Fight the Hulk again

Authors Note-

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Whether Tony Stark's public reveal as Iron Man was wise remains to be seen. One thing's certain: it's a turning point. There are new threats, and Ivan finds himself pulled in unexpected directions.

He initially planned to exploit Iron Man's situation for his amusement. However, another urgent matter forced him to shift his focus. After their previous encounter, he'd implanted a secret mark on the Hulk, allowing him to monitor the beast's condition. Today, the mark sent a surge of violent energy – far exceeding the levels recorded during the Hulk's past fights. The mark indicated the Hulk was experiencing a dual outburst of despair and anger.

Following the mark's location, Ivan used his teleportation ability to arrive in a mountainous region of India. Fallen trees, massive footprints, and shattered rocks painted a picture of a green rampage. Distant roars spurred Ivan to chase the source.

He soon found the Hulk, a colossal green figure punching the ground in unrestrained fury.

"A troubled soul," Ivan said calmly, infusing his voice with a touch of psychic power to soothe the Hulk.

The attempt failed. Blinded by rage, the Hulk turned his massive head towards Ivan, burning eyes promising destruction. With a deafening roar, he charged, aiming a devastating punch at Ivan's head.

The outcome was baffling. Ivan raised a palm, effortlessly stopping the Hulk's fist in mid-air. No explosion, no earth-shattering impact. The Hulk's kinetic energy vanished like a punch into cotton.

This should have been their second encounter. With better memory or intelligence, the Hulk might have recognized the situation. Unfortunately, consumed by rage, his only thought was to smash. Unfazed by the failed attack, he unleashed a barrage of punches.

No matter the Hulk's ferocity, Ivan remained unmoved. He effortlessly blocked every attack. His strength rivaled even Thanos, who could overpower the Hulk with brute force. But Ivan had a different strategy.

Ivan possessed a mutant ability to absorb all forms of energy—electrical, kinetic, thermal, and more—which empowered him continuously. Initially, this process caused tremors and phantoms around him. Now, with his enhanced physique, the absorption happened seamlessly. The Hulk's attacks did no damage, only fueling Ivan's growing power.

After enduring hundreds of punches, Ivan seized his chance. He grappled the Hulk's fist with lightning reflexes, rendering it immovable.

The Hulk shrank back like a threatened beast, a low growl rumbling in his throat. His voice was muffled and sluggish, clearly unwilling to submit as he continued to struggle. The kinetic energy grew more muscular, though far from exceeding Ivan's absorption limits, he wasn't eager to prolong the fight.

"It seems you're quite riled up this time," Ivan smirked.

"It looks like we need a forceful cool-down."

As the Hulk's other fist swung towards him, Ivan stretched out a hand, instantly closing the distance and grabbing the Hulk's head.

The Hulk was caught off guard and instinctively tried to pull back, but a powerful suction force emanated from Ivan's palm. The Hulk felt his entire strength draining away like a flood bursting a levee. He roared in frustration as Ivan squeezed his palm tighter.

After holding on for a few more seconds, the Hulk's massive body began to shrink rapidly, finally collapsing weakly onto the ground. Like a black hole, Ivan absorbed the Hulk's bioelectricity, and body heat.

When the transformation subsided, Bruce Banner lay sprawled on the grass, his mind a blur. He felt adrift in a dark, vast, silent, peaceful, and profound universe.

"Maybe death wouldn't be so bad," Bruce Banner thought as darkness descended and he slipped into unconsciousness.

Bruce Banner awoke to the chirping of birds and the fresh scent of the jungle air. He sat up, taking in his surroundings. He spotted a demonic figure with two horns cooking a pot of broth nearby, the enticing aroma filling the air.

"Awake at last," the demon said with a smile.

"You tossed and turned all night, you should be famished. Come have something to eat."

Initially wary of the demon, Bruce considered refusing. But his stomach growled loudly, reminding him of his long period without food. He threw caution to the wind and grabbed an empty bowl beside him, filling it with the broth. As he ate, he thought, "What else is there to lose? Even if he is a demon..."

"Aren't you afraid of me?" the demon asked, surprised.

"Most people cower in fear at the sight of me. You're an odd one, that's for sure."

"Because I have nothing left to lose," Bruce Banner replied, feeling somewhat revitalized after finishing the broth.

"Who are you? A mutant? Why are you here?"

"Think of me as a demon," the figure chuckled.

"As for why I'm here, let's just say your desperate soul summoned me. What happened to plunge you into such despair that it reached me?" he said, switching back to his manipulative tone.

Bruce Banner hesitated, wondering if this being was, indeed, a demon. But he didn't dwell on it for long. The events of yesterday flooded back, filling him with renewed despair.

After battling the evil spirits, the Hulk fled to a secluded area, hoping to find a way to control the beast within. His attempts, unsurprisingly, were in vain. But the thought of his beloved Betty had kept him hopeful. However, yesterday, consumed by longing, he decided to call Betty, only to be answered by her father, General Ross. The news that Betty had died of illness hit him like a bolt from the blue. Driven to desperation, Bruce Banner attempted suicide, shooting himself in the mouth. But the transformation took over, spitting out the bullet before Bruce succumbed.

After listening to the story, Ivan shrugged and said, "A tragic tale indeed. In that case, how about a deal, Dr. Banner? Your desperate soul for my devilish power. In exchange, you can have anything your heart desires."

Bruce Banner stared at Ivan, a flicker of doubt sparking in his eyes. Could this indeed be a demon?

Then, Ivan's words snagged Bruce's attention. "Anything you want? Can you do anything? Can you... bring someone back from the dead?"

Ivan pondered for a moment.

"It depends," he said cautiously, "and the price wouldn't be ordinary. Honestly, your soul is quite intriguing. If you sell it to me, resurrecting someone wouldn't be out of the question, but there are conditions. Firstly, the person can't have been dead for more than seven days, and their soul can't have fully departed for the afterlife. Secondly, their body needs to be intact to house the soul again. Otherwise, I'm powerless to help. So, how long ago did this person die?"

Bruce Banner offered a weak smile. "That's the thing. Yesterday, when I called. Her father answered, and he's never exactly been a fan of mine. All he told me was that she was dead, not when it happened. Then he just hung up."

"Alright then," Ivan said. "Do you agree to the deal? If you do, I can verify the time of death and see if the deal is possible."

"I agree," Bruce said desperately. I'll do whatever it takes to save her."

"Very well. Tell me your girlfriend's details. Name, place of birth, and date of birth."

"Her name is Betty Ross. She was born in California, General Ross's only daughter..."

Taking out a crystal ball, Ivan put on a show of magical manipulation. He used it to distract Bruce while secretly contacting Red Queen to investigate Betty Ross's situation.

Information flooded Ivan's mind as the Red Queen relayed her findings. After processing it all, Ivan cursed under his breath.

"Damn it! She's the Red She-Hulk?!"