"It's over, the Hulk has gone mad again!"
"Tony's suit hasn't even been fully assembled yet!"
"Missing one arm has a massive impact on combat effectiveness!"
"But that punch just now was absolutely terrifying!"
"Is Veronica an armed platform? That AI program is insanely advanced!"
"If we conduct in-depth research on this armed platform, there will definitely be even more advanced equipment hidden inside!"
"But it also has a weakness, suspended in midair. If someone fires a heavy cannon at it, it could be destroyed directly!"
"Are you crazy enough to try that?!"
"Bro, are you seriously ill? Try it if you dare!"
"But Tony is really unfortunate. The armor is broken way too badly!"
"No, Hulk is charging again!!!"
[The Hulk surged forward. To buy time and allow the arm to finish assembling, Tony held his ground. His right hand locked onto the Hulk, and a pulsed energy wave erupted. Several consecutive blasts failed to completely stop the Hulk's advance.]
[The enormous right-hand armor opened its palm wide, and the energy pulse jets suddenly expanded outward, causing a blinding light to bloom. A thick, continuous pulsed laser beam roared out violently.]
[Yet what was even more terrifying was that, under the sustained impact, the Hulk endured the barrage head-on. His eyes locked onto the pulse beam and leaped. A massive green fist tore through the light, about to smash straight into Tony.]
[At the final moment, the left arm was finally assembled. Tony raised it with all his might and thrust it forward at lightning speed. The suit's fist collided head-on with the Hulk's in midair, unleashing an instant, devastating shockwave. The glass of every nearby car and building shattered simultaneously, while the thunderous roar sent countless civilians into panic.]
"Damn, this is so intense!"
"This punch is absolutely brutal!"
"Screenshots! Screenshots! Two titans clashing head-on! Too violent, this deserves the cover!!"
"Terrifying!"
"Young man, watch closely, this punch is legendary-level handsome!"
"The Hulk and Tony are both nuts!"
"With this punch alone, I won't get a stroke for the next ten years!"
Inside Norland Base, Guerino stared blankly at the scene of the fist clash, his astonishment impossible to contain. Not long ago, everyone was still debating whether the anti-Hulk suit could even hold. Now, this temporarily assembled mechanical arm had punched the Hulk head-on.
To cover his embarrassment, Guerino coughed lightly. "Well… this punch was pretty good. It had my style."
His companions nearly burst into laughter. Guerino's mind flashed back to a past life, a swordsman from some unknown world who loved pretending, always spouting strange phrases like 'a sword light chills nineteen continents.'
[Tony instantly grabbed the Hulk's wrist after the punch, spinning his body in a brutal over-the-shoulder throw. The Hulk was slammed straight into the ground.]
[Tony pressed down with overwhelming force, ignoring the Hulk's furious roars. The mechanical structure in Tony's left arm began to rotate rapidly. The arm's device adjusted, then locked onto the Hulk's head and unleashed an insane barrage of rapid-fire strikes.]
[Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! The red mechanical fist, driven by insane elasticity, hammered into the Hulk's head at terrifying speed. The impact left afterimages, each recoil accompanied by the dull, bone-shaking sound of fist meeting flesh.]
The entire audience went completely nuts.
"Damn, this is so gorgeous!"
"This tiny fist is literally pounding his head!"
"Little electric motor, I'm dying of laughter!!"
"Go!"
"Hahaha! This random pounding is ridiculous, Hulk is getting wrecked!"
"Happy Punches!"
"The speed is insane, too fast!"
"Wow, I really like this speed…"
"What the hell do you mean you like a hammer?!"
"Fluttering fists!!"
"The suit is god-tier!"
"This punch, he's officially the captain of the demolition squad!!"
"If Hulk wore this suit himself, wouldn't he be invincible?!"
Back at Norland Base, Guerino's hands trembled as he held his teacup. Once again, he realized he had underestimated the Hulkbuster suit. Even though he wasn't a mechanic, that ridiculous high-speed bouncing punch demanded absurdly high technical standards.
