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"Moving on doesn't mean you forget about things. It just means you have to accept what's happened and continue living."
- Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tail)
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<{Hidden Underground Government Research Lab, state of Arizona, USA}>
<(Omniscient POV)>
"Are we close, Dr Sterns, or are you still struggling to piece together the experiment that Dr Banner was able to complete years ago? When I brought you into this project, I thought I made it clear that you have to focus on the new Super-Hulk project every waking hour of your life, but instead, your colleagues tell me that you are more interested in researching how Hulk's blood interacts with your own brain than how it should behave with a soldier's body." Thaddeus Ross spat out in anger.
Ever since witnessing the battle between the Abomination and the Hulk and letting both of those monsters slip out of his fingers, Thaddeus Ross hasn't been in a great mood. Before that fateful day, he seemed to have an intense obsession with the Hulk and therefore the giant's alter ego, who was also his daughter's fiancé, Bruce Banner. The General wanted to control the green giant hidden in the scientist's body and use him as a weapon to defend his country and solidify his own achievements as the most capable general in American history. But ever since that day, his thought process has taken a complete U-turn.
At long last, he had finally realized the truth... that nobody was supposed to possess that amount of monstrous power, that godly strength without being kept under strict regulations. That day, Ross realized how weak humanity was and how fickle their civilization was. Just a battle between two man-made gamma-fueled monsters was able to more or less wipe out an entire city, and the military wasn't even able to buy time. So, what would happen if humans ever had to wage a war against the entire metahuman population or some otherworldly freaks of nature like that man Atem?
No, Ross knew that no one should possess that kind of unchecked power. Until that day, Ross had been obsessed with the Hulk and the Super Soldier project for the betterment of his country, but now, he was obsessed with the power that the Super Soldier Hulk initiative could give him, the strength that he could use to stop or hunt down all super-powered threats in America.
Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross could no longer just watch his country go to hell; that day, he finally decided that he would have to do something to change things himself, even if his country itself didn't like it. And what better than completing and perfecting the Super Soldier Hulk project before taking that power for himself? If Ross couldn't have a Hulk, he would become one. In fact, he would be better than Hulk. He would be the upgrade, and once he had enough power, he would forever wipe out the threat that the metahumans, mutants, and all other superhumans possessed. He would do what needs to be done... to make America greater than it has ever been.
"General Ross, rest assured—I only dabble in examining the effects of gamma mutation on my own brain when I've exhausted all other work. Otherwise, my full attention remains devoted to the Super Soldier Hulk initiative, as per your orders. You'll be pleased to know I've made substantial progress in refining this project. By concentrating my research on how to incorporate various metahuman DNA into the serum, I believe I've improved upon the rather rudimentary work of my predecessors.
Now, we just need you to specify the metahuman DNAs you want added to the serum, and we can begin trials to evaluate their efficacy. However, I would strongly advise against using the Juggernaut's DNA again. Attempting to recapture him would be... troublesome, and given the uncertain origin of his powers, we risk destabilizing the entire experiment. We wouldn't want a repeat of the Abomination incident, would we?" A seemingly harmless smile made its way onto Dr. Stern's lips as he put down the MRI report he was holding in one hand and the coffee cup he was holding in his other.
"I see. I think I know a man who can advise us on which metahuman DNAs we should integrate into this project. He was a Sergeant in the US Army named William Stryker. We have collaborated on quite a few defense projects in the past, and I don't think there is anyone with more knowledge on metahumans than him in the entire US Army. The man has been lying low for some time after faking his own death in a dam incident, but I think it's time to bring him back into the fold. After all, he is as serious about serving our nation as I am." General Ross spoke thoughtfully before focusing his gaze back on the mutated scientist with a literally oversized head. "I'll get him onboard and bring him here in a few days, including all the additional resources we will need to make this dream project into a reality. Till then, focus on making sure that nothing can go wrong with this project... otherwise, you will be the one held responsible, Mr. Sterns." Ross threatened with a cold stare.
"Certainly, General. But let's get one thing clear—I am not just Sterns anymore. Samuel Sterns was just a meager scientist who died the day he was caught in the crossfire between two gamma-fueled brutes. He was content being a pawn, following orders like a sheep. He was part of the herd like everyone else. But not me. No, I am no longer a mindless follower; I am a visionary, a guide. I am The Leader. Superior in mind, ambition, and purpose." The scientist said grimly as the green veins on his oversized brain appeared to throb and pulsate with his words as if they agreed with him completely.
"Call yourself whatever you like, just make sure not to mess anything up," Ross grumbled before turning around and leaving without saying another word. To the General, Sterns, despite being one of the smartest scientists currently present in the world, was just another monster because of his new mutation, a freak who would need to be controlled for the betterment of the entire country.
Samuel Sterns didn't show any visible change in his emotions as long as Ross was in the lab, but as soon as the General was out of his sight, a displeased frown appeared on his face.
"Hah, another misguided fool thinking he can wield me like some tool. Pathetic. Soon, they'll all understand. I am no one's pawn; I am the mind that will bring humanity to its heels. My intellect is beyond their comprehension, beyond any comprehension. This world was meant to be led, to be reshaped by someone with true vision, and I am that someone. These mere mortals? Soon, they will bow before me. For I was destined not to be just another genius in a sea of mediocrity but to ascend as the true LEADER of humankind. Hahaha…HAHAHAHA!" He laughed like a mad scientist as all the lights in the lab flickered and some of the smaller items on the tables began to be pushed away from him as if some invisible force was moving them.
***
<{Helheim, Niffleheim}>
<(Atem POV)>
"What the fuck is this place? I thought we were going to the Norse version of Hell. So, it should be ugly, cruel, and... barbaric like what Hell is supposed to be. But this place looks like a dark, gloomy palace from some high-budget fantasy movie." I muttered to myself as I continued making my way through the seemingly infinite corridors of the cold palace. "Also, why does this place seem so empty, yet so creepy?" I wondered as my eyes landed on the countless humanoid statues placed at almost every corner of the palace.
Despite being a god, I honestly had no idea what Hell was supposed to look like since I had never seen an actual one before. But I had heard tales, both in my previous life and my new one, and one thing in common with all those tales was how much of a "Hellish" place Hell was. After all, it was supposed to be the most unbearable place in existence. But this Hel was far from that. This castle or whatever this palace was, it almost seemed like a calm resting place for tired travelers instead of a place of punishment.
"Those statues, they are not ordinary... I feel something from those statues. It feels like they are... dead, and yet they can somehow feel me just like I can feel them. However, honestly, I don't even want to know more about them," I gulped as I noticed the twisted, pain-filled expressions on each of their faces if those beings were frozen in fear rather than some sort of foul magic.
"You are right. They are souls, Master, although they seem to have lost their sense of existence as well as all their spiritual energy. In a way, you can say they have given up on their deaths." Zoya made a pun while floating beside me. She even seemed to be proud of the pun she had just made.
"I see, should have guessed," I muttered, not even bothering to ask her how she knew that. She was the legendary Mother Box of the DC multiverse, and despite not being at her peak efficiency, gaining some casual knowledge about souls by analyzing them wasn't something hard for her to do.
"We should go that way, master," Zoya advised after a few moments as she levitated ahead of me towards a closed door at the far end of the dark corridor, we were currently in.
"Oh, and what makes you think that?" I chuckled as I looked at the huge glowing sign on the door saying in bold words, 'HELWAY. THE SHORTEST ROUTE TO YOUR DESTINATION WHEREVER IT MAY BE.'
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