YoRHa 2B

A week later, Tony had finally shaken off his "human salted fish" state and could move freely again. At that moment, he stood in the underground lab with Chen Tian, who wore a T-shirt emblazoned with "Sword aura may injure; no liability accepted," staring at two entirely different suits of armor.

"Seriously," Tony said, poking the shell of the Mark-2 Devil Edition, "this thing looks way cooler than the Mark-2."

The Devil Armor's dark-red paint gleamed with an eerie sheen under the laboratory lights. Mechanical demon wings rested silently on its back, while a thorn-like mechanical tail coiled around its waist like a venomous snake ready to awaken at any moment.

By comparison, the Mark-2 beside it looked like a well-behaved kindergarten kid.

Chen Tian gnawed on the last slice of bread rescued from the kitchen and said indistinctly, "If you can't bear to part with it, just keep it. Put it on display as a collectible."

"And then get strangled by it in the middle of the night?" Tony rolled his eyes. "Thanks, but I'm not interested in a Child's Play sequel."

Chen Tian chuckled. "Relax, it's just an inanimate object. Diablo already cleared away the infernal runes on it. What you're talking about can't happen."

Tony pursed his lips. "Demons are the least trustworthy things in the world."

As he spoke, he circled the armor once before suddenly stopping. "JARVIS, how much do you think this thing could sell for?"

"Sir," JARVIS said with unusual hesitation, "I'm not sure what sort of chaos this armor would cause if it entered the outside world."

Tony took a deep breath and turned toward the console. "Initiate permanent containment protocol. Password: 'I will never make deals with demons again.'"

At Tony's listless command, accompanied by the hum of hydraulic machinery, the Mark-2 Devil Edition slowly descended into a specially designed lead-alloy container.

Tony stared at the sinking armor, looking like a spoiled rich kid forced to give away his beloved sports car. "Sigh, I really loved this armor..."

Chen Tian stuffed the last bite of bread into his mouth, then suddenly strode forward and threw an arm around Tony's shoulders like they were brothers. "Hey, don't look like that!"

Bread crumbs still clung to the corner of his mouth, but he grinned like a high schooler about to pull a prank. "We have an old saying in Dragon Country—out with the old, in with the new!"

Tony glanced sideways at him. "Do your Dragon Country sayings include, 'Don't touch my fifty-thousand-dollar custom shirt with hands covered in bread crumbs'?"

"Well..." Chen Tian pretended to think for two seconds, then his eyes lit up. "But I'm sure we have one that says, 'You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing the bait'!"

He patted Tony hard on the back. "Don't worry. Something even cooler will come along soon!"

Tony narrowed his eyes, his gaze passing over Chen Tian's shoulder and landing on the mysterious figure behind him.

"So," he said slowly, "before you tell me there's something 'even cooler,' could you explain first—"

He pointed at the white-haired girl in a maid outfit. "Who is she?"

Chen Tian turned around, then instantly froze. "Uh..."

The girl stood quietly there, holding Chen Tian's First Kitetsu in both hands. Another Japanese sword rested on her back, gleaming coldly under the lab's harsh lights.

Her eyes were covered by a black visor, but the corners of her lips curled upward slightly, as though she were enjoying the sudden awkwardness.

Tony crossed his arms. "Let me guess. Is this your... special hobby?"

He looked the girl's gothic maid outfit up and down. "Didn't expect you to be into this style."

Chen Tian gave an awkward laugh. "Well..."

"Don't tell me you found her as a bodyguard in some underground fighting arena." Tony raised an eyebrow. "Though that outfit certainly is... distinctive."

The girl tilted her head slightly. "Master, would you like me to explain?" Her voice was calm and elegant, with a faint mechanical quality.

Tony's eyes widened. "Wait, what did she call you?"

Chen Tian immediately waved his hands. "No, no, no! That's... uh... an occupational habit!"

"An occupational habit?" Tony's eyebrows nearly flew into his hairline. "What kind of profession makes a girl call you 'Master'?"

The girl stepped forward and gave a slight bow. "I am 2B. Under the terms of our contract, I currently serve as Master's guard."

Tony stared at her for two seconds before suddenly turning to Chen Tian. "What the hell have you been doing this past week?"

Chen Tian scratched his head. "Actually... 2B, like Diablo... was summoned by me..."

