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"According to satellite heat signatures, Banner's cabin is about two kilometers ahead, down in that valley."
Clint checked a tiny screen on his wrist, bow resting across his lap.
"Last military sweep was three days ago. He should still be there."
Adam pulled his gaze back from the window. "You guys sure about this? Pissing off the Hulk isn't exactly a great idea."
"Fury's orders." Natasha said, turning the steering wheel sharply onto a dirt road nearly hidden by overgrown weeds.
"And we've got you with us, don't we? Mr. 'Former Strongest Human.'"
The car went quiet for a moment. Adam's mouth twitched. "That title's old news."
The vehicle jolted as it hit a bump. A run-down wooden cabin came into view through the trees, thin smoke curling out of the chimney.
"We're here."
Natasha killed the engine. The three of them automatically began checking their gear.
Clint slung his quiver over his back. Adam simply adjusted his jacket—he never needed weapons.
The grassy clearing in front of the cabin was overgrown. A squirrel, startled by their presence, darted up a nearby pine tree.
Natasha led the way, motioning for the others to hang back.
She knocked gently on the cabin door. A crash came from inside, like someone had just panicked and knocked something over.
"Who is it?" Banner's raspy voice came through the door.
"Dr. Banner, this is Natasha Romanoff from S.H.I.E.L.D. We're not here to hurt you. We just want to talk."
After a long pause, the door cracked open slightly.
Banner's tired face appeared in the gap, his bloodshot eyes behind smudged glasses."S.H.I.E.L.D.? What's the difference between you and the military?"
Natasha offered a calming smile. "Big difference. We're not here to capture you—we're here to help."
Banner's eyes shifted past her to the two figures behind her, stopping on Adam for a few seconds."You bring armed backup to offer help? That's thoughtful."
"Just a precaution, Doc," Clint shrugged.
"We all know your 'friend' inside doesn't exactly have the best temper."
Banner's frown deepened, but he stepped aside. "Five minutes. Then you leave."
Inside the cabin, it was simple but tidy. The walls were plastered with handwritten formulas and diagrams.
A small generator buzzed in the corner, powering a few rough-looking instruments.
Banner gestured for them to sit, while he leaned against the desk, keeping a healthy distance.
"Alright, just say it—what do you want?" he asked bluntly.
Natasha leaned forward. "A research position, a secure place to live, and when necessary—your help. Or, if you're willing, join the Avengers Initiative like us."
"Help?"
Banner gave them a flat look. "You mean you want to turn me into a weapon."
"No. We mean a backup plan."
Adam spoke up, voice calm and low."People like Superman are becoming more common. The world needs balance."
Banner's pupils contracted slightly. "You've seen him? That guy in the black suit, flying around?"
"Fury has," Clint cut in."And he's teamed up with Stark. That's why Fury thinks it's time to build his own safety net."
Banner tapped his fingers on the desk, clearly agitated."I'll be honest—I'm not interested."
"Even if I did agree, how could you guarantee the military won't come after me again? General Ross treats me like his personal white whale."
"Fury has his ways," Natasha replied confidently."He got a special order from the President—everything about you is now classified and sealed."
Banner suddenly stood up and began pacing the small room.
"You don't get it. This isn't about legal protection. The Hulk's getting harder to control. Last time I transformed, I nearly killed a whole squad of soldiers."
His voice trembled.
"I can't take that risk!"
Adam instantly noticed his breathing becoming erratic, fingers twitching—signs of an incoming transformation.
"Doctor, take it easy." Adam stood, hands raised gently.
"Breathe. Slowly."
But it was already too late.
Banner doubled over in pain, an unnatural green tint spreading beneath his skin."Go… You have to… leave…"
The air inside the cabin felt like it froze.
Natasha and Clint quickly backed off, while Adam stepped in front of them, glowing with a swirling blue energy.
"ROAARRR!!!"
With a deafening roar, Banner's body began to swell and twist. His clothes tore apart as the Hulk burst out!
The cabin exploded under the massive shockwave—splinters and shards of glass flying everywhere!
Natasha flipped backward out of the danger zone. Clint already had an arrow nocked and drawn."Dr. Banner! Calm down!"
But all he got in return was a massive green fist hurtling toward him like a freight train!
BOOM!!!
Adam stepped in, both arms raised to block. He took the punch head-on, the compressed air around them exploding with a deafening crack!
