Chapter 44 – Blonsky, Gamma Wrath, and the Contract That Roared
Location: Earth – An Unmarked Military Base, Siberia
Date: December 13, 2008
Time: 3:02 PM
There are few good reasons to break into a Siberian blacksite.
Adam had roughly... none.
But the system had pinged a "High-Potential Contract Target" with an A-Level Combat Adaptation Signature, and those didn't come often. So naturally, Adam had opened a Dominion portal mid-blizzard and walked right into one of the most secure gamma research bunkers on Earth like he was shopping for eggs.
He was not prepared for what he saw.
A man—lean, shirtless, covered in surgical banding—was casually doing chin-ups in a reinforced chamber surrounded by shattered restraints and a "DO NOT ENTER" sign written in six languages.
"Emil Blonsky," Adam said, impressed. "You don't look like you failed a super soldier trial."
Blonsky dropped, grabbed a towel, and shrugged. "Most of the guys they tested are dead. I'm just ugly."
"And slightly irradiated."
"Details."
System Scan Initiated...
Subject: Emil Blonsky
Status: Gamma-Enhanced (Stable)
Compatibility: High – Contract Enforcement Viable
Emotion Risk Factor: Elevated (Resentment / Abandonment / Hunger for Power)
Suggested Offer: Controlled Empowerment + Identity Restoration
"So what's your pitch?" Blonsky asked, eyeing Adam. "You don't look military."
Adam grinned. "I'm worse. I'm private sector with magic."
He summoned a Dominion sub-ring mid-air. It hovered, humming softly with recognition.
Blonsky frowned. "And what's that? Some culty crap?"
"It's a key. And a test."
"To what?"
"To whether you want to keep being someone else's experiment… or your own weapon."
Meanwhile – Dominion Arena (Under Construction)
Frank stood at the edge of a rapidly growing coliseum carved from mana-infused stone.
Luke Cage stared at the absurdity and muttered, "We had a training room. Why do we need an arena?"
Frank holstered his new weapon—a sleek black firearm that had already morphed into an axe and a railgun within the same hour.
He smirked. "Because angry people make great teachers."
Jessica landed nearby with a smoldering piece of mango stuck to her boot.
"Is everything in this place sentient?"
"Only the emotionally repressed fruit," Frank replied.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
[Emotional Spike Detected – Anticipation / Recruitment Tension / Tactical Flirtation (??)]
[Skill Fragment Gained: Battle Orchestration (3%) → Doubled to 6%]
[System Currency Gained: +2,000]
Back – Siberia
Adam held out the contract, the runes glowing with a molten pulse.
Blonsky raised an eyebrow. "This some 'sell-your-soul' magic?"
"No," Adam replied. "This is 'you-screw-me-I-melt-your-gamma-core' insurance."
"...Fair."
Blonsky stared at the terms.
No betrayal
Loyalty to Adam and his network
Access to power, medical enhancement, freedom from military leash
And at the bottom:
Clause 9: Arena combat is optional. Smashing is not discouraged.
Blonsky signed without hesitation.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
[A-Level Contract Complete – Emil Blonsky (Combat Tier)]
[A-Level Skill Gained: Adaptive Gamma Regeneration (Active/Passive)]
Effect: Regrows limbs, heals over time, becomes temporarily stronger under sustained damage.
Trait Shared: Pact of Unbreakable Loyalty – Skill Synchronization Active.
[A-Level Item Unlocked: Titanbone Harness]
Description: Shifts to enhance muscle density and redirect kinetic energy.
Portal Opened – Dominion Fortress
Blonsky stepped through the portal and immediately froze.
Floating islands, glowing trees, crystal towers, and a mango that looked like it wanted to fight him.
"...What the hell is this?"
"Welcome to home base," Adam said proudly.
A mango growled.
"I don't like fruit," Blonsky muttered.
Later – Arena Grounds
"LET'S TEST THE NEW GUY!" Frank shouted gleefully.
Luke dodged a falling boulder. "We haven't even had orientation yet!"
Jessica sipped mana-wine from a sports bottle. "This is orientation."
Blonsky roared, shirtless again, as his gamma energy surged and the Titanbone Harness adjusted, glowing like an exoskeleton made from pure testosterone.
Adam called out from the stands: "Remember, no fatalities until after lunch!"
The arena erupted into chaos.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
[Emotional Spike Detected – Battle Euphoria / Territory Pride / Blunt-Force Diplomacy]
[Skill Fragment Gained: Controlled Chaos (2%) → Doubled to 4%]
[System Currency Gained: +3,000]
As dust cleared, Blonsky wiped blood from his brow and grinned like a wolf.
"This place ain't bad."
Adam tossed him a drink.
"That's just Tuesday, buddy."
End of Chapter 44