Samuel Sterns agreed to work for Karl with almost alarming speed.
Money was a decisive factor.
Cutting-edge biological research required funding on a scale most scientists could never obtain. Grant money was limited, government oversight was suffocating, and private funding came with political strings attached.
Samuel was only a PhD researcher. His personal savings could barely sustain basic lab work, let alone gamma-level genetic experimentation.
Stark Industries, however, represented something entirely different.
Resources.
Infrastructure.
Unlimited research potential.
Since Tony Stark publicly revealed himself as Iron man, Stark Industries' stock value had surged to historic highs. Karl's personal holdings had grown accordingly, pushing his net worth into the tens of billions — an astronomical leap from the two hundred million dollars he had started with.
Karl spoke calmly:
"Tony and I maintain a biological research facility. We are studying enhanced human genetics — similar in principle to the serum used on Captain America during World War II."
Samuel's enlarged eyes sharpened with interest.
"I also possess genetic samples from multiple mutants," Karl continued.
Samuel inhaled slowly.
Karl's tone hardened.
"You may study all of it. But I have one condition: loyalty."
A red glow flashed in Karl's eyes.
A thin laser beam sliced through the metal stool beside Samuel, cleaving it cleanly in half.
Samuel did not flinch.
His expanded cognition processed the threat instantly.
"Of course," he said respectfully. "Provide me with genetic material and facilities, and I can engineer any serum you require."
Karl nodded.
"Good."
Several shadow ninjas emerged behind Samuel.
"They will reside in your shadow. Betray me, and they will stop your heart before you can think of escape. When I trust you, they will be withdrawn."
Samuel did not object.
Instead, he said eagerly:
"If possible, we should secure all remaining samples of Dr. Banner's blood."
Karl gave a faint smile.
"Already handled."
Two shadow ninjas escorted Samuel into the Shadow World, transporting him toward Inson's laboratory.
Other shadow ninjas gathered the remaining gamma blood samples and equipment.
Karl dialed Inson.
"Yinsen, I'm sending you a biology PhD. Highly capable. Not fully trusted. Integrate him into the super-gene project — I have safeguards in place."
On the other end, Yinsen replied:
"Understood… he's here already. And Karl… his head is enormous."
Karl ended the call.
Then vanished.
Harlem — 121st Street
Karl reappeared atop a rooftop overlooking the street below.
Chaos had begun.
Below, Emil Blonsky — now fully transformed into the Abomination — rampaged through traffic.
Hatred burned in his eyes.
"Hulk! Come out and face me!" he roared.
He overturned vehicles and hurled them into storefronts.
Glass exploded.
Civilians screamed.
People ran in every direction.
The National Guard detachment on site mistook him for the Hulk and opened fire.
Machine guns rattled.
Missiles launched.
Explosions erupted around him.
The Abomination barely reacted.
A rocket struck his chest and detonated.
Smoke cleared.
He stood uninjured.
His head turned slowly toward the soldiers.
Then he moved.
In a blur of brute force, he leaped onto a military jeep and crushed the soldier holding the launcher beneath his fists.
The transmission feed from the soldier's helmet cam cut to static.
Moments later, the Abomination lifted the jeep and hurled it into a nearby storefront.
The impact triggered secondary explosions.
Civilians were caught in the blast.
Aboard Ross's Transport Aircraft
"General, Hulk spotted on 121st Street. Requesting reinforcements!"
Ross frowned.
Banner sat restrained nearby.
Betty watched anxiously.
"Hulk is here," Ross said. "So who the hell is that?"
"Transmit the feed," he ordered.
The onboard monitor displayed the creature.
Banner's face drained of color.
"That isn't Hulk," he whispered.
The footage ended abruptly as the Abomination crushed the camera.
Silence filled the cabin.
Then Banner spoke.
"Let me go back."
Betty grabbed his arm.
"No! You don't even know if you can transform anymore! You'll die!"
Banner met her eyes.
"I don't have a choice. That thing exists because of my blood. Only Hulk can stop him."
Ross studied Banner carefully.
Years of military instinct weighed against the reality unfolding below.
"How sure are you?" Ross asked.
Banner looked out the window toward the burning city.
"…Not sure," he admitted.
Then added quietly:
"But I'm the only one who can try."
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