chap. 8 - New Hulk

We are sitting in the living room, watching cartoons, while we talk. I introduce Jean, explain that she has abilities, that there was a problem, which caused a mess, and I helped her and that's why she's here.

Peter of course took hold of her lap, started calling her big sister, which was followed by the other children, completely disarming Jean.

I offered to let her sleep in Peter's room, while the children sleep in mine, since the bed is bigger and they always take me out when they want to sleep together.

Bruce goes back to his apartment, which gives me the answer I have been waiting for.

I am in the living room, playing video games when a portal opens and the old woman enters.

"Nox, I already know how to solve Banner's problem, but first I want to solve the dark problem."

"I don't see a problem with that, you will need to do it the following way. You will take the time stone with you, getting there, you will put yourself in a dimensional loop because the connection you have will be broken, causing your body to deteriorate. The rest is up to me, but you need to be there."

She shows the eye of Agamotto, and opens the portal to the dark dimension. There I call the number 9 and ask the Ancient One to create her Loop.

My tug-of-war begins as soon as the loop starts, as Number 9 begins to assimilate into the dark dimension, Dormammu comes with his spectral head form and we begin a fight.

With each passing minute, number 9 assimilates more and more of the dimension, while I am in my Vasto Lord form fighting.

He creates spectral bodies to try to take away number 9's attention, but the other 8 appear and disrupt his plans.

The plan I devise is quite simple. While I fight, distracting Dormammu, 9 assimilates into the dimension. Since Dormammu cannot keep up a fierce fight and prevent assimilation at the same time, if I don't lose the fight, he loses the dimension.

The fight goes on for what feels like days, months, years, eons even. Finally, when I see that the assimilation of number 9 is a little past halfway through, I begin to cut parts of Dormammu and devour him.

Yes, I feed on the being, because, to disturb him even more. Impatience and desperation makes you make mistakes, and Dormammu is not the calmest entity known.

Technically, both he and I have the same kind of power, darkness. The difference is in the way it is used. He uses it to erode and destroy, I use it for nothing more than personal purposes. He is the destruction itself, I am the destroyer.

In terms of power, in his dimension, I should be much weaker, which is why we start assimilation and then combat, to weaken his powers, and me to have more.

What seemed like another few hundred thousand years have passed, and the fight is coming to an end. I finally find what was once his body, and upon seeing it, I approach and devour the body of the ancient wizard of Faltine.

His astral projection, or soul if you prefer, shatters and assimilates into the dimension, falling forever into oblivion. Meanwhile, number 9 finishes the assimilation of the dimension.

I am now a primordial inter-dimensional being. In other words, I have become extremely more powerful. But with this comes the problem of stepping on Earth since the two dimensions would eventually merge, breaking down the barriers and causing a gigantic problem.

How to solve this? Simple. Number 9 took over as the ruler, so any power that wants to leave the dimension must go through him, and since he is still considered an entity, that is, a being, I am not considered the ruler, so it doesn't interfere with me at all, even though I can access the powers of the dimension whenever I want.

Let's say that now, the Phoenix has a cosmic power, I have an apocalyptic power.

I meet with the Ancient One again, and ask her to redo the connection with the dimension. Which she does, and as soon as she is done, she realizes that the energy is not trying to corrode her mind or soul. She can now live freely without restrictions.

We return to my apartment, where she says she now has enough power and mental clarity to help Banner.

"There is one more thing Elder, the Phoenix girl is sleeping in that room, if she accepts, can you teach her how to control her powers...or can we literally create a clone of her and let the Phoenix entity run free doing its work." as I brew some tea.

"I don't see why not. Both options are viable, so it's her choice. I'll help if you need it."

"I appreciate it." as I pour her the tea.

"You're almost there." she says laughing at her own joke, sipping her tea.

"I know, I'll get there one day." I shake my shoulders as if I don't care.

"Well, it's nice not knowing what's going to happen from here on out, the surprise is so welcome." she is relaxed like she has never been before.

The dark dimension put a pressure on her mind that I cannot imagine. Knowing that no matter how small a lint the previous connection was, if she slipped a second, she would lose.

She spends the night playing video games with me, she likes KOF from what I understand, so we enjoy the night, play games, talk, watch movies, series, and man, I really need to create a studio or myself to do this stuff with animations, because the option is very few here at marvel.

The morning comes, I prepare a nice breakfast, since besides the usual visitors, we have the Ancient One with us.

I wake up the children, then Jean, then I get May ready, giving her the monthly scare, Bruce arrives, along with Maria and we have a delicious breakfast.

While Maria and May offer to do the dishes and take care of the children, Jean, Bruce, the Elder and I go to his apartment.

"Well, Jean, I have talked to the Elder and we have two options for you. The first, is for her to teach you how to control the power of the Phoenix and the second is to separate it from you. The choice is yours."

"As for Bruce, the Elder has figured out how to fuse the Hulk to you without risk of losing your sanity, or unintentionally transforming. So when you think you're ready, let her know and we'll do it."

Long story short, the same day, we all went to Kamar-Taj, where Jean started her lessons with Wong at my request, since the Elder wanted Mordo to teach her, but I refused and asked for Wong, which she agreed to.

And she did the Hulk/Banner junction, and explained the transformation process, and how to retain his strength even in human form, he just needs to train that.