I ran my hand through my hair, feeling it brush against my shoulders. It seemed my hair had grown, but the sensation wasn't unpleasant.
My eyes fell on Spider-Man, who was staring at me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "Hey, spider!" I called out with a smile.
Peter, ever the observant one, noticed my wounds and the subsequent regeneration. "Wow, this is interesting. How the hell did you regenerate from such severe injuries? Are you a mutant or something?" he asked, his voice laced with wonder.
"Maybe, maybe not..." I replied, my smile growing wider. I watched as Iron Man slowly began to float in the air, his armor gleaming in the sunlight.
"Spider, grab him," I heard Tony's voice command. I smiled, anticipating their next move. In a blur of speed, Iron Man flew towards me, but I was ready. I leaped into the air, my movements graceful and fluid. I watched in slow motion as I dodged both Spider-Man and Iron Man, their attacks missing me by mere inches.
"Bitch, please, you'll have to do better than that..." I taunted, my voice carrying a hint of amusement. With a speed that defied comprehension, I grabbed Iron Man's face and head, my claws digging into his armor. I squeezed with immense force and threw him to the ground, the concrete shattering under the impact.
I landed gracefully, my eyes falling on Spider-Man as he pulled himself out of the sunken, cracked earth. Iron Man, ever resilient, was already climbing to his feet. "Come on, guys. You're supposed to be these super-known superheroes, and you can't take down a random villain like me? That's a little disappointing, don't you think?" I goaded them, a wide smile stretching across my face.
"All right, dude. You suddenly appeared, but now it's time to end this. I'm getting hungry!" Spider-Man declared, his eyes narrowing. Suddenly, I noticed a horde of zombies shambling towards us, their rotting, dismembered bodies numbering in the hundreds, if not thousands.
"Haa... yes, hungry," I muttered, my smile taking on a sinister edge. I licked my lips, anticipating the feast that lay before me.
Iron Man lunged at me with supersonic speed, but I was too quick. I dodged his attack and grabbed his arm, delivering a powerful knee strike that dented his armor. "I thought your armor was tougher than this, Mr. iron," I quipped, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
I twisted his arm, forcing him to lean back, and then grabbed his head in my hands. "Well, Mr. Iron Man, it's time for a little headache!" I headbutted him with incredible force, the impact causing the air itself to tear and the ground beneath me to break and sink. Iron Man went flying, crashing into several cars and sending them careening through the air. He left a trail of destruction in his wake, taking out zombies as he went.
I dodged another one of Spider-Man's attacks, jumping back and grabbing his leg. "Too bad, Spidey. I thought you could handle anything that came your way, but it seems the writers exaggerate your abilities a bit, eh?" I taunted, my grip tightening around his limb. I slammed him onto the hood of a nearby car, the metal denting and sinking under the force of my blow. The car itself shattered into pieces, the air tearing and the concrete beneath it cracking.
"Shit... that's... annoying," Spider-Man groaned, his voice strained. But I was just getting started.
"Alright, lunch time!" I exclaimed, my eyes gleaming with anticipation. With a terrifying display of my enhanced jaw strength, I unhinged my jaws to an incredible degree and bit down on Spider-Man's neck. My sharp teeth tore through flesh and bone, eliciting screams of rage and pain from the web-slinger. I devoured him relentlessly, feeling his life force merge with mine, as if his very soul was being absorbed into my being.
I grasped what remained of his head and, with a twisted sense of camaraderie, whispered, "Goodbye, buddy." With a savage twist of my jaws, I severed his head from his body, the bones crunching and snapping under the sheer force. I swallowed his blood and flesh, reveling in the surge of power that coursed through me. I sighed, feeling a sense of satisfaction as I left only his torso and arm intact. I could feel my strength increasing...
Suddenly, I felt a searing pain in my ribs. I was sent flying, crashing into a group of zombies and causing the concrete beneath me to shatter. I slowly pushed myself to my feet, my eyes falling on the gaping hole in my side. Something had exploded, and the force had torn through my body.
