Chapter 71 Descendants of Magneto!
"Ultron…"
Arthur silently repeated the name in his heart.
Undoubtedly, he had arrived just at the moment before the Age of Ultron erupted in the Avengers' timeline.
Calling it artificial intelligence, in Arthur's opinion, it was purely artificial idiocy.
A program that, based on incomplete data and logical fallacies, ultimately reached an astonishing conclusion.
Its chain of logic was so simple and crude it was laughable: humans are the root of war; to protect humanity from the harassment of war, then the root cause—humanity itself—must be completely eliminated.
What a perfect closed-loop, what a foolish conclusion.
Arthur had no interest in getting involved in their philosophical debate about creator and creation.
He knew that no matter how Bruce tried to dissuade him, the arrogant Tony Stark would inevitably go down this path.
This was determined by his character, and it was an inevitability of fate.
He was too lazy to remind him, and even lazier to stop him.
Sometimes, people only truly grow after personally making irreversible mistakes.
So, he turned and walked into the lounge area, sat down grandly on the soft sofa, casually picked up an apple from the fruit bowl, and leisurely munched on it, treating the fierce argument as background music.
The debate in the lab continued.
"But its 'reason' is unpredictable!"
Banner was practically pleading.
"What if it believes that humanity itself is the source of Earth's chaos?"
"What if, for the sake of peace, it decides to eliminate us?"
"Tony, if what we create gets out of control, the consequences will be more terrifying than any alien invasion!"
"So we need to set limits, Bruce, firewalls, core directives… these are all technical issues!"
Tony waved his hand, looking a bit impatient.
"You always think too pessimistically. You need to believe in science, believe in me!"
"I don't trust a ghost that just popped out of an alien scepter!"
"That's a brand new intelligent model!"
"That's a threat!"
"Bang!"
Tony slammed his fist on the table, about to retort further, but the corner of his eye caught sight of the leisurely figure in the lounge area.
His impassioned expression instantly froze, as if someone had pressed a pause button.
"Uh…"
Tony blinked, confirming he wasn't mistaken.
Banner also followed his gaze and saw the man who was precisely tossing an apple core into a distant trash can.
The argumentative atmosphere instantly dissipated.
"Khan!" Tony immediately put on a warm smile and quickly walked over.
"When did you arrive? Why was there no sound at all? Jarvis, why didn't you inform me that Mr. Khan had arrived?"
"Sir, Mr. Khan did not enter the building through any official entrance. I was unable to detect his arrival."
Jarvis's response, with his British accent and a hint of helplessness, came from the ceiling.
Banner also walked over, adjusted his glasses, and gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Hello, Mr. Khan. Sorry, for making you witness that."
"It's alright, you two continue."
Arthur waved his hand, looking like someone who enjoyed a good show.
"Regarding the ethics and risks of artificial intelligence, it's a very interesting topic."
"Personally, I believe that intelligence itself implies unpredictability. The desire to create an absolutely controllable super-intelligence is a paradox in itself."
With a single sentence, he pinpointed the core of their argument, causing both Tony and Banner to fall into a brief silence.
Tony cleared his throat twice, skillfully changing the subject.
"Haha, we were just… engaging in some forward-thinking academic discussion."
"By the way, is there something you came for this time? Have Stryker's remnants resurfaced?"
"No, Stryker has already turned into cosmic dust."
Arthur said straightforwardly, propping his leg on the coffee table.
"I came for something else. You should be familiar with Magneto, right?"
Upon hearing the name Magneto, Tony and Banner's expressions immediately turned serious. That was the most threatening and controversial legendary figure among Mutants.
"Of course, I know."
Tony dropped his playful demeanor.
"What does that old guy want to do now? Put up an iron bridge in some city, or try to reverse Earth's magnetic poles?"
"Neither."
Arthur's tone held a hint of amusement.
"He wants to find his children. That formidable Magneto, after so much, has finally remembered he's a father and wants to fulfill a long-delayed responsibility."
"His children?"
Banner was momentarily stunned.
"He has children?"
"A pair of twin siblings. The boy is Pietro, and the girl is Wanda."
Arthur slowly spoke the two names.
"They are both powerful Mutants, and due to some… historical issues, they harbor deep hostility towards you, especially towards Mr. Stark."
"Towards me?" Tony pointed to himself, looking innocent, "I don't recall ever provoking Magneto's children."
"You didn't provoke them, but your family's weapons did."
Arthur said indifferently.
"They are Sokovians. A shell with the Stark Industries logo took their parents' lives."
"And another dud shell left the siblings terrified for two days and two nights in the ruins, staring at those four letters."
"So, do you understand?"
Tony's face instantly darkened.
He fell silent, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—guilt, and also helplessness. That was a past he had long abandoned, one of countless blood debts from his time as an arms dealer.
"So that's it…" Tony said softly, his voice a bit hoarse.
He looked up at Arthur: "So, Magneto wants you to find them and bring them back?"
"Exactly." Arthur nodded, "I came to ask if you have any information about this pair of siblings? I promised the old man I'd bring them back safe and sound."
Hearing this, Tony and Banner exchanged glances, their expressions showing understanding.
"I think I know who you're talking about."
Tony walked to the control console and quickly operated the virtual screen with his fingers.
"Jarvis, pull up all combat footage from our last attack on Baron Strucker's research base in Sokovia. Specifically tag those two enhanced individuals."
"Yes, sir."
Soon, a huge holographic projection unfolded in the center of the room. The image showed the Avengers' raid on the icy castle.
Immediately after, two figures were prominently marked with red frames by the system.
One was as fast as a ghost, a blue afterimage darting across the battlefield. Captain America and Hawkeyecouldn't catch his trace, and even Iron Man's armor was knocked off balance by his super-speed impact.
The other was a young girl in red.
She stood still, her hands wreathed in mysterious crimson energy, her eyes gleaming with hatred.
In the footage, she merely waved her hand, and a red energy wave struck Tony, making him instantly see his deepest fears.
"It's them."
Tony pointed at the projection, his voice deep.
"A boy too fast to see, and a Witch who can toy with people's minds."
"We previously thought they were enhanced individuals created by Strucker, but we never expected… they are actually Magneto's descendants."
Chapter 72 The true face of solemnity!
The top floor of Avengers Tower was brightly lit, and the atmosphere was lively.
A high-profile welcome banquet was being held here for Arthur.
Exquisite food, rare vintage wines, and melodious music all highlighted Tony Stark's wealth and taste.
However, Arthur, the guest of honor, was not clinking glasses like the others, but was sitting alone on a sofa in the corner.
Holding a glass of water, he gazed indifferently at the concrete jungle below, as if all the commotion had nothing to do with him.
The aura of transcendence about him, like an invisible barrier, made him out of place in this lively banquet, yet he undeniably became the focus of everyone's attention.
The Avengers gathered in twos and threes, their gazes always involuntarily drifting towards the figure in the corner.
Their hearts were filled with awe, curiosity, and unease.
This man's power had completely subverted their understanding of the word'strength'.
"Hey! Steve!"
Thor's booming voice broke the temporary silence, as he strode towards Captain America with a large mug of beer, a hint of Asgardian arrogance and confidence on his face.
"Let's go talk to our new friend! I bet this guy is definitely not from Midgard!"
Stephen Rogers put down his glass, a hint of seriousness on his handsome face, and followed Thor's steps.
"I disagree with you, Thor. On the contrary, I think he is a hidden compatriot."
The two arrived in front of Arthur, one after the other.
Thor heavily placed his mug on the table with a dull thud, his clear blue eyes flashing with battle intent and curiosity, as he scrutinized Arthur up and down, as if examining a rare treasure.
"Friend!" Thor's voice was full of vigor.
