Chapter 31 Educating Logan
However, the next second.
Everyone who rushed in collectively petrified in place.
The tense scene they had envisioned, with Professor Xbeing held hostage, was nowhere to be seen.
Instead... Professor X, whom they deeply respected, sat on his wheelchair, looking distraught, his eyes vacant, as if his soul had left his body, lost in thought.
Across from him, the so-called "invader" was leisurely sinking into the sofa, one hand holding a small cookie, slowly bringing it to his mouth.
Hearing the commotion, he lazily raised his head and mumbled something indistinctly.
"Hmm? Is it dinner time?"
This bizarre scene caused the X-Men who rushed in to experience a collective brain freeze.
How was this scene... different from what they had imagined?
Shouldn't Professor X be held hostage or injured?
Why was it so harmonious... Lin Chen's gaze, meanwhile, swept over the group of "uninvited guests" with interest.
Hmm, many familiar faces.
Besides the burly Colossus who broke the door.
Beside him was a girl in a yellow uniform, as beautiful as a doll but with eyes as fierce as a young wolf, his sister, Illyana Rasputin, "Magik."
Next was "beast" Hank McCoy, wearing a white lab coat, covered in blue fur, hanging upside down from the ceiling like a gorilla.
There was also a petite, brown-haired girl who could phase through walls to enter, "Shadowcat" Katie Pryde.
He had seen these few when he came in earlier.
Only two other people truly captured his attention.
One was a tall woman standing at the front of the group, with dazzling red hair, exquisite and beautiful features, but with powerful psychic energy evident in her eyes.
Jean Grey.
The other was a man standing at the edge of the crowd, not tall but exceptionally sturdy, wearing a brown and yellow combat suit, a cigar in his mouth, a look of displeasure on his face, and on the back of his hands... "Clang!"
Six Adamantium claws, gleaming with cold light, suddenly sprang out!
Logan Howlett, Wolverine!
Lin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
Tsk.
Aside from Storm and Cyclops, who were not present... the core lineup of the X-Men was almost complete.
He leisurely popped the last bit of cookie into his mouth, brushed the crumbs from his hands, and his lips curved upwards uncontrollably.
Interesting.
This was going to be much more lively than just criticizing Charles!
...On the other side, six flashes of cold light reflected the astonished faces of the Mutants in the room.
The air seemed to freeze into ice, the atmosphere was extremely oppressive, and everyone was filled with deep confusion and incomprehension.
Only Wolverine Logan's beast-like eyes were fixed on Lin Chen, a low growl emanating from his throat.
Like an old wolf feeling threatened.
"Kid, who exactly are you? What did you do to Professor X?!"
Facing this murderous aura that could almost tear a person apart, Lin Chen acted as if nothing was wrong, even sticking out his tongue to lick the cookie crumbs from the corner of his mouth.
He tilted his head, his gaze passing over the tense crowd to Professor X, who was still in a daze.
"Hey, old bald man."
"If you don't speak up, your precious students are going to lay hands on me."
"Don't blame me for not warning you if they end up missing an arm or a leg."
His tone was as casual as if he were chatting at a market, but the content of his words sent a chill down everyone's spines.
They clearly sensed that this yellow-skinned kid in front of them wasn't faking it; he was genuinely fearless.
Jean Grey's brows furrowed tightly, and with the enhancement of the Phoenix Force, powerful psychic energy began to surge, ready to respond to any sudden situation.
She turned slightly and whispered, "Logan, don't be impulsive!"
However, her words had no effect whatsoever.
In Wolverine's dictionary, there was no such word as "impulsive," only "do" or "don't do"!
His superhuman healing factor also gave him the capital to be reckless.
"Roar!!!"
With an angry roar, Logan's body shot out like a cannonball, carrying a tearing gust of wind, and Pounced on Lin Chen on the sofa!
The six Adamantium claws traced a deadly arc in the sunlight, aiming directly for his throat.
The X-Men's faces changed drastically!
"Logan, don't..."
Hank cried out, about to rush forward to stop him.
But it was too late after all.
Everyone could foresee that with this claw, this Mysterious person would either die or be severely crippled!
Katie Pryde, as if prepared, already covered Illyana's eyes, not wanting her to see the bloody scene.
However, facing the sharp Adamantium claws, Lin Chendidn't move at all, and his expression didn't change in the slightest.
He just lazily snapped his fingers.
"Snap."
A soft sound.
The next second, a bizarre scene unfolded.
The unstoppable, incredibly violent Wolverine suddenly stopped less than half a meter from Lin Chen!
Then, his entire body was lifted by an invisible hand, suspended in mid-air.
"Ugh... What the hell is this?!"
Logan's limbs thrashed wildly in the air, like a wild cat with its neck choked, comical and disheveled.
His indestructible claws were only a few centimeters from Lin Chen's face, but they seemed to be separated by an unbridgeable chasm, unable to advance another step, only flailing in vain.
"A naughty puppy needs to be taught a lesson."
Lin Chen said casually, then waved his hand as if shooing a fly.
"Whoosh—!"
Wolverine was immediately thrown backward uncontrollably, crashing heavily into the ceiling, then with a "thud," he fell back to the floor, emitting a muffled grunt.
The entire room fell silent.
Everyone stared at this scene in dumbfounded amazement.
One-shot... That was Wolverine Logan!
Just like that... taken down by a snap of the fingers?!
"Alright, I've had my tea and my cookies."
Lin Chen leisurely stood up from the sofa and clapped his hands.
"Professor X, your thoughts are very interesting, but your students are too impolite."
He glanced at the clock on the wall.
"It's getting late, I should go."
Before he finished speaking, his figure began to become transparent, distorted, and then... vanished into thin air before everyone's eyes.
Like a drop of water merging into the ocean, even though Jean swept the entire school with her psychic energy, she couldn't find the slightest trace.
In the office, only a group of X-Men with frozen brains remained, and a Wolverine who had climbed up from the floor, looking utterly bewildered.
After a long time.
Charles Xavier's vacant eyes finally refocused.
He looked at the empty sofa, muttering to himself.
"Fists..."
"Does it ultimately still come down to whose fist is bigger...?"
Chapter 32 I Finally Found You
At the same time.
In Virginia, outside a quiet suburban residence.
Unlike the tense atmosphere at Xavier's Mansion, everything here seemed so peaceful and warm.
Only one place was an exception.
Outside the side window of a small white building, a figure stood silently in the Shadow, like a ghost.
It was Bruce Banner, who had to deal with his own affairs after bidding farewell to Lin Chen.
At this moment, his eyes passed through the clear glass, greedily staring at the figure in the living room that occupied his thoughts.
Betty Ross.
She was still so beautiful, wearing a casual beige sweater, with a gentle smile on her face.
However, that tenderness did not belong to him now.
In the living room, a tall, blond man in a White shirt was gently wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, whispering something comforting in her ear.
Betty did not resist; instead, she leaned obediently into the man's embrace.
This scene was like a red-hot steel needle, piercing Bruce's heart.
Pain instantly overwhelmed his reason.
His eyes reddened, his teeth gnashed, and his nails dug deeply into the flesh of his palms.
He knew he shouldn't have come.
He shouldn't have disturbed her peaceful life again.
She deserved better, she deserved a qualified partner who could be by her side, not someone who could turn into a green monster and lose his mind at any moment.
"I wish you happiness, Betty."
Bruce silently uttered a wish in his heart, then took a deep breath, and with all his pain and loneliness, he resolutely turned around, preparing to disappear from her worldforever.
However, at the very moment he turned.
Inside the room, Betty Ross, who was nestled in her new boyfriend's arms, seemed to sense something, and suddenly turned her head, looking out the window.
There was no one there.
But she looked as if she had seen something, her eyes instantly freezing.
That back… that back so familiar it was etched into her soul!
"Bruce…"
She subconsciously murmured his name.
The next second, she suddenly broke free from the man's embrace and, like a madwoman, rushed desperately towards the door.
"Betty! Where are you going?!"
She no longer heard the shouts from behind… On the street.
Bruce walked like a zombie, distraught and lost.
Behind him, a choked, uncertain cry came.
"Bruce… Is that you?!"
Bruce's body suddenly stiffened!
He dared not look back.
Instead, he quickened his pace, almost breaking into a run.
"Screech—!!!"
However, accompanied by a harsh screech of brakes.
A red car aggressively skidded, directly swerving onto the sidewalk and blocking his path.
