"In 2010 on Earth, I was at the United Nations Planetary Defense Council…" Tony began, his tone carrying the pride of a champion recalling his first victory in Southeast Asia decades ago. He gazed at the holographic projection, eyes reflecting a deep blue light, like a wise man recounting a legend to children gathered at his knees.
Malrick's eyelid twitched. The curve of Tony's mouth signaled the coming of another outrageous tale, and he couldn't tolerate it. He interrupted immediately:
"Wait, Tony, just wait. At the council… what? What are you going to do?"
Tony froze, almost biting his tongue. His profound, sage-like aura vanished instantly under Malrick's interruption. He glared, realizing Malrick was doing this intentionally.
"Don't glare at me, Tony. Now isn't the time for idle chatter. I need to treat your researchers!" Malrick said calmly, waving his hand. Golden light particles spread, and the pale-faced personnel in the command room regained their color.
They had all suffered from the rebound of Malrick's killing intent. With improvements, the passive skill Killing Intent Rebound had become more refined, automatically responding to the magnitude of malice directed at Malrick. Whereas earlier versions would have caused severe bleeding, this iteration inflicted only organ damage and bone fractures.
"I suddenly felt a lot of pain, but I've recovered!"
"Me too! Was there some invisible attack?"
Whispers filled the room as everyone realized the cause: Tony's suddenly appearing younger brother, Malrick. Eyes widened in a mix of surprise and uncertainty.
Tony, equally startled, asked, "Was that your nanobots? Did you secretly attack them?"
Malrick smirked. "Secretly attack? Haven't you seen it before? Amazing, right?"
He introduced the ability briefly: "It's called Killing Intent Rebound. Before sending you here, I traveled across this universe. Some Great God Civilizations came looking for trouble. I didn't act, yet they trembled at this ability. You ask what a Great God Civilization is? They're only a few star systems stronger than the Three-Body Civilization."
Tony propped himself on the table, absorbing the explanation. He wanted to object that he hadn't asked, but a sudden thirst made him drink three glasses of water in succession. Malrick paused his tale of the Return-to-Zeroers Civilization.
Instead, he asked, "By the way, Tony, where were you just now? You mentioned joining the Planetary Defense Council?"
Tony's excitement drained. Silence fell, evoking memories of rain-soaked nights, tasteless and muted. Malrick had already defeated a Great God Civilization, making stories of the Three-Body World seem almost trivial.
"What council? What are you doing here, kid? Oh, right, you're here to take me back. Let's go, hurry." Tony urged Malrick to leave.
Yet as Earth's premier scientific researcher, farewells were essential. After dinner with familiar faces like Luo Ji, Shi Qiang, and Wade, they departed the Three-Body World. During the banquet, Tony recounted his decades-long effort to save Earth, half-drunk and proud.
Upon arriving on Earth, Tony joined the council as the fifth Wallfacer. He deployed Jarvis to invade the Sophon, lifting the technological blockade on Earth, and then counter-invaded the Three-Body Fleet's systems. From that day, Earth reversed the balance of offense and defense with the Three-Body Civilization.
Tony absorbed the technological knowledge of the Three-Body Civilization, developing the Waterdrop on Earth and Earth's own Sophon. With access to advanced knowledge, the Curve Engine was soon successfully created. A stellar-class fleet assembled under the United Nations' guidance, halting the plans of the other four Wallfacers entirely.
ETO operatives, hiding in the shadows, attempted to assassinate Tony. But Jarvis controlled the Sophon. As soon as the operatives acted, United Nations police intercepted them before they could leave.
Earth launched a rapid counter-encirclement strike against the Three-Body Civilization. Achieving Light Speed was a watershed for civilization levels. With the Curve Engine, Tony developed light-particle weapons operating at unprecedented speeds. The Three-Body Civilization could not resist.
The war was swift. Before the Three-Body Fleet could react, their entire formation became cosmic fireworks. The Three-Body star system itself was struck by Earth's light particles, igniting and annihilating it instantly.
After the war, Tony proposed to the United Nations that Earth needed a choice. Destroying the Three-Body Civilization left residual cosmic "smoke," detectable by advanced external civilizations. Earth could either:
1.
Close itself off, forming a Black Domain with the Curve Engine, isolating from the universe and broadcasting non-threatening signals.
2.
Venture outward with the Light Speed Engine, expanding rapidly into the cosmos.
A nationwide vote ensued. Weeks of discussion concluded with Earth choosing to remain hidden, emitting non-threatening signals. Tony disapproved. On Marvel Earth, he would have opposed this strongly. Yet seeing this civilization's future in the virtual game, he had no reason to interfere.
After all, in the game, he and Banner often joked: The Three-Body World might survive, but before dying, Cheng Xin must be taken along.