Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"I am.. truly sorry that we have to do this to you…" The somber voice of a man said as a pair of extremely hazy and unwieldy eyes look upon a red and yellow figure above, alongside multiple others that joined him. The one speaking to him familiar, unusually unconfident, wearing an advanced suit of armor, another wore the markings of a great mage or wizard, the third was lanky and wore a white coat, blue and the number 4 on his chest, and the last one wore a silvery black and held the markings of a king.

But the man below them was incapable of making out anything as his mind, consciousness and every primary senses were heavily sedated by… something. Rendering the man completely immobile and nearly unconscious, almost at the verge of blacking out entirely. The man's mind tried to fight it, break free and let loose his emotions of green rage, his mind already knowing that something was wrong here. Something terrible was happening, something awful, something completely unforgivable. Something that should've made him mad, furious even, and roaring out loud with nothing but hatred and rage fueling his body…

But he was unable to, unable to even feel anything as whatever he was dosed with was strooong and keeping him trapped in how own body, remaining nothing of his emotions or physical strength, remaining his vision only. Struggling with a will to stay conscious on these 4 figures, before a feeling of being pulled up registered dully in his senses. Resulting in a series of actions that felt cold, metallic, programmed, and invasive. Advanced robots and mechanical arms soon enclosing his body tightly with some suit before the feeling of force sent him in an enclosed space.

Soon clamping down on 4 objects that left him suspended in the air. His senses still dull and unresponsive, his still emotions nullified and repressed, and any bit of strength he had pushed back by… something as the last thing he could hear was the sound of a door closing beside him. His vision now slowly dying as the will continue onwards simply ceased.

And the start up of advanced machinery began playing while an ominous rumble came from all around before… taking off…

In the deep reaches of outer space, the distant cosmos shined with a million countless little stars, having their own worlds, civilizations and cultures. With one in particular that was home to the race humanity and their superheroes, Earth. But while the Earth still stood strong as it did thanks to these beloved heroes, thousands of miles away from Earth by now and launched away for the safety of humanity's planet, the shuttle of a small spacecraft, one with a label of S.H.I.E.L.D, flew in one straight direction. Now heading towards a completely separate planet from Earth, sustaining wildlife but no evolving species/society. But while many of its operations, systems and online machinery operated the ship completely automatically, inside a set of eyes belonging to it's only passenger began to stir awake after an unknown length of time had passed.

As within the carefully designed shuttle, the danger that was sent away, held captive a very thin, skinny, and lanky man. Sporting loose brown hair, a frail face, and a body that held no physical strength, this is Bruce Banner. One of the smartest men in Earth but now unconscious, with his drooped down limply.

"!"

Before suddenly opening up and flashing a yellowish green, Bruce Banner's eyes woke up with a startle.

"Ah! Wha..!? What is… huh?!" Bruce gasped as he found his body immobile and in a completely new environment than he remembered. With his body suspended in some sort of ring with thick, grasping metal cuffs. Keeping him bound on every limb as the only thing he had on was a fitting pair of black shorts.

'What is this…!? Where am I…?! What's going on?!' He thought screaming in his mind, but strangely lethargic as he then noticed the little devices upon his chest and head and then finally the shuttle around him. A medium sized rocket-ship pod with sorts of machinery and computers running completely automatic. Leaving him speechless as he gazed upon a strange, advanced and alarming design.

'A space shuttle…? Why am I in a… ahhh…' His mind struggling to comprehend what was going on as he then noticed the sudden lethargy in his body. His limbs remaining stiff and unable to feel anything, and his mind also notably more lax as well. But still able to figure out exactly what was going on.

'This is… someone's trying to keep the Hulk in…' He thought as his still brilliant mind deduces, this whole scenario all too familiar with him and his past. Himself put in a state of forced calm, of tranquility with some sort of potent drug or suppressant, and with the devices all across his body there to observe and keep in check every facet of his body signs.

'Something's wrong… My body… my mind, everything is not responding to me… But I need to find out what's going on… Did someone kidnap me…? Put me in space…? Arrgh…!' He said as he tried to fight the lazy feeling. Trying to break free of his lethargy and focus on his one useful emotion… anger. "I need to… get out of this—!"

Psst!

"Ahhhh…." He said as he tried to rile himself up before a machine booted up and a new wave of suppressants began to flow into his blood stream. Immediately dulling his senses once more as another sensor beeped and finally detected his awoken conscious.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

As then a blinking light came on and a holographic projection made itself clear, with many screens beside him showing the same thing. Standing right in-front of Bruce as the figures of some of the world's greatest heroes showed themselves in his blurred vision. From the Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Strange, the King of the Inhumans BlackBolt, the leader of the Fantastic Four and smartest man of Earth Mr. Fantastic.

And finally, at the center of it all being Iron Man. Tony Stark and leader of the Avengers. All apart of the most universally secured, privately founded superhero group, the Illuminati. Made up of some of the Earth's most brilliant, most capable minds. All whom now were staring at him.

"What…? What is this…?" Bruce said as he stared upon the face of his long time friend. Someone he trusted and respected, someone the Hulk trusted and respected, part of and leader of the Avengers and close scientific partner.

"Bruce… It's me… this.. this is a recording for when you wake up." Tony said in a deep, somber voice, one definitely unfitting of his character. "I know you must have so many questions of what's happening, who's doing this, why this is happening... There is no easy way to say this… but we had to launch you away from the Earth… permanently."

"What…?!" He said solemnly as the words resonated in Bruce's mind! Exclaiming inwardly as the memories of before started to seep in slowly. From his time back on Earth as himself, the sudden meeting with him and Iron Man… and then him being knocked unconscious, and dragged to… wherever…

"Tony…" He said as his droopy eyes now started to regain more clarity, more than what should've been expected. Now fixated upon the hologram as Iron Man's words continued and the man's weak physique began to change…

The color of his eyes now starting to glow a bright emerald green… "Tony… Stark…"

"I want you to know that we had no choice in this. We all decided this had to happen." He said as the scrawny scientists face turned into a deep scowl before growling and growing more aggressive as the suppressants in his body now began to fail. "Me, Reed, Strange, Black Bolt, ALL OF US had needed to do this—"

"STARK!" Bruce growled and SNARLED as the memories of past events swelled within him. From the first encounter with Wolverine and the mutant kind, the skirmish between him Thor and the Asgardians, the battle with the Avengers and eventual joining of them, their heroics and so on! Playing out in a flash in his head festers with anger and his blood boils!

"You were getting too violent, too aggressive, too much destructive and everyone was still afraid of you—" His body began to change!

"We had to send you away. There was no other option—!" His skin began to turn and shift into a hue of grey as his limbs began to expand and grow as his veins began to fill with hot gamma!

"with so many people still afraid of you…" Iron Man continued, but his words no longer registering correctly or at all in the man's eyes… as it was no longer just Banner listening. Cause after everything, after all the promises and words said to HIM throughout the years by Stark, the Avengers, and every other puny human he thought he could trust, it seemed as though it all still meant…

NOTHING.

"STAAAAARK! RAAAAAA-AAAAAAAGH!" He roared, feeling the heat surging within as his voice changed into a deep animalistic roar as his body steamed and groaned as the Hulk began to fully emerge! His bones break and shifting under his skin, his muscles and DNA tear Andand flare up as his skin now began to turn completely grey and pulsating with green veins as his brain and body swelled with white hot twisting rage and gamma radiation.

Crack!

"ARRGG!" His first two arms suddenly jutting out of his shoulders painfully as they then swell in size before twisting in their shackles and exploding into a violent heap of visceral muscle mass! His tiny torso filling up the same as he began forming layers and layers of dense muscle compacting into a massively toned broad chest and his abdomen stretching into a wide and heavy set of hardy six-pack. And lastly to his legs as his calves and normal leg muscles juts out and explodes the same as the dense heap of muscle and mass filled his flesh, expanded his thighs and calves to enormous proportions, and finally gave unimaginable power to his feet below.

"AAAARGGH!"

His entire grey body soon then shifting into a deep shade of emerald green as his veins now bulged and surged with incredible power, with his blood boiling in pure rage and fury, and his entire body was being transformed from one scrawny man into a monstrous HULKING beast that struggled to contain his own muscled form from breaking through the skin, could scarcely be described as human.

"NAAAAAGH! ERAAAAGH!" Screaming in momentary agony as own skin began to stretch and expand even further, contorting his body gruesomely as it only barely manages to contain the incredible power surging through his flesh and blood. As finally his head too exploded and grew in size! His spine and his neck growing, extending, before bulging out as his roaring jaw extends and grows as his face filled with muscle and edgy as the structure of his face contorts itself into a gruesome visage! His hair turning jet-black, receding from his head as his scrunched nose shrank, his teeth biting down hard into a large set of molars and his eyes and eyebrows shrinking and jutting from his head as the HULK'S eyes finally crack open with red pupils and an enraged snarl!

"! DAH! URRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" He roared in contemptuous hatred at the still talking holographic projection before him. Unable to express anything but his rage at the man and men in-front of him at the act of their betrayal. The Hulk's now massive body LURCHING forwards in hatred as the machines around him began to break and disrupt while the hologram is still playing.

"You get so angry and so destructive that not even the mightiest heroes of Earth can deter you from your rage…" The LYING Iron Man said.

"HRRRGH!-URRAAAAAGH!" Snarled the Hulk as he roared once more and the monitoring machines began to haywire and the tightened, reinforced cuffs upon his limbs began to dent and come apart! The muscle-layered beast of a man raging himself to break free and they started to spark before—!

Bzt! Bzt!

BOOM! BOOM!

"RAAAAAAAAGH!" Being ripped open by his own two hands! His sheer superhuman strength bursting through tons of solid steel and pure metal, coming apart like tissue paper as the Hulks hands were set free full of muscle and power. Veins of explosive energy coursing through his hands as he then grabbed hold of his leggings and crushed them beneath his mighty palms as wires and thick steel cables sparks and flies out, fluid inside the cooling systems and machinery leaking, and it's many computational systems beginning to malfunction and fall apart.

"GRRR-GRRRRAAAAAAGH!"

BAM!

BZT! BZT! BOOOOOM!

He grunted and roared as his thick digits smashed his leg restraints before ripping them apart with his bare hands! Now freeing himself completely as the green Goliath now leapt in fury at the hologram before finding himself in the middle of a zero gravity space of the ship, but his wrath unquenched as he glares at EVERYTHING in the ship with a new, sickening, white-hot, feeling of wrath and disgust as the voice of Tony Stark continued with his… words.

"We've picked a destination for you, a world full of vegetation and game." He said as the ships controls at the front displayed various an acute map of the world the ship was heading towards. "It'll be peaceful, nothing for you to fight anymore…"

Pitiful, pathetic and meaningless words that he’s heard countless times by now…

'LYING PUNY METAL MAN! LYING PUNY STARK! LYING. PUNY. HUMAAAANS!"

His once developed mind now quickly reverting back to that of savage simplicity as he screamed, going mad and primal with pure unfettered rage as all the years of running, chasing, and FIGHTING finally came to this point. The man no longer able to contain himself as even the man within him raged the same way.

He had trusted these people. He had tried to make friends with these people and help them in their so called "noble" mission. To save and protect innocents. To protect and save the world!

TO MAKE HIM NO LONGER A MONSTER!

But in the end it was all just a…

"After all like you always say, you'll finally be left alone…"

'LIEEEEEE!'

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" He screamed and shook with pure rage and utter hatred as he smashed, destroyed, and, for the first time ever, both the Hulk and Bruce Banner had both screamed equally in their ruined mind as he went forth and began to tear everything in the ship apart in his wake! His hands clutching the walls and equipment of the ship as he tore more electrical circuits and wiring out, ripping the wall entirely and slamming it into another, and tearing through more metal and machinery before going for more as he sought to SMASH everything!

But doing now left the ships controls and systems now being dismantled and ripped to pieces as the set coordinates of the computer altered internally and blared loudly in red.

"WARNING! SET DESTINATION COORDINATES ALTERED!"

But as the green Goliath began to tear the ship and everything in it apart piece by piece with an uncaring and unyielding rage, the whole structure of the ship began to be destroyed. As so did its set systems coordinates as it began to malfunction and destabilize heavily with its trajectory now glitching and fizzing out as it dies with the rest of the ship. Its coordinates now completely re-altered from a peaceful, vegetative, game-filled world and towards the vast, unknown reaches of the cosmos.

The ship now heading in a completely random direction as its wings fail and one of its engine begins to muster out and its operations began to malfunction entirely.

BOOM!

The small singular shuttle now "containing" a raging Hulk then soon prematurely activating its hyper-thrusters once more as it launched itself aimlessly across the universe itself, not even close towards the intended planet as it began to hurl itself through space as fast as it could go and with no clear aim or direction. Flying aimlessly and aimlessly in the blackness of the void for an unknown period of time as the man within sought to end it all completely.

Flying… over and over across the stars and distant planets.

"RAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Going further into a place no one ever reached before, somewhere in space completely unknown and barren.

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Before soon coming to find itself heading towards a completely unexpected and bewildering phenomenon in the middle of the cold infinite void.

A hole.

That of which, is of a massive, collapsing fissure in the middle of space and reality itself. It was big, a giant, gaping vortex that looked like some sort of horrific cosmic entity's maw that opened up and sucked whatever material of baryonic matter came close to it. One that was slowly opening up out of nowhere as the collapsing, sucking hole in space time began to pull it and the Hulk in it's circling vortex.

The ship soon finding itself being accelerated in speed as the depths of the wormhole circled around it and began to heavily affect it. Going faster and faster as outside forces elevated to a point near light-speed, and flung it further and further into the universe and reality itself.

BOOM!

CRACK! BOOM! CRACK!

Lighting flashed and energy of overwhelming power enveloped it, the ship soon becoming a blur of color as the ship distorted and began to soon traverse into a realm outside of its own. The space around it soon changing color as the brightness of the wormhole changed to blue, then red, and a radiant, transcendent violet. The ship going further and further in it's speed increased to incalculable levels.

"UGHH…! Ughh…"

While inside, the ship shakes and rattles uncontrollably and incessantly as the Hulk now laid unmoving in a thin layer of liquid as the powerful reality-shifting rift now began to suck all the powerful gamma energy out of his body and slowly reverted him back into the tiny form of Bruce Banner.

"Ughhh…" Now leaving him weak and on the cold metal flooring groaning, soon going completely unconscious as the ship's travel affects him as it now leaves behind the once intended world of peace and flora, and flings itself into spaces unknown as on and on he and the ship went into the infinite sea of reality, drifting and drifting as they sped across the universe, faster than sound and even faster than light as the wormhole carries and pulls them out of their dimension and into realms beyond.

Outside of his own universe, and into another one, with far, far worse things than the unfortunate man could ever dream of…

NUCERIA

In another time, another space, and another universe altogether, the great Milky Way Galaxy stood decades and centuries ahead of the current modern 21st century, and now finds itself splintered and wounded, with many mighty and terrible storms ravaging it's space. All because of the aftermaths of a great and terrible war/schism amongst the stars. One that birthed a great and terrible God that all but nearly ATE the whole of one of the most ancient, powerful alien empires, and another that completely shattered and almost destroyed the future of all mankind in the stars. Who, were once a powerful, promising and deeply interconnected society, now lied fractured, separated, and completely ignorant of their true origins, home and once grand existence.

This, was 31st Millennium of humanity and all were left to fend for themselves.

And upon/throughout the many worlds that once belonged to the great human race, one drew the focus of attention. A single planet, existing in its own solar system and nearly apart of a section of the galaxy that was home to a young but highly prosperous galactic empire known as Ultramar. The planet itself was a greatly habitable world that remained unknown but was rich and resource-filled that depended mostly on its own. But while the planet itself was good, living upon the lands of its crust layer was a society that deserved nothing more than scorn and disgust.

For it was a bloody, cruel and brutal society, with unloved, alone, savage people and an even worse corrupt and hedonistic ruling class that lorded over all that were beneath them. An society that was fueled on the laboring of peasants, and most of all, it's innumerable slaves.

This is Nuceria.

And up, far above it's primitive skies and blue colored atmosphere, a small rift in space time formed as a ship, once white but now withered and torn for an undeterminable amount of time, shot out from the swirling vortex and into the direction of the planet.

Propelled by nothing but gravity and kinetic force as its engines and systems were now completely dead as it began to reach and descend upon the harsh world of Nuceria. Soon reaching and entering the atmosphere as it curves around the world and began to heat up with incredible energy. Careening ever down as it began to come apart at the seams and fly through the skies of a dimly lit moonlit sky.

The trail of heat and energy lighting it up as it rips through the skies of Nuceria and through the various cities settled within. Disturbing the somewhat quiet and peaceful night as it soared up above the various city-states and kingdoms across the landscape. But with one in particular catching the most attention.

Desh'ea.

Home of the high-rider overlords and their authoritarian power, and their massive gladiatorial arenas filled with their slaves…

And upon this particular night as the starship fell from the heavens, many who were awake and still scheming immediately took notice at this new oddity. This… new and bizarre thing that had fell out of the heavens. The many high-rider clans/family unable to take their eyes away from the unexpected shooting star as it shot up and above before descending down into the mountain ranges and forests a ways away from the city.

"What is that!?"

"A meteor!"

"A sign from the gods!?"

"It's landing in the mountains!"

"A FILTHY XENOS! IT HAS TO BE!"

Curiosity, interest, and fear began to stir within them all, before their unabashed greed, self-service, and distain took hold of them entirely. From thoughts of some kind of fallen rock from space, to a sign from a higher power, but most already believing it to be a clear sign of some sort Xenos/alien threat. Some disgusting, inhuman thing that didn't deserve to live and more deserving of being put to the chain and in the hot dust pit, many of the nobility already ordering or planning out their men and soldiers to investigate, take down or more favorably shackle whatever inhuman filth had landed and discover it's origins.

"ALL OF YOU, TO THE MOUNTAINS IMMEDIATELY!"

"Whatever it is, find it now!"

"Bear your arms! A Xenos has landed!"

"GO! GO! GO!"

But, while many of its high-rider nobility screamed for the discovery of this crashed thing in the mountains, only one family truly grew intrigued at this new… but quite familiar sight. That of the house of Thal'kr, one that already experienced on such event, and came out with it the most powerful gladiator of the hot dust they'd ever seen. So while the other high-riders sought investigation with a notion of fear and disgust, house Thal'kr only saw it as sign, a sign from above that they soon would have another promising upstart in their gladiatorial pits from the mountains, with one that already came from there years ago, but now seen a bit… sullen by some recent events.

Such as it was, House Thal'kr deployed with a sense of high validation and arrogance to the snowy mountains of Desh'ea, ready to find whatever this… Xenos was and add it to their collection of slaves, or better yet, add it to their recently victorious but unfortunately horribly depressed fighting champion. What was once a larger than most girl, turned into a viscous and unbeatable mountain monster of a woman. Whom now was currently chained up and crying in the deepest pits of their dungeons, her scalp red and imbedded with the accursed butchers nails and only recently forced to slay her own mentor/father figure, Oenomaus.

That of whom, simply named Atalanta Thal'kr, the Child of the Mountain, Daughter of the Great Bear, and finally, The Lady of the Red Sands.

And so, this world's high heads of arrogance and brutality detected and sought to investigate this new anomaly from the stars. While deep in the mountains, away from any sign of civilization the ship no longer labeled S.H.I.E.L.D crashed, embedding itself in the snow and dirt as it had plowed right through a group of trees, leaving nothing but steam and water as the frost and snow around melted it all down. Leaving nothing more than a rusted, heavily damaged and torn asunder heap of metal.

Within laying nothing but darkness and dead steel, everything all dead and completely useless now. The only thing not dark being a big, gigantic hole ripped from the side of the shuttle, bringing in the dim sunlight and the cold. Laying on the ground a heavily worn but still alive body of Bruce Banner, seemingly unchanged from the distant travel through the stars.

His body as skinny as ever and covered in rocket fluids as his eyes slowly began to open up.

"Mmm… Huh? Argh!" Weariness and drowsiness taking over his eyelids before a wave of soreness struck his entire body and a feeling of cold chilled his body. His limbs able to move, but feeling like sand with in-between his bones rather than ligaments or tendons, and his head aching with a slight migraine, thumping against his skull. And his body now starting to feel and shiver from the sudden chilly atmosphere.

'W-What is…' All in all as he began to pick himself up, he quickly realized that whatever happened left him severely weakened. But his memories were hazy, unclear, but full of rage…

'W-What happened to me…? D-Did the Hulk come out…?' He thought, guessing as he tried to piece together anything that happened and navigate his surroundings. His vision growing clearer as he steadily stood up, thankfully not so weak he couldn't stand up, but still shivering and shaking in the cold liquid.

The light of the outside, torn wall, hitting his face clearly.

"Where the hell am I…?" He said as he began to move, only slightly moving his limbs as he struggled but forced himself to go towards the Hulk made entrance, wobbly and with a sense of nausea, but soon coming into the dim light as his feet came into contact with the ground and his body froze.

"GAH!"

He shrieked as his shivering feet now froze in direct contact with pure white snow, and his body assaulted a horrible atmosphere of chilly icy winds and a small feeling of heat. The frost overwhelming him in his tight but uncovered body suit as he instinctively puts his arms close and began to shiver terribly while the steam around him contrasted with a rising steam.

"W-W-What i-is h-h-happening?!' He thought as he shuttered heavily with clacking teeth, his body's unusual weakness draining him even further as the nauseous feeling mixed with the cold and hot air renders him even more distraught. But frail man still keeping on as he tried to figure out what he should, if anything.

"I-I… I crashed here…? Am I… am I on Earth somewhere?" He said as he shivered and did his best to analyze the situation with what little information he had. But all he could deduce around him was nothing, nothing confusion and fear at this… sudden situation he found himself in. Looking up as he found the sunlight above almost nonexistent as only a thick, misty fog overshadowed the land.

