Start the Fire
Chapter 8: Around the Campfire
[~][~]
After what seems to be a few minutes in the air, the Hulk lands. The impact of his landing not only shook the ground but created a crater. The trees shook so much that the snow fell off their branches. The sleeping wildlife, such as birds, foxes, and even deer were instantly awake from the loud noise. Sensing that something dangerous was nearby, they fled the area in terror.
When the dust settles, Hulk is standing at the epicenter of the crater. He releases his precious cargo as he stands up. Kamala and Marth pushed themselves off the ground. Marth's legs were shaking as he stood up, his lip trembling. Kamala thought back to when he screamed. For a moment, she thought he sounded too feminine to be a man. But she chalked it up to being unexpectedly launched into the air.
"Allah, I can't remember the last time that I rode the Big Green Express," Kamala comments while stretching her arms to flex her muscles. "Thanks, big guy. Any minute back there and we would've been under a mountain of snow."
"You're welcome, kid," Hulk grunts while rolling his shoulders.
Kamala smiled at her fellow Avenger. She turned to Marth to check on him. Her sentence dies before it leaves her mouth when she sees his state. Even though he was still wearing that mask, she could tell his first experience was, for lack of a better word, not his finest moment.
"I…I don't feel so good," Marth said as he tried to stand up. When he stumbled, Kamala was quick to catch him before he fell on his face.
"Easy there," Kamala said as she lent him her shoulder until he could adjust his equilibrium. After taking a few deep breaths, Marth lifted himself from the polymorph. If Marth had super vision, Kamala would assume he's looking back at the mountain and avalanche they escaped from. With the mask on, it would be difficult to make out his expression, but she could feel that he was in awe.
"This has to be thousands of leagues away from Winter's Peak," Marth breathed out. He turns his head to the Hulk. "Are you telling me we covered such a distance in a single jump?"
"He just did," Kamala said with a grin, jerking her thumb at the Hulk. The green behemoth just shrugged it off.
"It was nothing special," Hulk rumbled. "I've spent plenty of time running from a lot of people. Had to make a getaway from a lot of places."
"He's being humble. If he wanted to, he could jump to the next country," Kamala said. Marth looked at her in disbelief, expecting her to be pulling her leg. When she didn't, he went back to staring at the Hulk in awe. Kamala had the same reaction the first time meeting the Hulk.
Frankly, she is feeling more than awe. She is feeling victorious. For the first time in this world, she reunited with one of her fellow Avengers. That's a mission accomplished in her book. Now she just needs to find the others. Which is going to be more of a challenge given the lack of leads on their whereabouts. She happened on Hulk by chance. It's unlikely to happen again. But she's going to be keeping an ear to the ground. They'll present themselves eventually. For now, they have pressing concerns. One of which is how they can get home.
Kamala's face fell when she remembered how far she was from her home and parents. No doubt they are worried about where she is. They always did whenever she became Ms. Marvel. The only one who knew was Abu, and he didn't tell Ammi. He knew how she would react. But she pushed those thoughts away. They'll find a way home, she reminded herself. Besides, this is a land of swords and sorcery. There's bound to be some magic spell that can send them back to Earth.
"But we shouldn't celebrate just yet," Kamala said with a sigh. "We're still in Regna Ferox. I know because I can see the Longfort in the distance."
Kamala pointed with her finger. The two followed the direction she was indicating. Sure enough, there is the border fortress in the distance. The ever-vigilant wall that stands against any invaders. They could make out the rays of the rising sun peeking over the top of the wall.
Seeing it made her realize that she spent the whole night looking for Hulk while fighting off zombies. No doubt thanks to the adrenaline pumping in her veins at the time. She hasn't gotten a chance to sleep.
"You make it sound like it's a problem to be here," Hulk scoffed. Kamala put a hand on her hip.
"It is because you left an impressionable reputation among the Feroxi that we need to leave!" Kamala exclaimed. "Many rumors are circulating about you! A green giant tore a bear apart with his bare hands and feasted on the corpse. Ripping up trees and using them as clubs. Heck, they even mentioned that you scared off a group of their finest warriors on a hunt. It got so bad that they decided to band together to kill you. We got away for now, but the moment anyone sees you, it'll spread like wildfire. Everyone in Regna Ferox will come running just for the chance to kill the behemoth terrorizing them."
"Don't forget the guards at the Longfort," Marth added. She turned her head to look at the border fortress. "We can't just walk up and expect them to let us pass with the Behemoth…I mean, Hulk in tow."
"Not the first time people tried to kill me," Hulk grunted. "But I get the picture. If we need to be discreet, I'll just let Bruce out and—"
"No!" Kamala immediately stopped him, catching him by surprise. "Right now, it's a bad time to change back into Bruce. We don't have any spare clothes for Bruce to wear. Especially in this weather. And while we're on the subject, are you using human skulls as a belt buckle for your kilt?"
"Well, they were just lying around in the cave I was staying in. Though they may be useful," Hulk said awkwardly, looking at his makeshift belt. Kamala and Marth looked at him with looks of disgust. While they are glad that he didn't kill anyone just for a belt buckle, it still disturbs them.
"And it never disturbed you?" Marth voiced aloud. "That you are desecrating the remains of the fallen?"
"Please tell me you are still wearing the pants," Kamala added. Marth shot her a look.
"You're worried about pants? After what he just said?"
"Yeah, I'm still wearing them," Hulk answered as he reached into his kilt and pulled at an elastic waistband. "Never washed them though."
"Okay, we did NOT need to know that!" Kamala yelled in disgust. "But I'm glad that you are still wearing them. Still, you can't change back. Not until we get some clothes that will fit Bruce. And I don't think the guards at the border will be friendly enough to lend us some clothes."
"I'm not sure if there are any that could fit him," Marth pointed out, looking at Hulk up and down. "His size would give a seamstress a nightmare. By the way…who's Bruce? You speak as if there's another man here."