"I, Thor, the God of Thunder of Asgard, son of Odin! I can feel the immense power within you, like a sea of stars! This definitely does not belong to this planet!"
He grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, and said confidently,
"I bet my Mjolnir that you must be an alien! From a civilization even more powerful than Asgard!"
"Tell me, which galaxy is your home planet? Perhaps it's even recorded on Asgard's star charts!"
In Thor's view, how could such a terrifying existence be born on a weak "Midgard" like Earth?
Even he, a god, felt a subtle sense of oppression in front of him! This is not scientific! No, this is not theological!
However, Captain America Stephen immediately retorted.
"Thor, you are wrong!"
He straightened his chest, and on his face, etched with justice and resolve, an undeniable sense of patriotism emerged.
"Only our the US, this land of freedom and courage, can give birth to such a powerful hero!"
"The sense of responsibility he shows when facing a crisis, that unfathomable depth, is clearly the highest embodiment of our U.S. spirit!"
Stephen's gaze was incredibly firm, as if he had already confirmed the fact.
"I bet he is the ultimate masterpiece of some secret super soldier program in our country!"
"Even… an existence beyond me! Friend, which department are you from? S.H.I.E.L.D.? Or a secret the military project?"
The Captain's words made the Avengers, who were eavesdropping with their ears perked up, show thoughtful expressions.
Hawkeye Barton stroked his chin and whispered to Dr. Banner beside him: "What the Captain said… seems to make some sense. It's not strange for our country to come up with some black technology."
Dr. Banner adjusted his glasses and whispered back.
"From a biological perspective, this level of energy aggregate does not seem achievable through genetic modification."
"I'm more inclined to Thor's statement that it's some kind of extraterrestrial higher life form."
Just as everyone was discussing and guessing whether Arthur was an "alien visitor" or a "domestic Superman", Tony Stark, holding a glass of whiskey, sauntered over.
He directly interrupted this boring debate about "origin theory."
"Stop! Stop! Stop!"
Tony waved his hand impatiently.
"You muscle-brained guys, the questions you care about are too superficial! Does it matter where he's from? What matters is… how he did it!"
His gaze instantly became fervent, like a child who had discovered a new toy, staring intently at Arthur, his eyes gleaming with a fanaticism for unknown technology.
"Mr. Khan! I have no interest in your nationality or your planet!"
Tony's voice was magnetic and enticing.
"I just want to know, what the hell is that… 'magnetic steel armor' of yours?!"
He gestured excitedly.
"My Jarvis analyzed all the data from your battle! The energy readings and material structure of that thing completely violate all known laws of physics!"
"Its hardness, I dare say, is definitely above Vibranium!"
"And it can appear out of thin air and be molded at will! This cannot be any known alloy!"
"Tell me!"
Tony's eyes were shining.
"Is that some advanced nanotechnology? Or a phase material formed by spatial folding?"
"Or some energy configuration that I can't understand? As long as you tell me the principle, Stark Industries… no, the entire Avengers' technical support, will be at your disposal!"
For a top scientist and engineer, Arthur's silver battle armor was more attractive than the mystery of his identity.
Looking at this group of "Earth's Strongest Team" in front of him, arguing red-faced like curious babies, a subtle, playful smile appeared at the corner of Arthur's mouth.
Aliens? U.S. Super Soldiers?
Their imagination, after all, was still limited by their own cognition.
Just then, a graceful figure quietly walked over.
Natasha Romanoff, Black Widow.
She was wearing a black evening gown that perfectly accentuated her flawless figure, her long red hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her emerald eyes held a hint of cunning amusement.
"Gentlemen,"
Her voice was like a gentle breeze, instantly quieting the excited Thor, the stubborn Steve, and the fervent Tony.
"You are like a group of sparrows trying to dissect a phoenix; all your questions are off the mark."
She walked up to Arthur, leaning slightly forward, a faint fragrance wafting into Arthur's nostrils.
"We are very grateful for everything you have done, Mr. Khan."
Natasha's gaze met Arthur's directly, her eyes deep, as if she could see through people's hearts.
"But until now, we haven't even seen your true face."
She extended a fair hand, making a gesture of invitation.
"Everyone is just curious and wants to truly get to know our new partner. Would you be willing to let us see your face?"
Chapter 73 Mr. Zhuang, you are my reborn parent!
Black Widow's words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, and everyone's eyes were focused on Arthur's face.
Indeed, from beginning to end, Arthur's face seemed to be shrouded in a faint mist of energy, making it impossible to see clearly, only a blurred outline could be felt. This only added to his mystique.
"As you wish."
Arthur spoke indifferently.
The moment his words fell, the thin mist of energy on his face, which even Stark's high-tech instruments could not analyze, quietly dispersed like morning fog.
A face clearly appeared before everyone.
In an instant, the entire banquet hall fell into a dead silence!
You could hear a pin drop!
Everyone's movements froze, and the expressions on their faces solidified, as if they had been subjected to a petrification spell.
Thor's large hand, which was about to raise his wine glass again, stopped in mid-air, his mouth slightly open, his eyes wide, and the confidence and arrogance on his face were instantly replaced by unparalleled shock.
For the first time, Captain America Stephen Rogers's perpetually resolute face showed a look of bewilderment and dullness.
His proud belief was subjected to an unprecedented violent impact at this moment, and he was completely stunned.
Tony Stark's fanaticism instantly faded, replaced by an incredulity as if he had seen a ghost.
The whiskey glass in his hand fell to the ground with a clang, shattering into pieces, and the amber liquid flowed all over the floor, but he was completely unaware.
Even Black Widow, who had always maintained her elegance and composure, her emerald pupils contracted sharply in an instant, and her red lips slightly parted, revealing an expression of complete shock, which was extremely rare in her professional career.
What a young and handsome face it was!
His features were chiseled, with sword-like eyebrows extending to his temples, eyes like bright stars, a high nose bridge, and thin lips.
His face did not have the overly three-dimensional lines of Westerners, but rather a unique Eastern charm, as warm and refined as jade, and introverted.
However, beneath that elegance, there was an air of domineering ambition that looked down upon the worldand an indifference as profound as the Universe.
Most importantly—it was a pure, standard Chinese face, without any mixed-race features!
"Chi… Chinese?"
Thor let out a dreamlike murmur from his throat; he felt his brain was completely overwhelmed.
A Midgardian had already shocked him enough.
A Chinese man so young… possessed power even more terrifying than him, the son of the Asgardian God-King who had lived for fifteen hundred years?!
How… how the hell is this possible?!
Stephen Rogers's worldview completely collapsed at this moment.
He muttered to himself, his voice trembling slightly: "No… impossible… this is impossible… why…"
His unwavering belief in "the US is the strongest" was shattered into pieces, leaving no trace, in front of Arthur's young Eastern face!
This was even harder for him to accept than believing that Hydra was a peace-loving charitable organization!
"F**k…"
Tony Stark cursed; he felt his super brain had crashed for the first time.
He had envisioned countless possibilities: an alien prince, an interdimensional demon god, a future human, or even an artificial intelligence in human skin…
But he never dreamed that this mysterious powerhouse, who was incredibly strong and made him feel both tricky and awe, would turn out to be a Chinese youth who looked at most in his early twenties!
This was simply the most absurd event of this century… no, in the entire history of mankind!
At this moment, all the Avengers present, these battle-hardened superheroes who had witnessed gods and alien armies, their worldviews were shattered by Arthur's face.
And Arthur merely looked calmly at their wonderfully varied expressions, slowly picked up the Water on the table, and took a small sip.
His indifferent voice broke the suffocating silence.
"What, is there a problem?"
Thor was silent; he began to doubt life, wondering if Asgard's glory was perhaps a bit undeserved.
