After the Battle

Tony wakes up in his private bedroom on the top floor of the Arbitrator Tower.

Sunlight streamed through the French windows, spilling onto the silk sheets. He squinted, shielding his eyes from the harsh light. The taste of last night's alcohol still lingered on his tongue, and his throat felt uncomfortable, as if something had been poking it.

"Good morning, Sir," JARVIS's voice came from the ceiling. "You have forty-nine unread messages, one of which is marked as 'urgent'."

Tony rolled over and buried his face in the pillow. "If those politicians are making me hand over the armor technology again, tell them to get lost."

"I'm afraid that won't work this time, Sir." JARVIS paused for a second.

Tony abruptly threw off the covers, his bare feet stepping onto the cold marble floor. He grabbed his bathrobe and draped it over himself, the silk fabric stinging slightly against his skin—the aftereffects of last night's party hadn't completely worn off.

"JARVIS, turn on the coffee machine." He rubbed his temples as he walked into the living room. "And tell me, what exactly is this 'urgent news'?"

"Retrieving data..."

Tony walked to the center of the living room. The smart glass sensed his presence and automatically switched to holographic projection mode. He snapped his the Snap, and the giant screen on the wall lit up—

"Puff--!!"

The coffee he had just taken a sip of sprayed all over the million-dollar carpet.

On the screen, there was a scene resembling hell on earth.

The skyline of Dongjin was completely flattened by some force beyond comprehension. The entire city resembled a glass model thrown into a shredder, with not a single building retaining more than two meters of its original size. Reinforced concrete was crushed into dust, and concrete fragments mixed with metal debris to form a gray sea of death.

The news headline was blood-red and jarring: [Dongjin Tragedy! Half the city destroyed! Death toll still being tallied!]

"A generous crab gift..." Tony stood up in shock.

"JARVIS!" he shouted, "Get last night's energy readings! All of them!"

The holographic projection in the center of the living room immediately switched to a dense stream of data. In the pale blue light screen, a scarlet energy curve suddenly surged at midnight, its peak directly exceeding JARVIS's measurement limit.

"According to energy spectrum analysis, at 02:20 last night, superdimensional energy accumulation occurred underground in Dongjin, and erupted at 03:08."

"Shit," Tony looked at the energy graph, "Do you have any monitoring footage?"

"I'm sorry, Sir, all satellites over Dongjin were blocked last night, and all surveillance within Dongjin is also out of control," JARVIS replied.

"Was this a premeditated attack?" Tony said in shock.

"Sir, I'm sorry to contradict you, but that 'urgent message' contained intelligence about Dongjin last night," JARVIS said again.

"Quickly, pull it out!" Tony was a little flustered, because with the Global Defense System in place, such large-scale destruction couldn't possibly escape the system's surveillance, unless...

Tony's fingertips danced wildly across the holographic keyboard, while the coffee cup lay forgotten on the corner of the table, its brown liquid long since cooled.

The holographic projection flickered a few times and began playing the encrypted intelligence video.

The first scene: A dark underground Sanctum a twisted Nightmare Totem stands atop a pile of bones, its surface covered in fluorescent green patterns. The Neon Rat Emperor —the gaunt, skeletal old man—kneels before the totem, his forehead pressed to the ground, muttering obscure prayers.

"Great Lord of Dreams... grant your servant the power to control dreams..."

Tony's pupils contracted slightly. The old man's voice sounded like it had crawled straight out of a nightmare, hoarse and unsettling.

Scene change: A luxurious Japanese-style conference room, where a dozen high-ranking officials in formal attire sit around a long table. One of them is pointing to a holographic map marked with red dots in various locations in Dongjin.

"According to the plan, bury the totems in these locations." The high-ranking official's voice was icy. "The main totem Tenshūdai is ready."

Tony's fist clenched unconsciously. The red dots covered almost the entire Dongjin, like an intricately woven spider web.

The final scene made Tony suddenly stand up—

A colossal mountain of flesh, comparable to Mount Fuji, rose from the ground, its surface covered with countless distorted human faces, emitting inhuman screams.

"Shit, what's wrong with this world?" Tony plopped down on the sofa. "It's demons again, and freaks again."

