Chapter 8:
"What's happening to me? My mind feels like it's slipping away, but it's not like falling asleep. My body... it's swelling. Something's wrong. I feel this overwhelming urge to destroy—why do I want to destroy everything?"
Li Ji could feel his consciousness fading, his control slipping. The body of a baby, once weak and unable to stand, now straightened as if something primal had awakened within him.
"What—what is happening?! Is this some kind of hidden mutant ability?" Howard instinctively pulled Maria back, watching in disbelief as Li Ji's small frame expanded before his eyes.
"Howard, what do we do? Is Gage in danger?" Maria's concern wasn't about whether Li Ji was a threat to them; she had long since accepted him as her child. What worried her was whether this sudden transformation would harm him.
"I don't know… I need to contact Charles. If anyone understands this, it's him," Howard said, though his uncertainty was obvious.
---
"I… I think I understand now," Li Ji's mind was slipping, but in those fleeting moments of clarity, realization struck.
"A two-dimensional species appearing in the real world… If I could end up in the Marvel Universe, then maybe this isn't so impossible after all."
"I'm a Saiyan. A warrior race—of course! The tail, the spherical pod, the signs were all there, yet I never pieced it together. And I call myself a Dragon Ball fan..."
Li Ji knew what would happen next. "Once I fully transform into the Great Ape, I'll lose control. My power will surge, and I won't recognize friend from foe. I need to get away before—"
His thoughts were cut off. The last thing he remembered was darkness.
A deafening roar echoed through the mountains as the transformed Saiyan ape lifted its head toward the full moon, releasing an earth-shaking cry. The sheer force of it made Howard and Maria cover their ears in pain.
---
"Charles, I need your help. Right now," Howard's voice was urgent as he clutched the satellite phone. "I'm in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Get here as fast as you can."
"Howard? What's wrong?" came Charles Xavier's calm response. "Is this about Gage?"
"Yes. He's… changed. The moment he saw the full moon, he transformed into a giant ape—huge, incredibly strong, and completely out of control. We need help. Bring some of your best mutants, or we won't be able to stop him."
"I understand. I'll get there as soon as possible. But I need to pinpoint your location. Focus on the sequence 101101100 in your mind—it'll help me track your brainwaves. Got it? Howard? Are you still there?"
---
Outside the tent, Tony groggily pushed his way out, rubbing his ears. "What the hell is that noise? It's louder than the bass at a nightclub—"
Then he saw it.
A monstrous figure towered in the moonlight, covered in thick fur, its massive frame casting a shadow over the entire campsite.
"What the hell is that?!" Tony's instincts screamed at him, but instead of freezing up, he quickly climbed to higher ground, assessing the situation.
"Mom seems safe for now. Howard is making a satellite call, but the place he's standing in isn't nearly as hidden as he thinks it is. That thing—Gage?—hasn't noticed him yet. Or maybe…" Tony's thoughts raced. "No time to gamble on that. I have to get Dad out of there."
Indeed, Howard had placed himself in an exposed area due to the satellite phone's signal limitations. But with the Great Ape's heightened perspective, he was already within its sights.
With terrifying speed, the transformed Li Ji leaped toward him.
---
"Dad, move!"
Tony didn't hesitate. He launched himself off the ledge, tackling Howard out of the way just as a massive hand came crashing down. They rolled into a narrow crevice, just barely squeezing inside.
Li Ji loomed over them, his giant eyes scanning the space. He reached in, trying to grab them, but his hand was too large to fit. With an angry roar, he slammed his fists against the rocks, then leapt away.
"Howard, what the hell is that thing?! Is it some secret experiment you've been working on? Where's Gage? Is he safe?" Tony demanded, pushing himself up.
Howard sighed, brushing dirt off his coat. "I'll explain everything once this is over, Tony."
He reached for his satellite phone, relieved to find the call still connected. "101101100, right? Charles, do you have my location?"
"Loud and clear, Howard. It's a long distance, but I'm on my way. Hang in there."
---
Half an hour later, Charles Xavier arrived with Piotr Rasputin, better known as Colossus.
"Howard, where's the giant ape?" Charles asked as he helped Howard and Tony out of the crevice.
"I… don't know," Howard admitted, looking around. "He was just here."
Charles glanced at his companion. "This is Piotr. SHIELD calls him Colossus."
Howard gave a weak chuckle. "Well, let's hope you brought the right man for the job. But let's try not to hurt him if we can help it. First, we need to find him."
Tony frowned. "Why are we holding back? That thing could flatten us."
Before Howard could answer, Maria rushed out from her hiding place. "Gage ran southwest! He left less than five minutes ago!"
Charles nodded. "Then we move fast." He turned to Piotr, and together they took off in pursuit.
---
As Howard watched them disappear into the distance, Tony turned to him, still processing everything.
"Dad… that giant ape. You're telling me that was Gage?"
Howard exhaled, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "Yes… or maybe not exactly."
Maria stepped forward, worry etched into her features. "Howard, Charles won't hurt him, will he?"
"No," Howard reassured her. "Charles is careful. He'll find a way to contain the situation without harm."
Tony, still reeling from everything, looked at Howard skeptically.
Howard chuckled softly, pulling him into a rare embrace. "You know, Tony… it's been a long time since you called me 'Dad.'"