A barrier of glowing blue antimatter energy formed in front of him.
KRAKOOOM!!!
The moment their powers collided, a shockwave rippled out like a sphere. Trees within a hundred meters were torn from the ground, and the earth cracked like shattered glass.
Adam's feet sank deep into the ground, and he skidded back more than ten meters before he finally managed to stop.
"This guy's strength… it's not normal!" Adam gritted his teeth, a flicker of shock in his eyes.
"ROAAAARRR!!!"
Hulk threw his head back and roared. His muscles swelled visibly, veins bulging, and the fury in his eyes felt almost tangible.
He slammed the ground, causing it to cave in beneath him, then launched himself at Adam like a human missile!
"Watch out!" Natasha yelled from the distance."Hulk's totally lost control!"
Clint fired off a few tranquilizer arrows, but they just bounced right off Hulk's skin like pebbles.
"Damn it! His defense is even tougher now!"
In the middle of the battlefield, Hulk and Adam clashed again!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Each time they struck, the sound was like thunder, and the shockwaves pulverized the surrounding rocks into dust.
Adam kept hammering Hulk with antimatter blasts, but they barely left scorch marks—and even those vanished in seconds as Hulk's body healed itself instantly.
"No way…!" Adam was stunned.
His antimatter could take down a mountain, and it was barely scratching Hulk?!
And Hulk was just getting stronger with every passing second—his rage feeding his power like fuel on a fire.
BAM!
A brutal punch slipped through Adam's defense and slammed into his chest!
Cough!
Adam flew backward, crashing through three trees before he finally came to a stop.
"Adam!" Natasha called out in alarm. She glanced at Hulk but didn't dare move closer.
But Hulk didn't chase him. He stood still, pounding his fists against his chest as he roared loud enough to shake the sky!
His muscle density kept shifting, his skin turning a darker, unnatural shade of green—and there was even a faint red glow beginning to show through.
"He's… evolving…" Clint said grimly."His rage pushed him past his limit!"
Adam quickly got back on his feet, brushing the dirt off. His eyes burned with renewed focus.
"This guy's power is off the charts. I've gotta finish this fast."
He took a deep breath as the antimatter energy inside him surged to its peak. His entire body lit up with a deep blue glow.
WHOOSH!
In a flash, Adam broke the sound barrier, leaving a trail of sonic booms in his wake as he charged straight at Hulk!
BOOOOM!!!
This time, his punch landed square on Hulk's chin. The impact actually knocked Hulk backward!
But he recovered almost instantly and swung back with a massive hook, smashing Adam straight into the ground!
WHAM!
The earth trembled, dust shooting into the air!
Adam leapt out of the crater and charged right back in. He and Hulk collided again and again in a frenzy of blows.
They moved so fast they blurred—only a streak of blue and a blur of green clashing through the forest!
Trees toppled like dominoes. Boulders were reduced to powder. The whole forest groaned under the chaos of their fight.
"We've gotta do something!" Natasha shouted, her voice filled with urgency.
Clint quickly swapped arrows. "I'll try a sonic arrow—might mess with his head!"
He drew his bow tight and aimed at Hulk's back.
WHOOSH!
The arrow tore through the air, and just before hitting Hulk, it exploded in a shrieking sonic blast!
ROAAAARRR!!!
Hulk clutched his ears in pain, his movements stalling for just a second.
Adam seized the moment and landed a powerful uppercut, sending Hulk flying!
"Nice one!" he shouted.
But in the next instant, Hulk's rage kicked up another notch!
"HULK… IS ANGRY!!!"
His furious roar echoed through the battlefield. His eyes turned blood-red, and his muscles swelled to a point where they looked ready to burst!
"This is bad! He's even angrier now!" Clint's face turned pale.
With a thunderous stomp, Hulk sent shockwaves rippling through the ground like waves. The blast launched Clint and Natasha into the air!
Adam quickly flew in to catch them, but Hulk was already charging in like a storm!
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Three punches in a row—Adam's defenses were totally crushed. His antimatter shield shattered!
"Ugh—!"
He was blasted away again, slamming into the mountainside and getting buried under a pile of rubble.
But Hulk wasn't done. He leapt high into the air, hands clenched together, and came crashing down toward where Adam had fallen!
"....."