"This isn't some street demolition tool. The high-frequency contraction and rebound at such close range, in such a short time… the material cost alone is frightening. Is it made from Vibranium?"
Inside the Administration, the director and expert team fell into rare collective silence. Xiaotian grinned wildly, while Kasey swallowed hard.
"This… the suit is outrageous!" Several military industry tycoons questioned life directly.
One forced a bitter smile. "After seeing this suit, I honestly doubt whether our aircraft carrier could withstand such hammering."
Another nodded. "I'm afraid it really couldn't. Those elastic fists could probably turn even our hardest metals into thin sheets. Tony's technology is so cutting-edge. I really wish the Immortal Warrior could awaken memories of building this suit."
Odom said in shock, "Wearing an external steel suit to operate the anti-Hulk armor already proves how fearsome its power is. If this elastic recoil were borne directly by flesh and blood, the rebound force alone would shatter the human body. It must rely on the suit's protection to be used safely."
The crowd fell silent.
Johan nodded deeply. "What Dr. Odom said makes perfect sense. I wonder whether Tony has developed other types of wearable armor. Frankly, I've recorded countless extraordinary past lives, but only Tony is truly different."
"Ultimate wisdom." The director sighed. "If only this suit had been completed before the Chitauri invasion… the losses would have been far lower."
Hawking spoke gravely, "With this level of equipment, don't you think it could even confront Ultron?"
The room instantly grew cold. Ultron was the greatest enemy at this stage.
Sweat appeared once more on the director's forehead. "If Ultron discovers Veronica's armed platform… Ultron + Hulkbuster suit…?"
[On-screen, the past-life battle continued. Tony clenched his teeth and kept launching high-frequency punches, "Go to sleep! Go to sleep! Go to sleep!"]
[Suddenly, the Hulk raised his arm violently and grabbed the attacking fist. The Hulk bared his teeth and roared furiously.]
[But Tony had already anticipated this; the clenched steel fist didn't retract. Instead, a restraint device suddenly popped out from his arm. It shot forward and cuffed the Hulk's limb. The steel restraint locked onto the Hulk's arm.]
[While the Hulk tried to tear it apart, Tony yanked hard, energy bursting from his thrusters as he shot into the air.]
[Tony finally exhaled. "Alright, let's just get you out of the city."]
[But just seconds into the ascent, the Hulk attacked and grabbed the suit's leg midair. The flight angle instantly went wild.]
[Tony shouted helplessly, "That's not the way, NOT there!!"]
[Boom! Wrapped in a cloud of white smoke, the two crashed through glass, smashing directly into a skyscraper. The Hulk kicked Tony away brutally, and Tony shattered through a glass bridge.]
"Forced sleep mode activated, here we go!"
"This restraint device is insane!"
"Just go with the flow!"
"Hulk: I refuse to go with you!"
"This new arm has way too many functions!"
"What exactly was Dr. Banner thinking when he built this with Tony?"
"I seriously suspect Dr. Banner has issues."
[Glass shattered endlessly. The Hulk, after breaking free, grew even more furious. He lunged at Tony again, and a new demolition round began. Chaos engulfed everything. Tony shoved the Hulk away with brute force, then grabbed him by the neck and slammed him against a wall.]
[Tony growled, "Okay, Bruce! Please cooperate!"]
[The Hulk ignored him completely. During the violent struggle, an elevator cable was accidentally severed. The elevator dropped instantly, screams echoing inside. Tony shot out a hand and caught the steel cable midair while the suit hung suspended. The civilians were lowered safely to the ground.]
[But at that instant, the Hulk leaped from the side and crashed onto Tony. Tony twisted into a spinning backflip midair and kicked the Hulk away with both legs. The massive body crashed down the exterior stairs. Tony swung, and the hanging elevator was hurled like a meteor toward the Hulk, "Elevator delivery!"]
[BOOM! The Hulk, who had just struggled to stand, was smashed back down again.]
