Chapter 55: Three-Headed Green Monster

The sudden screams of the women instantly caught the attention of the surrounding crowd. It was rush hour in Manhattan. In just a few seconds, the sidewalks, already crowded with people getting off work, were jam-packed with bystanders pausing to witness the unfolding chaos. At that moment, just as one of the towering super soldiers raised his boot to crush Doggo's head, something terrifying began to happen. The dog's body erupted in raging green flames. The fire, ghostly and unnatural, flickered ominously in the deepening twilight, casting eerie shadows that made the scene feel like something out of a horror movie. The soldier instantly sensed something was wrong. The fire wasn't just bright, it was overwhelmingly hot. His combat boot melted the moment it hovered above Doggo's body, and a searing pain tore through the sole of his foot. With a grunt, he jerked his leg back. Had it not been for the serum's great boost to his pain tolerance, he would've already been on his back, howling in agony. But this was just the beginning. The other two soldiers instinctively backed off a few steps. The sudden shift in atmosphere set off every alarm in their enhanced minds. Their training told them to stand firm, but their primal instincts screamed at them to run. Meanwhile, Luke, ever the opportunist, quietly slipped out of the circle while no one was paying attention, not wishing to lose his eyebrows. And around them, the crowd began to swell. Pedestrians, office workers, tourists, all were now watching. Phones were raised as they took pictures and recorded videos. Camera flashes blinked like fireworks. The internet was about to have a field day. Doggo, on the other hand, unlike his owner who preferred being low-key, seemed to be loving the attention. Despite the roaring fire cloaking his body, he still waggled his butt proudly, clearly delighted to be the star of the show. Even as his transformation continued, he kept shaking his tail at the crowd like a performer soaking in applause. Within seconds, Doggo had grown to match the height of the super soldiers, and he was still getting bigger. From his shoulders, two large bulges began to pulse and stretch outward, swelling rapidly until they formed two more heads, identical to the first. In less than ten seconds, a massive three-headed green infernal beast, nearly eight meters tall, stood in the heart of Manhattan, covered in ghostly green flames. The surrounding temperature skyrocketed. While the flames from Doggo's first mutation had been fierce, these green ones were different, not just hot, but also corrosive. Acidic heat shimmered in the air around him. The ground beneath his paws sizzled and bubbled, as if melting from acid. The super soldiers, once brimming with confidence, were now visibly shaken. Their combat uniforms had already turned a sickly brown, and steam hissed from their exposed arms and necks. Their skin tingled with an acidic sting that wouldn't fade. They retreated a few steps, their earlier bravado extinguished like a match in the rain. Whatever this creature was, it was not something they were prepared to handle. One of them quickly opened a comm channel and barked into his communicator. "General Ross! We've encountered an obstacle. The target's dog, it's turned into a monster!" From the other end, the unmistakably calm and authoritative voice of General Ross replied. "Oh? Is it the three-headed one or the green one?" The three-headed dog had previously helped S.H.I.E.L.D. track down Tony Stark. The green one, on the other hand, was the brute that rampaged through his base and left it in ruins. Either way, Ross didn't seem worried. Not yet at least. He had personally reviewed the combat capabilities of his three soldiers. Their strength, durability, and regeneration were way beyond conventional human limits. He believed they could handle anything, even one of those mutated freaks. But the next reply gave him pause. "Sir... it has three heads..." Ross's brow twitched slightly. That wasn't ideal. The three-headed dog had proven more dangerous. Still, three genetically enhanced super soldiers against one overgrown mutt? "Proceed. You can handle it." But before the soldier could acknowledge the order, another voice crackled through the comms, making Ross pause. "General... It's a three-headed green monster. And it's burning with green fire..." ...