Chapter 131: The Death of Hulk and the Survival of Banner (Three chapters posted, seeking first subscriptions!!)

At Fuhu, the surface of the water had returned to a state of calm.

The same was true beneath the surface.

The murky Culver Culver Lake water washed over Hawk’s body.

Hawk’s gaze was expressionless as he looked at the massive green body lying motionless in the silt of the lakebed before him.

Hulk!

Yes.

He was dead.

The method of his death was simple, just as Hawk had planned: trapped underwater by Hawk, then drowned alive.

But while it sounded simple, it was not easy to execute.

Hawk’s consciousness glanced at his current Small Universe.

Inside the Small Universe, everything was in chaos, and even the Phoenix constellation map that illuminated it was dim and lusterless at this moment.

There was no helping it.

Hulk was indeed strong; ordinary people would burst forth with unparalleled strength when drowning, let alone Hulk, who grew stronger the angrier he became.

Hulk’s final counterattack before death had nearly sent Hawk into the Phoenix constellation, triggering the process of rebirth through fire.

But...

He had won nonetheless.

Hawk looked at Hulk’s corpse lying quietly on the lakebed, thinking silently to himself.

Just then.

Wisps of green light emerged from Hulk’s massive body, and immediately after, the green light whooshed into Hawk’s body.

Hum!

Hawk felt his Small Universe, which had suddenly begun to rotate slowly on its own, as if pulling these green lights into his body.

As the wisps of green light merged into the Small Universe, the previously dilapidated space began to bloom with vitality once more.

"This is..."

"Gamma energy?"

Hawk raised an eyebrow, looking at Hulk beneath his feet.

As all the power was absorbed by his Small Universe after death, the massive body began to shrink, the green light on its surface gradually dimmed, and finally, the massive Hulk vanished silently along with the last trace of power, replaced by Bruce Banner lying on the lakebed, his life status unknown.

Hawk looked at the appearing Bruce Banner, his eyes flickering.

On the shore of Fuhu.

Gwen was still staring with wide eyes, holding her breath, watching the now-calm Culver Culver Lake surface without moving.

Just then.

Boom!

The Culver Culver Lake surface exploded.

Gwen’s pupils contracted.

The next moment.

She watched Hawk break through the water and reappear before her; she could no longer hold back a sigh of relief, and her tense, pretty face blossomed into a smile.

Gwen hurried toward Hawk, who had landed on the shore carrying Bruce Banner after breaking through the water.

"Hawk!"

"Thud!"

Hawk, whose upper-body clothing had already been torn to shreds in the fight and whose casual trousers were also in tatters, tossed Bruce Banner aside and offered a smile as he watched Gwen run toward him, her tears turning into laughter.

The next second.

He collapsed to the side.

"Holy shit!"

"Hawk!"

Gwen was stunned for a moment, then quickly accelerated her pace, catching Hawk just as he fell, her voice trembling: "What’s wrong with you?"

Hawk’s head rested on Gwen’s shoulder.

"I’m fine."

"Liar."

Gwen looked at Hawk’s pale face and was on the verge of tears.

Hawk shook his head.

"Really fine, just exhausted."

"...Really?"

"Yeah."

Hawk nodded.

His fight with Hulk had indeed left him feeling drained after burning his Small Universe.

It was fine under the Culver Culver Lake, as he was still in a state of combat, but once he reached the shore, the endless weakness and powerlessness instantly invaded every corner of his body.

However...

After absorbing the gamma energy, the Small Universe’s previously dimmed Phoenix constellation map began to brighten slowly once more, and its powerful self-healing ability was rapidly eliminating this sense of weakness.

Although it wouldn’t be fast enough to restore Hawk to his peak state in the blink of an eye.

But...

In just a blink of an eye, color had returned to his previously pale face.

Seeing the color return to Hawk’s cheeks with her own eyes, Gwen finally believed his words, felt a weight lift from her heart, and then, seemingly thinking of something, she looked at Bruce Banner lying on the ground while supporting Hawk.

Perhaps because of the transformation into Hulk, Bruce Banner had prepared a pair of communal large trousers for himself, avoiding the embarrassing predicament of being left with nothing on after reverting from Hulk.

Gwen looked at the soaking wet Bruce Banner, who was left with only a pair of large trunks, and glanced sideways at Hawk, who was leaning on her shoulder.

"Is he not dead?"

"Not dead."

"Then Hulk..."

"Hulk is dead."

Hawk said with great certainty, then his gaze fell on the motionless Bruce Banner lying on the ground: "But he is not."

After all, Hulk was Hulk, and Bruce Banner was Bruce Banner.

Hawk had also been surprised when he saw Bruce Banner appear after Hulk died.

Hulk was dead, but Bruce Banner was not; however, after subconsciously opening his eyes beneath the lakebed, Bruce Banner had swallowed several mouthfuls of water and choked into unconsciousness.

He had hesitated at the time about whether to leave Bruce Banner at the bottom of the Culver Culver Lake.

But...

Hawk chuckled softly, smelling the fragrance of Gwen’s hair, and said in a weak voice: "The one who killed my sister was Hulk, not Bruce Banner."

Just as he had insisted from the beginning.

If it had been Bruce Banner who killed his sister, he wouldn’t have bothered with all that nonsense; he would have long since smashed Bruce Banner into eight pieces with a single punch.

Every grievance has its source, and every debt has its debtor.

Hulk was dead.

His grudge with Bruce Banner was settled.

This was also why he had brought Bruce Banner to the shore from the bottom of the Culver Culver Lake.