"Hulk has been contaminated!" Lin Huai shouted into the communicator. "Quick! Tony! Notify Sorcerer Russell and have him find a way to restrict both giants! Give me some time!"
"Copy that!" Tony didn't hesitate for a moment, but before he could act, the green giant he had just viewed as an ally locked his crimson gaze onto the noisy tin can in the air!
"Roar—!"
Fury twisted by toxins made no distinction between friend and foe! Hulk casually tore off the turret of a tank by his feet and hurled it fiercely at Tony like a discus!
"Shit!" Tony performed a desperate roll in mid-air, the turret grazing his armor and smashing into the roof of a distant building with a piercing whistle.
On the ground, Sorcerer Russell had just opened a portal, intending to move Steve to safety, when he felt a violent killing intent lock onto him. He turned around to face Hulk's crimson eyes, devoid of any reason.
Hulk now viewed both him and the nearby Werewolf as enemies that must be crushed!
"Your Excellency Lin Huai, I can't cast spells!"
"I'll find a way for you." On the plane, Lin Huai connected to Nick Fury's channel, his tone more urgent than ever.
"Fury, listen! Hulk has been contaminated by that Werewolf's toxin; his anger is being twisted, and it will only get stronger and more insane! I know how to wake him up, but we need a'switch,' and that'switch' is right there on the scene—"
Inside Trident Headquarters, Fury's single eye stared fixedly at the screen showing Hulk, who had nearly driven Sorcerer Russell into a corner.
"What switch?"
"Betty Ross!" Lin Huai said emphatically. "We need her! Get her to the battlefield immediately, near Hulk. She is the key to waking up Banner—or rather, Hulk! Otherwise, prepare to face two unkillable Monsters until they completely level New York! Of course, using a nuke directly is also an option."
"She's a defenseless civilian! We can't..."
"Shut up. Did General Ross care about civilians when he was going on a killing spree at the university? And what kind of civilian is she? Listen, I have no choice, and neither do you. The United States is already rotten to the core; we can only patch up this sinking ship. If you can't make the decision, let the lords on Capitol Hill decide for themselves!"
After speaking, without waiting for Fury's reply, Lin Huai immediately continued: "Tony, remember that Lava Octopus skin we peeled off together? Since physics won't cut it, we'll use a mystical method to take him down. Have Jarvis arrange to send it over!"
Fury fell silent.
"The quinjet will arrive in three minutes. Consultant Lin!" Fury's voice betrayed no emotion, yet he had already issued the order.
The communication hung up, and Lin Huai immediately sent the image of the [Strength] card, along with his previous interpretation of its meaning, to the arriving plane via Jarvis.
"Let Betty Ross finish reading it. Then, give this communicator to her."
The situation on the battlefield was on the verge of collapse under everyone's bitter struggle.
Just then, Betty Ross's voice rang out clearly in every corner through all the loudspeakers on the battlefield. There was no dissuasion or pleading in that voice, only a trembling but incredibly firm call.
"Bruce... Bruce, it's me, Betty... Listen to me."
Hulk, who was frantically attacking Sorcerer Russell's shield, suddenly stiffened his massive body!
"I know you're angry... Simple anger won't solve the problem, Bruce. Do you remember how Hulk protected me? He's protecting you too. Reconcile with him; he is you, and you are him. Don't suppress him, release him! Use your anger to burn away the toxins that cause you pain! Tell them who is the strongest!"
In the mental World that no one could see.
This was a wasteland of pure anger, burning with green flames. But now, the wasteland was being eroded by a viscous black swamp exuding an aura of dead silence. Bruce Banner's consciousness was being held fast by countless black arms stretching out from the swamp, pulling him down continuously.
"You're a Monster..."
"You only bring destruction..."
"Everyone is afraid of you..."
Those whispers, transformed from toxins, pierced his soul like needles. In the center of the swamp, a phantom of Hulk, entwined in black mist with crimson eyes, roared in pain and madness. His anger, contaminated by the toxin, had turned into a desire for destruction that attacked everything indiscriminately.
Just as Banner was about to be completely swallowed, Betty's voice was like a beam of warm sunlight, piercing through this desperate Darkness.
"Face him, understand him!"
Banner's consciousness snapped his eyes open! He looked at the painful, violent "self" in the center of the swamp, and for the first time, there was no fear in his eyes.
"Did you hear that?" Banner's consciousness struggled, whispering to the phantom, "She's right... Did you hear that, Hulk!"
The violent phantom paused, its crimson eyes turning toward Banner in the swamp for the first time. A low roar, filled with pain and hatred, escaped its throat.
"Banner... weak!"
"Yes, I am weak. I was afraid of you, I always wanted to get rid of you, to destroy you. I am the coward." Banner looked into its eyes, a bitter smile appearing on his face. "But you aren't. Your anger is protecting me, protecting us... I just never understood."
He stopped struggling, letting the swamp submerge his chest, and simply calmly reached out a hand.
"We've been contaminated by 'poison,' Hulk. They twisted your anger, wanting to turn you into a true Beast. Are you willing? Are you willing to be controlled by this trash?"
Hulk's phantom stared fixedly at Banner's outstretched hand, then looked down at the black poisonous mist writhing on his own body like living creatures.
"Roar—!"
A clear roar, filled with ultimate anger, erupted from the Hulk phantom's mouth! This time, it was no longer a chaotic howl, but a concentrated, blazing fighting intent! Emerald green flames billowed from its body, frantically scorching the black poisonous mist and the swamp!
He didn't take Banner's hand; instead, he reached out a giant palm and grabbed Banner's arm, yanking him out of the swamp that was about to submerge him!
In the outside World, Hulk's body shook violently. The black mist covering him was instantly burned away by his pure anger, which surged again like a volcanic eruption! The crimson in his eyes faded, returning to an ultimate pure emerald green, burning with raging flames!
He was back! A stronger, angrier, yet clearer Hulk!
"Roar—!!!"
This roar no longer contained pain, only pure power and endless fighting intent! Hulk's massive head suddenly turned toward the nearby Mad Wolf, and with a burst of speed, he slammed it directly into the ruins!
"Great job!" Lin Huai's voice came through the loudspeakers. "Hulk, pin it down!"
"Black Brine Egg, are your snipers ready? Don't tell me the bullets I gave you aren't loaded yet."
"Give the order, Consultant Lin, the snipers are ready. The one behind the trigger is an old acquaintance of yours. Also, that special revolver of yours with six bullets has been handed over to the Captain," Fury replied immediately.
Lin Huai took out a special box from his coat, containing the eerily beautiful [human-faced rose].
"It's up to you, brother." The smiling face of the Puppet emerged on the human-faced rose.