Chapter 98: Different Monsters, Different Strategies
Professor Connors's amputated right arm grew rapidly at the stump—bones, blood vessels, and muscles reaching complete state almost before anyone's eyes. The next second, his skin turned dark green, tearing inch by inch, revealing rapidly multiplying scales beneath.
The transformed professor struggled frantically. Restraint straps dug deep into his scale-covered robust limbs. His massive body pressed the metal chair to its limits, producing constant creaking protests.
Almost the instant Professor Connors transformed into Professor Lizard, the Hulk couldn't help clenching his fists.
His entire musculature visibly tensed with power, seemingly eager to battle the four-meter-tall Professor Lizard.
Especially since Professor Lizard had transformed due to Hulk's stimulation—currently, Professor Lizard's pair of cold golden vertical pupils locked onto Hulk, exposing a mouthful of sharp fangs while roaring loudly.
"Hmph."
Hulk snorted through his nose. Just as he prepared to give Professor Lizard a punch regardless of consequences, Batman's deep voice suddenly rang out:
"Hulk. Now isn't the time for fighting."
Hulk glared at Batman, clearly displaying displeasure on his face.
Batman's white eyes met Hulk's somewhat dissatisfied gaze directly without retreating, voice remaining steady:
"Your strength is the bottom line preventing Professor Lizard from causing accidents. I need you maintaining this defense line, not being an ordinary thug."
Based on his earlier analysis of Hulk, Batman had confirmed Hulk was a highly emotional being. "Being acknowledged" was an extremely effective method for dealing with highly emotional individuals.
Through his words, Batman subtly elevated Hulk's status, making Hulk feel valued, even entrusted with important responsibility.
Clearly Batman's words resonated strongly with Hulk. The displeased expression on his green face instantly disappeared by half, his slightly protruding jaw closing.
"Hulk not stupid." The Hulk spoke gruffly, gradually relaxing his clenched fists. "Hulk will maintain defense line."
Batman nodded with minimal movement.
He couldn't truly rely on Hulk as final defense—half his earlier words had been coaxing Hulk. Now the effect appeared remarkably significant.
Dr. Octavius mustered courage to approach, holding a large pre-prepared syringe.
Just as he prepared to insert the needle along gray-green scale gaps to extract blood samples from Professor Lizard's body, Professor Lizard's struggling intensified dramatically. Restraint straps binding him produced tearing sounds.
If Professor Lizard continued struggling this way, complete liberation would occur within minutes.
Even with Hulk present and Batman's various contingencies, battle became inevitable.
"Hmph."
Hulk snorted again through his nostrils, stepping behind the metal frame before suddenly grabbing Professor Lizard's constantly twisting thick tail.
Crack! Snap!
Sounds of breaking bones and tearing scales continuously rang out. Hulk forcibly tore off a section of Professor Lizard's tail. Blood immediately pooled on the floor.
Professor Lizard opened his massive jaws, releasing a deafening roar that scattered birds across North Brother Island in all directions. His golden pupils nearly contracted into straight lines, glaring venomously at Hulk:
"You mindless beast, oversized frog! I'll definitely find opportunity to kill you, ROAR!"
Four days ago at Oscorp, when Hulk grabbed Professor Lizard's tail, he'd severed it himself—survival instinct.
But currently, Professor Lizard's tail had been violently torn off—completely different from autonomous tail detachment.
Pain, humiliation, and rage intertwined. Professor Lizard immediately attempted directly provoking Hulk upon speaking.
The moment he spoke, Dr. Octavius—holding the large syringe nearby preparing injections—retreated several steps, almost reaching the laboratory exit.
Batman also imperceptibly moved one hand behind his back, prepared to respond to an enraged Hulk and crazed Professor Lizard.
He'd already envisioned worst-case scenarios and made partial preparations and plans. Current circumstances hadn't reached Batman's anticipated worst situation yet.
But Hulk wasn't provoked. He simply looked dismissively at the desperately struggling Professor Lizard before casually tossing the still-twitching lizard tail backward with a thud onto the floor.
"Pitiful big lizard," Hulk said.
He wasn't angered by Professor Lizard's words, though his face again showed displeasure at being called an oversized frog.
But stronger feelings included responsibility from being entrusted with important tasks, plus superiority from Professor Lizard being bound while Hulk remained completely unrestrained.
Batman quietly lowered his hand from behind his back.
Dr. Octavius jogged over, tossing aside the large syringe before tentatively touching the severed lizard tail section on the floor.
Professor Lizard's state obviously prevented various human-form data tests and scans, but having this tail section meant extracting considerable information.
Fwip! Fwip! Fwip!
Three batarangs flew from Batman's hand, embedding respectively on both sides and above Professor Lizard's head.
Powerful sedative gas rapidly dispersed.
Professor Lizard's struggling amplitude decreased somewhat. Simultaneously, his severed tail began rapidly stopping bleeding, sealing, and growing successive flesh buds.
Within mere seconds, Professor Lizard's tail had completely regenerated.
"Professor Connors, I know you're listening, watching me."
Batman's voice opened low.
Professor Lizard's cold golden vertical pupils shifted from Hulk to Batman standing on his other side. Batman had retracted his white lenses—dark eyes now directly meeting his gaze without obstruction:
"No matter what you become, don't forget who you are.You're a scientist dreaming of freeing humanity from physical deficiencies. You're an authority in reptilian biology."
"You are Curt Connors, a proud biologist—not a beast dominated by savagery and instinct."
Professor Lizard and the Hulk—two scientists capable of transforming into monsters—but Batman employed different response strategies.
Give Hulk sufficient respect, treating him as an independent individual.
But based on Professor Lizard's human recovery situation at Oscorp, Batman clearly knew Professor Connors's consciousness remained present even after transformation into the Lizard.
Professor Lizard's struggling stopped. Though still displaying teeth and frequently threatening Batman, his golden vertical pupils flickered with humanized confusion.
"Professor, I believe you can master this power—become its master rather than slave."
Batman repeatedly guided Professor Lizard, as if facing him wasn't a ferocious terrifying beast but truly that respectable scientist whose accident had caused tragedy.