Tony jumped up from the sofa. "JARVIS! Where is Chen Tian now?"

"Sir, Mr. Chan returned to the building at 3:00 AM and is currently resting. Should I inform Ms. 2B to wake him up?"

Tony's tense shoulders suddenly relaxed. He let out a long sigh, picked up his now-cold coffee, and took a large gulp. "No need."

3:00.

The energy burst occurred at 3:08.

The timelines are completely different.

Tony rubbed his temples, suddenly finding his suspicions somewhat laughable. Chen Tian was powerful, but he shouldn't be capable of destroying half a city.

"Sir, Miss Potts sent a reminder." JARVIS interrupted his thoughts at the opportune moment, "The global media is waiting for the Arbitrator Alliance's statement on the Dongjin incident, and the media van is already parked in front of the building."

"Damn it." Tony glanced at his crumpled bathrobe. "Tell them I'm coming down in half an hour."

He strode towards the dressing room, and the smart glass sensed his movement, automatically dimming the indoor lighting. Dozens of haute couture suits gleamed discreetly under the sensor lights, and Tony casually pulled out a dark gray three-piece suit.

Tony fastened the last cufflink, his fingertips gently tracing the sapphire cufflink. His slightly tired face was reflected in the full-length mirror, the faint blue under his eyes particularly noticeable in the cold light. He loosened his tie knot, then suddenly stopped.

"JARVIS." Tony's voice was particularly clear in the dressing room. "Tell 2B to wake Chen Tian up, and have the robot send him a suit while you're at it. We can't let him dress so casually this time."

JARVIS immediately responded, "Wake-up request sent. Miss 2B replied that Mr. Chen is currently showering and is expected to be available in twenty minutes."

Tony raised an eyebrow, picked up the watch from the vanity, and put it on. "Taking a bath? This guy's taking his time."

He straightened his tie one last time in front of the mirror. "Tell Pepper to calm the media down first, say we're waiting for another leader."

"Miss Potts understands, but please note..." JARVIS paused for an unusual half-second, "CNN's live broadcast has been going on forty-seven minutes, and the Wall Street Index has dropped by 3% as a result."

Tony scoffed and pushed open the door to the walk-in closet. "Let them fall."

"I can't wait to see those Vulture cry and wail as their stock prices plummet."

With that, Tony entered the elevator and arrived at the second-to-last floor—the floor where Chen Tian was located.

The elevator doors slid open, and 2B stood respectfully outside. "Stark," she said with a slight bow, "Master is changing. Please wait a moment."

Tony stepped out of the elevator, flashing his signature nonchalant smile, "Good morning, Miss 2B~ Did your master go chasing after that madman Kaecilius last night, or did he sneak off to go on a date with some pretty girl?"

2B's lips curled into a polite yet mysterious smile. "Master's schedule is confidential, Stark." She stepped aside to make way, "However, I can tell you that he was indeed very... busy last night."

"Ha! I knew it!" Tony snapped his the Snap, swaggered Earth Flow the living room, plopped down on the sofa, and crossed his legs. "That guy's getting more and more of a loner, 2B. Remind your master to call me next time something fun happens."

2B simply smiled and poured him a cup of coffee without saying a word.

Tony picked up his coffee, took a sip, and suddenly frowned. "Wait, what's wrong with this coffee..."

"It was prepared according to Master's instructions," 2B explained. "Three parts espresso and a dash of whiskey, and he left you a note: 'Early to Night Drunk Package – Tony's Favorite.'"

"Damn it, is he getting revenge for me putting some vinegar in his soy milk last time?" Tony grumbled as he put down the cup.

Just then, the bedroom door was pushed open, and Chen Tian walked out yawning. His suit jacket was casually draped over his shoulders, and the top three buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing his collarbone. His hair was still damp, with a few unruly strands sticking up.

"Hey, isn't this our great genius, great philanthropist, and guardian of world peace?" Chen Tian leaned lazily against the doorframe. "Why did you wake me up so early? And you even brought me a suit."

Tony gave him an exaggerated once-over. "My God, look who this is? The stray cat that snuck out last night has finally come back?" He deliberately sniffed the air. "I smell... whiskey, gunpowder, and... Chanel No. 5?"