But even as I stood there, I could feel myself regenerating. My skin knitted back together, the hole closing until there was no sign of the injury. I looked ahead and saw Iron Man flying towards me, small missiles protruding from his shoulders. I smirked; Iron Man was proving to be a nuisance, but his soul would be immensely useful.
A zombie bit down on my arm, its rotten teeth sinking into my flesh. I sighed in annoyance and grabbed its head, devouring it in an instant. A black substance dripped from my mouth, and I noticed shadows creeping from my hand. Crimson eyes stared at me, and I felt a surge of power course through my veins.
I smiled, my hands moving in the air like a conductor leading a symphony of death. Dozens, hundreds of shadow spikes emerged from the ground, impaling zombies and dragging them into the darkness. The shadows reached my own, and I felt my strength increase.
"Haa... a great feast indeed," I whispered, my eyes glowing with a malevolent light.
Iron Man came at me in a blur of motion, but I was ready. I grabbed his head and slammed him against the ground with tremendous force, the concrete shattering and cracks spreading for several meters.
"Ok... it seems I'll have to get serious," Tony's robotic voice echoed in the air. Before I could react, something struck me in the face with incredible speed. I went flying, crashing through the wall of a nearby building. The concrete gave way, and I tumbled to the ground, slowly picking myself up and cracking my neck to relieve the tension.
"That hurt a little," I muttered, my voice carrying a hint of annoyance. As I stepped out of the building, I saw dozens of Iron Man armors hovering in the air. "Haha... this is a bit annoying," I said, my eyes narrowing. I searched for the real Iron Man among the armors, but he was nowhere to be seen. Had he escaped?
My question was answered as dozens of small missiles launched from the shoulders of the armors, heading straight for me. I smiled, unperturbed. With a casual wave of my hand, shadow tentacles emerged and, in the blink of an eye, grabbed the missiles. They were sent hurtling back towards the armors, resulting in a massive explosion that reverberated through the city sky. Glass shattered, and debris rained down from the buildings.
I sighed, scanning the area for any sign of Iron Man. "Damn, he escaped... I wanted his soul. It would have been incredibly useful," I muttered, my eyes narrowing in annoyance. My attention turned to the thousands of zombies shambling towards me. I licked my lips in anticipation. "Okay! Time for lunch!" I declared, a sinister smile spreading across my face.
I strolled through the streets, my hands conducting an orchestra of death. My shadow slithered beneath the feet of the zombies, impaling them with spikes that emerged from the darkness. With a simple gesture, jaws of shadow devoured them, leaving nothing but dust in their wake. I could feel my body growing stronger with each soul I consumed.
---
(a few minutes before)
In a more isolated area of New York, a red-haired woman named Natasha Romanoff lay prone on the roof of a building, a sniper rifle in her hands. She peered through the scope, taking in the chaos that had engulfed the city. Thousands of zombies filled the streets, their undead forms lurching forward.
"Shit... this is crazy. How the hell did this happen?" Natasha muttered, her voice laced with confusion. She had been in New York on a mission for Fury, but things had taken an unexpected turn.
"Yeah, this seems like hell on earth," Clint Barton added, his eyes taking in the grim scene before them.
"Damn, this is a problem," Clint sighed, his eyes scanning the city teeming with undead. "If Thor or the Hulk were here, we'd probably have an easier time of it." He held his bow at the ready, his gaze intense.
Natasha, her weapon at her side, peered through the scope as she surveyed the scene. "Yeah, their presence would definitely be a game-changer," she agreed. "But who knows what other surprises this world has in store for us. It never ceases to throw us curveballs."
Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the distance, drawing Natasha's and Clint's attention. "Obviously, something's going on over there. Do you think it's hostile?" Clint asked, his eyes narrowing.
"It's possible..." Natasha replied, bringing her sniper rifle up to her eye. She peered through the scope, trying to get a better view of the area. She could make out things plummeting towards the streets, but the distance made it difficult to discern details.
