Chapter 16: Chapter 15
DC
Marvel
The Newest Marvel
*** World War Hulk ***
To say the world was confused was an understatement. People in Vegas scrambled to see who this hero was so they could put him on the betting pool. At this point the scored was how long a hero would last against the Hulk, not who could put him down.
In the White House, the President of the United States demanded a file on this new arrival since yesterday. At first he thought it was the Sentry, after tall the S gave it away, but his eyes and ears confirmed that the Sentry was at home. So who was this person and what made him think he could stand up to the Hulk? Though, he did appreciate the thought, no sense in more getting hurt.
And in a shelter outside of NYC, a thirty year old name Lori Lace recognized the person on screen. It was the superhero who saved her almost a year back. He built a name for himself among the civilian population, the working person really. He most dealt with petty crime, not super powered people like the Hulk! She could pray for his safety as the figure began to slowly approach the Hulk.
All across the world some face palmed at the obviously suicidal hero, others that was familiar with the armored man wished he wise up and left.
Yet, none was more surprise than the captured heroes in the Stadium.
For She-Hulk she knew that Cobalt was strong, but she had been pulling her punches during the Civil War. What he did to the Clone Thor was an easy feat, heck Spider-Man could even do it if he wanted to be ruthless and she's much stronger than the wall-crawler. Bruce however was merciless at the moment, he'd destroy the armored hero. With Tony it was a different story, at least with Tony, he was the most brilliant mind in the world next to Reed, who the was-
"Colby!" Spider-man yelled loudly through the pain. "Get your ass out of the-rarrggh!"
It was a testament to how much Spider-Man saw Cobalt as a friend to risk such pain to warn the man. The other heroes really had no relation to him so they weren't going to suffer pain to warn him. He really shouldn't have known better to punch above his weight class.
Jennifer and the other heroes could only watch in dread as Cobalt approached the Hulk.
*** Clark ***
Clark turned around to where Spider-Man voice had shouted his warning and saw him get punished for it. His X-Ray scanned the device and frown, there seem to be a very complex bomb in it, he couldn't simply tear it off or melted the circuitry. He'd have to get the codes from the Hulk or one of his cohorts.
With that in mind Clark approach the large green behemoth that was on his dais looking down at the arena.
"Y-You fool, you doom up all!" Tony Stark coughed painfully as he berated Clark. Reed face also seem to mirror Tony Stark's opinion.
"I-If you didn't show up,-cough- the Sentry would be here by now!" Tony Stark, billionaire playboy, who looked like he had seen better days chided Clark.
"Every actions we have taken was with the express purpose to get Sentry here, to get him to see the hopeless situation, but you... YOU ruined everything!"
"Do you see newbie," Hulk great voice rumbled from on high as he look at Clark. His green eyes holding barely contained anger.
"Even at this time, instead of thanking you, he instead berate you. THIS is how Tony Stark treat his allies!"
There were jeers from the Pro-Hulk crowd and they were even jeers for Clark.
"Get the hell out of here man!"
"Iron Man rip off! War Machine wannabe!"
"Way out of your league blue tin can!"
"Leave, that is the only mercy I would extend to you for your courage," Hulk frame tensed up before he smashed the concrete wall next to him reducing it to rubble.
"Or be destroyed like that."
"Get out of here Colby arrgh!" Spider-Man voice could be heard through the dinned. The rest of the other heroes heartbeat was elevated but their injuries was not life threatening. As Clark thought, the Hulk was not a killer.
"Dr. Banner, or Hulk if you prefer." Clark corrected quickly seeing the Hulk become aggravated.
His arms were raised up to show his sign of surrender even as more jeers rain down on him.
"I have followed your career and you are a hero, not a villain, yes Tony Stark and his ilk have wronged you but you have more than exact your vengeance," Clark point to the batter form of the beaten form of the Illuminati members.
"The whole knows what happened to you, the people here sympathize with you, I am sure more across the United State also support you. Let them go, show them you are better than they could ever be, that a mere monster showed more humanity than the greatest heroes of this world."
Clark saw the form of Dr. Strange, Tony and Reed Richards hung their heads in shame, only Blackbolt was unrepentant as he glared at the Hulk still.
"Look at them, they full well know their shame, please, show the world that you are still the hero they know you to be."
*** World ***
All across the United States and translated world wide, the words of the hero known as Cobalt was heard. Many could not help but agreed with his plead to the great green monsters, and many that were anti-hulk once more remember that he had help save the world countless time.
They all watch the form of the Hulk looking down with the Iron Man knock off. He didn't even look as streamline as War Machine with his bulky frame. What did bug quite a few people was why the S-shield on his chest if his name was Cobalt?!
The world held it's collective breath as the Hulk jumped down with a heavy thud before the blue armored man.
"You talk too much!" Hulk roared as he lifted his arms and smashed it down onto the Iron Man knock off.
Many across the world let out scream of fright both at the Hulk and in fear for the stupid brave armored hero.
However a few moments surprised gasp dominated the collective viewership of humanity.
"Who the hell is that guy?!"
