A Hero's Multiverse 56 Chapter 54: Lullaby

While Tony is fighting the Hulk and Natasha is helping Betty Ross to wake up, Wanda finds herself in a very strange place. Standing in the entrance of a very imposing manner, she follows a small ill-looking boy.

''Ethen?'' She asks the boy, but instead of answering, he just runs away from her. Before she knows what is going on, a man walks right through her, angrily following the boy, a syringe with a green liquid in hand.

Despite seeing the man's lips move, Wanda is unable to hear any sound. Going after the boy and the man, she soon loses the sight of them, only following the man's large shadow around each and every corner she takes.

The chase comes to a sudden end, as the frail boy falls down some stairs, allowing the man to catch up to him. Seeing the boy still struggle against the needle full of fear and pain, Wanda tries to get between the man and the boy, but to no avail. Simply reaching through her, the boy is injected with the green liquid, instantly appearing even iller.

Suddenly Wanda hears the men tell the boy. ''Pain is an only weakness that leaves the body. To get real strength you have to first become even weaker...''

Wanting to refute the man's words, Wanda is suddenly rejected from Ethens mind. Visibly shaken by what she just saw, she lets go of her lover.

Returning to reality, Ethen feels his super strength returning. Unsure if her idea worked, Wanda still calling herself asks him. ''Did it...''

That said, she out of nowhere is suddenly hit by a wave of nausea, neatly fainting, as she slumping downfalls into Ethens arms answering her own question, feeling Ethens strong supporting her. ''... I guess it is done, my love... I have temporarily unlocked your super strength.''

Feeling his strength fully return, Ethen gently lays Wanda on the metal floor asking her. ''Is this permanent?''

Seeing Ethens puzzled face, Wanda gives him a kiss saying. ''No, I guess it is only temporary. So don't expect it to last days! Now go get the green guy.''

Looking into the city, they see Tony and Banner crash through a building. ''Come on, Bruce! You gotta work with me!'' Says Tomy, as Hulk continues to battle with him, destroying the Hulkbuster bit by bit. Seeing the Hulk jump into a building after getting free from him, Tony shouts to the people in the building. ''Everybody out! This is going to get ugly!...'' That said, he knocks down Hulk saying. ''... I'm sorry.''

To his own dismay, the big green guy avoids his necks strike, while ripping Tony still in his Ironman Armor right out of the Hulkbuster.

Having his enemy finally in his grasp, the Hulk shorts at Stark, before starting to peal the human out of his armor like a banana.

''Ah, stinky...'' Says Tony, still joking, as damage reports fil his partly broken heads-up display. ''... You, my friend, need some mint gum!''

''I don't think that mint will be of any help for the guy...'' States Ethen, as he suddenly appears slamming right into Hulk. As he is suddenly pushed back, the green guy lets go of Stark, who now free hits the ground hard.

''... Since chewing gum requires teeth.'' That said, Ethen once again closes the distance between himself and Hulk in under a second, before he punches the green monster into the sky in one hit.

Jusing his returned muscle strength, he jumps after Hulk, catching up to it at around 150 m, before he grabs and throws him to the ground. Seeing the big green hit the street, creating a crater, Ethen aims his o8wn fall at its center.

From a distance, Natasha and Betty witness this beatdown of epic proportion while still standing on top of the s.h.i.+pwreck.

Seeing the Hulk being ruthlessly overpowered by the in comparison small man, Betty starts to fear for her lover's life. ''You have to stop that guy, he is killing Bruce!''

''Na, I don't think so...'' States Natasha, hoping to be right, knowing that Ethen would not refrain from killing the Hulk if need be. ''... but I guess we will have to stop that fight or this hole city will be destroyed.''

That said, the two women are joined by Wanda, who after a short recovering time is back on her feet. ''What are you standing there? We have to help Ethen and stop that thing. Ethen cannot find it all day long.''

Acknowledging Wanda's words, Natasha turns to Betty, who by now is obviously clinging to a nearby railing. ''Hey Betty is there a way to turn off the big guy?''

Awakening from her frightened stupor, Betty turns around facing the two heroines. ''There is, Bruce and I worked on this lullaby, don't you remember Natasha?''

''Yeah, I was hoping that there was another option since there is no way I will let you go near him as he is now...'' States Natasha before getting interrupted by a contemplating Wanda. ''How does this Lullaby work exactly? Does he have to see you sing or does your voice alone do the trick?''

Before Betty can answer Wanda's question, all three suddenly turn around, as they hear a painful, desperate scream from Hulk, as Ethen is ripping his left arm out of its socket.

''Oh my G.o.d!'' Betty screams shocked by the violence her crazed lover has to endure.

''Hey Betty. Answer the question if you want to protect your man from further harm...'' Asks Natasha the teary-eyed Betty, while forcing the woman to look away, as Ethen starts to hit the Hulk with his severed arm. ''... Betty! Is your voice enough?''

Whipping away her tears, Betty says while nodding frantically. ''My voice alone is enough.''

Smiling charmingly, Wanda comments in her heavy accent. ''Great. I seem to remember some loudspeakers downstairs...''

Meanwhile, Ethen is slowly at his wites end, seeing the Hulk regrow his missing limb. Throwing away the rotting arm frustrated he is holding, he once again is reminded how bothersome fighting without a weapon or most of his superpowers is.

-Hey Silver any idea how I can effectively fight the green guy?- Ethen finally asks mentally his silent pa.s.sager.

(Silver) ''Four lethal and one non-lethal option are currently available to the user.''

-Why didn't to inform me of those earlier?-

(Silver) ''User didn't ask and seemed to be having fun.''

-...- Stunned by the AIs answer, Ethen is. .h.i.t by Hulk and crashes into a nearby bank.

(Silver) ''Any more question works?''

Extracting himself out of the bank's vault door, Ethen feels his superstrength slowly leave his body. -You really are a piece of art... Okay, tell me the only non-lethal option?-

(Silver) ''Nock him out.''

-...- Ethen decides to not even bother with the AI and resumes to mindlessly beat the Hulk into submission. Leaving the bank in large steps, Ethen spots a struggling to stand up Tony Stark once again in his Hulkbuster nearby.

Seeing his original opponent back on his feet, Hulk once again starts to attack Stark by pulling out parts of the Hulkbuster armor.

Since most of the armor is already gone, Ethen hears Stark repeatedly ask. ''Damage report...'' His only answer being static buzzes. ''... That's comprehensive. Show me something...''

As Stark desperately tries to block Hulks attacks and formulate a plan, Ethen spots a building ahead that is hopefully is clear of civilians. Sprinting, he instantly tackles the big bad green and pushes him into the said building. As he goes with Hulk through the building, it is completely destroyed. Using a part of his dwindling superstrength, Ethen leaves the Hulk behind, as the building collapses on top of the raging monster.

Just as Ethen turns around, to look after it, he sees the army arrive in the distance to intervene. Hearing the by now all too familiar rage-filled shout of the Hulk once again, he resigns himself to another round, as he suddenly hears a soft female voice from above.

''Sun getting really low... The day is done...'' Looking up into the sky, Ethen spots Natasha control a quinjet carrying Betty Ross, Wanda and dozens of loudspeakers. Hearing the Hulks rage-filled noises stop, he turns around, only to find Stark stand on top of the big guy, knocking him out cold.