Always Mine (An MCU Fanfiction)

40. Powerless

The next evening was Thor's fight with the champion. I found myself feeling extremely anxious about having to watch Thor fight, although I knew he could handle it. However, since Mjolnir was destroyed, he would need a different weapon.

There were a lot of spectators in attendance, which reminded me of the Super Bowl, though trying to watch a football game made me bored. This one was like the Roman Colosseum, but with an intergalactic twist. I had to suspect that people had died battling the Grandmaster's champion. And demented people find it thrilling. I was beginning to wish I was home, relaxing on the couch and playing an RPG game on the Xbox, or watching a favorite series or movie with my friends.

The Grandmaster made an introductory speech via hologram. Mostly to get everyone riled up with excitement. I didn't see the point of it, knowing that one of my allies was forced to fight and I could only watch and not get involved at all.

"And now, without further ado, it's main event time," the Grandmaster announced just as Loki and I had arrived in a suite where the Grandmaster and his associates had a better view of the arena. 

Loki helped himself to a drink, while I skipped any refreshments and waited for Thor to make an appearance. 

"Making his first appearance, though he looks quite promising, got a couple of tricks up his sleeve," The Grandmaster continued. "I'll say no more; see what you think. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you...Lord of Thunder."

A door rose open, and Thor walked in. I noticed his hair was cut short, and he had two swords sheathed behind him. He carried a helmet, a mace, and a shield that was thicker than Steve's shield. The whole crowd booed and shouted as if they weren't Thor's biggest fans. 

"Watch out for his fingers. They make sparks," The Grandmaster added. "Okay, this is it. Let's get ready to welcome this guy. Here he comes."

Fireworks shot off, revealing a green color, and the spectators started cheering wildly. There was a rumble, as if something enormous was approaching.

"He is the creature. What can we say about him? Well, he's unique. There's none like him," The Grandmaster continued. "I feel a special connection with him. He's undefeated. He's the reigning. He's the defending. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you..."

Another door started to open. My stomach tightened as the second door began to open.

"Your Incredible..." The Grandmaster added when suddenly a familiar green guy burst through. "Hulk!"

"Bruce?!" My breath caught in my throat. Of all the people I expected to see on Sakaar, he wasn't one of them. Relief and dread collided inside me at once. Bruce was alive. But if he was still the Hulk after all this time, then something had gone terribly wrong.

The Hulk was armored and carried both a mallet and a battle axe. He was ten times different than the Hulk I was familiar with.

"Yes!" Thor shouted joyfully as if reuniting with an old friend. The spectators went quiet at that second.

Loki's face drained of color. "I have to get off this planet," he said anxiously, grabbing my hand and leading me back the way we came in.

I knew the Hulk freaked him out since he got tossed by the green guy during the attack on New York. The sight of him raised more questions than answers. How had Bruce ended up on Sakaar in the first place?

"Hey, hey, hey. Where you two going?" The Grandmaster wondered, stopping us, and gestured for us to take our seats.

The Hulk let out a roar that got the spectators cheering. That told me they were his biggest fans.