*** Clark ***
Clark blinked at the Hulk strength. That was it? He was strong but Clark was preparing himself for something some more. He looked up at where his arms was cross to block the Hulk attack and saw the Hulk looked as surprised as him.
Then Clark had to take back his assessment as the Hulk raised his arms up again and hammer down onto him with such forced that he made him exhale in pain as a loud crack was heard across the arena. A small crater had been formed with him in it.
Clark remained motionless to recovered and realized that this might not be as easy as he thought. He was really hoping the Hulk could have been reasoned with.
"Stupid puny iron man rip off." Hulk had scoffed in derision as he turned his back on Clark and paid for it as Clark got up and tapped the Hulk on his shoulders.
The Hulk must have been surprised as he left himself wide open as Clark leveled a powerful punch into the Hulk face and sent him slamming into the wall inside the arena.
"COBLY?!!!!!" the high pitch squawked of Spider-Man could be heard, disbelief clear in his voice.
For the audience part they were silent at seeing someone unknown level the Hulk out.
Clark looked at the Hulk who closed his eyes as if to calm down.
"That was a stupid mistake, now you will be SMASHED! NO MERCY!"
"Shit." Clark gritted his teeth as the Hulk opened his eyes filled with rage he only ever seen on Doomsday. And you just simply can't reason with Doomsday.
"HULK SMASH METAL MAN INTO PIECES!!!"
Faster than Clark thought the Hulk was capable of he closed the distance and sent a super powered gamma punch at Clark. Clark found himself skidding across the arena floor, through the stands, out of the building and into the next building over.
"Ok," Clark muttered to himself as his body recovered from the punch as he got slowly to his feet. He then realized the shock of the punch destroyed his voice box and the metal plates on his chest was dented in.
"Wanted to do this the civilized way but so be it."
Hovering a bit off his feet he shot at super-speed toward the Hulk taking the path he just destroyed courtesy of Air Hulk. As he closed in on the Hulk surprised face he couldn't help but smirk as he smashed straight into the Hulk before the green giant could defend himself.
Clark felt their impact to his very bones, but he had the momentum as he carried the stunned Hulk through the arena, into the stands and into the next buildings. Unfortunately the Hulk appeared to have crazy recovery speed also as Clark felt a powerful grip on his arms and a vicious punch to his head later stop his flight. He then felt himself toss away across several adjacent building from the Hulk.
Quickly getting back on his feet, Clark leveled his hand at the Hulk and fired his heat vision, he noticed that nothing came out. He then looked at his hand to see it was naked. A quick search show the recovering Hulk with his metal armor shell in his hand.
"Hmm, You might provide me some amusement," the Hulk tossed the blue shell away and rushed toward his latest victim.
Clark was off his feet and flying toward the Hulk at his maximum speed with both hand balled up into fist in front of him. The distance wasn't between the Hulk and him wasn't even two blocks but that burst of speed allow Clark to have greater momentum to his punch. Apparently the Hulk was the same as the Hulk was punch met Clark's own.
There resulting thunderclap shattered all the windows in a twelve block radius. The impact also sent both Clark and the Hulk staggering back a bit, but their recovery time appeared equal as they recovered and threw hard punches at each other at the time. The vicious struggle sent them through buildings and vacated shops before finally in grid lock hold came back to the arena after an hour.
"COLBY?!!" a voice shouted in the distance filled with incredulity.
*** World ***
To say the world was shocked by the turn of event was an understatement. The camera followed the two combatants as they fought each other. This was suppose to be an Iron Man rip off right? Even Iron Man did not seem to be on such equal footing with the Hulk much less last as long and was that pieces of his armor falling off?
With the President of the United State, he wanted every single detailed filed on the hero known as Cobalt a week ago. His advisers assured him that they were going through every single scientist of renown to see who could have belt such a battle armor.
With the heroes in the stadium they looked on complete and utter shock at the hero known as Cobalt where in a deadlock grip. They two fighters appeared to be trying to over powered each other. The Hulk had his hands gripping Cobalt fist but it appeared he was having a hard time pushing him back but the Hulk was not moved either from his spot.
Jennifer Walter knew the strength of her cousin grip, she also knew when he held back, right now her cousin haven't cut completely loose yet but he wasn't taking it lightly either. What tech was in that suit of his?!
"Colbly?!" Spider-Man uttered against making Jennifer roll her eyes.
"Little street level baby steps Colby? My Colby?"
"Shut up!" Carol was sick of Spider-Man shocked outcries. Okay so Cobalt might have more surprise to him then they thought, but was that any reason to act so shock about it.
"That's not Cobalt!" Tony suddenly shouted his voice sounded hopeful, even with glee. "That's the Sentry! That how he could face the world! Look at it, the armor was never a tech suit!"
Suddenly it all made sense to Carol, an agoraphobic could not leave his house, but what if his house could leave with him? That'd be a whole different story! He was probably using Cobalt armor. Suddenly hope blossom in Carols hearts and she could see the other heroes around her was also regaining their will to fight.
Crazy or not the Sentry was their strongest fighter.
