Chapter 155: Hulk Hates Roundabout Talk
The instant golden vertical pupils blazed to life, dark green scales rapidly spread across Professor Connors' body surface. His entire skeleton cracked and popped, spine extending section by section, claws and fangs emerging sharply.
"Damn hairless ape! Stupid big meat lump!"
The Lizard Professor roared furiously, directly launching an attack on the Hulk.
Batman didn't stop the Lizard Professor. He wanted to observe how much Professor Connors' diligently practiced emotional control abilities could actually influence the post-transformation Lizard.
And quite importantly—after Batman had provided the Hulk with sufficient emotional validation, would this green giant still be easily provoked by the Lizard Professor?
Before departing for New Mexico, Batman needed to ensure the three scientists on North Brother Island could mutually balance each other after his departure, rather than chaos erupting the moment he left.
Batman's manufacturing of armor and tentacles for Doctor Octavius was based on precisely this consideration.
The Lizard Professor clearly still resented last transformation when the Hulk had brutally torn off his tail. Golden vertical pupils locked onto the Hulk, one claw striking downward directly at him.
Facing the Lizard Professor's claw, the Hulk snorted through his nose. One fist directly met the attack, mouth simultaneously taunting the Lizard Professor.
"Stupid crawling monster."
BOOM!
Fist and claw collided. The laboratory immediately generated a powerful gust of wind, blowing the curtains separating different areas into billowing waves.
Fortunately, most experimental equipment had undergone special processing—either with wheels underneath for mobility or reinforced and secured in place. Currently no laboratory instruments were sent flying.
Two scientists friendly during human form had now transformed into monsters. Doctor Octavius also had no choice but to set aside the nuclear fusion experimental research he'd been eager to conduct.
Except unlike previous transformations when Octavius had avoided them like the plague, currently Doctor Octavius radiated confidence throughout his entire body. He no longer quietly retreated backward, instead standing in place with arms crossed watching the Lizard Professor.
Behind him, tentacles quietly extended, planting into the floor, allowing Doctor Octavius to remain completely motionless despite the powerful wind generated by the Hulk and Lizard Professor's collision.
"ROAR!" The Lizard Professor bellowed angrily. He was clearly quite dissatisfied with the Hulk's nickname for him. "I am a perfectly evolved product, you juvenile frog."
"Last time you broke my tail. This time I'll sever your arm, make you—"
The Lizard Professor's words were interrupted by the Hulk.
"Crybaby bug, come on!"
In the Hulk's view, the Lizard Professor dwelling on the broken tail incident equaled "crying."
The Lizard Professor jumped in furious rage. He suddenly leaped onto the laboratory ceiling crawling along it, one tail viciously whipping toward the Hulk.
Compared to the Lizard Professor's constant cursing and taunting, currently the Hulk wasn't provoked at all—instead appearing somewhat smug.
"Crybaby bug! Broken tail bug!"
Speaking, another punch sent the Lizard Professor's tail smashing aside.
Batman silently watched these two monsters attacking each other while simultaneously giving each other nicknames, beginning to wonder whether the Lizard Professor's intelligence had been influenced by the Hulk.
If one closed their eyes, filtered out the heavy thuds of fists colliding and whooshing wind sounds, ignored the Lizard's hissing and Hulk's roaring, listening only to their dialogue might even create the illusion of "two mischievous children bickering."
Compared to Batman's silence, Doctor Octavius—with his mental state considerably relaxed—even watched the Hulk and Lizard Professor with interest, asking Batman:
"Batman, aren't you going to stop them?"
Batman looked toward Doctor Octavius.
"This task should be yours, Doctor."
During the brief seconds both men spoke, facing another tail whip attack from the Lizard Professor, the Hulk simply grabbed the tail. The enraged Lizard Professor thrashed his tail wildly.
"Don't grab my tail, goblin!"
CRASH!
While speaking, the Lizard Professor's tail smashed through the laboratory ceiling. The Hulk was also flung skyward.
Correspondingly, the airborne Hulk once again tore off the Lizard Professor's tail, clutching the constantly struggling severed tail and crashing back into the laboratory with another thunderous impact, smashing a deep crater in the floor.
HISS!
The constantly struggling lizard tail was casually tossed by the Hulk toward Doctor Octavius.
Doctor Octavius reacted swiftly, extending tentacles from behind to catch it.
"Hulk not goblin!" The Hulk roared furiously in place. Midway through his roar, looking at the Lizard Professor's tailless rear, he suddenly burst out laughing. "Big lizard lost tail again."
"They'll cause more laboratory damage if they continue. Doctor Octavius, stop them," Batman said.
Beside Batman, Doctor Octavius acknowledged. Four tentacles behind him suddenly bent, catapulting Doctor Octavius's body airborne in one swift motion.
THWIP! THWIP!
Airborne, Doctor Octavius's two tentacles separately grabbed the Lizard Professor and Hulk's heads, while the other two tentacles waved wildly behind him.
"Stop!"
"Don't make trouble, Octopus." The Hulk looked unhappily at Doctor Octavius. One hand grabbed the tentacle on his head, preparing to fling Doctor Octavius away.
But the second before the Hulk grabbed the tentacle, Doctor Octavius released him. His entire body suspended midair, four tentacles separately grasping the Lizard Professor's four limbs.
"Professor Connors, calm down! Remember what you learned during this time. Control your rationality. Don't be driven by instinct!"
Compared to the Hulk, the Lizard Professor was clearly the more unstable one.
"HISS..."
Fine sounds emerged from the Lizard Professor's severed tail site. A new tail rapidly grew out.
"I am a perfectly evolved new species. No matter how many tails you break, I'll grow them back."
The Lizard Professor first addressed the Hulk coldly, then prepared to violently shake himself, flinging Doctor Octavius away.
But Doctor Octavius's words continuously entered the Lizard Professor's mind.
"Connors! Look at your hands! You're a scientist, but your evolution is regressing you into a primitive animal!"
"Curt Connors—where did that man who vowed to use regeneration technology saving countless lives go?"
The Hulk curled his lips, muttering quietly from the side.
"Hulk hates this roundabout talk most. He's just a crazy big lizard now."
Doctor Octavius waved repeatedly at the Hulk, signaling him not to speak yet. He was currently working hard helping Professor Connors recover rationality—at minimum preventing the lizard brain from controlling him.
"Hulk, I'll be departing for a while. I need you guarding this place well." Batman came to the Hulk's side. "Your power is my trump card. I know you haven't deployed full strength at all."
Batman's opening words still prioritized giving the Hulk sufficient emotional validation, treating him as an independent personality without mentioning Banner whatsoever.
This approach clearly proved quite effective for the Hulk. He immediately patted his chest guaranteeing:
"Don't worry, little bat."
***
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