Wyatt's breaths came in sharp, frantic bursts. His severe fatigue gnawed at him, and his mind struggled to keep pace with the chaos surrounding him. The helmet he wore, intended to conceal his identity, bore a deep crack in the visor. This fissure sliced through the darkened surface, revealing one of his striking green eyes.
Usually, that would have been a quick and easy fix. But he was far too tired and drained to do so. It was taking everything he had to stand, no longer having the energy to fly.
That didn't mean he was immobile.
Wyatt was using the glowing disks under his feet to skate around his opponent.
Abomination snarled, his voice a low rumble that echoed off the surrounding buildings as he swung the heavy light pole like a battering ram. The air crackled with tension as Wyatt, despite feeling the weight of exhaustion in his bones, narrowly dodged the brutal swing, barely avoiding what could have been a crushing blow.
Drawing on his fading energy, Wyatt focused intently, feeling his power pulse through him. With a determined flick of his wrist, he summoned several sharp steel spikes from the concrete beneath them. They erupted violently from the street, piercing upward and striking at the Abomination's massive form, tearing through flesh and eliciting a roar of fury from the gamma-powered behemoth.
"Enough games!" Abomination roared and lifted a leg. With all his might, he brought it down to the ground.
The street shuddered violently as a sudden wave of destruction surged forth, causing the asphalt to ripple and crack like a broken mirror. Jagged pieces of debris, heavy with the weight of chaos, burst into the air. Dust swirled around, and the sound of shattering concrete filled the air, creating a cacophony of destruction that reverberated through the surrounding buildings.
In his tired state, Wyatt was unable to dodge or block a fast-flying piece of debris that struck him in the stomach. He yelled in agony and rolled on the ground. Before he could try to stand, Abomination jumped next to him and grabbed him.
Wyatt's eyes widened as he felt his torso slowly compress. "A-ah!" He wheezed in pain.
"Any last words, you bug?" Abomination grinned, ready to crush Wyatt into paste.
"Y-yeah… ever hear of a breath mints?" Wyatt wheezed out before glaring at the beast.
Abomination snarled and tried to squeeze Wyatt but found it extremely difficult.
This was due to Wyatt's last-minute idea. He transformed the upper body section of his tattered suit into a layer of adamantium. Encasing his body in a protective layer.
If I survive this, I owe Logan a beer. Wyatt thought as he watched Abomination's face contort into a rage as he continued to try to crush him.
Much to Wyatt's horror, he felt the adamantium protecting him begin to wane under the Abomination's strength.
"On second thought... your breath isn't that bad," Wyatt said as he wracked his brain for a solution.
It was then that a solution to his problem came.
Transform the oxygen in his lungs into acid.
The idea was simple and easy. It wouldn't even take that much energy, which he didn't have much of.
But if he truly managed to switch the oxygen in the Abomination's lungs into corrosive acid, he might irrevocably end the man's life. There was no assurance that his gamma mutation could mend charred and melted organs.
Wyatt felt an unsettling turmoil churn within him as he wrestled with the possibility of killing the man. He had never envisioned himself in such a dark position, contemplating the act of taking a life. It was a choice he ached to avoid, but fate had trapped him here, cornered and desperate, on the brink of death.
It was either his life or the Abominations.
I don't want to die! Wyatt thought.
Closing his eyes, Wyatt was about to lift his hand, resolved to do what he had to, when all of a sudden, a roar echoed down the street.
Abomination paused in his relentless assault, his eyes narrowing as he turned to face the approaching figure of the Hulk. The air crackled with tension, and for a moment, Wyatt found himself captivated by the sight of one of Marvel's most legendary icons.
The Hulk, towering and imposing, effortlessly tore off the remnants of a tattered shirt that hung from his muscular frame, revealing gleaming green skin. The sheer power radiating from the Hulk was palpable, and Wyatt momentarily forgot the chaos surrounding him.
Holy shit... So cool! Wyatt thought.
