Not long after the Battle of New York, Dr. Bruce Banner had planned to leave New York.
After all, he and the Hulk were complete opposites.
The Hulk craved excitement. He enjoyed massive battles, destruction, and the thrill of combat. To him, New York was the perfect playground.
Banner, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than a quiet, peaceful life.
Because of that, he submitted his resignation to S.H.I.E.L.D., intending to end his work as a consultant.
Under normal circumstances, no one would have tried to stop him. Very few people were willing to stand in Banner's way.
But because of Axel, Nick Fury personally spent an entire night speaking with him.
After the pressure Axel placed on S.H.I.E.L.D. following the Battle of New York, Fury ultimately persuaded Banner to remain aboard the Helicarrier for the time being.
Fortunately, life there suited Banner surprisingly well.
Everyone on board knew exactly who he was and understood the danger he posed, yet they were also highly trained S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who knew how to interact with him.
Instead of fear or prejudice, Banner received sincere respect.
Every greeting treated him as both a colleague and a hero.
To Banner, it felt like paradise.
With Axel gone for several days, Banner no longer felt any urgency to leave. Instead, he worked alongside S.H.I.E.L.D. to better manage the Hulk.
Complete control was impossible.
His goal was simply to create trigger words that could slightly reduce the Hulk's anger whenever he heard them.
Some were scientific terms Banner enjoyed.
Others were things the Hulk liked, such as chocolate ice cream.
That peaceful routine lasted until Hydra launched its assault.
Because missiles had proven ineffective against Axel and his allies, Hydra shifted its attention toward Banner.
As explosions and gunfire echoed throughout the Helicarrier, Banner locked himself inside his quarters and struggled to stay in control.
It wasn't enough.
The beast within him awakened.
With an earth-shaking roar, the Hulk burst through his room and rampaged through the residential section of the Helicarrier.
Within moments, he smashed his way onto the flight deck, leaving destruction in his wake.
The instant the Hulk appeared, Lex and the others immediately recognized the danger.
Tony Stark was just as nervous, though he refused to admit it.
Instead, he charged straight at the Hulk, hoping to contain him.
It was a hopeless effort.
Without the Hulkbuster armor, Tony simply lacked the firepower to restrain him.
Among everyone present, only Clark possessed the raw strength to confront the enraged Hulk.
The two giants collided across the Helicarrier's deck.
Although Clark was a Kryptonian, he was still developing.
He had yet to master flight or heat vision, and his powers had not fully matured.
At his current level, he might not even have been able to defeat Thor.
The Hulk, meanwhile, had over a decade of combat experience and was operating near his normal peak.
Even with Clark giving everything he had, the battle gradually became a contest of endurance.
Twenty exhausting minutes passed before Lex's voice came over the communicator.
"Clark, Hydra has destroyed two of the Helicarrier's power turbines. We can't waste any more time fighting the Hulk."
"The Helicarrier is losing power. If we don't restore the systems immediately, it'll crash."
"I understand!"
Clark nodded, rubbing his aching back.
Moments earlier, the Hulk had landed a brutal kick there, and the pain still lingered.
Yet during the fight, Clark had sensed something changing inside himself.
It felt as though another power had been waiting to awaken.
The sensation centered on his eyes.
Suddenly, unbearable heat spread through them.
"Hss..."
The burning pain forced Clark to cover his face.
Sizzle!
A pair of crimson beams erupted between his fingers.
The uncontrolled heat vision shot straight toward the Hulk.
Caught completely off guard, the Hulk took the blast head-on.
He had never expected his opponent to suddenly attack with his eyes.
By then, the battle had reached the edge of the Helicarrier.
Driven backward by Clark's newly awakened heat vision, the Hulk was blasted completely off the deck.
He plummeted toward New York City.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The Hulk crashed through the roof of Midtown School of Science and Technology's gymnasium.
The thunderous impact instantly sent the shelter into chaos.
Some students reacted immediately and sprinted for the exits before the Hulk even stood up.
Most, however, either froze in fear or simply failed to react.
Others remained because they believed they had nothing to fear.
"Haha! That's an Avenger."
"Yeah! He helped save New York during the alien invasion."
"He defeated so many aliens a few days ago."
To them, the Hulk was a superhero.
Why would a superhero hurt civilians?
Instead of running away, many students rushed toward the crater.
Phones and cameras filled the air.
Several aspiring journalists even began livestreaming, proudly showing viewers the Hulk's enormous physique.
Jessica frowned as she watched the crowd gather.
At this point in her life, she was still only a high school student.
She had not yet encountered the man who would destroy her future.
She still believed in heroes.
Years earlier, Jessica herself had gained superhuman abilities after being exposed to hazardous chemicals during an accident.
In places like Hell's Kitchen, accidents involving dangerous chemicals had produced more than a few extraordinary people.
Some became heroes.
Others became villains.
Jessica had been fortunate.
Her enhanced strength and durability had survived the accident, and despite everything, her desire to help others remained unchanged.
Long before Spider-Man would swing through New York, Jessica had every chance to become one of the city's earliest street-level superheroes.
Watching the crowd press closer to the Hulk, she shoved people aside and forced her way to the front.
Keeping her eyes locked on the unconscious giant, she shouted at the students around him.
"Are you all insane?
That's the Hulk!
Do you have any idea how dangerous he is?"
One of the journalism students laughed.
"Don't you know what dedication looks like?"
Jessica glared at him.
"Forget dedication. You're acting like reckless lunatics."
"We're documenting history!"
Several students pushed even closer.
Some practically leaned into the crater for better photographs.
"The pictures we take today could win a Pulitzer Prize!"
Jessica's expression became even more anxious.
"Everyone, back away!
The Hulk is far stronger than any superhuman I've ever seen.
If he decides to attack..."
Before she could finish speaking, the Hulk slowly opened his eyes.
Click!
Click!
Click!
Camera shutters exploded into a frenzy.
Flashes lit up the crater from every direction.
Students excitedly shouted.
"Big guy, over here!"
"Look this way!"
"You look incredible!"
"Strike a pose!"
"Do the Arnold Schwarzenegger pose!"
"No, do Rodin's Thinker pose!"
The endless shouting echoed through the gymnasium.
At first, the Hulk only looked around in confusion.
Then the nonstop flashes and voices pushed him past his limit.
His anger erupted.
With a furious roar, he swung a massive fist toward the nearest student.
Jessica's pupils contracted.
Because of her own enhanced strength, she understood exactly how terrifying that punch was.
If it connected, the student would die instantly.
Without hesitation, she threw herself between them.
She knew she wasn't strong enough.
She knew the odds were hopeless.
But she couldn't stand by and watch someone die.
Boom!
Reality proved even harsher than she had imagined.
The instant the Hulk's fist struck, Jessica felt all sensation disappear from her arm.
The overwhelming force launched her across the gymnasium.
Crash!
She slammed into a distant wall before collapsing to the floor.
On the grandstand, Peter Parker watched in horror.
His entire body trembled.
"Uncle Ben... Aunt May... is this school always this dangerous?"
Ben forced out a shaky smile.
"No... this... this has to be a one-time accident."
Without another word, he grabbed Peter's wrist.
"Run!"
Peter looked toward the injured Jessica.
"But... I want to help that big sister. She's hurt."
Ben immediately stopped him.
"No, Peter.
We're just ordinary people."