Chapter 114: Legion Warships

Under Betty's soothing influence, the Hulk's enormous body gradually shrank, reverting to Dr. Bruce Banner. His consciousness returned as well.

Looking up at his now-massive girlfriend, Banner's face was filled with astonishment. He had no recollection of what had happened, but it was clear to him that this green giant, resembling the Hulk, was indeed Betty.

"Bruce, what do I do now? How can I return to normal?" Unlike the Hulk, Betty couldn't shift back just by regaining her consciousness. She stood there, visibly distressed, unsure of what to do.

Banner craned his neck but couldn't see her face clearly. Instead, he gently patted her waist and said, "Start by calming yourself. Focus on your breathing, clear your mind of all distractions."

He proceeded to teach her the methods he had used to suppress the Hulk, hoping they might work for her as well.

After some time, everyone watched as Betty's body gradually shrank, returning to its original form.

"Bruce, I did it!" Betty exclaimed joyfully. The memory of her transformed state embarrassed her; she couldn't shake the thought of how unsightly she must have looked in front of her boyfriend.

As the two nearly-naked figures embraced, Garus couldn't help but interject, "Dr. Banner, it's time for us to leave."

"Uh..." Banner looked up at Garus and asked, "And you are?"

The Ancient One spoke up, "Let's leave first. Director Fury and General Ross are waiting for us."

Suddenly, Betty noticed Emil Blonsky standing near Garus. Alarmed, she shouted, "It's you—the gray monster!"

Recalling the devastating battle between the Hulk and the Abomination, Betty's reaction was one of pure instinct. To prevent further misunderstanding, Garus quickly explained, "Relax. He's not your enemy anymore."

But Blonsky, lost in his own thoughts, was already fantasizing about his next battle with the Hulk.

Before the Ancient One could open a portal back to reality, Garus swung his sword. The space around the blade fractured like a shattered mirror, forming an opening. On the other side lay the real world.

Garus had previously attempted to break through the Mirror Dimension after being trapped by Mordo. This time, channeling energy akin to opening the Death Gate, he successfully created a passage back to reality. It was far more efficient than relying on the Sling Rings used by the sorcerers. However, he still couldn't create a door leading into the Mirror Dimension—a skill unique to the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj.

Still dazed, Banner followed the group out of the Mirror Dimension. Outside, they were greeted by a scene of utter devastation. What had once been a bustling street was now in ruins. Police cars were torn in half, buildings were cracked and smoking, and a gas station continued to billow thick, black smoke. Not a single civilian was in sight.

Overwhelmed with guilt, Banner crouched on the ground, clutching his head. He knew this destruction was all his doing.

"Bruce!" Betty placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "This isn't your fault. From now on, I'll stay by your side to help stop you."

"Betty!!" General Ross's voice boomed as he approached. Shocked and overjoyed, he shouted her name again. His daughter had been shot in the abdomen and taken away. Even if she had survived, the blood loss alone should have been fatal by now.

His relief at seeing her alive overshadowed the disheveled state of her tattered clothing.

Banner turned to Garus, the Ancient One, and the other sorcerers. "Please, help me keep Betty's transformation a secret."

"No problem," Garus replied immediately.

Betty's gaze shifted to her father. Her emotions were conflicted. She wasn't sure if she could trust him again. Yet, seeing his graying hair and haggard appearance, she couldn't bring herself to blame him.

With the immediate crisis resolved, Fury's perpetually grim expression softened somewhat. "Dr. Banner, there's something I need to discuss with you later..."

As time passed, Fury grew increasingly anxious about the impending Chitauri invasion. He wasn't sure if the Avengers he had assembled could truly stand against an alien fleet.

Meanwhile, Garus, without bidding farewell to the others, opened the Death Gate and returned to Naxxramas with Blonsky.

The battle—and Abomination's performance—had left Garus satisfied. Blonsky was now strong enough to hold his own against the Hulk without being defeated, and Garus himself could suppress the Hulk in combat. However, killing the Hulk seemed impossible. The Hulk was like an indestructible cockroach, growing stronger the longer he fought. While his soul could be influenced by magic, it couldn't be extracted. Garus realized that if the Hulk ever became his enemy, banishment might be the only option.

Reflecting on the events of various timelines, Garus recalled how the Avengers had also been forced to banish the Hulk out of necessity.

By his calculations, there wasn't much time left before the Chitauri invasion. Loki had likely already appeared and was preparing to use the Tesseract to open a portal to Earth.

Garus briefly considered preventing Loki from stealing the Tesseract, but ultimately decided against it. He still had plans for the artifact.

[New task issued: Mission difficulty SS—Eliminate the Chitauri army and kill Black Dwarf of the Black Order. Reward: 500,000 exchange points. Will you accept?]

Surprised by the option to decline, Garus asked, "I can refuse?"

[SS-level tasks come with significant difficulty and risk. You may choose not to accept them. Until this task is completed, no new tasks will be issued,] the system clarified.

"Fine. But 500,000 points is just what I need to redeem the Helm of Domination." Garus had long coveted the artifact, which would grant him the ability to command millions of undead Scourge forces. His consciousness could also instantaneously transmit orders across vast distances.

"Task accepted." Without hesitation, Garus made his decision. Concerns about danger never crossed his mind.

"Wilson, how is the construction of the underground facility beneath Azeroth Technologies going?" Garus asked. The facility housed many of his company's research projects and assets, and he didn't want them destroyed in the coming conflict.

"Master, construction is complete. The facility is ready for immediate use."

"Good."

After defeating Ronan's Dark Aster, Garus had ordered the Sky Fortress, Naxxramas, to move toward the Antarctic. Now, he planned to redeem several Legion warships—mainstays of the Burning Legion's fleet—to protect Sky Fortress.

With 350,000 exchange points remaining, Garus redeemed six warships, each costing 50,000 points. He reserved the remaining points for contingencies.

On the icy expanse of the Antarctic, six massive warships suddenly appeared, each one about a fifth the size of the Dark Aster.

The students at the mutant academy, long accustomed to their principal's extraordinary actions, watched with awe but little surprise.

"These are starships capable of interstellar travel. I hope you'll become proficient in piloting them," Garus told Wanda and the students.

"Principal, are we going to space? That's so cool!"

Nearby, one student, Xerion, suddenly fell into a trance. His eyes turned white as he sketched rapidly on his drawing pad, his hands a blur. On the paper, a massive skeletal head, spanning thousands of meters, loomed behind a small spacecraft.

When he regained his senses, Xerion stared at the drawing in confusion. He didn't know what it meant, but he was certain it was connected to Garus. And the principal would undoubtedly be aboard that small ship.

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