The car door opened, and Betty, with a face full of surprise and joy, appeared before him.
Her eyes churned with various emotions—surprise, excitement, heartache… all intertwined, instantly filling her eyes with tears.
"It really is you! Bruce! You're finally back!"
Bruce looked at her, forcing a smile that was uglier than a cry.
"I'm sorry, Betty. I didn't mean to disturb you. I… I was just passing by."
"Seeing that you… are very happy, I feel relieved."
These words felt like a sharp stab to Betty's heart.
"Happy?"
She let out a bitter laugh, wanting to say, "How can life without you be called happiness?"
But seeing Bruce about to walk past her again, she quickly stepped forward, spread her arms, and blocked his path once more, her voice thick with tears.
"After all this time, don't… don't you want to talk to me?"
Bruce looked at her tear-streaked face, at the unyielding longing in her eyes, and his last line of defense completely crumbled.
"Okay."
…Half an hour later, inside the coffee shop.
The atmosphere was a bit awkward.
Bruce sat uneasily in his chair, not knowing where to put his hands.
Sitting opposite him were Betty and the blond man—Doctor Leonard Samson.
"Bruce, this is Leonard…"
Betty introduced him somewhat awkwardly, but before she could finish, Leonard had already introduced himself: "I am Betty's boyfriend."
Leonard's face showed no friendliness; his gaze at Brucewas filled with undisguised hostility.
"You are Bruce Banner?"
Leonard's voice was low and cold.
"Heh, I didn't expect that you, the monster who caused Betty's father's death, would still dare to appear before Betty."
"How shameless."
These words instantly dropped the coffee shop's temperature to freezing point.
Bruce's face turned even paler upon hearing this.
He opened his mouth but didn't know how to respond.
"Leonard! What nonsense are you talking about!"
Betty grew anxious, quickly trying to smooth things over, then turned to Bruce, her eyes full of concern.
"Bruce, don't listen to him. You're back… Does that mean you're staying?"
Bruce shook his head, smiling bitterly.
"Not sure. S.H.I.E.L.D. has lifted the warrant for my arrest, but… I don't know how to proceed in the future."
Watching them converse intimately as if no one else was there, Leonard's face grew increasingly grim.
That jealousy gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.
"Bang!"
He slammed his hand on the table and stood up.
"I've had enough! Betty, you talk to him yourself!"
With that, he stormed out of the coffee shop without looking back.
After stepping outside.
The anger on Leonard's face instantly vanished, replaced by a cold, sinister look.
He walked to an empty corner, took out his phone, and dialed an encrypted number.
The call was quickly connected.
"Hello?"
Leonard lowered his voice, his eyes flickering.
"I found him."
"Bruce Banner, he's here with me."
…Another hour later.
When Bruce and Betty finally finished catching up and walked out of the coffee shop with complex emotions.
A man in a green military uniform, impossibly muscular, like an iron tower, rudely blocked their path.
Upon seeing Bruce, the man immediately showed a cruel and bloodthirsty smile on his face.
"Bruce Banner."
His voice was like rusty metal scraping, full of brutality.
"I finally… found you!"
The moment his words fell.
Under Bruce and Betty's utterly shocked gazes.
"Crack! Crack, crack, crack!"
The man's entire skeleton suddenly let out a teeth-grinding series of pops.
His muscles visibly swelled at an insane rate, his torso ballooning as if inflated, tearing through his military uniform in the blink of an eye.
His skin also turned a bizarre grayish-green, and from his spine, grotesque bone spikes burst forth.
His height, in just a few seconds, surged from 1.7 meters to over 3 meters!
A monster even more grotesque, more evil, and filled with destructive aura than the Hulk appeared before them.
It was Abomination!
"Roar—!!!"
After completing his transformation, Abomination let out an inhuman roar towards the sky, his eyes, filled with brutal killing intent, locked onto the pale-faced Bruce.
The next second!
His fist, the size of a casserole, carrying the terrifying force to crush a tank, accompanied by a sonic boom that tore through the air, slammed viciously towards Bruce's head!
Betty immediately fell to the ground in fright, letting out a terrified scream: "Ah!!!"
Chapter 33 Why?
"Boom—!!!"
Abomination's fist, carrying a deafening sonic boom, slammed down like a meteor.
Before the fist even arrived, the terrifying wind pressure was already pricking Bruce Banner's skin, and his internal organs felt as if gripped by an invisible giant hand, trembling wildly.
"Ah!!!"
Betty Ross's scream, sharp and despairing, echoed through the entire street.
She was thrown to the ground by the shockwave, rolling several times in a messy heap, her eyes fixed on the infinitely enlarging, grotesque fist.
Behind a tree on the street corner.
Doctor Leonard Samson, the elegant psychology expert, was now clutching his head, shaking uncontrollably like a sieve.
His crotch was warm and wet, his face ashen, and he kept muttering, "Madman... madman... I just made a call... how could I attract such a monster..."
He clearly hadn't expected that his petty report, born of jealousy, would summon a true demon from hell.
The shadow of death enveloped Banner.
In a flash of lightning, countless thoughts exploded in his mind.
The shyness of his first meeting with Betty.
The warmth of their shared smiles in the laboratory.
Her resolute defiance of the entire the military to protect him.
And his guilt for the endless pain and danger he brought her after becoming a monster.
Why?
Why did every time he tried to get close to her, tried to give her happiness, he always brought destruction and disaster?!
Fear, at this moment, was completely gone.
In its place was a burning rage, hot enough to incinerate the soul!
This fury was not directed at the monster named Bronskibefore him.
But at himself!
At this damned body of his, which brought disaster wherever it went!
At this powerlessness, this cowardice that could only watch his beloved fall into danger!
"No—!!!"
Banner let out a silent roar in his heart!
In an instant.
Every cell beneath his skin began to shriek and boil madly.
"Bang!"
He suddenly took a step, like a mountain, firmly blocking Betty!
"Creak... creak, creak..."
The bones within him emitted a grating, elongating sound, as if countless beasts were awakening and struggling inside his body.
"Rip!"
The collar of his refined shirt was instantly torn open by his rapidly expanding neck muscles.
Next, it was his shoulders, his chest, his arms.
The sound of tearing fabric was like a wild symphony!
A bizarre green, like a tide, began to spread from his neck, quickly covering his cheeks, his limbs, his entire body.
He slowly raised his head.
That once gentle and refined face was now completely permeated with savagery and rage.
His pupils had become green whirlpools burning with fury.
"Roar! Awoo-awoo-awoo!!!"
An earth-shattering roar burst from his inhuman throat.
The sound wave transformed into a tangible Shockwave.
"Crash, crash, crash!"
The glass windows of the cozy coffee shop behind him were instantly shattered into a myriad of dust by this roar.
Hulk, descends!
Just as Abomination's tank-crushing fist was about to touch his head!
Hulk, too, threw a punch.
That green fist, larger than a casserole, met Abomination's iron fist head-on with the most primal, purest rage.
One large, one small, two fists filled with destructive power, collided with a thunderous Shockwave in mid-air!
"Thud!!!!!"
A muffled thud, as if a Celestial had beaten a war drum.
Time, at this moment, seemed to stand still for an instant.
The next second!
A visible circular Shockwave exploded outwards from the point where the two fists met.
"Rumble!!!"
The asphalt road beneath them, as if plowed by a heavy bomb, cracked inch by inch, and spiderweb-like fissures spread wildly in all directions.
Cars on both sides of the street blared their alarms, their windows all shattering.
At the center of the Shockwave.
Betty, lying on the ground, was like a fallen leaf swept by a hurricane, easily flung into the air.
"Ah!"
She let out a short gasp, her body tracing a helpless parabola in the air, then fell heavily onto the distant lawn.
After a muffled "thud," there was no further sound.
Her fate unknown... "A little interesting..."
Abomination bared his mouth, revealing a set of shark-like, ferocious teeth, his smile growing more cruel.
Failing to land a hit, he was not angry, but rather excited.
The desire for battle grew stronger within him.
"Roar!"
He suddenly retracted his fist, but his right leg swung up like a battle-axe, cutting an air-tearing arc, and with immense force, kicked Hulk in the waist.
This kick was both swift and vicious, fully displaying his combat skills as a top special forces soldier!
"Bang!"
Hulk's massive body immediately flew sideways, uncontrollably, as if struck by a high-speed train.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
He consecutively broke three huge oak trees that would require two people to embrace; those hard trunks were as fragile as toothpicks before him.
