Blonsky's excitement from the serum faded completely, replaced by a cold, objective chill. He straightened, his newly enhanced muscles still adapting to their new density, feeling tight and unfamiliar.
"General, according to the data released by Universal Capsule Company, once combat power reaches a one point three times advantage, it creates a crushing superiority."
He ran the numbers aloud, his voice flat. "Assuming Bruce Banner's combat power is only one hundred and fifty-one, we'd need to reach one hundred and sixteen points just to compete effectively."
His jaw tightened, the memory of the forklift flying through the air still perfectly clear. "With my current strength, I'm afraid there won't be much difference between facing it now versus before."
The scouter's objective, digital data had stripped away Blonsky's arrogance. He was no longer foolish enough to think he could fight the Hulk alone.
Ross acknowledged the point with a curt nod, but his expression remained firm, his gaze like iron. "Blonsky, remember that we're soldiers."
"Victory depends on the entire team, not individual heroism."
"This time we've prepared weapons specifically designed for the Hulk. The sonic cannon will severely restrict its movement." He leaned forward, his voice dropping. "Most importantly, as long as we don't give Banner the chance to transform, he's easy to control with only eight points of combat power."
Blonsky considered that, then spoke carefully. "General, if we had a team of super soldiers, we could face Bruce Banner and future crises more effectively."
Ross's expression darkened. He let out a heavy breath, the sound loud in the sterile lab.
"There's only one vial. It was originally developed by Tony Stark's father, Howard. After Howard and his wife died, the research stalled completely. Our military scientists haven't been able to replicate it."
"There's only this one left," Ross said, his voice hard. "Which is why we need to capture Bruce Banner even more."
Across the country in New York, Xu Shang Chi followed Red-Haired Sean and the Golden Daggers crew into the lobby of a luxury hotel. The air was cool and smelled faintly of expensive perfume.
After meeting with his sister, Xialing had explained everything. The Dragon Balls. The wish-granting dragon. The tournament ticket she'd nearly died acquiring.
Now, alone in his quiet hotel room, Shang Chi dumped his backpack onto the king-sized bed and started organizing his clothes. He muttered under his breath as he worked, his voice low and skeptical.
"How can there actually be a dragon in the world that grants wishes?"
He shook his head, the idea absurd. "I don't know who set up this con to make Xialing believe it."
He folded a shirt with more force than necessary. "If this thing really existed, Father would have found it already and used it to resurrect Mother."
Shang Chi didn't believe in the Dragon Balls or wish-granting dragons. Not even a little bit.
Unlike Xialing, Shang Chi knew their father intimately. He'd witnessed Xu Wenwu wielding the Ten Rings, seen the full, terrifying might of the Ten Rings organization. If magical wish-granting artifacts existed in the world, his father wouldn't have remained idle. His love for their mother had been absolute. He would have searched to the ends of the earth to bring her back.
Instead, years had passed with no results.
During his training missions with the Ten Rings, Shang Chi had heard whispers. His father was still searching for ways to resurrect his mother, pursuing every lead, investigating every supernatural claim. If the Dragon Balls were real, Wenwu would have found them already.
Lost in thought, his hands moving on autopilot, Shang Chi didn't notice the round object rolling out from between his folded shirts. It hit the soft bed comforter and bounced once with a dull thud.
Shang Chi's eyes widened. "Seven stars?"
He stared at the orange sphere. Seven red stars were arranged in a specific, perfect pattern. One second he'd been complaining about the impossibility of Dragon Balls, and the next second one appeared in his backpack.
Shang Chi reached out and picked up the ball carefully. The moment his fingers touched the smooth, warm surface, information flooded into his mind. The truth about the Dragon Balls. The seven scattered across the world. The dragon Shenron who could grant any wish.
All of it real. All of it true.
In the hotel lobby, Cross and his son Wesley sat in oversized leather chairs, watching the elevators.
Wesley glanced at the Dragon Ball Radar in his hand and grimaced. "Thank god for Bulma's radar, otherwise we'd have lost him completely." He slouched in the chair. "We just got to San Francisco and immediately flew back to New York."