'What is going on? Why did I crash here? And… what happened with the Hulk?!' He thought as he began to step forward—

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Over here! I see something!"

Before a shot rang out to the right side of his body as a man's voice, thick and heavily accented, rushed forth following from the ships smoking melted trail. Sporting on his body thick layers of furs and cloth against the cold, and holding some sort of unknown firearm, the heavily armored and dangerous man called out from behind him as he saw the escaping form of Bruce Banner and immediately began to speedup and sprint towards him!

"Shi-"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"HALT! STOP AND SILENCE BEFORE HOUSE THAL'KR!"

Bruce cursed as he instinctually tried to move before another series of shots rang out, this time right beside and fully around him as they shock and halt him in his tracks as the man's quickened steps caught up with him and tackled his quivering body. Roaring a slur that was full of rage and vitriol as the man's leather covered hands grabbed his neck and held him tightly by the skin of his head, holding the gun's barrel chamber right at the back of his head.

"W-What are you—Ugh?!"

BANG!

Banner tried to say again before another fucking shot, one only INCHES at his face, fired and the unknown man slammed his face into the ground hard.

"SILENCE! ANOTHER WORD OUT OF YOU AND I'LL BLOW YOUR HEAD CLEAN OFF, YOU HEAR ME?!" He demanded harshly from him as the sudden impact almost knocked him completely unconscious. "YOU ALL! OVER HERE! I FOUND IT! IT'S A MAN AND A SHIP OF SOME SORTS! I REPEAT IT'S NO XENOS, A MAN! A FUCKIN MAN!"

The armored brute said as he called out to an approaching group of people, all seemingly wearing the same or similar garb as him as they began to steadily come forth running.

"I see him! Right over here!" One man cried overjoyed.

"Finally!"

"Yes!"

"HA! As always, it looks as like the Gods are on the side of House Thal'kr's!"

""""WOOOOOOOO!"""

The many men said cheered and hollowed at the declaration, amazed and once again provided proof of them and their House's greatness! Many more soon arriving last as they soon formed up, grouped and begun circled around the dismantled ship. All lording over it with various words of praise, astonishment and relief. But all of it quite inaudible to the shivering, pained Bruce Banned as his head now ached painfully and his vision was starting to darken.

"Me'er! You found it!" One final man said, excited and thirsty. "It is a ship! And—OI! Is that…?" Going up to the first man and the ship before looking and gasping in genuine surprise upon the scrawny, frail, but still very much human man before him.
"Yes sir, this… is the thing that was aboard the ship. But it's no Xenos… it's a human man..." The first man, now identified as Me'er, said to his superior hunting squad leader, before turning his attention to the person held below him. "A human… I wonder how in all the God's name he came ended up here in that…"

Me'er said, gesturing towards the surrounded smoking ship as he contemplated for a second on what exactly this meant. Something far behind him and anyone else here…

His first captain however sparing no such thought."

"Who knows… but he is still alive and breathing… but wait one moment… OI! ALL OF YOU! LISTEN UP!" He said as the captain signaled for him to take a look, but not before ordering all the others to investigate the ship further. "BEGIN TO SEARCH THE AREA THIS BLASTED WRECK OF SHIP BEFORE BREAKING IT DOWN FOR SCRAP! NOW! THAT'S AN ORDER!"

He cried as the group of many began crying in agreement before going to do as told, coming inside the ship as the leader then knelt down and began examining this unknown human man. Cupping his chin as he raised his head up, Bruce's head already quite frail and weak looking.

"Let's see here… Brown hair… fair skin… and quite a thin body… But his.. garb, I've definitely never seen the like." He said as he tilted Bruce's head from side to side, seeing a completely normal human being though highly, highly unusual. But still not appearing very much impressed with this discovery. "Whoever or what he is this man is quite weak it seems, and he appears drugged to somewhat too, all in all just another man… but with nothing worthy of a real catch safe for his sudden arrival…"

He said, appearing to be dishearten somewhat… "Ahhhh… and here I thought we would find something like another Atalanta. Tch!"

"Ugh!" He said as he dropped Bruce's head back down in frustration and the disgruntled scientist grunted in pain. The other man Me'er coming back to tighten his grip on him as the leader scoffs and shrugs his shoulders.

"What a waste of time, seems like this ship is more valuable that this puny weakling." He grunted as he looked upon the ship with more attention. But still needing to deal with this new stranger. "I just thought we'd find another good xenos to get in the Hot Dust." He said, completely disappointed and severely unamused.

"Well, whatever or whoever he is, he belongs to House Thal'kr now." Me'er said as looked back to his boss, ready to end this. "We should bring him back to them, they would love to know who is and what he was doing riding this thing up above. As well as maybe get a new slave regardless. I'd bet he'd make good money on someone."

He suggested, as his captain shrugged his shoulders again, letting out an exhale of reservation as he looks upon Bruce's body once more. "Hmm, yeah I guess you're right. He could at least be fresh meat for the gladiators, looks like a squealer anyways this one. Hahaha!"

He said with with malicious, sadistic grin, showing a side of ruthlessness that served to only please himself and no one truly else as he commanded the man once more.

"Alright, lock him up."

BAM!

"ARGH!" He ordered as the Me'er immediately raised his rifle, switched to the butt of the gun, and bashed it roughly against Bruce's cranium. Leaving a visible thump as Bruce's body and mind now completely went unconscious, blacking out once more as his head deepened into the snow.

"This better be worth it" He spat as his gloved hands wrapped around Banners tiny torso and hauled him up and over his shoulders like a dead body or a piece of wood, readying him for some rope and chains as he went down the mountain and towards their metal carriage.

Tossing into the wall of a steel cage as the man shackled his hands and feet in iron below finally shutting the door behind him. Leaving Bruce Banner, who was once a brilliant genius, scientist, and a mighty "Avenger", now as nothing more than a slave. The carriage soon up and running and it rolled forwards and towards Desh'ea. Ready to be entertainment for the High-Riders and their masses.

At an unknown time in the city of Desh'ea and in a dark and deep pit, the various gladiators and slaves hung about, chained up and together. All but one as he was recently thrown in, and on the hot ground unconscious.

"GUH!"

Cried Bruce as he came to with a horrified cry! His voice ringing an echo as the feeling of sudden warmth hit his skin and once again found himself even more dazed and confused and in a far different location immediately. His sense of time now completely muddled as he tried to piece together what just happened. Realizing too soon what he had just gone through.

"Just what was—Ah!" Before the sharp pain in his head came back with full force!

"Agh! Ahhh…" He groaned horribly as his hands, now dirty and cold, quickly wrapped themselves across the back of his head and his neck. The feeling of stinging and severe soreness feeling like a hammer was being pounded upon both. His eyes also stinging with slight numbness as he felt to the ground and floor beneath him. His entire body was still weak, and splayed upon a dry, hot, and dirty rocky floor. With his body also changed as well, immediately noticing that no longer wore his previous outfit.

And that the place he was in, was extremely alarming.

'What… What?!'

From his toes to his feet were a new pair of leather, strapped shoes, and from his legs and towards his pelvis was a new pair of simple black shorts and a simple loin cloth worn haphazardly with what little care someone had to give. His face gasping in shock as then all around him was nothing but rocks and a strange hot dusty air.

But his memories soon returning to him as the events prior played out in his head like wild flash bang. From the crash, to the heat and snow, and finally to those men who had found him, captured him and send him here with brute force and savagery like an animal…

'What the hell is going on here…? Why is this happening to me…?!'

It was dark, hot and humid, and it was certainly NOT where he'd been last time in the melted snow. With the only thing coming across his mind now being that of not just confusion, but a deep and passionate frustration as he couldn't help but cry out in his weak, exhausted, and furious state!

"Where… am I?!"

Crying out with what little control of himself he had left after all this, with the fury of a man just wanting some kind of damn answer for his current predicament!

"Quiet…!" But, the only immediate answer he got had soon come from beside him in a rough and course yell, one that laid in the darkness and shadow of the rocks. That of a weak, frail, old, and dying old man.

"…Quiet." He demanded in a less, more dried and exhausted voice, unable to even really speak as Bruce turned to look at him, seeing what was less of a man and really was a sack of skin hanging off bones. His skin was dust covered, red and blistered in some areas, but most alarming of all, were the numerous injuries and scars painting his entire body. From slashes, beatings, and bites, the tired withered and dying old man now looks at him with the most saddest, hopeless eyes he'd ever seen from anyone in his life. Someone who had known nothing but true suffering and hopelessness in life, but still looking at Bruce, this newcomer, with some small sympathy.

One that Bruce couldn't help but respect and feel empathy towards, someone who he felt he was in the same boat as he was.

"You are… whoever you are…" He said with weak, shallow, and labored breathing, still alive but only barely from what it seemed... "in the pits of Desh'ea… the Hot Dust… And you are… slave to the High-Riders now…" Every word of coming out of his hoarse mouth requiring so much effort to even speak, but each word spoken with such dire undertones. The last thing he'd said with the utmost contempt, layering onto Bruce as his mind ran with what little information he now had.

Desh'ea… Hot Dust… High-Riders… Slave?!

'What…?'

"…what?!" He shouted again, but this time in a much more hushed and fearful whisper, now noticing the golden chain around his neck as his mind ran with nothing more than question after question! Unable to come up with anything other than, wherever he was, he was not on Earth, he was not on any world he'd heard of before, and most of all, wherever he was… he was no longer a free man, able to do what he wanted despite his issues. For he was now here, somewhere, in a place with far less noble intentions than he'd ever been subjected to before.

Unknowing that he would soon see exactly he'd been forced into, who were the controlling power of the world, and the bloody horrors he would have to endure on this place called Nuceria. A ruthless, bloody and barbaric world that only held value to bloody, gladiatorial fights for the masses and their masters.

And, one other that holds an even worse fate than him, or anyone else that had ever been born or will born on the planet. A woman that had known nothing but ruthless combat, bloody victory, and slavery, a woman that is the daughter of the empire of man. A woman that he, Bruce Banner, the Hulk, would soon see for himself, in time and in the ring.

But worse off, an unbeknownst to anyone and himself, of how even crueler and bloodier fates awaited him now in the galaxy beyond. One that was not his, one ravaged and consumed by war, tainted with the blood and corpses of billions across eons, and plagued with the influence of a dark and twisted pantheon.

Chaos.

Because as while the small, ignorant and isolated mind of Bruce Banner found himself in a truly desperate and hopeless situation. In a realm unknown, beyond and underneath the current one, one that existed parallel and as old as the universe and reality itself, things inside this immaterial space began to shift as powerful beings born thousands of years ago or in just a second out of pure emotion and belief, privy to almost all things witg a conscious that existed within the galaxy, noticed a difference. A shift, a small little thing that had just occurred.

For the Warp had something… new in it. Some sort of space shuttle, but more alarmingly, a person, a new being that had JUST entered a small, tiny, insignificant section of the galaxy and crashed upon the dark soils of the bloody and primitive world of Nuceria. Arriving upon a planet that held a crucial piece of a grand, eons-long galactic scheme. A masterpiece of a ploy that was going well as intended, until this little oddity appeared.

And those who held the highest powers and influence over reality and the Sea of Souls, detected him the most. Those being the 4 Chaos Gods, the 4 Great Ruinous Powers and rulers of the Warp that held intrinsic influence over life, death, ambition, lust, change, and the deepest emotions of every sentient being. From Khorne, the God of War and Bloodshed, Nurgle, the God of Disease, Death and Life, Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways and God of fate, and finally the youngest amongst them, born out of a long since dead alien empire and Prince of Excess and God/Goddess of Lust, Slaanesh.

Each of them already sensing this person, this Bruce Banner. A brand new soul within the material world, something and someone that had entered the great game and the sea of souls that no one was aware of until minutes prior. He was little, tiny, insignificant now with no discernible presence, but he was there, and did not exist before. Something that no creature or entity in the Warp saw coming, one that grabbed the 4's attention and more importantly their interest.

Hidden eyes in the souls of thousands were now set upon the feeble form Banner, awaiting to see what this… new man would bring. For nothing special seemed to be off about him at first.

With only a slight feeling of something buried deep, deep within him, unknown to the forces of Chaos, of course at least…

For now…

Chapter Text

"…What?" Bruce Banner said as he stared at the rapidly decaying man and at the world around him. This dusty, hot, desolate place that seemed nothing but a prison, destined for the weak and frail.

Bruce's mind was working on overdrive as he tried to figure out just what the hell was going on… He was on a S.H.I.E.L.D ship, in space, crashed here and taken by those men! Everything was chaos, everything didn't make any sense as he stared at the old man, chained against a rocky wall that seemed as though he belonged as a slave in the ancient pits of Rome, but clearly he was… something else that was not that.

"What… what are you… talking about? Where… where are we, what the hell is a high-rider and the hot dust and… who are you?" He asked incredulously, unable to believe or comprehend anything this man was saying, from names and terms he did not understand to a word that seemed to come straight out of a nightmare. Banner's thought's racing as he struggles to grasp this and his previous situation.

'Why the hell is all of this happening to me!' Crashed into a snowy mountain, weakened, groggy and with no idea where he was, before being taken by those men and thrown in here. In this place, all in what felt like an instant. It was cruel, it was unfair, it was torture!

"Don't make me repeat myself ya fool…!" The man yelled back angrily, irritated and unwilling. "You are a slave… a slave to the High-Rider Thal'kyrs… It doesn't matter who I am or who you are, for you are already dead… You will fight, you will be forced to fight for their entertainment…!"

He told with a wrathful fervor, his words directed at the new man before him, the cage around him, his shackles, the High-Riders and this whole damn world it seemed as his words once again entered Bruce's mind and shook him to his core.

"Heh… I'm surprised you don't know… must be an outsider you… not knowing all these simple things… You truly look weak… frail and soft too… I guess thats why they put you in here with rest of us… just a man who's about to die." He said, as he then raised his arm lazily and shook his wrist.

"Like me…"

Cha-Ching! Cha-Ching!

The dust covered metal shackles clanging against the rock as he makes his position and point clear.

"Just like me… another meat-bag they can use until they're done with you… hehehe…' He said, carrying a smile that held no hope or joy, only uncaring and cruel for Bruce's foreseeable fate.

His words leaving only a truly disgusted and horrified look on Bruce's face, disbelief still on his face as he stared at the man incredulously. His heart dropping to his stomach as he stared at his feet, hands and neck, seeing his own collar same as the man in-front, only slightly cleaner than his.

Cha-Ching…

I’m

His eyes then truly beginning to see as he then began to notice everything around him, outside as he glimpses at the other cells beyond his own bars, cells filled with people of what seemed to be very weak, sickly, or malnourished. From men, to women, to even small children who were all on the brink of death or just lightweight. Everyone here was fodder, people of the lowest quality who were fated to be nothing more than disposable meat-sacks, left here just or rot.

Including him.

'Slaves… these… these people are all fucking slaves, slaves like in Ancient Rome!?' He thought as he could see just how similar this all was back in the ancient days of Earth, of humanity but now seemingly in his present. His eyes more focusing on the children, Al the little boys and girls that stayed, sat or stood motionless in their cells, the sight sickening him right down to his core.

'Children… even children! This is insane.. THIS IS FUCKING INSANE! What kind of hellhole did I crash land on!? How the hell did I get here?! What do I even fucking do?!' He thought as he couldn't help but panic, his mind working on overdrive, unable to register the inhumanity and cursed fate he was left and stuck with. His widened, narrowed eyes soon looking back at the man dying in-front of him.

Bam!

"P-Please, I don't know what's going on, I don't know how I got here, where here is or why I'm even here!" He started to say not even noticing the loud metallic crash that came from the left and reverberated throughout the walls, alerting everyone as soon a group of armed guards, dawned in lesser yet still fair-quality armor and came forth with fervor and I with weapons in hand. Each wielding spears of dulled silver/steel, boots, gloves, helmets, and all clad in the symbol of House Thal'kyr as they matched forwards with aggression right and towards Banner's cell!

"He's awake! Chain, cuff him and bring him to the Lords!"

Swing!

"YOU! ON THE GROUND NOW!" One man spoke, leader of the group as another swung open the cell door violently and moved to grab the still dazed man.

"Please, you gotta help me—No!" Bruce tried to finish hurriedly before his body was yanked violently backwards and forced upon his weak knees! His words cutting off entirely as 2 sets of leather bound hands snatched his wrists and then squeezed tight around his arms. Leaving no room for movement as the guards impatiently began to remove him from the cell.

"SILENCE UNDER THE COMMAND OF HOUSE THAL'KYR!"

"DO NOT MOVE WEAKLING!"

"DO NOT SPEAK! DO NOT WHISPER! NOT A SINGLE PEEP! YOU ARE BEING RESTRAINED!"

While Bruce's attempts at any movement at all met with only brutal orders and harsh commands! Threatening with the tips of their long, aged-up but still deadly spears as Bruce had quickly complied and kept his mouth shut. His body unable to resist as the threat of danger kicked in his instincts, submitting to them in the body, but certainly not in the mind.

'NO! NO! NOT AGAIN, NOT AGAIN! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE, WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITH ME!?'

He thought as the group hastily pulled him out of the cell and shut the bars behind them with another bang! Leaving the old man once again by himself and paid no mind by any of the guards, as the many along with him in the other cells, those who were conscious and alive, looked and stared at this new situation. The guards then locking it closed as they began to walk back to which they came with Bruce in their midsts.

"Heh! I can see why they didn't deem this one fit for any cuffs, he looks like he could fall over with a love tap." One of them said, holding his arm as they left. Bruce forced to move in the middle of them all. Their grip on his arms never wavering, but leaving nothing else on his person for they deemed it completely unnecessary.

"Eyes forwards slave! You have an audience with House Thal'kyr's itself!" The main one who was leading commanded with sadistic amusement. His face turning to the weak outsider man, revealing a crooked, well-hygenic teeth with gleaming entertained eyes.

Bruce's eyes widening in horror as his fears and frustrations took hold.

'Shit… Shit, shit, shit, shit, SHIT!' In his mind cursing himself, his captors, this whole damn place, and whatever force of the universe crash landed him to be here. 'Where are they taking me?! I still have no idea what the hell is going on?! What do I do here…? WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO HERE?!'

He cried, weak, confused and utterly exhausted about all of this, but still forced to move as he followed the guards through the halls and towards his captors. His mind trying to figure out, trying to piece together ANYTHING that could help him in this dire situation. But unable to do anything other than comply as they began to move forwards and out of the cells, leaving the rest of the slaves weary, wondering, and left to rot.

Halls Leading To House Thal'kyr

And so, the minutes went by as the group of guards cladded in armor and pointy tipped spears led the newly captured prisoner/slave through this new place, this new, horrible, and growing ever crueler location that seemed to house nothing but poor, battered, and subservient souls. From more imprisoned peoples, men, women and children, to the other guards and soldiers that were scattered throughout the area, either ignoring them or giving them some aspect of attention. The four men and the one stranger going many rooms and locations all in seemingly one gigantic structure, going higher and higher as they passed level after level and room after room.

Each one different and more detailed and cared for in quality than the last.

From the various rocky cells holding even more people each varying in strength, size, gender & age, to metal and rusty rooms that all sorts of blood devices or weapons alongside other paraphernalia used for torture, beatings, or "entertainment", before eventually reaching the first and land floors of the building. One that was far more decorated, refined, and lush compared to everything else below it. From its red carpets, it's high tall curtains shining the sunlight, lavish ornaments and crockery, dark rich burgundy walls, and above all it's gold that lined and trimmed everything.

'This place… This place is NOT Earth… This is worse than I ever could've imagined, this is a hellhole. Nothing… nothing about this making any damn sense…!'

Bruce mind, now far more calm and analytical (yet still just as frustrated and horrified) immediately noticing just how each progressive space grew in quality and care from whoever owns this place, and each one giving him more useful, interesting, but abhorrent information on just what kind of place he was in.

One that told him plainly that he had crashed and landed on a world so much more crueler, savage, primitive, and bloody than Earth. A world that seemed quite advanced as well, as passing though many of the other guards were clearly wearing some sort of sophisticated clothing and weaponry. Wielding spears, guns and blades that seemed… alien in nature, with many tiny robots and machines he could spot and hear, but used for so much less than what they could be.

'Just where the FUCK did I crash land on? And…' He thought, linking it all together in his mind but each observation only serving to introduce even more questions than answers. Questions ranging from how and why there were humans here, how could he speak their language, how in the world did a place like this had such advance technology, how did he get here in the first place, who was responsible for all of this and so much more!

But the only other thing/person that caught his attention being the only thing he knew got him here…

'And where the hell is the Hulk?' And whom was not responding to… any of this. To any of the many emotional stimuli that filled Banners mind so throughly, everything a set trigger for the big green monster. From the violence, fear, confusion and frustration. But clearly, whatever was still happening to him because of the space travel, was somehow suppressing the Hulk.

'What do I do know in place like this… am I… really gonna be a slave? A slave for what, and for whom? This… Thal'kyr…?'

He thought as he struggled to make do with all the information he's got, unable to move, unable to walk without command and forced direction, and unable to Hulk out and simply break free out of all of this. Something he would very much like to do… but now only forced to comply as the four men around him continued to walk towards their destination. Towards their leader, Bruce presumed, by having questions about his arrival no doubt.

"We're here, jobs done." One said as he dropped Bruce's arm with a feeling of relief. The other one doing the same as they now finished their escort.

Until finally, after so many steps, the men reached their end. As before them, upon a wall deep in dark red, surrounded by intricate cravings of golden battles, figures, and silver, archaic looking vines that stretched across a large, exquisitely constructed wooden door. Double doors to be exact, equal in high quality design and functionality. The doors being covered by the vines and gold, all corresponding to some sort of mechanism, advanced in nature, with access panels in each side.

The whole thing just screaming the essence of pure, spoiled nobility in Bruce's eyes.

