In the Administration training ground, the air felt thick, heavy, almost solid. Elenora, Aldice, and the rest stood frozen, their faces a mixture of awe and disbelief. Even among the superhumans of the Terra Federation, the Hulk's devastating punch was beyond comprehension.
A strained, wry smile tugged at Elenora's lips, "I'm afraid… he could crush me with just one finger."
The others exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions equally stunned. All eyes turned to Kasey. Earlier, they had overheard his conversation with Luois about a mysterious powerhouse capable of obliterating such a monster in one strike. Kasey had even called him "grandfather."
Noël, the former record-breaking contender, raised a brow, his tone teasing, "Little brother, people should keep their word."
He smirked. "We all heard you."
Kasey's face twisted with frustration. The Hulk's raw strength had left him reeling, and Noël's jab made it worse. His expression flushed green with irritation.
"Brother!" Louis chuckled, tapping his own head. "You're about to turn into the Hulk yourself."
"Damn you!" Kasey snapped, chopping Louis on the head.
He lifted his chin defiantly. "Go ahead, shout it! Don't say 'grandpa', these people are from Terra's ancient Earth era. Who knows how many centuries it's been?"
He shrugged. "Calling them ancestors wouldn't even be an exaggeration."
For a moment, everyone paused. After thinking about it, they had to admit he was right.
Kasey ignored their reactions, his thoughts racing. If he and his shadow clones attacked together, could they achieve the same results?
After a moment's heavy silence, Kasey exhaled deeply. He had already calculated countless scenarios in his mind.
"All outcomes… lead to me being reduced to powder," he muttered bitterly, "Even a clone wouldn't last a second. It'd be crushed instantly."
His voice cracked, "This thing… this monster… It's beyond anything I've ever imagined."
His heart felt heavy. The strength of Terra's ancient Earth warriors was overwhelming. Why were they so powerful? It was maddening.
"Ancestors," he whispered, rubbing his temples. "You've left no room for your descendants to show off."
Kasey had once fantasized about revealing his true power before the Federation, imagining the awe and admiration it would bring. Now, all that glory was stolen by these ancient heroes who casually shattered expectations.
He could already imagine the comparisons: "Yo, Kasey's amazing, took down a wild boar with a single punch. Tsk tsk. But Banner? He obliterated a biological battleship weighing dozens of tons in one strike!"
Kasey sighed deeply, "Hey! There's no sense of achievement left in having supernatural power anymore."
He scowled. "Bad review."
The training grounds weren't the only place stunned into silence. Ashton's team was equally dumbfounded. Several of his companions were practically glued to the screen, eyes wide as they replayed the Hulk's punch over and over.
Moments ago, they were discussing ways to engineer genetic fragments comparable to Asgard. Now, their research felt laughable. The Hulk's display had nearly driven these scientists to tears.
Ashton's breathing slowed as he forced himself out of his shock. His eyes were bloodshot as he spoke with conviction, "The Hulk… absolutely has the physique of a god."
Heads nodded in agreement.
One researcher added, "I swear he wasn't this strong before. This punch… the destructive force is insane. Before, he just smashed buildings. Now I wouldn't be surprised if he could kill gods outright!"
Ashton furrowed his brows but nodded slightly, "He may not yet have the strength to slay a god, but… if he continues to grow at this rate, it's highly probable he will."
The room grew heavy with that thought. It seemed humanity's perceived upper limit of potential had been shattered once again. This team of Avengers had already changed the world's understanding of power. Yet it was still the legendary warriors of Earth's distant past who shattered even those expectations. A strange mix of awe and unease filled the hearts of everyone watching.
Ashton's gaze sharpened on the screen. A sudden realization struck him, and he turned to the group, "We're still missing something."
One of his peers blinked in confusion. "Mr. Ashton, we're missing a lot right now."
Rolling his eyes, Ashton clarified, "I'm talking about the need for a standardized power system."
The room fell quiet. No one understood at first, so Ashton elaborated, "We're now seeing multiple individuals of immense power from the Earth era. Their strength varies wildly, with no framework to classify them. I believe we need to create a scale, a formal ranking system for abilities. First-class, second-class… one star, two stars, something like that."
The others exchanged glances, the idea sinking in.
"If completed, such a system would revolutionize how we measure and understand strength," someone said slowly.
"But it won't be easy. We lack energy-level detection methods."
"Indeed," another agreed. "Even if we design it, it won't be practical right now."
Ashton said nothing, but determination burned in his eyes. He knew this was the key. The Terra Federation needed a universal standard for power classification, not just for today, but for the future.
He didn't yet realize how profound this idea would become. This single thought would shape the Terra Federation's destiny, preventing a catastrophic event that could have shaken the planet to its core.
In the Chief's office, all earlier panic was gone. The director clenched his fists, grinning with unrestrained excitement, oblivious to the experts watching him. He practically leaped into the air, "Well done, Banner!"
His greatest fear, eradicated. Relief flooded him.
Beside him, in the holographic projection, Tonio spoke with awe, "Hulk's power level is unquestionably beyond anything we'd seen before. It's… inconceivable. The energy buried within him is monstrous."