*** Hulk ***
The Hulk had came to Earth to punish the those he once called friends. All of his former friends had banned together to stop them. He spared their lives in memories of the friendship they once shared. However, there was one he was hoping to never fight. His old friend, the Sentry, who's yellow energy always calmed him down. When the Sentry did not appear after he defeated Tony, he knew that the rest would fall, as long as the Sentry do not oppose him, he would be unstoppable.
That did not mean the Sentry could defeat him, but the yellow energy of the Sentry might lessen his rage and right now he was so angry that he was thinking clearer than ever before. So before the Sentry could give those betrayers any more hope, he would exploit his golden hair friend weakness before the world.
"ROOOBEERTTT!!!!!!" Hulk raged as he continued to trade stinging punches with his old friend. His objective however was the armor on his power. Once that was off, Robert would flee like a coward.
*** Clark***
Tough. That was the only words that kept going through Clark's mind. He was not as strong as he was before, after all only over a year of absorbing the yellow sun did not make up for a life time. It was close but not at 100 precent. Had he been up to his old strength he might be confident about winning this battle, but right now, despite him throwing harder and harder punches, the Hulk just seem as ready to fight as ever. He had briefly considered flying away to gain momentum to hit the Hulk with it. But there was no guarantee that would even keep him down at the rate he was regenerating. However, if he could deal continuous damage and wear down the Hulk's recovery abilities perhaps that might just be enough. The only question was if he could go the distance against the Hulk in his current state.
"ROOOBERTTTT!!!!" the Hulk roared causing the pavement below them to be torn up from the sheer power.
Something unexpected happened then, the Hulk got even stronger much to Clark surprise, that moment of surprise was all the Hulk needed to capitalized against Clark defense. There was a powerful blow against his head that knocked stunned him a bit, but he countered punched with full power and saw the Hulk face was whipped back green blood spraying from his mouth.
However, just as quickly, the Hulk recovered and grabbed Clark by both of his should and held butt him. Once more it rattled his skull, the hulk continued to smashed his face against Clark helm repeatedly breaking it open. While Neo-Steel was something John Henry Irons created it couldn't take that much punishment.
"No more hiding like a coward ROBERT!" the Hulk roared as he continue to smashed his head against Clark own. Green blood was flowing freely from his forehead but that did not mean Clark was protected as he felt his blood also flowing down his face.
Having enough, he was able to break free from the Hulk monstrous grip and fly back away from the Hulk's reach. There were small gaps in his helm now where eyes shield was suppose to be. He looked down at his armor and noticed that it was pretty much barely holding together, at this point it was just hindering his movement more than help protect him.
Clark couldn't afford to have anything weight him down for this fight anymore. So with that he began to rip off the armor and saw a look of surprise passed through the green giant face as he took off his helmet.
Well, the secret was out now but Cobalt was just always extra insurance for Clark, after all his glasses have yet to fail him.
"C-COLBY?!"
Clark snap his head to the person who uttered that shout. It wasn't Spider-Man like before, in fact the webslinger was turning to his captured companion with a put upon body language.
'Crap, it was Carol...'
*** World ***
The entire world eyes were glue to the television set, not anyone dare go anywhere as the hero known as Cobalt took off his armor. And what was revealed was a handsome face with messy black hair accentuated by his deep entrancing blue eyes. On his impressive body frame was an ocean blue t-shirt with the same S-Shield emblem on it. He was wearing a lighter color blue jeans with what looks to be brown steel toe boots.
Afterward people began to noticed small details, his face looked a bit bruise, his shirt had what looks to be dry blood on it. Still he did not look weary or down trodden, he looked ready to go more rounds with the Hulk.
Speaking of their former green guardian. The camera panned to the green giant who looked surprised and puzzled at the reveal. He was not the only one as other heroes also had confused looks on their faces. It appeared they did not know this unknown either.
At the White House, the President of the United State was berating his intelligences officers as he wanted a file on this Cobalt since last month! Turning back to his television, the President could not help but think this newest hero had an all American feel to him.
In the arena the Hulk appeared to recovered from whatever it was as he walked toward to the new unveiled hero. His steps were slow and deliberate until they reached the man. They could not be sure how talk the man was, but the man was fearless as he looked up to the Hulk with no a hint of fear in his body language.
"Who are you?" the question came from the Hulk.
The man face looked down at the S-shield on his chest and set his shoulders as if he decided on something and looked back up to the Hulk. The two fighter staring eye to eye with one another.
"I'm Superman." the man voice came out smoothy with confidence.
And just like that, the two threw simultaneous punches at each other, the moment their fist met each, the force was registered as a miniature earthquake.
To most he appeared like an everyman, that he called himself Superman after his tussle with the Hulk made sense to them.
Jean was in her car with Kitty and Psylocke and Kurt listening on the radio at the fight suddenly swerve as the car was ground beneath them shook. They looked at each other and slowly got back on the road, they would have taken the Blackbird or any aerial vehicle but it was all destroyed by the Hulk.
Finally, in Robert Reynolds home, the superhero known as the Sentry had been in the exactly same position when Cobalt started to challenge the Hulk. However, when the man with the S on his chest was revealed, the eyes of one the Sentry turn dark.
The Void was not please with this new development.
To Be Continued...
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