"And you, Jane… you're the one who can help us open that door."
"Vought has the resources. The funding. The equipment. If you come with us, the entire division answers to you."
Jane felt her heartbeat quicken.
This was every scientist's ultimate dream—limitless resources, the freedom to explore the unknown.
But…
Her eyes dimmed.
"It sounds tempting, Mr. Antony. Truly," Jane sighed, absently rubbing the ring on her finger.
"But I already promised Thor… once I finish my work here, I'll go to Asgard with him."
"I think… I'll live there."
Antony didn't look surprised. Instead, he showed a trace of regret.
"Asgard… it is a beautiful place."
"But Jane—have you really thought it through?"
"Thought what through?" Jane frowned.
"Your future."
Antony stood and walked toward her, his tone sharpening.
"Jane, you're a scientist. Logic matters to you more than anyone."
"Do you honestly believe you and Thor have a future?"
Jane stiffened. "What are you trying to say?"
"It's a very simple biological problem."
He gestured in the air, as if sketching the passage of time.
"Thor is a god—an alien long-lived species. His lifespan is measured in millennia."
"To him, a human lifetime is little more than a blink."
"You're young now. Beautiful. Brilliant. He loves you."
"But what about ten years from now? Twenty?"
"You're human. Your golden years last only a few decades."
"In ten years, you'll begin to age. In twenty, your hair will turn gray. In forty…"
He didn't soften the blow.
"You'll be an old woman."
"And Thor?"
"He'll still be young. Still powerful. Still the same handsome God of Thunder."
"Can you accept that, Jane?"
"When you walk together and people no longer ask, 'Is that your boyfriend?' but instead…"
"…'Is that your son?'"
The words hit like a knife.
Jane's face drained of color.
It was the question she had avoided. The one she never dared face.
"Stop…" her voice trembled.
"This is reality," Antony said calmly. "Thor loves you—I believe that. But can love defeat time?"
"Are you really willing to abandon your talent for a love that burns out in a moment?"
"Then what am I supposed to do?" Jane looked up, despair in her eyes. "Leave him? I can't."
"You don't have to leave him."
Antony smiled, offering the final temptation.
"If you join Vought… I might be able to solve that problem."
Jane snapped her head up. "You mean—?"
Antony only smiled, saying nothing more.
"I have my ways."
He pointed toward the window, where a black aircraft waited.
"The plane is ready, Jane."
"Join us—and I'll give you time."
"Time enough to walk beside a god."
Jane Foster looked at him… then at the lifetime of research spread across the room.
Finally, she thought of Thor's eternally youthful face.
"I'll go with you."
Her gaze hardened with resolve.
"Now."
-----
Time rewinds—Jamaica Bay Park.
Far from the city. Wetlands stretching into darkness.
BOOM!!
Antony's fist smashed into the Hulk's jaw, launching the green titan straight into the sea.
"Ahhh—now that felt good."
He shook his hand, bones singing with exhilaration.
No technique. No strategy.
Just raw, brutal power colliding head-on.
The Hulk erupted from the water, hoisting a massive reef slab and hurling it like a missile.
Antony didn't dodge—one punch shattered the rock midair.
Under the cameras, he hovered above the water, arms crossed, cape billowing in the moonlight like a living god.
"Hulk… tear you… apart!!"
The Hulk charged, leaping like a living artillery shell.
"That's it," Antony grinned. "Now we're talking."
CRACK!!
Their fists collided midair.
The shockwave crushed the sea below into a massive depression.
The Hulk slammed into the sand, rose again instantly.
Antony rushed in.
No fancy moves. Just fists.
Left hook. Right hook. Knee. Elbow.
Every impact thundered like a storm.
For Antony, this was rare bliss.
In this world, very few beings could withstand his full output.
The Hulk was one of them.
BAM!
A Hulk punch smashed into Antony's chest, sending him skidding back dozens of meters.
He rebounded instantly, a kick launching the Hulk flying.
"Yes—this is it!"
The Hulk roared and lunged, tanking a punch to grab Antony's head and torso in a crushing grip.
"Crush…!!"
Muscles bulged, pressure skyrocketing.
"Don't," Antony growled through clenched teeth,
"touch my hair."
ZZZZT—!!
Twin heat-vision beams fired point-blank, drilling straight through the Hulk's palms.
"ROOOOAR!!"
Even the Hulk screamed.
He released his grip, hands smoking and charred.
Antony seized his tangled hair, yanked the massive head down—
BAM!!
A brutal knee smashed into the Hulk's face, flattening his nose.
"Not done yet."
Fists rained down like meteors.
Then—
"Zzz—hello? Boss?!"
Ashley's voice crackled through the earpiece, barely containing her excitement.
"Ratings just exploded!"
"Global live viewership has crossed 200 million!"
"Everyone's watching you!"
"Two hundred million?" Antony paused mid-punch, smiling.
"Excellent."
He glanced toward the hovering cameras, eyes gleaming.
"Since the audience is finally here…"
"…it's time for the climax."
--------------
T/N:
Access Advance Chapters on my
P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals