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  Closing his eyes, Banner let the illusion fold around him, sinking into its depths as the world outside faded. When he opehem again, he found himself seated at a simple wooden table, the air calm and still, filled with the st of forest and quiet dusk. Across from him sat the Hulk, looming and intense, watg him with curiosity and distrust.

  Banner’s heart pounded, but he kept his voice steady as he spoke. "Didn’t think I’d get a ce to talk to you like this."

  Hulk scowled, leaning forward, fists ched oable’s surface. “Why Banner here? Hulk hates Banner!”

  Banner didn’t flinch, though the words hit hard. "Yeah, well, the feeling’s mutual sometimes." He held Hulk’s gaze, not bag down. “But this isn’t w, is it? You go out there, smash everything, and I get to wake up in a pile of rubble.”

  Hulk growled, smming a fist down, the table shaking. “Banner weak! Hulk strong! Hulk protect!”

  "Protect what, Hulk? You’re tearing everything apart." Banner gestured around them. "And where does it leave you? Alone, angry, running.”

  Hulk’s growl softened, his gaze drifting down to the table, almost like he was seeing beyond it. “They hurt Hulk,” he muttered. “Everyone hurts Hulk.”

  Banner leaned forward, l his voice. “They hurt me too, Hulk. But smashing things won’t stop it. All it does is make us more of a target.”

  Hulk looked back at him, expression darkening. "Baries to stop Hulk. But Hulk is strong. Strohan Banner." There was a defian his voice, but underh, a faint note of fusion.

  “I know,” Banner said quietly. “That’s the point. You’re strohan me, but if you keep letting that strength turn inte, then they’ll keep ing for you. ing for us.”

  Hulk frowned, his massive shoulders tense, as though he didn’t know where to direct the weight he carried. For a moment, the air was filled with silence, heavy and uain.

  Outside, Donald pced a hand over Banner’s shoulder, the green lightning crag faintly from his fiips as he eled calm through the Thunder Ring, bolstering Banner’s focus and will. Anthony joined in, his Sun Ring glowing with a faint warmth that softehe edges of Banner’s tension, flooding the illusion with a f light.

  Ihe illusion, Banner felt the shift—a slight ease in his mind, the chaos that usually pulsed inside him calming just enough to keep the words steady. He held Hulk’s gaze. “We don’t have to fight every time, you know. You could listen to me. We could try to work together.”

  Hulk stared at him, brow furrowing as he processed the words. “Hulk doesn’t listen to Banner.”

  Banner sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Look, I’m not asking you to like me. I’m not even asking you to do what I say. But if we keep this up, both of us are going to lose.”

  Hulk’s face torted in frustration, the muscles of his jaw flexing as he struggled with the idea. “Banner weak,” he repeated, though his tone was uain.

  Banner leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "And Hulk’s…stupid."

  The words were out before he could catch them, and Hulk’s face twisted, fury bubbling up. His fists ched, muscles taut with tension. He looked ready to rip the table apart, but purple clouds densed around him, holding him back with a soft but firm restraint. Baook a deep breath, trying to ease the tension.

  "Look," he said, voice low. "I didn’t mean that. I know it sounds rough, but hear me out." Hulk’s gre didn’t ease, but he wasn’t ripping the table apart, either. Banner pressed on. “You’re strohan anyone. I’m just… smarter about some things. I get this world, the eople act, how to keep us safe. But you? You have the strength to protect us.” He leaned iing Hulk’s glower. “We both have something to give here. What if we used it together?”

  Hulk’s scowl shifted to something more uain, his fists loosening slightly. “Bahinks Hulk’s not smart,” he muttered, gaze drifting to the table. “But Hulk knows how to fight. Hulk always wins.”

  Banner nodded. “Yeah, you do. And that’s exactly what we need. You win because you’re relentless. No one stop you. But if you let me guide things a little, we’d be unstoppable.” He gestured between them. “Think of it like… you’re the power, and I’m the dire. It’s not about who’s better, just who does what.”

  Hulk’s gaze flickered with something close to uanding, though he still looked wary. “So… Hulk fights. Banner hides?”

  “Not hides. Supports,” Banner corrected. “I help you make the right moves so we both e out okay. No more waking up in craters or wrecked cities.”

  Hulk huffed, crossing his arms. “Hulk doesn’t need Bao fight.”

  “Maybe not,” Banner ceded, holding his hands up. “But it would mean a lot less mess. We get more of what we want, without all the people chasing us dowime you take a step.”

  Hulk’s scowl softened just a touch, the weight of his arms dropping. “So… what does Banner do?”

  “Make pns. Keep a for trouble.” Banner kept his tone easy, almost casual. “When something needs smashing, that’s all you. But if it’s just people, or buildings, or things that don’t need breaking, I help keep things clear.” He tilted his head, gauging Hulk’s rea. “That way, when you do fight, it’s for something worth it.”

  Hulk mulled this over, a deep furrow in his brow. “Hulk wants to smash the people who hurt Hulk.”

  “And I want that, too. But sometimes, the best way to get back at them is to outsmart them,” Banner said, his tone calm but steady. “We do more damage together than you could alone. And when they e for us? We’re already a step ahead.”

  Hulk sidered him, arms still crossed but his gaze more ptive than angry. “Banner helps Hulk, then?”

  “Yeah. We do this together, aop fighting each other. Just… trust me on this. Trust that we’re both on the same side here.”

  Hulk huffed, his face twisting with doubt, but he finally nodded, albeit grudgingly. “Fine. Banner helps Hulk. But if Banner lies…” He raised a fist, letting it hang in the air, a clear threat.

  Banner held his ground, unfazed. “You’ll know if I lie. But this is for both of us. No tricks.”

  After what felt like ay, Banner opened his eyes and looked up at the group, still disoriented but steadier than before. "For now,” he said, “we’ve e to an uanding.”

  Nero nodded, aowledging the fragile truce. “Good. What do you want to do now? e with us, o your own way?” He paused, holding Banner’s gaze. “Just know, if you’re on your own, you’ll still be hunted. Army and anyone else who sees you as a threat won’t stop chasing.”

  Banner sidered this, jaw ched, a hint of skepticism in his eyes. "And if I stay with you? What’s your end game?”

  Diego grinned from the side, stepping forward. “End game? Simple, Doc—we’re here to keep you out of the line of fire. Or at least… help direct the bst somewhere less problematic.”

  Banner’s eyes narrowed as he g Diego, then back to Nero. “I get it. You keep me on a leash, keep things under trol. But trol only works until it doesn’t. What happens when Hulk gets out and none of you do a thing about it?”

  Nero rolled his shoulders, stepping forward until he was face-to-face with Banner. "Tell Hulk to e out. I’ll take him on, mano a mano. It’s time he learned he’s not invincible—he o know trol."

  Banner blinked, stunned by the suggestion. "You’re serious?"

  "Dead serious," Nero replied. "If Hulk thinks he just tear through anything, then he o be reminded he’s not unstoppable. I’m willing to teach him that lesson myself."

  Banner looked around, taking in the expressions on the masked faces surrounding him.

  Banner let out a sharp breath, gng between the group and Nero. "Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you."

  Banner closed his eyes, steadying his breathing. The transformation was swift—his muscles tensing, expanding as green washed over his skin, his eyes shifting to that familiar shade e-filled emerald. In seds, the massive form of the Hulk stood before them, t and breathing heavily. His gaze nded on Nero, and he sneered, crag his knuckles with an audible pop.

  "You want Hulk?" Hulk growled, the ground vibrating under his voice. "Hulk here."

  Nero smirked, meeting Hulk’s gre without an ounce of hesitation. “Yeah, big guy. I wao see what you’ve got.”

  Hulk took a step forward, t over Nero. “You think you strong? Hulk crush you.”