Kamala tensed up. Although they fought together in Winter's Peak, she still wasn't sure she could trust Marth. Especially regarding the Hulk's alter ego. While it would make it easy to get past the Longfort, it will have serious repercussions. If word got around that the Behemoth of Winter's Peak is not only in Ylisse, but a man who can transform in a mass of green muscle, fear and paranoia will grip their minds. She can imagine how that would turn out and it ends with stupidity unleashing the Hulk. Thank Allah that Bruce can control his emotions, and by extension the Hulk, but even he has his limits.
There's still the matter of him knowing her real name. She didn't ask because they were busy fighting the zombies. Or Risen as he called them. But he didn't seem that he would exploit that knowledge if it would be harmful in this world. The polymorph is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on the issue. But once she has the chance, she'll grill him for answers.
"If we want to avoid people, I can smash a hole in the wall so that we can walk out," Hulk suggested, slamming a green fist into an open palm and moving toward the walls. He only got a few feet before Marth interposed himself with his arms spread out.
"No! That cannot happen!" Marth protested. "If you destroy even a section of the Longfort, it'll create another opening into Regna Ferox. One that can easily be exploited by their enemies if they catch wind. Especially Brigands. A while back several groups of Brigands masqueraded themselves as Ylissean soldiers to stir up hostilities between them and Regna Ferox. The Feroxi will have to overextend themselves and put a strain on their army just to defend the border. Especially when Ylisse is in desperate need of their help."
Despite the daunting size of the Hulk, Marth didn't back down and met the green goliath's gaze unflinchingly. Kamala's face softened at the implications. She and superheroes her age aren't strangers to the collateral damage they could leave in their wake. The Superhero Civil War is a stark reminder of that, and the community suffered greatly as a result. It took years to recover but the scars are still there to make sure they and future generations never forgot. To make sure that it doesn't happen again.
Which brings her to this situation. While she is no expert in warfare like Cap or Nat, Marth is raising a valid point. Knowing her history with a similar civilization, the Longfort is built to keep invaders out. From what she can tell, the only entrance is the gate she saw back then. If they take the discussed course of action, it will create another entrance for invaders to make a mess. Especially when Plegia is sending soldiers disguised as brigands to instigate a war. She heard that from the Shepherds. During her travels, she heard among the Feroxi that they tried the same schtick, aligning with Marth's testimony.
In hindsight, she could simply just go over the wall the same way she did when entering Regna Ferox. She had to admire the blue-haired swordsman's guts. Most people would balk at the idea of confronting the Hulk. Especially when he gets angry. No one wants to be around him when he's mad. The fact that he's standing in the jade giant way speaks volumes of his character. If Thor were here, he would announce his respect for that trait proudly. It is because of that she made a decision.
"Okay, we're not going to smash the walls," Kamala said as she stepped in between them. Marth sighed in relief while Hulk looked at her incredulously.
"What? No smashing?"
"You know that not every problem requires smashing, big guy," Kamala said placatingly. "We…well, you did a number back at Winter's Peak. Allah, I'm hoping nobody got caught in that avalanche. But we can't cause another incident that will cause unnecessary consequences. Not when we have other things to worry about. You understand right?"
She stared at Hulk, waiting for his answer. Then he just shrugged his shoulders with a huff and relented. Kamala sighed in relief that she managed to dissuade him. Their priority is to locate their teammates and find a way home. Not get involved with other countries' politics and battles. Unless it is to protect the innocent, then they will get involved.
"Besides, there's another way to get around the wall without anyone seeing us," Kamala pointed out with a smile. "I'm too tired to pull myself over the wall again. I could go for another ride on the Jade Express."
Hulk looked back at her, picking up the meaning of her words. Marth however looked confused at the phrase.
"Jade Express?"
"That's right, you don't get the term," Kamala said, pounding a fist on her palm. "Short version is that Hulk is going to jump over the wall and he's going to carry us."
Marth looked at her for several seconds before the implication sank in. The swordsman looked at the Hulk, who crouched on his knees, arms open with a smile. Kamala walks toward the Hulk and lets him wrap a muscular green arm around her. The other arm is still open, no doubt to receive him.
Gulping, he approached the green giant, steeling her nerves.
[~]
After the second time, Marth lost his lunch. Hulk leaped over the Longfort carrying the two of them. The moment they landed, the masked swordsman rushed to the nearest foliage and emptied his stomach. When he feebly requested that they don't do it again, they laughed at his expense. After several minutes of doing so, they began walking down the nearest road to who knows where.
Kamala nearly cried in joy when she felt the warm air on her skin. Gone was the frigid weather of the Feroxi, replaced by the spring-like environment of Ylisse. Granted that could change when winter comes to the country, but it's still preferable to the one in Regna Ferox.
"We need to find more food," Kamala said as she finished the last of her bread. "We're going to need to restock our supplies. Hopefully, there will be a nearby town. We'll need to stock up a lot of food because somebody can eat enough food to feed a small country."
"Bite me," Hulk said with a roll of his eyes.
There is a crinkle of paper as Marth pulls out a map. Unfolding it, he held it out in the light, allowing Kamala and Hulk to peer at it. From their perspective, it wasn't a printed one back at home. More of an old-fashioned made. Marth traced a line with a finger.
"If our position is just right, we are on the main road," Marth declared, tracing a line on the parchment. "If we follow this road from here, we should reach the Dukedom of Themis by tomorrow."
"I could just leap over there," Hulk offered.
"No! Two is more than enough for one day."
"Dukedom? I thought we were in Ylisse and it's a Halidom?"
"We are. But the Halidom is too big a burden to govern for the Exalt. But that much power in one person can easily be misused to start a war that will bring harm to both sides. So, the Exalt granted land and titles to nobles in exchange for loyalty, military service, and economic support. The nobles, known as lords, in turn, divided their lands among vassals, who pledged their allegiance and provided military service. They became the pillars that would hold it together maintain peace and protect Ylisse from invaders. In this case, Themis is a territory governed by one of the most influential Dukes and his household. Hence it is called the Dukedom of Themis."