"Hulk!" Abomination said with glee and threw Wyatt aside. No longer interested in crushing him into paste. He had a new opponent to test his power on.
Wyatt was, unfortunately, still encased in adamantium, making him much heavier than usual. He fell headfirst onto the asphalt and was knocked out cold.
••o••o••o••
"Is that all you got?" Abomination said as he glared at Hulk.
Hulk growled as he pulled his arm back, preparing to unleash another punch on Abomination. Before he could land the blow, Abomination swung his leg back and launched Hulk through the sky and into an apartment building.
Smirking at his power, Abomination rose and sprinted after Hulk. With a mighty leap, he scaled the apartment building and peered out through the large hole made by Hulk's body. Hearing a frightened scream, Abomination chuckled in amusement.
Suddenly, a hail of bullets rained down on his back, causing him to growl in irritation. He turned around to see a military helicopter firing its minigun.
"Ross!" the Abomination growled at the sight of the man in the helicopter.
Flexing his bulging muscles, Abomination effortlessly scaled the side of the apartment building, each powerful movement bringing him closer to the rooftop. As he reached the top and surveyed the cityscape below, a helicopter thumped through the air, its searchlight casting a stark beam that illuminated his path.
A wicked smile spread across his face as he took off running across the rooftops, the whirring blades overhead barely drowning out the deafening roar of the minigun that spat a relentless stream of bullets in his wake, tearing through the air with a furious crackle.
A few blocks away, Wyatt lay unconscious on the pavement, his body sprawled at an awkward angle. Around him, a group of officers and military personnel stood in tense formation. Apprehension etched on their faces. They exchanged urgent whispers while keeping a watchful eye on the fallen hero.
To the sides, several brave yet cautious New Yorkers peered from alleyways and doorways, their expressions a mix of curiosity and fear as they witnessed the unfolding chaos, the distant sounds of havoc reverberating through the streets.
"It's like he's encased in steel," Officer Thomas said as he tried to remove Wyatt's adamantium shell costume. "I'm not sure if he can breathe."
"Do you think he's a mutant? I mean, how else was he able to do everything he did?" Private Lowery asked.
"It doesn't matter what he is. He saved several lives today." Lieutenant Dunn said in a heavy voice. He moved to stand next to Watt and peered down into the crack of his visor.
Is he… a kid? Dunn thought with both horror and amazement.
At that moment, Wyatt's eyelids fluttered open, the world coming into focus as a low groan escaped his lips. A kaleidoscope of faces hovered above him, each person displaying a mix of emotions—some wore expressions of deep gratitude, their eyes shining with relief.
In contrast, others held a cautious distance. Brows furrowed in concern. A hint of fear flickered in a few gazes, and confusion reigned across the collective crowd as they struggled to comprehend the situation unfolding before them.
"Did I win?" Wyatt asked.
"Uh… no," Lowery said. "The creature you fought is now fighting the Hulk. It looks like the green one is on our side this time."
"I see," Wyatt nodded and tried to sit up but paused when he felt the weight from his adamantium shell. With a flash of light, he reverted his costume and fixed his visor. Once he was on his feet, he felt his world spin.
"Here, I got you, son," Dunn said as he helped steady Wyatt.
A thunderous crash reverberated through the city, causing heads to turn in alarm. As the dust settled, a military helicopter, emblazoned with the insignia of Ross's airborne division, awkwardly descended after tearing through a massive billboard, its rotors still spinning erratically.
The metallic creak of the helicopter echoed ominously as it struggled to stabilize. Below the helicopter, the colossal figures of the Abomination and the Hulk clung fiercely to the landing skids, their powerful forms silhouetted against the chaos of the skyline.
"Holy shit," Thomas muttered as a far-off boom could be heard. The helicopter had made landfall. "Are they…?"
"I have to go," Wyatt said. He tried to step forward but fell to one knee. "Shit."
I can barely stand. Much less fight! I should just let Hulk finish things off. He'll win just like in the movie… right? Wyatt thought.
