On their search
for Sharzhad, Red Hulk and Machine Man (X-51) have been attacked by a giant
manticore. The two struggles against it until Machine Man saws off its stinger
and Rulk tears its head off. MM identifies it and notes that its creation is
beyond the technology of the area. Rulk smarts from having been bitten by the
venomous creature. They discover some military vehicles, likely abandoned by
soldiers who encountered the monster. Hulk turns back to Thunderbolt Ross and
regenerates from the manticore’s venom. They use the truck to continue their
journey, MM learning that Ross is still alive and Ross discovering that X-51’s
creator was Dr. Abel Stack whom he met when they wanted to pair a general and a
scientist but Ross didn’t like Stack’s robotic program so he chose Bruce
Banner, a bomb creator. It didn’t work out. MM reveals that all of Stack’s
other robots were murderous psychotics. Then they smash into an invisible force
wall. There is a distorting field hiding the area from satellite view as well. MM
cancels it and they discover a massive advanced city that was not there a year
ago that the environment could not support. Arabian Knight arrives, threatening
Red Hulk should he interfere with this nation’s development; Rulk responds,
indicating he is only interested in who killed his friend, Will Krugaler.
Machine Man intervenes, suggesting they put their feud aside and investigate
this phenomenon….
They
discover a giant gate, unguarded, and enter. A giant holographic head appears
warning them that this city is protected by Dagan Shah. They find a city full
of contented people and a massive aircraft, piloted by Haya, a serpent woman,
picks them up and brings them to the palace. On their way in, they spy a body
encased in crystal that is clearly the Arabian Knight. As the crystalline
material begins to engulf Hulk and X-51…and the Arabian Knight who had
accompanied them into the city reveals himself to be Dagan Shah, the Sultan
Magus….