Tony's expression froze. He slowly turned to Chen Tian, his eyebrows rising nearly to his hairline. "Wait... what did you say? You brought her here from another world too?"

Chen Tian scratched his head again, giving an awkward but polite smile. "Uh... to be precise, 2B comes from a world with highly advanced technology..."

"She is a combat-type android. She looks human, but internally, she is mechanical."

Tony took a deep breath, his single eye wide and round. "Let me get this straight—" He pointed at 2B. "This beautiful girl who looks like she walked out of some cosplay convention is actually a... robot?"

"Bingo!" Chen Tian snapped his fingers. "But she's far more advanced than those dumb robots in your lab."

At that, 2B gave a slight bow. "You flatter me, Master." Her voice remained calm, but a barely perceptible smile touched her lips.

Tony circled 2B once, as if admiring a work of art. "This craftsmanship... these details... absolutely perfect."

He suddenly stopped and looked at Chen Tian suspiciously. "Are you sure she isn't a cosplayer from some special studio?"

Chen Tian nearly choked on his own saliva. "Hey! She's a legitimate combat-type android!"

Then 2B suddenly spoke. "If Master requires it, 2B can also cooperate with Master in the reproductive process."

Chen Tian and Tony both wore strange expressions when they heard 2B's words, while Tony clutched his stomach and burst into loud laughter.

Chen Tian's face reddened as he said to 2B, "Don't say things like that in public!"

Tony suddenly leaned close to Chen Tian and lowered his voice. "Seriously, bro, if you like this cosplay style, I can introduce you to some high-end custom studios..."

Chen Tian rolled his eyes. "Tony, she really isn't a cosplayer!"

"Come on," Tony scoffed. "I can understand demons, since myths and legends have records of them. But a living, breathing beautiful girl? Do you think I'm three years old?"

Chen Tian sighed and turned to 2B. "Show him your 'true form.'"

2B nodded slightly and elegantly raised her right hand. With a soft whir of machinery, the skin on her forearm suddenly split open to either side, revealing the intricate mechanical structure within. Blue light flowed between her metal bones as countless miniature components operated at a dizzying speed.

Tony's coffee cup fell to the floor.

"This..." he stammered. "This is impossible..."

"Welcome to future technology," Chen Tian said smugly.

"2B comes from a civilization at least two hundred years ahead of ours. Her mechanical core, combat systems, energy supply... any one of those technologies could improve our armor's performance by more than tenfold."

Tony circled 2B like a curious child, wanting to touch her but not daring to. "So... she really is a robot?"

"A combat-type android," 2B corrected calmly. "My body uses bionic technology. My exterior is indistinguishable from that of a human, but my internal structure is entirely mechanical."

Tony's eyes suddenly lit up. "Wait! If we could apply her technology to the Mark series..."

"Bingo!" Chen Tian snapped his fingers. "Imagine an Iron Man suit with combat technology from 2B's world, combined with your energy technology..."

Tony had already begun frantically sketching designs on the virtual screen. "We can redesign the joint structure... improve the power transmission system... God, this is..."

"Crazy?" Chen Tian added with a smile.

"Genius!" Tony corrected, turning toward 2B. "Darling, would you mind if I scanned your internal structure?"

2B looked at Chen Tian, who nodded. "As long as you don't take her apart."

Tony carefully operated the scanner, and a three-dimensional model of 2B's internal structure gradually appeared in the holographic display.

As the scan deepened, his expression slowly changed from excitement to shock.

"This... this is impossible..." Tony's fingers trembled slightly as he enlarged the details of a joint. "Her nanoscale hydraulic system is ten times more precise than our most advanced micro-motors!"

2B stood quietly on the scanning platform, blue streams of data flickering beneath her mechanical visor. "Would you like me to demonstrate more functions, Mr. Stark?"

"No, wait..." Tony suddenly turned toward a data node. "JARVIS, analyze this energy transmission system!"

"Sir," JARVIS said with rare hesitation, "this method of energy transfer completely violates known physical laws. According to calculations, this design should theoretically cause energy leakage, yet the actual scan shows an astonishing efficiency of 99.9%."

Chen Tian leaned against the console, smugly eating a newly acquired sandwich. "Well? Told you I wasn't lying."

Tony ignored his teasing and focused completely on studying 2B's skeletal structure. "This alloy... God, its molecular arrangement... JARVIS, record this crystal structure!"

