{Welcome, Enjoying the chapters? Support me on Patreon and unlock 70+ advanced chapters, with 5 new chapters released every two days!
patreon.com/Oreski}
Shen He didn't expect tonight's casual walk to result in such an unexpected gain.
Now that Banner's location had been leaked—and with the intel Ikeda Yuji just provided—it was inevitable that Bruce Banner would be hunted down by tomorrow. Shen He narrowed his eyes, sensing the ripples of conspiracy forming in the dark. The incident downtown wasn't a coincidence. The shot aimed at Banner reeked of Hydra's desperation—a final struggle by a fading power that still refused to vanish completely.
It was time to accelerate the plan.
After returning to his temporary residence, Shen He waited until midnight to enter the dungeon world for his scheduled dimensional mission. Event dungeons had proven invaluable for power growth. Since joining Chaldea's multi-world development projects, Shen He had reached level 36. His core followers—Qimu Nanxiong, Jeanne d'Arc, and both Ryougi Shiki personalities—had also reached an average level of 25, excluding newer recruits still in training.
It was all progressing well. Shen He silently hoped this particular dungeon would end soon—his attention was required in the Marvel world again.
After returning, Shen He decided not to bother sleeping. Instead, he roped Jeanne and Violet into a round of "Fight the Landlord" until dawn.
Around 6 a.m., confirmation arrived: multiple factions were already on Banner's trail.
"Time to move. Let's avoid unnecessary attention," Shen He said calmly, grabbing his robe.
Only Jeanne accompanied him into the forest outskirts.
The military had cordoned off the area, but Shen He noted that the soldiers weren't exactly incorruptible. Gold bars—specifically Wakandan-purified—were accepted without question. The more people entered, the more gold it cost. Corruption, once again, was blatantly displayed in this so-called high-security zone.
"Let's gear up," Shen He said, summoning two black cloaks embroidered in Chaldean gold. The emblem of Chaldea glinted on the right breast.
Their organization needed a unified identity. Appearances mattered now that Chaldea had taken its first steps into public light. Uniforms were step one.
"I feel ridiculous," Jeanne muttered as she slipped hers on, tugging the hood forward with reluctance.
"Oh come on," Shen He rolled his eyes. "Have you seen some of the superhero tights in this world? You could practically see their arteries."
Jeanne snorted. "Fine, fine. But I just saw Banner getting surrounded. Let's go."
Indeed, Banner was now cornered. His eyes darted wildly as men with weapons surrounded him in a clearing. As always, his first instinct was to flee, but he knew better—he was a physicist, not a soldier. Running from mercenaries trained in battlefield tactics was an impossible gamble.
"I wouldn't point that thing at me if I were you," Banner warned the closest man, his hands raised. "Whoever's got what it takes to kill me hasn't been born yet. One wrong move, and you're all corpses."
The warning didn't deter them.
Despite countless videos proving conventional weapons couldn't stop the Hulk, fear still made people cling to their guns. It was the last defense of fragile minds faced with the unknown.
"Dr. Banner," one suited agent spoke up, trying diplomacy. "We don't want to hurt you. If you cooperate, we'll provide you with resources—equipment, research facilities, everything."
"Everything I want?" Banner chuckled bitterly. "You can give me death? Because that's all I want. I've had enough of this cursed life. You want to help me? Leave. Before I get angry."
The mercenaries hesitated. No one moved. And yet, every faction present had silently agreed on one thing: subdue Banner now—compete for him later.
Bang—
A high-dose tranquilizer meant for elephants launched through the air—but never landed.
Before anyone could react, their weapons twisted violently into warped scrap metal.
Hovering silently nearby was a man in a black cloak—with soft pink hair that gleamed under the early sun.
The silence that followed was unnatural.
Several seconds passed before anyone realized their weapons were no longer in hand. One soldier tried to run—only to be yanked back violently and flung unconscious beside Banner.
Then, the rest arrived.
Chaldea's elite—Jeanne, Violet, Qimu Nanxiong, and both Ryougi twins—stepped into view, walking as if they owned the space. Only five of them, yet it felt like an army had descended.