[Tony dove after him, delivering a brutal right uppercut straight into the Hulk's jaw. The Hulk's eyes turned blood-red. With a ferocious roar, he spat out a shattered tooth.]
[Tony froze. Realizing the Hulk was on the verge of a full berserk outbreak, he said nervously, "Uh… sorry."]
[Before he could finish, the Hulk's fist blasted him away. He smashed through one building and slammed into another.]
"Oh my god, Tony is done!"
"That expression, he really messed up this time!"
"Tony knocked the Hulk's tooth out, he's completely enraged now!!"
"Second screenshot! That innocent look is legendary!"
"Tony: I just wanted you to sleep, no hard feelings!"
"These two are absolutely top-tier demolition squads, on par with Erha-level destruction!!"
[The Hulk suddenly leapt up from the side. He pounced straight at Tony with both massive hands, switched instantly into pure demolition mode. Tony pushed the thrusters to maximum power, dragging the Hulk along the wall. He shot upward.]
[The entire glass wall shattered violently as if it had been sliced clean in half. The Hulk's madness showed no signs of stopping; piece after piece of the armor was ripped away by brute force.]
[Black smoke filled the sky as Tony's voice rang out: "Damage report."]
[On the display, countless red warning segments flashed wildly. There were simply too many damaged systems to count.]
[Tony sighed helplessly, "Very comprehensive. Let me see!"]
[Behind him, Veronica deployed new components once again. But they hadn't even reached full distance when they were smashed mid-air by one furious punch from the Hulk.]
[Tony was forced to keep retreating while flying, then his eyes locked onto a half-finished high-rise under construction.]
[He initiated a scan immediately, "No vital signs detected."]
[Tony chuckled, "How fast can you buy this building?"]
[The moment the words left his mouth, Tony shot straight above the construction site and released the Hulk in free fall. At the same time, multiple missiles were launched from armor, and they slammed into the Hulk and blasted through several floors in succession. In an instant, a thunderous explosion erupted as dense smoke surged outward in all directions like a tidal wave.]
[Tony followed the Hulk down without hesitation and slammed onto the Hulk's body, driving him downward with overwhelming force.]
[The Hulk crashed through floor after floor while towering clouds of dust and smoke roared into the distance. The entire city vanished beneath a suffocating blanket of gray.]
Inside the broadcast, viewers fell into stunned silence. Tony's riotous display left everyone speechless.
"Demolition team? Has he officially turned into a one-man demolition squad?!"
"How much does it cost to buy a building like that?! Did you hear what he just said?!"
"Woooooo! I finally get it! Tony's greatest power isn't his intelligence or his steel suit, it's his MONEY!"
"One building at a time?! That's hundreds of millions, right?!"
"Hulk ripping Iron Man!"
"The life of the rich is truly simple and unpretentious!"
"This weekend, nothing to do, just blow up a building for fun!"
"Money talks! Look how fast Tony spoke!"
"What a beast! When will I ever get to speak like that?!"
"Insane big boss energy!"
"Rich really is the ultimate superpower!"
"Tony: What? I'm rich, of course I'm powerful!"
"Let's all go make friends with the local tycoons!"
Inside the Administration, the director and the expert group, who had been tense and anxious moments earlier, now stared at the smoke-filled battlefield. Everyone wore extremely complicated expressions.
Hawking opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but ultimately said nothing.
Xiaotian muttered blankly: "This… he really is that rich. No one expected the Hulk to fall in the end… to money."
Johan rubbed his temples after removing his glasses, then searched his mind for a proper description. After several seconds, the only thing that escaped his lips was: "How outrageously extravagant."
The director's lips twitched. Those were definitely not words a historian like Johan should be saying. But from rooftop to shattered foundation, the scene perfectly reflected Tony's true strength. Money-based combat power.
Then the director chuckled, "Still, our Federation also has that level of financial power, but no one can burn money the way Tony does!"
Everyone nodded in agreement. That was undeniably true.