Sawdust flew everywhere.
However, before Hulk could even land, a Shadow had already pounced, following him like a phantom.
Abomination grabbed Hulk's messy black hair, his arm muscles bulging, erupting with terrifying strength.
"Die—for—me!"
He roared, grabbing Hulk's head, and furiously slammed it against the hard ground, again and again!
"Thud!"
"Thud!"
"Thud!"
The earth trembled; each Shockwave left a shallow crater on the ground.
The intense pain, like the most potent catalyst, caused the anger level in Hulk's brain to skyrocket exponentially.
"Roar!!!"
Just as Abomination raised his hand again, preparing for the fourth smash!
Hulk's huge green palm suddenly rose, gripping Abomination's wrist like an iron clamp!
"Huh?!"
Abomination was stunned.
He hadn't expected this "clumsy green monkey," which he thought only knew how to smash instinctively, to have such quick reactions and such great strength.
He tried to break free, but found Hulk's palm seemed welded to his wrist, not budging an inch.
"My turn!!!"
Hulk let out an inarticulate roar, his waist suddenly exerting force.
He grabbed Abomination's arm, swinging his equally massive body entirely, tracing a huge circle in the air.
"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—"
Abomination was like a high-speed rotating shot put, stirring up gusts of wind!
"Roar!!!"
Then, Hulk suddenly let go.
"Swoosh—!"
Abomination's body instantly transformed into a grey-green cannonball, flung violently towards a nearby building.
"Rumble!!!"
Accompanied by a deafening roar, the wall of the two-story building was directly crashed through by Abomination, leaving a huge hole, with bricks and stones scattering and dust filling the air.
"Hoo... ha... hoo..."
Hulk knelt on one knee, his chest heaving violently, each breath making the surrounding air carry a scorching heatwave.
He slowly stood up, instinctively wanting to rush into the ruins and tear the guy who dared to hurt him into shreds.
However, at this moment.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the small, motionless figure on the lawn not far away.
Betty...
In Hulk's eyes, filled with savagery and chaos, a rare flicker of struggle and clarity appeared.
It was this fleeting moment of clarity that made his foot, about to step forward, stop abruptly in place.
He did not immediately chase after him to land more punches.
Instead, like a furious beast whose territory had been invaded and was desperately protecting its young, he slowly, step by step, wanted to walk towards Betty to check on her condition.
Chapter 34 Who do you think you can protect?
"Cough cough... cough!"
From the ruins, Abomination staggered out.
He wiped a streak of green blood from the corner of his mouth, and far from showing any fear, the pathological madness in his eyes intensified.
"Haha... hahahaha! This is it! This is more like it!"
He saw Hulk's actions, and he saw Hulk's concern for the human woman lying on the ground.
A malicious thought instantly formed in his mind.
"You think..."
He sneered, suddenly bent down, and plunged his hands into the chassis of a Ford sedan parked by the road.
"Roar!"
He exerted force with his waist and abdomen, actually lifting the car, which weighed over a ton, above his head!
"...You think you can protect anyone?!"
Abomination's face was twisted into a cruel, cat-playing-with-mouse grin.
He roared, and with a throw like a stone, he hurled the car in his hands towards Hulk's back.
Hulk, who was walking towards Betty, felt a wicked gust of wind from behind, but it was already too late to fully dodge.
"Bang!!!"
The car smashed into his back, crumpling and deforming like a soda can, its parts scattering everywhere.
The massive impact made Hulk stumble, but he merely swayed before steadying himself, completely unharmed.
However, it wasn't over yet!
Having struck a blow, Abomination casually grabbed a bent lamppost nearby.
"Sizzle!"
He forcibly pulled the lamppost out of the ground, and electric arcs wildly danced at the broken end.
He aimed at Hulk's biggest weakness... "Die!!!"
He hurled the heavy lamppost like a javelin, with all his might, whistling it towards Betty Ross.
Hulk suddenly turned his head, his green pupils instantly shrinking to pinpricks.
"No!!!"
He let out a roar filled with shock and Fury, his massive body, with an agility completely unsuited to his size, abruptly spun and reached out.
In the nick of time!
With lightning-fast reflexes, he grabbed the end of the lamppost.
"Creak!"
The immense inertia caused his body to stagger several steps, his feet plowing two deep furrows in the ground.
The sharp end of the lamppost stopped less than ten centimeters from Betty's forehead!
For the first time, cold sweat seeped from Hulk's forehead.
He realized it.
Fighting here, he couldn't unleash his full power at all!
"Roar..."
A low, pained whimper emanated from Hulk's chest.
He glanced at the unconscious Betty on the ground, then at the monster not far away, its face twisted in a sneer, preparing to attack again.
In his chaotic mind, a thought he had never had before emerged clearly.
Run!
Not out of fear, but out of protection.
Lure this monster away!
Lead it to... a place devoid of any human presence.
"Roar!!!"
Hulk suddenly abandoned his defensive stance and let out an earth-shattering roar of provocation towards Abomination.
His massive green fist even beckoned towards Abomination.
The gesture was filled with primal, wild contempt!
"Hmm?"
The smile on Abomination's face instantly froze.
Then he watched as Hulk suddenly turned and bolted towards the end of the street.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Each step he took was like a small earthquake, the asphalt road imprinted with his giant footprints.
He even roared back at Abomination while running.
The sound was filled with implications of "coward," "useless," and "come and chase me if you dare."
"You dare to trick me?!"
Abomination's rage instantly ignited.
What he hated most was being looked down upon!
Especially after he had acquired this "perfect" power.
"I'll tear you apart!"
Abomination let out a roar, dropping to all fours like a rampaging prehistoric beast, pursuing him with savage madness.
Each of his strides covered more than ten meters, and his speed was not at all slower than Hulk's!
The two behemoths, one after the other, like a moving green catastrophe, rumbled through the streets and soon vanished beyond the horizon... Meanwhile.
One hundred miles from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, ten thousand meters above sea level.
A figure was soaring comfortably at supersonic speed.
Lin Chen spread his arms, feeling the rushing airflow past his ears, his mood indescribably pleasant.
"The Rabbit Talisman and Rooster Talisman are still the best; I can go wherever I want, much faster than any sports car."
He was enjoying this rare leisure.
"Buzz—buzz buzz—"
Suddenly, his phone in his pocket vibrated at a very inconvenient time.
"Who is it? So inconsiderate?"
Lin Chen braked sharply in mid-air, his body hovering steadily as if standing on an invisible surface.
He took out his phone, a little annoyed.
The caller ID, however, was Phil Coulson.
"Tsk."
Lin Chen pouted, but still swiped to answer.
"Hello, what can I do for you, Agent Coulson?"
On the other end of the line, Coulson's voice was as steady as ever, but his speaking speed was astonishingly fast, skipping even the most basic greetings.
"Mr. Lin Chen, Dr. Banner is in trouble!"
"Huh?"
Lin Chen was stunned for a moment.
Banner?
The honest man who had just received the black card he gave him and was preparing to live anonymously in some remote mountain valley?
What trouble could he get into?
Was his card swallowed? Or did he forget his password?
"What happened?"
"He turned into Hulk!"
Coulson's voice carried a hint of urgency.
"Just an hour ago, in a small town in Virginia, Hulkappeared, and... he's fighting an unidentified giant monster!"
Lin Chen was completely bewildered now.
"What the heck?"
"Virginia? Monster?"
His mind raced, countless movie plot fragments flashing through his head.
It had only been one day, how did it fast-forward to the Hulk vs. Abomination storyline?
That's not how the script was written!
General Ross wasn't killed by him, so how could Abomination still appear?
"Wait... is that monster fighting Banner gray, but taller than Hulk, and covered in bone spurs?"
Coulson on the other end was silent for a second.
"...How do you know?"
It really was Abomination!
"Not only do I know, I also know that thing is a mess your own people created."
Lin Chen scoffed, not bothering to waste more words with him.
"Alright, I get it. I'll handle it."
After saying that, he didn't give Coulson a chance to speak again and directly hung up the phone.
"Beep beep beep..."
Listening to the busy tone on his phone, a hint of helplessness appeared on Coulson's face.
But he immediately picked up another communicator and reported to Fury: "Sir, he knows. He said... he will handle it."
...High in the sky.
Lin Chen looked at the location address Coulson had just sent via text message, and opened his phone map to take a look.
"Virginia... not too far from here."