With great power comes great-
Ah, shut up! Wyatt growled.
"Listen, son, you've done enough. You can't even stand. Much less fight." Dunn said. "I'll radio in for backup. Get us some more boots. We'll take down that son of a bitch. "
Wyatt took a deep breath and willed himself to draw more of his power. Placing his arms at his sides, he hovered over the ground. "No, it's okay. If I can't stand, then I'll fly."
Ignoring his shaking limbs, Wyatt shot up into the night sky.
••o••o••o••
"You don't deserve this power! Now watch her die!" Abomination sneered, his voice dripping with malice. With a fierce, deliberate motion, he raised his massive arm and plunged the sharp spike protruding from his elbow deep into the Hulk's chest.
A guttural roar of pain erupted from the Hulk as he struggled to push Abomination's arm away, but the monstrous creature's strength held him firmly in place against the wall behind him. Hulk's teeth ground together as he fought against the agony surging through him, feeling the bone piercing deeper into his flesh with each agonizing second.
Amidst the chaos, Hulk's glowing green eyes flickered toward the wreckage of a nearby helicopter, where Betty was trapped, her face pale with fear. The ground was alive with sparks from the broken rotor blades, and a trail of leaking fuel snaked its way toward the jagged debris. Within moments, flames erupted into life, flickering hungrily as they licked closer to the helicopter's fuel tanks, threatening to engulf her in a fiery inferno.
At the realization of Betty's life hanging in the balance, the Hulk's fury ignited like wildfire, surging through him and amplifying his already immense power. His growl grew more ferocious, an earth-shattering "Ragh!" as he summoned every ounce of strength left within him. With a fierce determination, he grasped Abomination's wrists, willing himself to break free from the monster's grip and save the woman he loved.
With growing determination, the Hulk steadily began to force the Abomination back, inch by arduously inch. Abomination's eyes widened in disbelief as he felt Hulk's sudden surge of strength. Desperate to regain control, he tried to push back, but it quickly became clear that he was no match for Hulk's raw power.
In a fierce display of prowess, Hulk barreled forward, driving his head into Abomination's chest with a force that left his foe gasping for air. Seizing the moment, Hulk gripped Abomination by the spiky protrusions lining his back and hurled him into the wall he had previously occupied, a thunderous crash echoing through the chaos.
As Hulk turned sharply, his eyes widened in alarm at the sight of flames licking hungrily toward the helicopter. Time seemed to slow as the fiery tendrils ominously approached the aircraft's vulnerable fuel tanks. Just as the flames threatened to engulf everything, a brilliant wave of reddish-pink energy surged across the ground, dissipating the fire as if it had never existed.
Stunned, Hulk blinked in disbelief at the sight of Wyatt, who landed unsteadily in front of the helicopter. His sudden appearance took both Betty and Ross by surprise, leaving the tense atmosphere rippling with uncertainty and anticipation.
"Behind you, Big Guy!" Wyatt jumped forward and swung his arms.
The large concrete post that would have slammed into the Hulk evaporated into water, splashing the large green man harmlessly. Abomination blinked and spun to Wyatt with enraged fury.
"You!" Abomination growled.
"Me!" Wyatt said and fell to a knee. "Now suck it."
Abomination blinked, but before he could react, a powerful blow from Hulk sent him sprawling backward, the impact reverberating through the air. Seizing the moment, Hulk unleashed a relentless barrage of punches, each strike landing with bone-crushing force against the Abomination's formidable frame.
With a growl of frustration, Abomination struggled to maintain his balance but ultimately succumbed, dropping to one knee on the cracked pavement. Towering above him, Hulk glared down with a fierce intensity, his muscles coiled and ready for the next attack. This was no mere battle; it was personal. The creature before him had threatened the life of Betty, the one person Hulk cared for most.
"Hulk smash!" he roared, a thunderous declaration of his fury, as he raised both arms high above his head.