Inside Essen Heavy Industries Group, Astor watched everything unfold in silence. He didn't even know what to say anymore. Everyone felt like they had just been dragged out of water, completely soaked and drained.
The clash between the Hulkbuster and the Hulk was simply too overwhelming. Veronica's combat platform alone made all of them burn with envy. At their current level of technology, they simply couldn't reach that class.
Astor let out a long sigh, "I've realized something… Tony always squeezes every possible idea to its absolute limit."
A coworker beside him looked over, and Astor continued: "The remote flight control method of the Mark 42, he transferred it directly onto Veronica. Look at the qualitative leap it produced, I'm afraid no one ever imagined armor could be assembled like this!"
Everyone nodded. Previously, most of Tony's armor upgrades required full assembly on the Stark Tower platform. But now, he had integrated the entire weapons platform into a mobile combat-support mode. A genius design. The power of genius itself.
In the High Council, Councilors stared silently at the screen. No one spoke for a long time. Their shock was written plainly on their faces.
Gladwin spoke first: "If we had someone like Tony, how much would our combat power increase?"
Hyeon echoed: "The only hope now lies in the Immortal Warrior. Let's hope it surprises us in the end."
Another Councilor frowned deeply. "But Ultron's threat hasn't been resolved yet. If Ultron isn't handled properly, we may have misjudged the real danger entirely."
The Councilors nodded gravely.
Kennedy said slowly, "The Hulk's immediate threat has eased. But Ultron… I fear his true goal is total annihilation. The event that once doomed the entire history of Terra…"
Several Councilors agreed: "This possibility cannot be ignored. Supervise Astor's side closely and accelerate the replication of that equipment. Even if the performance is only half, it's still worth it."
The responsible Councilor nodded firmly. Across the entire Federation, preparations accelerated without a moment's hesitation.
[The ruined building had completely collapsed. Large numbers of armored vehicles rushed in, and rows of armed soldiers aimed their weapons at the Hulk as he struggled to rise from the rubble.]
[The Hulk roared and hurled aside the massive concrete slabs crushing him. His crimson eyes scanned the surroundings, then his movements suddenly slowed.]
[Thick smoke rolled endlessly. Wails echoed everywhere. People stared at him in terror. People scrambled, tripped, and fled in panic. Vehicles exploded. Smoke, chaos, tears, blood, all flooded the scene.]
[When he saw the soldiers raising their guns and prepared to charge again, a massive red fist suddenly slammed into his head. The next second, the screen vanished completely.]
"Take a breath… are you finally waking up?"
"The Hulk really can't lose control, he's terrifying."
"Tony's punch just now, absolutely brutal!"
"Doesn't that seem familiar? Didn't the Hulk once knock Thor flying with a single punch?"
"Hahaha, yeah!"
"I actually think Tony suffered the most!"
"He paid with money and his own body!"
"But he still saved another city!"
"The Hulk's situation is at least under control now…"
"But Ultron still hasn't been caught."
"I wonder if the Avengers have realized Ultron was once inside the Sitrikel base…"
[Under the cover of night, inside the genetics research laboratory, Dr. Helen Cho walked toward her lab. The door slid open, and Ultron's towering figure appeared in the shadows.]
["If you scream, everyone here dies." Ultron stared at her. "I could have killed you that night, but I didn't. Do you know why?"]
[Dr. Cho smiled faintly, "Should I write you a thank-you note?"]
[Ultron replied coldly: "I think you already know the answer."]
[Dr. Cho lowered her gaze to the equipment in the room, "The regeneration cradle…"]
[Ultron gently stroked the device. At the same time, Tony's earlier voice echoed from the system: "This is a new generation of technology, Tony."]
[Ultron said calmly, "Yes. This is the new generation of me."]
[Dr. Cho said: "The regeneration cradle can print tissue, but not living flesh."]
[Ultron suddenly rushed toward her, "It can. And you can. You just lack the right material."]
[A robot beside them carried over a sealed glass tube, and inside was shimmering Vibranium.]