'We're here… House Thal'kyr…?'

But the only thing remotely standing out remarkably being a gigantic symbol on the wood itself. A symbol that resembled a dogs head, deep red in color, savage and snarling with a collar on it's neck. A symbol that represented the violence and cruelty of this… house Thal'kyr.

'Better watch my mouth…' He said, unnerved but shaking resolve.

"Looks like we're finally at our lords chambers slave." The leader said with a mindful tone, respect in every word as he orders the two beside Bruce to move as they prepare to enter, but none given to Banner himself. "Consider yourself lucky you frail, weak, pathetic little man, no one ever witnesses the majesty of the great nobles of the House Thal'kyr, greatest slavers in all of Desh'ea! Nay, in all of Nuceria! They demand your presence under them, so…"

He told both graciously and arrogantly as the two pushed the access controls and the doors to the room swung wide open.

"Let us not keep them waiting any longer." The leader said with another "smile", unsettling Bruce once again as now they began to move again. Soon going past the doors and finally before the presence rulers of this… house.

The whole room housing a chamber filled with a group of distinguished, wealthy looking, but quite fat and indulgent looking people. People who looked oh so similar to one another, a family, from children to adult lavished in the most succulent treats and draped over with regal but still primitive looking garbs.

All now who have turned their gaze upon the man in-front of them.

"Ahh..! Is that the man? The slave captured the mountains?!"

"He does look human!"

"Ugh! But he looks nothing like her one bit!"

"What a scrawny looking runt! A xenos would've been better! I bet he wouldn't last a second in the Hot Dust!"

"And here I thought the Gods would bring us another champion. PAH! What a terrible joke!"

All expressions ranging from any feelings of shock and or revulsion it seemed.

"Hmm…"

"""!?"""

But until one spoke up and silenced them all. A lady, tall with swirling, dark red hair with a fine glass wine in hand. Appearing far older than the rest of the group and wearing what was to be the most expensive, detailed and gaudy looking red dress Bruce Banner had ever seen in his entire life looking upon him with the upmost interest and intrigue.

This dirty, ragged, weak and scrawny man who seemed no different than the rest of the lowest slaves of their cages, but who was sent in a ship, and was not from this world.

"So you are the man who landed here..?"

She said, her voice deep and rich, powerful and domineering. Her body tall and voluptuous, her skin that of a pale alabaster, fitting into a complicated red dress that cascaded across the floor beneath her. Appearing as the most regal and commanding of them all by far, her voice practically dripping with pride and ambition. Of power and strength that promised nothing but manipulation and danger to the mind of Bruce Banner.

"Well, let us take a good look at you…" She then finishes with a wide, glistening white smile.

'Oh shit…' Was all he could say, gulping down to the bottom of his stomach. But while the new man on the face of Desh'ea meets the head family of the most powerful slaver family in the city, all the way in the grand gladiatorial arenas of Desh'ea, and all the way down to the pits that held the most dangerous, unstable fighters and brutes the prized champion of the Thal'kyr's sat in silent, ominous contemplation.

The most dangerous gladiator of them all, Atalanta Thal'kyr, who had now stopped crying after three long days and has begun her fealty of vengeance towards the High-Riders…

At first… it was blinding, burning and searing into her eyes and brain as the crowd of a thousand bloodthirsty monsters bellowed at her.

"NAILS! NAILS! NAILS! NAILS! NAILS! NAILS!"

They chanted in deafening, dog-like unison as then her deranged, unhinged and severely manic face winces and scowls, as her face contorting in agony as she felt the pain of a thousand needles coiling in her head and STABBING into her scalp! Stabbing and butchering their way into the dark matter of her brain as it pumps her full of chemicals and hormones, flaring up her neurotransmitters in a wave of pure anger and rage as her face contorts, her armored hand squeezes WIDOWMAKER as she SCREAMS!

"ARRGGH! AH-AHHHHH!"

ROARING UNCONTROLLABLY IN PAIN AS IT CONSUMES HER WHOLE! PUMPING HER MIND WITH NOTHING BUT RAGE AND THE OVERWHELMING DESIRE TO KILL AND BUTCHER HER ENEMIES! HER MIND FLOODING IN WITH FLASHES OF HER MEMORIES OF HER LIFE. FROM THE MOUNTAIN, THE XENOS, HER MOTHER AND THE HOT DUST BEFORE FINALLY LAYING HER BLEEDING BLOODSHOT EYES UPON THE SOLE FIGURE THAT WAS STANDING BEFORE HER IN THE HOT DUST AS SHE LEAPT FORTH TO SATIATE THIS POUNDING URGE AND BEGAN BEATING THE MAN TO DEATH!

STRIKING HIS KNEE WITH HER BLADE WIDOWMAKER AND SENDING HIM ONTO THE GROUND BEFORE GOING ON TOP OF HIM AS SHE BEGINS TO BEAT AND POUND HIM INTO THE SCORCHING DUST! SOON DISCARDING THE WEAPON AS SHE NOW BEGINS TO DIG HER OPPOSABLE DIGITS INTO THE PULP HIS EYES AS THE MAN SCREAMS IN UNBEARABLE AGONY!

NOT CARING WHO HE WAS OR WHAT SHE WAS DOING AS ALL SHE COULD REGISTER WAS THE PAIN! THE PAIN! THE PAN! THE PAIN OVERWHELMING HER WHOLE SELF AS SHE SPREADA A DRUNKEN AND BLOOD-CRAZED SMILE OVER HER FACE AS SHE NOW STARTS TO POUND AND POUND AND POUND THE MAN'S FACE INTO THE DIRT! DESPERATE TO RELIEVE ALL THIS PAIN! FIRST STRIKING AND BREAKING HIS NOSE, THEN HITTING AND CRACKING HIS SKULL OPEN, AND BLUDGEONING HIS FACE INTO THE SAND OVER AND OVER AND OVER!

OVER! AND OVER! AND OVER! AND OVER BEFORE…!

BEFORE…. BeFOrE…

Before there was nothing left but the wet squishy pulp of a red-stained sand… before she FINALLY realized who it was… Who it was she bludgeoned…

Oenomaus…

OENOMAUS!

. . .

no… not again…

No….

NO! NO! NO!

"NOOOOOAAAAAAAAAGH!"

She screamed and cried out from the very core of her being as she was then soon chained back up and dragged away… Dragged away back into the pits as she looks back completely and utterly paralyzed at the pile of blood and gore that used to be a man… A good man… who taught her, trained her, raised her like the father she never, ever had.

And now…

…It was dark, dusty, and hot, oh so INFURIATINGLY hot, and painful. Oh so painful as each passing minute, the nails seemed to stab into her brain again and again.

She did not know where she was or how long she's been here… nor does she care…. All she knows is that she's been here… chained up, unable to move, not wanting to move, and screaming… screaming and crying, unable to do anything but, for the first time in her life, shed tears and cry and scream and SOB her lung out with nothing but the overwhelming feeling of loss and sorrow buried deep within her soul now. Her vocal and physiological torment lasting for 3 days straight and tearing her vocal chords apart with unfathomable pain, but in her mind each second lasting an eternity as she comes to realize all she has done, what she has done, and what she has now become.

The Nails reminding her of that each passing moment, with not even a minute passing without some form of mind shattering agony, twisting her mind in on itself and spiking it with rage.

She was no longer the Atalanta she was before, she was now something far worse, something that was less than human, even less than even an animal! Something that is intended to be nothing more than a vessel for rage, a being unable to feel nothing but RAGE, and a tool for the highborn, blue/blooded, COWARDLY High-Rider's entertainment. She was now a slave more than ever before, a slave to her rage, a thing fueled and destined for nothing but for pain, rage and violence.

This, she had realized after so many hours of weeping, moaning, and crying for her beloved father figure and mentor, Oenomaus. But only now, in this dark and dreary cage, those tears have all been shed, leaving nothing but dry skin, dried up blood, a body that held the strength of a mountain. And finally, a hardened, vicious and utterly resolute expression that held nothing but conviction, pure hatred and a promise…

A promise that would make any word that comes out of her mouth feel like a lie. A promise that promised nothing but pain, death, and blood.

A promise that held the fates of all the gladiators and slaves that were chained and made to fight in the Hot Dust.

A promise that would shake the arena and bloody the very foundations of this cursed pit and its city!

A promise that SHE, WOULD CARRY OUT WITH BOILING BLOOD AND VICIOUS HATRED!

A PROMISE THAT SHE, SHE! ATALANTA! WOULD MAKE THE THE HIGH-RIDERS PAY FOR EVERYTHING THEY'VE DONE TO HER AND THE SLAVES OF THE DESH'EA AND THE HOT DUST!

"ARGH…! Arghhh…"

Her coiled muscles tightening, her titanic fists clinching together like a vice, her teeth gritting together hard enough to crush steel, and her eyes opening up to reveal a pair of two glowing yellow, demonic looking eyes. The nails above digging into her brain once more as they pump her still of twisted chemicals and hormones as she scowls violently with a low, animalistic growl. Every muscle and bone in her body heating up as her blood boil with the NEED for violence, for bloodshed, and most of all…

VENGEANCE…!

Vengeance for her! Vengeance for the mountain! Vengeance for her mother bear! Vengeance for OENOMAUS! And vengeance for all the slaves of the hot dust and for EVERYTHING they've done to her and her warriors! They would be cast down from their high and lofty golden towers and tossed down to be slaughtered, butchered, and MURDERED just like they all deserve! See for they really are! See as their own gladiators, warriors, and SLAVES BE TURNED AGAINST THEM AS THEY ALL SCREAM AND BEG LIKE DOGS! LESSER THAN DOGS! LESSER THAN MEN!

AND SHE, ATALANTA, WOULD SEE AND LEAD THIS THROUGH HERSELF!

She swore it… she swore it on her life. This once dim desire now turning into a raging ambition for this one goal, this one singular, glorious purpose. A feeling rising from within her core like nothing she had ever felt before now. An hellish inferno was now raging in her chest, like a horned beast grabbing her heart and bellowing the hottest flames into her very soul as she now awakens to become something worse and greater at the same time.

All for the undue people, humans, of the Hot Dust…

Her head now stirring as is he begins to rise up. Her back, scar-covered and perfectly muscular, standing up straight as in the darkness, the yellow gleam in her eyes stare upon the steel exit of her newest cage and the numerous, NUMEROUS guards behind it. The nails once again biting as she grits her teeth and SWEARS upon HER VERY SOUL that she would come back to this place and tear it and THEM all apart with nothing more than WITH. HER. BARE. HANDS.

But now…

Now she will wait, wait and bide her time and FUEL her rage as she would return and then strengthen, train, harden and prepare her fellow slaves for this revenge. Despite all the horrific and agonizing pain painting her brain RED and DEMANDING her to simply KILL, KILL, KILL and KILL. They would be her warriors, her gladiators, HER people, her brothers and sisters that she should have been with and trusted, and they will know nothing but sheer unbridled hatred for the the Hot Dust, for the Magnus Coliseum, for the wild unkept rags of the incessant crowd and finally for the High-Riders themselves and their damnable, barbaric, and monstrous city. The strength passed down from Oenomaus to her and to them.

In only one moment thinking all of this, completely wrapped in her own mind unaware of the voices of the unremarkable guards ahead. Whom were all carefully whispering to one another, careful as to not stir the beast within. Only talking about one thing that had spread slowly throughout their grapevine.

"Hey, I've heard a rumor that there's a new man coming from House Thal'kyr themselves…!" One man said.

"Yeah, and he's supposed to be from the mountains they say…"

"W-Wait, like… like her…?! Like, Atalanta?"

"Yeah, gots everyone riled up to see what they found. Gods MUST be lookin after em…!

"Bloody hell, wait to see what they got in store…"

They all said amongst each other as the expression of pure unfiltered rage deepens on the mountainous woman's face. Twisting into a demonic visage, completely unaware and inattentive to the new news. Their captive however not listening as word they’d said despite her superhuman hearing, too enraptured by the fervent slurry of emotions that fueled and ignited her soul. Taking no heed to that of a new face, a new slave from the mountains and from the stars themselves would soon be sent here.

In the Coliseum, in the red ring, in the Hot Dust.

But, while the Lady of the Red Sands, Child of the Mountain Bear and Champion of the Hot Dust, Desh'ea and the High-Riders vowed her revenge and rage upon them all in the darkness of her cell, Bruce Banner was busy with the house of Thal'kyr itself. Right at the head of its family as she and many of her relatives look upon the still frame of the unknown man. Curiosity, intrigue, disgust, disappointment and some level of interest all in their eyes as the man now sat idly the middle of a grand richly decorated room.

Bruce Banner was now put on the spot, feeling like he was… like some animal as the lady in the red dress speaks aloud while the rest of a ridiculous, gaudy, and horrible looking people looked high-above at him.

"Well… it seems as though he truly is human after all! And not some filthy xenos or mutant!" She said with great enthusiasm and jubilation, almost as though she was seeing him as some sort exotic creature. A something that was to prized on, her looking at everyone else in the room as she seems to pay him no mind. Her words turning the gears in Banner's head as she continues into a rant.

Every word telling him information, but also setting him off as he sees

"A man indeed! A man from the sky! And most importantly! A man that WE have found in the mountains of Desh'ea! Just like the champion and Mistress of the Red Sands herself! The Gods have once again shown favor upon the great House of Thal'kyr!" The lady proclaimed, her words growing more and more ecstatic as the rest of the House look upon Banner's form in various ways as a new voice then quickly speaks up.

"Oh but mother just look at him!" The voice of a fatter, younger man sitting upon a chair and dressed in light garbs with a glass of wine in hand exclaimed with revulsion and disappointment. This one loud, brash, with a light beard and greasy slicked hair and dark brown eyes. "This one looks so weak and frail! No muscle, no weapons, just skin and bones! You can't possibly mean him to be another great Atalanta! It's uncomparable!" He said with a conniving and nastily accent, completely indulgent in his decadence as he sips his wine.

Completely speaking down upon the new man as everyone else now began to speak up.

"He's right mother, just look at the little thing! Looks barely stronger than even the lowliest of all our slaves!" Another said, this time a girl, one that had long, braided red hair, light brown eyes, and a slim yet curvy figure in another smaller yet still eloquent and gaudy dress. Holding another glass of wine as she also berates the state of the stranger in-front of them. "I don't know why you would call us up here to see THIS, mother. I think it's better to just leave him back to rot in that cell where he belongs!"

She said with a venomous hiss, now completely taking her attention away from Bruce as she turns her head away pridefully.

"Yes, it certainly seems as though this one isn't worth all that manpower we spent on the mountain…" Another man than said, this one much more lankier and shrewd looking than the two, sporting a military-like outfit with unknown wires outfitting his facial features. "Though mother is right, as the Gods have this man to us, just like our champion." Before adding another aspect of his thoughts.

"And that"s we should still keep him!" Another woman, this one much older, bustier and more regal looking chimed in. "The Gods have given him to us in our time of need, when Atalanta has been in her cage for three days now! Don't you see, this is sign like mother says! We just have to wait! Maybe he'll prove valuable to us in the Hot Dust later on!" She said with a much more positive, supportive connotation, but still, not a hint of goodness anywhere in her dialect.

"You can't be serious! What good could he—!"

"I say that he—!"

"OH SHUT UP YOU—!"

But nobody able to listen to anyone had to say as soon their words interrupted each other, soon colliding their thoughts and feelings as the tension rose and their shared dialogue now turned into a loud arguing and bickering. Seemingly to come up with anything as one the last, their mother, sat idly still. While Bruce Banner accumulated his thoughts about all of them.

The "weak" man below quickly figuring that whatever this "House" is, is nothing than the most rotten, corrupt, narcissistic, arrogant and truly DISGUSTING group of what could be scarcely called people… From the pudgy man in the robes, the girls in their flowery, ornate and gaudy dresses, the freakishly tailored man, and finally above their tall, red, inglorious mother! Every word coming out of them showcasing nothing pride, vanity, arrogance, and twisted, inhuman minds that could only come from a completely hedonistic and barbaric lifestyle.

These people… these people were monsters… Slavers! The rotten wretches of humankind, of any race or people he'd ever met before. Not Ross, not the governments of Earth, not even the bastards that tricked and betrayed him… His once fearful, passive face soon slowly turning into a light scowl, his mind no longer afraid as the constant arguments, petty and selfish in nature pounded his head in frustration.

Now desperately wanting just to be free of this and return to silence as his eyes glowered at all of these people and, for a single instant, a micro-second in time, flickered a yellowish green hue in the color of his iris…

But him not being the only one growing irritated at the constant bickering,

"ENOUGH!"

WHACK!

"'""!?"""

Until the sound, like thunder, echoed across the room.

The lady in the red dress forcing her hands into one powerful, attention-grabbing clap. Immediately catching the minds of the others as they immediately, once again, fell silent at her presence. Hers now turning far more demanding and dominating, a power that took an immediate affect on the room as she began to finally speak.

"That is enough of you all bickering… The decision has been made, this new man from the Gods will stay. Stay and fight for the glory of House Thal'kyr, just like our Mistress of the Red Sands! For we are House Thal'kyr! The greatest in all of Desh'ea and Nuceria combined!" She said, demanded and proclaimed once more before turning once again to the Banner's form.

'Shit!' He cursed gulping down his anger.

"Hear that, weak little man? You should feel honored the Gods have sent you! You get to prove yourself in-front of the crowd, alongside our Atalanta!" The woman said, truly condescending. Like a mother to a stupid child, or worse yet, an old master to a newly acquired pet. "Now, do you have a name, any moniker, to go by…?"

Before saying with a plan and simple question. Bruce gulping once again at this, hard, as he now stares into the eyes of a truly deranged, psychopathic and corrupt woman. His mind racing now with this one question, as he was unable to choose what he should do. Tell… her and them his name, expose himself more than he already has…

"Or will we have to give you one ourselves…?" The lady then interjected amusingly, her tone now turning more… playful…

"!" His mind then racing, having no other option as he quickly answered and spoke out loud for the first time.

"Bruce. Bruce Banner."

He quickly said, his voice still somewhat weak but clear and audible. His spine shivering at the telling of his own name, ashamed that he had to say it and make himself known to these… people and their mother. His teeth gritting internally as he saw the expression on the lady's face. Surprise, and then the others ranging from indifference to bitter annoyance. Bruce now just WISHING he could've said Hulk instead…

"Hah! What a strange and terrible name, bland sounding too…"

"Hopefully he'll at least prove entertaining to us in the ring…"

"Tch! Worthless xeno-human…"

"Well… that settles that!" The lady spoke, clapping her hands as her "children" and "family" now went back to whatever they were doing, completely losing interest as she continued and motions for the guards to move. "That will be all now! Take him to the cells and prepare to take him to the Hot Dust in a day's time!"

She said as the guards from before now circled and grabbed Banner once again tight by the biceps. Lifting him up hard as they begin to walk away. The lady now no longer facing them as she too begins walk away and lose attention as the door began to close behind them, dragging him back all the way to the cages or whatever hellhole next, but with the woman only saying one thing before the doors truly sealed.

"Hopefully he'll be a promising as Atalanta…"

CREAAAAAK! BOOM!

She said as they shut behind loudly and the guards quickly escort him back to his cell.

All the while inside of the man himself, a more understanding, knowledgeable, and livid Bruce Banner seethed at what he had just saw and been through. Because now, his situation, for him, was steadily making complete sense, with every shred of information and details that told him everything he needed to know. But each detail was… horrifying, disgusting, immoral and wretched in nature, revolting him to his very core as he is reminded of the fat, spoiled, and arrogant faces of that… "family". Figuring out that whatever bloody and brutal planet he was on was called Nuceria, in a city called Desh'ea, and that his current situation was nothing more than that of sport. A twisted little capture in the snowy mountains that turned him from a free man into a slave.

A slave to be used, a slave for entertainment, and a slave for some gladiatorial fights!

Each aspect of this… wretched fate turning his feelings inside out as his weak blood boiled and lets out a growl, unable to contain his frustration and anger as he and the guards walked.

"Quiet!"

Bam!

"You'll shut your mouth runt!"

When suddenly the guard behind him quickly whipped his head with the back of his shiny silver spear! The guard catching to this noise and seemingly having none of it, quickly twisting the butt of his weapon to gleam his polished blade under Bruce's neck, threatening to cut it…

"Even a word outta you slave and I'll end ya little life…" He said with contempt, Bruce simply forcing himself to stay silent as he glares at the armored man with the same feeling.

"Yeah, less you know what's good for ya!" The one beside him also said as he and the other on the right brandished their spear together too. Completely silencing Banner for the rest of their escort.

Not stopping even once as they all continued on walking. But the tension now much higher as Bruce only cursed at them all for this mistreatment, every single one of them sycophants and idiots to follow even one of those people in this hellish house,

House Thal'kyr, as Bruce now began to embed the name in his mind alongside so many others. From Nuceria, Desh'ea, The Hot-Dust, and Xenos to name a few, but with the only other name he did not know anything about. This.. Lady of the Red Sands, this… female champion of theirs

This Atalanta. Atalanta Thal'kyr.

'Who is that…?' He wondered.

The five of them soon quickly reaching the bottom level of the house as the once flawless, pristine yet blood-built walls disappeared and replaced once again with humid, uncomfortable orange rocks. The gate of one of its many cage sections opening up as the key turns and the guards push it open.

CLANG!

The metal door hitting the dusty rocky walls with a slam as the two guards immediately entered and began searching for his cell. Before finding it and quickly doing the same to the door as slam it open and throwing the body of the stiff Banner back into his cell without a care in the world.

The man turning back to look at them as they then shut the doors and lock it tight.

CLINK!

Twisting the key violently as it's pulled out. Bruce just continuing to stare at them with a new, more profound face. But this doing nothing to the experienced and armed guards.

"Hmph! Looks like you got some fight in you after all slave, better make use of it when you get to the Hot Dust." One said, his voice mocking and bemused.

"If he can even pick up anything with those tiny limbs of his." The other one said, once holding his right arm. His voice joking and pitying. "Just look at him! Needs more gruel before he feels the heat of the Sands."

Both of them then chuckling at the man with their remarks.

""Hahahaha!""

"…" But Bruce only continuing to stare daggers at them as then their leader quickly spoke up.

"Oi! That's enough outta you two! Get your sorry arses out of there and get back to work!" He commanded as his voice bellowed out across the prison cells, startling his subordinates and completely scaring all the other prisoners once again. The two guards immediately following his command as they began to leave. But not before one final line from their commander.

"We'll be back for you in no time, slave. Best get some rest for tomorrow." He said to Banner, uncouth, dismissive, and uncaring. The doors to the cells closing again with a slam!

CLANG!

Leaving Bruce now alone once more in the dark and dusty cell. His eyes only continuing to glare at the retreating figures as he then reaches out and grasps the grimy bars of the cage with what little strength he still didn't have, his gaze never leaving them until they fully left his field of vision. The man now just standing there, hopeless, isolated, and once again imprisoned.

Only now… he was completely and utterly furious.

His emotions stirring within his mind, turning into a feeling that could only be described as a cold, cold fire. A wrathful sensation that now took over his entire being, but not something like a raging inferno like the Hulk's. No, this was far, far beyond that. Far passed the point of simple rage…

'This… this is unacceptable… This place… this fucking place needs to torn down and turned to dust! These people are FUCKING monsters! They all deserve to di—!'

"You're causing… a lot of trouble here for us stranger…" Bruce thought seething before the familiar voice of the during old man spoke out behind him. Breaking Bruce out of his rant as he turned back to see the man's now slumped and still withered form.

"Too much damn noise… Don't know what the Thal'kyr's want from you…" He said, his voice still raspy and weak, but now somewhat contemptuous towards him. "But damn… won't just keep it out of my fucking ears…! Can'tcha let a man die in peace…!"

He finally said, before instantly crumbling down, desolate and waiting for death. His voice looking as though they were on the verge of tears, but his eyes grey and dry with no tears to shed anymore. His beaten and battered form only serving to fuel the emotions in Banners mind, but also stirring within a softer emotion.

That of his pity. Pity of the absolute most as his eyes now could fully see and comprehend who and what this man truly was and what he must've gone through. This man who has his whole life taken away from him, forced to do the bidding of his masters into whatever grueling and cruel task they set out for him. Over and over again, used like a wet rag until he was nothing more than flesh and bones. Left here to simply die out while other, younger healthier slaves would soon come and replace him.

The same going for everybody else he could see from the bars of his cell, as Bruce's eyes now wander the various cells again seeing the same deteriorated, exhausted, and dying expressions on every man, woman and child here. The scope of their suffering, to Banner, must've been unimaginable.

Especially with… the children.

A wicked and grotesque scowl forming silently upon the muscles his face as Bruce closed his fists around the bars as tightly as he could, and only think to himself. His anger simmering beneath his skin… but his hope on the other hand no longer a lit. '…What should I do now?'

He said, uncertain, lost, horrified, but more driven than he had ever been before. His scowl baring gritted teeth, hands gripping the two bars with fervor, and his eyes narrowing, scouting out each cage and each young and old withered face over and over again repeatedly. His emotions running hot.. but yet still not reacting to any of it as he could only feel his rage but nothing else.

Nothing else but himself, something he, for once in his life and yet still struggled to accept, was not the case.

For while all the years he had hated the ugly side of his other green hulking half, attempting to hide it, run from it, fix and "cure" it, even he could admit that HIS power could do good, and even protect the innocent. Even now as he still somewhat resents the green Goliath for all he's put him and himself through… he could not deny that he… needs him.

Needs him to free himself, to free all these people.

Needs him to smash all these damn puny bars apart and overtake the guards!

Needs him to SMASH the Thal'kyr and this whole damn place apart…!

Bruce Banner needs the Incredible Hulk now…

'Fuck…'

But unable to do so, as the body of Bruce Banner, weak and puny, began to slump down under the bars. Crossed legged and awaiting his newest, forced upon existence. Pleading and praying with all hope that something would happen, that a miracle would occur, and that the Hulk would up within him to break him and everyone here free…

Chapter Text

It was a new day for the shining city of Desh'ea as the warmth of the sun shined down upon its inhabitants.

The light of the morning sun radiating upon the golden and silver towers of the High-lords and their subjects. From the various housing complexes, business buildings and recreational centers, the structures of the High-Riders rose higher than any other with silvery vines, golden trimmings, and it's signature red paint job. Each structure, grand in size and scope, decadent in riches and resources, and all distinct from one another with their own respective noble symbols and decor.

All of them in their own respective domains and buildings, with all of them surrounding the most important structure of all. It's gladiatorial arena.

And of course, with House Thal'kyr being the highest and grandest of them all… Their red and golden banner hanging obtusely off the side of their tower, signaling all those in Desh'ea and the whole of Nuceria that they, the Thal'kyr's, were the most favored amongst the Gods.

Down below its citizens of much lesser worth and value scuttling about under the shadows of their high-lords/high-riders as they go on about their daily lives, all varying in wealth and status. From force to suffer arduous labor conditions, trading goods and items of any kind, to any sort of glorious combat and military training for the sport of bloody war.

But all of them of course paling in comparison to the glory of serving either of any of the great Houses, and especially, of course, House Thal'kyr. As one example was shown within the light of the today, with the departure and soon to be arrival of a new shipment of slaves to the great gladitorial rings, the Hot Dust of Desh'ea. A long and heavy line floating armored vehicles now beginning to leave an open door from the domains of house Thal'kyr and towards the arena at the heart and center of the city.

Shipment after shipment of crude yet tightly secured metal containers moving across the city as the people and drones outside guards while it moved. The slaves inside all huddled together and herded like cattle.

Chained and held up without a shred of remorse as the collars and shackles around their neck and hands and feet prevented them from even so much as move a single muscle. Forced to just stand there, together, lined up and wearing nothing but what clothing they already had on and their dusty dirty skin. Not even a name tag to even identify them, reduced to only a singular individual number upon their collars as they all sat in silence and darkness like product to be moved.

The light of the transport vehicle completely missing, leaving them nothing but each others bodies. Their heat, their sweat, their breaths and their odor.

All of it, now being processed and taken by one man in particular. Bruce Banner closing his eyes shut as he stood among a wall of soon to be tools, objects, and corpses. From the tallest and strongest of men, the most beautiful or ugliest of women, to even the most healthy or dying children. All of them being same.

'Slaves...'

Bruce thought quietly and bitterly as he could smell, taste, hear, and feel of them throughout his entire body. His nose smelling the sweat and piss of the men, tasting the metal and dirt in the air. And most of all, hearing the sounds of desperate or silent moaning and cries as he feels all of the weight of human bodies and filth that accumulated and made up this one whole container. His hands and feet unable to even move as he feels as though he is suffocating in the miasma of human cruelty.

'Slaves…!'

Truly treated as nothing more than like cattle, animals to be used and abused until they could perform no longer… and he… he was one of them.

"All of us…!'

#92, the number on his golden collar read.

"!" His eyes opening up wide in pitch black darkness as he bathes in the torment of these people. Innocent or not, it sickened and disgusted him down right to his very core. Revolted right down to his very soul so much that he could throw up on the spot, with the only "respite" for this damnable existence right now being the simple act of thinking. Thinking, analyzing, observing, and trying to suppress the desperate, horrific and hopeless feeling deep within.

"Arrgh…!" He groaned horribly as he silently and methodically breathed through his nose slowly. Taking in the stink and smell of the suffocating bodies around him but letting him the briefest amount of comfort as many things went through his mind.

'This is… this is like Auschwitz's… Like a ship full of cargo…! Slaves for the Colosseum…!' He thought as he is reminded of all of the various and horrific acts of slavery and human containment over the years of humanity on Earth. His being bombarded with the images of black, native Africans being hulled through a treacherous sea by wooden ships, Jewish men, women and children of any and all ages or gender being stuck and horde together in a rusty, dirty, disgusting metal box, and finally to barely armored Roman soldiers and peasants forced to fight til the last breath in a giant stone colosseum.

'Like fucking products to be shipped!'

All slaves, all people to be used, sold, butchered, reused and finally discarded by the power of the higher elite. By the cruel and uncaring hands of a ruler that had a power over them that they didn't deserve, a power that was built PURELY by the ones they "own" and enslave.

All of this playing out rapidly in his mind as his entire being is overwhelmed by the sheer amount of suffering around him. His thoughts soon turning darker as another sore subject came to mind.

'Why am I here… Oh right…'

Crack…!

'I'm here because of them…!'

He thought and then snarled within as the gentle sound of cracking went through his mind as Bruce's right hand now began to open up and clench tightly into a balled fist. Clenching the skin of his palm tightly as he could feel the weakness of his body turning into a renewed strength with new images popping into his mind.

Ones of the ship, the snowy crash, and most of all… the images of his so called "friends". From Stark, Strange, Richards and even people outside of the Illuminati.

'If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be… here!' He thought gritting his teeth as he remembers in bitter detail of their every word spoken to him while on the shuttle. Words that… feigned sympathy, spoke with careful, precise and caring words that was supposed to play upon his sympathies. But he's heard those words before from better people than them, and now, more than every despising ever even knowing them. Trusting to believe that they would have his best interest at heart, when all they saw was nothing more than a monster…

His heart ached, his mind on fire, his emotions running wild and uncertain, his body trembled with weak strength…

Grrr…

And finally his stomach was growling slightly, growing in pain and upset as his hand is unable to clutch his now starving organ. His mind then flashing back to the night before…

The darkness of the cell was more than evident as the day now began to grow dim with each passing minute. The new man still sitting there upon the rocky, dust caked floor as Bruce Banner continued to wallow in his own misery, with no hope of any escape or rescue. Just stuck here, in this cell, in this rock, with so many others just like himself.

The old man behind him long past the point of conversation, passing out and falling unconscious almost as soon as Bruce was brought back in. His breathing now calm and shallow, sleep becoming HIS only respite.

While Bruce only continued to listen, hear and analyze the world around him. Hearing nothing but distant and close moans, cries that went unnoticed and cared by anyone and the sound of weak snores and deathly silence, sleeping among the most of the slaves. Tired, exhausted, and more ready to die than ever.

The silent hopelessness of their rooms together giving Bruce… nothing but what he'd just described. Not seeing a single shred, instance of a semblance of resistance or livelihood. Their eyes all blank, dull or blind, their mouths and stomachs empty and dry with nothing more than dust and scraps, their entire beings given up on life. Content now to just… lay down, starve and die. This, this was a level of suffering Bruce had never truly seen or experienced before, never in his life.

This really was just as the old man said, Bruce not even able to even get his damned name. Time soon passing by as the darkness of the room quickly overtook the cells. Leaving nothing but near pitch black darkness, save for the only dimly lit torch fire that were held recklessly upon the walls of the rocky prison.

Bruce just sitting there, his energy drained and his body hot and dry. Worse of all, growling terribly within the bowels of his stomach…

Grrr…!

"!"

Hunger began to set in… Bruce only able to clutch his abdomen in pain as he recognizes the all too familiar feeling of hunger within himself. Reduced to groaning and grunting as he could only endure through the pain, so strong and life-draining.

“Oi…!”

"?!"

Until suddenly, from the doors of prison cells, a loud and tired voice called out in a silent shout with a louder but less powerful clang resonated throughout the rocky walls. Bruce's eyes immediately snapping towards it, alongside a few others woken up. A new light source immediately making its presence known as soon a singular guard appeared, walking through the cells with loud uncaring footsteps, before suddenly stopping right in front Bruce's cell.

"Ah!" The light in his hands blinding the frail man a bit. Wearing what appeared to be a nice set of armor, in his hands was a small brightly lit lantern and a large bowl of… slop.

"Dinner time slave, the family wants you fed." The guard told with a low and disrespectful tone, clearly doing this out of slight obligation. His facial features somewhat well groomed but disapproving, soon lowering the bowl right next to Bruce's feet carefully.

"Eat up, you'll need it for the ring." He said as he then immediately left without a care in the world.

. . .

"What…?" He whispered, staring back in shock as he stared tag retreating guard and then towards the bowl. Leaving Bruce now with just a bowl of what seemed to be nothing more than a sludgy soupy slop. A grey colored, unappealing looking piece of gruel that could only be some kind of grain substance. It's contents completely lacking in any proper protein or nutrients.

The only one it seems he noted, with everyone else not even getting anything, just him…

'They really ar—!'

"Argh!" But his thoughts quickly stopping as the pain of starvation then hit him harder than before, twisting his stomach tightly as he grabs hold even more fiercely at his exposed skin and then instinctively reaches for the slop of gruel! Immediately reaching and putting his face into it as his gaunt face dug into the grey slop like an animal, quickly gulping down its content rapidly in a desperate attempt to stave off the hunger. Its contents splaying all over his mouth as he chews and swallows the dull, completely non-tasting grain paste and liquid. Gulping the last big chunk of it smoothly down his throat as the feeling of hunger quickly receded from his body.

"Hah… Hah… Hah…" His breath pacing as he halts in his tracks, starving no longer an issue. But his eyes wide open and shocked as he finds himself in his state, staring down the bowl of messy liquid and his own hands.

"!" Disgust quickly settling as he drops the bowl to the floor, right at his feet. It's liquid sliding out as Bruce could only stare in shock at what he just did. Basically, losing all control and becoming something barely less than human and feeding off the hands of his "master".

"Fuck…" he could only mutter, feeling his heart dropping down into his full stomach as he once again looked back up at all the other cages full of people. People who were dying, sleeping, and most of all, starving. Starving like he did, with the only difference being that…

He was more valuable to their masters than they were. Giving him food, and no one else, just because he was… more worth than these other men, women and children.

'…FUCK!' Bruce cried as the sudden horror made him collapse in anger and guilt as he covered his face messily. Not caring in the slightest as the shame, horror and frustration built up in him. Desperate to be let out… but with no outlet yet to be felt or seen. Leaving just Bruce to wallow and cry in his sorrow, tears running down his gaunt cheeks as soon the exhaustion of everything came for him…

Blackness overtaking him as he wakes up the next morning, still in this cruel barren hell…

The flashback ended as Bruce only cursed that small and utterly pathetic moment. The bowl not even enough to fully satiate him, leaving him steadily growing hungrier once more as he clutched his abdomen and the container still moved. At least only this time wasn't as serious with the gruel, but will still unfortunately grow stronger with time.

But the visions of the Illuminati and other superheroes still staying perfectly within his mind.

'Damnit… Goddamnit! Goddamn EVERYTHING!' He roared within, struggling to even contain himself physically as he could not do anything but curse everything around him! Cursing this world, cursing the desperation he found himself in, cursing those damn "people" that put him and everyone here, cursing the backstabbing bastards that betrayed him, sent him on that shuttle, cursing the fucking HULK that he had sent both of them in this godforsaken world and…!

AND CURSING HIMSELF THAT HE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT NOW!

'Fuck… Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!' He berated in head, over and over, barely able to contain himself as he could do nothing but just stand there in his splice, bathing in the combined blood, sweat and tears of his fellow slaves. All either keeping silent, or murmuring under their breath with hopeless or hopeful words.

'I feel like I'm drowning here… why can't I do anything?! Where the fuck is the Hulk right now!?' Bruce thought as he resisted the urge to beat himself, unable to even do so with his constraints. Jogging his mind as he only cursed, remembered, and contemplated on why this was happening and why wasn't he getting mad. His mind furious and rage full beyond all belief… but yet still the green Goliath refused to show up. Not even a thought, an iota or his monstrous other self.

'I can't do anything! I'm just a man! Puny pathetic fucking Bruce Banner! What the fuck am I supposed to do here, build something break us free!? Make medicine for all these sick and deformed people?!' He exclaimed profusely in his ahead, because while he was a genius and a man of many talents after so many years traveling his own world, Bruce Banner was absolutely useless and jack shit here!

Not capable of making sense of this archaic technology, no time to understand any flora or fauna, and simply forced to listen and do as told. He was not the Hulk, he could not break out of here and escape…

'What am I supposed to do… I can't do anything! These people are… have so many problems…' He continued, thinking back to the people beside him and before him now, even if completely overtaken by darkness. He could very well remember their faces and numerous appearances. All various forms of scars, injuries or mutations and augmentations, all their body shapes littered with the scars from their lives.

And all seen back when he was being escorted and taken in by the guards and their captors.

"Keep moving slave! You have a long way to go."

A red and black armored, leather gauntlet guard ordered as he, the rest of the 4 previous group, and a whole entire squadron escorted Bruce towards one of the rooms in the ginormous palace. Bruce saying nothing and complying as such, his appearance now far more grim and sorrowful looking. The night doing no wonders for him as the man's eyes were gaunt, his skin dry and rough, and his hair long, unkept, matted with sweat.

Worst of all, still able to taste the grainy gruel served to him last night in his lips.

The guards uncaring either way as they soon returned as promised and hurried him up alongside many other prisoners and slaves. All of them now walking along a rusty, metal trail towards somewhere, their hands clasped together and chained into one singular fine line as rock and dust falls sporadically as the many slaves all in their golden collars could only walk forwards in this unkept danger.

Most of them just trying to stay alive and follow orders, not much but survival in their minds.

Bruce just the same, but on the other hand was understanding even more of just how… archaic and cruel this world was even further. His eyes, as soon as seeing the first few slaves outside of his own cells, analyzing and detailing everything about them. Every detail soon incorporating themselves into Bruce's brilliant mind as he could do nothing but observe and hypothesize with the amount of… "detail" they had in them.

From one man, tall and more muscular, having keep blade wounds and lashings, to one woman with a whole eye missing and… scars below her waist, to multiple other men who had entire limbs and internal structures removed and replaced with… crude looking mechanical prosthetics and pegs. From their arms, to their legs, to even parts of their faces, jaws, eyes and even their fucking brain.

All in common wearing the same rusty, heavy metal chains and collars around their bodies. And there were so many of them too…

'How the hell is any of this possible…?' Bruce pondered, wholly disturbed but at the same time curious even more as how this society could even function with this kind of brutality yet level of technology.

BRRRR!

ERRRGH! ERRRGH! ERRRGH!

CRK! CRK! CRK!

"Alright heads up ya shits!"

But his thoughts quickly fading away as the lead guard bellowed as the whole group of them soon reached their destination. The large metal tunnel soon opening up and finally leading out and into a much larger, much more spacious area. The air of the room, of smoke, dust and iron soon hitting them as Bruce, amongst untold dozens, now began to enter a massive warehouse sized room whirring with machinery and people. Full of other guards wearing similar or different armors, with silver tipped spears or loaded munitions as other, lesser "personnel" attended to them and many of the machines, tools, and technology that surrounded around them. Technology that still seemed so… archaic yet so advanced and well put together.

From large machine terminals that controlled pulley's to electrical systems, to tools that seemed far more intricate and ornate in design. A complete clash of different technologies that seemed to just work together, though all of it adorned in the finest of decor. Gold, silver, red and black on all of them. Fancy, gaudy, primitive, and expensive looking.

But the only other thing catching his and every other slave's eyes being to the right side of the room.

An exit door that led to the outside world, sunlight practically BEAMING in their faces as Bruce and the others stared in shock and awe. Before quickly noticing the large, mechanical train like vehicles that carried upon them heavy looking containers. Containers that were large, steel covered with tight locks and seals placed upon them with equally heavy wheels carrying them from below…

"ALRIGHT BOYS! YOU KNOW THE DRILL! GET THESE SLAVES ONBOARD FOR TRANSPORT!'

Containers that, Bruce realized, were gonna be filled soon as the leader commanded as the other guards began to go to work.

"AACK!"

"N-N-No! I-I don't wanna die! I don't wanna DI—URGH!"

"I-I can just work in the palace, please! Please I beg of you plea—ARGH!"

"T-There's gotta be another way! No! No No No, please-AH! AHHHH!"

"AAAAAAAAAGH!"

Bruce just watching and listening as he started to see the hopelessness of his fellow humans, with some even trying to fight back at the last minute, but proving futile under the boots of their captors…

Soon finding himself with a new number and a new place upon the darkness of the cargo as the leader let out one excited and furious command!

"ALRIGHT THEN! NOW ONTO COLISEUM MAGNUS! ONTO THE HOT DUST OF THE RED SAAAANDS!"

"!" Bruce coming out of it as he grimaces and curses under his breath, the look on all of their faces. Pleading, begging and crying, but all going unnoticed and uncared for as they were beaten, disheveled, and made mockery upon. Like rowdy animals struggling to resist, but the only the difference that these were people. People with lives, possible families, children, friends, and loved ones of their own.

But now reduced to nothing more than a number, either for a crime, misdemeanor, or simple selection Bruce no doubted.

'I can't help them… I can't help them or do anything like this, like… like me.' He thought bitterly, his dusty fists clenching tightly as he truly could do nothing but endure this suffering, this loss of life that seemed to be permeating everything around him. Done to him and anyone else as he's forced to watch all this happen, with of course the worst part being of just how much he knew he could've done something…

Or that HE could've done something.

'Why oh fucking WHY am I… still here?!' He thought as the feeling of worthlessness grew in him. Because as much as he used to hate and despite the Hulk for what he was and what he brought… in this moment and the last he now just desperately wished, above all else, to just transform, rage, and tear this whole damn truck, road, and even city apart with nothing but his bare hands…

But of course… nothing seemed to be going in his favor. Neither him or the Hulk.

From the crash and to now, with the worst part being… the reason for the blame…

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

He thought before taken completely out of his mind as then suddenly a blast of red dim lights flashed and flooded over him and the slaves with the loud and ear-piercing noise of an alarm! The slaves reacting to this with obvious shock, horror, or fear, unable to even cover their ears as they are bombarded with a warning they all feared to come. An alert that terrified throughout all of them as then the sounds of creaking metal doors groaned and shuttered open.

Sunlight flooding the room in a blinding white light as the heat of the air quickly filled in and cascaded the once pitch black carrier. But there was no appreciation for the heat and newfound exit amongst the awaiting, horrified faces of the slaves.

For only one thing was made clear, they were at the Coliseum now and ready for…. sorting.

"OKAY MEN MOVE! GET'EM ALL ROUNDED UP NICE AND PROPER! OI! GET THE FUCK OFF NOW! ELSE WE'LL DO IT OURSELVES!"

A different man barked a loud cockney command and with what sounded like an electrical weapon of some sorts. Demanding compliance immediately as a chorus of voices and other brutal, buzzing weapons began to say and sound the same. The first slaves at the front of the train immediately following his command as they quickly step out as follows.

The rest of the others falling in line as they all individually marched out of the cargo store, sweaty, stinky, and dirty as the screams of a crowd of people began to fill their dears.

"!"

""""""YAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! YAAAAAAAAAGH!""""""

""""""WAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! WAAAAAAAAAAAGH!""""""

A massive speech of people cheering, hooing and hollering as light of the outside soon reaching Bruce's eyes as they readjust and he then began to see, for the first time, the scenery that surrounded them. The city of Desh'ea, the people, and the Grand Coliseum of the city.

'…My God.'

Was the only words he could even think of as his tired, dreary looking eyes now laid upon a truly grand, decadent, and truly expansive looking society.

From first of the many smaller buildings and complexes that took most of the city, some looking more decrepit or primitive, but then truly setting his eyes upon the absolutely immaculate and GRAND colorful towers that jutted from the ground and spiraled into massive absurd looking towers. Gold, Red, Blue, Purple, Yellow, Black, White. All either baring some sort of symbol, specific color or banner to them from familiar looking animal heads, other stranger looking creatures and more. But by far the most outlandish aspect being the shining, enrapturing silver that took over each building almost entirely, spreading out as though some sort of vine.

The entire city underneath a truly alien and bizarre looking orange sky… the whole place looking like something ripped from a classic science fiction setting, modern humanity but expansive and mixed with… something more alien and grand.

However, while the scale of the city scoured his vision, the thing that truly took up his attention was now the wide and gigantic structure before him. In the center of the itself, it took the attention of everything around it as marks its importance without question. From its gigantic marble looking walls, layered after each other with impermeable defenses and fancy decor around, to its expansive golden steel ceiling that stretched splayed out into four, curved into a perfect iron dome over the arena, and to it's various banners, flags and sigils that bore the ark of the various houses belonging to this place. All varying in size, but with only one taking the mass center stage of the entrance, that of House Thal'kyr.

""""""YAAAAAAAAAAAGH!""""""

""""""WOOOOOOOOOOO!""""""

""""""AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!""""""

The the screech of a thousand countless people cementing this as they, the citizens and lower class, poor, hungry but EXALTED stood beneath the entrance to the place.

This was the Coliseum Magnus, the grand coliseum of Desh'ea and under the rule of House Thal'kyr!

Bruce's gaze unblinking as he takes in the sight of it all while still walking with the others into the grand coliseum itself now. Though not by the entrance no, by the path that leads father down into it's basement. Soon finding himself once again in darkness and red, rough and jagged rocks. And soon finding himself amongst an entire army of slaves. Men and women, rounded together, caged up, and prepared the upcoming spectacle.

Eating, sleeping, fighting and killing all for the entertainment of their masters of whom were already up above them all.

Because while the newly arrived man of the stars headed down below into the slave holdings of the coliseum, up above, high above all the slaves and even the lowly citizens themselves. The High-Rider's of Desh'ea, it's bluest blue bloods all soon quickly made their way to their annual seatings in the ring. It's slave masters and truest "families" all coming together to "play".

Only this time, after quite some time, it's most esteemed household was now making its appearance. Striding though a completely clean, ornate red carpet, perfectly sculpted marble walls with statues of warriors, nobles and stories of old legend, shiny spotless floors and tons of armored and armed guards, the Thal'kyr family all follow alongside the strides of their mother. None speaking as to her demands.

The mistress in red, tall, enchanting and with a small smile on her face. But her presence being overshadowed by the small talk of the others. Many high and mighty voices from the houses saying aloud their minds, as upon the discovery of crash landing in the mountains and orders of their main mistress. Many were wanting questions about what she and her family had found.

"Mistress Thal'kyr please, we've known each other for a long time why don't we—!"

"Can you at least tell us what you found? Anything? Like Atala—!"

"Would you want to trade for anything? I'm sure House ***** has many you cou—!"

But while the other families and nobility she only strode forward uncaring and unreadable. The voices of the lesser nobles inattentive in her ears. Her expression of calm anticipation unwavering as she only walks forwards, ready to see this particular event with only one simple thought in her mind now.

'Ahhh… hopefully my husband can make it in time for the show. We'll see how this… Banner performs. And I do believe Atalanta will return soon as well!'

She chirped, unaware of what sort of rumors her and her House's mere presence was spreading.

But as the newly transferred slaves made their way into the slave rings of the grand coliseum and the High-Riders above made their way to their seats.

Underneath them, far, far below beneath the surface of the earth, where darkness dwelled and only torchlight and electricity was allowed in. The grand dungeon of the coliseum sat still and fortified, a deep dark PIT where only prisoners, slaves, beasts and animals resided. Heavily armored guards patrolling the area constantly with the finest of equipment, heavy weapons and munitions. The dungeon only the MOST dangerous, viscous, deadliest and most bloodthirsty of gladiators of the Hot Dust, locked and chained like animals.

It was a place that reeked of blood, metal and death. It's cages sturdy, reinforced with slabs of metal to keep the things within from ever getting out except when desired.

"RAAAAAAAAGH!"

"AAACK! AAACK! AAACK!"

"HEHEHE! EHEHEHE! EHEHAHAHAHAHA!"

Cybernetically enhanced with crude machinery and torture devices and bludgeoned to monstrosity by dark ancient technologies by the psycho-surgeons of the Coliseum Magnus. From humans, to mutants, to ravenous beasts, to even some xenos, everything here was mutated, mutilated, heavily cut open and redesigned to become nothing more than bloodthirsty hungry monsters. Brought out only to torment any lesser warriors and serve as greater… entertainment for those above.

Each one more dangerous and vile than the last, each with different weapons, teeth's, predatory bodies. But within each of them nothing but red rage and murderous intent, with all of it due to one singular modification shared amongst all of them.

The Butcher's Nails.

An ancient, depraved form of lobotomy, driving nails with cables into the brains of its victims and pumping them full of chemicals to fuel them with nothing but adrenaline and rage. Each and every prisoner here having the… privilege of getting one.

And with the latest and greatest of them all soon being set free in the Hot Dust and her fellow gladiators.

"…"

Atalanta of House Thal'kyr remains silent and still as the sound of cells cage, it's gigantic robust metallic doors creaked closed behind her. The massive mountain of a woman chained up and now being generously escorted by the myriad of soldiers and guards that surrounded her like an army. Armored up with the densest body suits and armor the High-Riders could afford and armed with the heaviest calvary available, from armor piercing round cannons to even skin-melting laser weapons.

All in the hopes of abstaining the beast before them all. Whom was just getting out of her 3 day "respite", laying on the ground in her darkness and wallowing in her sorrows. The woman's head still stained with fresh blood from her last fight and her newly driven in Nails which only served to frighten and terrify all who were standing before and around her. The multiple men of whom were all experienced fighters and killers, top of the line, but still wavering in the presence of her glowing demonic yellow eyes.

"…"

Staring at them like a beast ready to pounce but frighteningly not, with all these men understanding completely of just how dangerous this… abomination of a "woman" is…

"Do you know what this fuckin "woman" can do…?! Why in the Gods name didn't we just knock her out or somethin…?!" Another said beside him, experienced but still shaking regardless of the massive rifle pointed at the back of her head.

"The Thal'kyr's want it dammit…!" One man said in the back, the leader, more in command but just as frightened on the inside. "Just keep your arms trained on her… I got her kill collar ready…"

Unable to even do so as per the orders of the beast woman's house name above. As for some insane, unfathomable reason the High-Riders of House Thal'kyr wanted her to be escorted TODAY, NOW, and completely awake. The order sending shockwaves and goosebumps across each and everyone one of them, but unable to do anything but comply with their master's orders else they want to be thrown in as playthings for the others.

But the guards not even considering that as they now stared at Coliseum Magnus's, the Thal'kyr's, and probably the whole of Desh'ea's most intimidating warrior.

Wearing nothing but a simple brown but long loincloth and wrappings upon her breasts, the woman raised in the mountains was an ominous sight to behold. Standing at a massive 9, almost 10 ft fall, Atalanta of the Mountains and the Bear was a towering figure of thick dark mocha skin tattooed with striking red paint and riddled with inhuman power. Her body was the most perfect warrior ever designed, sculpted entirely with perfect rippling muscles, coiled together unto near unbreakable bones and tendons a truly superhuman warrior unlike anything seen before on the Hot Dust. The greatest singular force/warrior the people of Desh'ea had ever seen.

But her face, even though terrifying and painted red with the blood of her foes and with her still fresh and bloody set of crude coiled metal and wire "hair", only remained… still. Calm and still with no seemingly readable expression safe for her pair of hardened red furrowed brows. Her entire demigoddess of a body remaining the same as well, her hands clasped behind her safely with her cuffs and her arms remaining motionless despite their inhuman strength. She looked completely and utterly content, passive with the escort of her captors save for some minor twitches and jolts of pain every so often courtesy of the Nails.

This passivity however air only served to unnerve the soldiers and guards of her escort, as her calm and silent appearance only rattled their nerves like nothing they've experienced before. All these soldiers and men of combat feeling an immense sort of weight, an ominous dread that simply… looked over the great woman's body.

A dread that was pent-up, kept in, but carefully, every so carefully sealed tight.

'…They will die screaming… ARRGH! I must… get back to my brothers and sisters…' While on the inside, behind her deep golden iris's, Atlanta thoughts were only of murder and at the same time patience. Her expression twisting once again at the pain of the Nails but simply just straining through it as the men once again readjusted their stance.

The woman herself paying them little mind as the only thing that she could think of now, other than the vow of revenge towards the High-Rider scum and their audiences, was the prospect of soon reuniting with the family she had come to know and now SWORE to free. Her fellow slaves, warriors and gladiators who were still on top and in their cells. Her mind still a-washed with the fresh pain of her father and the sheer HATRED for the High-Riders and need for revenge. But now, as she had promised before, keeping it sealed tight as she would focus her current actions towards the betterment of her warriors. Of her people,

Train them. Fight with them! Make them stronger than anything they've ever been before and rise them so they may at some point break free and DESTROY the Coliseum and it's barbaric city!

'There is no other way… ARRGH! I must do this… I MUST, do this and make the High-Riders and their "people" PAY!' She pledged to herself as she once again was injected with the stabbing pain of her Nails. Unable to do anything as he could only hide her time and reunite with her family and away from this… place.

""""""RAAAAAAGH!""""""

BZT! BZT! BZT!

As the sound of raving madmen, lunatics with boiling blood and fresh Nails ravaged with electricity.

"ARGH! ARRRGH! NAILS! THE NAILS! THEY SIIIIING!"

And the wet and meaty smacks of weapons and blunt objects upon the flesh of both beasts and men alike.

WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!

"LET US OUT! LET US OUT SO WE CAN GET A PIECE O' HER!"

"Atalanta…! ATALANTA….! I WONDER HOW YA TASTE MOMMA! BIG MOMMA!? HAHAHA! AHAHAHAHA!"

The worst of all being the ones who knew her name, spoke her name, cheered, and mocked it, their humanity completely and utterly gone… and her, almost exactly like all of them now… the Nails (!) telling her the same blood-hungry impulses.

The group of them passing through hundreds upon hundreds of these caged up abhumans, mutated beasts and xenos along their path as soon, the whole lot of them arrived at the entrance to the dungeon/prison itself now. An even larger and far more heavily secured thick steel door, tightened and locked down with bolts of metal, engines, electricity and slaves. Dozens of other guards nearby too armed and pointing with heavy laser weaponry, ready to fire at any given signal. Any sign of aggression at all.

"…? Hahh… Fuck… ALRIGHT! OPEN THE BLOODY THING!"

But none could be found as voice of the man upfront with a giant silver grown tipped spear cursed and cried out orders. The guns trained on her lowering as the doors to the rest of the Coliseum now began to activate, it's advanced and alien mechanical systems whirring to life as the doors now began open and soon, the light of the sun began to creep into the darkened chambers.

"…" And into the face of the Mountain woman herself, after so long and after 3 long, grueling, crying days. Her… respite now ending as Atalanta Thal'kyr, Lady of the Red Sands, steps forwards once more onto the sands of the Hot Dust.

It was hot, dusty, and sweaty all over as the man from the stars sat within a new cage. A new cell and prison with new prisoners and slaves as Bruce simply… listens in silent suffering.

"Wha they gon do to us out there…?" One bearded man said, terrified and shaking, his body frail and up and barely steady. A homeless looking man.

"Don't you know already…!? Throw us into the Hot Dust they will…!" Another man, one right beside him said with a much more aggravated and angry expression. A fighter it seemed, battle scars and all.

"Oh Gods… Oh Gods… Oh Gods… Please be merciful to us all…!" Another said, a woman, shutting her eyes and praying skinny and afraid.

"Can't take this off… can't do anything! I just needed to take for ma family! I ain't no criminal! I ain't ready for this shit!" An elderly looking man cried out desperately and hopelessly.

"Oh Gods just somebody save us, please!" Another woman cried out just as desperate, this one young yet also a mother.

"Oh will all of yous just shut up! There is no one to save us damn it! The High-Riders ain't gonna be nice to us and neither are the other beast here!" The second man cried out mad-fully. "It's gotta be us or each other…!"

'….!' Bruce thought, at that last one stinging in his mind.

The others however not being as such, making noise and starting to yelling at each other. While Banner, after a while of waiting and following, is now once more chained and tied up in another cell. Only now, it was bigger, and he was held with a group of individuals selected, a dozen worth it seems but now amongst thousands of others ahead of him.

Bodies and bodies of incalculable slaves that by themselves could be the size of a whole army or legion in this new vast, underground location. His eyes unable to leave the sight of rocks, steel and flesh as his baggy eyes only saw men after men and women after women in cages and cells just like him. Waiting to be held there temporarily or dealt with later in either the ring or elsewhere by the High-Riders.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

"Ha! Yah! Ha!"

"Looks like new meat's here!"

"Come on, get up then runt!"

Everything around him was a cacophony of bodies, violence, and cockney voices echoing across the stone walls. The sounds of beatings, fighting, or harassing others everywhere as Bruce could only watch with his own selected group of slaves. His body jam packed tight within them.

The entire place one big gigantic catacomb structure, filled to the brim with nothing more than slaves and reinforced metal cages. A prison that was similar to the one he had been yesterday, only far, far bigger and much more elaborate. The metal cages not only having locks but electrified bars, motion detection cameras and sensors that monitored everything. The most noticeable one being of course their collars, rusted, used up but strapped safely and tightly upon their necks with secure devices of its own.

All to keep them in check and in line.

Bruce noticing all of this but not even able to move. His fist clenched and his mind racing with thoughts of anger and rage, frustration coursing throughout his entire being as he could not stop it mixed in with the sounds of debauched slavery. Watching, hearing, and seeing people getting beaten or taken out only to be used and discarded later.

'Damn them… Damn them all to hell!' This whole thing, building up and up in his mind as he could barely contain his condemnation. Gritting his teeth hard as he could no longer bare it any longer. His rage threatening to pop out, goading him to scream his lungs out, bash his head against the wall and to resist and fight these powered bars as much as he could. His rational mind gone, no longer caring if the Hulk would even show up at this point…

Just wishing that of this suffering and misery would be gone, destroyed, and with these… High-Riders killed as well.

'But nothing could be done now…' He thought as then, in that brief moment, the voices of his past came back to haunt him too.

"You get so angry and so destructive that not even the mightiest heroes of Earth can deter you from your rage…"

"Hrrrrgh…" The voice of his past came "comrade" coming back as he could now not stop thinking of that one singular sentence. A growl simmering underneath his breath and barely a whisper.

His eyes unconsciously beginning to shimmer a slight yellow for just a instant.

BANG! CRK!

When suddenly the harsh metallic thwack of a guards staff struck the wall ahead of him!

"ALRIGHT YOU LOT! SHOW TIME!" The helmeted man commanded spitefully as more of the guards showed up armed and primed and the doors to the cells opened. Quickly ordering the slaves OUT as they threaten impatiently. The slaves complying completely as moved out as fast as possible with Bruce with them, now ready to face whatever horror lied in store ahead.

But his gaze now stone cold and steeled, looking dead ahead and unwavering, with his iris's still showcasing the signs of gamma. Dormant but present.

And so as Banner followed the path of the guards with the other number of slaves by his side, he was soon led up and onto the first level of the coliseum. Soon coming arriving onto a darkened metal chamber of bronze, one that was filled with other guards, slaves, and servants. And before them all, beyond a steel gated door the sunlight that was kept hidden and away was now fully lit and blindingly bright.

Noises from the outside sounding excited and belligerent.

'…What are they gonna do to us all?' He asked, unable to look beyond the blinding white light and into the arena. His body unable to wait any longer for this as he stood alongside many others, clenching his fists again now drawing blood.

"AND HERE IT IS FOLKS! THE FIRST OPENING ACT FOR THE GRAND COLISEUM!"

When suddenly out of nowhere, a voice from overheard the doors rang out and resonated across the Coliseum. Announcing something that sounded like a speaker, its voice thin, showboating, and fat sounding.

"ARE! YOU! READY!? FOR THE DEVIL'S TEAAAARS!""

It cried enthusiastically as the crowd now cheered louder than ever! Bruce growing even more irritated at this new, distinctly unpleasant character.

"Damned Maggots Eyes…" Whimpered one person behind him as he gave away some strong of title.

"What—?!"

"THEN LET! US! BEGIIIIIIIIN!"

BWOOOOM!

When just on que the sound of an alarm and the "Maggot's Eyes" BLARED in his and everyone else's ears! Causing them to cringe as the cheers of the crowd rose into a crescendo as the doors to the ring finally opened! The doors creaking as they whirred open and the full light of the ring bursted through into the gladiators eyes! The guards surrounding them also immediately rushing to action!

"ALRIGHT! MOVE MOVE MOVE! GET YOUR ARSES MOVING NOW!"

The main guard of their section bellowed as he and a dozen others impatiently and FORCEFULLY jammed their silver tipped, electrified spear into the direction of the slaves! Instantly getting them moving as the whole of them, unprotected and with nothing but the rags on their skins and collars on their necks ran towards the warmth of the light!

"Hahh! Hahh! Hahh!" Bruce as well doing the same as he and the woman behind him moved with sheer instinct! Running out and panting as he and the others now pelted their feet upon a floor of hot red sand and now into the greatest gladitorial ring in all of Desh'ea and Nuceria. The Hot Dust of Coliseum Magnus!

His feet soon stopping beneath a floor of thin red sand as he catches his breath as he and the other slaves around him began to spread out into a wide area as he begins to look around, the sand beneath heating his barely covered feet as he is overwhelmed by the sight before him.

"Holy fuck…"

""""""RAAAAAAAAAGH""""""

""""""WOOOOOOOOO!""""""

""""""9YEAAAAAAAAH!""""""

""""""AHAHAHAHAHAHA!""""""

He said as thousands light up as he now sees an entire arena gigantic and circular in shape, possibly the size of two or maybe more football fields and STUFFED to the brim with people from all across the city! Thousands upon thousands of people, stacked up upon rows and rows of seats as they all cheered and hollered all across the field as a hundred slaves began to fill the ring. Bruce's eyes struggling to count how many people were here in or with him as he spun around with the sunlight beaming down upon him. His eyes tracking everything.

"NOW, PEOPLE OF DESH'EA!"

From walls of the arena, yellow and stained with blood, reached high and above so that no chance of escape could ever be possible. To then the tens of hundreds of tiny spherical orbs that floated high above him, his eyes able to register that were drone like machines, with the "Maggots Eyes" voice coming from them.

To then even the much, much higher nobility that sat comfortably upon their thrones and fancy cloths. Fat, luxurious and content with their presence nearby an adoring crowd, enough to see them but not touch them. Their banners and their sigils colored brilliantly below and around them, like sponsoring spectators.

And Bruce's eyes in particular looking upon the far more blatant and brilliant, familiar looking blood red sign of house Thal'kyr. Their family right in the middle, higher than any other and looking straight down at him and the other gladiators.

"Show me your worth…" Whispered, far above him, the mistress whom was unknowingly staring right at his spot.

"…!" But while those "people" turned his blood hot once more, what really grabbed his attention as the black towering pyramid that was in the center of the ring. An absolute behemoth of a pyramid that spanned kilometers long and was layered with hundreds of black stone steps, handles, and more. The whole thing looking as though it a hundred or more people to build, massive and intimidating. Casting a shadow over everyone as Bruce just couldn't help but… stare.

"WHICH ONE OF THESE NEWEST SLAVES CAN BEST THE DEVIL'S TEARS! WHO WILL SURVIVE? WHO WILL THRIVE! WHO. WILL. BECOME. THE NEW, ATALANTA?!"

""!?""

"PLACE. YOUR. WAGERS!"

When suddenly, Bruce picked up on the collective gasps of the other slaves and the "speaker" above, immediately turning his head as he then hears the sounds of more mechanical clicking before suddenly, parts of the stained white walls began opening up and revealing large, gigantic looking pipes. Pipes that dirty and burnt looking, used up and closed.

"What the fuck is tha—!"

"""AHHHHHHHHH!"""

Bruce cried as then the sounds of the slaves SCREAMING began to ring his eardrums! The multiple large sending them into a panicked frenzy as then they began to desperately climb the stoney pyramid above! Running, pushing and pulling some tried to help each other while others only began looking out for themselves.

Bruce still uncertain and unsteadily as he stands there for a second before finally doing the same, moving his legs as he began to run towards the steps of the black tower as well.

BRRRRRRR! BRRRRRR!

"!" But the man little too late as then a dreaded sound of damaged metal scrapped open from the pipes behind, as then the sounds of rushing liquid came flooding in, then a REVOLTING FOUL ordor, then the HEAT. And then, and then the screams…

"OH! OH! OH! GAWD! OH GAAAAAAAAGH!"

"HRAAAAAAAAGH!"

"AAAAAACK!"

NOOOOOO-AAAAAAAAGH!"

"HUUUURRRRAAAAAAGH!"

Cried each and everyone who did make in time as Bruce now began to see the remaining slaves being bombarded beneath their feet with the blacking flooding liquid and then MELTING ON THE SPOT! THEIR FLESH SIZZLING, BOILING AND RIPPLING APART AS THE STEAM FROM THEIR FLESH BEGAN TO BOIL AND DISSOLVE IN THE FOUL LIQUID.

IT WAS ACID, BRUCE'S BRAIN SCREAMED!

His eyes turning a sickly yellow jade color as his slight curiosity now turned to OUTRIGHT HORROR! The black tar acid was taking people left and right as they all began to completely melt in the fluid, screaming in absolute pain and agony as the acid melted down to nothing in SECONDS. All the while the liquid only grew further and further in as Bruce now began to run even further!

But the acid only growing faster as the desperate Bruce nearly reaches the steps and climbs up as fast as he could! The acid below now reaching the bottom of the steps as the screams of the many now began to fill his ears as well as the rabid cheering of the audience above.

"""""WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH"""""

They all screamed, loud and proud as the sounds of melting flesh and disintegrating screams filled Bruce's ears! His hands and feet CLAWING up as fast as he can as his ears increasingly becomes more clear. Hearing all this, all these "people" watching this tortuous, cruel, and sadistic little game while the rest of them suffered. All around him bombarding his senses now as his eyes and face began to turn tight and rigid...

"""""TEARS! TEARS! TEARS! TEARS! TEARS!"""""

"NOOOOOOOOOAAAAAGHHH!"

"NO! HELP ME! HELP MEEE-AAAAAAAAGH!"

"Hahh… Hahh… HAHH…!" His breathing becoming more and more ragged and starting to pant in pure and utter hatred as he could see from all sides of his vision suffering and torment. Desperation and fear across every man and woman's face, each person recklessly trying to grab onto ANYTHING that could save from the burning, boiling pit below. Some he saw succeeding, but most… too reckless and wild, slipping and falling off. Seeing others trying to help out others before the idea of mortality quickly gave way to their own survival.

Kicking people off, throwing others so that they could get a leverage or some small insignificant space. Screaming, beating, shouting hollering in anger, frustration and terror as they all fought to stay alive. From many muscular scarred men, to single women raggedy and malnourished… to even those that seemed to be just young boys or teens…

It was a scene out of hell, something that seemed like an absolute nightmare. None of this should be real, thought Bruce as he now found himself desperately climbing as well, but far towards the "tears" than most of the rest. Trying his best to climb and go but each field of vision bombarding him sounds of screams, faces full of pain and misery and rage as his own now began to build up.

Memories now began to surge back up as he now saw his inevitable demise, burning, melting, and screaming with no salvation in sight. Memories that came from the ship, of the words spoken by those traitors that SENT him here. And most of all, memories of when he was the Hulk, when he was strong, when he could do something!

But he could do NOTHING NOW!

As all the while, up above he could still see the "adoring" roaring like mindless ants as well as their high-born masters. Up above, observing, and uncaring for the lives taken by their hands, far from it. Lounging in their cushy seats, gorging themselves upon their fancy delicacies, and watching all of this as… A wager. A bet. Pure. Entertainment.

Bruce finally snapped.

'ARGH! GOD FUCKING DAMN YOU! GODDAMN ALL OF YOU! ARGH! ARRRGH!'

"HAHHH! GRRRRRGH!" He growled and hissed viciously! His rage burning hotter than ever before as Bruce's face contorts with sheer and utter hatred as eyes began to finally glow a bright neon green, his blood vessels now turning dark green with as his muscles started to contract and steaming as his body began to transform!

"URGH! ARRGH!"

His body then shifting as his shoulder bone jutted out from his skin as his muscles then pumping full of adrenaline and newfound gamma energy. Bruce's skinny and scrawny body now beginning to expand and grow. His shifting flesh now beginning to stretch out and bulge was his muscles now began to grow rapidly across his body! Stopping his crawl to complete halt as he now began to shift and struggle within his own form, his body now only beginning to grow only bigger and more and more layers of heavy muscle began to grow and reshape his body!

His arms growing and twisting in place as it ballooned in size and strength! His chest and lower abdomen exploding with rippling muscles and dense skin! As finally his face, feet and back all JUT OUT from their sockets, contorting and snapping with writhing energized mass!

""""!?""""

"NOW WHAT IS THIS WE SEE HERE FOLKS!? SOMETHING SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING WITH ONE OF OUR WARRIORS!"

The voice from the various orbs commented as the crowd, and even the slaves, now began to turn their attention towards the one man. Growling and groaning, with one mistress in particular edging ever forward in her seat…

But while the outside audience loomed in upon the twisting form of Bruce Banner. Inside, the man himself was quickly losing himself as the beast, no, the HULK now finally began to make his appearance! Kept dormant, isolated from the crash of the comet, but no longer with the amount of cruelty and suffering laid before him, finally triggering the transformation. As the skin on his rippling muscles now turning a deep shade of jade green, powerful and durable. His veins glowing with green gamma, his bones snapping apart and reconstructing, and now his entire body completely and utterly indiscernible from his previous self.

"AAARRRGH! RAAAAAGH!"

"M-M-MONSTER!"

Some of the slaves cried in fear as Banner only continued to scream as his transformation was now complete!

Because now standing at a amazing height of 8 ft and 8 inches tall, what was once the puny and unassuming body of Bruce Banner now a hulking mass of interconnected muscle and tissues that stretched and pulled and threatened to break out of it's own skin. Pure power coursing through his entire being as his hands now massive in size and could grab a man whole crushed the hard black beneath him!

Hisssss…! Hisssss…!

Steam coming off of his mutating and shifting back, hot and moist as his he grits his teeth hard in pain. His brain being poured on by the gamma within, now bursting at the seams as his arms, legs and body now finally began to settle from their bulging, ripping transformation as his long haired face now opened to reveal bright green, glowing set of eyes filled with wrath and anger!

"NRRRAAAAAGH! RAAAAAAAAAGH!"

He cried and bellowed out loud with one ear deafening sound-breaking roar! Resonating throughout the entire arena as it travels through and penetrates the ears of every single person in the pit and silences them! The usual roaring crowd now suddenly going stiff and still as the hulking green beast below ruptured into a roar louder than all of their screams, cries, and cheers combined!

Delivering to them and every slave and noble the pain and rage of a creature far more powerful than them all! The 8 ft tall giant roaring with his veiny and hefty arms splays out furiously and his hair flowing crazily in the dust! The steam coming off from his body finally died down as his mighty jaw unhinged and opened with one incredible name!

"HUUUUUUULK!"

Roared out as the eyes of the many spectators grew wide and vast, unable to comprehend the absolute absurdity of what just happened. This transformation that took a tiny, insignificant man to a roaring, green, gigantic creature that barely resembled human! Everyone in pure shock and disbelief as not even the machine orbs above commented on it, too stupefied by the sight of this humongous creature that had appeared out of nowhere!

"Haa… Incredible…"

But the most notable of them all, amongst the blood red covers of House Thal'kyr besides awe and shock. Was that o& the mistress of the house itself. Her bright yellow eyes wide as saucers and her mouth contorting into a sickly, unnatural looking grin as she stared upon her newest slave, the man that fell from the stars, a gift from the gods and now a new champion of her glorious and might family.

Reveling in the sight of this newfound being as the feelings satisfaction, revelation and fascination washed over her…

"HUUUUUUUUUUUULK!"

While back out onto the Devil's Tears, the Jade Giant cried out one last time into the yellow sky and the heavens above! Before quickly turning to the people beside him and the black acid below. Enraged, furious, and ready smash this bastardized world, their "nobility", and this, Hot Dust, apart!

But his defiant name not just affecting the gladitorial arena above however.

As below the Hot Dust amongst the rest of the million slaves that each House owned, the green Goliath's roar below them too. Affecting all of them just as much, like a shockwave that shook the ground above sending chills through everyone.

A new beast by the scum High-Riders.

"What… was that…?!" But unlike of all of them, Atalanta Thal'kyr heard the roar of a human very clearly. The now released Lady of the Red Sands in the lower levels below and thankfully among her fellow warriors now looking above in shock and intrigue at what just made that deafening cry!

Something was up there, happening on the Hot Dust. It felt strong, powerful, and most of all… rageful…

"AARGH! What… What is that presence!?"

And deep beneath a shiny, dark glistening cave far beyond the walls of Desh'ea and in one of the planet's most ancient, mysterious mountains, a lady tall and in red alien robes pulled back from a long period of psychic meditation. The others around her coming to her aid.

Trying to understand the source of the otherworldly but tiny presence just a day ago, only to met by it becoming a large and overwhelming force that knocked her out of her mind! The tiny presence now suddenly becoming massive, hulking in size!

"It is! A BEAST! IT IS LIKE RAGE INCARNATE!" She cried!

While beyond the world of Nuceria and the Galaxy itself, the Warp once again shifted as the presence of the Hulk NOW truly drew the attention of its inhabitants. The Changer of Ways and The Prince of Excess smiling in glee and schemes.

With two in particular, one red and fueled by the burning hatred of all, and the other green and the grandfather of all disease, taking notice above all else.

And finally, back in the material universe and far, far away from the planet of Nuceria, millions of lightyears away. Upon the now ancient, barren, ahd millions of years old surface of old Earth, the Emperor of Mankind and his closest, most ancient companion Malcador the Sigilite both looked to the stars from the surface of Terra and the great Imperial Palace.

"Did you feel that my friend? It seems something DID come into the Galaxy..." The old man, powerful and ancient beyond measure asked ominously. Holding his force staff as his glowing white eyes met his ages-long, companion's golden shining and perfect face. Both of the looking up at the sudden, insignificant, almost imperceptible shift in the stars. Something no one else would’ve registered at all, except for the two of them.

"YES."

Replied the voice of the golden, radiant, god-like figure of the Emperor of Mankind. Long cascading ebony black hair flowing in the wind of the planet’s breeze as his eyes, ablaze with brilliant light and unrelenting, unstoppable godlike power as stared ever so vigilantly in the direction of Nuceria. Millions of lightyears away from the planet known as humanity’s home world and far, far yet to be discovered by the Imperium of

But to a being such as HIM, it’s as though he could see it clear as day in the peripheral of his minds eye, the planet all in his perceptive, psychic gaze but still so, so very, VERY far away. Not even noticing the presence of one of his own, his gaze far more focused upon the new presence, a new… something that had now made itself known to the wider Galaxy and now… to HIMSELF.

Chapter Text

"HUUUUUUUUUUUULK!"

The green Goliath roared as bellow of his own name sends a resounding crescendo throughout the entire arena and the audience, going completely dead silent before the Hulk below began to realize the situation and finally began act! A snarl huffing out of the muscle exploding giant as he looks down to the burning Devil's Tears below before immediately turning to the closest person in-front of him. A middle-aged hairy man, desperately climbing up as well for his own safety, but now quivering in fear of this newly transformed monstrosity of a human, witnessing the very gruesome transformation itself.

From when the steam rose from huge back, to bones snapping and jutting out, and muscle exploding a with skin turning a sickly green. What seemed like a weak, scrawny looking man now turning into… this thing!

"! N-No!" His face went wide eyed and horrified immediately as he looked upon the face of what only could be described as nothing but pure unadulterated rage. Two scowling green glowing eyes that spelled nothing but death towards the man.

"NO! M-MONSTER! STAY AWAY! STAY A-AWAY—AAAAH!"

He cried, now frantically backing even more afraid of the Hulk before him than the acid below. Immediately losing his footing as he and many others now began to slip out of their grasps.

"NO!" The man crying out in horror and realization as the Hulk scowled one more at his words.

"Hrrrgh! RAAGH!"

Before grunting deeply and jumping across towards him! His feet, powerful and wide as a tree stump quickly sending him towards the falling man in an instant as his large bulky hand reached out and grabs the hairy man by his chest! Enveloping easily in his palm as he gripped and pulled him tightly. Squeezing him hard into his broad and developed chest as he instantly saves him from certain death below.

"W-W-WHAT IS THIS! THE SLAVE HAS BROKEN HIS COLLAR AND REVEALED A STAGGERING TRANSFORMATION AND IS NOW SAVING THE CONTESTANTS!?"

""""""!?""""""

The voice of the Maggots Eyes announced with shaken breath but yet still talking, as the audience around immediately paying attention… with one mistress standing completely up as her family watches in awe too. Her smile growing ever wider as she quickly makes away to one of the guards, but never looking extract on the incredible figure below her…

"!" That bubbling black liquid steadily rising up as the man drew in a bewildered gasp while the Hulk looked beyond and made his move. His arms and legs gripping the broken black stone like sand as he once again jumped!

BOOM!

His legs once again resounding across the area as he leapt forwards and towards another slaves! A woman this time, lanky and unkept, but still sweeping her up in his hands safely too as the Hulk then jumped again and towards another! Doing the same thing as he now began to collect and bring into as many people as he could get. His green hands grabbing and snatching bodies left and right as he collected both men and women. Preventing either their falls and slip-ups and their treacherous climb upwards as the acid only accelerated.

"HRAAGH!" The Hulk grunting with effort as his massive muscular body now held between 10 to 20 people now, either by himself or by those hanging onto him like a lifeline. Never once stopping as he then leapt onto the flat and final floor of the pyramid. Gigantic in size and enough to fit all of them he quickly releases all of them onto the platform before immediately going back to get as many more as he could.

The audience still silent in watching his feat of great strength and skill as within the chambers of the arena the various guards and slave masters began to move quickly. The first one silently ordered by the high mistress of House Thal'kyr, going and going towards every single guard member, armed personnel and soon… the Maggot's Eyes himself.

"RAAGH!"

"AH—!"

"NO NO NO—AH!"

"ACK!"

"OOH—!"

"S-SUCH GREAT STRENGTH?! WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE GODS IS HAPPENING?!"

Another grunt of power and debris below his feet as dozens more still clinging on yelped and screamed in shock as the Hulk moved faster than anyone could track and grabbed and snatched all of them while the acid below was still rising. The remaining few now also clinging upon his body as he once again releases them upon the platform above, finally rescuing all of them as the rest of the slaves now to began to crawl away from the towering Hulk, staring at him with a mix of fear and surprise.

Who now lands right in the center of them all, his bulky frame coming to a kneeling one armed pose as his fist cracks the material below him before raising his head to see everyone he saved and the arena ahead of him. The acid below now rising to its very limit as the crowd, the nobles, the Maggots Eyes, and most of all the slaves themselves now begin to react towards this… hulking creature's moment of grandeur.

"!" "!" "!" "!" "!"

"YYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Ruptures the brief and for once silent red sands as the jubilant cries of the entire gladiatorial pit's glowing population erupted into a cacophony of screams and cries of both terror and wonder! The sight of the Hulk's strength and might bewildering all those who laid upon him, instilling into them both amazement, astonishment, and fear. The sheer power of this new creature unlike anything they've ever seen before, and as well as his surprising and truly bizarre showcase of it.

Saving every single slave life remaining in the Hot Dust from the bowels of the Devil's Tears, a feat nothing has done before in the history of the grand Coliseum. Some audiences even crying in outrage at the ridiculous sight, stripped away from the suffering, bloodshed, and screaming melting bodies that entertained them. The whole entire stadium of the Magnus Coliseum crying with high and heavily mixed emotions at the sight of the Hulk.

"He… he… my… He saved all of our lives…" The first man said, unable to even close his eyelids.

"W-W-What the FUCK just happened…?"

"W-W-What in the G-God's names are you?!"

"X-X-XENOS!? W-HY WOULD A XENOS—?!"

"H-H-How… W-Why did you do that…?"

"By the Gods above…"

The slaves themselves, most of all, staring in shock and awe of the green behemoth too, as well as trying not to fall into the still bubbling black liquid.

"… Saf—!"

Who now simply staring sternly at the rescued forms of the slaves before him, his mouth moving, sounding like boulders mashing together, before suddenly the wind picked up and the sounds of mechanical clinking started to resonate all around him and the others. All around the arena and above them and the audience members as many numerous points across the walls of the coliseum began to open and spewed out a hundred more little spherical robots at racing speeds and covering the entire arena!

"WELL CITIZENS!"

As all around him, now stood at attention the entire army of drones that made up the entirety of the Maggot's Eyes. The entire stadium and its slaves staring in awe and total fear as the skies of the coliseum was immediately covered and blotted out by an untold army of these miniature, robotic drones. Hulk's eyes now darting around as unavoidable danger signals flares up his instincts as the same slimey, greasy voice came through and the entirety of the Maggot's Eyes began to open up to release their weapon systems!

"RAAAGH!" Roared the Hulk as he immediately changed his tune and lunged towards the droids at alarming speeds! His feet taking him up and away from the pedestal as he reaches out to grab one and crush between his muscly hands before the army of droids opened fire!

"ARGH!" Unleashing a barrage of wild firepower as hundreds of Eyes covering the sky outfitted with emitters of pure electricity began to hail down upon the Hulk! Streaks of wild blue and purple energy violently striking against his exposed body and spreading all across his whole entire frame they barrage his body in every direction possible, his green skin immediately beginning to sizzle, char and blacken as the army of robots sent torrent after torrent of torturous energy into him as the voice continued.

"IT SEEMS AS THOUGH SLAVE NUMBER 96 HAS SHOWN A STARTLING, UNEXPECTED SURPRISE! A STARTLING TRANSFORMATION, BREAKING FROM HIS COLLAR, AND A FEAT UNLIKE ANY OTHER SEEN BEFORE! SAVING THE OTHERS FROM THE DEVIL'S TEARS! A DISPLAY OF PURE STRENGTH! WHAT A SPECTACLE!"

"ARRRRRGH! URAAAAAGH!" The Maggot's Eyes announced and glorified as the Hulk below screamed and cried out and began to sink to his knees in pure agony at the endless barrage of electricity. Electricity powerful enough to completely burn a man or any rouge beast alive. Unable to truly kill the Hulk but still rendering the green Goliath unable to even move as the currents of power burned and paralyzed his body. Struggling to fight it as he is hit by all sides with no respite.

"BUT WORRY NOT, FOR THIS GREEN HIDDEN BEAST IS NO THREAT! FOR NO BEAST OR MAN CAN WITHSTAND THE GOD'S WRATHS!"

The slaves below all watching in complete as the sight of their sudden green savior began to writhe and burn at the hands of the Maggot's Eyes. The crowd around them also watching with shock and horror, but with some already beginning to revel in the pain of this new unruly beast, savoring his torturous roars with delight. Most important of all of them being the mistress as she smiles devilishly at her newfound slave.

Burning, screaming, writhing in agony but not dying.

"…OH! BUT WHAT IS THIS! IT SEEMS AS THOUGH HE IS NOT YET PERISHED BY THE WRATH'S! WHAT STRENGTH! SUCH A PROMISING YOUNG BEAST AND ANOTHER GREAT BOON FOR THE ILLUSTRIOUS HOUSE THAL'KYR!"

The Maggot's Eyes then spoke up as it comments on the Hulk's surprising endurance before quickly beginning to shift all credit and worth towards the greatest house of them all. The name drop immediately causing the crowd to rupture with applause and celebration as the previously bewildered and terrified now began to settle back down into the comfort of their seats. Their fears leaving them as they now began to clap reverently at the biggest and gaudiest looking balcony of the ring, seeing the whole of the Thal'kyr-key family themselves.

Red, black, gold, and once more seemingly in favor of the Gods above.

All the while watching safely from their spots and at the Hulk's convulsing blackening form, his skin now charred and pained by lightning as the endless barrage of electric shots began to die down. The many hundreds of Eyes now beginning to disperse and smoke at the amount of energy wasted.

"Urrgh…" Leaving the once powerful and roaring Hulk now completely helpless and limp, unable to even move or even be touched as every patch of skin burned and every single muscle in his body rendered completely paralyzed. Constricting his form tightly as he could only groan with indescribable pain, his nerves fried entirely as his superhuman body slowly healed his damaged cells, but the Eyes of the announcer still zeroed in on him.

Another few more coming out of the top openings and quickly flying and carrying with them a gigantic mechanical and heavily weaponized golden collar. One the size of a horse's neck, meant for the many gigantic beasts below and around the city. But now, immediately being opened and strapped onto the thick neck of the Hulk himself. Now seen as nothing more than another one of those animalistic beasts.

Snapping in place as the crowd cheered and the vox came on.

"I TRULY CANNOT BELIEVE MY EYES CITIZENS! FOR IT SEEMS AS THOUGH WE DO HAVE OURSELVES ANOTHER ATALANTA! ANOTHER GIFT BROUGHT DOWN FROM HEAVENS ABOVE AND BY THE GODS THEMSELVES! GREEN! POWERFUL! TRANSFORMING! HE SAID IT HIMSELF, THE HULK!"

The Maggot's Eyes continued unabated and announcing introduction of this new and great champion as the roar of the crowd continued to go on, tension rising as their easily settled fears gave rise to an unruly excitement, their eyes glowing with glee and spectacle as they now witness the power of the greatest House's new green champion. A new warrior that showed great strength, speed, and rage. Just like their already favored warrior of the Red Sands. The words of the Maggot's Eyes only further cementing this belief of the great House and their "divine right".

Already screaming out other "challenges" and "trials" they should subject him to. But the Maggot's Eyes not done just yet, as all his shiny grey eyes now turn towards the others, still reeling from the experience of being carried by the Hulk.

"BUT AS FOR THESE OTHERS…"

He said ominously low as the rest began to now shake and quiver in absolute fear. Unable to do anything as they now left completely helpless at the hands of the Maggot's Eyes and their "audience". All now chanting for their various and gruesome deaths, most still determined to have their bloodshed after such a "disappointing" and "boring" performance. And while their demands for blood would normally go as heeded…

"…IT SEEMS AS THOUGH, BY THE WORDS OF HOUSE THAL'KYR AND THEIR LADY, THEY SHALL LIVE!"

"!?" "?!" "!?" "?!" "!?" "?!"

Widened in shock both the crowd and baffling the slaves.

The words of the highest mistress for once outweighing all of their demands. For hers was absolute, her high-born, blue blooded will determined for this outcome to play out. As above, in the highest rafter and alongside all of House plus many more guards, the mistress only continued to widen her already sinister and hedonistic grin as she giggled gleefully. Barely able to even contain her amusement and prideful nature as she stares deeply upon the burnt up and chained up body of her newest warrior from the stars. Giggling and laughing to herself like a cheerful schoolgirl at the sheer prospect of this new investment alongside their already released Atalanta.

"Fufufufufufufu… Ahhh…" Her mind unconcerned except for only one thing… 'If only he could be here now… He must be informed about this immediately…'

"….Holy gods above."

"XENOS! FILTH! MUTANT! FILTH! Can't be anythin else! And looks like a real proper one to me!"

"What in the name of all things holy was that!? How did that.. scrawny stick of a man turn into that!"

"Fucking incredible…"

"Ahah…! AHAHAHAHAHA! THE GODS ABOVE HAVE BLESSED US WITH A GREAT WARRIOR ONCE MORE!"

All the while the many guards and the family members around her either looked on still in shock, horror, excitement and greed. The crowd of discontent citizens and beggars below groaning and cried in anger and disappointment. All their bets completely cut off as they now sit unable to even enjoy their "simple" act of burning acidic death.

Surprising the slaves below even more as the ones below and skirting away from the acid all gasped in shock and relief as the boiling pits below now began to decrease. Sinking back below into the Coliseum's massive drainage system and steadily leaving the ring of the Hot Dust and making it safe. But leaving behind viscious acid marks and disgusting stains that belonged to bodies of their fellow captives as the body filled Devil's Tears finally retreated.

"SO REJOICE MY FRIENDS! FOR YOU GET TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY THANKS TO THIS MONSTROUS INTERLOPER AND HOUSE THAL'KYR! SO REJOICE, AND RETURN TO YOUR CELLS!"

The Maggot's Eyes said and bellowed across the ring, addressing the slaves themselves as the gates of the ring began to open slowly. The others immediately getting the memo as they all hastily began to descend down the black pyramid. Hurriedly going down as the many Eyes above them only seemed to threaten them more.

Soon each rescued slave going back to their respective gates, but not before some of them looked back to their green skinned savior with some kind of look. Some grateful, confused, angry disgusted or even uncaring. But with one of them, the first man, looking back with a panicked but understanding nod of respect,

"thank you…" He muttered quietly, truly thankful for this… Hulk's help as he went his way.

"NOW THEN… FOR OUR SPECIAL NEW, GREEN AND POWERFUL PARTICIPANT…"

Said the voice as only the Hulk remained above. Damaged, burning with electricity, still healing, but monitored by the various drones above as many of them began to descend towards his body and the footsteps of multiple groups of guards drew closer as well. Now preparing to move him from his limp state as the first trial of the day for the Magnus Coliseum comes to an end as the crowd booed and cried out disgustedly at the big green man.

Wires and cables firing upon his prone body and latching themselves onto him as a hundred-looking eyes began to shift. Tensile strength and efficient group effort from a good portion from the army of robots now beginning to lift and carry him away to chambers unknown…

"…"

But, while up above in the Hot Dust as the newly transformed Banner/Hulk was being carried and hauled away, down below, amongst the rest of her newly reunited comrades and fellow warriors Atalanta continued to listen and sense intensely as the world above her now began to stop shaking. Her sickly yellow gaze unwavering at the surface, seemingly feeling everything that was happening above but only not able to distinguish it. The only conclusion being that whatever was transpiring, it was big and it was loud.

So loud in fact that it was sending ripples of sound even to here, the screams and cries of the ever bloodthirsty audience cheering before now suddenly stopping.

The many others around her also looking up in tandem, a whole group of reunited slaves now back into one of the lower regions of the Coliseums dungeon, an area that was purely for containment and imprisonment. All of the various gladiator slaves either paired up with one another or just by themselves. The lower level their only known "home", a place where they could rest and sleep, but also the place where they could at the same time rot, fester, and be treated like animals.

But the great Lady of the Red Sands herself completely isolated and in her own specially designed containment cell, completely separated from everyone else and primed with many, many violent countermeasures. Devices and weapons from bombs, laser weaponry, neurotoxins, God's Wrath tasers and a whole squadron of guards surrounding her at all times as she is treated with far more and yet somehow less dignity. Once only a highly recognized and valued slave, now reduced to or raised as another… new beast. The greatest, fiercest, and most dangerous of them all by far.

Her newfound rage and newly implemented Butcher's Nails a point of severe contention and now being closely and heavily monitored by the various Houses of the Coliseum. Everyone on a razor edge now that the Lady of the Red Sands has now returned, bloodied,, experimented on, butchered and cut open with the bloody Nails stabbing straight into her brain.

The pain still fresh and throbbing within her skull as she feels nothing but PAIN everytime she moves, breathes, or even fucking thinks. Life now was agony on every front, with rage and anger being the ONLY solace she could that the Nails could bring her… that and the burning, boiling passion of vicious vengeance.

But now… in spite of all that, her attention, straining, was fully on the surface above. Feeling the presence of something in the Sands above as whatever it was reverberated a little across the Coliseum but instantly triggering Atalanta's superhuman instincts. Her entire being highly attuned and hyper-focused upon this new… sensation amongst the others. Even the guards numbering in the dozens fully attentive and ever watchful, changed their tune as well as many of them were called elsewhere hastily while the remaining some looked up towards the Hot Dust in confusion as well.

"What is happening out there…? I can feel something shakin' and even some of the damn crowds screams…!" One of them said whispering to his companion in a thick cockney accent, pathetically trying to hide his voice as Atalanta all too well heard him, cowardly and afraid…

"Why you tellin me I don't fuckin know, really wanna talk behind her…?! Sides, big weird shit always goes on up there anyways…!" The other one said, this one Moore fully confident yet still just as weak… The hatred boiling in her blood demanding of her to just rip him and everyone apart with wild, berserker abandon, to tear open their limbs, heads and entrails and paint the walls thick with the red of their blood and viscera… with the only thing withholding her back being the threat of a burning scalding, and unFITTING death…

The other guards only now starting to gossip even more under their worthless breaths. Each and every word or sentence, each iota of thought forced to hear their meaningless cowardly drivel only serving to boil the blood of her soul even more

"I heard it was a new prisoner… some new special thing that came alongside a new batch a slaves…!" Another one said, this one sounding more excited as the others turned to him… but his voice now actually stirring the female beast as she now begins to truly listen this rabble…

"?!"

'More new slaves…?!' She thought with surprise and rage as the Nails stabs, fury and outrage exploding at this news but at the same time so incredibly shocked to hear, for such a thing that hasn't happened in a quite a while. Her attention now instinctively drawn to this. The guards too turning to him attentively, listening in while trying to still do their jobs.

"Yeah… new slaves, new bodies to throw in the pit, and some new special one I've been hearing rumors about…" The same man continued, hushed in a whisper. "I've been hearing it all day in hushed whisper but get this… one of them fell from the stars… a metal ship crashed in the fuckin mountains, eh…?!"

He said with unmatched enthusiasm as the guards all held their breaths in shock while Atalanta, the one true child of the mountains behind them, her brain went absolutely silent… Staring deeply and stunned as disbelief spread across her entire face as her permanent furrowed and piercing yellow eyes now widened in pure shock and horror. Disbelief written across her entire face as she now hears the most… unbelievable and disparaging news.

'…What?' Completely and utterly blindsided as the information received to her, for once, struggled to compute within her brain. Mutilated and throbbing in pain still but a wave of confusion first temporarily covering over it. Before a tide of "nostalgia", painful memories and brutal images came flooding in with those words… flooding in a flash as the AGONY of the Nails recedes for only one micro-instant.

From the cold and desolate snowy mountains that she once found herself in. Confused, afraid, naked and alone. The ice storm, harsh and unyielding, cascading upon her nude form with nothing but frost and snow. Surrounded by nothing but a hundreds black trees and thick miasma like fog. Her hair back then still red and short, her skin still young and new, and unscarred by ravages of and carnage and battle.

But, not untainted from violence of death. Cause as young, innocent, confused and afraid as she was, her body was unfreezing as the red, warm and fresh steaming liquid covered her entire small young form as she bathed in the blood of an entire group of heavily armed and capable xenos race. Murdered by her very own hands and now surrounded by their mutilated armored corpses. As her very first acts of consciousness was that of violence, and her life always that of bloodshed.

Regardless, the little girl now found herself in a situation she had no concept of even understanding. The only she remembers being yelled at, charged at, attacked before in panic instinctively defended herself as she made four whole heavily armed xenos into beaten and bloodied corpses, now left there in her own lonesome and feeling nothing but fear, confusion and something else. Something far deeper and far more horrifying than she couldn't yet fathom…

The only little solace and warmth coming from the dark red liquid that now pooled beneath her legs, practically born in blood.

"Ahhh… AHHH! AAAAAAAAAGH!"

Tears soon beginning to fall down her cheeks as she now began to feel the weight of the lives taken before her. Not knowing why, how, or even able to comprehend what was happening or what she had done as the confused, lost and naked child only began to cry at the physical emotions she was now uncontrollably receiving. Remembering only the bright light, the cold, and then the yelling, the shouting, the cursing and the screams, the blood, their bodies, and finally her panic and actions.

Sobbing now for she knew nothing of what happened but feeling all of it. But her infantile cries soon unable to leave her nude frame alone, as her wide whining wails now began to echo and draw around her the attention of the many dangerous and highly predatory creatures in the mountain. Wild, untamed, and perpetually on the blood hunt, the animals upon the mountains of Nuceria were ferocious and hardened, toughened by the harsh conditions of the winters mountain top.

And the young unnamed red-haired girl soon being stumbled upon by one of the most dangerous fauna of them all, a pack of large, blackened furred, bloody-mouthed dire-wolves. A predatory pack of swift, nubile, and powerful canines now beginning to make themselves known from the frozen trees nearby and slowly closing themselves onto the small frame of the baby Atalanta.

Their teeth's shown wide open and each one scowling with a hungry, starved expression, intending to make a fine meal out of her as the small child then began to notice them as well in the midst of her crying. Her mind now beginning to change and shift as she slowly began to understand what exactly was going on and why she was being completely surrounded by her front side. Something deep within her already telling her what and why these canines were doing this. A deep empathic feeling of violence, of instinct, of survival, of bloody competition and death, a deep, guttural hunger to consume and devour for food and sustenance. And finally, a sense of unaware easiness at the… blood soaked form of the girl.

"Grrrr…" One growled spitefully, circling and inching ever forwards.

"RAGHH!" As another of them, snarls feral, with teeth already full of meat and bloody flesh. Their noses beginning to sniff the fresh alien corpses, and reeling back at the unnatural feeling of their killer. Already sensing the danger coming from this singular infant.

"!" A sudden, unexplainable realization coming over her as she started to breathe more erratically and the feeling of newly developed fear began to take over her. "Eehhhh! EAAAAAAAGH!"

She bellowed out crying as the lone child sat completely by herself and even more helpless and confused, bloodied and buried upon the corpses of her unknown group of assailants while the hounds of the great mountain began to circle her. Shocked and confused by her unforgiving circumstances, and completely overwhelmed by the sensation of her unknown latent abilities, the young Atalanta could only sit and wallow in her tears with no wish and no reaction to fight.

Just crying in fear and anguish as the multiple large pack of dire-wolves began to make their move, snarling, closing in, before pouncing and launching themselves at her with vicious ferocity!

"Raaagh…!"

"!" When all of a sudden, the wolves stopped and stood straight in fear as a new deeper, more guttural and far bigger growl resonated behind her. The little naked, superhuman girl steadily ceasing her pained cries as she now could sense a new presence directly behind her. One that was new, and not like the others, with the other wolves now all collectively shaking in their furs before sprinting away in terror. The girl turning her head around as she now sees before her stood the massive beast of a big and brown body, an animal truly gigantic in size and primal in nature. One that had now found her after a day of simply searching for food for her cubs. Her thick leg covered with fur crunched softly on the red-stained snow below as it's snout, robust and precise, sniffs her and the blood around her.

Slowly making up it's mind as it's instincts tell her to look at the strange before her, young, furless, unusual, but just as innocent as a newborn cub. The girl herself doing the same the feeling of murder faded and gave way to a much simpler, much more peaceful emotion. The girl later to be known as Atalanta Thal'kyr, a cursed name bestowed upon her by the Maggot's Eyes, now founded by the Great Bear of Nuceria and known therefore singularly as the Child of the Mountain.

"!"

'ARRRRGH!' Her flash of brief but lingering before the sudden glimpse of peace and warm mess immediately caused the Butcher's Nails to once again spike and impale her brain! As emotions other than anger drives the countless neurological needles deeper into her grey matter of her brain as she REELS and ROARS back in agony and immediately thrusted back into her cold and bloody reality. Milliseconds only passing in real-time, but for her it was far longer. The memory, the memory of her time in the mountains and her… mother bear, long since suppressed but never forgotten, but now coming back to her with full force as she hears the unbelievable news of another such… being.

The guards outside simply continuing on as the one man explained even further.

"It don't stop there either… Cause from what I understand somewhat… is that House Thal'kyr themselves found the damn thing!" He said as he began to laugh, horrendously. Sadistic and cruel. "Locking it and now sending it here for the crowd!"

"Really now…?!"

"Bullshite…! You gots to be kiddin me with that…"

"What the heck..? What the hell is it then…?"

"Damn… The Gods really are shining upon their family…!"

The rest of guards all quietly exclaimed in shock and awe. All baffled by this man's tall tale, tall and as mighty as the mountain, another fallen star child turned warrior by the glorious House Thal'kyr, the Hot Dust's number one clan and the main one they all swore allegiance to. All for the sake of hard golden money. The gossip now starting spread amongst each other, but the one behind taking this and that name lightly…

"Thal… Thal'kyr's…" As behind them the world once again grew silent and deaf as Atalanta's ears practically deafens after hearing that cursed and WRETCHED name! Quickly sending her emotions back into rage and anger as her memories once again flooded back into her, flashing back to all the torment and torture done by the hands that chained and renamed as one of their "own". From the first burning trial of the Devil's Tears, to brutality fighting other slaves, to the untold number of bodies taken by her very hands and finally to the death of… Oenomaus and… the implants of her Nails.

"!"

Of which were now starting to dig in even harder.

"Argh!"

'High-Rider scum…! Argh! High-Rider SCUM, ALL OF THEM—ARRRGH! AHAAAH!' Her crude and bloody implants once again flooding her brain with a revolting, inhuman amounts of dopamine and serotonin as the and violent, aggressive and PAINFUL stabs into it as she clinches her blood-dried wire-outfitted scalp and reels over in pain screaming in unparalleled agony! Unable to contain it any longer as the intensity of them ALL pounding in her head grew even more unbearable with the sudden rush of brief nostalgia.

"Yeah I—Woah… Woah! Woah! Woah!"

"ARGH! RAAAGH!"

Alerting the guards wholly as she growled and snarled viciously as her mind twists and convulses with blood-filled pain as the guards ahead now began to react to her startling animalistic voice. Taking them by surprise and fear as they now began to refocus their attention back on her as Atlanta tries to keep the rage within while struggling to retain her own sanity with of the Nails BITING, BITING and BITING. Left nearly broken by the name and details she just heard, but also one other feeling she did not expect to feel today.

"Hold your fire! The Nails won't bite before the Wrath's does!"

"Keep an eye on her dammit!" One she could never have expected on any day of her bloodied and beaten life as she struggled and resisted against the Nails with her captors onto her.

'Hrrrgh…! There's… Hrrrgh…! Someone… Hrraaagh! Like me…?' A feeling of relations, familiarity and the sense of… curious fascination.

But while the longest running and "beloved" Lady of the Red Sands and champion of the pits struggled and reminisced in her own cell, down below, back into the grand dungeon of the Coliseum, heavily armored guards in the dozens surround and escort a group of notable, wealthy and posh looking individuals began to make their descent into the lowest levels of the arena and towards the holding place of their newest investment. A group entirely made out of the most esteemed members of the highest nobility and Houses of Desh'ea, from fathers to mothers to ladies and lords. All led by the one head Mistress of House Thal'kyr, or more accurately by now the whole of the Coliseum.

Each one more decadent and ridiculous looking than the last. From brazen and heavily fashioned, gaudy coats collars and pants, to hairs and body health that was nothing short of either pudgy, pale, fake, beautiful, but above all obscenely spoiled. The lady in red herself walking amongst them, tall and proud and gleeful, now wanting to show off her newest warrior from the mountains as the whole greedy and corrupt lot of them descends to the cells below.

"Have you SEEN that thing in the pits?! What was it called? Hulk or something? Amazing!" One man said in a blue overcoat and long slicked back hair. Old and aging but now practically jubilant like a child getting their new favorite toy.

"AMAZING IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT! It was INCREDIBLE I've never seen anything like it! It took more lightning and rounds to take it down anything I've ever seen! What WAS that creature!? How did such a scrawny man turn—no, TRANSFORM into that?!" Another man said wearing a green short sleeved vest with gold and silver trimmings. Quite fat too with stains of food still around his mouth and fingers, looking upon the highest woman like a child seeing new favorite toy. "You've truly proven yourself as the highest of us all Mistress!"

"I must agree as well my lady! Your newest champion has completely erupted the Coliseum into quite a frenzy! What a first performance!" Another woman said, dressed in dark purple with red accents, her face healthy and her body voluptuous similar to the lady in front. "I cannot wait to see it in person!"

"Y-Yes indeed, b-b-but must we see the beast all too closely together?" One of them asked, a shorter much more stout man with a black overcoat and a tiny mustache, this one seeming much more nervous and afraid than some of the rest. Tugging at his collar uncomfortably as he pressures to walk with them all, but still remembering just how… powerful this particular beast was.

"I must agree with him, I know you wanted us to see this new investment of yours but lady Tha'kyr must we be so close to him?" Replied the closest one near the main mistress, one a bit more closer to her than the rest of them. Talking quite directly to the side of her ear as she too also shows her concerns. "It's taken so many more hits of the God's Wrath than anything we've seen before my lady, it should be bloody ASHES, so perhaps we should—!"

"Oh. I have everything under control my friends!"

But before they were all cut off by the all-encompassing and booming, cheerful voice of their lady now. Speaking up and interrupting the woman beside her with one single finger raised and with an unwavering, utterly unconcerned confidence and happiness. Once again the room niw taken aback by her presence, accept for maybe one or two of them as she continues, explaining herself,

"Everything is completely under control. I have the great new beast under lock and key with the Gods Wrath's, high-impact explosives, and neurotoxins and chemicals all upon his neck, chest, and limbs. Any single one of these could destroy and decimate the entirety of the slaves here plus our beasts. As mighty as this one may be, it is already evident he is NOT impermeable. As well as a surplus amount of guards with the Silver vines and heavy energy weapons ready to fire and any signs of movement." She says as they continue on walking. Gesturing to even the guards as the blue bloods now began to see and notice the amount of heavy weaponry, and some strange silvery vine like armor on their persons.

From spears, to swords, to blades seemingly made out of this strange silvery material, this was the royal elite guard of the Coliseum and the personal guards of the Thal'kyr's. Silent, deadly, and seasoned to be able to kill anything or anyone.

The tenacious vibe of the room now considerably lessening at the knowledge of this.

"Like I said my friends. I have everything under control." The mistress said with a wide grin and smile. Utterly content in her safety, and wanting to be just as much with theirs… all too rub in their faces and show off her boon from the stars and the gods. Excitedly looking to the certain explosion of House Thal'kyr's popularity and reverence of their holy and divine right. But her expectations absolutely paling in comparison to the absolute elation now thumping in her chest as she now reaches the den of her promising slave.

"Ah! And here we are!" She cried out, exclaiming out loud as the doors to the cell of the green beast, the Hulk, came loose. Only minutes after the "monster" himself stirred awake.

"Ughhh…"

Groaned a still beating giant of a man as two big beady green eyes slowly opened up with a crawling slowness. The Hulk steadily waking up as his vision, previously filled with pain and pumped full of violent energy, began to settle as his own awareness began to stir. Soon becoming aware and cognizant of what was happening and where he was.

First, the sight of cold, sterile white metal with empty computer monitors flying through the deepest and blackest of outer space.

"Hmmm… Hm?! HMMPH!"

And then, his vision quickly reverting forwards to see the shadows of a dark and completely metal chamber. A gigantic room that felt deep underground, and was lit by what seemed to be simple but big torchlight. Enough for him to see, but not enough to see fully. His eyes adjusting to the darkness as soon the memories and pain came rushing back in, and so did his RAGE.

"HMMMPH…! HMMMPH!"

The memories of the ship, the words of the betrayers, the lairs, the crash, the capture and slavery and finally the compounding event of screams, acid, action, rage and finally lightning. All coming back to his simple but not dumb mind as the Hulk looks down to feel and see the same mechanized collar, new chains, and a far more lingering burn...