He estimated.
"With the speed of the Rabbit Talisman, if I go full speed, I can get there in an hour at most."
"Perfect, I'll go see what kind of quality this Abominationis."
Thinking of this, a playful smile curled at Lin Chen's lips.
He put away his phone, and his body sharply changed direction.
"Whoosh—"
A white sonic boom cloud exploded behind him!
His entire being transformed into a stream of light invisible to the naked eye, shooting towards Virginia.
Chapter 35 Coward
Virginia.
"Boom!!!!"
A loud noise.
Hulk's massive body, like a meteor, crashed heavily into an abandoned gas station.
The fragile architectural structure instantly collapsed, and the fuel tanks were directly detonated by the impact.
"Boom!!!"
A soaring flame transformed into a giant mushroom cloud, dyeing half the sky orange-red.
The violent explosion also blew away everything in its vicinity.
"Roar!"
Hulk staggered to his feet from the sea of fire.
His body was covered in burn marks and deep, bone-visible wounds, which rapidly healed under the power of gamma radiation, but the intense pain made the rage in his eyes burn even more fiercely.
However, before he could catch his breath...
A shadow, even taller than him, already bathed in flames, rushed to his front.
"Bang!"
Abomination showed no mercy, delivering a fierce side kick that accurately struck Hulk's supporting right knee.
"Crack!"
A crisp sound!
Hulk's knee was forcefully bent backward by that kick.
"Roar!"
In extreme pain, Hulk let out a scream, his massive body could no longer support him, and he heavily knelt on one knee.
A cruel glint flashed in Abomination's eyes.
He lunged forward, pressing his knee firmly against Hulk's back, preventing him from getting up.
At the same time, he reached out with both hands and grabbed a section of the gas station's steel structural support that had been broken off by the explosion.
"Creak, creak..."
Accompanied by a grating sound, the solid steel pipe, as thick as an adult's arm, was forcibly wrenched from the twisted steel frame by him!
"Taste this!!"
Abomination roared, raising the steel pipe with both hands and, with all his might, slammed it down hard on Hulk's defenseless back of the head!
Whoosh!
The steel pipe brought with it a vicious wind that tore through the air.
In the nick of time, Hulk suddenly lowered his head.
"Clang!"
The heavy steel pipe flew past almost grazing his ear, striking the ground in front of him with a heavy thud.
Now!
Taking advantage of the moment Abomination retracted his arm, Hulk suddenly twisted his waist and turned, his fist, charged with all his anger, slammed fiercely into Abomination's ribs.
"Thump!"
A dull thud, as if striking a drum made of divine oxhide.
However... "Do you think..."
Abomination took the punch head-on, his body only swayed slightly, but the mad smile on his face became even more ferocious.
...I am as weak as you?!"
He did not dodge, but instead extended his right hand, covered in hideous bone spurs, and, like a heavy hammer, slammed it violently onto Hulk's shoulder.
"Pfft..."
Hulk felt an irresistible force, and his entire body was once again knocked to the ground.
Before he could turn over, Abomination, like a giant predatory beast, was already straddling him, his two pincer-like hands clamped firmly around his neck.
"Ugh... roar..."
Hulk struggled wildly, his fists raining down on Abomination's body like raindrops, but could only produce dull thuds, unable to cause any effective damage to him.
Bronski had not only been injected with an incomplete Super Soldier Serum but had also been exposed to gamma radiation.
Although he hadn't been injected with Hulk's blood as in the movie, his skin hardness, bone density, and healing speed were all far superior to a normal Hulk at this moment.
"I am... the perfect creation!"
Abomination leaned down, close to Hulk's ear, his voice hoarse and crazed, filled with pathological boasting and satisfaction.
"Strength! Speed! Combat skills! And... brains!"
As he spoke, he increased the force in his hands, and Hulk's face had already turned purplish-green from lack of oxygen.
"And you?"
Abomination's ugly face was filled with contempt and disdain.
"You're just a... who doesn't even dare to face his other side..."
...Coward!"
Coward!!!
These two words directly provoked Hulk.
"Ugh... roar..."
Hulk let out an angry snarl from his throat.
That was not just his anger.
It was also Bruce Banner, the utterly suppressed soul, always hiding within the monster's body, letting out a silent roar!
A madness like never before, almost completely incinerating his reason, erupted in a roar!
He gave up struggling.
He gave up trying to pry open Abomination's iron pincers clamped around his neck.
Instead, his two massive, fan-like hands, with a desperate resolve to perish together, suddenly wrapped around Abomination's tower-like waist.
"Hmm?"
Abomination was slightly stunned, not yet reacting.
Hulk's kneeling knee suddenly exerted force!
"Snap!"
The ground cracked in response!
An indescribable, terrifying immense force exploded from his waist and abdomen.
"Boom!!!"
Abomination was directly pushed away, and the already dilapidated gas station convenience store behind him instantly collapsed.
"You're asking for death!"
Abomination reacted instantly, a flash of provoked Furycrossing his face.
As he was pushed back frantically by Hulk, he swung his iron fists covered in bone spurs, like a pile driver.
One punch! One punch!
Another punch, slammed hard into Hulk's back.
Each punch landed with a dull thud like a war drum.
Hulk's back instantly became a bloody mess.
One could even clearly see the incredibly tough green skin cracking inch by inch, and the hard back muscles deeply dented by the impact.
But, Hulk didn't care!
Didn't ask!
Didn't mind!
He just held Abomination tightly, his legs pushing forward like a bulldozer, crushing all obstacles in their path to dust.
He had only one thought.
That was to ram him to death!
...Just as the two behemoths rampaged wildly on the ground.
A thousand meters above in the sky.
A quinjet, entirely black, like a midnight ghost, silently hovered in the clouds.
The aircraft's tail hatch slid open silently.
Clint Barton was kneeling on one knee at the hatch, holding his beloved recurve bow, his face expressionless as he watched the battle scene below, like a blockbuster movie.
He adjusted the communicator on his ear, his tone filled with helplessness.
"Coulson."
"I need to remind you."
"You call those two things down there... an 'incident'?"
"Are you sure this isn't Godzilla fighting King Kong in a brotherly match?"
On the other end of the communicator, Coulson's voice was as calm as ever, showing no trace of emotion.
"Agent Barton, your mission is to contain, not to kill."
"Local police are evacuating residents from the last few blocks, and I need you to buy them time."
"Backup is on its way."
Hawkeye sighed, toying with a strangely shaped arrow in his hand.
"Contain? What am I supposed to contain him with?"
"Look at the size of that guy, then look at my small arms and legs."
"I seriously doubt that one of my arrows would even be enough for him to pick his teeth."
"You can do it, Barton."
Coulson's voice finally carried a hint of unquestionable command.
"Stop bickering with me, execute the order."
"Alright, alright..."
Hawkeye pouted, pulling out an arrow from his quiver with a bizarre spiral-shaped arrowhead and a faint electric glow at its fletching.
"Triple overtime pay, Coulson."
"Remember, triple!"
"If I'm short one penny, I'll go sit-in outside Fury's office tomorrow!"
Chapter 36: Three-way Attack
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly stood up, his body like a nimble Hawkeye, leaping from a thousand meters in the air.
His figure stretched in the air, landing precisely on the rooftop of a three-story building not far away.
The entire process was fluid, without a single superfluous sound.
Hawkeye stabilized himself, without a moment's hesitation, instantly drew his bow and nocked an arrow!
The bowstring was slowly drawn back, emitting a soft "hum" sound.
The electric light on the tip of the specially made explosive arrow suddenly intensified!
His gaze, like that of the most skilled hunter, locked onto the massive creature below that was furiously beating Hulk.
He didn't aim for Abomination's skin, which was tougher than tank armor.
Instead... he aimed for his eye!
…On the other side, Abomination's smile grew even more sinister.
He had even raised his fist, ready to deliver a fatal blow to the back of Hulk's head!
Just then!
"Whoosh—"
A silver streak of light, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, cut through the night sky, arriving in an instant!
Abomination only felt a blur before his eyes.
"Boom!!!"
The next second, an explosion far more powerful than a regular grenade erupted right before his eyes!
"Ah ah ah ah!!!!"
A bloodcurdling scream burst from Abomination's mouth.
He suddenly let go of Hulk, covering his bloody left eye with both hands, his massive body trembling wildly from the intense pain.
Opportunity!
It's now!!!
