Downey never had big dreams. While others carefully planned grand ambitions for their lives, he only wanted to be a truck driver and one day own a truck of his own.
After graduating from university, he joined a transportation company. Two years of running routes later, he finally saved up some money, borrowed a little more, and bought himself a small truck. It was a Changan Star Card.
He named it Optimus Prime.
That day, his coworkers laughed.
"Oh wow, Donnie's lost it. He named his new car Optimus Prime."
"A minivan called Optimus Prime? Then when you buy a big truck, are you going to call it Emperor of the Universe?"
"Fine, then from today on, my car is Megatron."
Everyone joked and teased him, each giving their own comments about his strange choice.
Downey was not convinced. He explained that although this was his first car, he planned to drive it for a long time. In the future, even if he bought a new one, he would still call it Optimus Prime. It was a kind of sentiment, something only he understood.
His coworkers did not really agree. Some asked if it was because of childhood memories of Transformers. Downey never gave a clear answer. When they pressed him, he would sometimes nod and sometimes shake his head, which only made them tease him more.
At first, he tried to explain himself. But since they kept bringing up this so called "sentiment," he eventually stopped bothering. He knew they were not being malicious, just joking around. So he smiled and let it go, and after a while they found new things to talk about.
Another day began as usual. Downey carefully wiped down his truck. Men often joke that their cars are like their wives, and Downey was no exception. He took his truck seriously, spending a little time every day maintaining it and cleaning it. He stubbornly believed that a good driver should treat his car like a companion on the same road, not just a tool.
He opened the door, started the engine, loaded the truck with fresh fruit, and set off. Because the goods were perishable and the delivery was urgent, Downey drove faster than usual. When he realized something was wrong, it was already too late. A speeding Lamborghini rushed in from the side and slammed into the driver's door of Optimus Prime.
In the last moment before he lost consciousness, Downey saw the other driver's flushed face and drunken eyes.
That guy was completely drunk, Downey thought. At least I will not have to pay for his luxury car. Then regret hit him. His own truck was badly damaged. It would probably be hard to repair, and many parts would need to be replaced.
His consciousness slowly faded. Everything in front of his eyes became blurry, and his ears rang. He could no longer hear the screams and shouts of the people around him.
That evening, the news reported, "At 3:07 this afternoon, a traffic accident occurred on Sunshine Avenue, resulting in one death. The perpetrator has been detained by the police. Please pay attention to traffic safety while traveling."
…
My head hurts.
Faintly, Downey heard screams and crying, and what sounded like gunfire.
Is the army here? It is so noisy. He felt someone slapping his face and shouting in his ears. Gathering all his strength, he slowly opened his eyes.
"Wake up. Hey, wake up. If you stay here, you will die. If you do not want to die, get up and run."
Downey opened his eyes wider and looked blankly at the stranger in front of him. Then he glanced around at the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings.
"I am not dead?" he murmured.
"If you do not run, you really will die. Those two monsters will not spare you just because you are injured. Get up and run," the man shouted, shaking him desperately.
"Run!" someone nearby yelled. But after only a few steps, that person was hit by a huge rock and was crushed on the spot, blood splattering everywhere.
Downey's face turned pale and his mind went blank. You could not imagine how shocking this was for someone who had lived in a peaceful city. Many people already felt sick just watching violent movies. Seeing a real person get smashed in front of him was far worse.
From time to time, monstrous roars echoed, constantly reminding Downey that this place was a complete danger zone. People were running everywhere in panic. The ground was covered with broken pieces of buildings and debris. Many cars were crushed into twisted heaps, and others were overturned, making it impossible to escape by vehicle.
The man picked up Downey and carried him away.
"What is going on?" Downey asked.
"The two monsters are fighting," the man said. "I do not know where they came from. A lot of people are already dead."
Downey was even more confused. Then he suddenly realized that the man was speaking English. Downey was not good at English, but he could understand every word. He looked at the chaotic surroundings and the fleeing crowd, and a ridiculous thought appeared in his mind.
"Did I cross over?" he muttered, wondering if he had gone crazy.
With a loud crash, a giant figure fell not far in front of them. The ground cracked, and dust and gravel were thrown into the air.
The night was dim, and it was hard to see clearly. All Downey could make out was a huge figure, three to five meters tall. Then he heard a roar echo into the sky.
Downey's eyes widened. He clearly heard someone shout, "Hulk!"
Hulk. A huge monster. A strange place. Everyone speaking English.
Downey's eyes turned red, not knowing if it was from fear or shock.
Even though he was not that interested in movies or comics, he still knew some famous Marvel characters. The green giant was impossible to mistake. When the Hulk went berserk, almost no one could stop him.
"Shit," he whispered.
The man next to him was also trembling in fear.
"Run," Downey said quickly. "Run back and find a place to hide." As soon as he said it, he regretted it. In a situation like this, the man could easily abandon him, an injured burden.
But the man gritted his teeth and kept carrying him, step by step. He was a middle aged man with blood on his face. Even though he was terrified, he did not stop, which made Downey feel both relieved and grateful.
The once prosperous city had become ruins. High rise buildings were damaged, cars were wrecked, and many people were hiding under vehicles, praying. In the distance, soldiers and civilians were mixed together, afraid to get closer. Helicopter gunships hovered in the sky, not daring to approach.
The Hulk roared and pounded his own head, as if trying to stay conscious. He did not bother with the insignificant people nearby, which gave Downey a little time to escape.
But time was still not enough. Downey was badly injured, and the man carrying him was exhausted.
Suddenly, another giant figure with a darker colored body jumped out and faced the Hulk. It shouted, "Hulk, I am stronger than you now."
A freezing chill ran through Downey's body.
Another monster.
The middle aged man said through clenched teeth, "They are monsters. Villains. They destroyed everything, and they will definitely go to hell."
Downey was sweating heavily. He glanced to the side and saw a small truck he knew very well, a Changan Star Card, lying by the roadside. Without thinking, he pointed and shouted, "Go there. We hide behind that truck. Maybe those two monsters will not notice small people like us