章 199: Harmony

Authors Note-

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With the deal finalized, Ivan sighed in relief.

"This place isn't secure. We should conduct the exchange elsewhere, away from prying eyes."

"Prying eyes? What do you mean?" Bruce scanned his surroundings, finding nothing amiss.

"Don't worry," Ivan assured him.

"Someone's been watching you, but not with malicious intent. They seem more concerned about you causing trouble."

The knowledge of constant surveillance, even if well-meaning, unsettled Bruce. He furrowed his brow.

Unfazed, Ivan grabbed Bruce's arm and activated his teleportation ability – the Phantasm. In a blink, they arrived at the Devil's Hut.

Despite his curiosity about the sudden teleportation, Bruce focused more on controlling the Hulk. He asked, "What do I need to do?"

"Don't worry, everything will be addressed. But first, the contract." Ivan presented a peculiar, dragon-adorned document.

Bruce reviewed it and found the terms fair. He signed without hesitation.

"Excellent. Now, could you listen closely? Sit cross-legged, close your eyes, relax, and clear your mind."

Bruce took a deep breath and assumed the instructed position. Over the years, he'd dabbled in meditation techniques like yoga to manage the Hulk. These skills are useful now.

Seeing Bruce's compliance, Ivan snapped his fingers. A feeling of weightlessness washed over Bruce. The environment morphed, replaced by a vast, dark expanse. Silence reigned, broken only by a distant chaos. Only Ivan stood before him, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Where am I? Why'd you bring me here?" Bruce stammered, a mix of confusion and suspicion clouding his mind.

"Fear not, Bruce. This is your mindscape. Now, we shall meet an old friend."

Another snap from Ivan's fingers and scattered lights illuminated the area. The scenery transformed once more. Bruce stood under a clear blue sky.

Before he could question Ivan, a hulking green figure sprawled asleep on the hillside caught his eye.

"Hulk!" Bruce exclaimed, a whirlwind of emotions within him. This green behemoth, his savior and tormentor, had saved his life countless times but also brought him immense hardship.

Ivan approached the sleeping Hulk and snapped his fingers once more. The Hulk jolted awake, spotting Bruce and Ivan. He leaped to his feet with a roar, a giant fist raised menacingly.

Bruce's panic surged, prompting him to flee. But Ivan held him back.

"Calm down! Don't panic! You two need to talk things out. Some things will never be resolved if left unaddressed."

Ivan's powerful telekinesis immobilized the Hulk, rendering him powerless to fight. For the first time, Bruce and his monstrous counterpart stood face-to-face.

"Bruce," Ivan began, "I understand your hatred towards the Hulk. You blame him for your mutation, your mother's death, the strain with your father, and the constant fear of being hunted. But remember, the Hulk is a part of you. He's like a child emotionally. But most importantly, he's innocent. Do you believe you're the only one suffering? The Hulk's pain far exceeds yours."

Turning to the Hulk, Ivan spoke, "You too, Hulk. Though trapped in darkness, you've known nothing but silence, devoid of light, color, or sound. Only endless loneliness fuels your rage. But that doesn't justify destruction. If you truly desire freedom and to experience the world, you must learn to control your power and refrain from harming innocents. You need understanding, Hulk."

Ivan addressed Bruce and Hulk, "Come together, touch fists, open your hearts, and feel each other's essence. This is your only chance, a turning point for both of you."

With those words, Ivan stepped back, observing the beauty of the mindscape.

Bruce and the Hulk stared at each other, the weight of the moment heavy in the air. They intuitively understood the significance of this encounter, that it would shape their future. After a contemplative silence, they raised their fists simultaneously, a slow, cautious approach mirroring their newfound willingness.

As their fists met, emotions and memories flooded their minds. Bruce witnessed a faint, slumbering consciousness within the chaos, awakened by a jolt of immense energy – the gamma rays. He understood it to be the Hulk's birth.

The newly awakened Hulk was childlike and curious about everything, but his immense power was uncontrollable, leaving a trail of destruction wherever he went. His monstrous appearance only fueled the attacks he faced. Endless anger and uncontrollable power constantly erupted, leaving him drained and trapped back in the darkness, an endless cycle of isolation and loneliness fueling his rage. He could only see glimpses of the world outside, the pain of confinement gnawing at his core.

Through this connection, Bruce truly grasped the depths of the Hulk's pain. The endless confinement in darkness, with no communication or freedom, was a testament to the Hulk's incredible strength—not to have gone mad was a miracle. No wonder Ivan claimed the Hulk suffered more than him.

In return, the Hulk experienced Bruce's helplessness. He understood how his actions caused hardship, forcing Bruce to separate from his beloved. Though the concept of love was foreign to him, he recognized the despair that washed over Bruce upon learning of his girlfriend's supposed death.

Despite his immense size, the Hulk was emotionally inexperienced. This connection with Bruce offered a glimpse into concepts like right and wrong, good and evil. He grasped the guilt weighing on Bruce due to the Hulk's actions.

When Bruce and the Hulk finally broke contact and met each other's gaze, the hatred was replaced by a flicker of shared guilt.

Bruce spoke first, his voice sincere, "Forgive me, Hulk. I didn't know you endured such pain, trapped in darkness and solitude. I was consumed by blaming and hating you, never truly understanding your struggles. Now I realize how fortunate I am compared to you."

The Hulk responded, "Hulk...forgive you...you...forgive Hulk!"

"Yes!" Bruce exclaimed. "We need to forgive and understand each other."

Bruce Banner and Hulk clenched their fists again, lightly touched, and then separated, as if they shared some silent understanding.

"Alright, with this outcome, everyone's happy. Let's move on to the next step and figure out how you two can live together peacefully," Ivan said, clapping his hands to get their attention.

"Your situation is unique—one person, two minds, but still one being. One is smart, the other strong. I'm going to teach you a method of mental harmony. You can tap into each other's strengths by merging your perceptions and thoughts. I've used this method to help a werewolf tame his wild side. Your case is easier, though. You both have human intellect, which helps a lot."

Bruce Banner and Hulk listened intently to Ivan's words. Hulk, being simple-minded, struggled to grasp it all. Bruce took the lead, punching Hulk gently to convey his understanding.

"...This is your consciousness space. Here, you can directly perceive and communicate with each other. Now, could you follow the method I've taught you? Concentrate your energy, adjust your mental connections, and don't let anything distract you."

It was astonishing how Bruce Banner and Hulk felt like two beings yet could sense everything about each other without losing control to distractions.

"Many tragedies stem from misunderstandings. The key to resolving them is communication and understanding. You can even borrow each other's power when you two are spiritually united. For example, Dr. Banner, Hulk's strength, will give you limitless power and resilience without changing your appearance. And Hulk, you can tap into Dr. Banner's intellect when you transform. This way, you'll know how to strategize in fights instead of smashing."

Ivan glanced at the two large and small figures sitting cross-legged and felt a peculiar sensation. Could Hulk, with his newfound intellect, learn martial arts? In future battles, Hulk might wield martial prowess no one could match.

Once everything seemed normal, Ivan exited their consciousness space and returned to the real world. Seeing Bruce Banner still seated, he smiled, satisfied with their progress.

Time ticked by until, ten minutes later, Bruce Banner stirred and slowly opened his eyes. His left eye was normal, but the right one glowed green. Ivan's powerful mental sight pierced through the facade, revealing a prominent green figure in the consciousness space.

Indeed, Hulk could observe the world through this eye and lend his immense strength to Bruce Banner.

Bruce Banner felt his body strangely, a novel sensation. He inadvertently crashed when he used too much force when he stood. Embarrassed, he looked up at Ivan.