Chapter 2: Allspark Awakening (Revised)
If the Hulk could barely be considered humanoid, the Abomination was a complete monster. Its size was no less than the Hulk's, with hideous bone-spikes spreading from its spine. Its face was ugly and wicked, saliva slowly dribbling from the corners of its gaping maw, dripping onto the ground, causing people to scream in despair.
The birth of the Abomination could be said to be a coincidence, as there happened to be a soldier named Blonsky who had an extraordinary pursuit of power. He was shaken by the Hulk's strength and risked his life to inject the Hulk Serum.
However, its birth could also be said to be intentional on the part of the Military. The Military hoped to recreate Captain America's miracle and create stronger, more controllable super soldiers, rather than failures like the Hulk.
So they successfully created another failure using the Hulk's Serum.
The consequences were disastrous. Two immensely powerful and tough monsters engaged in a continuous blood war on the streets of New York, clashing for half a day. The two monsters remained unharmed, but buildings, cars, and other structures could not withstand that level of power, suffering extensive damage. Countless unprepared civilians were killed and injured.
The army dared not use heavy weapons, or they would destroy the city. Damage to buildings was a minor issue; mass casualties were the real problem, and all the military leaders involved would face a court-martial.
Most importantly, heavy weapons were useless. Even missiles couldn't kill these two monsters. Theoretically, aside from nuclear weapons and large-yield thermobaric bombs, ordinary methods were of little use against the Hulk and the Abomination.
People in the distance climbed tall buildings, watching the destructive battle with telescopes. Even more fearless reporters stirred up trouble, urging helicopters to fly closer for their live broadcasts.
"What exactly are these two monsters? Does anyone know? I'll give a large sum of money as a reward."
"They must be the product of some research institution."
"I've seen reports about that green guy before; it's some kind of experimental monster the army has been chasing."
"The military is incompetent, wasting taxpayer money. What good is an army like this?"
Others felt these monsters were too terrifying. Human-made weapons were mainly for fighting humans, not monsters. It was difficult for humans to defeat them with conventional weapons.
"There are still civilians trapped over there," someone said worriedly.
The Hulk and the Abomination crashed into each other again, unleashing a deafening roar. These two monsters had no combat skills, nor did they need any; the greater their rage, the greater their power, negating the need for skill. Brute force was enough to solve any problem.
After several consecutive punches, the Hulk was knocked to the ground, and large cracks spread across the pavement.
The Abomination roared, screaming wildly: "Hulk, I'm stronger than you now! This time, it's your turn to die!"
Before the experiment, he had participated in the pursuit of the Hulk as an elite soldier, but failed, and was swatted away by the Hulk, nearly dying. This time, he transformed into a monster for revenge.
Tony hid behind the overturned pickup truck, his ears bleeding and ringing, his hearing damaged. The shockwaves unleashed by two monsters whose punches started at a hundred tons were catastrophic; glass and bricks shattered at a touch, like paper, let alone the flesh and blood of mortals.
The middle-aged man also bled from both ears and simply fainted.
Tony struggled to keep his eyes open, seeing a couple lying in the pickup truck's cab, their necks broken, clearly beyond saving. Before setting out, his parents had put him in the truck bed to watch over the cargo, which was why Tony had escaped death, though he was severely injured from the fall.
Pain and despair. He gasped rapidly, his vision blurry, a bitter smile on his face. He had been a dead man, reborn into another life, thinking it would be fulfilling, only to find his family destroyed again. A conflict at the Hulk's level was something ordinary people simply couldn't get involved in; not only were his parents caught in the crossfire and killed, but he himself would die.
The battle between the two monsters, even their casual collateral damage, caused deaths. Tony didn't know when he would die, perhaps in the next second.
Tony gently touched his truck, his last emotional anchor. It was the fruit of his family's struggles, their very lifeblood, and the most important thing for their family of three to sustain their lives in this world. Now, it was battered and broken, as close to death as he was. It seemed the three of them and the truck were all destined to die together.
He wanted to crawl over, to get close and see his deceased parents from this life, but he couldn't move.
"It's over! The end of the world! We're all going to die!" A survivor, with a broken leg and bleeding, collapsed emotionally.
Nothing was left. If Tony had been poor to begin with, it would have been one thing, but to gain and then suddenly lose everything was the most agonizing. The disaster had come too abruptly, so abruptly that Tony hadn't even had time to implement many of his ideas.
Now, there was nothing.
Tony looked at the two monsters. The battle between them had destroyed too much, and more importantly, shattered the dreams of countless innocent people.
Fear and sorrow pierced his tattered heart, death plucked at his soul. In the darkness, something terrifying seemed to have been triggered.
Unwillingness gradually filled his will. With a crisp 'crack,' a certain shackle was broken, and the monster within him awoke, unleashed.
Tony touched the truck. The battered old pickup seemed to generate heat, or perhaps it was an illusion. Tony felt that this truck belonged to him; since his parents' passing, it should rightfully be his. This feeling was so intense that something mysterious in his brain flowed through his hands into the truck. He felt the truck was his, and even more, an extension of his power and will.
"The green guy is losing! It's too weak, no match for the grey monster!" A military reporter on the helicopter said into his mic.
The old general's expression was grave, laden with deep regret, and finally, utterly dejected. "Pilot, let's get out of here. Take Betty away; it's not safe here."
"No, Father, he just received the injection, he's still in a weakened state!" A girl pleaded, tugging at the general's arm.
Her name was Betty Ross, Dr. Banner's girlfriend. But Banner, during an experiment, was exposed to a large dose of gamma rays, causing a mutation that transformed him into the Hulk, an irrational beast.
Suddenly, a soldier pointed, trembling, at a spot and shouted excitedly, "Look, what the hell is that?!"
In the night, clear sounds pierced through the air, sounding like some large machinery in operation. But this place was already surrounded by the army, so where were these sounds coming from?
The helicopter's spotlight illuminated the area, and people looked on, dumbfounded, as if witnessing the birth of a new demon.
Where the light fell, astonishing changes were taking place!
A battered pickup truck, originally unremarkable, was rapidly reassembling itself. The entire body split into interconnected parts, and these parts then recombined, transforming the truck's shape at an astonishing speed.
Finally, a humanoid robot stood tall. Beside it was a slightly diminutive figure, Tony, struggling to stand. He forced his eyes wide open, the rage and hatred in his chest threatening to consume him.
The vehicle was called Optimus Prime, a name he had chosen himself. It was an extension of his belief and will, and ultimately accompanied him from his previous life to this one!
The diminutive figure stood there, seemingly insignificant, yet for some unknown reason, an invisible force swept over. Everyone who looked at him felt a giant mountain pressing on their chest, making them gasp for breath, almost suffocating. Their bodies trembled, and their souls seemed to shake, wanting to collapse to the ground.
Sand and stones flew, the earth trembled, wails echoed ceaselessly. Astonishing fluctuations swept in all directions, surging massively across the world, stunning everyone!
This was the roar of will!
In Westchester, New York, at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Professor X suddenly opened his eyes, his brow furrowing slightly.
(end of chapter)