["You are a remarkable woman, but even remarkable beings still need to evolve." As he spoke, the robot raised Loki's scepter, and it touched Dr. Zhao's chest. Her eyes instantly lost focus.]
The audience frowned.
"Ultron wants to build his body with vibranium?!"
"What does he mean, can vibranium create living flesh?!"
"That's impossible!"
"Vibranium flesh combined with Ultron's AI…"
"This is an artificial lifeform!"
"Damn, Ultron's thinking really is on another level!"
"And Dr. Cho… she's in great shape."
"If his body really becomes vibranium…"
"Wouldn't he be invincible?! Even Thor couldn't shatter Rogers' shield!"
The screen shifted.
[Inside a cozy home, a woman, unseen before, stood with several children. A little girl shyly ran forward holding a painting, and she handed it to Black Widow. By the sofa, Hawkeye and a woman were gently tidying a little boy's clothes. Tony was casually throwing darts, Director Fury was buttering bread, and Captain Rogers leaned against the doorframe.]
The audience burst in shock.
"Barton has a wife?!"
"And kids too?! Another one on the way?!"
"I thought he was single!"
"He's an agent, privacy is normal!"
"So everyone's at Barton's house?"
"Where's Thor?"
"Did Thor go back already?"
"What are they talking about?!"
[Fury spoke while spreading butter, "Ultron let you out to buy himself time. The intel says he's working on R&D. Judging by the volume of vibranium he obtained, this isn't just product development."]
[Rogers asked: "What about Ultron himself?"]
[Fury replied: "He's hard to track, he's everywhere. He multiplies faster than a rabbit. But…"]
[He lifted a milk bottle, "We still have no clue what his true objective is."]
[Tony tossed another dart, "Still looking for the nuclear codes?"]
["Yes. No progress."]
["When I was in middle school, I hacked the Hexagon network."]
[Fury glanced up, "I contacted our friends in NEXUS."]
[Rogers frowned, "NEXUS?"]
[Dr. Banner replied quietly: "The world's internet hub in Oslo. All global data routes through there, and the fastest network on Earth."]
[Barton picked up a dart, "So what did they find?"]
[Fury said: "Ultron locked onto the nuclear arsenal, but launch codes rotate constantly."]
[Tony muttered, "Who's maintaining them?"]
[A dart grazed Fury's nose and struck the edge of the bullseye, "Unknown Department."]
[Black Widow asked: "Do we have any allies?"]
[Fury replied: "Ultron has an enemy, but not necessarily our friend."]
["I'll pay to find out anyway. I may need to go to Oslo." Black Widow sighed helplessly.]
["You really know how to pick your timing, but I expect more intel when you return." Fury smiled faintly, "I still have you. Once, I saw in all directions, my eyes were everywhere. You could obtain any technology you wanted. But now we're back on the ground, this world can only be saved by wisdom and will."]
[Everyone fell silent as Fury stepped forward.]
["Ultron claims the Avengers are the only obstacle to his goal. Whether he admits it or not, his true aim is annihilation. To turn the world into a massive grave. So please… Destroy that bastard." Fury sat down. "So what does Ultron truly need?"]
[Rogers answered: "He wants to surpass us."]
["He's building flesh." Tony added calmly, "A human body. The present human form is outdated. He wants to stand on equal footing with us."]
[Black Widow looked at Banner and Tony, "When you programmed him to protect humanity… You sealed this outcome."]
[Dr. Banner stared at the butterfly painting, "Humans don't need protection. They need evolution. Ultron will evolve as well."]
["How?" Fury asked.]
[Instead of answering, Banner asked: "Has anyone contacted Dr. Cho?"]
[The Avengers froze, and realization hit instantly.]
The live audience gasped in unison.
"It all connects now!"
"Hurry, get there!"
"If Ultron gets a body, everything will be over!"
"Not a human body, a vibranium one!"
"As the captain said, he wants to surpass everyone!"
"I have a very bad feeling!"