Malibu's beach was calm as usual in the morning light. Xiao Han was lying on the newly replaced beach chair, as if Himalayas's conflict had never happened. But the subtle ripples in the drink in the cup told him that the matter was far from over.
The holographic projection of Tony came uninvited. "We found the record of Latveria Island." His voice was filled with rare seriousness.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.'s sealed files show that it was once the backup research base of Super-Soldier Program. Fifty years ago, an energy experiment went out of control and caused the entire island to sink."
Xiao Han took a sip of his drink slowly. "So?"
"So now it has appeared again," Tony called up the satellite image, "And it is full of energy signatures similar to your abilities."
The image shows an island shrouded in an energy barrier, with rings covering its surface, just like those at the Himalayan base.
"Interesting." Xiao Han's eyes flashed with a red light, "It seems that someone is determined to be my fan."
Suddenly, all communication devices received an encrypted message at the same time. Friday immediately decoded. "The message content only has one coordinate and one sentence: 'Sun's Son, do you dare to come?'"
Tony looked solemn. "Obvious trap."
"Of course it's a trap." Xiao Han stood up, "But whoever sets the trap is the prey."
He turned into golden light and soared into the sky, with a clear direction to the west.
"Wait!" Tony shouted, "We need..."
"No need." Xiao Han's voice came from high in the sky, "This is between me and the imitator."
In the sky above Latveria Island, the energy barrier flashed with an ominous blue light. Xiao Han was suspended outside the barrier, and Super Vision penetrated the protection and saw clearly the layout of the island:
Hundreds of improved Mechanical Entity, energy absorption devices are scattered all over the island, and there is a huge energy core in the center that is being charged.
"Welcome, Sun's Son." A processed voice came from the island, "Please come in and let us have a good... communication."
The barrier opened a portal. Xiao Han flew into it without hesitation.
As soon as they entered, the barrier immediately closed. All Mechanical Entitys were activated at the same time, and their eyes flashed with a red light similar to Xiao Hans.
"Let's see whose light is brighter." the mechanical voices said in unison.
Hundreds of Heat Vision shot at Xiao Han at the same time. He didn't even dodge and let the light hit him.
"The temperature is sufficient," he commented, "But the accuracy is too poor."
His Heat Vision fired at a precise angle, destroying the energy core of a Mechanical Entity with each hit. However, the destroyed Mechanical Entity was quickly repaired by nanobots and rejoined the battle.
"It's endless." The incandescent light in Xiao Han's eyes burst out towards Heat Vision. This time, he slightly increased the power.
The surface of the entire island was instantly vitrified, and all Mechanical Entity turned into steam. But deep underground, more Mechanical Entity were being created.
"Nice cleanup," the voice said again, "But the real game is underground."
The ground cracked, revealing a passage leading to the underground. Xiao Han flew into it without hesitation.
Underground is a huge manufacturing factory, and the improved Mechanical Entity is being mass-produced on the assembly line. On the center console, a holographic projection is taking shape - it is the image of Mandarin, but it is obviously a digital simulation.
"You destroyed my body, but my consciousness will last forever." Number Mandarin said, "Now, I will be reborn with your power."
All Mechanical Entity suddenly stopped moving, and their energy began to converge towards the center console. A humanoid figure made of pure energy gradually took shape, with an appearance that was strikingly similar to Xiao Han.
"Perfect copy," the number Mandarin said proudly, "Now, let's see who is the real Sun's Son."
The energy body rushed towards Xiao Han at super high speed, and Heat Vision exploded with all its strength. The shock wave generated by this collision shook the entire underground factory.
"It's interesting." Xiao Han finally became a little more serious. He no longer held back, burst out with all his speed, appeared behind the energy body in an instant, and knocked it away with one punch.
But the energy body quickly reorganized, with a higher temperature and faster speed. "Everything about you is being learned by me," the voice of the number Mandarin came from the energy body, "Soon, I will surpass the main body."
Xiao Han's eyes flashed with a dangerous light. "You have no idea what you are imitating."
He no longer uses Heat Vision, but instead attacks with pure speed and power. Each blow completely shatters the energy body, but each time it reorganizes and becomes stronger.
"It's useless!" Number Mandarin laughed wildly, "My energy source is the core of the entire island, connected to the center of the earth! You can't destroy me!"
Xiao Han suddenly stopped attacking and was suspended in mid-air. "You're right," he said calmly, "It's really useless."
He took a deep breath, and then blew out the extremely cold breath deep into the ground. The extreme cold spread downward at an alarming speed, freezing everything wherever it went.
"What are you doing?" the voice of the number Mandarin began to panic, "This will cause a geological disaster!"
"Then it's not my problem." Xiao Han continued to deepen the freezing. The entire island began to shake violently, and a huge cracking sound came from the ground.
The energy body suddenly became unstable. "Stop! You will destroy everything!"
"Just what I want." In Xiao Han's eyes, Heat Vision exploded with all its strength, but it was not shot towards the energy body, but towards the frozen depths of the ground.
The violent collision of ice and fire produced an unprecedented explosion. The entire island began to disintegrate from the inside.
Amidst the screams of the number Mandarin, Xiao Han broke through the collapsing rock formations and floated above the island. He watched Latveria Island sink to the bottom of the sea again, this time permanently.
"An imitator will always be an imitator." He said calmly, turned around and flew towards the east.
There was only a spreading ripple left on the sea surface, and it soon became calm again.