  Nero rolled his neck, motioning Hulk to e at him. “Then try. Let’s see if you back that up.”

  With a bellowing roar, Hulk lunged forward, swinging a massive fist toward Nero. Nero didn’t flinch; he sidestepped the punch with swift precision, pnting himself firmly in Hulk’s blind spot and nding a quick, solid strike to his ribs. Hulk grunted, stumbling slightly before turning with a snarl.

  “e on, is that all?” aunted, his stance rexed but ready. “I expected more from the ‘strohere is.’”

  Hulk growled, baring his teeth as he charged again. This time, he threw a series of wild punches, each blow sending gusts of air through the space around them. Nero dodged, weaving through the strikes with trolled, effit movements, each evasiing him closer to Hulk’s ter. As Hulk overextended on a punero delivered a sharp kick to his knee, f him to drop down onto one leg.

  “You’re all muscle and no trol,” Nero said, his tone almost amused. “You ’t just throw fists and expect that to be enough. Not against me.”

  Hulk roared, his fury intensifying. He shed out, swinging both arms toward Nero like he was trying to crush a fly. Nero ducked uhe blow, sliding around to Hulk’s bad pnting a precise strike to his spine, f Hulk to stumble forward, momentarily thrown off bance.

  “Enough!” Hulk bellowed, twisting around and swiping at Nero with a hand as big as a car hood. This time, Nero didn’t dodge. He braced himself, catg Hulk’s hand with a deflective push that redirected the forto the ground.

  "I haven’t even used my powers yet, big guy. Get up!" Nero’s hand fred with the vibrant, e glow of Sky Fmes, he shouted, stepping bad letting the fmes pulse around his fist.

  Nero’s arms bed, Armament Haki spreading over his fists like a sed skin as he faced Hulk’s advance. Observation Haki heightened his senses, and he felt the rush of energy around him as the Sky Fmes ignited, burning brighter, ing his fists in an intense glow. Hulk’s heavy steps shook the ground, his fists ched tight, and with a roar, he swung at Nero, each punch aiming to ftten him into the ground.

  Nero sidestepped the first swing, his Haki-fred fist eg hard with Hulk’s ribs. Hulk grunted, stumbling back, but barely phased. He swung again, a fist the size of Nero’s torso hurtling toward him. wisted, dug under Hulk’s arm and nding a sharp punto Hulk’s gut, pushing the fmes through on impact.

  Hulk growled, lunging again, this time catg Nero’s shoulder. The impact sent Nero skidding back, feet digging into the ground as he steadied himself. He flexed his fingers, the Sky Fmes intensifying, and with a quick step forward, he jabbed into Hulk’s side, the fmes sizzling against Hulk’s skin. Hulk swung back, his massive fist narrowly missing Nero as he dodged, pivoting to Hulk’s right, where he nded arike on Hulk’s exposed shoulder.

  Hulk’s fury only grew, his voice rumbling. “Hulk smash!” He charged forward, fists hammering down. Nero dodged left, slipping past the blows, every strike he nded burning hotter, intensifying with each sed he kept his fmes in trol. His movements were precise, using Hulk’s size against him, maneuvering to stay in his blind spots.

  Hulk roared, frustration fshing across his face as he stumbled back, momentarily disoriented. But he wasn’t finished. With a defiant snarl, he brought his fists down in a crushing blow, crag the ground. Nero jumped back, avoiding the impact but feeling the shockwave ripple through the ground. He ched his fists, Sky Fmes bzing, and darted fain.

  “Your turn, big guy,” he said, his voice steady, challenging. He swung a fist, and the fmes fred as he ected with Hulk’s jaw. Hulk staggered, shaking his head, visibly dazed. But before Nero could capitalize, Hulk swung back, catg him in the side. Nero braced himself, feeling the force of Hulk’s punch jolt through him. He slid back, his hands flexing as he steadied himself.