Then, she saw something that sent a chill down her spine. A figure, clad only in pants, stood amidst the chaos. Even from a great distance, their crimson eyes seemed to bore into her soul. A smile spread across their face, and Natasha felt a sense of unease. "Let's go. Now. Something dangerous is coming this way!" she said, her voice urgent.
She lowered the rifle and saw a car flying through the air, headed straight for them. Clint reacted instantly, grabbing Natasha and jumping in the opposite direction to avoid the projectile. The car crashed into the building, smashing through the roof and falling into a nearby alley.
"What a monstrous force!" Clint exclaimed as they watched the car fall from the roof.
Natasha stood up, her eyes flicking to the shattered remains of the roof where they had been standing. "Yeah... We need to get out of here fast. That force is incredibly dangerous. Luckily, I was able to contact Fury. He's sending a team to extract us," she said, her voice steady despite the fear that lingered in her eyes.
"Let's go. We need to reach the extraction point and get out of this infected area. A large part of New York has been affected by what seems to be a virus," Natasha explained, her gaze fixed on the distance.
Suddenly, another explosion rang out. Clint looked into the distance and caught a fleeting glimpse of something in the sky—a blur of motion. "Ah... Natasha, I think we should go now. There's a problem... a green problem."
Natasha clicked her tongue. "Hulk?"
"Yeah, looks like this area is going to be destr--" Clint replied, but before he could finish, a massive explosion rocked the entire area. The buildings began to shake violently, and a large blast erupted in the distance, sending shockwaves through the city.
Natasha and Clint quickly made their exit.
In the distance, Lucius watched as an enormous green figure touched down nearby. However, the Hulk ignored Lucius, instead fixing his gaze upon the remains of a person's corpse—the body of Spider-Man.
Hulk stood over the shattered remains of Spider-Man, his gaze fixed on the torso and lone remaining arm of the web-slinger's broken body. His body language spoke volumes—a simmering fury radiated from his hulking form. Lucius, keenly aware of the tension that hung heavy in the air, knew he was in a dire predicament. The odds of overcoming the Hulk's immense strength were decidedly not in his favor.
"Spider... friend..." he muttered, his fists tightening further. He growled and turned his gaze toward Lucius, who simply said, "Damn, I think I'm really fu—"
Before Lucius could finish his sentence, a colossal green fist hurtled towards his face at an incredible speed. It moved so swiftly that it resembled a bolt of lightning, shattering the ground into pieces. The resulting shockwave demolished nearby buildings, and enormous cracks spread relentlessly for hundreds of meters.
"HULK SMASH!!" The Hulk's thunderous roar reverberated through the area. He clenched his fists tightly, his anger palpable. Lucius' body lay shattered in the distance—half of his form lay in ruins, his lower body and a portion of his upper body reduced to fragments. Blood oozed relentlessly from his wounds, but his regenerative abilities kicked in, and within seconds, he was as good as new.
Lucius sighed as he regarded the Hulk warily. "I'm in trouble... His speed is unreal. I can't even react in time... I need to devise a plan."
Suddenly, the Hulk appeared before him again, moving with terrifying swiftness. Lucius instinctively covered himself with his arms, only to find himself inside a building, his arms shattered, bones protruding from the torn flesh.
"Shit... Now I feel the pain..." Lucius muttered through gritted teeth as he jumped up, his arms beginning to regenerate.
"Before I put my plan into action, I need to know if I can even damage him..." Lucius muttered, his eyes hardening with determination. This encounter presented a golden opportunity to gauge his current power level.
Lucius observed the Hulk striding slowly towards him, his arms bulging with veins, his body a testament to raw, explosive power.
"Well, let's give this a shot..." Lucius muttered. With a burst of speed, he squeezed his legs and appeared in a blur in front of the Hulk. Lucius threw a punch with all his might, aiming for the Hulk's head. However, a piercing pain shot through his arm as he made contact. Lucius glanced down at his arm and saw that it was shattered, the bones protruding through the torn flesh. Striking the Hulk's head was like punching an immovable, muscle-bound mountain.
