Vibranium Body!

"Are you ready?"

Arcee looked at Leon, who had stripped naked and lay in the coffin—no, the Regeneration Cradle—and reminded him:

"If you want every cell in your body except your skeleton to bond with Vibranium atoms, it will probably take two and a half hours."

"During that time, you must remain conscious at all times. You'll feel as though countless ants are crawling over you, biting you with unbearable itching and pain."

"No anesthetic can solve this kind of suffering. If you want to back out, there's still time."

To be honest.

Based on what Arcee knew of Leon, she did not think he, having lived a pampered life and indulged in pleasure, could endure such pain.

The confidence and composure he usually displayed were all built upon his extraordinary birth and formidable strength.

Once he lost those things, his willpower might not even compare to that of an ordinary person who hauled bricks every day.

However.

Leon's answer surprised and moved Arcee.

She thought that only at this moment did she truly understand the man before her named Leon Stark.

"How much pain can a person endure?"

Leon gave a light laugh, with not the slightest trace of confusion in his eyes. "Rather than regret it in the future when I'm too weak to protect my family, friends, and loved ones, I'd rather seize every chance I have to become stronger now."

"Arcee, I will become your 'eternal partner who will never wear out.'"

"I promise you, so—"

"Begin!"

Leon closed his eyes and quietly waited for the Vibranium atoms to be injected.

"If you break that promise, I'll dig you out of your grave..."

Arcee murmured in a voice only she could hear.

Then.

She hesitated no longer.

She pressed the start button on the Regeneration Cradle's main control screen, instantly beginning the complete bonding process between Leon's body cells and the Vibranium atoms.

"Aaargh!!!!!!"

The moment it began, Leon could not stop himself from letting out a howl of agony!

The sensation was no less painful than when he had fused with the Adamantium Skeleton, but it was even more unbearably itchy!

And at a time like this, he had to remain absolutely conscious. While enduring the pain, he also had to divide his attention to control his tissues as they broke down into individual cells and bonded with the Vibranium atoms.

This was practically carving himself to pieces a thousand times over!

How could mere words describe that pain!

When Leon first thought of giving up, he asked Arcee how much longer it would take. Her reply filled him with despair:

"It's still far from over. Only three minutes have passed."

"What?!"

"Only three minutes?!"

"Why does it feel like a year has passed?!"

Leon instantly cracked, regretting not asking Ancient One to lend him the Time Stone beforehand. Even if the chances were slim, he should have at least tried!

"Fuck!!!!!!"

Leon cursed and stopped asking Arcee about the time to torture himself further. He focused entirely on enduring the pain and bonding his cells with Vibranium.

Time passed slowly.

It passed even more slowly in Leon's perception.

Gradually.

He began to feel numb.

It seemed his body's self-preservation mechanism had begun to kick in.

But that was a bad sign.

Leon could not lose control of his body yet.

He began actively clinging to that sensation of pain, stimulating his nerves like a masochist and forcibly keeping his brain awake, continuing to maintain this agonizing process.

He...

Could not fall yet!

One hour.

Two hours.

The last five minutes.

The last thirty seconds.

"...Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

Bang!

As Arcee spoke the final number of her countdown, the string Leon had forcibly kept taut through sheer willpower snapped at last.

He fell into an extremely deep slumber, just as expected.

This kind of mental trauma could not be healed by Super Self-Regeneration. Leon could only recover gradually with time.

However.

When a pleasant system notification sounded, the corners of Leon's mouth instinctively lifted.

[Notice: Through your own efforts, you have obtained "Vibranium Body." This ability has been certified by the system and can interact with "Super Self-Regeneration" and "Adamantium Skeleton."]

[Vibranium Body: While retaining your flesh-and-blood body, your body receives comprehensive enhancement from Vibranium's properties. Your strength and defense are greatly increased, and you gain the abilities of kinetic energy absorption and energy redirection.]

[Introduction: The human body has limits, so have you decided not to be human anymore?]

[Description: "Vibranium Body" will be treated as the host's innate physique. The stronger you become, the stronger it becomes. There is no upper limit.]

[Description: "Super Self-Regeneration" functions normally on "Vibranium Body."]

[Description: As a physique trait, "Vibranium Body" cannot be controlled by magnetism.]

Host: Leon Stark

Abilities: Soldier Boy Template, Super Self-Regeneration, Adamantium Skeleton, Starlight Template, Biological Field, Vibranium Body

Items: Soldier Boy Suit, Infinite-Ammo Desert Eagle (Quality: Never Wears Out), Arcee, Regeneration Cradle, Super Elastic Fiber Underwear (Quality: Never Wears Out), Super Deadpool Suit, Carbona Alloy Twin Blades, Endless Instant Noodles, Endless Milk Tea, Endless Sunflower Seeds, Endless Balloons, Endless Stockings...

No one knew how much time had passed.

When Leon woke up again.

Tifa, simulated through Partner Mode Arcee's holographic projection technology, was blocking the entrance to Leon's Magic Workshop, struggling with Tony and Pepper, who were worried about Leon's safety.

"...I'll say this one last time, Arcee. Move aside!"

Wearing the Mark 4 armor, Tony began charging his Palm Cannon as he threatened Arcee.

"I already told you, Leon's brother." Arcee calmly explained, "Leon is resting inside and cannot be disturbed by anyone."

That was only half true.

In reality, Leon's Regeneration Cradle was sitting conspicuously inside, and before losing consciousness, he had not had time to put it back into the system space.

And Leon had given instructions.

Before Zhao Hailun successfully developed a Regeneration Cradle, even Tony, his own brother, could not be allowed to learn of its existence unless absolutely necessary.

Therefore.

Arcee had faithfully carried out Leon's "final" request. During his unconsciousness, she had not allowed anyone inside.

Not even Tony and Pepper.

"Arcee, I know you and Leon are close, and I believe you would never hurt him. But Leon has been in there for so long without coming out."

"As his family, we're only worried about his safety. We just want to make sure he really is only 'resting.'"

Pepper pleaded with tears in her eyes.

A trace of reluctance flashed through Arcee's eyes, but the situation was still nowhere near the point of being "necessary." She could not expose Leon's secret just because she softened.

"I'm worried about him just like you are, but you really can't go in."

"Then there's nothing left to discuss? Pepper, move aside!"