  Banner’s voice echoed through the haze of Hulk’s mind, pushing against the anger. “Stop—Hulk, listen!”

  Hulk froze, his eyes flickering, and Nero saw the hesitation. Banner’s voice came through, strained but steady. “Let me in. I’ll hahis—you’re all power, but it’s wasted like this.”

  Hulk growled, his fists tightening, but the defian his eyes dulled. “Hulk… not weak.”

  Banner’s voice pressed on, his tone firm. “It’s not weakness. Just share trol, dammit. Let’s win this together.”

  Hulk’s body stilled, the rage flickering as he seemed to battle himself, until finally, he stopped, his fists dropping slightly. The shift was subtle, but Nero noticed it immediately—there was a new awareness in Hulk’s eyes, sharper, more focused.

  Banner’s voice came through, clear and steady. “Alright, Hulk. Let’s show him.”

  With Banner’s guidance, Hulk’s stance ged, his body shifting in a way that bined his brute strength with newfound precisioepped forward, ung a punch that came with calcuted forero dodged, but the movement was er, more trolled.

  “Alright, now we’re talking,” Nero muttered, taking a defeance.

  Hulk swung again, but this time his movements had purpose. He cut off Nero’s escape, f him to engage. Nero blocked the punch with a Haki-enhanced arm, feeling the added weight behind it. He retaliated with a quick jab to Hulk’s shoulder, but Hulk tered, catg Nero’s arm and pulling him forward with ued speed. Nero barely slipped out of Hulk’s grip, retaliating with a ko Hulk’s side, but Hulk had already adjusted, sidestepping to deflect the blow.

  “See, Hulk?” Banner’s voice coaxed, guiding Hulk’s strikes. “Focus. You’re unstoppable when you use your strength like this.”

  Hulk grunted, following the guidance as he charged Nero with a new purpose. wisted, feeling the heat from his own fmes intensify as he engaged, eaent sharper, his strikes finding their mark even as Hulk’s ters improved. They circled each other, exging powerful blows, each attack calcuted.

  Nero grinned, feeling the exhiration of the fight. “Finally, a real challenge,” he said, his fists bzing as he matched Hulk’s rhythm. He delivered a rapid punch, blocked by Hulk’s forearm, then swung a low kick that forced Hulk to stumble back.

  But Hulk didn’t falter. He swung back, and for the first time, Nero felt the bined weight of Banner’s precision with Hulk’s raw strength. He blocked, but the force drove him back, his heels digging into the ground.

  Banner’s voice guided Hulk forward, his fists striking with a newfound iy. Nero tered, each punch ced with Sky Fmes as he held his ground. The two cshed, their powers surging, the force of their fight rippling out in waves.

  Hulk swung with calcuted force, catg Nero off guard as he blocked high, only for Hulk t a heavy knee up toward his ribs. wisted, managing to deflect most of the impact, but the strength behind the blow sent him sliding back.

  Their fight intensified, each exging heavy blows that shook the grouh them. Nero’s Sky Fmes burned brighter, each punch releasing bursts of energy that crackled through the air. Hulk, with Banner’s guidance, kept pace, adapting with every hit.

  Nero’s Sky Fmes flickered, shifting fre to a deep indigo, the color pooling around his fists in a haze. Banner and Hulk froze for a split sed, both watg the strange glow. Then, without warning, the space around them blurred, and they were suddenly standing in an unfamiliar ndscape—a dense, dark forest that seemed to go on forever. The air was thick with shadows, and the sky was hidden by an endless opy of twisted branches.

  Hulk growled, squinting as he turned his head left, then right, trying to make sense of the sudden ge. “Where… is Hulk?” His voice rumbled, eg irange, ed woods.

  Banner’s voice broke through, barely tained panig his tohis isn’t real. That person did this. He’s got us in some kind of illusion—stay focused!”

  Hulk let out a snarl, his fists g. “Hulk no like tricks! Hulk smash!” He swung wildly at the trees, each punch leaving only faint shimmers where his fists ected, the forest reassembling itself before his eyes.