Hulk, who had been suppressed for a full ten minutes, felt as if a whole barrel of gasoline had been poured onto his almost extinguished rage!
"Roar!"
Accompanied by an earth-shattering roar, Hulk used his last ounce of strength, his arms suddenly exerting force.
He grabbed Abomination, who had lost his balance due to the intense pain, and with a perfectly executed over-the-shoulder throw, he slammed the behemoth to the ground.
This wasn't over yet.
The rage in Hulk's chest had only just begun to burn!
He suddenly leaped, like a green hill, heavily mounting Abomination.
Then, he raised his fist.
"Thump!"
One punch!
It landed squarely on Abomination's astonished face.
Abomination's nose bridge snapped.
"Thump!!"
Another punch!
Abomination's teeth, mixed with green blood, flew out.
What followed was a storm of punches, like an unceasing drumbeat, furiously and relentlessly raining down on Abomination's face!
One punch!
Ten punches!
One hundred punches!
Hulk seemed tireless.
He forgot the pain, he forgot defense, he forgot everything!
He was just repeating this most primitive, most savage motion!
Smash!
Smash him!
Smash this face that dared to mock him!!!
...On the distant rooftop.
Clint Barton watched this gruesome scene of brutal slaughter.
The corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch.
"Is this guy... on drugs?"
He murmured to himself.
Hulk's insane, indiscriminate frenzy made even him, a top Agent accustomed to major events, feel a chill down his spine.
Just then.
"Whoosh!!!"
Two piercing sonic booms, from far to near, suddenly cut through the night sky!
Hawkeye suddenly looked up.
He saw two streaks of steel light, one red and one silver, like Celestials descending from the heavens, trailing long fiery tails, whistling towards them.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Two steel suits of armor, full of violent aesthetics, slammed heavily onto the street not far away, kicking up a cloud of dust.
It was Iron Man Tony Stark, who had hastily modified his armor, and War Machine James Rhodes.
Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes' newly repaired shoulder cannon rotated, preheating, and looking at Abomination, who was almost pounded into a pulp below, he quipped over the public channel:
"Tony, it looks like we came for nothing."
"Look, that big green guy seems like he's about to win."
However, before he could finish speaking, an unexpected event occurred.
"Roar!!!"
Abomination, who should have been pounded to a pulp, suddenly burst out with a fierce, survival-driven glint in his eyes.
He suddenly crossed his hands in front of him, quickly raised his right leg, and like a battering ram, with immense force, kicked Hulk squarely in the abdomen!
"Bang!!!"
A loud bang!
Hulk, who was in a berserk state and had completely abandoned defense, was actually sent flying by this dying blow.
His massive green body, like a kite with a broken string, crashed into the wall of a nearby building, collapsing it, and was buried under countless bricks and rubble.
"I knew it!"
Tony Stark's characteristic, slightly helpless complaint came through War Machine's communication channel.
"Rhodey, less of these flags in the future, OK?"
The next second, Tony Stark said nothing more, and the thrusters behind his armor roared to life!
"Whoosh!"
He transformed into a red lightning bolt, instantly rushing to Abomination's front!
"Hey! Ugly!"
"Come to Daddy, I'm going to give you a hot bath."
Before he finished speaking, the palm cannon's light had already lit up.
"Boom! Boom!"
Two high-energy pulse beams accurately struck Abomination's bloody chest, blasting out two charred holes.
The reactor that Lin Chen had taken out had now been transferred by Tony to the armor, which also made the armor's energy output smoother.
At the same time, Iron Man's loudspeaker broadcast Tony's voice throughout the entire block.
"Dr. Banner! Can you hear me?"
"Calm down! We're here to help you!"
"Damn it! Why isn't Lin with you?!"
What responded to him was an even more furious roar!
"Roar!!!!"
The ruins exploded!
Hulk's figure burst out again, ignoring Tony Stark, his eyes only on the enemy who had humiliated him.
Like a mad bull, he once again savagely slammed Abomination, who had just regained his footing, back to the ground!
The two behemoths once again wrestled together.
"Alright, it seems communication is ineffective."
Tony shrugged helplessly.
"Rhodey, Plan B!"
"Received!"
War Machine responded in a deep voice, and the Vulcan cannon on his shoulder began to spin wildly!
"Da da da da da da —"
A scorching storm of metal instantly poured out!
Countless large-caliber armor-piercing rounds formed a steel torrent, sweeping towards Abomination's back.
At the same time, Tony also flew into mid-air, and the miniature missile nests on his wrists all opened.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
More than a dozen miniature missiles, trailing their exhaust plumes, from various tricky angles, sealed off all of Abomination's evasion space.
"Boom boom boom boom!!!"
Explosion!
Strafe!
Coupled with Hulk's reckless, frenzied biting and pounding... Under the three-pronged attack, even with Abomination's strong regenerative abilities, he was completely caught in a desperate situation of passive beatings.
He was like prey surrounded by three prehistoric beasts, only able to emit roars of unwillingness, struggling left and right, but utterly powerless to fight back.
"Roar!!!"
Hulk seized an opening, his hands tightly gripping Abomination's left arm.
His explosive green muscles bulged to the extreme.
"No... No!!!"
For the first time, an emotion called "fear" appeared in Abomination's eyes.
He had a premonition of what was about to happen!
"Crack!!!!"
The next second, a bone-chilling crunch of bone breaking was heard.
Abomination's incredibly thick left arm was actually... broken by Hulk in the most savage and primitive way!
"Ah ah ah ah —!!!"
A heart-wrenching scream echoed through the sky!
The intense pain completely destroyed Abomination's last shred of fighting spirit.
He was scared!
If he continued fighting, he would really be torn apart by these three madmen.
Escape!
He must escape!
Abomination used all his strength to kick Hulk away, and his massive body burst out with unprecedented speed, turning and fleeing desperately into the depths of the dark street.
However... just as he turned around.
A piercing shriek, as if from the heavens, suddenly descended!
An extremely fast black dot rapidly expanded in his pupils.
Chapter 37 Where did Fury find this monster?
"What is that?"
Hovering in mid-air, Tony Stark frowned.
He turned his gaze towards the sky.
The next second.
That figure landed with a crash!
It landed squarely on the back of the fleeing Abomination.
"Boom!!!!!"
Instantly, the ground seemed to be struck by a high-speed meteorite.
The terrifying impact formed a visible circular airwave, spreading wildly in all directions.
The originally hard asphalt road, under the impact of this airwave, cracked and collapsed like fragile biscuits.
And the Abomination, at the very center of the impact, suffered the most.
Before it could even let out a scream, this unparalleled force from the sky forcefully stomped its upper body entirely into the ground.
Only its two legs remained, twitching nervously on the ground.
It looked both ridiculous and comical.
As the dust on the ground slowly dissipated.
A slender figure stood with one foot on the Abomination's back, in a relaxed posture, as if merely stepping on an ordinary stepping stone.
Lin Chen leisurely jumped from the Abomination to the ground, even having the leisure to pat off non-existent dust from his body, then looked up and flashed a brilliant smile at Iron Man, who was dumbfounded in mid-air.
"Hi, Tony."
"How come you didn't invite me to this party here?"
"That's a bit rude, I thought we were good buddies."
The corner of Tony Stark's mouth under his faceplate twitched violently.
He floated in mid-air, looking at the monster below, stomped into the ground in an extremely humiliating posture, and then at Lin Chen, who had an expression of "I just passed by and stepped on an ant."
For a moment, he didn't know how to complain.
How could this guy be even more ostentatious than him?
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
He and Rhodes landed opposite Lin Chen, one after another, their heavy armor stirring up two faint waves of dust.
"Click."
The faceplate retracted upwards, revealing Tony's face, which was full of "What the hell?" expressions.
And War Machine Rhodes beside him, his pupils constricted violently!
He stared intently at the Abomination, which was stuck upside down like a scallion, with only two legs twitching outside, and then his gaze uncontrollably shifted to Lin Chen's smiling face.
In an instant, a long-forgotten phantom pain shot through his ribs.
The fear of being slapped away by this man at the Stark Industries Expo that day, like a broken sack, smashing through a dozen walls... once again, clearly appeared in his mind.
The past is unbearable to recall... "Roar!!!"
Just then, a furious roar interrupted everyone's thoughts.
The Hulk, long ignored after Lin Chen's appearance, went berserk again.
His crimson eyes locked onto Lin Chen, who was stepping on the Abomination's back, seemingly accusing this guy who appeared out of nowhere of stealing his prey.
