General Ross stared at the screen in front of him, then glanced over at Bruce Banner in handcuffs. His headache was growing by the second.
Catching Banner had already been a massive ordeal, and now this. A new monster, possibly even more terrifying than the Hulk, was tearing through New York.
It looked similar enough to be related.
Damn it. This was probably the result of his own experiments. And if he didn't stop it soon, it was going to turn into a PR nightmare, and maybe a body count.
Ross frowned and began barking orders, scrambling to coordinate his forces on the ground. Take the monster down, or die trying.
…
Meanwhile, Banner had also seen the creature through the helicopter's reinforced window.
One glance was all he needed.
"That thing… it was made using my blood," he muttered grimly.
He knew it in his gut. And he also knew something else: the army wouldn't stand a chance against such a monster.
Despite his reluctance, the familiar thought crept into his mind, should he become the Hulk again?
He clenched his jaw, torn between dread and duty. But before he could voice his decision, something strange caught his eye.
A flicker of dark red flames appeared not far from the Abomination.
He leaned forward to get a better look.
What he saw made his blood run cold.
From the flames emerged a creature even more terrifying than the first, a monstrous, three-headed dog, easily four times larger than the Abomination. Its entire body was completely covered in hellfire.
"What the hell is that?" Banner whispered.
But he had no answers. Only more questions. The Abomination was bad enough. But now this?
How were they supposed to fight both?
…
General Ross overheard Banner's muttering and turned sharply to the screen. Through the smoke and chaos, a monstrous silhouette emerged; massive, flaming, and utterly inhuman.
He grabbed the radio. "Ground unit, report! What the hell is going on down there?"
On the ground, a soldier stared at the distant three-headed beast, his face pale with dread.
Hearing the General's voice in his earpiece, he replied in a shaky voice, "General… there's another one. It's even bigger, much bigger. And looks like it came straight out of hell…"
He wasn't exaggerating.
Even from hundreds of meters away, the air was scorching. The soldier was certain that just being close to that thing could burn him alive.
…
Back in the helicopter, Ross's face darkened.
The Abomination was one thing, it was ugly, terrifying, and deadly, but at least it could be explained. Science gone wrong. A misused serum.
But this thing? A flaming, three-headed demon dog?
That wasn't in any of the files. He had absolutely no idea how to handle such a thing.
For a long moment, no one spoke. Then, it was Banner who broke the silence.
His voice was quiet, but resolute. "Open the door. Let me down."
Ross turned to him sharply. "Are you serious?"
"You can't stop either of them," Bruce replied. "You need the Hulk."
There was a hint of despair in his eyes, because he knew that even the Hulk might not be enough. But doing nothing wasn't an option, not in his mind.
Betty Ross, sitting across from him, looked horrified. "Bruce, no. You can't go down there. You'll die!"
Bruce turned to her gently. "I have to try."
Ross looked at him for a long moment. His expression was conflicted; half anger, half resignation.
"You think you can take them both?"
Bruce stared him down calmly. "Do you have a better idea?"
Ross hesitated. He had just gotten reports from the soldiers: The green monster is impervious to bullets. Even high-caliber rounds were completely useless.
And the flaming dog? No one had even dared get close.
He gritted his teeth. "Open the door."
The helicopter's side hatch groaned as it slid open, revealing the city below; chaotic, burning, and full of screams.
Bruce stood near the edge, gathering his courage. His fingers trembled slightly as he steadied himself.
He was ready to jump. But just before he could…
"Bruce, wait!" Betty shouted, pointing at the battlefield. "Look, they're fighting each other!"
…