  Nero’s fmes shifted, the indigo fading into a crag green as lightning sparked around his fists. His Haki-hardened arms darkened even more, the added surge of Lightning Fmes c up his forearms.

  Lost in the illusion, Hulk barely registered the puntil Nero’s fist smmed into his jaw, snapping his head to the side with a crack. Dazed, Hulk swung blindly, his fist cleaving through air as Nero ducked, sidestepping to deliver arike into Hulk’s ribs. The hit reverberated, f Hulk to stumble back.

  Banner’s voice broke through Hulk’s frustration, strained but steady. “Hulk, stop swinging wildly! You’re pying into his hands—just listen!”

  But Hulk ignored him, baring his teeth and charging forward with a furious roar. Nero stepped back, slipping behind him and nding a solid blow to Hulk’s knee, f him down. Hulk snarled, his movements jerky as he tried to swing back, but the illusion clouded his aim, the twisted forest and eerie shadows swallowing up Nero’s movements.

  “Stop hiding!” Hulk bellowed, smming his fists into the ground, shaking the illusory ndscape.

  Nero's fists ignited with Suhe vibrant yellow glow shining through. The Sun Fmes coursed through Nero’s knuckles, hammering Hulk with relentless blows.

  Hulk staggered back, fists raised in blind fury, but Nero’s trol kept him oep ahead, his movements an effortless dance around Hulk’s wild swings. With every missed punch, Hulk’s rage grew, yet his hits seemed to lose focus, the heavy-hatacks starting to show cracks. Hulk roared, swinging with all his strength, but each wild blow only met air or the flickering shadows of the illusioening his frustratioook advantage, ung arike at Hulk’s ribs, the yellow fmes searing with an iy that made Hulk wince.

  Banner’s voice came through to Hulk, edged with frustration but insistent. “Stop filing! Think, Hulk. You ’t just smash everything and expect it to work.”

  Hulk growled, the flict clear in his teance, but he paused, looking around as if trying to pinpoint where Nero would strike . “Hulk… tired of this game.”

  Nero tio wear Hulk down, cyg through all seven fmes—Sky, Storm, Rain, Mist, Sun, Lightning, and Cloud. Each fme brought a different effect, a stant shift in poressure that forced Hulk to adapt with every blow. Hulk’s swings grew slower, his roars less forceful, each hit from Nero draining his energy. The wild rage that had driven him started to ebb, his movements refleg something closer to Banner’s trol than his usual blind fury.

  As the fight stretched on, Hulk found himself pulling back, his swings less reckless. He hesitated, Banner’s presence surfag in his mind, pushing against the walls of his fury. Finally, a flicker of awareness settled in Hulk’s gaze. He was still strong, but now he was tempered, matg Nero’s skill with a restraint that surprised even himself. Banner’s voice tinued guiding him, their minds slowly learning to share space.

  Nero pressed forward, his fist enveloped in a green fme as he nded another hit. The force pushed Hulk back, but he didn’t retaliate with the same wild rage as before. Instead, Hulk held his ground, finally seeing that brute strength alone wouldn’t break Nero. He exhaled, and the tension in his massive shoulders eased slightly. This wasn’t about smashing everything in his path; it was about bahe trol Banner had been trying to teach him all along.

  With the fight finally winding down, Nero lowered his fists, his stance rexed as he watched Hulk, waiting to see if the giant would charge again. But Hulk stayed where he was, his breathing slowing as he looked down at his fists, then at Nero. He had seen strength, but not the kind that just smashed—it ower that required patience, something fn to him, yet strangely necessary.

  The transformation started almost immediately. Hulk’s massive form began to shrink, the green fading from his skin as he slowly returo Bruce Banner, his expression weary but focused. He looked up, eyes meeting Nero’s with an exhausted crity.

  “Alright,” Banner said, his voice hoarse. “I’ll e with you.”

  --

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