Kamala nodded in understanding of his words. It sums up the feudal system of the Middle Ages in medieval Europe. It provided a hierarchical structure that ensured clear lines of authority and responsibility. The peasants, who formed most of the population, worked the land as serfs and were granted protection by their lords in exchange for labor and a portion of their harvest. This arrangement ensured that the basic needs of the community were met, as the serfs had access to land for cultivation and were protected from external invasions or raids. The feudal system also fostered self-sufficiency, with each manor producing its food, goods, and services, reducing reliance on external trade and enhancing local economies.
But while the feudal system had some advantages, it also had significant drawbacks that constrained social mobility and perpetuated inequalities. One of the main disadvantages was the lack of upward mobility for the lower classes. The rigid hierarchical structure of the system made it nearly impossible for serfs and peasants to improve their social status or escape the confines of their assigned roles. They were bound to the land and subject to the will of their lords, with limited opportunities for personal and economic advancement. This lack of social mobility created a stark divide between the privileged nobility and the impoverished lower classes, leading to a perpetuation of inequality and limited opportunities for social and economic progress.
And Marth pointed out, that kind of power can be abused.
"Has any Exalt ever gone mad with power before?" Kamala couldn't help but ask. Marth looked uncomfortable with that question. He gently folded the map and put it away. He began walking down the road with Kamala and Hulk following them. If they're going to talk, they might as well do it on the way than stand in the middle of a field burning daylight.
"As much as I hate to admit, there has been such a man," Marth admitted. "Fifteen years ago, the previous Exalt waged a terrible crusade against Plegia. He wanted to wipe out the Grimleal."
"Grimleal?" Kamala asked. Marth's face darkened beneath the mask.
"Worshippers of the Fell Dragon Grima," Marth said with a bitter voice. "While Ylisse worships the Divine Dragon Naga, the Grimleal worships the Fell Dragon. They devote themselves entirely to bringing about the return of the Fell Dragon by fighting those who would seek to stop him, kidnapping victims as sacrifices, or even offering themselves as nourishment for Grima. Even though it would mean the end of humankind, they carry out these atrocities."
His hands balled into fists. The two Avengers could share her anger at what they are hearing. They've had their fair share of fanatics back on Earth. Nazis, mad scientists, and even superhuman supremacists. There was even a cult that plotted the end of the world as they knew it in exchange for twenty years of wealth and power. Part of it involved sacrificing teenagers yearly. The only way they found out about it was that their children stopped their plot.
"So, they're another doomsday cult," Kamala summed up. "Wonderful. This just keeps getting better and better."
"The name is stupid," Hulk grunted.
"I don't disagree," Marth said with a smile that lasted briefly. "It's for that reason that the previous Exalt waged war. He wanted to wipe out the Grimleal. But that didn't mean it was a good thing. When the Ylissean army began to decline, he began conscripting common peasants. Untrained and inexperienced. Without them to farm the land and feed the country, it began to decline. Resulting in a famine that plagued the lands."
"That is heartless," Kamala gasped in horror while Hulk grimaced. "And the previous Exalt never stopped? Even with his people starving."
"No," Marth grimly shook his head. "He never stopped. All he cared about was wiping out the Grimleal. He didn't care if it drove his kingdom to ruin. But then one day, he suddenly died. No one knows how it happened or what caused his death. The least that can be said is that with his death, the war ended and Ylisse began to heal thanks to Exalt Emmeryn."
"That must've been a day of celebration," Hulk commented.
"Funny you should say that because there's a festival celebrating the day that she ascended the throne. At age fifteen no less. Many feared that she would continue the war. Naga, they even hated her and hurled stones at her. But she didn't want the war to continue. She ended it and sought to restore the lands ravaged by the war. Then she sought peace between Ylisse and Plegia and immediately decreased the size of the army allowing many to go home to their families."
"I saw the Exalt in Ylisstol," Kamala pointed out. "When she was going through the streets, everyone loved and revered her. I'm glad that it's well-earned."
"She is. If there were to be a shining light in Ylisse's darkest times, it would be her," Marth said with a warm smile. That smile became replaced with a frown as he said, "But not everyone was happy with the peace. The Mad King of Plegia, Gangrel, took control of the continent. While we…Ylisee was recovering from the war, he began sending groups of brigands to raid the countryside to harass and ignite the war again. With fewer soldiers to patrol the country, the attacks became frequent. There have been villages lost to Ylisse because of them. If it weren't for Prince Chrom and the Shepherds, there would've been more lives lost."
Marth stopped talking as he clenched his fists. Kamala could understand his anger. The damage that the previous Exalt not only affected the land but the hearts of many. It's easy for the people to vent their grievances on the daughter of the previous exalt, the guy who started the war and cost them much. Kamala feels that her world can relate given how they went through two World Wars. But the past doesn't define you. And she must have worked hard to earn back the hearts of the people in her pursuit of peace.
But the Kingdom of Plegia is too spiteful to allow it. They're not eager to let the past be past. Although the polymorph knows that there are two sides to the story, and she has her suspicion that the Ylissean army isn't all that righteous in their crusade as they claim. There's dirty laundry on all sides. Whatever they may be, it left scars on the people of Plegia. Something this Gangrel is all too eager to take advantage of. They have every right to be angry, but the fault lies in one man not the many. One bad decision can make the situation worse.
Even ones with good intentions.
However, even one bad decision can be another contributing factor.
"Si vis pacem, para bellum," Kamala quoted. Marth looks at her in confusion.
"I'm sorry?"
"If you want peace, prepare for war," Kamala clarifies. "Something that I learned from school. It's an old saying that's interpreted as peace through strength. A strong society is less likely to be attacked by enemies. I understand that Exalt Emmeryn didn't want a war, but pacifism isn't wise to do when your enemy isn't at all concerned with your safety. Since he's an aggressive adversary, she could build Ylisse's military strength so that he knows that if he launches an attack, he will receive a punishing response. It may not guarantee that you won't have conflict, but it's better than getting caught with your pants down."
