It wasn't entirely an excuse.
Ethan Voss had already planned to use the operation against the Hell's Kitchen gangs as a stage to introduce the Justice League to the world. The city was about to undergo a major crackdown, and the appearance of a powerful new team would create exactly the kind of spectacle he needed.
But before any of that happened, he had another stop to make.
Near Culver University—where Dr. Samuel Stern worked—there was an extremely luxurious restaurant frequented by wealthy elites and visiting executives. Ethan had reserved an entire private dining area there and invited Professor Xavier and several members of the X-Men to experience the lifestyle of the ultra-rich.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, reflecting warm golden light across polished marble floors. Outside the tall windows, the city glowed with evening lights as traffic moved slowly through the streets.
The table itself was filled with extravagant dishes.
For most of the X-Men, this level of luxury was unusual. Even Logan seemed mildly impressed as he leaned back in his chair with a glass in hand.
Meanwhile, inside Culver University's laboratories, a very different scene was unfolding.
Bruce Banner lay strapped to a medical chair while Dr. Stern carefully administered the experimental serum.
The moment the injection entered his bloodstream, Banner's body convulsed violently. Pain surged through every nerve as he struggled against the restraints.
For several agonizing seconds, the transformation seemed imminent.
Then suddenly…
It stopped.
Banner's body relaxed.
His skin remained normal. The terrifying green giant never appeared.
Banner gasped for air as he looked toward the electrocardiogram monitor beside him. His heart rate was racing—one hundred fifty-six beats per minute—but the readings showed nothing abnormal beyond that.
He was still human.
"Did it… work?" Banner whispered.
Hope flooded through him.
For the first time in years, he might finally be free.
Betty Ross rushed forward immediately. Tears filled her eyes as she wrapped her arms around him in relief.
"You did it," she whispered.
"You're back."
Dr. Stern stood nearby, smiling quietly as he observed the emotional reunion.
For a brief moment, the laboratory felt peaceful.
Then the sound of vehicles suddenly echoed outside the building.
General Ross had arrived.
A tranquilizer dart shattered the calm as it fired through the laboratory window.
Banner staggered instantly, his body weakening as the sedative spread through his system. He collapsed forward into Betty's arms.
Moments later, Emil Blonsky burst through the laboratory door.
He moved quickly toward Banner and delivered two brutal punches to his face.
Nothing happened.
The Hulk did not appear.
Blonsky frowned slightly.
Behind him, soldiers rushed into the room and seized both Banner and Betty, dragging them away toward the waiting military vehicles.
General Ross stepped forward slowly.
He leaned down and studied Banner's unconscious face.
Something about the situation unsettled him.
"If you destroyed the Hulk," Ross muttered quietly, "you'll spend the rest of your life in prison."
Meanwhile, Blonsky dismissed the soldiers and remained alone in the laboratory with Dr. Stern.
Neither of them noticed the faint movement outside the window.
A shadow passed briefly beyond the glass.
Blonsky raised his pistol and pressed it against Dr. Stern's head.
"I want what you took from Banner."
Dr. Stern squinted slightly.
"It seems you've already had something injected into your body," he said cautiously.
Blonsky's expression hardened.
"I want more."
His voice grew intense.
"I saw him transform into the Hulk."
"I want to become like that."
Dr. Stern hesitated.
"I don't know what substances are already inside your body. If we combine them with the Hulk serum…"
He swallowed nervously.
"It could become a disaster."
Blonsky released the pistol's safety with a sharp click.
"Do it."
Dr. Stern appeared nervous, but his hands moved quickly and efficiently as he began preparing the laboratory equipment. Tubes, syringes, and monitors were arranged in precise order.
Despite his anxious expression, every movement was steady.
Soon everything was ready.
Blonsky lay down on the laboratory chair and looked toward the doctor.
"Are you ready?" Stern asked quietly.
Blonsky grinned.
"Start."
Dr. Stern swallowed hard.
Then he pressed the button.
The bright green serum flowed through the injection line and entered Blonsky's bloodstream.
