"Harvey Anberaka, can you answer a question for me?"
Tony Stark looked at Harvey, hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
"Go ahead. I'll consider it."
Harvey's gaze flickered at those words, but he did not agree immediately.
"Ever since you treated me last time, my body has improved several times over."
"Not only do I look a few years younger, but my physical condition has improved considerably as well."
"Can that kind of superpower improve my physical condition without making me look younger?"
Tony Stark's gaze shifted evasively as he spoke.
Ever since that treatment, Tony Stark had been able to clearly feel the tremendous changes in his body.
His five senses had become sharper, while his strength and stamina had improved significantly.
Although his explosive speed had not reached the limits of the human body, it still far surpassed that of ordinary people.
Normally, if he stayed up working for several days in a row without taking time to recover, his thirty-eight-year-old body would have long since been unable to endure it.
But after the treatment, as long as he slept three to four hours a day, he could eliminate all fatigue and remain full of energy.
His thoughts had also become quicker than before, which was why he had been able to continuously update and improve the Iron Man armor in just two months.
Most importantly, two months had passed.
Tony Stark had not felt any side effects appear in his body.
This made him realize that Harvey Anberaka's ability was definitely not as simple as healing and restoring youth.
It could directly strengthen a person's body, and that enhancement was not merely temporary.
Last time, Harvey Anberaka had treated him and casually strengthened his body in the process, yet he could already easily jump more than two meters high.
If Harvey Anberaka were not merely casually strengthening him while treating him, but truly intended to further enhance his body—
Then he would not need to specifically develop genetic drugs and conduct experiments that violated human ethics.
"Tony Stark, didn't I just tell you that if you want to obtain something, you often have to pay a price?"
"So your wish to have it both ways is impossible."
Harvey already knew that Tony Stark had developed a desire for power, and he spoke slowly.
Tony Stark wanted a more powerful body while also maintaining his current appearance so that no one would notice the changes in his body. That was clearly impossible.
Even Harvey himself could not do that. Ever since he had awakened the system and gained power from the Void—
Three years had passed, yet his current appearance had not changed much from when he had become an adult.
Harvey believed that not only after three years, but even after ten years, fifty years, or a hundred years, his appearance would not change.
Because the power of the Void had caused his life form to transcend humanity.
In the future, the fact that his body was no longer ordinary would be exposed even if he deliberately tried to hide it.
But by then, even if it was exposed, his power would have evolved to the point where he feared nothing, so he would not care too much.
"Is there really no way at all?"
Tony Stark spoke with some disappointment.
"Tony Stark, I should have told you before."
"My power is not a superpower. It is merely a force beyond your understanding, so you can consider it a type of superpower."
Harvey spoke calmly.
"If it isn't a superpower, then what kind of power is it?"
Tony Stark asked in confusion.
"Although your current strength has yet to surpass the limits of humanity, it has already given you extraordinary physical abilities."
"For someone like you, whose physical condition was originally that of an ordinary person, that should already be enough, shouldn't it?"
"If you still want to be enhanced further, then not only will your physical abilities begin to leave the bounds of common human knowledge."
"Your lifespan will as well. You will have at least several centuries, perhaps a thousand years, or even longer."
"I can help you. I can even give you power beyond anything you would dare imagine."
"After all, to me, it is nothing more than something done with a wave of my hand."
"But are you sure you are mentally prepared?"
Harvey glanced at Tony Stark and spoke slowly.
"I can have powerful, unbelievable strength like yours without relying on technology?"
Tony Stark's eyes filled with shock as he heard Harvey Anberaka's words. He could hardly believe it.
"You can obtain unimaginably powerful strength, but it is unlikely that you will reach my level."
"As for the reason, I will not explain it. If you truly want it, then once you gain it, you will naturally understand."
Harvey did not deliberately conceal the answer. He simply shook his head.
He did not know what kind of abilities Tony Stark would gain after placing his faith in and joining the Void.
The power he possessed after evolving two hundred and eighty-three times was already terrifying.
Yet this was only his starting point, so it was impossible for Tony Stark to catch up to him.
"..."
Tony Stark fell into deep thought after hearing those words.
Possessing strength beyond that of ordinary people would be seen by others as impressive, like those top athletes who broke records time and time again.
Seeing it would not make people afraid. Instead, it would inspire admiration.
But once that strength exceeded the bounds of common human knowledge, others would see you as an anomaly and fear you.
He wanted Harvey to strengthen his body, but he did not want his body and appearance to seem too young, making others realize that he was an anomaly.
That was why he had asked Harvey Anberaka that question earlier, only to receive the answer that it was impossible.
If one could possess a long lifespan and gain power beyond the understanding of ordinary people, it could be said to be what countless people dreamed of.
Otherwise, there would not be so many imaginative films and animated shows filled with fantasy.
Yet when this opportunity to obtain fantastical power appeared before him, Tony Stark hesitated.
Once he obtained it, Pepper, whom he greatly admired and trusted, might look at him strangely.
And a lifespan of several centuries or even longer sounded wonderful.
But as time passed, if he remained young while the people around him gradually grew old and died—
Just imagining that scene made Tony Stark feel sorrowful.
But if he refused this time, he might also miss an opportunity to completely change his life.
"Harvey Anberaka, thank you for being willing to give me this opportunity."
"But could you give me a little more time to think it over carefully?"
Therefore, Tony Stark looked at Harvey Anberaka and spoke apologetically.
"If you are truly mentally prepared, bring this matter up again. I will consider it then."
Harvey had no intention of urging Tony Stark. He neither clearly agreed nor clearly refused.
Harvey could understand Tony Stark's concerns.
But Harvey knew that once Tony Stark developed the desire for greater power, he would eventually join the embrace of the Void.
"Whether I accept it or not, thank you for giving me this opportunity."
Tony Stark's eyes flickered. He nodded and spoke gratefully.
Before you continue