The first weighing heavy around his neck while the others heavy as well were strapped onto his arms legs and arms and strained by a heavy, dense metal chain that ran up and into the wall. Leaving not a single bit of his huge titanic body uncovered by chains and collars, as even upon his mighty body now sat multiple rudimentary, hastily attached disks and machines that he could feel was compressed upon his incredible skin.

But his skin however not yet recovered, as all around him still covered a series of massive freshly burnt flesh and charred black skin. His body's natural healing factor very much still healing itself but now at much slower rate and with the lightning just that strong, the Hulk unable to do anything as he now felt the sizzling and pained feeling of his still cooked flesh. Shock planted first on his face before it quickly turned back into rage.

Nothing made sense, nothing felt right, everything felt wrong and disturbed. But the Hulk couldn't care less because the only thing HE wanted to do was SMASH!

"HRRRRGH!" He grunted viciously as he immediately tried to yank and pull out the chains that blinded his arms. Not able to even do so as soon a slight beeping began playing upon the surface of his collar and a singular red button lit up.

"PUNY CHAI—AAAGH!"

The Hulk not noticing began to roar out before suddenly the metal of his golden collar sparked and lit up! Activating its severe countermeasures and security system as a violent volt of electricity once again shot through the Hulk's neck! Immediately stopping his struggle as pain coursed through his nervous system and fried him once more! Burning his tough outer layer even more vulnerable and once again heavily scarred.

"ARRGH! Arggh…! Hahhh… Hahhh…" Lasting only for a few minutes before almost as quickly stopping, now leaving the Hulk staggered, exhausted and smoking once more. Catching his breath as the current of lightning once more left his body and left unmoving. NOT, wanting to relive this pain again.

"HAH!"

"!?"

"HAHAHA! AHAHAHAHA!"

When suddenly, above the ceiling of the room and reverberating across the metal sealed walls, a shrill spat of laughter came through some sort of speaker system. Loud, rough and taunting, the voice coming over the hidden speakers was new, but one full arrogance and pride.

"Would you look at that, my bets were that you would be too stupid to try and break free! I thought you'd be smarter, but you look like just another dumb xenos like the rest of them it seems!" He said, mocking and unconcerned, the Hulk the completed opposite as hatred began to shell up at the sound of this annoying, shouting man. "I have no name to give for I am your gracious overseer! Just try not to pull those chains else you'll be burned once more slave."

Amusement in every tone as the Hulk now began to glare spitefully at his would be captor and warden. A far too familiar feeling welling up inside as this voice continued with insults.

"Those shackles on your filthy body can blow up anytime creature and outfitted with weapons good to enough to kill any beast your size." He said as he listed off all the features of his new confinement. "Oh, and that little thing upon your chest will run the full fury God's Wrath upon you and through your xenos body if you even CONSIDER resisting. So if you don't wanna get zapped and charred again like an animal … well I believe you get the idea by now…"

Trailing off as the Hulk only groaned and struggled to get back up, his body still slightly steaming as he manages to sit back up and continued to glare at the annoying, insipid sounding old voice from above. His words practically echoing into his head as he is reminded again of just how… simple he looks to people puny and small.

"Hrrrgh…"

"Hmm… Despite it though… it looks like you're healing up just fine!" The unknown cockney man then commented, surprised by just how well he was recovering. Already taking note of just how unnatural his green body was, but all of it to an advantage. "Quite a fuckin interesting body you got there! I can see why so many people now wanna to see ya in the ring again now that you've shown yourself, number 96!"

The voice only droned on as Hulk just simply glared and pant over and over in pent-up anger and pain. His mind a whirlwind of mixed emotions cascading down upon him, each one a mixture of himself and his alter ego. First from his overwhelming rage, anger and fury upon the everything that had lead him here, hurt, betrayed, used and once AGAIN imprisoned by the humans he now HATED. To the deeper conflicting feelings of Banner's conscious from the conclusion and humiliation of these slave masters and finally horror over the lives and deaths of all these slaves.

Unable to make sense of it all as he lays there, all of it fast, conflicting, but most all… UNFAIR! The Hulk now unable to even do anything as he now finds himself once again, cursedly, chained and locked up. Possibly worse than ever before on Earth.

"But it seems just ' as equal so many of them want'cha DEAD after ya lost them their bets!"

Reduced to now nothing more than a beast and entertainment…!

"So think about that and your place while you're here waiting for your masters, Xenos! I'm sure they'll want to see you very, very shortly, ehehehe…"

The voice added on before finally concluding with one final, arrogant sentence. Leaving the Hulk now once more in the dark, by himself, but nowhere near alone. His large extended brows furrowing as he snarls a before finally breathing and componds in his mind, starting to think properly.

"Stupid annoying voice… Why is Hulk… no… Banner… Puny Banner…"

'Puny… Stupid Banner…' He thought and said a loud, his inner thought low and rumbling, completely unfamiliar to the soft spoken and normal man before as he spits out the name. The Hulk festering as he grits his teeth and clenches his fist tight at the new memory of being summoned, transformed and brought out to the world once again only to follow the last thoughts and feelings of his tinier, weaker, PUNIER other self. 'You needed Hulk's help to save all those… all those damned puny humans!'

'And then get hurt! GET HULK HURT! GET HULK ATTACKED, SHOT AT AND LOCK UP! GET PUNISHED. PUNISHED! AGAIN! AGAAAAAAIN!' He groaned and moaned in quiet fury as he could only feel nothing but hatred, spite, and misery from the searing, unbearable memory of being forced out of Banners body to save all those people before being hailed by a thousand roaring lightning bolts. Charring his skin and cooking his body right down to his muscles and bone, still feeling the sensation of rapidly losing strength and the everlasting burns of that unnatural lightning.

But most all, flashing back to the moments way before Banner's and his subsequent capture, flashing all the way back to the holdings of the space shuttle. His eyes now contorting and glowing with rage at this momentary recollection!

"GRRAAGH!" Growling in agony as he now felt those remaining scars and newly developed ones steadily healing up. But the whole ordeal still draining of his energy, not to mention all the weights and traps that now adorned his body. All because of this disgusting brutal place and all thanks to its… unbearable screaming audience.

Puny humans, alongside Banner, something he truly once thought he'd would… never say ever again.

'Humans… Puny, weak, and cruel… all of them! Every single one of them in that ring! No! Everywhere!' He thought with an inner snarl wanting nothing to do but rip these crummy looking chains with his bare hands and SMASH this whole damned place apart! But unable to as he remembers the faces of the crowd and their bloated and savage voices for death and bloodshed. Laughing, cheering and gawking as hundreds of people were swept by the black acid screaming their last while dissolving.

'Here! Earth! EVEYWHERE!' The Hulk's mind reeling with unbelievable anger and frustration as he recalls all of it in excruciating detail, courtesy of a mind like his other self. All of it freshly itched into his mind now as he could do nothing but curse and pant in budding anger.

'Why… Why does puny Banner still want to save them?! Why does puny Banner NEED to save them? Why does puny Banner still want HULK to save them!?' He screamed in his head as he pounded his skull with deprecating force. Demanding to himself and wherever Bruce was in his consciousness of why this was all happening as the memories, the experience, and knowledge of this place now coming to him from Bruce's perspective and all of it being each experienced by the Hulk with minute, wrathful detail.

"Just like me… another meat-bag they can use until they're done with you… hehehe…' The elderly and weak old man said with a crazed expression and truly hopeless eyes.

'Slaves… these… these people are all fucking slaves, slaves like from Ancient fucking Rome!?' Banner then thought, comparing the cruelty of this place to an ancient empire of humanity.

'Children… even children! This is insane.. THIS IS FUCKING INSANE!" As he too reacts the same when seeing the young in those… cages.

All of this coming back to him now, seemingly held dormant for so long. His hands curling into powerful fists that could shatter steel as he scowls in disgust and hatred. Truly left speechless by the absolute terror of this… this nightmare Nuceria and its bloodthirsty City of Desh'ea, a society that was built on slavery, gladitorial bloodshed and nothing else. As well as scowling with nothing but bloodshed as he then sees the faces of his captors and main mistress. Vain, gaudy, and pompous with a hedonistic, BARBARIC "culture" and society. Each and every one of those details serving to worsen the big guy's simmering temper even more.

'Slaves… Alien world… Bloody… Thal'kyr… Puny and stupid, all of it. Nothing but humans killing and using other humans. Pathetic, weak, just like the rest of them…' He thought as he bitterly reminded himself of just how cruel humans were to him, not just here and long before his crash. Even back on Earth as the long but still forever lingering memories of being chased and hunted down the U.S. government and even the whole world for years replayed in his mind. Sought out for his death, destruction, and worst of his own blood…

But not just his torments though, because the memories of him saving lives, when he and Banner decided and agreed on trying to better and with his fellow comrades, also began to come back too. From when he first saved the life of one reckless and stupid Rick from the gamma blast that birthed him before jumping off and chased by the military and into the wider world…

'So why does Banner want save them after they betrayed him and Hulk on Earth!?' He cried as the memories of his life flashed before him and a series of conflicting emotions flared up. From running away from the Incident, U.S. government and practically the whole world (Ross), to his first time meeting and saving a human life (a little blonde girl), to his numerous encounters with the various metahumans and mutants of Earth. Fighting them, smashing them, trying to get them to leave him alone before eventually listening to his other self and joining them as a… hero.

"Ahhhh… T-Thank you…" Said one tiny blonde girl from the scene of a huge arson, clutching her stuffed animal as she both bravely and nervously steps up to him. Her entire family unconscious but unharmed, the police and firefighters soon arriving as she looks up to him with fear and wonder in her eyes. While the Hulk looked down at her with a new feeling he's never felt before…

"You fight as the truest warrior Hulk. You have helped save all of Asgard…. I am honored to have you as my friend." Thor Odinson said, an actual living god and a giant, red-haired beast of a man. Who could match him blow for blow and even more so with his massive hammer and rapturous thunder…

"We couldn't have done this without you soldier, you've truly earned your way in this world." Steve Rogers said next, the legendary star-spangled super soldier that truly lived up to his name and even more so. A shining beacon of what humanity could be, and what both Banner and the Hulk could truly call their leader.

Just a few… noteworthy examples. From saving lives… to making friends and fans… to even having true allies and close comrades that he grew to truly love and be secured. But above all… people who actually began to like him. Everything he thought he could've ever wanted, with Banner and him able to truly commit to the first and only love of both their lives.. Betty Ross.

"It's alright Bruce… Hulk… both of YOU… everything will finally be okay… We can be together, after all this time…"

Able to finally find the peace and the contentment he thought he'd never have… everything going so well… Or so he thought, as it was ripped away from him once again. As Stark's, the Iron Man's voice cut through all of that in an instant, his accursed words filling his mind.

"I want you to know that we had no choice in this. We all decided this had to happen. Me, Reed, Strange, Black Bolt, ALL OF US had decided to do this—"

"!" He growled as he loathes of not just how condescending it sounded, but that these great men, these leaders of the greatest heroes of Earth, supposed wise and intelligent, voted this unanimously. Against an act he thought he was controlling…

"You were getting too violent, too aggressive, too much destructive and everyone was still afraid of you—"

"Grrr…" He growled hatefully… another lie… he knew it was… But as more images of wrecked homes, collapsed buildings, burning bridges, furnitures and cars… and bodies… bodies upon bodies of people who were unfortunate victims of his actions playing in his mind.

"We had to send you away. There was no other option—!

"WHYYYY?!" He cried out with one final line from the cowardly and traitorous rich man in iron! Completely unable to control himself now as his unending frustrations and anger built up before it explodes like a volcano as he roars out with an audible boom! The room around him shaking as he growled and huffed, fuming with anger and hatred.

'Why does Banner want Hulk to be a stupid HERO?!' He bellowed and exploded with disturbed confusion, demanding something, anything that could make sense of why he was here and why should he even care. Alive, used as something to save puny humans, and then get punished and chained up once again, now harsher than ever before and on a world he knew NOTHING about.

"Banner's STUPID… PUNY and STUPID… should never have trusted any of them! They lied… they lied and used you and me! Got rid of you like trash! Humans all hate you… all hate me! Never believed in me… why believe in them…?" He said with sheer and utter contempt, his red-hot rage and distrust of humans stronger and more vicious than ever before, a true feeling of disgust forming in his soul with the thought that Banner still wanted to save them.

Even if they were not the same humans from Earth.

'Nothing changes… but Hulk still the same… I'm… still the same… Strongest one there is… I have to be strong…' He said muttering under his breath as he now refers to himself by his name. His burning rage having a significant effect on him as his eyes now begins to see the burns in his skin now completely healing up. The healing factor growing stronger in line with his outburst of emotion, fueled by it.

'Have to be strong to survive now… because everything is… different, harder for me now…' He said as he then turned his attention slowly over towards the newly formed chains and golden guarded traps all across his body. Technology and weapons that were meant to keep him in check in again, only this time, he knew they were much more advanced and much more brutal. Able to harm him, injure him, and burn him as he had already felt. His deep seated anger screaming at him to just rip them off and be done with it… but his more rational side, somewhere, telling the opposite.

'Harder…' Because now… now he was stuck like this. Stuck inside this miserable, lonely, dust and sand grimy place just waiting to be used and abused once more in that blood arena again and again repeatedly, far more than anything or anyone else he would suspect. He knew this, acknowledged it, for his mind now was not just running off of volatile anger or the white hot fumes rage, cause now… he was for once in his life in complete unknown danger and in a much more precarious situation where he could not just break and free and smash everything apart, despite so very much wanting to.

The iron leash welded onto his neck and the bleeding scorch marks a hefty reminder of that right now… he knew this… he knew this intimately dammit all…

"…" His thoughts and every iota of fuming anger soon settling into a reserved quiet, a miserable silence that filled the room and mellowing the man turned beast. Leaving the Hulk contemplating, composed and still.

BZZZZZZZZT!

"AAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! GRAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" When out of nowhere and witg no warning the newly fashioned torture devices on his neck and body came to life and unleashed sickening shock of electricity upon his entire body as he screamed and cried out! Everything now going off all at once as his healing skin now faced another wave of skin-blackening, nerve-burning, agonizing pain! Destroying his whole entire being from muscle, bone and tendons as the courses of unfettered unstable lightning coursed throughout him lasting for a far longer, controlled experience.

Rendering him immobile and completely paralyzed once more as the pile burning black smoke of cooked flesh and sinew that is his body came crashing down onto the floor below. Barely alive, barelt thinking, and in unbearable pain as the mic above came to life once more, only this time utterly serious.

"Alright you savage green pile o puke! That' for no funny business! The divine missus now now here to you see ya, so be FUCKING HONORED BEAST!"

The voice on the speaker shouted above as the volume buzz of an alarm blared loudly across the room and into his ears! Immediately taking him by surprise as soon even more noises, giant, clanking mechanical parts and gears, all erupting into one cacophony of iron and steel as the doors of his massive cell now began to open up slowly and steadily. Crawling upon the solid black rocky floor covered in dust and dirt as soon the Hulk was hit by a sliver of opening light right into his eye. Revealing his already bright green eyes as he winces at the sudden shred of light that was slowly getting bigger.

As a voice of familiar… and DISGUSTING woman came through, alongside the murmuring of others…

"Ah! And here we are!"

Exclaimed the jubilant and excited distinct form of the woman that led the family that captured, imprisoned and enslaved him. Her red, bright bloody magnificent and gaudy dress taking the spotlight, almost shining as the light of the outside world reflected off of her and completely crimson appearance. Many others also around her as well, beside, and behind her, all of them shivering and quaking in their boots with many mixed reactions.

All of looking like the nobles from the various houses shown in the coliseum. Colors of every sort decorating their pristine, fat, and pompous bodies that had so much ornate and ornery details that it was absurd. Every shred of their appearance, from young and beautiful men and women to decrepit old crones and seniles, each showcasing just how ridiculously privileged they were.

The Hulk looking at them all with a vicious, barely held back contempt. The memory of them and this woman, from Banner's perspective, shared with his own mind as the lady in red continued on with a cheerful demeanor...

"Our gift from the stars! The God's gift from above once more!" She said as she, without a second thought, casually approached the shackled and enchained giant by herself. Smiling to herself as she motions for the rest of her escorts to do the same. "Come! Come take a look him you all!"

She called out as the members of the numerous houses all just stood and shivered fearfully, before the guards behind them quickly "motioned" them forward as well with the tips of their silver spears. Forcibly stepping them forward as the Mistress herself turned back and looked towards the Hulk with a keen wide gaze.

His meeting hers with a cold, calm, and yet furious one, though a bit baffled and bewildered she would do something so dangerous like this. The threat of death completely inconsequential to her it seemed.

The rest of her entourage hastily coming to join as she continues to boast and bellow out her words. "Just look at this beautiful, dis-GUSTING looking beast of a man! Wasn't he just SOOO incredible!? So powerful and with so much strength and unlike anything we've ever seen before with that spectacular metamorphosis! What a truly outstanding slave we have for ourselves here!"

"So I want you to see, I MUST have ALL of you see why WE, as the family of House Thal'kyr, truly are the chosen of the Gods and the Universe above!" She bellows as she then audibly SNAPS and turns her back away from the glowering gamma creature and towards her fellow nobility with her now arms fully outstretched and her head snapping to the sky, the ceiling in almost reverent manner. Posing with pure, truthful, and unfiltered arrogance.

The entirety of her little party all stunned in silence by the sheer audacity of this woman. Some staring in shock and stupefied, while others more decadent and uncaring basked in and shared the same sentiment. As all the nobility, the High-Rder's of Desh'ea gazing upon the might, glory, and divine right of the mightiest House in the city, nay, the world.

"Bask in the green glory of this beast that the heaven's have bestowed upon US!" She said as she then turned to point at the Hulk with a shaking finger. "And this is only the beginning…! For I truly cannot wait to see just what this… Hulk can bring to our beloved Coliseum! Bloody trials, gruesome and glorious battles, vicious and bloodthirsty beasts, xenos and gladiators oh the possibilities are ENDLESS!"

She says she goes off like raving madwoman, a fanatical zealot that believed in nothing but herself and the status of her family as she rattled off onto a tangent of pure childlike lunacy. The Hulk listening to all this with a look of pure raw hatred and rage, bubbling and boiling underneath all his charred and bloodied face, while the nobility around her listened and soon, beginning to shift their stances and response with the amount zeal and gusto spoken by their leader.

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

As the sounds of thin, meaty, and wet claps began to arise from them before quickly escalating into one rapturous applause! Echoing across the empty lightless chamber as they cheer and relish in their leader's grand beliefs, all of them falling into her assured confidence.

The thunderous applause soon ceasing as the Lady only bowed her head and reveled in their shared belief. The delectable sound of each and every one of them satisfying her to no end as the she thanks them all so very kindly before turning back to her newly valued prize.

"I truly cannot wait to see how this… our, Incredible Hulk, will do in the ring… Now then… MEN!"

She says, with the sound of the gate behind her responding just as she said so, finishing off her quaint little tour as the heavy gears and machinery of the doors to the cell began to shift closer and closer and the guards nearing the High-Rdiers began to close in. The red mistress already beforehand signaling them before hand as she now demands for the others to leave and follow behind her.

"Let us take our leave…" She said one final line as she showed one final, truly inhumane grin and spread it on her face for the Hulk to see. No longer interested in the sight of the green mutated man as she and her wretched entourage began to move and sludge back to whatever high, comfortable, and luxurious place they came from. The door soon closing on them as he darkness once again overtook the room.

As the Hulk was left there, by himself once more, burning and healing at the same time.

"…! Hrrr! HRAAGH!"

His eyes unflinching, not even leaving the trail taken by those… "people", his gaze laser-focused on it as every single word uttered by that excuse for a human woman repeated over and over in his head with her nagging, incessant, and arrogant voice. Now cementing in his mind a cold and concrete emotion in his mind as he does, one that was nothing but pure and utter hatred. Hatred at the sheer arrogance of the woman in the face of the ultimate danger that was him, absolute confidence in undying even when confronted with a being like him, so angry, so wrathful, so readily able to smash her apart and kill her… only to stand there like he was interned animal, controlled and leashed…

And that title… that damned title that seems to follow him no matter what planet he's on…

His teeth, clamping down onto his jaw as he grits with what little strength he has, threatening to break his own mouth but completely uncaring as he laid there, prone and irreversibly weak. His skin and body still scalding hot and torn witg his regeneration now halting back into a crawl with the excessive amount caused.

Laying there in the dark, unable to move, unable to act or utter a sound, except to roar and scream in his own mind at everything. At the fat and twisted nobility beyond him, at the unbearable pain that ravages his body and making himself PUNY, at this brutal world that he is now cursed to live in, at the COWARDS, LIARS and PUNY "heroes" that brought him here… but most all… at the memory of puny Bruce Banner STILL stuck inside of him. The weak, scrawny, MORAL human that was everything he despised and the one ultimately responsible for his humiliating, hellish suffering.

Wishing that all of it would be destroyed, SMASHED, and gone as he laid there "healing". Waiting once more for his fate to be decided, helpless, contained, and so very, very mad…

And as the doors to the Hulk closed and the High-Riders of Nuceria and the lady of the Thal'kyr's walked away, behind her mirthful grin and in the mind of the wicked slaver, slaving woman herself she was already beginning to think, plan, and scheme from the up-close and personal sight of her new gladiator. Fresh from the pit and showing… so much promise with his green skin and rippling monstrous form, so many ideas and delights were coming to her.

But her smile growing malicious and sadistic as one in particular beams all the way to the top of her crown.

"Now I wonder how he and Atalanta will fair together…" She said a loud, completely uncaring at the reactions of the others and only for herself. For only she was the one that mattered, the one that ruled everything witg her great House alongside her husband.

Anything else, was just simply lesser.