"What the f—" Lucius began, but before he could finish, a powerful fist connected with his face, sending him hurtling through dozens of buildings in a matter of seconds. He landed on the ground of a distant building, gasping for breath.
"Shit... This really hurts, damn it!" Lucius gritted his teeth, his face contorted in pain. He had confirmed that his current strength was insufficient to even scratch the Hulk.
"Well, it's a good thing I realized this now," Lucius muttered as his body continued to regenerate. "I need to increase my strength. Thousands of zombies won't be enough for what I have in mind..."
"Looks like I have no choice," Lucius muttered, hearing the Hulk's roar filled with immeasurable anger. The Hulk leaped towards Lucius, fists clenched tightly.
Lucius stared up at the Hulk as he descended from the sky, a slight smile forming on his face. "Shit, this is gonna hurt..." he muttered, a hint of nervousness creeping into his voice.
The Hulk reached Lucius in mere seconds, unleashing a relentless barrage of blows. The ground sank beneath the force of the assault, and nearby buildings began to collapse. Dust enveloped the area, obscuring their figures. But a clap of thunderous force dispelled the dust, revealing a large shockwave that cleared the air.
Amid the settling dust, a figure stood before a pile of unrecognizable flesh. The Hulk, his anger seemingly abating, glared at the remains, his fists clenched. He roared to the sky, his body trembling with pent-up rage.
As the dust dissipated, the ground continued to shake uncontrollably. The Hulk, seemingly satisfied, clenched his legs and launched himself in a random direction, moving away from New York.
Minutes later, the unrecognizable flesh began to stir, regenerating at a rapid pace. Lucius' form emerged, unscathed.
He sat atop a pile of rubble, a mix of emotions playing across his face. "Okay... that's progress, I guess," he muttered. "I need to devour everything I can to stand a chance against the Hulk... to at least be able to hurt him."
---
High above the clouds, a figure clad in red and gold armor observed New York City from a distance. With a deft touch, he manipulated a holographic screen that appeared above his hand, making adjustments and analyzing data. "He's extremely dangerous," the armored figure muttered. "His regeneration speed is off the charts, and his threat level is significant. The fact that he withstood the Hulk's blows is alarming. His strength could potentially surpass even the Hulk's. He has the capacity to derail our plans... It seems I'll have to resort to something a bit more... drastic."
Tony Stark, the man inside the armor, gazed down at the city. "I hope you like fireworks, New York."
His attention turned to a helicopter ascending into the sky. "You're missing the show, Fury."
With a smirk, Tony made a final adjustment on his holographic screen.
Tony continued, "As far as I can tell, the area where he's located is currently only populated by infected individuals. No other significant targets are present. Now, the real question is, where the hell is Fury? I need to find him..."
---
Lucius was on a ravenous rampage, devouring zombies by the hundreds, by the thousands. With each undead feast, his power increased—he knew his potential was limitless. Lucius was acutely aware of the exponential growth in strength that came with every second of consumption.
However, as he was in the midst of consuming yet another zombie, a sense of foreboding washed over him. He paused, a chill running down his spine. Lucius looked up at the sky and muttered, "You've got to be fucking kidding me... Is this some kind of sick joke?"
There, in the sky, was a massive missile, hurtling towards his location at an incredible speed.
Lucius' lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Well, well, surviving this would certainly be a thrilling challenge," he said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Bring it on, baby!" Lucius opened his arms wide, almost welcoming the oncoming missile. "COME ON, I DARE YOU!"
The last thing Lucius saw before dying—yet again—was a brilliant flash of light, followed by a deafening explosion.
----
N/A
Hello, here is the author as always, if you are wondering why it takes me so long to write chapters it is because sometimes I have inspiration and other times I don't, plus I am reading other things to have even more desire to write something at least decent, well I hope you enjoyed the chapter!