"Who… who are you people?" one soldier stammered.
Only Banner remained composed.
He'd seen worse.
"Chaldea," Shen He announced, stepping into view. "That's the name of our organization."
Banner raised an eyebrow. "So what, you're another agency here to cage me up like an animal?"
Shen He smiled thinly. "Maybe. Shouldn't you be in a cage?"
Banner's fists clenched, but Shen He didn't stop.
"Five hundred and thirty-two people. That's how many died when you rampaged two nights ago. Civilians. Children. The slums where it happened are flattened. We've confirmed over 180 homes destroyed."
The number struck harder than any tranquilizer.
Banner recoiled, pain flickering in his eyes.
"You don't need to say it," he whispered. "I know."
His face twisted. Regret. Self-loathing. Shame.
"I didn't mean to," he muttered, his voice breaking.
"No one says you did," Shen He said softly. "The true culprit is the one who triggered you downtown. But that doesn't remove your role. Your existence is a loaded gun. When it fires, it doesn't care if the target deserves it."
Banner said nothing.
Shen He stepped closer. "This is why you must return to containment. It's not punishment—it's prevention."
Banner exploded.
"What gives you the right?!" he roared, gripping Shen He's shoulders.
Soldiers screamed. Some tried to run, but were yanked back again—this time, into open air—then dropped harmlessly.
Shen He didn't blink.
"We're Chaldea," he said again, locking eyes with Banner. "Our mission is to protect the balance of humanity. Normally, we don't interfere in localized disasters. But this? This was avoidable. Your anger is a ticking bomb."
"Don't lie to me!" Banner shouted. "I haven't transformed in over a year! It's you people who keep pushing!"
He shook Shen He slightly, his desperation evident.
"You think I wanted this?! I've buried myself, hidden like a damn ghost! And still they find me!"
Shen He gestured. Several floating mercenaries dropped to the ground in front of Banner.
"You should ask them why they can't let you go. After S.H.I.E.L.D. collapsed, we inherited their files. We warned every known agency to leave you alone. Clearly, we were ignored."
"We'll leave!" one of them cried out. "We swear!"
Shen He turned to Banner. "Do you believe them?"
Of course not.
Banner's gaze was flat now. Cold. Defeated.
"No… I don't," he said softly.
"I don't either," Shen He replied. "Want me to list them? Meguro Group. Italian Mafia. Triads. Ten Rings. Malik Cartel. Russian Black Army. Mossad. Every one of them has operatives here."
As Shen He named names, the soldiers' expressions shifted from shock to dread. Many wore false IDs. Their real affiliations had just been exposed without fail.
None of them escaped Qimu Nanxiong's telepathy.
"You see, Banner?" Shen He continued. "The world's after you. This one year of peace? That was SHIELD's protection. After their fall, it was only a matter of time."
Banner's fists trembled.
"So what now?" he asked. "There's no place left, is there?"
"There is," Shen He said gently. "The cage."
A silence passed.
Banner didn't move.
He didn't cry. Didn't shout.
Just stood there, defeated.
"I thought I could control it," he whispered. "I tried so hard. But I am a monster."
Shen He rested a hand on his shoulder.
"You're not," he said softly. "You're two souls—one carrying guilt, the other rage. But neither is truly lost… not yet."
And deep within Banner's heart, somewhere beneath that sea of sorrow…
The Hulk heard those words, too.
And—for the first time—he didn't roar.
He wept.
IMPORTANT UPDATE –
I WILL BE POSTING 1 CHAPTER HERE ON WEBNOVEL EVERY DAY...
I WILL BE POSTING 5 ADVANCE CHAPTERS EVERY TWO DAYS ON PATREON, JOIN MY PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE EARLY ACCESS.
🔗 JOIN NOW: patreon.com/Oreski
PS: I HAVE UPLOADED 70+ ADVANCED CHAPTERS ON PATREON ALREADY—DON'T MISS OUT ON THE ADVENTURE.