Banner. That's the Hulk's real name.
Or more accurately... Banner is who the Hulk is when he's not, well, Hulking out.
Before becoming a raging green monster, Bruce Banner was just a brilliant physicist. But during a fateful experiment, he was exposed to a massive dose of gamma radiation—radiation from a bomb he had created himself.
The result? A catastrophic mutation that gave birth to the Hulk.
You could say the gamma radiation didn't just mutate his body—it split his soul. It created an alter ego. Another personality, born of rage and power.
But deep down, the soul inside the Hulk... was still Banner's.
And just now, that very soul had been slapped clean out of the Hulk's body—by one single palm strike from Henry.
Banner's disembodied spirit floated awkwardly in the air, staring down at his own unconscious green body like a ghost unsure of how he died.
"...What just happened?! Can someone please explain this to me?!" he shouted, looking around in disbelief.
But he wasn't the only one confused. Every single person in the room—except Henry—was completely dumbfounded.
They all saw it.
One slap.
And the Hulk's soul literally flew out of his body.
For several seconds, nobody spoke. Everyone exchanged wide-eyed stares, mouths slightly open.
Finally, it was Tony Stark who broke the silence.
"Henry… would you mind explaining what the hell just happened?" he asked, blinking like he was trying to reboot his brain.
Henry stood calmly, as if what just happened was the most natural thing in the world.
"That," he said casually, "was magic."
Tony nodded slowly. "Right… magic. Of course."
He'd seen Henry teleport before, sure. But this? This was different.
Teleportation was flashy, maybe even useful.
But slapping the Hulk's soul out of his body like swatting a fly?
That was scary.
"I mean, I know you've used magic before," Tony continued. "But you have to understand… my only frame of reference is from comic books and bad TV. I thought magic was all crystal balls and bad Latin. Divination, curses—maybe the occasional rabbit out of a hat."
He paused, looking at the Hulk's motionless body.
"You… you just slapped the Hulk's soul out of his body."
Tony shook his head.
"Are all mages this powerful?" he asked seriously. "Or are you just... special?"
Henry smiled faintly. "Of course there are mages stronger than me. I'm not the top of the mountain."
That answer hit Stark like a truck.
He fell into a stunned silence.
After a long pause, he finally muttered, "I get it now. I finally understand why Nick Fury was so paranoid."
Tony had always trusted Henry. After all, they'd been through hell together. He knew Henry was on the side of justice.
But Henry wasn't the only mage out there.
And if others like him existed...
The thought alone was terrifying.
"I mean, no offense," Tony said slowly, "but if all mages are as powerful as you… how are humans supposed to survive?"
Henry gave a patient nod. "Relax. Most mages are protectors. They defend Earth and humanity."
Tony let out a relieved sigh. "Oh, thank God."
But Henry wasn't finished.
"…That said, not every mage is a good guy. There are also evil mages."
Tony's face froze.
"…Wait. What?"
Henry's voice was calm. "There are mages with twisted beliefs and destructive goals. But don't worry. They don't act recklessly."
"Why not?" Tony asked, already sensing he might not like the answer.
"Because they fear the Sorcerer Supreme."
"The what now?" Tony blinked.
"The Sorcerer Supreme," Henry repeated. "The most powerful mage on Earth. It's their duty to guard the planet and keep balance."
Tony rubbed his temples. "Okay. Alright. So… this Sorcerer Supreme. They're on our side?"
Henry nodded. "Always. Every Sorcerer Supreme protects Earth. It's part of their sacred oath."
Tony collapsed into a chair with exaggerated relief. "Well, thank God for that. Imagine if that guy turned evil... yikes."
From the side, Nick Fury had been silently watching the conversation, trying to maintain his usual poker face. But the shock on his face was hard to hide.
Inside, he was screaming.
What the hell is going on?!
Magic?!
Soul-splitting slaps?!
Why didn't anyone tell him Earth was this dangerous?!
Is this science fiction? No—worse. This was magic messing up everything he thought he knew.
But still, Fury kept a calm front.
Once Henry and Tony's conversation lulled, Fury stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"Sorry," he said awkwardly. "Can I… ask something?"
Henry glanced at him. "What is it?"
"…Are there many mages on Earth?"
Henry smiled. "Funny. That question proves you finally believe mages are real."
Fury coughed, looking a bit embarrassed. "Well… after what I just saw, I don't have a choice."
He hesitated before adding, "This… goes against everything I understand about the world."
Henry's expression didn't change. "Nick Fury, you've always believed you could control everything. Still think you can control mages?"
Fury was silent.
Tony let out a low whistle. "Honestly, Nick, I gotta admire your guts. You really thought you could regulate magic?"
"...I didn't know Henry was actually a mage," Fury grumbled under his breath.
Even as Tony chuckled, he couldn't help feeling curious. The conversation had opened a dozen more questions.
"I've been meaning to ask you about this for a while," he admitted to Henry. "You've been gone, and I've been busy... but now's the perfect time."
Henry nodded, waiting.
"How many mages are there on Earth?" Tony asked. "Like, people trained like you?"
"Not many," Henry replied. "Learning magic requires specific talent. Very few people qualify."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "And among those who qualify, how many are on your level?"
Henry paused to think, then answered, "Almost none. In magic, talent determines how far you go. I've always been... lucky."
"Lucky?" Tony repeated. "What does luck have to do with magical talent?"
"Everything," Henry said with a straight face. "A once-in-a-millennium genius like me? Without luck, how could I be this amazing?"
Tony stared at him. "...That was a humblebrag, wasn't it?"
"No, it was a direct brag," Henry replied with a small grin. "But it's also true."
Tony sighed. "Alright then. So how long have you been learning magic?"
Henry tilted his head thoughtfully. "I don't remember exactly. Maybe... half a month?"
Tony blinked. "You've only been studying magic for two weeks?!"
Henry nodded.
Tony frowned. "And you're already doing... this?! Is magic really that easy to learn?"
If any of the mages from Kamar-Taj had been present, they would have either fallen silent or slapped him on the spot.
Fortunately for Tony, they weren't here.
Henry simply shrugged, not bothering to explain. It wasn't worth it.
Then, amid all the stunned silence and discussion of sorcerers, fate, and cosmic responsibility...
A weak voice floated across the cave.
"Um... excuse me? Everyone… can someone please take a look at me for a second?"
Everyone turned.
Banner's soul was still floating above his body—arms crossed, looking deeply offended.
"I'm still out here. My soul. Floating. Alone. Cold. Disrespected. Can someone please take care of me first?!"
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