Chapter 60. Hulk.
Leaving aside Felix's chaotic inner thoughts for the moment, Tony and the others took his warning seriously. Convinced that something dangerous lay ahead, they began discussing how to strengthen their newly formed Justice League.
"I think we need to start recruiting other superhumans to our cause," Tony said, stepping forward with a confident look.
"People with strong morals and unique abilities—people who believe in justice. Right now, we're far too understaffed. Forget a global crisis, even a moderate disaster could overwhelm us if it happens suddenly without any reason or rhyme."
He paused and looked around the room. "We currently have five active members. But let's be real—if Felix decides not to get involved, that leaves just four people who can respond freely. That's simply not enough. Our top priority should be expanding the team."
"I agree," Steve Rogers said, nodding thoughtfully.
"But Tony, while I support the idea of recruiting new members, I must emphasize—we can't be reckless about it. The Justice League was founded to protect the Earth. We must not allow individuals with selfish or impure intentions into –this alliance. The damage a corrupt member could do from the inside would outweigh any benefit their power might bring."
Tony rolled his eyes playfully.
"Cap, relax. You don't need to lecture me on ethics—I'm not about to hand out invitations to known criminals. Over the past year as Iron Man, I've already done my homework. I've gathered intel on several potential recruits."
A smug grin crept across his face. "And there's one candidate I think we should consider seriously."
He turned to the wall and called out, "Jarvis, pull up the information on Bruce Banner."
"Understood, sir. Projecting data now."
At Jarvis's prompt response, a large holographic screen flickered to life, displaying a series of surveillance clips. The footage showed a colossal green creature wreaking havoc on a military base. Soldiers fired round after round of live ammunition at the monster, but it seemed completely unfazed.
Tanks and armored vehicles opened fire, but the green beast powered through the onslaught, barely slowed. With a mighty roar, it rushed forward, grabbed the barrel of a tank with both hands, and, with unbelievable strength, lifted the entire vehicle into the air.
It spun in place and flung the tank like a toy, sending it flying hundreds of meters through the air before it disappeared off-screen.
Despite the terrifying display of strength, the military refused to retreat. The commanding officer continued shouting orders, pushing the soldiers to keep fighting. The reason for their persistence remained unclear.
The battle raged on for several more minutes. Eventually, the green giant seemed to lose interest or perhaps saw no point in continuing the fight. It leapt into the air, soaring dozens of meters, and disappeared into the surrounding forest. The screen cut to black.
The room was silent for a long moment.
Everyone had the same expression—stunned. The raw power they had just witnessed was overwhelming.
"So?" Tony asked, clearly enjoying their reactions. "What do you think?"
The others remained deep in thought. The being in the video was undeniably powerful—but could such a creature be trusted?
"The strength of this green monster is impressive. If we ever get the chance, I must face it in battle!" Thor said, his voice tinged with excitement. Perhaps after acquiring the Stormbreaker axe, his confidence had skyrocketed. He was eager for a challenge—and the Hulk seemed like just the opponent.
Felix couldn't help but remember the scene from Thor: Ragnarok, when the Hulk had slammed Thor to the ground in their gladiator battle. It reminded him of how Loki had been tossed around like a ragdoll in the first avengers movie... but things were different now. With the power boost from the Stormbreaker and his mastery over his own godly energy, Thor wouldn't be easily overwhelmed by the Hulk this time.
While it wasn't certain who would win in a fight between them, the two seemed closely matched in his eyes. Felix found himself looking forward to seeing Thor and Hulk clash—but he had no idea when such an opportunity would arise.
"Stark, the 'green monster' you're talking about, is it really suitable for us to recruit into the Justice League?" Steve Rogers asked, his tone skeptical. "Sure, it's strong—probably even stronger than Thor—but can we trust it to stand by us? I didn't see any sense of justice in its actions. During the fight with the military, it didn't hold back at all. It's a miracle they didn't destroy it! I can't see how we could recruit something like that into our ranks."
Steve's concern was clear. He didn't yet know who the Hulk truly was, and this video was his first glimpse of the monster. Although he was shocked by the raw strength on display, he was far from convinced that such a creature belonged in their alliance.
"Alright, I see everyone has their doubts," Tony replied, raising a hand to calm the room. "But let me explain the full story here. That green monster? It's not just some random beast. Actually, it's a human—well, a human who underwent a mutation."
"Wait, what? A human? Are you serious? That's no human, that's a beast!" Steve interrupted, unable to hide his disbelief. "You're not joking, are you?"
"Captain, I understand your shock, but please let me finish explaining before interrupting," Tony said, holding up a hand. "Once I'm done, I'll gladly answer any questions."
Tony glanced at the projection, making sure everyone was following along. "This green giant's name is Bruce Banner. Like me, he's a scientist—he holds seven PhDs. He's a genius, just like –I am. And his character is solid—he's a good person."
There was an unmistakable hint of pride in Tony's voice as he spoke, as though he were bragging about his own accomplishments. But his explanation continued.
"During a military experiment, Bruce was accidentally exposed to massive amounts of gamma radiation, and his body mutated in an uncontrollable way. Now, whenever he loses control of his anger, he transforms into the Hulk—this enormous, green monster."
Tony paused and let the gravity of his words sink in.
"After transforming, his strength and endurance are vastly enhanced—he becomes nearly unstoppable. That's why the military is after him, as shown in the video. They've been trying to capture him for a while."
Tony smiled slightly. "The military calls him the Hulk. It's not just because of his size and strength. When Bruce transforms, it's like a completely different personality takes over—like a child throwing a tantrum. He's angry, reckless, and loves smashing things."
"But here's the twist," Tony continued, leaning in slightly. "Whenever Bruce calms down, his true self takes over again. He reverts to his normal human form. So, while Hulk's power is immense, it's not uncontrollable—Bruce is learning how to manage his emotions and keep the monster in check."
Tony leaned back in his chair. "Bruce hides out in remote areas to avoid hurting anyone during his transformations. He's on the run from the military, but he's doing his best to learn control."
He paused for a moment, allowing the others time to process the information. "So, what I'm saying is—if we find Bruce Banner and help him learn to control Hulk, his power could be a huge asset to the Justice League. His strength would greatly enhance our ability to protect Earth."
The room fell silent as everyone processed the implications of what Tony had said. Steve, in particular, seemed deep in thought, his brow furrowed as he considered the possibility of recruiting someone like Hulk.
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