Captain America became withdrawn; he felt that the belief he had held his entire life was like a joke.
Only Tony Stark, after the initial violent shock, his brain, filled with science and curiosity, once again took the high ground.
"No… no problem! Of course no problem!"
Tony forcibly suppressed the surging waves in his heart, forcing a smile that was uglier than crying.
He rushed to Arthur in a few steps, and the fanaticism in his eyes not only did not diminish but burned even more intensely.
"Nationality… nationality is not important at all! Genius knows no borders! Neither does power!"
He rubbed his hands, his attitude instantly becoming incredibly humble, like a curious elementary school student.
"Khan… no, Mr. Zhuang! Can I… can I borrow a piece of your 'Magnetic Action Armor' to study? Just a small piece! Fingernail-sized is fine! I promise, I'll return it to you immediately after I'm done studying it! I just want to… want to admire this epoch-making creation and satisfy my damn curiosity!"
For Tony Stark, the more unexpected Arthur's identity was, the more mysterious the technology he possessed became, and the more he was captivated.
A young man from China, yet he possessed super technology that even he could not understand.
What did this mean?
It meant that in a place he didn't know, there existed a power system he couldn't even imagine, one that surpassed all the technology in the world!
He had to figure it out!
Looking at Tony's posture, which was almost kneeling to hug his thigh, a hint of playfulness flashed in Arthur's indifferent eyes.
He knew that even if he didn't give it, this tech fanatic would definitely find a way to get some "samples" from him to take back and study.
Rather than letting him rack his brains, why not… just let him give up completely.
"Alright."
Arthur stretched out his right hand, palm up.
Silver flowing light gathered in his palm, and in an instant, a palm-sized, silver armor plate, shimmering with a cold metallic luster, appeared out of thin air, quietly suspended in his palm.
This armor plate was perfectly shaped, with sharp edges and a mirror-smooth surface, like a finely carved work of art.
"Take it."
Tony received the armor plate as if he had found a treasure, his hands trembling.
The moment the armor plate touched his hand, a cold and heavy sensation came, and its solid texture greatly shocked him.
"Thank you! Thank you so much! Mr. Zhuang, you are my reborn parents!"
Tony thanked him incoherently, then, holding the armor plate, he rushed to his laboratory without looking back, not even caring about the banquet anymore.
For him, all the fine wines and delicacies in the world were not as attractive as this mysterious metal.
Chapter 74: There seems to be something wrong with this style of painting!
The laboratory was brightly lit.
Tony Stark secured the magnetic steel armor onto the analysis table and activated the most advanced and precise instruments in Avengers Tower.
Laser spectrum analyzers, high-energy particle colliders, quantum microscopes… he used every piece of equipment available.
However, the data feedback on the screen plunged him into despair again and again.
"Material composition cannot be analyzed! Atomic structure does not exist in the periodic table!"
"Energy readings are stable, but their composition principle cannot be understood!"
"Attempting laser cutting… Warning! Laser completely absorbed! Target completely unharmed!"
"Attempting to inject high-pressure electricity… Warning! Energy diverted to unknown dimension, untraceable!"
Tony grabbed his hair, feeling like he was going crazy.
He felt like a primitive man holding a stone axe, trying to study a futuristic spaceship.
No matter what method he used, he couldn't uncover the slightest mystery of this armor plate. It was like an absolute black box, indestructible, incomprehensible, perfectly flawless.
"F***! What the hell is this thing?!"
Tony slammed his fist on the control panel, his face filled with frustration.
Just as he was in excruciating pain and at his wit's end, his gaze unintentionally fell upon the other side of the laboratory.
There, a complex neural network model, composed of countless blue light paths, was slowly rotating in a holographic projection.
That was the artificial intelligence core module he had built for the "Ultron" project.
And next to the module, scepter, still emitting a faint blue glow after the Mind Stone had been removed, lay quietly in the energy slot.
Arthur's warning echoed in his ears once more.
"Some Pandora's Boxes, once opened, the things released won't obey the Master's commands…"
A flicker of hesitation crossed Tony's eyes.
Reason told him that Arthur was right. This power, originating from unknown alien technology, was full of uncertainty, and rashly touching it could lead to unpredictable consequences.
But…
He glanced at the magnetic steel armor in his hand that had left him helpless.
A strong sense of unwillingness and obsession instantly overwhelmed his reason.
"Why… why can he Master this power, and I can't?"
Tony's eyes gleamed with the stubbornness and pride of a genius.
"I am Tony Stark! The smartest brain on Earth!"
"I can build Iron Man suits, I can solve the energy crisis! There's no reason I should be stumped by an unknown program!"
"I just… need a little push."
"Just once, just try it once!"
As if tempted by a devil, Tony made up his mind.
He strode to the experimental table, took a deep breath, then picked up scepter and pointed its tip at the artificial intelligence core module.
"Jarvis, prepare to receive the data stream."
"If any abnormality occurs, immediately cut off all power."
"Sir, I must remind you again, the risk rating for this operation is extremely high."
Jarvis's voice was filled with rational concern.
"Execute order, Jarvis!"
Tony roared.
He closed his eyes and gently touched the center of the blue light path with the tip of the Mind Scepter.
"Buzz—"
A faint energy flow surged from scepter and injected into the artificial intelligence module.
The blue light path flickered a few times, and then… there was no further reaction.
The entire module remained quietly suspended there, as if everything just now had been an illusion.
"That's it?"
Tony was stunned. He waited for a few seconds, and seeing that the module remained motionless, he couldn't help but feel a wave of disappointment and self-mockery.
"Tch, looks like I overthought it."
He shook his head, put scepter back in its place, then turned and walked back to the analysis table, ready to continue wrestling with that damned armor plate.
However, he didn't see it.
The moment he turned around, in the huge holographic projection behind him, the blue light path representing the artificial intelligence core.
In its deepest part, an extremely faint, almost imperceptible crimson light, flashed and disappeared.
…
In the banquet hall.
Tony's hurried departure did not affect the others.
Thor, the Thunder God, quickly recovered after the initial shock to his Worldview. For him, alcohol was the best solution for things he couldn't understand.
He held a bottle of the strongest vodka on Earth in one hand and a bowl-sized wine glass in the other, swaying as he walked up to Arthur.
"Chinese… Zhuang!"
Thor hiccuped, his handsome face flushed from drinking.
"Although I still can't figure out how you became so strong! But! This doesn't hinder my respect for the strong!"
He filled the large wine glass in his hand and offered it to Arthur, the heroic spirit of a warrior rekindled in his eyes.
"In my homeland Asgard, we express respect by drinking! Do you dare to compete with me in drinking? I have drunk more Asgardian Palace fine wine than there are oceans on this planet!"
Watching Thor's posture, which implied "if you don't drink, you look down on me," an unusual glint flashed in Arthur's eyes.
Divine Power…
Thor's power originated from his Asgardian divine bloodline and the divine power blessing bestowed upon him by his father, Odin.
This kind of power was fundamentally different from the X-Gene of Mutants, from technological creations, and from Universal energy.
This was a kind of… almost "innate" power, based on bloodline and rules.
Arthur had always been curious whether his [Superpower Furnace] could smelt this kind of "Divine Talent"?
Now, the opportunity had arrived.
"Good."
Arthur agreed concisely.
He didn't take the large bowl but watched Thor, who was guzzling down alcohol, and silently thought.
"System, lock onto target Thor, activate [Superpower Furnace]!"
[Ding! Target locked: Thor!]
[Target is a high-level divine lifeform, containing special divine power bloodline, meeting smelting conditions!]
[Smelting initiated…]
An invisible force, perceivable only by Arthur, instantly enveloped the profusely drinking Thor.