Chen Tian his eyes, walked to the bar, and poured himself a glass of water. "When did you switch careers to become a police dog?" He tilted his head back and took a sip. "Besides, I was clearly..."

"Running official business?" Tony interrupted him, making a quotation mark gesture. "Come on, you still haven't wiped the lipstick off your neck."

Chen Tian instinctively touched his neck, then realized what he was doing. "You're bluffing me?"

Tony winked smugly. "It always works!"

2B promptly handed over a tie. "Master, the media are all waiting for you and Stark."

Chen Tian sighed, casually draped his tie around his neck, but made no attempt to fasten it. "Tony, you could easily handle those media outlets on your own..."

"Come on, big star." Tony stood up and suddenly reached out to straighten his collar. "The whole world is waiting to see the two handsome guys from the Arbitrator Alliance give important speeches." He said in a deliberately sweet tone.

Chen Tian slapped his hand away. "Come on, you just want to see me embarrass myself on camera."

"You caught me~" Tony grinned mischievously and took a step back. "But seriously," he suddenly became serious, "About Dongjin..."

Chen Tian nodded. "I understand. 2B already told me this morning that the energy reading was very abnormal."

"I know," Tony shrugged, "But you know what the reporters out there will ask."

Chen Tian finally finished tying his tie, patted Tony on the shoulder. "Then it's up to you, Mr. PR."

"Hey, didn't we agree to face the media together?"

"Who said that to you?" Chen Tian had already walked towards the elevator, turning back with a sly smile. "Besides, aren't you a big fan of cameras, Stark?"

Tony chased after him. "You bastard... Don't be afraid! Take this 'Black Flash Elbow Strike'!"

The two walked into the elevator, playfully bickering. 2B watched their backs as they argued, gently shaking her head, a slight smile playing on her lips.

The elevator doors slowly opened in the lobby on the first floor, and blinding flashes of light went off one after another. Tony stepped out of the elevator first, his gold-rimmed glasses automatically adjusting to a darker tint to shield him from the glare, a perfectly measured confident smile playing on his lips. Chen Tian followed lazily behind him, his black suit jacket casually draped over his shoulders, his tie loosely hanging down, as if he were merely an observer.

"Stark! What is the Arbitrator Alliance's response to the Dongjin incident?"

Could this be the spark that ignites World War III?

Reporters' questions rained down on him like cannonballs. Tony raised his hand, signaling for silence. His voice, amplified through the microphone, echoed throughout the hall, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Arbitrator Alliance will not stand idly by regarding the Dongjin incident."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over every camera present. "I have retrieved all available data and am preparing to personally travel to Dongjin to investigate."

A commotion immediately erupted from the audience. Tony continued, "I can assure the whole world that any force that dares to disrupt peace—" he deliberately emphasized, "Whether human or anything else, will pay a terrible price."

A CNN reporter suddenly shouted, "Stark! There are reports that this incident is related to supernatural forces. Does the Arbitrators have any relevant evidence?"

Tony's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. He stepped aside, gesturing for Chen Tian to step forward. "Perhaps my colleague is better suited to answer this question."

Chen Tian raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting Tony to suddenly shift the blame to him. He slowly Earth Flow the microphone, a playful glint in his eyes. "Evidence?" His voice was languidly magnetic. "Why don't you ask the Neon Government why they buried so many... interesting toys" underground in Dongjin?

This statement exploded like a bomb. Reporters frantically took notes, and the flashbulbs practically turned the hall into daylight.

Tony chimed in at the opportune moment. "The specific details are classified." He patted Chen Tian on the shoulder, "But Mr. Chen and I will form a special task force and provide a preliminary investigation report within 72 hours."

"Finally," Tony suddenly flashed his signature Stark smile, "I have something to say to those lurking in the shadows—"

He took off his glasses and looked directly into the main camera lens. "You'd better pray I don't find you. Because when I do..."

"You will be imprisoned in the deepest prison at the bottom of the sea. Justice must not be desecrated, and peace must not be destroyed!"