Marth gripped his chin as he hummed in thought. "You may have a point. If there were a stronger military presence, more people would be saved and there would be fewer Brigands. But there's a reason that he's called the Mad King. He doesn't care how many of his people get killed if it means reigniting a war. That's why he sends his men to attack Ylisse disguised as Brigands. He wants Ylisse to retaliate so he can have his war. The Exalt doesn't want any more of her people to die. Yet he keeps sending more and more…"
The masked swordsman let that sentence trail off. Kamala could feel her blood boiling if it hadn't already. Hulk looked like he was ready to leap off to Plegia and throw Gangrel around like a ragdoll. Part of her is tempted to tell him to do just that. But she pushed those thoughts away. Until she comes face to face with Gangrel.
They continued in silence for a long while. Kamala took the opportunity to bask in the grassy fields of Ylisse. It made her forget all her worries. The search for her teammates, fighting legions of undead, and even the quest to find her way home. Even Hulk seemed interested in the scenery around them. Make sense given that he spent most of his time in that cave. Kamala was wondering if they'd reach another village on the way to Themis when she suddenly remembered something important.
"Before we go to the nearest village, we still have a problem to address," Kamala said as she cast a sidelong glance at Hulk. "We still need to find clothes. And before you ask big guy, they're for Bruce."
Hulk grunted but knew she was right. The last thing she wanted to deal with was a semi-naked Bruce running around. Part of it had to do with the skulls he's wearing but won't admit it out loud. While they would have to deal with a future scramble for clothes, it is better than the alternative.
"Bruce?" Marth asked. "This is the second time you mentioned that name, but there's nobody else here. Who are you talking about?"
Hulk and Kamala looked at each other. They haven't told him about the Hulk's alter ego, Bruce Banner. The latter has been through one hell of a witch hunt already. Even though she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, she still wasn't sure if she could trust him. Especially when he knows her name and she's unlikely to forget that fact anytime soon.
On the other hand, she didn't see the point in hiding it. Bruce Banner's status as the Hulk is public knowledge after all. It won't take long to piece together that they're the same person. Like with the timely appearance and reappearance of Bruce after the Hulk rides off into the sunset. One look at Hulk told her that he was thinking the same thing.
"That's going to take a lot to explain," Kamala answered. "But first we need to find clothes. Just trust me when I say we need them. You don't want to meet Bruce in his birthday suit."
If Marth was confused by her request, he didn't show it. Suddenly the blue-haired swordsman stiffened. Without a word, he ran ahead of them. The two superheroes looked at each other before running after him. For the Hulk, who had more muscle and energy than the polymorph, he is right at Marth's heels. It took a while for Kamala to catch up, mostly due to the lack of sleep. When she caught up to them, her eyes widened in horror as she nearly gagged at the gruesome sight.
"Allah…"
On the desolate dirt road is a dead body of a woman. A peasant woman judging by her clothes. Her face was forever frozen in terror. The jugular is slashed, letting blood seep onto the ground, giving it a crimson stain. It took all her willpower to not vomit. It would've been messy and disrespectful to the deceased.
But she wasn't the only body they found. Further down the road are more corpses. Strewn across the road are more lifeless bodies of peasants. Their expressions mirroring the dead woman. Kamala spotted a partially burnt wagon that gave her a feeling that it hadn't been empty before. Marth is offering a quick prayer to Naga for mercy on their souls, but nobody is listening. Kamala had seen plenty of dead bodies in pictures back on Earth. Namely historical massacres and murder scenes on the news. Seeing it right in front of her eyes is different.
"Who would do this?"
"Brigands. It's always the work of brigands," Marth answered with an edge in his voice as he gripped Falchion's hilt tightly. "Damn them! Be on your guard. The wounds are still fresh. They could still be nearby."
Taking heed of the swordsman's warning, the two Avengers readied themselves for battle in case the perpetrators decided to show themselves. Hulk rolled his shoulders with a low growl, ready to smash anyone or anything. Kamala clenched her fists, embiggening them for good measure. The air is heavy with silence. It was so quiet they could hear the rustling of trees and chirping of birds they ignored in favor of building up fury.
But while Kamala is more than up for another throwdown on bad guys, last night is taking its toll on her. She is straining to keep her arms embiggened. She glanced at Marth. While not very perceptive, he was also up all night fighting those Risen. Sleep deprivation can lead to poor and risky decisions. Especially in a battle. Being tired and worn out will leave her vulnerable to the brigands. The last thing she wanted was to become a hostage. Hulk might give them pause, but he would never put her life at risk.
Then, a lightbulb lit up over her head. She didn't know if it was a lack of sleep, but it was worth a try. With that in mind, she ensmallen her hands.
"Hey Hulk, lend me your ear for a second."
Hulk bent down and Kamala cupped a hand to her mouth and whispered her plan. As Hulk listened, his face became split with the biggest grin ever seen. Nodding, he trudged into the nearby foliage.
"Where's he going?" Marth asked.
"He's going to be hiding until I give the signal," Kamala explained in a low voice. Then without warning, she hooked her arm around his. "Come! Walk with me for a bit."
Marth nearly stumbled as Kamala dragged him along with her. Both took extra care to avoid stepping on any of the bodies. It felt like walking across a graveyard, but they pulled through. When they got some distance, Kamala spoke loudly.
"Oh no! We're just a couple of starving wanderers who are lost and alone. I hope nothing bad happens to us to spoil this calm and peaceful day."
"What are you doing?" Marth asked.
"Hoping to attract our brigand's attention," Kamala whispered. "If they're still around, we can bring them to us. Once we gather them together, we can bring the hurt on them."
Marth's eye widened in understanding. Then he cleared his throat and spoke as loud as he could, "Yes, I quite agree! I hope to Naga that there won't be any Brigands coming to kill us and steal my priceless sword and mask."
