Chapter 14 — The Chain Judge
Night. Loki's Last Name Tower.
The Hulk was awake. Ever since Helios disappeared, anxiety has not left him. Every time he closed his eyes, he could hear the chains echoing. Not from the past. From the future.
He sat on the floor, in a meditation position, as Riveria had taught him.
He squeezed the Prisoner's black chain and concentrated.
"Show me what's hidden.
"Show me what's going to happen."
The chain shook, and the world distorted.
⸻
The vision.
He stood in the center of the ruined Orario. The towers were toppled. The guild is in ashes. Blood is on the streets.
Above the ruins, there was a gaping rift in the sky, from which black lightning was shooting out.
And in the middle of it all, he was standing there.
But... different.
This Hulk was taller, more massive. His body was shackled with chains, from which black thorns protruded. His eyes are empty, without light, without will. In his hand is a chainblade, pulsing with blood.
And he spoke in a voice that the Hulk recognized, but which made him want to scream.:
"You're a mistake. You chose the Light. But I am the real essence. You suppressed the rage, and I accepted it. I am A Chain Judge. I am you when you stop being afraid of who you should be.
The Hulk stepped forward, clenching his fist.
"You're not me.
"You're weak. Power without rage is an empty shell. You saved them. And then they turned away. And I... judged. And he survived.
The referee rushed forward, and their fists met.
⸻
Reality.
The Hulk woke up covered in sweat, the ground cracked under him, and in his hand was a piece of metal that had not been in the tower before.
He realized: he had brought it from a vision.
Received: The Judge's Fragment Is A Fragment Of A Distorted Circuit.
It is used to activate the final transformation. Dangerous. Unexplored.
⸻
At the same time, Riveria burst into the hall.
— The Hulk! The tower detected a temporary energy distortion. It came from… From you!
He got up slowly.
"I saw myself... but distorted. He called himself a Chain Judge. He destroyed everything. I have to understand why. And stop him... before he becomes me.
⸻
On the lower floor of the Dungeon.
Creatures that weren't even on the Guild's registers had awakened.
Among them is a creature with an empty face, consisting of chains, flesh, and voices.
"He's awake. A real carrier. The real enemy. And maybe... the last key.