After the press conference, Chen Tian grabbed Tony by the neck and pulled him into the elevator. The metal doors had barely closed when he couldn't help but burst out laughing, "My God, Tony Stark actually said 'Justice must not be violated' on camera?" He exaggeratedly imitated Tony's tone, "When did you become Captain America?"

Tony winked mysteriously and took a miniature earpiece from his ear. "Because the person who spoke just now was actually—" He pressed a button on the earpiece, and JARVIS's voice immediately rang out. "--It was me, Mr. Chen."

"Ha!" Chen Tian slapped the elevator wall. "I knew it! How could that Tony, who always talks nonsense, suddenly become so serious!"

"Hey!" Tony pretended to be injured and clutched his chest. "I'm being very serious, okay?" But then he couldn't help but laugh. "Okay, that bureaucratic tone isn't my style."

The elevator led directly to the tactical conference room, and the heavy blast doors slid open silently in front of the two men. Tony's expression instantly turned serious, and he strode quickly to the central holographic projection table. "JARVIS, pull up that encrypted intelligence."

Blue data streams intertwined in the air, quickly reassembling into the horrifying image. Chen Tian stood to the side with his arms crossed, and when he saw the mountain of flesh composed of human faces, he sneered, "A product of the Dimensional Demon God."

"Wait, how did you know?" Tony asked in surprise.

Chen Tian pointed to the totem that the Rat King was kneeling before and said, "Have you forgotten? Last night you dealt with Mephisto's followers in Dewen County, and I dealt with Dormammu's followers in Badong. There were similar totems in the Badong Lower City."

"No, I didn't see anything in Dewen County." Tony looked confused. He had been killing people all night in Dewen County and hadn't seen anything.

Chen Tian shrugged. "I don't know the situation where you are, but," Chen Tian typed a few times on the holographic keyboard in the air, and a video was added to the holographic projection.

It was the image of Chen Tian breaking into the Dormammu altar. Chen Tian froze a moment in the image, above which a putrid heart was suspended in mid-air, and behind the heart, a huge single eye emerged from burning green flames, with a totem in the shape of an inverted triangle.

Chen Tian gestured for Tony to look, "Look, this is it."

Tony rubbed his temples. "So yesterday's Dongjin incident was orchestrated by the Dimensional Demon God?"

"Hmm, I guess so. After all, only Dimensional Demon God has such destructive power." Chen Tian pulled up a chair and sat down.

Tony sighed. "I feel like things have gotten busier and busier since you came back."

"Ha~ So I'm leaving?" Chen Tian gave Tony a disdainful look.

Tony curled his lip. "You'd better leave now. The moment you step out of the Arbitrator Tower, I'll tear your arcade down."

Chen Tian stood up and put his arm around Tony's shoulder. "Come on, I know you don't want me to leave."

"Tsk, fine, fine, you're my Merus, I can't live without you, okay?" Tony pulled Chen Tian away with a look of disgust. "The key thing now is that we still need to investigate the Dongjin incident and give the public an answer."

"Tony, did you forget something?" Chen Tian sat back down, this time with a can of Coke in his hand.

"What?" Tony asked, confused.

"We are a non-governmental organization. Our main purpose is to protect the public and the world, so we don't need to hide anything," Chen Tian said, pointing to the holographic image.

"The answer is to directly expose the actions of the Neon Government and royal family."

Tony slapped his forehead. "You're right. I've been interacting with the government too much lately; I'm being assimilated."

"However," Tony's expression turned extremely serious.

Tony's fingers slid rapidly across the holographic projection, the image peeling away layer by layer like disassembled building blocks. A smile played on his lips, "Look at this—"

The projection finally settled on a line of small text almost completely obscured by noise:

[A gift from the Arbitrators's fans]

Tony chuckled. "This fan has already given us two big surprises."

Chen Tian took a sip of his cola. "I wish I had more fans like this, it would save us the time of doing our research."

"Ha," Tony sneered, "That's true, but..."

Tony swiped the projector again, clearing away all the obstructions and revealing a logo.

Within the dark ring of the Eclipse, a blood-stained sword is entwined with thorns, below which is inscribed a line of blood-stained Latin:

"LUX TENEBRIS."

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