Everyone murmured in agreement. The earlier display had stunned them into silence. For a brief moment, they imagined themselves in the Hulk's place… only to shudder. They would have been torn apart instantly.
Even Xiaotian, normally quick-witted, was left speechless. His lips trembled as he muttered, "With Hulk and Tony working together… these monsters don't stand a chance."
The tension briefly eased, drawing a few chuckles. But the smiles faded quickly as the live feed continued.
The director's hands lowered, his expression hardening.
"It's not over yet," he said grimly, "The war's only heating up."
Over 200 million viewers, still reeling from the excitement moments ago, were now glued to their screens, their anxiety palpable.
[ After the massive mechanical battleship was destroyed by Banner and Tony, Chitauri monsters clung to buildings, shrieking in fury. ]
[ The Hulk roared back, feral and unstoppable. Tony, Rogers, Black Widow, Hulk, Thor, and Hawkeye regrouped, the entire Avengers team framed in one breathtaking shot. ]
"Wow! I'm going to cry!"
"They're all fighting together!"
"I can't stand to see any of them die!"
"They're the bravest people alive, even Barton!"
"Black Widow's so beautiful… I'm crying!"
"They have to win this! I swear it!"
"I love them. The Earth era's future is in their hands."
[ Above, Loki, aboard the aircraft, gave a chilling command: "Release the rest." ]
[ The glowing cube's stabilized portal expanded suddenly, and a thunderous roar erupted from within. A second monstrous battleship, identical to the first, emerged from the rift. ]
[ A wave of dread swept across the skies as countless people watched, their hearts sinking. ]
"F**k! It's endless!"
"Why are there more?!"
"Can Dr. Banner even throw another punch like that?!"
"A few more hits from him and Tony, and we're good!"
"Damn you, Loki!"
The chat erupted with panic. The battlefield was now teeming with reinforcements.
The director and his staff grew grim. Even if Hulk dismantled each of these behemoths, the destruction they caused would be catastrophic. They had to act fast.
[ The Avengers looked skyward. Widow's voice rang out, sharp and commanding, "Everyone!" ]
[ "On it, Captain!" she barked. ]
[ Rogers stepped forward, his tone steady and authoritative, "Listen up! Until that portal is closed, our top priority is to hold this line!" ]
[ He pointed. "Hawkeye, take the building next door. Track their formation and snipe their soldiers." ]
[ "Tony, block anyone within three blocks, send them packing, or take them down!" ]
[ "Need a lift?" Hawkeye asked. ]
[ "No problem," Tony said, grabbing him by the arm and rocketing skyward. ]
[ "Thor," Rogers continued, "get up there and stall that portal. Bring the storm down on them. You can control lightning, use it." ]
He turned to Black Widow. "You and I stay here. We hold the ground." ]
Finally, he looked to Banner. "Hulk... smash" ]
[ The Hulk answered a guttural roar and then, with a smile, before leaping into the fray, shredding Chitauri warriors like paper. ]
"Damn, Rogers is smooth. Total pro."
"Men have fought in countless wars. He knows this stuff."
"The Hulk, though… that is carnage in motion."
"Hulk: 'Smash'? Oh, gladly."
"Captain of the Demolition Squad is online!"
"That smile though… terrifying."
"When the Hulk grins, lives are in danger."
"Saboteur supreme!"
"Haha! I can't stop laughing at this chaos."
Every Hulk appearance stunned viewers, a mix of awe and hilarity.
The feed shifted.
[ Thor spun his hammer, launching himself to a lightning rod. The hammer pulsed, lightning crackling around him. The sky darkened ominously. Thunder roared, bolts forming into searing beams. Electricity coursed down the spire as Thor roared, summoning a cataclysmic storm. ]
[ Lightning rained upon the portal, vaporizing Chitauri ships as they emerged. Explosions filled the sky, fragments falling like deadly fireworks. ]
"Thor is insane! That storm!"
"Thor-branded lightning rod!"
"Thunder, smash the darkness!"
"They're dropping like flies! YES!"
"Too bad it won't close the portal."
"Hulk is still the strongest, though. Undisputed."
"Thor's like Sikong Zhen from that old game!"
"Thor: electrocuting himself for justice!"
"Why hasn't he fried Loki yet?"
"So badass!"
Suddenly, the feed jolted, cutting to the aircraft carrier's command deck.
[ Fury watched the chaos unfold via satellite. ]
[ "Director," Hill said as she approached, "the council is requesting a connection." ]
Confusion rippled through the audience.
In the Supreme Court, several elders exchanged wary glances.
Elder Gladwin's voice was low. "The council… are they the same ones who appeared earlier in holographic fragments?"
"They seemed opposed to Fury's Avengers initiative," another murmured.
Hyeon's face hardened. "They're up to something. I can feel it. Irresponsible officials like that… why are they still in power?!"
The elders had long stood at the peak of authority. They didn't need much to piece things together. This wasn't a simple check-in. The administration wasn't just calling to say hello.
Meanwhile, on the Network, activity metrics in the Immortal Warrior world surged violently. Hundreds of millions of engagement points skyrocketed in real time as the war escalated.