Cross's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, read the text message from Smith, and nodded once. "The leader says the target has made contact with the Dragon Ball. We're authorized to issue a tournament ticket."
Wesley grinned, all trace of boredom gone. "Finally. This surveillance job was boring as hell." He pushed himself out of the chair. "I heard Uncle X got vampires and werewolves joining us. We should have picked the London assignment."
He stood and stretched, his joints popping. "Let's get this done."
They took the elevator to Shang Chi's floor and knocked on his door.
Inside, Shang Chi had just finished processing the torrent of information when the knock interrupted him. His head was still spinning. He'd been about to find Xialing and apologize for doubting her.
He slipped the Seven-Star Ball into his pocket and opened the door. Two men stood in the hallway, both unfamiliar.
"Can I help you?"
Wesley spoke first, his voice all business. "Xu Shang Chi, we're from the Fraternity. As the current holder of the Seven-Star Dragon Ball, we're issuing you an entry ticket to the Dragon Ball tournament."
"The competition will take place in New York. If you intend to participate, keep this gold coin."
He held out the coin. "We'll notify all contestants when the battle begins."
Wesley pressed the heavy gold coin into Shang Chi's palm.
Shang Chi had just learned from Xialing how much she'd paid for her ticket, the once in a lifetime favor.
He closed his fingers tightly around the coin. "Thank you. I'll be participating."
Cross and Wesley left without another word, their mission complete.
Shang Chi stared at the coin for a moment, then turned and headed straight to Xialing's room down the hall.
He knocked and entered when she called out. Without a word, he held up the gold coin.
Xialing's eyes went wide. "Shang Chi, how do you have a ticket?" She pulled out her own coin, comparing them. They were identical, but definitely not hers. Two separate coins.
Shang Chi reached into his other pocket and produced the Seven-Star Dragon Ball.
Xialing's jaw dropped. She lunged for it immediately. "You don't even believe in them! Just give it to me!"
Shang Chi dodged, his movements fluid, holding the ball out of her reach. "I didn't believe in them. Past tense."
He danced backward as she tried to grab it again. "I never thought that random stone I picked up a year ago would turn into a Dragon Ball."
"Now I believe in this stuff."
Xialing stopped chasing and put her hands on her hips, staring at him. "A year ago? You've been carrying it around this whole time?"
Shang Chi shrugged sheepishly. "I thought it was just a cool-looking rock."
In the Arctic, wind howled across an endless, blinding white expanse of ice.
Smith stood on a glacier with Bulma, both of them bundled in heavy thermal gear. The Dragon Ball Radar in Bulma's mittened hand pointed straight downward, its signal strong and steady.
"It's definitely here," Bulma said, her breath fogging instantly in the frigid air.
Smith used his enhanced strength to punch through the ice layer, shattering it. He pulled away huge chunks, creating a shaft down to where the signal originated. Twenty feet down, embedded in ancient, clear ice, sat the Six-Star Dragon Ball.
He retrieved it carefully, its surface shockingly warm against the cold, and climbed back up.
"That's all seven accounted for," Smith said, his voice calm. "Two in our possession, five with tournament holders."
As they prepared to leave, Smith scanned the surrounding area one more time. Part of him had hoped to find evidence of Decepticons frozen in the ice, or maybe some indication of Cybertronians in this universe. With vampires and werewolves running around, Transformers didn't seem that far-fetched.
No luck. The ice was just ice. Either they'd already been excavated, or this universe simply didn't have them. He'd have to settle for Harry Potter-style wizards being possible instead. Though there'd been no signs of that either.
Smith and Bulma returned to the helicopter Yelena had waiting and headed back to New York.
The pieces were in position. All seven Dragon Balls located. Tournament tickets distributed to the key players.
Now came the hard part. Managing the chaos that would erupt when everyone converged on New York for the actual competition.
Smith settled into his seat, the helicopter's heater blasting. He was already running scenarios in his mind. Banner with the Hulk. Xialing with her Golden Daggers. Shang Chi with his Ten Rings training. Selene with her vampires. Michael with his werewolves. And of course Tony with his Iron Man.
This was going to get very interesting, very quickly.