The Administration Bureau housed the extraordinary team's dormitory, a place unlike any other, reserved for those who had stepped beyond the boundaries of ordinary humanity. Each member had their own apartment-style suite: one bedroom, a living room, a private bathroom, and a modest kitchen, a sanctuary for warriors living in the shadow of constant danger.
Elenora sat on the edge of a plush sofa, her gaze locked on the glowing screen in the live broadcast. Her pupils trembled as the scene before her unfolded, her heart pounding.
Dr. Banner had transformed into the Hulk. The sight stunned her, not because of his monstrous size but because of the raw power he emanated. The Hulk gripped a steel pillar, and it bent and warped as though it were no stronger than clay. Elenora almost stopped breathing.
Tony's Iron Suit, once a marvel that filled her with admiration, now seemed… underwhelming. The pride she carried for human ingenuity felt utterly shattered. Even Rogers, the legendary figure she'd heard so much about, seemed far less impressive. In her mind, his strength was just longevity dressed up as greatness.
And then there were Thor and Loki, creatures who weren't even human. Compared to them, her own existence felt like a cruel joke, a reminder of her insignificance.
Banner, however, was different. He was still a human, yet when he became the Hulk, he wielded unimaginable strength. That thought alone sent a chill through her. She drew in a deep breath, her thoughts spiraling inward.
Was this weakness of hers a curse she had carried from a previous life? Was her only hope to claw her way forward by continuously capturing echoes of her past selves? That thought hardened her resolve. She knew she was talented, but talent alone wasn't enough, not here. Ruthlessness toward herself was the only path forward, and she had embraced it long ago.
Still, as she watched Banner's transformation replayed in the broadcast, a gnawing unease crept in. Her plans for her future felt distant, even unattainable.
Inside the Chief's Office, the tension was suffocating. The moment Banner transformed, the entire expert group froze, and the air filled with sharp intakes of breath. Each of them scribbled notes with trembling hands, their wide eyes glued to the monitor.
Tonio, the renowned biologist whose authority carried weight in every scientific circle, looked utterly baffled. He opened his mouth but found no words.
"Banner… is stronger than Rogers," he muttered in disbelief.
The director's expression darkened. "If Loki is here, it's because he wanted this, the Hulk unleashed. His plan is already in motion." He exhaled heavily. "I fear his next move will be freeing himself."
A cold shiver rippled through the room. The implication was clear. They'd all suspected Loki intended to drive Banner into a frenzy, and now that theory had become reality. If Loki had succeeded in this step, what else was waiting to unfold?
The experts leaned forward, unwilling to blink, every detail on the screen carrying weight.
[ Natasha's eyes narrowed at the furious expression twisting the Hulk's face. She yanked her legs free from a crumpled steel pipe, her instincts already screaming at her to move. ]
[ A single sound, a sharp clang, alerted the Hulk. He whipped his head around, nostrils flaring, and roared, his deafening voice rattling the metal corridors. The widow didn't hesitate. She bolted. ]
[ The deck trembled beneath his steps, each thunderous stride leaving dents in the floor. Sister Widow vaulted a staircase, flipping gracefully as she grabbed a railing above. The Hulk tore the staircase away with one arm and hurled it aside like scrap. He charged forward, a force of destruction incarnate, ripping through steel fixtures as if they were toys. The entire carrier echoed with his bellowing roar. ]
[ From within his glass cell, Loki smirked, his eyes glinting with sinister amusement. ]
"Damn it!" someone in the chat cursed. "Look at Loki's face, this is all part of his plan!"
"Shameless bastard," another voice spat.
"Look at him! Hulk's tearing apart the carrier like it's cardboard. That thing's supposed to withstand missile strikes!"
"Hulk, your enemy is Loki! Leave Sister Widow alone!"
"Pray for her! She's so thin, and now she's up against… that? No chance!"
"Where the hell is backup?! Someone save her already!"
