200 years ago...
In the harsh and unforgiving land of Vacuo, there lived a brilliant man, one of the smartest individuals and was gifted with one of the highest aura on all of Remnant. Known for his genius and unyielding ambition, he was celebrated as a visionary who had created numerous tools and weapons to help both humanity and Faunus survive in their harsh world. His work was loved and respected by many, and his contributions had saved countless lives.
Driven by the ongoing war that ravaged the kingdoms, the scientist conceived a plan to develop a Bio-Weapon capable of ending the conflict once and for all. He called it the Ultra Dust Bomb, a weapon that combined the destructive power of Dust with a bio-chemical reaction that would wipe out enemy forces. After presenting his vision to the higher authorities, his proposal was greenlit, and the project was initiated.
Months of relentless effort, stress, and sleepless nights followed as the scientist and his team worked tirelessly to perfect the weapon. The weight of their mission bore down on them, but they finally completed the Ultra Dust Bomb. With the weapon finished, all that was left was to test its power and effectiveness.
The testing grounds were chosen to be a remote, desolate part of Vacuo, a location plagued by Grimm and far from any civilian settlements. This area had long been abandoned, a perfect place to test the devastating power of such a weapon without risking innocent lives—at least, that was the plan.
As the team prepared to launch the test, something unexpected happened. The scientist, standing near the protective base just outside the testing zone, saw a young Faunus boy playing alone in the distance. The boy had wandered into the restricted area, completely unaware of the danger. The scientist's heart sank as he realized the child was in immediate danger, right in the path of the impending explosion.
Without thinking, the scientist rushed out of the base, his instincts pushing him forward. He sprinted across the testing site, reaching the boy and pulling him toward safety. Just as the countdown reached its final seconds, the scientist hurled the child toward the protective base, where the air-tight, bulletproof glass doors were rapidly closing.
The child was safe inside, but there was no time for the scientist to follow. The bomb detonated with an ear-splitting roar, sending shockwaves through the air. The explosion was so intense that the surrounding landscape was vaporized in an instant, the radiation powerful enough to melt everything in its path. The scientist was caught at the heart of the blast.
The shockwave and radiation tore through the testing grounds, reaching the protective base and even striking the scientist directly. Caught in the wake of his own creation, the scientist was exposed to the full force of the Ultra Dust Bomb.
But against all odds, he survived—thanks to an aura far stronger than anyone could have imagined.
His body, torn and scorched, was an unnatural survivor of the destruction. The radiation and force of the explosion should have disintegrated him, yet his aura clung to him like an invisible shield, protecting him from death.
However, survival came with a terrible price.
Each night, as the moon rose high, the transformation began. It was painful and violent, his body swelling with muscle, his skin turning an angry shade of green. His bones cracked and reshaped, his veins pulsing with the rush of power. The scientist's mind screamed for control, but the rage, the primal fury that surged within him, was too much to contain.
By the time the transformation was complete, he was no longer the man he once was. He was The Hulk—a towering, monstrous figure, a beast of pure anger and strength. His once-intelligent mind was clouded by the ferocity of his new form, and every night he became a rampaging force of nature.
For years, The Hulk terrorized the kingdoms. His strength was unmatched, and his rage unrelenting. Cities fell to his fists, forests were flattened beneath his steps, and his name became a whisper of fear.
But as quickly as he appeared, The Hulk vanished from the world's sight, leaving nothing but destruction in his wake. His legend faded, his rampages becoming nothing more than a distant memory. And with his disappearance, the world thought the nightmare was over.
"Ruby, how long are you going to sit there and read that old book?"
Suddenly, Yang startled Ruby while she was still focused on reading the old novel about The Hulk.
"Yang!" Ruby exclaimed, her cheeks puffing out in frustration. "You scared me! I was right in the middle of an intense chapter!"
Yang winced, immediately regretting her actions. "Sorry, Ruby, I didn't mean to scare you. I was just asking... but, uh, maybe I should've waited for you to finish your book?"
Ruby crossed her arms, still a little annoyed. "Yeah, you think?"
Weiss, who had been silently observing from a distance, stepped forward with a raised eyebrow. "The Hulk is just a myth, Ruby. It's just some old legend. You shouldn't believe everything you read in those dusty old books."
Blake, having walked up behind Weiss, gave a small but pointed look. "I'm not so sure about that," she said softly. "A lot of myths have roots in truth. Maybe The Hulk isn't as fictional as Weiss thinks."
Weiss rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. It's probably just an exaggerated story made up to scare children. No one could possibly be as strong as that."
Blake's ears twitched slightly, her gaze narrowing. "You'd be surprised."
Ruby, intrigued, looked between her teammates. "You really think it's true, Blake?"
Blake shrugged, her expression unreadable. "Who knows? Sometimes, the line between myth and reality is thinner than we think."
Yang glanced at Ruby, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, whether The Hulk is real or not, we're gonna need to put that book down for now."
Ruby looked up, slightly confused. "Huh? Why?"
Weiss cleared her throat. "Because Ozpin's calling for us. We've got a mission."
Blake nodded. "It's time to go. You can finish your book later."
Ruby groaned, slumping in her chair. "Aww, man! I was just getting to the good part..."
Yang chuckled, patting Ruby on the back. "You can always read it after the mission. Who knows? Maybe you'll find a real Hulk out there."
Ruby brightened up at the idea. "Yeah! Maybe I'll find a real-life Hulk to be my new best friend!"
"Come on, Ruby," Weiss said, half-smiling. "Let's not get carried away. We've got work to do."
Ruby sighed dramatically as she stood up, grabbing her gear. "Fine, fine. But I'm not giving up on my Hulk theory just yet!"
Yang winked. "That's the spirit!"
With that, the team headed off toward Ozpin's office, ready for whatever mission awaited them—though Ruby couldn't help but wonder if there was more to the legend of The Hulk than anyone realized.