"Broadway?"
Senju Haruto murmured the words, repeating the new sign-in location under his breath.
As a transmigrator, he had never been familiar with the layout of New York. But since he knew he'd have to complete multiple sign-ins here, Haruto had gotten his hands on a map of America.
With the Sharingan and his extraordinary memory, he now had every New York street mapped clearly in his mind.
Broadway was one of the city's most famous streets. Beginning at Battery Park, it stretched the length of Manhattan Island, and it was the very heart of the nation's theater and musical culture.
But beyond its cultural significance, Broadway was also the stage for one of Marvel's most iconic battles.
In The Incredible Hulk, after Banner transformed, he fought Abomination right here.
"The Incredible Hulk storyline, huh…"
Haruto's thoughts raced, quickly connecting the sign-in location to the timeline.
Because the box office results were underwhelming, and the lead actor clashed with the producers, the movie never received a sequel. Even Banner's actor had later been replaced.
Still, the story events of The Incredible Hulk—and some of its characters—remained part of the Marvel universe.
Take General Ross, for example. He would go on to appear again, even rising to the level of Secretary of State during the events of Civil War.
There was also the short film where Coulson was ordered to approach Ross and request custody of Abomination.
"Now that I think about it… the timelines of Hulk and Iron Man should be pretty close."
Haruto recalled the details.
With Stark's personality, if he had seen two monsters tearing apart Broadway, there was no way he would have stayed idle.
Either he had a special reason keeping him away from the battlefield… or he hadn't yet become Iron Man.
Some even argued that The Incredible Hulk took place before Iron Man.
But in Hulk's post-credits scene, Stark appeared in a bar, approaching Ross to propose cooperation.
Though their meeting ended badly, it confirmed that Stark was already a superhero by then.
"If I look at it that way, Stark becoming Iron Man and Banner traveling to New York to meet Doctor Blue must have happened almost back-to-back…"
Haruto thought it through carefully and found the explanation reasonable.
After all, Stark had just fought Stane and the Iron Monger, leaving his suit badly damaged.
Without his armor, Stark's fighting ability wasn't even on par with Happy Hogan's.
In that state, he naturally couldn't back up Hulk.
Of course, from a film perspective, this was Banner's solo movie—there was no way they'd let Iron Man swoop in and steal the spotlight.
"But for me… this isn't a movie. This is reality."
Haruto's gaze hardened as he studied the sign-in instructions.
That meant he had no choice—he would have to go to Broadway.
"Speaking of which… Abomination only had a partial dose of Hulk's serum. He's nowhere near Hulk's level."
"Fine. I'll just head over, sign in, and get out."
With that thought, Haruto turned back to his work.
Meanwhile, at the airport.
Using his knowledge and quick thinking, Banner had managed to slip out of the plane. He didn't even bother figuring out his direction—he simply ran as hard as he could.
His mind screamed only one command: Get as far away as possible!
But Ross had already evacuated the entire airport with his authority.
The only plane on the runway was the one Banner had just arrived on.
There were no obstacles. No places to hide.
Small as his frame was, Banner stood out like a beacon.
"Begin the capture!"
General Ross locked onto Banner with his scope while barking orders through his mic.
Against someone like Haruto, Hulk's blood serum had become critical.
Under no circumstances could Banner slip away.
In Ross's eyes…
Banner was military property.
At Ross's command, soldiers stationed across the airport moved into action.
Countless gun barrels swiveled, all trained on Banner.
Because the goal was capture, not execution, every round had been swapped for tranquilizer darts.
"Damn it…"
Banner's heart sank. He had never dreamed Ross would move so quickly—deploying a full-scale operation the very moment he landed.
Looking at the open space around him, Banner realized he had nowhere to run.
Without the Hulk… he was finished.
"Inhale… inhale… exhale…"
His breathing grew rapid—not from fear or panic.
In the years he'd spent hiding in Brazil, he had also studied under a master who taught him emotional control.
He had learned how to suppress his rage in an instant and stay calm.
But he had also learned how to call it forth—how to feed his anger and let it rise.
And right now, he knew.
Only the Hulk could get him out alive.
"It's over."
Colonel Emil Blonsky led the charge at the front of the squad.
Though only a colonel, he lived for the rush of combat. He loved the battlefield. He loved the clash of fists.
Otherwise, with his record, he could easily have risen to general rank by now.
But Blonsky couldn't make sense of this.
The man ahead of him looked like nothing more than an ordinary adult. His running speed was unremarkable. He carried no visible weapons of mass destruction.
A target like this should take only a small squad to subdue.
Yet this time, Ross treated it with extreme caution—even calling Blonsky in personally.
Either Ross was growing old and timid…
Or this man really was something else.
The uncertainty only stoked Blonsky's anticipation.
But just as he closed within fifty meters of Banner—
The transformation began.
Banner's body swelled grotesquely, his bag dropping from his hand onto the runway.
His eyes went first, glowing a deep green. Then his skin, shifting from pale to a furious emerald.
His clothes shredded apart, unable to contain the growth.
In a matter of breaths, a towering beast stood before Blonsky.
The Hulk.
The sight made Blonsky—and every soldier behind him—suck in a sharp breath.
This was no ordinary man.
This was a monster.
"This…"
Blonsky's scalp tingled. Never, not in his wildest imagination, had he thought his target would turn into this.
His common sense, his understanding of the world, all shattered in an instant.
But unlike the others…
Blonsky didn't feel fear. Or despair.
To him, the Hulk's form was majestic, awe-inspiring.
So much power. So much raw beauty in its strength.
Instead of dread, he felt only longing.
"RAAAAHHHH!"
The Hulk roared like a wild beast, bending his knees and leaping high.
In an instant, he soared over Blonsky's head and vanished into the distance.