However, he didn't charge over recklessly, as after their last battle, in his walnut-sized brain, he had more or less remembered that the person in front of him was a very strong guy.
Yes, he was not easy to bully, and might even get beaten up in return.
So he deliberately took a semi-circular detour, wanting to get behind Lin Chen from his side, to continue teaching the Abomination a lesson.
"Sigh, you really don't make things easy for me..."
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow and sighed at Tony and Rhodes, his expression like someone looking at a group of mischievous brats.
"Gentlemen, hold off on the reunion for a moment."
"I'll deal with this big oaf first, otherwise we won't be able to chat properly."
Before he finished speaking, the charging green hill was already close at hand.
The strong wind stirred up by its high-speed running was enough to blow away a car.
Lin Chen didn't even move his head, his figure just flickered, disappearing from where he stood.
The next second, he appeared like a ghost in front of the Hulk, one hand lightly pressing on the Hulk's forehead, which was larger than a millstone.
"Buzz!!!"
The Horse Talisman, embedded in the center of his belt, suddenly lit up with a soft and sacred white light.
Then, an indescribable healing energy, like a bursting flood, instantly surged into the Hulk's raging brain.
"Owooooo—!!!"
The Hulk's roar instantly changed pitch.
It was no longer an angry roar, but a wail mixed with extreme pain and unwillingness.
His massive body trembled violently, and the explosive green muscles began to recede like a tide.
In just two or three seconds.
The towering green giant, with a heart full of unwillingness, knelt down with a crash.
The green skin faded, the massive body rapidly shrank, and finally reverted to the small, weak Bruce Banner, with only a pair of tattered shorts remaining.
Dr. Banner weakly raised his head, looked at Lin Chen, his eyes complex.
Then, his gaze swept over the street, which had been ravaged and scarred by himself and the Abomination, his face filled with deep guilt and self-reproach.
"Lin... I'm sorry."
"I... the Hulk accidentally caused trouble again."
"That's not your fault."
Lin Chen retracted his hand, looking down at him, his tone calm.
He pointed his chin at the still-twitching "radish" behind him.
"But can you tell me, what's the deal with that thing?"
Banner gasped, and in a few words, quickly recounted how he came to Virginia and how he was attacked by the Abomination.
Lin Chen stroked his chin, his brows slightly furrowed.
Something was wrong.
Twelve parts out of ten, something was seriously wrong.
Logically speaking, under his previous intervention, Bannerwould have had no chance to meet that "Mr. Blue," let alone hand over his blood samples.
Without the Hulk's blood, how did the the military create the Abomination?
Could it be... that the plotline of the comic world had intruded?
That was possible, otherwise there was no way to explain where the Abomination came from.
Just as Lin Chen was pondering.
"Rumble..."
The ground suddenly trembled violently.
The Abomination, stomped into the ground, actually used its tenacious and abnormal vitality to forcefully pull its head and upper body out of the cement!
On its face, which no longer looked human, only a single eye remained, filled with malice towards this world and fear of Lin Chen.
Although the injuries could heal, the pain was real.
So it no longer had any intention of fighting, and at this moment, without a word, it used its hands and feet, rolling and crawling, wanting to continue to escape.
"Tsk."
Seeing this, Lin Chen clicked his tongue impatiently.
He didn't even bother to chase after it, just casually raised his hand.
And snapped his fingers.
"Snap!"
The crisp sound was particularly jarring in the quiet town.
The Abomination, frantically fleeing, suddenly stiffened, as if a pause button had been pressed.
The next second, its massive body completely defied the laws of physics, uncontrollably... flying upwards!
"Ah ah ah ah!!!"
The Abomination immediately let out a terrified scream.
Lin Chen's mouth curved into a malicious arc, and he gently pressed his palm downwards.
"Boom!!!!!"
The Abomination's body, like a giant bomb dropped, slammed heavily onto the ground, creating another new large crater.
Then, it flew up again!
"Boom!!!"
Slammed down again!
Flew up!
"Boom!!!"
Slammed down!
At this moment, this monster, which had been so ferocious just now, was like a helpless maiden being humiliated and unable to resist, doing nothing but letting out desperate wails. Just listening to the sound made one's scalp tingle...
"Gulp..."
On the distant rooftop.
Clint Barton swallowed with difficulty.
He looked at the god-like figure through the binoculars, feeling the terrifying pressure that, even from such a distance, was enough to make one's soul tremble.
His voice carried a barely perceptible tremor.
"Coulson... you call this... backup?"
"Where on earth did Fury find this kind of monster?!"
Chapter 38 Can you give him some breathing space?
Hawkeye's words, transmitted through the communication channel, clearly reached Coulson's ears.
Coulson watched the figure controlling everything with one hand on the screen, expressionless, remaining silent for a long time.
Then, he slowly picked up the walkie-talkie.
"Barton."
"That's not something you should be thinking about."
"...And, whatever you do, don't provoke him."
...Meanwhile, at the center of the ruins.
"Boom!"
"Boom! Boom!"
Abomination's body was still being treated like a rag doll, repeatedly making intimate, zero-distance contact with the ground.
His wails had changed from initial anger and terror to a weak whimper.
Tony Stark and Colonel Rhodes remained frozen in place, watching the scene of what could only be described as a massacre, their eyelids twitching wildly.
Too brutal!
Too unreasonable!
This wasn't a battle at all; it was a one-sided torment!
But everyone failed to notice that Lin Chen subtly frowned. He felt that for a moment, the power from the Talisman had a sense of sluggishness.
It was like sinking into mud, but this feeling only lasted for an instant, so quick it seemed like an illusion.
Just then, a weak voice spoke up.
"Lin..."
Dr. Banner, disheveled, had walked over to Lin Chen at some point, and tremblingly reached out to gently tug at his pant leg.
"Um... can you leave him some breath?"
There was a hint of pleading in Dr. Banner's eyes.
"I... I have many questions I want to ask him."
Lin Chen glanced at the Abomination, who was now only twitching instinctively in the large pit, and pouted with boredom.
"Alright."
"I've pretty much played enough."
The movement of his palm abruptly stopped.
Losing control of the invisible force, Abomination's massive body immediately plummeted like a kite with a broken string, free-falling one last time from mid-air.
"Thud!"
With a dull thud, he slammed heavily back into the large pit he had just created, kicking up a circle of dust, and completely ceased all movement.
Lin Chen's figure instantly vanished from his original spot.
The next second, he was already standing at the edge of the large pit, looking down at the monster, now like a puddle of mud at the bottom.
He extended a finger, pointing it at Bronski.
"Buzz—"
Another soft White light emanated from the Horse Talisman on his waist, precisely enveloping Abomination's body.
Then, to everyone's astonishment, Abomination's deformed, ugly, monstrous body began to shrink at a visible speed.
The sound of bones dislocating crackled, and the dark green skin quickly receded, returning to a normal skin tone.
In just a few seconds.
The monster at the bottom of the pit disappeared.
In its place was a naked man, covered in grotesque wounds, completely unconscious.
Emil Bronski.
Seeing this, Colonel Rhodes's eye twitched involuntarily.
Almost instinctively, he skillfully pulled a uniquely shaped magnetic handcuff from his tactical belt.
"Click!"
The handcuffs precisely locked onto Bronski's wrists.
"Alright, he's contained."
Rhodes sighed in relief and looked at Tony.
"What do we do next? By procedure, he should be taken by the the military."
Tony was about to speak, but Lin Chen's calm voice preempted him.
"No need."
"Someone is here to take over."
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned his head, his deep gaze fixed on the shadow at the street corner in the distance.
Everyone followed his gaze.
They saw a nimble figure rapidly climbing down the side of a building, and with a few leaps, silently landed on the ground, then quickly ran towards them.
His movements were fluid, with the keenness and precision of a hunter.
Tony Stark raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, look who it is?"
Lin Chen's lips also curved into an amused smile.
Oh, another familiar face.
Soon, the person arrived and stood before everyone.
The newcomer was dressed in a black combat suit, carrying a high-tech recurve bow on his back, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.
It was Hawkeye, Clint Barton.
He first eyed Lin Chen warily, then cleared his throat, adopting the standard demeanor of a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent.
"Ahem."
"S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Clint Barton."
He stated the full, tongue-twisting name of the department, then looked directly at Lin Chen.
