The ground shook as a Sentinel landed outside the barn, its red eyes piercing the dawn. "Mutant detected. Surrender or be terminated," it droned.Bill's mind flashed to the comics—Sentinels leveling mutant ghettos, hunting kids like Lily. "Not my daughter," he growled, stepping forward.
"Template Re-engaged: The Hulk. Control level: Moderate."He charged, his body swelling with green-tinged muscle, and tackled the Sentinel. Metal crumpled under his fists as he tore its legs apart, driven by the memory of Trask's genocide machines. But then the sky buzzed—drones, a dozen of them, swarming like the Purifiers' tech he'd seen in his visions."Lily, Clara, stay back!" he shouted, smashing a drone midair. Lily screamed as one fired a net, pinning her to the barn. Clara yanked at it, desperate, and Bill's heart lurched—images of mutant families torn apart by MRD raids flashing before him.Desperation hit.
"New Template Unlocked: Spider-Man. Agility and web-based abilities enhanced."He leapt, webbing the drone's rotors, and swung to Lily, slicing her free with a flick of his wrist. "You okay, kiddo?""Yeah," she gasped. "Dad, you're amazing."He forced a smile, but the memories gnawed at him—Spider-Man facing symbiotes, Sentinels adapting to powers. More drones came, and a second Sentinel landed. Bill switched templates, Hulk's strength shattering one, Spider-Man's speed dodging the other's blasts. He ripped out the Sentinel's core, panting as it fell.Clara grabbed his arm. "Bill, we can't keep this up. They'll send worse.""I know," he said, the comics' endless wars echoing in his mind. "Magneto's out there. Apocalypse. We need a plan."