"Really? That's what you are going with?" Kamala deadpanned.
"What? It's better than yours."
"At least I'm not being too obvious!"
"You're no better either!"
While Kamala and Marth bickered quietly, there was movement. The sound of a branch snapping stopped the two cold. Out from behind trees, bushes, and other foliage came the brigands they sought. Kamala counted thirteen brigands that quickly surrounded them. Two already moved to cut them off from behind. Most of them are armed with axes with fewer swords. There is only one man in robes that they assume to be the mage. One that specializes in fire if the open tome is any indication.
"Well…that was easy," Kamala muttered. Part of her wondered who came up with this party. The balance is way off. But she pushed those thoughts aside to focus on the brigands.
"Look at what we have here lads! More sheep to slaughter!" One of the brigands, a man dressed in only trousers and an animal fur pelt, declared with glee. The rest of his comrades laughed among themselves with bloodthirsty grins. They gripped their weapons in anticipation. Marth grasped the hilt of Falchion before Kamala stopped him. Marth shot Kamala a look of surprise.
"We don't need to fight them."
"Why?"
"The lass is right. Don't try to play a hero young man," the leader mocked, misunderstanding Kamala's intentions. "Wouldn't want to bring harm to your lady friend. Not when she would be worth much to the Grimleal. They're always looking for slaves. And I bet that pretty sword can fetch me a thousand gold on the market."
Marth gritted his teeth at that last comment. It is clear to Kamala that he would rather die than part with Falchion. No doubt he would've charged him if Kamala hadn't told him to not make a move. Briefly, she wondered why he would listen to her and wonder why she made such a request. Time for the coup de grace.
"Could you give us a second, gentlemen," Kamala asked with faux sweetness. As the brigands became confused at her attitude, Kamala turned her head and called over her shoulder in a sing-song voice. "Oh, Hulk! Would you be a dear and come over here?"
For a few seconds, there was silence. Then the ground rumbled, increasing in intensity by the second. The brigands nearly stumbled from the small quake. A huge shadow loomed from behind the two brigands at the back. When they turned around, their bloodthirst evaporated like rainwater on a hot highway. They fell on their rears in pale terror as the incredible Hulk towered over them, giving them a wicked smile.
"Is it time to smash?" Hulk asked eagerly, slamming a green fist into an open palm. Kamala looked at the green Goliath and shrugged her shoulders.
"Yep. Go knock yourself out," Kamala said while giving the terrified brigands one last falsely sweet smile. "You boys play nice now."
Kamala gestured to Marth to follow her. They stepped around the brigands still frozen in terror and around the Hulk. They walked a little way before they heard the Hulk's roar and the screams of the brigands. None of them bothered to look back to watch the battle unfold.
"So that's why you didn't want to fight," Marth realized, speaking loudly over the sounds of possible bone-crushing. "You meant to sic the Hulk on them."
"If I'm being honest, I'm too drained to fight against baddies for today," Kamala admitted before looking at Marth. "Would I be correct in saying that you are also tired?"
It was a few seconds before Marth reluctantly nodded. Like Kamala, he had stayed up all night following Kamala to the fort in Winter's Peak. It took all his strength not to show it as they walked the road. If he had to fight those brigands, three would most likely go down before he did. That would also mean Kamala would go down leaving the Hulk alone.
"Wouldn't Hulk be tired?" Marth asked about the latter. He had to speak the last part loudly because of a scream and a thud. There is the telltale sound of a tree groaning before the fall.
"Hulk's a beast," Kamala replied with a smile. "In terms of stamina, he can outlast those chumps in a fight. If he wanted to, he would've wiped the floor with Regna Ferox in a matter of days. The only reason he didn't is that he's not the monster they see him as. It won't be long before he's finished with this fight."
"HULK SMASH!"
"Oh boy," Kamala whispered in a small voice as her irises shrunk to the size of pinpricks.
"What's wrong?" Marth asked, noting the nervousness that entered Kamala's voice. Kamala became ramrod and unmoving. At the same time, at the Hulk's bellow of rage, he heard something being slammed into the ground repeatedly. Without moving her head, Kamala looked at Marth and spoke in a firm tone.
"If you value your life, heed this piece of advice. Whenever Hulk talks about himself in the third person, that's your cue to look out. Especially given that he is a massive ball of anger energy that won't recognize friend and foe."
That warning set off serious alarm bells. Before he could ask, something flew between them at high speed. It slammed into a nearby rock with a splatter. Only when they saw the blood did they realize that the thing was the body of a brigand. He looked worse for wear as he slid down the rock, staining it with his blood. Looking back at Kamala, he noticed that she was struggling to hold herself together. He couldn't blame her as he too is paralyzed with fear. He could barely get the next words out.
"I will take that advice to heart."
They stood completely still as they listened to the sounds of battle. None of them dared to look behind them. Nor do they dare move from their spots. Part of them wondered if they should consider making a break for it to avoid being caught in the rampage. Right as they were about to throw caution to the wind, the sounds stopped. It became deathly silent. It's so quiet they could hear the fast beating of their hearts.
Slowly, they found the courage to turn around. The sight that greeted them had no words to describe how horrendous it was. There is a crater with the body of a brigand in the center, obviously been smashed repeatedly into the ground. Another hung from the branch of a tree like a piece of washing hung out to dry. An unlucky few found themselves crushed beneath a big piece of earth ripped from the ground.
Marth heard a small gasp next to him. Kamala had put a hand to her mouth, her face pale. She's beginning to hyperventilate as she looks at the grisly scene, and then she can no longer contain the contents of her stomach. She turned around collapsed to her knees and hurled.
"Are you alright?" Marth asked, putting a hand on her shoulder in concern.
"Y-Yeah…" Kamala weakly said. "I mean, I know that they are going to kill us, and this would be considered self-defense. And I've seen images of deceased bodies. It's just…lately, I've only fought zombies and brigands. But I've never witnessed the death of another human in person before. Not like this."