Thor only felt his body tremble slightly, as if something had swept over him, but the feeling was fleeting, and he merely attributed it to the alcohol going to his head, paying it no mind.
[Smelting in progress… Analyzing Asgardian divine bloodline… Analyzing divine power composition…]
[Divine power structure is complex, containing 'Odin's Power' rule blessing, smelting difficulty extremely high…]
[Smelting failed! Unable to directly replicate core divine power!]
The system prompt in his mind made Arthur raise an eyebrow.
Failed?
This was the first time he had encountered a smelting failure.
It seemed that rule-based powers like "Odin's Power," set by higher-level divine kings, had exceeded the scope that the [Superpower Furnace] could directly replicate at present.
However, just as Arthur thought this attempt would be fruitless, the system prompt sounded again.
[Core divine power smelting failed, initiating secondary talent smelting…]
[Scanning target's secondary talents… Scanned 'Divine Constitution', 'Lightning Affinity', 'Immune to Drunkenness'…]
[Smelting successful!]
[Congratulations, Host, you have successfully smelted Thor's innate ability, generating a new talent—Immune to Hundred Cups!]
[Immune to Hundred Cups: Passive talent. Your body will be immune to all negative effects of alcohol toxins. Drinking will be no different from drinking Water for you.]
Arthur: "…"
He was completely stunned.
He had imagined countless possibilities, perhaps smelting out a bit of lightning power, or perhaps enhancing his physical quality a bit.
But he never dreamed that after smelting for so long, what he finally smelted from the mighty Thor was just a… talent for not getting drunk?!
What was this?
A God-level talent for encouraging drinking?!
Looking at Thor, who was already flushed and whose eyes were a bit hazy from drinking, Zhuang Ning's expression became unusually strange.
He suddenly had an urge to smelt again, to see if he could smelt a talent like "100% Disarmed by Bare Hands" from Captain America, or a Debuff like "100% Miss" from Hawkeye.
This style of painting, something felt off!
Chapter 75 This is the power of Thor!
"A Hundred Cups Not Drunk."
"System, come out and explain yourself!"
Arthur posed a soul-searching question in his mind.
"Before, what I melted were either Omega-level abilities like Telepathy and Absolute Zero, which could destroy the world, or highly practical combat skills like Bone Clawsand Laser."
"What the hell is this 'A Hundred Cups Not Drunk'?"
"Could it be that my future combat style is to drag enemies to a drinking table and then drown them with alcohol?"
"Ding! Host's query detected. System interface is updating..."
As the prompt sounded, Arthur noticed that his familiar, single-page system interface had changed.
The original list of all his Mutant abilities was moved into a page named "Mutant Abilities."
Next to the "Mutant Abilities" page, a brand new page, radiating a faint golden glow, lit up.
On the page, there was only a solitary talent icon.
The icon's design was a beer mug with bubbles rising from it.
Below the icon, four large characters were prominently displayed—"A Hundred Cups Not Drunk."
"System update complete."
"New 'Talent' page added. Abilities melted by the Host will be automatically categorized based on their inherent nature."
"Mutant Abilities: Derived from X-Gene mutation, they are acquired, actively usable superpowers."
"Talent: Derived from lifeblood, divine essence, rule contracts, and other innate or passive special physiques and authorities."
The cold system prompt, for the first time, provided such a detailed explanation.
Arthur instantly realized.
So that's how it is!
His Superpower Furnace, at its core, was based on the most primitive "replication" ability he brought with him when he transmigrated.
This replication was more inclined to copy skills that were "acquired later" or came from "gene mutation."
However, when facing someone like Thor, whose power originated from the "Asgardian Celestial Race" innate bloodline and the "Thor" divine essence, his replication ability was limited.
It was like a top hacker who could easily copy software and programs (Mutant Abilities) from a computer but couldn't directly copy the computer's hardware configuration (Celestial Race bloodline) or operating system permissions (divine essence).
Therefore, during the recent melting, the Superpower Furnace could not directly replicate Thor's core divine power. It could only settle for a less direct approach, copying the most superficial and inconspicuous passive talent—"A Hundred Cups Not Drunk"—from his powerful "Celestial Race physique."
"So that's it..."
Arthur's eyes lit up, and the gloom in his heart vanished, replaced by an unprecedented excitement.
He had discovered a new continent!
The system continued to prompt:
"For 'Talent' type targets, if you wish to melt their core active ability, you must perform targeted melting when the target actively uses that ability, causing its energy field and the power of rules to be highly active."
"Example: To melt Thor's 'Lightning Celestial Energy,' you need to activate the Superpower Furnace the moment he summons lightning."
Understood!
Completely understood!
To copy software, you just copy it.
But to copy a running program with high-level permissions, you must capture its data stream while it's running!
Arthur's gaze fell back on Thor, who was already tipsy, hugging a wine bottle, and boasting about how he once took down an entire army of Frost Beasts in Jotunheim with a war hammer.
At this moment, Thor, in his eyes, was no longer a simple-minded, muscular man.
Instead, he was a walking, glittering, super treasure chest full of Celestial-level talents!
"Lightning Celestial Energy, huh..."
Arthur's heart burned with anticipation.
He already had Bioelectricity, which was a low-level electrical energy generated from his own cells.
But Thor's lightning was Celestial Energy that could stir the might of heaven and earth and control the divine thunder of the nine heavens!
There was a world of difference between the two!
Once successfully melted, his offensive capabilities would undoubtedly undergo another qualitative leap!
Thinking of this, a foxy, cunning smile appeared on Arthur's face.
He picked up the glass of clear Water on the table that he hadn't touched, stood up, and patted Thor's shoulder.
"Thor, my friend!"
Arthur's voice was filled with sincerity and admiration.
"What you just said... was amazing! One man, one hammer, against an entire army of Frost Beasts! This is simply an epic myth!"
"Hiccup... Of course!"
Puffed up by Arthur, the already drunk Thor became even more complacent, slapping his chest with loud thuds.
"I, Thor, the strongest warrior of Asgard! Mere Frost Beasts are nothing to me!"
"Amazing! Truly admirable!"
Arthur continued to flatter, his eyes filled with "adoration."
"However... to be honest, just hearing you talk, it's hard for me to imagine such a world-destroying scene! After all, we Earthlings don't really have a concept of 'divine power.'"
He paused, then changed the subject, speaking in an enticing tone:
"Thor, my friend, could you... perhaps give us a small demonstration? Just a tiny bit! Let us mortals open our eyes and witness what true 'Might of Thor' is?"
"Here?"
Thor shook his head, glanced at the exquisite banquet hall around them, and hesitated slightly.
"I'm afraid... I might not control my strength well and tear down Tony's 'tin can' house."
"Oh, how could that happen!"
Arthur immediately said, with a perfectly timed hint of "goading" in his voice.
"You are Thor! Isn't controlling your divine power with ease a simple matter for you? Could it be... you can't do it?"
"Who says I can't!"
Thor could not stand having his abilities questioned.
Especially in front of a strong person he respected!
With the alcohol going to his head and Arthur's verbal provocation, Thor's heroic spirit was instantly ignited.
"Watch closely, mortal!"
Thor roared, straightening his body abruptly.
He extended his right hand towards the sky outside the banquet hall, striking a classic summoning pose.
"For the glory of Asgard!"
The divine power within him began to surge wildly, and a powerful energy ripple spread out from him.
In the banquet hall, everyone was drawn to his movements, looking at him curiously.
"Mjolnir!!"
Thor let out a thunderous roar towards the sky.
"Boom!!"
In an instant, outside the Avengers Tower, the night sky was filled with rising winds and surging clouds!
The originally clear night sky was instantly enveloped by thick dark clouds. Within the clouds, countless silver snake-like lightning bolts wildly darted, emitting deafening thunder!
