Boom!
The boulder smashed into the street and exploded into a spray of grit and rubble. The shockwave rolled through the block — that was Banner's power for you. Cataclysmic. Unstoppable.
Natasha Romanoff rolled, elegant as ever, and just barely avoided the impact. She spat out a curse under her breath while still in motion. "Don't run, Banner! I'm going to tear you apart!" the Hulk roared, furious at being denied his target. The green behemoth thrashed, angrier and more brutal by the second.
"Banner, you need to calm down!" Natasha called, though she knew reasoning wouldn't do any good now. Guns were useless against a mindless Hulk — they'd only make things worse. She kept dodging, moving like water, keeping out of reach while watching Ryuuto work.
Two webs snapped out from above and wrapped around Banner's forearms — Gwen's handiwork. The great hulk staggered, his arms suspended awkwardly in the air for a heartbeat, and Natasha used that opening to leap clear.
"Natasha, you okay?" Ryuuto popped up at her side as if he'd been there the whole time.
"I'm fine. Keep at him!" she answered, straightening her hair, eyes narrowed.
Gwen's webbing only held Banner for a second. The Hulk's fury churned, and as he heaved to break free the wrists snapped like twigs. Natasha's jaw tightened. "Ryuuto, he's getting stronger. What now?"
Ryuuto watched Banner—muscles knotting, boulder in hand, roaring like a storm—and a cold plan assembled itself in his head. "Don't panic. Banner's still my friend. I won't just stand by." He squared his shoulders. "I lead the main assault. You two support. Do. Not. Get. Close. If this turns into melee, you'll be in serious danger."
"We trust you," Natasha said without hesitation. Gwen nodded fiercely beside her.
Ryuuto inhaled, centring himself. Earth Style — Light and Heavy Rock Technique. He moved with the manic rhythm of someone who'd trained to make the impossible routine: a flurry of strikes, grabs, and seismic shoves aimed at destabilizing Banner without giving the Hulk something to smash in one hit.
Meanwhile, in the ruined off-road vehicle a miserable man groaned. General Ross — half-dead, his legs gone and blood everywhere — coughed out a question. His voice was rope-thin. "Who… who are you? What are you going to do to me?"
Dr. Connors stepped into view like a predator smelling the last of the prey. Lab coat, glasses, a smile that never reached his eyes. "Look at yourself," Connors said quietly. "If you keep bleeding like that, you're dead in three minutes. You know that, don't you, General?" His tone was clinical. Cold.
Ross spat, furious and filthy. "I don't need you—"
Connors' smile sharpened. "I'm not here for jokes. I can save you. And I can make you… powerful."
Ross laughed, then stopped as Connors withdrew a syringe of yellow-green serum. "You expect me to believe that?"
Connors' voice dropped. "Because we have the same enemy—Ryuuto." He stared out toward where the three were fighting the Hulk. "Decide fast. If Banner's subdued by them, do you think they'll spare you?" Connors leaned in. "Three seconds."
Ross' eyes flicked to Ryuuto fighting the Hulk. The anger and fear both glittered there. "Fine. I'll do it."
Connors didn't even hesitate. He handed Ross the syringe and watched as the general plunged it into his neck. Pain convulsed through Ross, violent and immediate; his body shuddered as the serum took hold. Connors narrowly covered Ross's mouth to stop him screaming. As Ross's skin crawled and his pupils yellowed, Connors smiled that terrible smile again and dragged him away — the lizardman project moving forward.
Back on the battlefield, Ryuuto, Natasha and Gwen were holding ground but taking a beating. Even Ryuuto's clones were being swatted aside by the Hulk's sheer force. Natasha's face showed concern.
"Ryuuto, he's hitting through our clones — we're losing ground!"
Ryuuto's eyes flicked to the sky, then sank into focus. He made the seals with trembling speed. The air shimmered. He wasn't playing anymore.
"It's okay," he breathed. "Just stall. I've got a plan to bring him down."
Shadow Clone Technique. More than he'd used before—and he was stripping everything he had to make it work. The air tasted of ozone and determination as his chakra roared.
For a few heartbeats the fight stuttered. Banner smashed and stumbled; then the dance began again. Ryuuto pushed his technique to the edge, Yang energy and will fused into one impossible hope: pin Banner without destroying him, subdue the monster without killing the man inside.
And somewhere in the city, deeper and darker, Connors' plan moved into motion.
...
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