He paced back and forth around the projection, sometimes waving his arms excitedly and sometimes frustratedly raking his fingers through his hair. "This is unbelievable... but it's also the most frustrating thing!" He suddenly stopped and slapped the table hard.

"What's wrong?" Chen Tian asked in confusion.

Tony pointed at an exquisite component in the projection. "Look at this quantum processor! Its computing capacity is a hundred times JARVIS's, but it's only the size of a fingernail!" His voice carried rare frustration. "I completely understand the principle, but with Earth's current industrial level..."

"We can't make it?" Chen Tian finished for him.

"Forget making it—we can't even refine the materials!" Tony ruffled his hair irritably. "It's like showing a smartphone to primitive people. They couldn't even make glass!"

2B tilted her head slightly. "According to my database, my world is indeed approximately 247 years ahead of yours."

Tony suddenly turned to Chen Tian. "Wait, if you can summon her here, can you summon some manufacturing equipment too?"

Chen Tian spread his hands helplessly. "Don't be ridiculous, Tony. Summoning 2B already took everything I had."

After hearing Chen Tian's words, Tony suddenly fell silent for a moment.

But soon, the corners of his mouth began to rise, and that signature, almost arrogant gleam reignited in his eyes.

"Ha!" He suddenly laughed, startling Chen Tian. "JARVIS, write this down—'There's nothing in this world that can stump the great Tony Stark!'"

He spun around sharply, both hands flying across the virtual keyboard as the design plans in the holographic display began to reorganize wildly. "Since no factory can manufacture these parts..." His voice trembled slightly with excitement. "Then we'll make them ourselves!"

Chen Tian stared in disbelief as Tony seemingly conjured more than a dozen new design interfaces out of thin air. "Wait, you mean..."

"I mean," Tony continued operating without looking up, "we're going to build an entirely new nanoscale manufacturing system from scratch." He snapped his fingers. "JARVIS, name this project Genesis."

"Sir," JARVIS said with unusual hesitation, "according to calculations, this project will require at least..."

"I don't need to hear probability calculations," Tony cut him off. "I only need you to tell me what the first step is."

2B stood quietly to the side before suddenly speaking. "Mr. Stark, my database contains information on certain manufacturing processes. It is incomplete, but it may provide some reference."

Tony jerked his head up, his eyes frighteningly bright. "Really?" He rushed to 2B in three quick strides. "Can you connect to our system?"

2B looked at Chen Tian, who scratched his head. "It should be fine."

"Access authorized," Chen Tian added. "But don't let JARVIS peek at 2B's private files."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Please, my AI is a perfect gentleman."

As 2B connected, an enormous torrent of data began cascading down the lab's main screens.

Tony darted between the displays in excitement like a child who had received a new toy.

"Look at this!" He pointed at a set of molecular structure diagrams. "They actually solved metal fatigue with this arrangement! And this quantum entanglement conduction technology..." He suddenly stopped and turned to 2B. "Wait, how did the scientists in your world come up with this method?"

2B tilted her head slightly. "According to historical records, it was developed by Resistance scientists during the Fourteenth Machine War, under conditions of extreme resource scarcity."

Tony's expression turned serious. "War drives technology... what a familiar script."

He shook his head and threw himself back into work. "But this time, we're going to use this technology to do something good."

Chen Tian lounged lazily on the lab sofa, remote in hand, mindlessly flipping through television channels. All kinds of boring programs flashed across the screen—cooking shows, shopping advertisements, news broadcasts... He yawned and glanced sideways at Tony, who was working like mad.

"Hey, Tony," he called toward the center of the lab, "want to take a break? SpongeBob SquarePants reruns are starting."

Tony didn't look up, his hands flying over the holographic keyboard. "No time! I'm breaking through the limits of human technology!"

Chen Tian pursed his lips and changed the channel again. This time it was Animal World, airing a documentary about penguins mating.

He stole a glance at 2B, who stood quietly beside Tony like a perfect assistant.

"2B," Chen Tian suddenly said, "don't you get bored?"

2B turned her head, her expression beneath the black visor impossible to read. "Androids do not feel boredom, Master."

"Oh..." Chen Tian scratched his head. "Then do you watch TV?"

2B tilted her head slightly. "I can receive and analyze video signals, but that is not one of my core functions."