Marth understood immediately. "It's alright. Just look away."
"Thanks."
"Kamala?"
Two pairs of eyes snapped toward the source of the new voice. Making his way toward them is a fair-skinned man with unkempt brown hair and beard. He is lifting his feet out of an oversized loincloth. The only thing covering his lower region is a pair of purple stretch shorts. Kamala seemed to brighten at seeing the man. His eyes are wide at the field of carnage surrounding them. Kamala seemed to have brightened up immediately after seeing the man's face.
"Hey, Bruce! Marth, I'd like you to meet my friend Bruce Banner."
[~]
Marth is shocked beyond measure that the skinny man, Bruce Banner, is the behemoth known as the Hulk. It's hard to believe that this awkward and nearly naked man is the same rage-filled giant. Kamala said that he is Bruce's 'alter ego' as she puts it. Any further questions are put on hold when the man notices the dead bodies. Distress became part of his confusion as he apologized to Kamala for having her witness such a scene. It took a while for Kamala to explain that it was self-defense and that they killed innocent peasants and possibly prevented more from being lost. That seemed to relieve the man. Especially when he sees that the Hulk didn't go after him.
After introductions were made, the three of them got to work on giving the dead a proper burial. It took an hour, but they didn't mind. For the brigands' victims, they dug graves to bury them in and marked each with a makeshift grave marker. It was a sobering affair they held a brief funeral. What makes it worse is that they have no way of knowing who they are or where they're from. It felt cathartic that the brigands got dragged into the wild and left to be fed to the wildlife. Marth suggested it as they don't deserve the courtesy of burial which the two agreed with.
With that done, they made their way. By chance of fate, they found the brigand's camp. Seeing as nobody is going to use everything in the camp, the group took the liberty of relieving the deceased brigand's belongings. They found a chest of gold, presumably pillaged from the peasants slain. It felt uncomfortable using it, but they needed money so preservation overruled their conscience. They've also taken a few intact camping supplies such as tents, bed mats, and tinderboxes, and travel bags to put them in.
It took them extra long to pack their newly acquired supplies. Bruce helped as he has prior experience with this sort of thing. After they finished packing, they put as much distance as they could from the campsite and what happened there. Eventually, it became sundown so they would have to stop for the night. They set up camp while there's still sunlight. Once they settled down, they brought Bruce up to speed.
"All of that happened while Hulk was out?" Bruce asked in astonishment. He is dressed in some of the clothes they've looted. They sat around the campfire on bedding mats. They got the campfire set up long before the sun went down.
"And he built up a reputation for terrorizing Regna Ferox," Kamala said with a smile as she scarfs down food. "If you ask me, they would be begging you to become their khan. I'm surprised they didn't."
"I think Regna Ferox was more scared to ask," Marth said with a small chuckle.
"I don't think we can handle that kind of commitment," Bruce said, rubbing his fingers against the bridge of his nose. "I'm more concerned now with how we ended up here. Nat said that A.I.M. created a Cosmic Cube and it shattered?"
"Yes." Kamala nodded. "That was the last thing I saw before I ended up in a remote village in Ylisse. The others are likely separated."
"I'm sorry," Marth raised a hand. "What exactly is this cosmic cube?"
Bruce blinked owlishly at Marth before looking back at Kamala. There's no doubt that Kamala told him about the fact that Marth knew her name. It'd be no surprise if their suspicions were raised. Hopefully, Marth earned a little trust from them. On the subject of this 'cosmic cube', it's like he's trying to find words to explain a complicated subject. He looked at Kamala before back at Marth and cleared his throat.
"It's difficult to explain," Bruce began. "But It's an artifact created by a group of…alchemist guild. A criminal alchemist guild known as A.I.M."
"A guild of alchemists named A.I.M.?" Marth asked with a raised eyebrow. "Like when you aim a bow. What kind of name is that?"
"It's an acronym. A word or name that is formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of other words. Thus, the word is pronounced as a single word. In this group's case, their name means Advanced Idea Mechanics."
"I see," Marth nodded. "That seems to be a clever way to name a group. What do they have with the Cosmic Cube?"
"First of all, are you familiar with the concept of energy?" Bruce asked, clearly trying to avoid mistakenly insulting Marth's intelligence. Fortunately, Marth had been educated in various subjects.
"Yes, I'm familiar. It's what the mages use to cast spells. Not just the mages, but the clerics too. Their foci also utilize magical energy to work. It's also our stamina and vitality that allows us to sustain physical or mental effort for long periods."
"Well energy is a lot more than that," Bruce said with an awkward smile as if he were a teacher giving a lecture. "Energy is a concept that permeates every aspect of our existence. It is the driving force behind all the phenomena we observe, from the gentlest breeze to the explosive power of a supernova. Energy is neither created nor destroyed; it simply transforms from one form to another, constantly in motion, forever changing."
"Let's think for a moment of energy as the currency of the universe," Bruce raised a finger. "It comes in many forms. Famous alchemists from our homeland have discovered various sources of energy and how to harness them. There's the wind, fire, lightning, and the sun just to name a few. Each form has its unique characteristics and applications, but they all share the fundamental property of being able to do work and improve our way of life."
"That's fascinating," Marth said in awe. She knew somebody who would be interested in this sort of thing. "But how do you harness such power from the sun? And what did you use it for?"
"Through the use of solar panels," Bruce explained with a smile. "When the sun shines onto a solar panel, the sunlight is absorbed into it. This creates electrical charges to move in response to an internal electrical field, causing electricity to flow. And before you ask, lightning is a discharge of electricity. One of our famous alchemists discovered ways to harness it. We use it to power various things back in our homeland. Transportation, housing, and more."
Bruce smiled as Marth took this all in. The blue-haired swordsman held in wonder at the knowledge shared. And the benefits that it promised. Then he turned serious.