"Mr. Lin Chen, according to the agreement, can this target be handed over to S.H.I.E.L.D. for handling?"
"You can."
Lin Chen's answer was crisp and direct, which instead made Hawkeye, who had prepared a whole speech, stunned for a moment.
"I wouldn't be too comfortable handing him over to others."
Lin Chen added lightly.
He pointed to Bronski in the pit.
"Keep an eye on him."
"When he wakes up, have Phil Coulson notify me."
"I have some things I want to ask him personally."
"...Understood!"
Hawkeye immediately nodded in agreement, without the slightest hesitation.
Are you kidding? Who would dare refuse this lord's request?
He immediately turned, jumped into the large pit, and prepared to take the prisoner from Rhodes.
Rhodes's brow instantly furrowed.
"Wait, Agent Barton, he is a major the military felon..."
Before he could finish speaking, he felt a calm gaze fall upon him.
Rhodes immediately shut up.
He glanced at Lin Chen, who was smiling, then thought about his still-aching ribs... In the end, he unhappily deactivated the magnetic handcuff's authorization.
"...He's yours."
Hawkeye wasted no words, hoisted the unconscious Bronski like a sandbag, and turned to leave.
Suddenly, Banner called out to him.
"Wait a moment."
"Um, Betty..."
Hawkeye paused, then understood Banner's meaning and smiled, "Don't worry, Doctor, someone will take care of her."
"Thank you..."
Banner took a deep breath and bowed solemnly to him.
"You're welcome."
Hawkeye waved at him and turned to leave.
Soon, a faint engine roar came from the distance.
A quinjet, entirely black, descended slowly from the night like a silent ghost, picking up Hawkeye and his "trophy."
Watching the quinjet disappear into the sky, Tony Starkexaggeratedly stretched, breaking the silence.
"Alright, monster party's over."
He winked at Rhodes.
"Hey, Rhodey, want to grab a drink at my place? I've got some fine Scotch whiskey."
Rhodes thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright."
He indeed needed a drink to calm his nerves, and incidentally... he was also extremely curious about this man named Lin Chen!
Tony looked at Lin Chen, about to extend an invitation, but Lin Chen spoke first.
"Tony."
"How's your research on the new element coming along?"
That one sentence instantly froze the flashy smile on Tony's face.
His expression became somewhat bitter.
"Ugh, don't even ask... I'm completely stumped."
He sighed.
"I was planning to ask you, the 'prophet,' after this whole thing was over."
Lin Chen smiled at that.
He glanced at the scarred street and patted Tony's Iron Man armor.
"Then what are you waiting for?"
"There's no time like the present."
"Let's go, we'll head to Stark Industries now."
Tony was startled, "What for?"
"You'll know when we get there."
Lin Chen smiled, grabbed Banner with one hand, placed the other on the Rooster Talisman, and flew into the sky, heading towards California.
On the ground, Tony and Rhodes exchanged glances, then, full of doubts, followed closely behind.
Chapter 39 It turns out that he has never been absent
California, bathed in sunshine.
On the top-floor helipad of Stark Industries headquarters.
Two figures in steel armor and one figure that appeared abruptly landed almost simultaneously.
"Boom!"
The heavy armor crashed to the ground, making a loud noise.
Lin Chen, however, pulled Dr. Banner down lightly, not even stirring a speck of dust.
At the entrance of the helipad, two people had been waiting for a long time.
One was Tony's driver and bodyguard, Happy Hogan, with a simple and loyal expression.
The other was Agent Phil Coulson, always in a black suit, with a professional fake smile on his face.
"Hey, Coulson, what are you doing here?"
Tony asked in surprise as he disengaged his armor.
Coulson pushed his sunglasses up, his smile so perfect it looked as if it had been measured with a ruler.
"Mr. Stark, Mr. Lin asked me to come."
He turned to Lin Chen and bowed slightly, his respectful attitude making Tony's eyelids twitch.
"Mr. Lin, I have brought what you asked for."
Coulson handed over an old metal film canister.
Lin Chen didn't even look at it, directly gesturing to Happynext to him.
"Happy, hold this."
"Oh… okay, okay!"
Happy was stunned for a moment, then fumbled to take the seemingly important item.
"Alright, don't just stand outside."
Lin Chen clapped his hands, as if he were the Master here.
"Tony, lead the way to your office."
"We have serious business to attend to."
The group of five marched grandly into the nerve center of Stark Industries… Tony Stark's top-floor office.
It was luxurious, spacious, and filled with a sense of futuristic technology.
"Alright, Lin, can you tell me now?"
Tony sank into the leather sofa, asking impatiently.
"How does calling me back to the company in such a hurry relate to my new element?"
Rhodes and Dr. Banner also cast curious glances.
Lin Chen didn't answer, merely looking around as if searching for something.
"Tony, did your father… Howard Stark, leave you anything?"
"For example, a model of the 1974 Stark Industries Expo?"
That one sentence instantly froze the eager expression on Tony's face.
His eyes became complex.
There was surprise, confusion, and a hint of… barely perceptible nostalgia and sadness.
"How do you know about that?"
He asked almost instinctively.
"Don't ask me how I know."
Lin Chen walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the city below.
"Go find it."
"The answer you seek is in there."
Tony fell silent.
He stared intently at Lin Chen's back, as if trying to discern some secret from him.
Finally, he took a deep breath, as if having made a decision.
"Happy!"
"Bring me that '74 Expo model from the storage room!"
...Soon, a huge, rather old-looking architectural model of a city was brought into the center of the office by Happy, who directed security to carry it.
A thick layer of dust had already accumulated on the model.
Five people, five pairs of eyes, stood around the old model, looking at each other.
"So… where's the clue?"
Tony scratched his head, completely bewildered.
He walked around the model several times, even almost putting his head into it, but couldn't figure anything out.
"Isn't this just an ordinary model?"
Lin Chen smiled.
"Geniuses sometimes get trapped by their own fixed mindsets."
"Tony, look at it from a different angle."
"What if the model itself isn't the key?"
"Why don't you observe its structure?"
This sentence, like a bolt of lightning, cut through the fog in Tony's mind!
His eyes instantly lit up.
"Structure…"
"Structure!"
"I understand!"
"Jarvis!!"
Tony shouted excitedly.
"Initiate holographic scan! Deeply analyze the spatial structure of this model! Project its layout as an atomic structure diagram!"
"Yes, sir."
The next second, in the center of the office, pale blue light intertwined into a net.
The entire model was covered by data streams, and then, an incredibly precise, incredibly complex holographic projection of an atomic structure slowly materialized in mid-air.
It hung there silently, like a brilliant star.
Dr. Banner's mouth unconsciously formed an "O" shape.
"My God…"
He adjusted his glasses and quickly walked to the projection, his eyes filled with shock and fervor.
"This structure… it's too perfect! Too stable!"
"It perfectly avoids the instability of all known elements; this… this is simply a masterpiece that only God could create!"
"With it, all problems of insufficient energy supply will be solved! This is a brand new, never-before-seen…"
Dr. Banner was incoherent with excitement.
Tony Stark, however, just stared blankly at the glowing atomic model, not saying a word.
His eyes, at some point, had turned red.
What he saw was not a plan for creating a new element.
What he saw was a path his father had laid out for him decades ago.
The man who was always strict, cold, and stingy with praise in his memory… had always believed in him.
He believed that one day, Tony would use his own wisdom to discover the secret hidden beneath this model.
This was a silent, timeless father's love.
Just then, Lin Chen walked to his side.
"Happy."
He called out.
Happy immediately understood and handed over the metal film canister he had been holding in his arms.
Lin Chen took the film canister and gently placed it on the table in front of Tony.
"This, too, he left for you."
"Watch it."
"I think these are the words he most wanted to say to you."
Tony's body trembled slightly.
He reached out, his fingertips trembling as they caressed the cold metal casing, as if he could feel the warmth that had been dormant for decades.
Lin Chen no longer disturbed him.
He gave a meaningful look to Rhodes, Dr. Banner, and Happy.
"Let's go out."
"Give him some private space."
...Outside the office, in the spacious reception room.
Happy took out an expensive bottle of whiskey from the liquor cabinet and poured drinks for everyone.
"Gulp."
Colonel Rhodes drained half his glass in one go, his brows still tightly furrowed.
"Will he… be alright?"
He looked at the closed office door, his voice full of worry.
Lin Chen held his glass, gently swirling the amber liquid, his eyes calm and profound.