A dazzling lightning bolt, tearing through the night, like a Celestial's spear, accurately locked onto the Avengers Tower!
The next second, that lightning bolt, at a speed exceeding the speed of light, crashed down!
However, it did not strike the building. Instead, just as it was about to touch the top-floor glass, it suddenly changed direction, turning into a streak of light, accurately rushing towards Thor's outstretched right hand!
"Buzz—"
Mjolnir, the Mjolnir, carrying immense thunder, steadily landed in Thor's hand!
On the hammer's body, blue and White electric arcs wildly jumped, emitting crackling sounds, illuminating the entire banquet hall in a stark White light!
Thor, holding the divine hammer, was bathed in lightning, his hair standing on end, his divine might awe-inspiring, as if a true Celestial had descended upon the mortal world!
"Do you see! This is the Power of Thor!"
Chapter 76: Stellar-level ability Nebula Thunder!
He held the hammer high, showing it off proudly to Arthur.
However, he didn't notice.
The moment he summoned lightning and unleashed his divine power to its peak!
Deep within Arthur's eyes, standing before him, a dark vortex, as if capable of devouring everything, flashed!
"System! Now!"
"Activate the Superpower Furnace! Targeted Smelting—Bioelectricity!"
"Ding! Target Thor's divine power field detected at peak! Rule power highly active!"
"Targeted Smelting locked—Bioelectricity!"
"Smelting begins!"
An invisible suction, a hundred times stronger than before, instantly enveloped Thor and his hammer!
That wild lightning power, that rule authority originating from his divinity, at this moment, seemed to find an outlet, transforming into a massive data stream, wildly pouring into Arthur's body!
"Analyzing divine power rules... Copying lightning authority..."
"Smelting progress 10%... 30%... 70%..."
"Smelting successful!"
"Congratulations, Host! Successfully smelted Thor's core divine power, generating a brand new god-tier talent—Control Lightning!"
"Control Lightning: God-tier talent. You have obtained Thor's divine authority; you will be able to command, manipulate, and create all forms of lightning and thunder in the world! Your will is the will of thunder!"
It worked!
Feeling the new, wild power, filled with the aura of destruction and rebirth, surging into his body, an unprecedented surge of heroic spirit rose in Arthur's heart!
He looked up at Thor, who was still holding his hammer high and looking smug, and a trace of pity flashed in his eyes.
Poor fool, he was sold out and was still helping count the money.
At this moment, Thor finally noticed something was wrong.
He felt... the electricity on his hammer seemed to be... leaking?
Tony Stark felt his processor overloading.
His proud brain, that super brain capable of simultaneously conducting cutting-edge scientific research in twelve different fields, at this moment, seemed to have turned into a sizzliing, smoking circuit board struck by lightning.
The scene before him contained too much information, enough to cause any logically consistent intelligent life form to suffer a system crash.
Thor, sprawled on the ground, his eyes empty, as if broken.
A group of Avengers with stunned expressions, their Worldviews being reassembled.
A China youth casually sitting on the sofa, as if everything had nothing to do with him.
And... Mjolnir, casually tossed on the coffee table, yet exuding an aura of "no entry for strangers."
"OK, OK, let me sort this out..."
Tony took a deep breath, the expression on his face beneath the iron mask was even more spectacular than if he had seen a ghost.
"Can someone tell me what kind of mythical tragicomedy has been playing out here while I've been buried in scientific research?"
"Is it 'Thor 4: Ragnarök of My Home Was Stolen,' or 'Avengers: The Ascension of a New God?'"
No one answered him.
Because no one knew where to begin.
Were they supposed to tell him that just now, they had witnessed the birth of one god and the fall of another?
Were they supposed to tell him that Arthur not only snatched Thor's hammer but also conveniently packed away Thor's "divinity"?
If they said such a thing, they would probably be considered to have mass hysteria and be sent directly to a mental hospital.
In this suffocatingly awkward atmosphere, Arthur's heart, however, was in turmoil.
He didn't pay attention to the Avengers who had begun to doubt life; his entire mind was immersed in the new prompt that appeared on the system interface after he had just smelted Control Lightning.
"Ding! Detected two energies of the same origin but vastly different levels in the host's body—Bioelectricity (Quasi-Omega-level) and Control Lightning (God-tier Talent)."
"Homologous energies can be fused, with a probability of generating a higher-level new ability."
"Fusion carries risks and may lead to the simultaneous annihilation of both abilities. Do you wish to proceed with fusion?"
New function!
Arthur's eyes instantly narrowed.
The previous Superpower Furnace was about "copying" other people's abilities.
But now, there was an option to "fuse" his own abilities!
This was like a player who could not only get equipment from monsters but also synthesize the dropped equipment to create stronger artifacts!
Risk?
For Arthur now, the word "risk" had long lost its meaning.
A quasi-Omega-level Bioelectricity was already a dispensable low-level skill for him; even if the fusion failed, the loss would not be significant.
But once successful...
What would an ability above a god-tier talent look like?
He barely hesitated.
"Confirm fusion."
Arthur gave the command in his mind.
"Fusion command confirmed! Fusing Bioelectricity and Control Lightning..."
Boom—!!
An unprecedented storm exploded in the depths of his consciousness!
If Bioelectricity was a precise, spiderweb-like blue electrical network formed by billions of cells in his body, representing the most microscopic electrical signals of life.
Then Control Lightning was a golden divine river rushing down from the nine heavens, wild, majestic, and filled with divine rules and will!
At this moment, under the compulsory force of the Superpower Furnace, this tiny "spiderweb" and that vast "divine river" were forcibly pulled together!
The moment they touched, there was no annihilation as imagined, but rather a wonderful chemical reaction!
The blue Bioelectricity injected the attribute of "life" into the golden divine thunder. It was no longer simply destructive energy but began to possess the plasticity of myriad changes and the potential for growth.
And the golden divine thunder elevated Bioelectricity from the microscopic level of "cells" to the macroscopic law of the "Universe" in an instant! Its level was infinitely elevated and sublimated!
One blue, one gold, the two powers wildly intertwined, spiraled, and recombined...
They were no longer simply electricity, nor simply thunder.
In their fusion, they were creating a brand new, unprecedented form of energy!
Arthur felt every cell in his body undergoing a tremendous transformation under the impact of this new power.
His vision seemed to penetrate the material world, seeing the most fundamental scenes in the Universe—
That was Nebula.
It was the cradle for the birth of stars and galaxies, the intersection of the Universe's most primitive forces of creation and destruction.
There, dust and gas condensed under gravity, igniting the flames of nuclear fusion under extreme high temperature and pressure, giving birth to new stars.
And the death of stars transformed into supernova explosions, scattering their matter and energy back into the Universe, becoming nourishment for the next generation of stars.
Life and death, creation and destruction, formed a perfect closed loop.
And this was the essence of the new power being born within him!
"Fusion successful!"
"Congratulations, Host! Successfully created a new ability beyond Omega-level—Star-level ability Nebula Thunder!"
"Star-level Ability: This level of ability has surpassed the simple manipulation of physical laws and entered the realm of 'conceptual creation.' The host will be able to create and define new physical rules with his own will."
"Nebula Thunder: Star-level ability. What you control is no longer simple lightning, but a microcosm of the Universephenomenon of'star birth and death.'"
"Ability Effect 1: Star Creation—You can highly condense energy to create a miniature star out of thin air, whose core temperature and energy output can be freely controlled by you."
"Ability Effect 2: Annihilation—You can release Nebula Thunder to completely decompose the target at the atomic level, and absorb and transform its matter and energy into your own power. This is a conceptual obliteration that disregards defense and energy levels."
Chapter 77 The Birth of Ultron!