Tony suddenly cut in. "Don't distract her, Chen Tian. 2B is helping me calculate the optimal solution for the quantum tunneling effect."

The television screen suddenly switched to a news broadcast. Two images appeared: Obadiah stood smiling in front of Stark Industries Tower in a suit, while the other showed an elaborately arranged banquet venue.

"Tonight," the news anchor said, "Stark Industries' new CEO, Obadiah Stane, will host the annual charity banquet. Numerous prominent figures from the political and business worlds are expected to attend..."

Tony's fingers paused over the holographic keyboard as he glanced up at the screen.

"Oh," Chen Tian immediately perked up, turning toward Tony with a sly grin. "Isn't that your 'dear' uncle?"

He deliberately imitated the news anchor's exaggerated tone. "'The helmsman of Stark Industries,' 'philanthropist'..."

Tony continued typing without looking up. "Mm-hmm."

"What?" Chen Tian pointed at the screen with the remote. "Not planning to attend the banquet? You might even run into Pepper."

Tony finally stopped working and looked Chen Tian over thoughtfully. "Are you bored?"

"Huh?" Chen Tian froze. "I..."

"You've been changing channels on that couch for half an hour." Tony pointed at the remote in his hand. "And every time you do, you let out one of those exaggerated sighs."

Chen Tian looked down at the remote, then back at Tony. "So?"

Tony suddenly revealed a cunning smile. "Since you care so much about this banquet..."

Tony suddenly stopped working, studying Chen Tian sprawled on the sofa with a thoughtful look before snapping his fingers. "JARVIS, prepare a custom formal suit for Mr. Chen Tian."

Chen Tian sprang up from the sofa. "Wait, what did you say?"

"I said," Tony replied leisurely as he walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of whiskey, "since you care so much about this banquet..."

He took a sip, revealing his trademark Stark smirk. "Why don't you go in my place?"

"Are you insane?" Chen Tian's eyes widened. "That's a Stark Industries banquet!"

Tony shrugged. "So? It's not like you've never seen a big occasion before."

He set down his glass and patted Chen Tian on the shoulder. "Besides, Pepper will take good 'care' of you for me."

Chen Tian's expression instantly turned horrified. "Uh... are you trying to get Pepper to beat me to death?"

"Hahaha, who told you to go waving a sword around?" Tony laughed loudly. "And if you attend the banquet, I can focus on my work." He pointed at the mountain of parts piled around the lab. "See that? I need to calibrate all of those myself."

"Then why didn't you just say so?" Chen Tian protested.

Tony gave him a fake smile. "But this is more fun, isn't it?"

"Come on." Tony pushed him toward the elevator. "Your suit is already prepared."

He helped Chen Tian straighten his collar, then suddenly lowered his voice. "Oh, and you can pick any car you want from my garage."

Chen Tian's eyes lit up. "Really? Even that limited-edition Bugatti?"

Tony made an exaggerated go-ahead gesture. "As long as you don't wreck it."

He winked. "Though it's fine even if you do. I have insurance."

2B suddenly appeared at the elevator entrance. "Master, do you require my accompaniment?"

Tony answered before Chen Tian could. "Of course not!"

He shoved Chen Tian into the elevator. "2B needs to stay and help me finish the quantum calculations."

He waved at Chen Tian inside the elevator, waggling his eyebrows. "Have fun. There's never a shortage of beautiful women at Stark Industries banquets!"

Before the elevator doors closed, Chen Tian twitched at the corner of his mouth. "Tony, you bastard!"

Tony leaned against the lab console, watching the elevator descend through the surveillance feed with the triumphant smile of a prankster. "JARVIS, send Pepper a message. Tell her I sent a stand-in to attend the banquet."

"Already sent, Sir." JARVIS paused. "Ms. Pepper replied that she would 'properly entertain' your friend."

Tony burst out laughing, then turned to 2B. "All right, next I'll need your help researching information on quantum processor calculation formulas."

Chen Tian stood in his room, adjusting his bow tie in the mirror and muttering, "Damn Tony... when I get back, I'm definitely going to..."

He suddenly stopped, his eyes lighting up. "Wait, he said I could drive that Bugatti..."

The elevator doors opened, and Chen Tian headed toward the garage with brisk steps, humming a tune. "Maybe tonight won't be so bad after all..."