"Don't worry."
"This is a necessary step for him to become a true superhero."
"Some emotional knots can only be untied by oneself."
...Inside the office.
A profound silence.
Tony sat blankly for a long time, finally making up his mind.
"Jarvis."
His voice was a little hoarse.
"Play it."
"Yes, sir."
A beam of light shot down from the ceiling, projecting a clear image onto the wall.
The screen began to flicker.
A Howard Stark, dressed in a suit and looking much younger than Tony remembered, appeared on the screen.
"…Tony, you're too young to understand these things…"
The Howard in the video had gentle eyes, full of pride.
"…I am limited by my era, but I believe in you."
"I believe that one day you will change the world…"
"Do you know? My greatest work in life…"
Howard paused, looking at the camera, as if crossing time and space, meeting his son's gaze.
"…is you."
"Splash…"
A soft sound.
A burning tear slid down Tony Stark's cheek, hitting the cold floor.
In his mind, childhood memories surged like a tide.
The father who was always busy with work, but would quietly enter his room late at night to tuck him in.
The father who said, "You're not good enough," but kept all his awards carefully stored in the deepest part of his study.
It turned out he was never absent.
It turned out he was always there.
Chapter 40 New Elements!
The office door opened silently.
Rhodes, Banner, and Happy, who were waiting outside, felt their hearts tighten and all looked over.
Tony Stark stood there.
His eyes were still bloodshot, and there were even fresh tear stains on his face; he looked as if he had been drained of all energy, utterly haggard.
But his eyes… they shone like two stars!
It was a kind of steadfastness and sharpness, refined and reborn!
"Tony, you…"
Colonel Rhodes opened his mouth, but his worried words caught in his throat.
Tony's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Lin Chen's face.
He took a deep breath, his voice hoarse, yet every word carried immense weight.
"Guys."
"I need your help."
…Stark Industries Headquarters, third basement level, a private laboratory with the highest clearance.
All researchers and security personnel had been cleared out five minutes ago.
The massive alloy door slowly closed, transforming the space into an absolutely private domain.
This was Tony Stark's paradise, his sacred ground where fantasy became reality!
"OK, ladies and gentlemen, the show starts now!"
Tony snapped his fingers, casting aside his earlier melancholy, and his face once again bore that familiar, fervent, and confident expression of a genius inventor.
"Jarvis! Bring up the atomic arrangement diagram of the new element!"
"Rhodes, I need you to help me move the electromagnetic coil from Area A."
"Happy! See that box with the coolant in it? Yes, that big guy, move it carefully, don't drop it!"
"Dr. Banner! The two of us will handle the core calibration!"
Instructions poured from Tony's mouth like a machine gun, and the entire laboratory instantly transformed into a high-speed construction site.
"What? Such a big coil? Tony, you're crazy!"
Rhodes complained, but his War Machine armor had already covered his entire body, and he walked with heavy steps towards the warehouse area.
"Boss, this… I don't think I can handle it alone!"
Happy, holding a metal box taller than himself, turned red in the face, straining with all his might.
Dr. Banner, meanwhile, had already put on his goggles, his eyes gleaming as he intensely discussed data with Tony in front of a holographic projection.
Lin Chen leaned casually to the side, arms crossed.
"Hey! Lin! Don't just stand there watching!"
Tony, in the midst of his busy work, spared a moment to shout, pointing to a superconducting magnet at the other end of the laboratory, which resembled a small shipping container.
"Even Rhodes' Iron Monger would have to move that big guy twice!"
"Give us a hand?"
Everyone's gaze converged.
Lin Chen lazily raised his right hand and, facing the multi-ton behemoth, lightly snapped his fingers.
"Snap!"
A soft click.
A barely perceptible golden light flashed at his fingertips and vanished.
The next second, under everyone's jaw-dropping gaze, the enormous superconducting magnet defied Newton's laws and effortlessly floated up.
Like a weightless balloon, it drifted unsteadily to its designated position, then silently settled down, fitting perfectly.
"…"
"Boom!"
Rhodes had just laboriously carried over an electromagnetic coil when he saw this scene, his hand trembled, and the several-hundred-kilogram coil crashed directly to the ground.
His faceplate "clicked" back, and he stared at Lin Chen, dumbfounded.
"I… I feel like my armor is a bit redundant…"
Happy, even more so, let go directly, plopped down on the ground, and muttered to himself.
"My God, is this… is this magic?"
In the face of the Rooster Talisman's unreasonable "levitation" power, so-called modern technology seemed as fragile as a joke.
With the addition of Lin Chen, the "super crane," the entire assembly process was compressed to the extreme.
In less than an hour.
A large, hadron collider-like machine, gleaming with metallic luster, intricately structured, and filled with a sense of sci-fi beauty, rose from the laboratory floor… "Everyone put on your goggles!"
Tony's voice grew serious.
He stood before the main control console, with Dr. Bannerat his side.
The two exchanged glances, seeing in each other's eyes an uncontrollable excitement and fervor.
This was the allure of science!
This was the moment of creation!
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
"Activate!"
Both pressed the activation button in front of them simultaneously!
"Vwooom—!"
The entire machine immediately emitted a low hum, and the energy indicator lights illuminated progressively.
Two ethereal blue proton beams were unleashed from both ends of the acceleration track, instantly transforming into streaks of light, hurtling madly towards the palm-sized, specially designed crystal container at the very center of the laboratory!
"Beep! Beep! Beep! Warning! Radiation levels critically exceeded!"
The alarm lights on the control console flashed wildly, and Jarvis's piercing alarm blared throughout the entire laboratory.
"Radiation?"
Rhodes' and Happy's faces changed.
Lin Chen, however, remained unhurried, even letting out a yawn.
He casually wiped his hand across his waist.
A gentle, jade-like energy ripple quietly spread, forming an invisible shield that completely enveloped the five of them.
The Horse Talisman, which heals all things, naturally included this deadly radiation.
The piercing alarm sound abruptly ceased.
The radiation index on the control console instantly plummeted from critical red to safe green.
Tony gave Lin Chen a thumbs up.
With Lin Chen's participation, this experiment had no further worries… From then on, no one paid attention to this small interlude.
Everyone's gaze was fixed intently on the crystal container.
"It's about to collide!"
Dr. Banner shouted excitedly.
When the two proton beams, traveling at near light speed, precisely impacted the tiny palladium atomic nucleus within the crystal container… Time seemed to slow down at this moment.
Some protons were forcibly "captured" by the palladium atomic nucleus, bound together.
A brand new, heavier isotope was born in a fraction of a billionth of a second.
Immediately after, an indescribably brilliant light erupted explosively in the center of the container!
The new element instantly formed in a superheated plasma state in the vacuum.
"Jarvis! Initiate magnetic field containment! Quick!"
Tony roared, his hands frantically working the control console.
An invisible magnetic field instantly locked down the turbulent energy, preventing it from escaping even an inch, no matter how it struggled.
"Initiate cooling sequence!"
Blue coolant was injected into the circulation system.
The intense plasma, its light began to slowly recede.
Finally, all light and heat vanished.
A perfect inverted triangular prism, emitting a soft blue glow like a work of art, quietly floated in the center of the crystal container.
It was a success!
…"We… we succeeded…"
Tony stared blankly at the brand new elemental crystal, his voice trembling.
It was joy, excitement, and the immense relief of shedding the burden of death!
He could no longer hide the wild elation in his heart, rushing over in a few quick steps, and carefully opening the container.
He reached out, as if touching a rare treasure, and gently took out the triangular prism.
Then, he picked up a brand new, more precisely structured circular arc reactor from the side.
He took a deep breath, and steadily embedded the glowing prism into the very center of the arc reactor.
"Click."
A perfect fit.
Having done all this, Tony's gaze turned to the armor placed nearby.
In the chest of the simply modified armor, the old palladium arc reactor emitted a dim light, like a flickering candle in the wind.
Without the slightest hesitation, he used both hands, forcefully pulling out the old arc reactor—which had sustained his life but also constantly poisoned him—from the slot in the armor's chest.
"Sizzle—!"
A burst of electrical sparks flashed.
Tony, impatient, quickly aimed the new arc reactor in his hand at the slot and slammed it in!
"Boom!!!"
Instantly, the armor's eyes erupted with dazzling light.
At the same time, Jarvis's voice rang out, high-pitched:
"Sir, congratulations, the new arc reactor's energy output power has increased by 300% over projections…"