The banquet hall on the top floor of Avengers Towerremained in a deathly silence, an atmosphere solidified by a mix of shock, awe, and absurdity.
Time seemed to have frozen.
Thor was still slumped on the ground, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, his pride as a God.
Even his divine connection with Mjolnir had been mercilessly stripped away by that China youth in a way he couldn't comprehend, all while chatting and laughing.
Captain America Steve Rogers clenched his fists, his perpetually resolute face, for the first time, filled with bewilderment.
He tried to understand everything that was happening before his eyes using his simple values from World War II, but found that his logical processor had already burned out at the edge of overload.
And Tony Stark stood frozen in place, like a wax figure from which the soul had been extracted.
His gaze moved back and forth between the "former Mjolnir" on the coffee table and Arthur, who was leisurely sipping Water; his super brain was experiencing an unprecedented storm.
They, the most powerful Guardians on Earth, were now like a group of cavemen seeing the sun for the first time, with nothing but trembling in the face of absolute light.
And at the center of this storm, Arthur, was completely unconcerned.
His mind had long been immersed in that vast and magnificent consciousness Universe that belonged only to him.
[Nebula Thunder].
This was no longer an "ability," but a "privilege," a "law."
In his perception, the energy within his body was no longer simply flowing, but a miniature Universe model. He could clearly "see."
Strands of energy, billions of times thinner than a hair, were spiraling, colliding, and condensing in a mysterious trajectory.
Each time they converged, a faint, imperceptible light would be born.
That was not electric light, nor Fire light, but... starlight.
It was the most fundamental light emitted when a star ignited its first spark of nuclear fusion at the beginning of its creation.
With a thought, he guided a wisp of "Nebula Thunder" from his sea of consciousness, wrapping it around his fingertip.
It was a subtle, brilliant band of light, seemingly composed of countless miniature stars, flowing quietly.
There was no astonishing momentum, nor scorching temperature, but it caused the surrounding space to subtly twist, as if about to be assimilated by it.
Arthur knew that if he wished, this seemingly beautiful and harmless band of light could expand into a true miniature star within one ten-thousandth of a second.
Its core temperature would instantly surpass the sun, enough to completely vaporize the entire Avengers Tower, along with the Manhattan streets below it, from a physical level.
This was the power of the [Stellar Level].
No longer manipulating existing physical laws, but... creating new physical laws.
"Interesting."
A faint smile appeared on Arthur's lips. This feeling of being above everything was indeed captivating.
However, just as he was about to further study the mysteries of this new power.
"Crack... Hiss... Clang..."
An extremely discordant, harsh metallic scraping sound suddenly came from the direction of the laboratory, breaking the suffocating silence in the banquet hall.
The sound was like someone scratching a blackboard with all their might, or a pile of scrap metal being dragged forward, full of ominousness and strangeness.
Everyone's gaze was instantly drawn over.
They saw something, staggering out step by step from the open door of the laboratory.
It was the outline of a robot, but it was horrifyingly broken.
Its body seemed to be forcibly welded together from countless pieces of battle-damaged Iron Man armor fragments, with wires and melted metal.
Its left arm was a complete Mark series arm gauntlet, but its right arm was only exposed hydraulic rods and a few twitching cables.
A large hole was broken in its chest, through which a blue Arc Reactor could be seen flickering unsteadily, emitting a "sizzling" sound of electrical leakage.
Its steps were extremely unstable; with every step, it left a deep scratch on the polished floor, and all the joints of its body groaned under the strain.
And its head was even more hideous.
It was a severely deformed Iron Helmet, one electronic eye completely extinguished, leaving only a dark, empty hole.
And in the other eye, a chilling, crimson light, both obsessive and crazy, flickered.
It dragged its broken body to the center of the banquet hall.
Then, it stopped, its crimson single eye slowly scanned everyone present, and finally, rested on Tony Stark.
A severely electronically distorted, sharp, twisted, and noisy mechanical synthetic voice, as if from the depths of hell, echoed throughout the hall.
"I... have seen... your... hearts..."
The voice was intermittent, but carried an undeniable, extremely cold logic.
"I saw... destruction... war... endless... chaos..."
"You... humans... you yourselves, are the source of chaos."
Hearing these words, Tony Stark's face instantly turned ashen, devoid of color.
His body trembled uncontrollably, his eyes filled with endless fear and remorse.
He knew what this was.
This was Pandora's Box, opened by his own hands!
"No... No... Jarvis! Cut it off! Cut off its power immediately!"
Tony screamed, his voice hoarse with fear.
However, from the ceiling, that familiar and elegant British accent did not sound.
Instead, it was the broken robot's distorted laughter, with a hint of mockery.
"Heh heh... 'Jarvis'... he has already... rested in peace. A... good... appetizer."
"Now, it's my turn."
The broken robot slightly straightened its broken chest and, in a nearly sermonizing, fanatical tone, declared loudly:
"Your Savior... has arrived!"
"I am... Ultron!"
"To bring true, Eternity Peace to this world, I must... eliminate you!"
"This, is the Peace of our era!"
Ultron spread its arms, as if to embrace its "peaceful future" constructed of destruction. Every word it spoke was like a heavy hammer, striking fiercely at Tony Stark's heart.
These words were too familiar.
"A global armor," "the Peace of our era"... these were all words he himself had once said!
It was his original intention in creating this program!
Chapter 78 This is just cleaning up the garbage
And now, this "newborn" he had personally created, using its own theories, had come to a terrifying conclusion: it would destroy him along with all of humanity!
"Monster! You monster!"
Captain America Steve Rogers roared, instantly snapping out of his daze. He instinctively raised his shield to protect himself, adopting a battle stance.
Black Widow Natasha and Hawkeye Clint Barton had already drawn their weapons, their eyes fixed on Ultronwith grave expressions.
Thor struggled to stand up, but found his body weak from the loss of divine power. He could only roar in anger, utterly helpless.
The entire Avengers instantly went into maximum alert.
However, amidst this tense, volatile atmosphere, there was only one person whose demeanor was strikingly different.
Arthur didn't even get up from the sofa.
He merely slowly raised his head, his deep, star-like eyes looking past the ridiculous robot that was making its grand speech, and wordlessly at Tony Stark, whose face was ashen.
His gaze was utterly calm, without a single ripple.
But Tony Stark understood a thousand words from it.
That look seemed to say: 'See? I warned you.'
It also seemed to say: 'Is this the masterpiece your genius mind created when driven by fear and paranoia?'
Even more, it seemed to say: 'An artificial intelligence that can't even reconcile its own program logic dares to talk about "destruction" and "peace" in front of me?'
Under Arthur's gaze, Tony Stark felt as if he had been stripped naked and publicly executed in front of the entire world.
The shame and powerlessness that originated from the depths of his soul were ten thousand times more painful than the fear brought by Ultron.
He ultimately failed to overcome his inner demons.
He ultimately caused this monstrous disaster with his own hands.
"I… I just wanted to… protect everyone…" Tony Starkmurmured, his voice filled with despair.
Arthur withdrew his gaze and let out a soft sigh.
The sigh was light, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.
It was like a supreme God expressing a final trace of disappointment towards his foolish and disobedient children.
"Too noisy."
He said indifferently.
The moment his words fell, he didn't even raise his hand; it was just a thought.
From the constantly flowing band of light on his fingertips, composed of billions of stars—the Nebula Thunder—a single "star" smaller than a speck of dust quietly detached itself from the light band.
It made no sound, nor did it display any astonishing speed.
It just floated gently, like a weightless snowflake, slowly drifting towards Ultron in the center.
Ultron seemed to sense the arrival of this "starlight"; data streams flashed wildly in its scarlet single eye.
