But that wasn't all. General Ross barked another order:
"Block all messages! Destroy every operation record!
Everything that happened here today is to rot inside me! Anyone who leaks a word will face court-martial!
Everything about Hulk… from now on, sealed indefinitely!"
Having said this, he desperately leapt from the command vehicle, as if a prehistoric giant was chasing him, and scrambled onto a special aircraft to escape this land of blurred rights and wrongs.
Following Ross's orders, the special forces, previously tense as a tide at high water, evacuated the scene ten times faster than they had arrived. They cleared away the monster's corpse, took all weapons and equipment, and even sent people to clean the bloodstains from the earth.
In less than ten minutes, the entire slum returned to its former "peace"—as if no world-shaking conflict had taken place.
…
Inside the clinic, the new Hulk had already stood up. From this moment on, he knew the greatest shackle tormenting him for years—the nightmare of being hunted—was gone. He was free. Truly, body and soul—free. He could stay here, become a respected doctor, and live the peaceful life he once dreamed of.
But… as he looked at the godlike teacher before him, feeling the majestic power that was both wild as the sea and gentle as a lamb, he knew he could never return to his old life. Treating patients with headaches and fevers no longer satisfied him.
A new desire ignited in his heart. He yearned to continue exploring the mysteries of this power, to follow this unfathomable mentor and see a wider, more fascinating world than he had ever known. He no longer wanted to be a reclusive ascetic. He wanted to become his teacher's guardian.
At this thought, Hulk bowed deeply to Lucci.
"Teacher. I may not have much experience, nor much to offer you, but I do have some knowledge of gamma rays, biophysics, and basic engineering—though only superficially.
If you don't mind," he looked up with eager eyes, "please let me be your assistant. Perhaps I can help… at least with small problems."
Lucci nodded slightly. That was exactly his purpose.
"Very well. From now on, you may follow me."
Receiving permission, a sincere smile spread across Hulk's face.
…
Kamar-Taj, the Portal Opens
The next moment, Lucci took Hulk away. As the huge green body stepped out from the portal, Hulk felt as if he had dropped from one world to another in an instant. The hot, humid air of Kolkata, mixed with curry and dust, vanished. In its place was fresh air scented with sandalwood and snowy mountains. The surroundings were no longer the bustling, chaotic slums, but a solemn courtyard full of Eastern classic charm, delicate architecture, intricate carvings, and an air filled with an indescribable, mysterious energy.
"Where… is this?" Hulk looked around in amazement. "And… just now, that creaking sound—was it some kind of wormhole technology?"
He couldn't understand it. One moment he was in a Kolkata clinic, the next he was here—a place like an ancient temple hidden deep in the mountains, in a leap even more unreasonable than his own transformation.
Lucci smiled nonchalantly at Hulk's astonished face.
"This is Kamar-Taj, the magical place hidden in the Himalayas.
That sound just now was simply the use of cosmic energy, nothing too sophisticated."
"Magic? Himalayas? Cosmic power?"
Each word exploded in Hulk's mind. He unconsciously looked up, and sure enough, distant, sunlit, snow-capped mountains gleamed in the distance. From Kolkata to the Himalayas… that's over 2,000 kilometers in a straight line! Did we really just… cross that distance in a flash?
And cosmic power? Such theoretical physics speculation only existed in the deepest circles, considered almost pseudoscientific—could space really be warped for transmission?
Hulk felt his scientific worldview shattering piece by piece. He had once thought gamma rays and his transformation were the strangest things in the world, but now, compared to the mysterious teacher before him and the world he revealed, they seemed… not even worth mentioning!
As Hulk was still reeling from his ignorance, a man in blue monk's robes with a serious expression hurried over.
"I greet the Sorcerer Supreme," he bowed respectfully.
Sorcerer Supreme?
Hulk remembered that title from when his teacher introduced himself—so it was all real?
Lucci nodded at Mordo and introduced the huge green giant by his side.
"Mordo, this is Hulk, a powerful warrior."
He then turned to Hulk, "Hulk, this is Mordo, a strong sorcerer."
At the word "sorcerer," Hulk looked at Mordo curiously, as if seeing a rare species. Mordo, hearing Lucci call Hulk a "powerful warrior," was deeply shaken—how powerful must this green man be, for the Sorcerer Supreme to call him that?
Mordo couldn't help but look at Hulk twice, sensing a pure physical pressure like mountains and seas, but no magical energy at all. Could a purely physical warrior really be valued by the Sorcerer Supreme?
Lucci ignored their doubts and instructed Mordo,
"Mordo, prepare living quarters for Hulk and help him get familiar with the environment here."
"Yes, Sorcerer Supreme."
After settling Hulk, Lucci made his way alone to the central hall of Kamar-Taj, where the Ancient One had been waiting for a long time. She bowed respectfully upon seeing him.
"I greet the Sorcerer Supreme."
