Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1101, Part 1097: The King and the Giant (Part 2) (First Update)

The unconscious Hulk didn't immediately transform back into Bruce Banner. Hawkeye Clint Barton stopped Natasha Romanoff, who was looking worried and about to check on him, pointing to the Hulk's shattered calf and arm, his severed foot, and his broken wrist. These parts were regenerating at an astonishing speed; the thick, white leg bones continued to extend, and pinkish new tissue, stained with pus and blood, resembled scars covering the extremities. Bone fragments were being squeezed out of the body by the newly grown muscle.

During this period, the newly formed tissue produced a large amount of pus. This fluid evaporated into a dirty, translucent, dark yellow amniotic membrane on the surface of the body due to Hulk's rapidly rising body temperature. This membrane wrapped around the new skin and tissue, and then shed due to the friction of Hulk's nightmarish limb movements as he fell into a coma, like a snake shedding its skin.

"And his brain, his brain is being repaired too," Clint Barton reminded him. "Hulk is about to wake up."

Normally, Hulk's coma would cause him to revert back to Bruce Banner, but not this time.

The Hulk's rapid healing seemed to have caught the attention of the armored giant, but the giant still mounted his heavily armed motorcycle, started the engine, and drove towards the convoy of US troops stationed in Germany. It seemed that Secretary of State Ross was more concerned with the Hulk than with the soon-to-be-healed Hulk, who could potentially become a threat again.

Both he and Natasha Romanoff knew the true identity of the armored giant, so they weren't surprised that Hulk was defeated so easily. However, for others who knew about Hulk's performance in the Battle of New York, or even more, it seemed unbelievable. Even Tony Stark wasn't sure if the Veronica Combat System, which was over three meters tall, could work 100%—the Veronica Combat System had a mechanical structure called the impact fist, designed to cause a concussion and knock Hulk unconscious by striking his head. The fact that the armored giant, less than three meters tall, could achieve the same effect with his fist made Tony Stark curious to find out if there was something in the armored giant's powered armor that allowed him to have a greater power output.

"Something's wrong, don't go any closer, Xiao Na." Clint Barton drew his bow again, aiming at Hulk's eyes. If necessary, he could shoot an explosive arrow into Hulk's eyes, blowing his brain apart. However, because he didn't know the consequences of doing so, and wasn't sure if Bruce Banner would survive, Clint Barton had never tried it. Nevertheless, Nick Fury still considered it a backup plan and asked Clint Barton to practice it when he had time. "Get out of here quickly. We need to get out before Hulk wakes up, otherwise we'll be facing both the US forces in Germany and Hulk at the same time."

“We can’t leave him here, Clint, he’s our friend,” Steve Rogers said, frowning. “We didn’t abandon you when you were injured in Sokovia.”

"Dr. Banner is, but Hulk isn't. Perhaps the Hulk of the past was, but the current Hulk has no reason; the current Hulk is just a beast." Hawkeye Clint saw the situation clearly, but he didn't blame Steve Rogers for his thoughts, because they all knew what kind of person Steve Rogers was. Although he wasn't the "righteous man of God" portrayed by the news media—a perfect evangelical figure—and even had some old-fashioned flaws and inappropriate dry humor, it was precisely because of his kindness and perseverance that many people were willing to follow him. "We can leave first and think of a way to rescue Dr. Banner later," he said. "Besides, we don't have the means to subdue him. Handing him over to Ross will at least keep Hulk quiet and prevent him from harming civilians."

Steve Rogers could only nod in agreement, abandoning his insistence on the idea, and continued to wait there for Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes to bring the Quinjet so they could transfer the wounded to the aircraft. During this time, T'Challa vigilantly guarded their side, which greatly changed Steve Rogers' impression of him, no longer viewing him as a madman obsessed with revenge regardless of bloodshed and sacrifice.