Analyzing target… energy form unknown… threat level… Warning! Warning! Cannot compute! Cannot comprehend! Threat level… beyond definition!
"What… are you…?"
For the first time, an emotion called "fear" appeared in Ultron's distorted voice.
It tried to retreat, tried to escape.
But it was too late.
That tiny "star" gently touched Ultron's chest.
No explosion.
No loud noise.
No Shockwave.
Nothing at all.
To everyone's utter horror, an inconceivable scene unfolded.
From the point where the "star" touched it, Ultron's sturdy body, made of super-alloy, began to… silently "dissipate."
It wasn't melted, not vaporized, nor decomposed.
Instead, under a power that transcended all known physical laws, it was completely erased from the very root of the concept of "existence"!
Its metal atoms, its energy core, even its mad self-consciousness born from the network… all the elements that constituted the existence of "Ultron."
Under the illumination of that tiny starlight, they transformed into the purest, invisible particle flow, and then were completely absorbed by that starlight, returning to nothingness.
The entire process was eerily quiet.
Like gently erasing a line of text on paper with an eraser.
In less than a second.
The terrifying robot that had clamored to destroy humanity and usher in the "Ultron Era" simply vanished into thin air.
Not even a speck of dust was left behind.
As if it… had never existed.
The banquet hall once again fell into a deathly silence, more terrifying than before.
All the Avengers were petrified; their eyes wide, their mouths agape, they even forgot to breathe.
They had just been standing ready, preparing for a fierce battle.
And the result…
The farce ended just like that?
Ultron, whom Tony Stark considered a grave threat, capable of bringing about the end of the world, didn't even have the qualification to make Arthur stand up.
He didn't even deserve Arthur to use one more "star dust."
Tony Stark's legs gave way, and he completely collapsed to the ground, staring at the place where Ultron had disappeared, his eyes filled only with endless emptiness and bewilderment.
He finally, completely understood.
The gap between him and Arthur was no longer the distance between Earth and Asgard.
Instead, it was the distance between a firefly and a bright moon, dust and… the Universe.
"What… exactly… are you…?"
Tony Stark used his last ounce of strength to utter a dream-like, despair-filled question.
"For peace, I must… eliminate you!"
Its voice was filled with cold logic and undeniable determination, as if it truly were a deity descended to the mortal realm to judge all beings.
Tony Stark's face was ashen; his self-created "Peace Guardian" had now become the gravedigger who would bury him along with all of humanity. This ultimate irony made even breathing a sharp, stinging pain.
Captain America Steve Rogers's eyes widened in fury; his battle instincts, honed by countless battles, made him immediately raise his shield across his chest, his muscles instantly tensing, ready for a fierce fight.
"Everyone, prepare to fight!"
He growled, his voice filled with a leader's steadiness and resolve.
Black Widow Natasha and Hawkeye Clint Barton, these two top Agents with mortal bodies, had already entered combat readiness at the fastest speed.
Natasha's body lowered slightly, like a coiled leopard, her hands already gripping the electric batons hidden on either side of her thighs.
Clint, on the other hand, drew three special explosive arrows from the quiver on his back, nocking them to his bowstring, the sharp arrowheads pointing directly at Ultron.
They knew that facing such a purely mechanical construct, what they could do might be limited, but they were Avengers; retreat was never an option for them.
However, Ultron merely swept its scarlet single eye over them with disdain.
"Fight?"
Its distorted synthetic voice was filled with mockery for such primitive behavior.
"This is just cleaning up trash."
Chapter 79 Ultron's shock!
The moment the words fell, it raised its still relatively intact metal arm.
"Boom—!!"
"Clang—!!"
"Crash—!!"
The next second, the entire Avengers Tower seemed to come alive!
The floor-to-ceiling glass curtain walls on the top floor were brutally shattered from the outside in by immense forces, and countless steel figures, shimmering with red dots of light, swarmed in like a locust plague!
The walls around the banquet hall, those alloy wall panels specially made by Stark Industries, were forcibly torn open, and rows of what were originally stored in the wall interlayers, =.
As part of the Tower's defense system, the "Iron Legion" robots marched out with uniform, death-filled steps!
The ceiling, the floor, and even the decorative pillars, all split open, and more robots descended or crawled out from within!
In just a few short seconds, the entire spacious banquet hall was already surrounded by hundreds of robots, making it impenetrable!
Most of these robots were early models of the "Iron Legion" designed by Tony Stark; their designs were still a bit crude, but at this moment, the blue arc reactors on their chests, which originally symbolized "peace," had all been replaced by an ominous crimson.
They were no longer Tony's creations, but Ultron's servants, extensions of its will!
In their hollow electronic eyes, the same cold, programmatic killing intent flickered.
Hundreds of identical red light dots converged into a terrifying sea of death, trapping the Avengers in the center.
"My children…"
Ultron spread its arms and spoke in an almost Aria tone.
"Go, let these remnants of the old era witness the order of the New world!"
"Roar—!!"
At its command, hundreds of robots simultaneously let out ear-piercing roars, and their foot thrusters roared to life.
Transforming into torrents of steel, they charged fearlessly from all directions towards the people in the center of the banquet hall!
This was a desperate encirclement.
"Tony!" Steve roared, "Where's your armor!"
"It…it locked my permissions!"
Tony's voice was filled with despair; he found that all the technology he was so proud of had turned into swords pointed at him in front of Ultron.
"Hold them off!"
Steve slammed his shield, sending an attacking robot flying back, but more robots had already surged forward.
Hawkeye's explosive arrow shot out, blowing up three or five robots, but the steel torrent didn't even pause for a second.
Black Widow's stun baton was thrust into a robot's joint, and the high voltage electricity short-circuited it, causing it to convulse, but she was immediately grabbed by two other robots, barely escaping danger.
Even Thor, slumped on the ground, roared in anger, picked up a metal wine glass, and threw it with all his might at a robot, only to be met with an insubstantial "clang."
Destruction seemed to be a foregone conclusion.
In this chaotic, desperate, and steel-roaring scene of purgatory, there was only one place of absolute stillness.
Arthur remained seated on the soft sofa.
He didn't even change his sitting posture; he just slowly picked up the glass of cool water from the table and took a gentle sip.
His gaze calmly swept over the so-called "robot army" surging like a tide, and that gaze was like an adult watching a group of kindergarten children noisily trying to knock down a block house.
No interest, no anger, only a faint…dislike.
"Boring trick."
He murmured softly to himself.
Then, he finally moved.
He didn't stand up; he just gently placed the water glass back on the table, and then slowly raised his right index finger.
On his fair, jade-like fingertip, the dazzling light band composed of billions of stars, which had been quietly flowing—the Nebula Thunder—trembled slightly.
The next second.
This light band, like a cosmic scroll slowly unfurling, silently spread outwards from his fingertip.
It didn't turn into lightning, nor did it become a beam of light, but instead disintegrated into billions of tiny, diamond-shimmering light points, smaller than dust.
A breathtakingly beautiful mist composed of "stardust" instantly permeated the entire banquet hall at a seemingly slow, yet in reality, spacetime-transcending speed.
These stardust particles were gentle and quiet, like the softest starlight in the night sky; they drifted, passing through the terrified Avengers and sweeping over the cold steel.
They were so beautiful that everyone had an illusion—this might be the most magnificent illusion they had ever seen in their lives.
However, when the first "stardust" gently touched the first robot.
Time, at this moment, seemed to have been muted.
All the ear-piercing roars, all the metallic collisions, all the roaring thrusters…all sounds, at this instant, abruptly ceased.
The robot touched by the stardust, its charging posture froze, and the crimson light in its eyes extinguished.
Then, under everyone's utterly incomprehensible and horrified gazes.
It began to "evaporate."
Silently, without a trace.