Lucci had asked her to oversee Kamar-Taj, but she never let her courtesy slip. Lucci waved her off with a smile, indicating she needn't be so formal. Then, the Ancient One's gaze inadvertently fell on the green figure being led away by Mordo, and a bright light flashed in her eyes.
"Are you… preparing for something?" she asked slowly.
Lucci nodded slightly.
"Yes. You once held the Time Stone, and you must know a great crisis is coming to Earth soon. And it's related to Loki."
At this, the Ancient One's face turned solemn. Having glimpsed countless future timelines, the catastrophic battle and alien invasion in New York stood out vividly to her.
"The Chitauri army?"
"Yes," Lucci nodded. "The Chitauri army is nothing—I could wipe them out with one hand. But… Loki is, after all, the prince of Asgard and my nominal brother. Queen Frigga specifically asked me to spare his life, no matter what. So I must ensure that the crisis he causes teaches him a lesson without causing irreparable damage to Earth."
The Ancient One understood. Lucci was no longer thinking about "how to win the war," but about minimizing losses and considering follow-up problems under the premise of inevitable victory.
"So… what preparations do you have in mind?" she asked with curiosity.
Lucci smiled calmly.
"Simple. Instead of acting after the fact, I want to plan ahead. First, continue to grow my own power. Second, gather more potential powerhouses like Hulk. Third…"
He looked at the Ancient One and smiled.
"Build… a MagicNet."
The Ancient One was stunned, her eyes wide in shock.
"I understand the first two. But… Sorcerer Supreme… what is this MagicNet?"
Lucci explained,
"The so-called MagicNet is, simply put, a super surveillance and defense network for the entire world, based on magical energy. I plan to use the sanctums in New York, London, and Hong Kong as core nodes. Then, by using the principle of 'Multiversal Energy Conduction Technique,' I can guide pure cosmic energy to form a solid triangular framework between these three nodes.
From this trunk, countless smaller energy veins will spread out like a spiderweb, covering every corner of the Earth and reaching into low orbit.
This network will have two main functions: first, detection. The MagicNet will monitor global energy fluctuations in real time. Any energy reaction exceeding a set threshold—such as large-scale teleportation or the arrival of powerful unknown beings—will be instantly detected and reported to me.
Second, defense. When necessary, the entire MagicNet can be activated to form a super-energy shield surrounding the world. While burdensome, this shield is essential for sudden crises. With this, we can detect and prepare for any threat the moment it arrives—eliminating potential dangers in the cradle."
Hearing Lucci's grand vision, the Ancient One was utterly shocked! Her ancient eyes shone with unprecedented brilliance. If the MagicNet could truly be built, it would mean Earth would no longer be a vulnerable civilization, passively defeated by cosmic threats, but a megafortress with global warning and defense systems!
Lucci smiled faintly at her excitement.
"If we had to rely on the old magic system, it would have been impossible. No dimensional demon would spend so much energy just to build a pure defense system for us. But now, it's different.
Magic belongs to us. The energy comes from the infinite, inexhaustible multiverse. With energy no longer a problem, the rest is just technical. And for me… anything is possible."
The last trace of doubt vanished from the Ancient One's heart, replaced by endless excitement and awe.
"So… what does it require? Should we mobilize all the sorcerers? Or do we need special materials? I'll start right away!"
But Lucci just shook his head.
"No need for trouble. Just prepare a quiet room for me—the rest, leave to me."
Once again, the Ancient One was amazed by Lucci's confidence. For such a vast project, could he really do it alone? She wanted to ask more, but swallowed her questions, knowing it was foolish to judge such a being by human standards.
"Understood," she said respectfully. "The Sorcerer Supreme already has an exclusive, top-grade quiet room—please follow me."
Lucci followed her through the main building to a secret room deep within Kamar-Taj, connected to all the ley lines of the Himalayas—a place isolated from the world and saturated with energy, perfect for rest and meditation.
After the Ancient One opened the door, Lucci entered, and the stone door closed behind him. He sat cross-legged and began to meditate.
First, he wanted to thoroughly analyze the results of fusing gamma energy and life in Hulk, then integrate them into his "Great Universe Devouring Method" to perfect it further. Next, he wanted to deduce the specific construction plan for the MagicNet. With his world-shaking insight, Lucci's mind was flooded with inspiration—formations, energy, space, runes—like galaxies pouring back, colliding, and merging.
…
Meanwhile, at Kamar-Taj, after arranging a spacious residence for Hulk, Mordo enthusiastically gave him a tour. When they reached the training ground, Hulk was utterly shocked by what he saw—dozens of apprentice sorcerers practicing all kinds of incredible "magic." Some conjured shields sparkling with electricity in midair, some drew strange runes to open portals to the mirror dimension, and others summoned whips of pure energy from other dimensions.
"My… god," Hulk muttered. "So… you're really all magicians?"
…
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