As the black heavy motorcycles approached the convoy, the driver of the Humvee at the front had to stop. Immediately, the heavily armed soldiers on the military trucks jumped out and pointed their guns at the black-armored giant striding towards them. These trained soldiers skillfully took up firing positions, surrounding the giant with their weapons. Twenty meters from the defensive perimeter of the convoy, the giant stopped. Ignoring the dense barrage of gunfire surrounding him, he shouted amplified through a megaphone at the highest-ranking officer he could see twenty meters ahead, "Where's Ross? Tell him to come out and see me."

"Who are you?" The officer stood with his hands on his hips behind the soldier with his gun raised. At the same time, the soldier at the rear of the convoy, shoulder-mounted with FGM-148 Javelin missiles, prepared to fire, confident that this anti-tank missile, capable of penetrating 1100mm of static armor, could also threaten powered armor. "You still have a chance to surrender." The officer obeyed the instructions in his earpiece, "Put down your weapons, remove your armor, and we won't shoot!" Hearing this, the black-armored giant slowly reached behind him, grasping the greatsword strapped to the magnetic attachment of his energy backpack. Seeing this, the officer stepped out of the soldiers' protective circle, pistol in hand, and issued another stern warning. "Kneel on the ground, arms outstretched! This is your last chance… What?"

Before the officer could finish his last words, he felt himself floating, as if a bright white light were shining directly into his eyes, yet it wasn't blinding. His thoughts ceased; he was unaware of what was happening, and he forgot who he was. He couldn't feel his body, but he didn't mind. He only wanted to remain immersed in this floating sensation forever, as if in heaven—then he felt a force pulling him downwards, and intense pain shot through his body like lightning, as if the flames of hell were scorching every inch of his skin and muscle. He wanted to scream, to struggle, but he couldn't control his body until he felt his back hit something. An even more terrifying pain, accompanied by the sound of bones shattering, rushed into his brain, and then he could see nothing at all.

Before anyone could react, the American troops stationed in Germany watched in astonishment as their commander was struck as if by a speeding car in the blink of an eye. His twisted body was flung out like a rag doll before crashing heavily to the ground, splattering bone fragments and flesh like a fountain.

The armored giant stood where the officer had been, his black robes billowing like the wings of a raven whipping up a raging storm. He wielded his lightning-fast greatsword amidst the dust storm, dirt embedding itself in the gaps of his armor, but this did not hinder his ability to slice through people, vehicles, and weapons in his path. Soldiers who had chosen to lay down their weapons scrambled past him in panic, and were fortunate enough to witness the terrifying figure of the armored giant in battle—for some reason, the anti-tank crew at the rear of the convoy completely disregarded the lives of their comrades ahead, locking onto their target and firing a Javelin missile without hesitation. Because it was a direct-fire mode, the armored giant, charging towards the rear of the convoy, collided head-on with the Javelin missile's warhead, but with astonishing speed, he raised his hand and fired a shot. The hit warhead instantly activated, and a violent explosion and shockwave engulfed the armored giant, the military trucks in the middle of the convoy, and the soldiers who couldn't escape in time; even the wreckage of the trucks was thrown into the air.

The black-armored giant burst out of the smoke and dust kicked up by the explosion, his power armor riddled with scratches. He was even faster, his massive gun roaring as it swiftly killed several other soldiers who were trying to fire javelins. In an instant, he reached the rear of the convoy, plunged his greatsword into the hood of a Humvee, smashed the glass with his fist, and grabbed a man from the driver's seat.

"Look at me, you coward who sends soldiers to their deaths!" The once towering Secretary of State Ross appeared like a frail little animal in the hands of the black-armored giant. Even so, Secretary Ross showed no fear, as if the glass that slashed his forehead and cheek was merely an autumn leaf blown by the wind. "About your Gamma Project. How many monsters have you created?" The black-armored giant pulled him before him, face to face with the iron-black skull, the crimson visors like dripping blood. His tone was as if questioning a fool, demanding a detailed explanation of the cause and effect. "Unless you've lost your mind from injecting too much 'immortality serum,' answer my question quickly, and I might make your death easier."

Secretary of State Ross tried to spit at the Black Armored Titan, but the Titan grabbed him by the neck.

"It seems you want to choose a different ending now."

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)