Chapter 18 — Fury Surge
The Primordial Node. The heart of Chains.
There was no time around. Just emptiness, enveloping the mind and bones.
In front of the Hulk is the embodiment of Gr'n-Dol'Rickety, fashioned out of pain. It wasn't God—it was his shadow, gathered from all the suffering he had caused in the Colosseum.
The creature towered over him like a mountain, its body made up of many intertwined bodies—martyrs, gladiators, children.
And they were all screaming.
"You rejected me, Hulk, but you're still made by me. And even your rage is mine.
The Hulk stepped forward. The chains rattled at every step, but they didn't hold me down—they protected me now.
"You made a mistake. My rage was your gift, but I've learned to hold onto it. And now... I'll let go.
He clenched his fists. A moment later, the entire space around him shuddered.
Skill activated: Rage Surge.
The damage increases in multiples of the rage level. The armor is exploding. The speed increases. Humanity is temporarily suppressed. Control is saved.
The Hulk's eyes flashed with a white-green light, his body grew to almost 5 meters, but he was no longer a madman.
It was a warrior.
He rushed forward, straight into the monster's chest.
The first blow pierced through the defense and knocked out a splinter of pain — the cry of thousands of souls.
The second blow was stronger—it broke a bone made of curses.
The creature screamed with the voices of all its victims:
"You're nothing without me!" Without pain, you're just empty!
But the Hulk screamed back, not out of rage, but out of freedom.:
— I'm not empty. I'm full! Full of those who gave me a hand! Loki. Ais. The Finn. Even the enemies! I am not a shackle, I am a flame!
He raised both hands. The chains flashed, turning into two burning whips, and struck at the Shadow's heart with them.
The blow wasn't physical—it broke the monster's will.
There was a crash. The ground beneath them began to crumble.
"No... no way!" The creature screamed. "I was your god!" I gave you the power!
"You were my cage. And now I'm the end of it.
The creature screamed and exploded in a flash of pain, which immediately dissipated. Only ashes remained. And... a stone.
⸻
The Hulk stood alone. His breathing was heavy. He became a man again. Height is 4 meters, but ... for the first time — an even look.
The chains were gone. The last pieces of slavery had been lifted from him. There was no collar on his neck anymore.
There was a black stone on the ground that looked like a core.
Item received: Ashes of the God of Chains.
Special effect: Once allows you to suppress divine power for 10 seconds.
He picked it up and walked back. To my friends. To the family.
⸻
Outside.
Ais saw his silhouette first. She smiled, faintly, but sincerely.
Riveria and Finn exchanged glances.
"He's... changed." The elf whispered.
— He became free. And that's scarier for enemies than any god," Finn replied.
⸻
And somewhere deep in the bowels of the Dungeon, another god felt it.
Ukropus, the God of Beasts, awakened one eye and whispered:
— A free slave… Rage without Chains… Interesting.