Gifts

Authors Note-

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...

"It's no big deal. Go ahead, try out your new power," Ivan waved dismissively, not bothered by the crushed chair.

Bruce breathed a sigh of relief, closed his eyes, and uttered a soft command. Suddenly, his body swelled up, transforming into the towering figure of Hulk in an instant, though his eyes remained mismatched—one green, one black. Despite his curiosity and the surge of anger, he managed to control himself, avoiding an outburst.

"Hulk feels it! This is freedom, roar!"

The Hulk seemed exhilarated, roaring and pounding his chest, a lively giant gorilla, albeit with a dazzling green hue.

After a while, the Hulk calmed down as if reluctantly ending a game. He shifted between his towering green form and that of an ordinary person, reveling in the transformation like a child with a beloved toy.

Bruce Banner couldn't contain his excitement once he confirmed he could transform at will. Tears welled in his eyes. The years of torment he had finally faded. He wouldn't need to worry about anything in the future.

"Fantastic, it worked! Thank you, Mr. Devil, and thank you, Hulk."

With those words, Bruce's body swelled again, and he roared, "Hulk, freedom!"

Then, gradually, the Hulk shrank back, returning to Bruce.

"Yes, you're free now, Hulk."

Hulk: "..."

Banner: "..."

Watching the figure constantly shifting and conversing with himself, Ivan couldn't help but feel the situation was bizarre, especially with Bruce Banner only clad in oversized pants, a sight that startled Ivan.

"Alright, enough of that. Stop changing. I have a few small gifts for you that might help. Take them," Ivan said, producing three items from his backpack: a garment, a scroll, and a silver, jelly-like substance.

First, Ivan tossed the garment to Bruce.

"Please just put this on. It's made from the skin of a magical creature called the bird snake. It can change size to fit you perfectly, so you won't tear your clothes every time you transform. No more wandering around in oversized pants."

At the mention of wandering half-dressed, Bruce Banner paused, suddenly realizing a significant issue. It seemed Ivan had noticed Bruce's habitual attire—just pants. He recalled waking up as Hulk, heartbroken over Betty's supposed demise, not caring about his appearance. But Betty was alive, turned into a giant red creature, possibly in danger. Ivan had helped him contain the Hulk's shock, preventing him from realizing he was shirtless, and now Bruce hastily donned the garment.

"This garment has been enchanted with magic runes, making it durable and adaptable. It can regulate temperature and style and is suitable for any season," Ivan explained.

Bruce's eyes lit up at the prospect of no longer waking up naked and ashamed in a grassy field. Imagine the humiliation of being laughed at as a lunatic! Sometimes, he'd swallow his pride and beg on the streets to survive. Yet, he was a respected physicist. This was a new lease on dignity.

But there was more. Ivan tossed another item to Bruce:

"Have you ever played games like Warcraft or Dark Destruction? There's an item in those games called a return scroll."

The abrupt change in topic caught Bruce off guard. "I don't play games often, but I've heard of return scrolls. But bringing game items into reality? That's impossible."

Ivan smiled mysteriously. "Everything's possible. This scroll is similar to a Return Scroll. See the blue light bead at the top? It's a spatial coordinate. Remove it, hide it somewhere safe, then hold the scroll. It'll teleport you to the bead's location within a two-meter range. You can use it three times."

"Can it work? Teleportation scrolls are just fantasy in games, right?" Bruce scrutinized the scroll, clearly intrigued.

"Illusion is based on display, like myths and legends. How do you know if those gods exist? Didn't I bring you here from the mountains and forests in an instant earlier? You've experienced spatial jumping technology. Isn't this better?"

In truth, Ivan had crafted these teleportation scrolls by merging the energy of space gems and magic runes. Almost everyone Ivan cared about had one. However, it was the first time he'd given them to outsiders. It wasn't that Ivan valued the Hulk greatly or was being generous. With his space energy crystal deposits dwindling, he'd become frugal. He rarely crafted such items now, adhering to the principle of saving what little remained.

Bruce's joy at receiving two treasures was palpable. He eagerly turned his attention to the silver jelly-like substance in Ivan's hand.

"This is a cluster of nanorobots. Be aware of its size. It's comprised of countless tiny robots. They can integrate into your body, connect with your spirit, and be controlled directly through consciousness."

After Ivan explained, he handed the silver liquid to Bruce. It spread, enveloping Banner's body before slowly seeping in. If one were to magnify the liquid, they'd see mosquito-like robots adhering to Banner's skin cells—a remarkable sight.

"These nanorobots can alter your appearance. With proper use, no one will recognize you. Maybe my explanation is a bit abstract. Let me demonstrate. Just recall the appearance of someone you know well and command 'transform.'"

Bruce Banner, not fully grasping it, watched as Ivan demonstrated. Emboldened, he attempted it himself. Opting for General Ross—despite their past issues—he focused on the transformation command.

A faint tingling sensation swept over his face as if tiny bugs were crawling, then faded.

Ivan grinned mischievously as Bruce, now resembling General Ross, gaped at his reflection in a floating mirror.

"What's happening?" Bruce stammered, shocked to see his father-in-law's face staring back at him.

"Don't worry. Try imagining someone else's appearance and see if you can change," Ivan reassured him.

Bruce Banner, a scientist and one of the smartest people on Earth, quickly caught on. He began envisioning the faces of acquaintances—parents, girlfriends, friends, siblings—and testing each one. The results were flawless. He even altered his appearance according to his whims, effectively giving himself a virtual makeover.

"Amazing! With this skill, I can search for Betty without revealing my identity. And I can control my powers to avoid endangering her. Betty might need this ability to conceal her identity, too. Can I have more nanorobots?"

Bruce's mind raced with possibilities for his girlfriend's safety.

Ivan chuckled. "You're quite eager. But you don't need to go through the trouble. The nanorobots I gave you are sufficient for two people. Just divide them and give a portion to your girlfriend. Oh, and this material is scarce in the universe from the advanced civilization of Xandar. Cherish it."

Though Ivan extolled its rarity, it was a fabrication. The nanorobots were crafted from Xandarian and could have been more precious. This embellishment was to impress Bruce. The most valuable nanorobots were made of Zhenjin, a rare material. Ivan himself used these.

"Alien items? How do you and your devil associate with aliens?"

"Why not? As for transactions, it's not just humans; there are magicians, warlocks, magical creatures, and aliens. Through rifts in space, devils can reach other planets. There are even hidden aliens on Earth. Who are they? Where are they? That's a secret."

"Oh, I see!"

The existence of aliens didn't faze Bruce. Betty and their impending reunion consumed his thoughts.

Ivan sensed Bruce's impatience and refrained from further explanations. With a wave, he used Phantom travel to send Bruce back to where he'd been before, then back to Skull Island.