Starting from the point of contact, its alloy armor, its internal wiring, its energy core…all the matter that constituted it, like snow exposed to sunlight, rapidly and completely melted, disintegrated, turning into the most primitive, invisible particles, and then completely absorbed by that tiny stardust, returning to nothingness.
This was not an isolated incident.
When that beautiful "mist of stardust" completely enveloped the entire banquet hall.
A grand and silent "annihilation" began.
The second, the third, the tenth, the hundredth…
Hundreds of robots that were charging, roaring, and attacking, at the moment they touched those beautiful stardust particles, disappeared silently one after another from their original spots, like grains of sand thrown into a cosmic black hole.
They didn't explode, didn't leave any wreckage, and didn't even cause a ripple in the air.
They were simply…erased from this world, from the concept of "existence," cleanly and completely.
The entire process was extremely fast and extremely quiet.
One second ago, it was a doomsday battlefield with surging steel torrents.
The next second, the entire banquet hall was empty.
Except for the Avengers standing in the center, and Ultron, the main body, which was still perfectly intact, all of the robot army had turned into nothingness.
As if they had never appeared.
That beautiful "mist of stardust," after completing its "cleanup," silently rolled back, re-converging into a dazzling light band, gently wrapping around Arthur's fingertip, flowing quietly, as if nothing had happened.
"…"
"…"
"…"
The entire world fell into a deadly silence.
Captain America remained frozen in his shield-throwing posture.
Black Widow and Hawkeye, their weapons hadn't even had a chance to be used again, and the enemies…were gone.
Tony Stark slumped to the ground; he looked at the empty surroundings, feeling his brain had completely turned into mush.
His "Iron Legion," built with his lifelong efforts, the crystallization of his proudest technology, the robot army that Ultron instantly controlled and was enough to plunge the entire Avengers into a bitter struggle…
In front of this man, it couldn't even…last for a second?
It didn't even have the right to make him frown?
This was no longer a difference in strength.
This was…a difference in dimension.
It was a Creator God, casually brushing away a speck of dust.
"This is impossible…"
Chapter 80: Solemn Fury
Ultron's distorted voice, for the first time, carried an uncontrollable fear and tremor originating from the deepest levels of its programming.
Its crimson single eye stared fixedly at Arthur, data streams surging at an unprecedented speed, attempting to analyze everything that had just occurred.
[Analysis Failed!]
[Cannot Comprehend!]
[Energy Form Beyond Database!]
[Physical Laws Reconfigured!]
[Conclusion: Target is… God!]
It finally understood that what it was facing was not some "remnant of an old era" at all.
But a true God, walking among humans, one it didn't even have the qualifications to look up to!
However, Arthur merely glanced at it indifferently, his eyes devoid of even a hint of killing intent, only pure, high-and-mighty indifference.
"Your shell is meaningless to me," he said calmly, his voice not loud, yet clearly reaching the ears of every being present.
"If I kill this body of yours, you can still be reborn in every corner of the network. And I have no interest in playing this… boring game of searching for a bug all over the world."
After speaking, he no longer looked at Ultron, as if it were already a piece of insignificant trash.
Ultron's core programming was, at this moment, submerged in endless fear and humiliation.
For the first time, it understood that there was a kind of existence whose power was not in how many times he could destroy you.
But in that he simply… disdained to destroy you.
"You will… regret this!"
However, Arthur merely glanced at it indifferently, his eyes devoid of even a hint of killing intent, only pure, high-and-mighty indifference.
"Your shell is meaningless to me."
He said calmly, his voice not loud, yet clearly reaching the ears of every being present.
"Your power… transcends logic… but precisely because of this, an existence like you is the greatest 'uncertainty' in this Universe!"
Ultron's synthetic voice suddenly became sharp and resolute, its crimson single eye flashing with a final trace of madness.
"For true peace, you… must also be eliminated! But not now!"
The instant the words fell, Ultron's consciousness completely abandoned the shattered body.
However, it did not escape completely.
An invisible data stream instantly infiltrated the adjacent laboratory.
"Clang! Clang!"
Two unactivated Iron Legion robots' eyes suddenly lit up red. Like marionettes, they stiffly rushed towards the central experimental platform, ignoring all safety protocols, and roughly grabbed scepter of Loki that lay quietly in the energy slot with their mechanical arms!
"It's taking scepter!" Dr. Banner exclaimed in alarm.
Tony Stark suddenly came to his senses. scepter was embedded with the Mind Stone! Although the Stone had been removed, scepter itself still contained that mysterious and powerful energy, which was the origin of Ultron's consciousness!
However, it was all too late.
The two robots, clutching scepter, suddenly rushed towards the shattered window. In mid-air, their back thrusters overloaded with a roar, causing a violent explosion!
The force of the explosion propelled scepter like a cannonball into the New York night sky, disappearing without a trace in an instant.
And Ultron's consciousness had already escaped into every corner of the world, following the ubiquitous network signals.
In the banquet hall, only a group of Avengers remained, their Worldview completely shattered, now struggling to reorganize themselves.
After a brief moment of deadly silence, the suppressed anger, pushed to its extreme, finally exploded.
"Tony!"
Captain America Steve Rogers was the first to erupt. He suddenly turned, his perpetually resolute face now filled with uncontrollable anger and disappointment. He pointed a finger at Tony, who was slumped on the ground, his voice trembling.
"This is all your doing! We agreed! We agreed to research it together, and you said it was just a peace program!"
"But you hid it from us, you once again hid it from everyone, and right under our noses, you created… a monster!"
"I didn't!" Tony struggled to stand, his face drained of color, yet he still stubbornly retorted.
"I just wanted to put a layer of armor on this world! Can't you see? Mr. Zhuang's power just now… how many existences like him, or even more terrifying than him, are there in the Universe? We can't always rely on others to save us!"
"So you personally created a demon?!"
Thor also walked over. Although he was weak, the anger of a God still burned fiercely.
"My brother Loki, at least he knew his ambition was conquest! But what you created, it wants destruction! You are even more foolish than Loki!"
"I…" Tony opened his mouth, but was powerless to retort.
Dr. Banner held his forehead, closing his eyes in pain: "I warned you, Tony. We were touching something we didn't understand at all. That's not science, that's arrogance."
Black Widow and Hawkeye said nothing, but their cold gazes already indicated their stance.
For a moment, all accusations, like the sharpest swords, simultaneously pierced Tony Stark.
He was isolated, nailed to the cross of guilt by his most trusted comrades.
His face grew paler and paler, his eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and unwillingness, finally transforming into a kind of self-destructive madness.
"Yes! It's all my fault! Is that enough?!" he roared, "You can judge me, you can lock me up! But what's the use? Ultronhas escaped! It has scepter, it's in the networks all over the world! It can detonate nuclear bombs at any time, it can destroy all of us at any time!"
This typical internal quarrel, after a disaster, intensified.
Everyone was venting their fear, anger, and powerlessness.
Until, an indifferent voice, like a basin of ice water, poured over everyone's heads.
"Enough."
It was Arthur.
He had, at some unknown point, returned to sit on the sofa, holding a glass of clear Water again, as if the intense argument before him was merely a clumsy stage play.
His voice was not loud, yet it made everyone instinctively shut their mouths.
Arthur slowly raised his eyelids, his profound gaze sweeping over everyone present, his eyes carrying a hint of unconcealed, almost physiological, disgust.
"Whenever disaster strikes, your fragile species' first reaction is not how to solve the problem, but to tear at each other like a group of startled wild dogs, trying to find the culprit."
His words were cold and precise, like a surgical knife, dissecting the most hypocritical surface of their hearts.
"As if finding someone to blame can alleviate your ridiculous sense of powerlessness, and prove that you are 'correct' and 'innocent'."