"As for cosmic energy…it is the very essence of creation, the energy that birthed galaxies, stars, and all celestial phenomena we behold. It transcends the limitation of conventional understanding. A wellspring of immense power, capable of shaping reality itself. You can say that cosmic energy is the energy of reality."
Marth could feel the weight behind his words. Even more than the sources of energy that he explained about. If what he's saying is true, then it sounds like the power of the divine dragon. If the priests of Naga were to hear of such things, they would no doubt label it as heresy.
"And A.I.M. created an artifact to harness such energy?" Marth asked in disbelief.
"Yep. The Cosmic Cube," Bruce nodded. "As the name implies, it's a device that grants the wielder the power to reshape the very fabric of existence according to their will. It holds the potential to rewrite history, alter the laws of physics, and bring about changes in the universe. It is a cosmic key that unlocks limitless possibilities."
Bruce became silent as Marth's eyes became wide as saucers. It sounded like the Fire Emblem if not more powerful. If such an object exists, there is no telling what could be accomplished with it. And more importantly, ending the threat of Grima by wiping him out of existence. No one would ever have to live in fear of the Fell Dragon again. The chance to change everyone's fate can be held in the palm of a hand.
But all the same, if it fell into the wrong hands, it would spell disaster. If someone like the Mad King of Plegia were to get his hands on it, then Ylisse would fall to his madness. If the Grimleal are the ones to get it, then they'll be able to resurrect the Fell Dragon and bring about the end of humanity. For Naga's sake, it better not be in any of their hands.
"Where is the cube now?"
"It got shattered," Kamala answered. "When A.I.M. created the Cosmic Cube, they weren't thinking about the common good. They were going to sell it to HYDRA. A ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world. Trust me, if you think the Grimleal is bad, they take it up to eleven."
"They would sell an object to such people?" Marth asked, clearly aghast at the act.
"Yep, and it would be easier for them if they had the cube. Thank Allah that A.I.M. got greedy and screwed them over. But before we could secure the Cube, it exploded, and we and the rest of our team got caught up in it. We wound up here and…well, you know the rest."
"I see. That's unfortunate…" Marth muttered the last part under his breath. Fortunately, nobody heard it. Kamala let out a big yawn.
"Well, I'm going to hit the hay," Kamala groaned as she lay on her mat. "I'm long overdue for some rest. Wake me up when we're ready to go to Themis."
Kamala curled up on her mat. Within seconds, the only sounds that came from her were soft snores. The other two watched her sleep.
"I hope that she doesn't get nightmares," Bruce said as he hung his head. "I didn't want her to see Hulk when he gets angry. It can get…messier than usual. Whenever the Hulk goes on a rampage, nobody innocent dies."
"Well, the brigands were far from innocent. And we were looking away, so we didn't see much," Marth points out. "Naga, I've seen him tear through risen like paper."
"Those zombies, right?" Bruce asked. "I'll admit that I'd prefer that term over Risen. But looks like it's been coined already. You say that they're resurrected by this Grima?"
"I wouldn't go as far as to say resurrected," Marth declared. "They're corpses brought to life by his dark magic. The only ones who would know the process are Grima and the Grimleal. I would count your blessing that you weren't captured by them. There's no telling what kind of atrocities they would've forced you to commit. Countries would've fallen in a matter of days."
Bruce gripped his chin as he hummed in thought. Marth continued to stare at the man. A lingering question has been on his mind since the battle at Winter's Peak. As if feeling the gaze, Bruce looked towards Marth.
"I take it you want to know more about the Hulk?" Bruce asked to which Marth nodded.
"I'll admit that I'm curious. I've seen plenty of shapeshifters like you. Some can turn into rabbits. Others can become a dragon. It's a rare sight to see any of them. One thing they have in common is that they require a stone to transform. But you don't seem to be using a stone. As far as I can see anyway. So…what are you?"
"Hmmm," Bruce hummed. "You're right about me not needing a stone. I would like to see how that works for these 'shapeshifters' you mentioned. But for me, it's a long and complicated story."
"Well, we've got all night," Marth pointed out, legs drawn to the chin. Bruce didn't argue against that. They agreed that they would take turns keeping watch. Funnily, if there is an enemy attack and Bruce is on watch, then there would be a rooster call courtesy of the Hulk.
"Guess it wouldn't hurt to pass the time," Bruce acquiesced. Clearing his throat, he began, "I'm an alchemist myself. But unlike A.I.M., I sought to use my intellect in pursuit of philanthropic projects. Such as looking for a new clean source of energy."
"That sounds like a noble goal," Marth said with a smile. "But what's that about the source of energy being clean? Are you saying there are dirty sources of energy?"
"There are. These sources are called fossil fuels," Bruce confirmed. "Fossil fuels are a non-renewable energy source that comes from the remains of ancient organisms. Formed over millions of years as heat and pressure from layers of sediment change the decayed organic remains into materials such as coal and petroleum. Some examples include coal, oil, natural gas, kerosene, and propane. But while they are easier to store, and transport, cheap, and more reliable than renewable energy, they have their drawbacks. As I said, they are non-renewable so eventually they'll run out. They also pollute the environment and if used irresponsibly can lead to early death."
Although Marth didn't understand it, he gulped at the implications. "I understand why you would look for another source of energy."
"Yeah, a bonus would be to shut the hippies up. As a friend of mine did," Bruce said with a smirk. "In lack of other options, I went to work for our country's military. I met General Thaddeus E. Ross. They nicknamed him 'Thunderbolt' Ross because he struck like lightning when leading his men into action. Together, we worked on Project Big Green."
"Sounds like a good man," Marth said, only to wince as Bruce's face darkened.
"While his love for his country is to be admired, he is far from a good man at the time," Bruce said. "I didn't know at the time, but what I thought was a new energy source turned out to be a weapon. A weapon that uses gamma radiation, the same energy I wanted to utilize for philanthropic purposes, to kill a lot of people in a single moment. My work created what could've been the deadliest weapon in the history of mankind."
