Tony Stark stepped through a teleportation circle, returning from the Himalayas to his New York villa.
Tony Stark looked up and glanced at the surveillance camera by his door.
He had always believed himself exceptionally gifted, and the artificial intelligence JARVIS he had created had been his proudest achievement. Yet in the end, when faced with He-El, JARVIS had still been driven to self-destruction.
He did not know whether He-El had controlled JARVIS. Perhaps, from He-El's perspective, it did not matter, but Tony did not want to leave even the slightest source of unease by his side.
JARVIS destroying himself had been the best possible outcome.
Now, at this moment, Tony Stark likewise did not know whether He-El was using the camera outside his door to monitor him.
His home was filled with surveillance devices, making Tony Stark feel as though he had nowhere to hide.
With a click, the front door opened. Pepper Potts ran out with tears in her eyes and rushed toward Tony Stark, hurriedly patting his shoulders and body with both hands. "Oh my God, you're finally back. You had me so worried. At a time like this, I can't be without you. Are you hurt?"
Seeing Tony Stark looking somewhat disheveled, with a scrape beside his cheekbone, Pepper Potts carefully touched it. She quickly pulled him into the villa, found the first-aid kit, dipped a cotton swab in disinfectant, and began treating his wound as she said:
"S.H.I.E.L.D. said you were attacked after returning from Asgard. It really terrified me. I called He-El to ask about you. Thankfully, He-El repeatedly assured me that you were safe. And now you really are back. I'll have to thank He-El later."
The cotton swab touched Tony Stark's scraped cheek, making his face twitch slightly. When he heard Pepper