[ Chaos consumed the aircraft carrier. Alarms blared, and agents sprinted down every hallway. In the central control room, Fury barked orders. ]
[ "Adjust heading to one-eight-zero! South!" he roared. "Get us over water!" ]
[ "We're flying on autopilot," an officer stammered. "Navigation is recalibrating after the engine crash!" ]
[ "Damn it!" Fury slammed his fist. ]
[ "The sun's coming up!" another officer reported. ]
[ "Then tilt us left!" Fury snapped. "Put us over open water! Another turbine fails, and we'll be crashing straight into the ocean!" ]
[ In another corridor, Rogers kicked open a door and sprinted to a damaged turbine. Outside, Tony zipped through the air in his Iron Suit, hovering near the wreckage. ]
[ "I've got to get the superconducting cooling system back online before I can clear this debris," Tony muttered. Jarvis displayed markers and schematics, guiding him through the repair path. ]
[ "Head to the engine control panel," Tony ordered through comms. "Tell me which relays are overloading." ]
[ While Tony worked in the air, Rogers leapt up a maintenance platform, cracking open a panel stuffed with wires. He scanned it quickly. ]
[ "What do you see?" Tony's voice came through. ]
[ Rogers frowned. "It looks like it runs on some kind of electricity." ]
[ "Brilliant," Tony sighed. "Thanks for the insight, Cap." ]
Back in the office, military leaders grimaced at the damage feeds.
"This rotor's destroyed," one muttered. "It'd be a nightmare to fix on land, let alone in midair."
"Tony's plan is insane," another barked. "If he messes up, that wind blade will shred him alive!"
"Fury's right," a third added grimly. "Get them over water, better a crash landing than total annihilation."
[ The scene shifted to a dim ventilation shaft. Natasha crouched low, her pistols raised as she crept forward. The Hulk's growl echoed faintly through the ducts, making her nerves prickle. Suddenly, a monstrous head lunged out from a side vent, and a deafening roar shook the passage. ]
[ She reacted instantly, shooting at an overhead pipe. Freezing mist blasted onto the Hulk, buying her precious seconds. She sprinted down the shaft, the walls shuddering as the Hulk barreled through steel supports like paper. Sparks rained from torn conduits, and flames flickered in the distance. An explosion rocked the hallway, hurling Widow into a wall while the Hulk staggered briefly before regaining balance. ]
The audience's hearts collectively skipped a beat. Natasha looked so fragile compared to the monster pursuing her. She'd been running through fire and chaos, yet the danger had only escalated.
"If he lands that hit, she's done for!"
"This is brutal!"
"She can't die here!"
"She's too beautiful for this, Hulk, have mercy!"
"Forget that, why haven't his pants ripped yet?!"
[ Just as the Hulk's massive hand swung toward her, a wall exploded. A figure burst through the debris, slamming into the Hulk and driving him across the room. ]
[ The two crashed through multiple walls before skidding to a halt. It was Thor. ]
"Thor's here!" someone yelled in relief.
[ The Hulk bellowed and swung a punch. Thor intercepted it, muscles straining. ]
[ "We are not your enemies, Dr. Banner!" Thor growled. "Fight it!" ]
[ But the Hulk roared again, hoisting Thor and slamming him into a crate. The room shook with the impact. ]
[ Wiping blood from his nose, Thor smiled fiercely, summoning Mjölnir with an outstretched hand. The hammer landed firmly in his grip. Hulk charged at him. Thor swung, the hammer colliding with Hulk's jaw, sending him flying into a fighter jet. Hulk shook it off, ripping a wing free and throwing it like a spear. Thor ducked and hurled his hammer, but Hulk caught it midair. It slammed into the deck, immovable despite Hulk's furious attempts to lift it. The floor cracked beneath his feet. ]
[ Thor sprinted forward, landing a knee strike before vaulting onto Hulk's back, locking him in a chokehold, ready for the next round of this titanic battle. ]