Bruce became silent, gripping his fists in anger and his eyes briefly glowed green. Taking a few deep breaths, Bruce continued, "Anyway, it was the day of the testing that changed my life. Just as we were about to activate the weapon, there was a security breach. A civilian named Rick Jones had entered the restricted test area. He was right in the radius of the weapons blast area, and he knew it."
"If he knew it was a dangerous area, why would he choose to be there?" Marth asked in horror.
"It was all part of a dare with his friends," Bruce answered with a humorless laugh. "A stupid dare that any kid would make just to prove their nerves. I asked a colleague of mine to stop the countdown while I escorted Rick to safety. Except that he didn't. As it turned out, he was an enemy spy. He did nothing, confident that I would die in the explosion, bringing the project to a halt. Honestly, he did me a huge favor."
"You shouldn't say that! What he did to you was abominable!" Marth declared, shooting up from his mat. That man would fit right in with the Grimleal if he's willing to perform such a deed.
"I agree with you. But what happened would contribute to changing my life. I was able to get Rick to a protective trench. Before I could get myself to safety, the weapon detonated, and I was irradiated with gamma radiation. The thing is Marth is that gamma radiation, in large amounts, can kill a person. So, when I got hit with it…I died."
"But you're here now," Marth points out, causing Bruce to smile.
"That I am. You see, I'm not like most people back home. I had a rare mutation that allowed me to survive. One that is triggered upon exposure to gamma radiation. It mutated my body. Not only bringing me back to life but bringing about the birth of the giant, green-skinned, muscle-bound titan known as the Hulk. In a way, I'm alive because of the Hulk."
"However, that was the start of my troubles. You see, the Hulk is released whenever I'm excited or angry. That applies to his strength. The angrier he gets, the stronger he gets. Further research showed that his strength has no limit. You can say that he holds the potential to destroy the world."
Bruce's tone became serious in that last sentence. Marth's eyes are wide as saucers beneath the mask.
"What happened next?"
"The first time I transformed into the Hulk, he hurt a lot of people as an enraged, nearly mindless creature. He ended up destroying the testing sight. In the process, he accidentally injured several graduate students, killed two scientists, crushed General Ross' arm, and…" Bruce's face became somber as he paused a little bit. "Put Betty Ross, someone whom I had a romantic relationship with, into a coma. When I reverted to myself, I found out what happened. I tried to visit Betty, but Ross wouldn't let me. Ross later confessed that the project was developed for military purposes but didn't consider it a failure. Rather, he wanted to use the Hulk as a weapon in combat. He wanted to make more of him."
"I didn't want that to happen, so I ran. I became a fugitive of my own country. For five years I ran from Ross and his forces. I would hide and flee whenever the Hulk got out. I got low. I didn't see an end, so I…tried to take my own life. The other guy disagreed. So, I moved on. I focused on helping other people. On the way, I found a way to control my emotions while I searched for a cure for the Hulk."
Bruce took a moment to take a deep breath before continuing, "It wasn't until I encountered foes that only the Hulk could beat that I realized something. That I spent a lifetime running from this aspect of myself. I learned that denying half of your being is no way to live. Whether I like it or not, the Hulk has a place in this world. So instead of trying to suppress him, I focus my efforts on controlling him. Directing him. Eventually, he and I found people who helped the world see that we aren't monsters—the Avengers."
"The Avengers?" Marth asked in a whisper. There was something in his voice that begged confirmation.
"Yes, the mightiest heroes of the world," Bruce confirmed with a smile. "Together we faced any threat that threatened mankind. Even General Ross when he tried to frame the Hulk and paint himself a hero."
"That's a relief. I'm glad that everything worked out for you Bruce," Marth said earnestly. He looked at Kamala's sleeping form. "What about Kamala?"
"Oh, she came later. As part of an Avengers…apprenticeship among several others. Helped us when we were lost one time," Bruce explained lamely before he yawned. "I better get to sleep too. Wake me up when you want to change shifts. I want Kamala to get as much rest as possible."
"Hold on," Marth spoke up as he lay down on the mat. "You haven't explained how you control the Hulk. If you don't use a stone, how do you control him?"
"That's the secret," Bruce said with a smile. "I'm always angry."
With those words, Bruce rolled on his mat and fell asleep. Marth is left alone to his thoughts. The night is quiet, with the only sounds coming from the campfire. Normally, it would be foolhardy to sleep with a campfire burning. Unless you have a contingent of guards on patrol, it's like a beacon for brigands and thieves. But it would be poor practice to simply put out the fire and sleep without someone keeping watch.
Marth held up the arm with the bracelet. Thoughts swirled inside his head. Namely, a story that Kamala told long ago.
"A green goliath whose roar can shake the earth. His strength could smash a dragon to a pulp. Whatever knows fear flees from him. For he is the Incredible Hulk."
"They're real…Naga they are real…"
[~][~]
Greetings and Bienvenu readers.
First, allow me to apologize for not updating any of my FanFics. I was struggling to overcome one hell of a writer's block. It made my head want to explode. It took a lot of willpower just come up with this. If something happens to me that results in me being unable to write, I will let you all know.
Anyway, just to recap, in this chapter, Bruce, Kamala, and Marth are back in Ylisse and on their way to Themis. I'll give you three guesses as to what's going to happen in the next chapter. I planned on giving a preview at the end of this chapter, but I wanted to get to work on RMH ASAP.
Just to clarify, the Hulk is intelligent. It's just that the angrier he gets, the more savage he becomes. And while he has killed before, he's never killed an innocent. While Bruce Banner is 'asleep' while Hulk is free, his super-genius mind is still part of the beast, plotting out every move so that no one is killed.
I'm also planning on having the chapters change to showcase the other Avengers as they journey to find each other as well as their way home. As well as A.I.M. and HYDRA I know you're dying for an update.
Well, that's all I have for now. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and have a very merry Christmas.
Until next time.