Then, with a ferocious cry, he brought his fists crashing down onto Abomination's back and head, the sheer force of the blow echoing in the surrounding chaos. The ground shook beneath them, and the air thickened with the scent of battle as Hulk channeled all his rage into delivering another devastating strike.
As Abomination's massive form thundered into the ground, the surrounding plaza trembled violently, fissures spidering out across the pavement from the epicenter of impact. Like a marionette with its strings severed, Abomination's hulking body went slack, his muscles relaxing as he slipped into unconsciousness.
With his triumph undeniably secured, Hulk planted his foot triumphantly atop the defeated creature, unleashing a primal roar that resonated through the air, shaking the already fractured pillars and nearby structures.
Breathing heavily, his chest heaving with exertion, Hulk turned his gaze toward Ross, who stood outside the helicopter behind Betty. With a dismissive kick, Hulk sent Abomination's motionless form sliding toward them.
Wyatt breathed heavily and extended his arms. Tendrils of shimmering energy coiled around Abomination, compelling the massive creature into a kneeling position.
As Abomination settled onto the ground, the concrete beneath him began to tremble and shift, morphing into a series of intricate chains and heavy locks made from adamantium.
These formidable restraints, linked together with a metallic clink, wrapped securely around the slumbering beast, ensuring the he would remain confined and unable to break free from its enforced captivity.
"Here, don't lose them," Wyatt said tiredly, tossing the keys to Abomination's restraints to Ross.
Ross frowned and glanced down at the keys while Betty approached Hulk. Wyatt observed them sharing a moment when suddenly, a bright spotlight from a news helicopter illuminated both of them. Hulk sighed and was about to walk away but stopped to look at Wyatt.
Much to Wyatt's surprise, Hulk nodded at him.
Holy shit. Did the Hulk just acknowledge me?! Wyatt thought as he watched Hulk jump away with the news helicopter following behind him.
"You were the one fighting Blonsky," Ross said to Wyatt after losing sight of the Hulk. He then turned to his daughter, who was staring in the direction where the Hulk had last been seen. "Who are you?"
"...Atomic," Wyatt answered carefully. He looked around at the crowd held back by the police and military; their phones pointed in his direction, recording and taking pictures.
Ross nodded and glanced at the crowd. Normally, he would have demanded that Wyatt be brought in for questioning. Still, after the events of that day, considering his daughter's current state and the presence of numerous onlookers, he felt far too exhausted to do so. Nevertheless, this didn't mean he was finished with the man who called himself Atomic.
But before Ross could speak, Wyatt took off, flying over the ground.
"Make sure you keep him under lock and key, General," Wyatt said in his most serious voice. "Those chains are made of some of the toughest materials in the world. If he escapes, It'll be on you."
Wyatt didn't allow Ross to answer and shot up into the sky. Leaving behind a trail of red and pink.
••o••o••o••
"That's what I get for trying to look cool," Wyatt said as he leaned against a brick wall within an alleyway on the outskirts of Brooklyn.
Grimacing, he attempted to take a step forward but found that his legs felt as though they weighed several tons. His vision was blurry, and darkness was closing in on him. He tried to remove his helmet with his hands since he lacked the energy to dissolve it, but Wyatt discovered that his fingers were uncooperative.
"Come on… don't pass out," Wyatt said weakly.
Wyatt had never pushed his powers as far as he did that day. He exceeded his limits in ways he never imagined possible. It was an eye-opening experience, transitioning from using his abilities for everyday tasks to facing a gamma-powered adversary capable of destroying an entire city block.
It had never been clearer to Wyatt that his mind, body, and stamina were severely lacking in strength. If it weren't for Hulk's timely appearance, he would have most likely died.
There's a good chance I would have just come back to life. Wyatt thought. Now on his knees. He felt as if he was about to asphyxiate due to his helmet. Still, I would rather not test that aspect of my power unless absolutely necessary.
"Fuck…"
With the last bits of adrenaline finally leaving his system, Wyatt collapsed onto the ground, too tired to move another muscle. Slowly, his eyes began to close, and he fell into a dreamless sleep.