Chapter 9
One week after joining the Justice League, the Hulk is summoned to the Watchtower's main monitor room alongside the other heroes
"Listen up - we've got a major situation. Inmates from Arkham Asylum have escaped and taken hostages in downtown Metropolis" Batman said
He pulls up footage of a rampaging Killer Croc smashing through streets while Bane and other super-criminals wreak havoc
"We need to lock down that area immediately and start evacuating civilians before anyone else gets hurt," Superman said
"Agreed. We'll spearhead a simultaneous air and ground assault to box them in"
As the League splits up into strike teams, Batman turns his attention to the Hulk, who has been uncharacteristically silent so far
"You're with me, big guy. I need your...particular talents for taking down one very specific inmate" Batman said
The footage switches to show the towering, roided-out figure of Bane flexing free from the confines of his Arkham cell
(snorts) "So Hulk gets to smash the stupid muscle-man? No problem!" Hulk yelled
Landing in the heart of the embattled Metropolis district, the chaos is overwhelming. Fire rains down from the sky as Killer Croc uses a vehicle as a club to smash through buildings, his powerful tail lashing rubble in every direction
"Take the direct route! Stop Bane at all costs - don't let him get tied up with any of the other stragglers!" Batman said
(rolling his eyes) "Yeah yeah, Hulk knows the drill, batman. Less talking, more smashing!" Hulk yelled
With an earth-shaking leap, the Hulk soars over the ongoing battle and comes crashing down directly in front of the rampaging Bane. The shockwave of the impact sends cars flying as the two lock eyes
laughing maniacally "So after all these years, the infamous "Bat" has finally decided to face me head-on! I was hoping for more of a challenge!" Bane said
(pounding his chest) "HULK is your challenge, stupid muscle-man! Prepare for a world of--" * dodges Bane's venom-powered haymaker* "--HEY! NO FAIR HITTING WHILE HULK TALKING!" Hulk said
The two brawl through the abandoned streets, trading cataclysmic blows that crumble the very foundations around them. Bane roars as he puts the Hulk in a crushing bear hug, veins bulging with the emerald fury of the Venom serum
"Do you think you know true power, freak? Let me show you the meaning of despair!" Bane yelled
Bane's grip tightens to bone-crunching levels as he savors the feeling of the Hulk's body straining against his brutish strength. But then something unexpected happens - the Hulk lets out a mirthful guffaw
(sneering) "What's so funny? You think you're actually--" Bane said
Before Bane can finish, the Hulk flexes outward, casually breaking the vice-like bearhug as if it were nothing. He looms over Bane with a mocking grin
"Stupid muscle-man's hug barely even tickled! Guess Hulk is just way too strong, even for a dumb 'roided monster like you!" Hulk yelled
Face contorting with disbelief and rage, Bane throws himself at the Hulk with a ferocious barrage of blows, each one shaking the very earth. But Hulk barely seems phased, shrugging off the impacts with disdainful ease
(checking his nails) "Uh huh, uh huh...you done yet?" Hulk said, not taking this fight serious
Pivoting with explosive force, Bane aims a horrendous double-fisted haymaker directly at the Hulk's sneering face. But in one deft motion, the Hulk catches both wrists in his iron grip. Bones audibly creak from the strain
(taunting) "How's this feel for power, chump?"
Bane's face slackens in dumbfounded horror as the Hulk's muscles begin to swell and ripple with ever-increasing size and might. With a furious roar, the Hulk whips Bane over his head and brings him smashing down into the street over and over in a punishing orbital slam
BOOM! KRASH! BOOM!
Each thunderous impact leaves the battered body of Bane cratering further and further into the asphalt until finally the Hulk holds him suspended upside-down by his ankle
"Now listen good, stupid muscle-man - because Hulk getting bored of this game. You got about five seconds to--" Hulk said before getting interupted
A sudden screeching roar shatters the air as the monstrously reptilian Killer Croc sail through, smashing the Hulk aside with a whipcrack from his mighty tail! The Hulk goes careening into a building with enough force to destabilize its foundation
laughing "Aww, what's wrong? Did I hit you too hard, runt?" Killer croc said
Spitting rubble from his mouth, the Hulk emerges with a look of apoplectic rage as he gets a load of his new adversaries. Not only Killer Croc, but the winded and limping Bane as well wielding a heavy steel girder like an improvised mace
"Okay...Hulk was going to play nice at first. But now? His eyes blaze with emerald fire Now you losers made Hulk ANGRY!!!" Hulk yelled
With a deafening gamma-powered roar, the Hulk unleashes his fury upon the duo, streaking forward in an unstoppable barrage of seismic body blows
stunned "Holy crom he's fast--!!" Killer Croc said
POW!
The Hulk's punch instantly floored the reptilian monstrosity
Bane swings his makeshift weapon in desperation, only for it to snap across the Hulk's granite abs like a twig! He lets out a wounded bellow as the Hulk grabs him by the throat, steadily squeezing.
(snarling) "Hulk...hate...cheap...shots!!" Hulk said
He hoists Bane high overhead to deliver one final, fight-ending-- WHAM! A brutal tail-swipe from the recovering Killer Croc catches the Hulk flush, sending him and Bane sailing in opposite directions!
coughing up rubble "Okay..." cracking his neck "Hulk done playing around now," Hulk said
He stomps forward, fists clenched and bulging with barely-contained rage as both villains peel themselves off the ground, battered but sneering with defiant bravado
"That...all you got?" Bane said, struggling to breathe
KRAKABOOOOM!!!
The world seems to freeze as the full, unrestrained, titanic force of the Hulk's thunderclap slams outward in a cyclonic shockwave! Windows shatter, debris goes flying, and bodies are inescapably tossed back like ragdolls
CRUNCH. That horrible wet, meaty sound as Bane's unconscious frame is pancaked against a brick wall from the sheer devastating pressure...
(seething) "Hulk...is...STRONGEST THERE IS!!!" Hulk yelled
With one final, hatred-fueled punch, the Hulk batters Killer Croc through the entire crumbling facade, leaving only an unconscious, broken silhouette amidst the clouds of dust and ruin.
(1055 words)