The bustling metropolis lay in ruins.
Skyscrapers stood shattered, vehicles were strewn across the streets in mangled heaps, and countless civilians huddled beneath the wreckage, trembling, whispering prayers to any god that might still be listening.
A lone streetlight flickered erratically on the sidewalk, casting fragile beams into the chaos as if straining to offer some semblance of hope. In its dying glow, a few survivors found a flicker of courage.
The military had arrived in force. Dozens of heavily armed helicopters hovered in the smoke-filled sky.
Martin's eyes widened as he saw a figure leap from one of the helicopters. The moment it hit the ground, the body swelled, contorted, transformed, until there stood a green-skinned behemoth, hulking and wild-eyed. But something was off.
The creature staggered as it moved, unsteady and disoriented.
That was the lingering effect of the transformation suppressant Banner had injected earlier. A tragic irony: Dr. Bruce Banner, tormented by the very existence of the Hulk, had spent years trying to rid himself of the beast.
And yet, it was the military, spearheaded by General Ross, that saw in Hulk an unmatched power they could weaponize.
That pursuit had led to Emil Blonsky. Injected with Hulk's irradiated blood, the soldier mutated into something far more savage: Abomination.
Now, to stop that abomination, Banner had no choice but to call upon the monster he feared most.
The Hulk roared in agony, hammering his fists against his skull in a desperate attempt to clear the fog in his mind.
But Abomination didn't wait.
With a snarl, his blood-red eyes gleaming with malice and envy, he lunged. His punch landed squarely on Hulk's chest, sending the green giant sprawling across the cracked pavement. Abomination bellowed in triumph.
Broadway had become a battleground. Two titans, both capable of tossing tanks like toys, clashed in the heart of the city. Every blow they exchanged could level a building.
The military dared not use heavy weaponry as they were in the heart of Manhattan. A misfire could land them in front of a tribunal.
"All units, maintain distance. Engage only from range. Repeat: Do not engage at close range!" General Ross barked into the comms, his face twisted in frustration.
Monsters like these could turn cars into missiles with a flick of the wrist. A tossed sedan could take down a gunship.
Ross had chased the Hulk for years, hoping to replicate his strength and mass-produce super soldiers. But the result was Abomination, and a press nightmare that shredded his reputation.
Abomination charged again.
The shockwave from the impact shattered windows for blocks. Hulk was launched into the air, crashing through multiple buildings.
"I used to look up to you, Hulk," Abomination sneered, seizing Hulk by the throat and lifting him effortlessly off the ground. "But once I got your power, I realized how pathetic you really are."
He bared his jagged teeth in a twisted grin and opened his monstrous mouth wide. There was a sick satisfaction in his voice, a predator gloating over his prey.
Then he grabbed a nearby sedan.
He didn't care that a terrified family was trapped inside, he raised the car high, preparing to smash it down on Hulk's skull.
"Oh God, someone help them!"
"That monster's going to Hell!"
Screams echoed from the sidelines as onlookers covered their eyes, unable to watch the slaughter they were certain was about to unfold. Inside the car, a woman clutched a boy to her chest.
"Don't be scared, Peter. Just close your eyes and pray…"
The car was mangled in Abomination's grasp, moments from crashing down on the unconscious Hulk, and killing everyone inside.
And then…
KA-CHNK.
The unmistakable sound of shifting machinery thundered from the side of the street. A massive shadow surged forward, metal gleaming in the sun as it charged.
A mechanical titan burst onto the scene.
With one mighty swing, the robot's metal fist smashed into Abomination's face. The blow was so powerful that even the reinforced alloy in its hand dented from the impact. Abomination stumbled back, stunned, loosening his grip on the car.
The robot seized the opportunity, grabbing Abomination's wrist and executing a brutal judo throw.
A five-meter-tall monster was slammed into the concrete hard enough to crater the street.
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
Cameras zoomed in, broadcasting the surreal scene live across the world: a colossal, cybernetic warrior standing between Abomination and the battered Hulk. A literal war god made of steel, looming over a fallen monster.
And then, before anyone could blink, the sedan, now plummeting from midair, emitted a sudden mechanical screech.
With a flurry of shifting plates and spinning gears, the car transformed.
In mere seconds, it had reconfigured into a three-meter-tall Autobot.
One of Cybertron's own had arrived.
The newly emerged Transformer gently reached out, plucking the woman and child from the wreckage and carefully lowering them to safety.
It was almost comical, such a massive figure moving so delicately, but no one laughed.
Instead, people stared in awe, many with tears in their eyes. The contrast between monstrous strength and tender care was almost too much to take in.
"Th-thank you… thank you, sir… you saved us…" Aunt May stammered, clutching Peter tight. Her voice broke, tears streaming down her face as she looked up at the robot who now knelt protectively before them.
Ben's forehead was bleeding. He opened his mouth to say something, but fainted before a word escaped.
Peter, wide-eyed and speechless, looked up into the glowing optics of the Autobot.
"You… you're my guardian, aren't you?" he whispered.
The Autobot tilted his head but didn't reply. Instead, he stood and turned back toward Abomination, taking up a battle-ready stance.
Every eye was on them now, mouths agape, hearts racing.
"Wait… who the hell is that guy?! Did he just drive onto the battlefield?!"
A distant shout cut through the quiet.
Down the ruined road, a beat-up yellow Volkswagen Beetle rolled forward slowly, its paint chipped, engine wheezing. Strangely, the wrecked vehicles ahead moved aside as if by unseen force, making way.
It was like watching a miracle unfold.