Immediately, Blonsky's body arched violently as a deafening roar escaped his throat.
Dr. Stern stumbled backward two steps, staring at the horrifying transformation.
At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared behind him and tapped his shoulder.
Dr. Stern spun around in shock.
Standing behind him was a familiar face.
Frank.
"Time to go," Frank said quietly.
"The boss said we leave the moment the serum injection begins."
Dr. Stern nodded quickly. He glanced one last time toward the writhing figure on the chair.
"Let's go," he murmured.
"I'll see him again."
Meanwhile, across the city, Ethan and the X-Men were finishing their dinner.
They were just preparing to leave for Hell's Kitchen when Professor Xavier suddenly stiffened.
His expression changed instantly.
He turned his head toward the direction of Culver University.
"We have a problem," he said solemnly.
Almost immediately, a terrifying roar echoed across the city.
Then came explosions.
Flashes of fire lit up the distant skyline.
Ethan quickly scanned the area and spotted a nearby building roughly eight or nine stories tall across the street.
"To the roof," he ordered.
The group moved quickly.
From the rooftop vantage point, they could clearly see the chaos unfolding several blocks away.
A massive yellow creature was rampaging through the streets.
Its body was enormous and grotesque. Muscles bulged beneath its skin while jagged bone spikes protruded from its back.
Its face looked almost demonic.
This was no longer Emil Blonsky.
This was Abomination.
General Ross's soldiers were desperately trying to contain the monster. Heavy weapons fired continuously, but the results were disastrous.
Vehicles exploded.
Soldiers were thrown aside like rag dolls.
Even the enhanced squad was being crushed by the creature's overwhelming strength.
Abomination roared into the night sky.
"Give me a real opponent!"
His voice echoed like thunder.
He grabbed a car with both hands and hurled it violently down the street.
Above the battlefield, several helicopters circled the area. Some belonged to the military, including large Chinook transport helicopters.
Others belonged to news stations.
Through their cameras, the entire United States was now witnessing the catastrophe.
Ethan turned toward Professor Xavier.
"Professor… can you stop him?"
Charles closed his eyes.
"The stronger the body," he said quietly, "the stronger the mind."
"I'll try."
He pressed his fingers gently against his temple.
A moment later, his powerful telepathic ability surged outward, crossing the distance between buildings and reaching directly into Abomination's mind.
The effect was immediate.
Professor Xavier's expression changed dramatically.
Violence.
Bloodshed.
Madness.
The creature's thoughts were like a raging storm.
There was almost no control left inside that mind.
Meanwhile, Abomination suddenly felt something strange inside his consciousness.
A foreign presence.
For a brief moment, his raging thoughts slowed.
A flicker of clarity appeared.
But that clarity lasted only an instant.
The obsession burning inside him surged forward again.
I haven't had a real fight yet.
How can I stop now?
I still need to defeat the Hulk.
Suddenly, Abomination grabbed a jagged piece of metal from the wreckage nearby and stabbed it directly into his own palm.
"ROAR!"
The pain shocked his mind back into full awareness.
On the rooftop, Professor Xavier slowly lowered his hand.
He shook his head.
"His mind is too chaotic."
"I can't control him for long."
Ethan frowned.
"Is there another option?"
Charles hesitated.
"I could focus all of my mental power and strike directly at his brain."
He spoke carefully.
"It might knock him unconscious."
He paused briefly.
"Or it might turn him into a permanent vegetable."
Ethan nodded immediately.
"That sounds like a good plan."
Charles raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I'll need to get closer."
"From this distance, it's difficult."
Ethan looked toward the raging Abomination in the distance.
The monster had become even more violent.
Finally, Ethan nodded.
"Colossus. Logan."
He gestured toward the battlefield.
"Go distract him."
"Be careful."
Then he looked toward Storm.
"Aurora, provide aerial cover for them."
Finally, his gaze turned toward Jean Grey.
"Jean, stay with me."
"We'll protect the professor."
.....
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