Riverside City Alley, Virginia – Chaos Amidst the Drizzle
Warnings from the military spread rapidly. Patrol cars issued announcements through loudspeakers, asking citizens to leave the area immediately. Soldiers assisted in the evacuation with extraordinary efficiency, as if they had anticipated this chaos from the start.
Amidst the chaos, the Hulk rampaged. He stood tall, his giant body shattering the asphalt beneath his feet. His glowing green eyes were fixed in one direction—towards Yugao and Betty, who were fleeing.
"Betty!" the Hulk's roar echoed, full of rage and anguish.
A huge leap almost brought the Hulk close to them, but the roar of approaching military vehicles stopped him. Several armored vehicles circled around him, carrying devices he had never seen before.
From his primal and instinctual perspective, the people in helmets and military uniforms surrounding him were old enemies—the ones who had tried to capture him before. The Hulk snorted angrily, stomping his foot on the ground until the asphalt cracked.
General Ross – In the Command Room
"Lock target!" commanded General Ross, his eyes sharply focused on the monitor screen. His voice was firm, though inwardly he felt slightly uneasy.
Blonsky, his muscular adjutant always eager for battle, stood beside him. "I can go down now, General. Give me the green light, and I'll handle that monster."
Ross glanced at Blonsky with a flat expression. "You're too impulsive, Emil. If you get involved now, I'll just have two big problems on my hands, not one."
Blonsky grunted, clearly dissatisfied.
Meanwhile, Naori, sitting in the corner of the command vehicle, shook her head. "This plan of yours has no artistic merit whatsoever, Ross," she quipped, twirling a pen in her hand.
Ross didn't respond, just stared ahead with full focus.
…
The driver of the vehicle carrying the device pressed a large red button on the dashboard. Moments later, the device, shaped like a large spotlight, began to light up, emitting colorful lights that danced in the air.
The Hulk paused for a moment, his angry eyes turning confused. He stared at the light without blinking, like a child fascinated by fireworks.
"Hey… that looks nice," the Hulk mumbled, his voice softening slightly but still deep and rumbling.
The Hulk's anger slowly subsided. Although his subconscious was still trying to fight it, his brain began to accept the external signals transmitted by the device. His previously tense body relaxed slightly, and his thunderous heartbeat gradually slowed.
The soldiers surrounding him had looked terrified, but as they watched the Hulk begin to shrink and revert to human form, expressions of relief washed over their faces.
"See? Told you, this is the best way," remarked a young soldier, though his tone sounded more like he was convincing himself than anyone else.
What the Hulk—or even Bruce Banner—didn't know was that the Mugen Tsukuyomi Lite was designed to influence brainwaves, emitting visual patterns that trigger neurological responses to calm extreme emotions.
Although the Hulk resisted subconsciously, his body began to respond to the signals. Slowly, his muscles relaxed, and his physical transformation started to reverse. Within minutes, the Hulk turned back into Bruce Banner, standing confused in the middle of the street in ripped pants that now looked enormous on him.
The initially terrified soldiers approached cautiously. Some were still trembling, and one soldier had clearly wet himself. But seeing Banner back in his human form, they grew bolder.
"Apprehend him," ordered Ross over the radio.
Several soldiers immediately approached cautiously, carrying syringes of sedatives. One of them, with a trembling hand, injected the needle into Banner's neck.
"Inject him again. Make sure he doesn't wake up," ordered a senior soldier.
Two additional injections followed, enough to make an elephant sleep for half a day. After that, they placed steel handcuffs on Banner's wrists and ankles, ensuring he wouldn't move again.
"He's secure, Sir," a soldier reported to General Ross via radio.
…
Not far away, Yugao, still holding Betty, watched the scene with mixed emotions. When Betty realized her father was there, she immediately struggled out of Yugao's grasp and ran towards Ross.
"Dad! Stop this!" Betty cried out, her voice hoarse, tears mixing with the persistent drizzle.
Ross turned, his expression flat. "Betty, this isn't the time. Banner is a threat."
"He's not a threat! He… he's just a victim!" Betty sobbed, hugging Ross tightly. "I'm begging you, let him go. He hasn't done anything!"
"He rampaged through the city, destroyed streets, and endangered hundreds of lives," Ross replied sternly, though a hint of doubt flickered in his eyes.
Betty sobbed. "It's all your fault! You pushed him to this point!"
…
From a safe distance, Naori observed the scene with a raised eyebrow. "Looks like Betty has a flair for the dramatic. Do you think we were too cruel?" she asked Yugao, who had just returned after releasing Betty.
Yugao shrugged. "Cruelty is relative. If we hadn't done this, Ross would have destroyed the whole city just to capture the Hulk."
Naori smiled slightly. "Good. I don't like dealing with inefficient destruction."
Yugao looked at the unconscious Banner. "Even so… I feel a little bad. Maybe he really just wants to live in peace."
Naori patted her shoulder. "Don't get too sentimental, Yugao. This world isn't a place for peace. We just ensure our plans proceed smoothly."
In the distance, Ross stared at Banner, now lying helpless. Despite his immense size and incredible strength, he was ultimately still human under the influence of advanced devices and sedatives.
However, deep down, Ross knew this wasn't over. Bruce Banner, and even more so the Hulk, was a threat that couldn't be underestimated.
"Take him to the base," Ross finally ordered. "We'll make sure he doesn't transform again."
The evening drizzle continued to fall, washing over the streets marked by the battle. Betty was still crying, and Yugao stood silently, contemplating the actions she had just taken. Naori, with calculating eyes, simply offered a small smile.