pierce's wrath.
Suddenly, an unnatural ripple surged through the air at the center of the conference room.
Pierce and the surrounding agents immediately looked up—just in time to see a shimmering wall of gray light manifest before them.
Gasps echoed across the room.
Not a single person could believe it—S.H.I.E.L.D., one of the most secure places on Earth, had been breached.
The agents instinctively drew their weapons, aiming at the mysterious portal with military precision.
But before they could engage, two figures stepped out of the spatial rift.
One led the way—a tall, slender man in an elegant, dark green robe. He carried himself with the haughty arrogance of a king surveying peasants.
Behind him was a man wielding a strange, high-tech blue firearm, strolling forward without a care in the world.
Pierce's expression turned cold the moment he saw them.
The robed man raised his chin and addressed the room in a grand, theatrical voice.
"Mortals," he announced, eyes locked on Pierce, "from this moment forward, your authority here is meaningless. Allow me to introduce myself—"
He stepped forward with a proud smirk.
"I'm Loki from Asgard and I have a glorious Purpose."
"I carry a divine mission your feeble minds couldn't possibly comprehend."
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Bonus Chapter - 150 Power Stones
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