Anti-Magic Armor

Inside the laboratory

A trace of unease flickered in Andrew's eyes. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of the lab bench. "If... if it really changes my genes, will I become a monster?"

Hank was about to answer when the laboratory door suddenly slid open.

Xiao Han appeared in the doorway, the black armor already wrapped around his body again.

"Gene mutations aren't necessarily a bad thing." Xiao Han walked into the laboratory, his gaze falling on Andrew.

"The key is learning how to control them."

Matt pushed up his glasses. "Mr. Xiao, can that alien fragment Magneto mentioned really rewrite genes?"

Xiao Han didn't answer directly. Instead, he extended his right hand.

A faint blue energy sphere appeared above his palm. It was the energy he had absorbed from the crystal.

"This energy does possess gene-editing properties." He stared at the sphere.

"But its operating mechanism is far more complicated than Magneto imagined."

Hank was immediately drawn in and leaned closer to examine it. "Incredible... The structure of this energy completely violates every known principle of biology!"

"Because it came from the depths of space."

Xiao Han dismissed the energy sphere. "Perhaps it was the research of some alien empire."

Steve's eyes widened. "Wait, are you saying aliens really exist?"

Xiao Han said meaningfully, "There are far more of them than you imagine."

Andrew suddenly raised his head, a strange light flickering in his eyes. "Then can it make me stronger?"

The laboratory fell silent for a moment. Hank and Xiao Han exchanged a glance.

"In theory, yes."

Xiao Han smiled as he answered, "But this gene editing carries risks. We need more research."

Andrew's fists clenched, then relaxed. "I'm willing to try."

"No!" Matt cut him off sharply.

"Andrew, have you forgotten what happened last night when you lost control? This energy is affecting your emotions!"

Steve also placed a hand on Andrew's shoulder. "Brother, calm down. We need to figure out exactly what this thing is first."

Xiao Han studied the three young men and suddenly said, "You need a mentor."

He turned to Hank and deliberately asked, "Would Xavier Institute be willing to take them in?"

Hank understood immediately. He adjusted his glasses and said, "Charles has already agreed. But..."

He hesitated. "Considering Magneto's interest in this energy, they may need special protection."

"I'll handle it."

Xiao Han nodded. "Also, you need to learn how to get along with the people at the institute if you want to become superheroes."

Andrew's eyes lit up. "Of course! Of course we want to..."

Xiao Han raised a hand, cutting him off. "But not now. There are other matters I need to deal with."

"You three stay here for now. Hank will help you control your abilities. Notify me immediately if anything unusual happens."

Andrew looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only nodded.

"Good luck." After saying this to Hank, Xiao Han turned and walked toward the window.

The next second, he transformed into a streak of black light and vanished into New York's night sky.

Stark Tower laboratory

Xiao Han silently appeared in the center of the laboratory, and the black armor automatically retracted.

Tony Stark was bent over a holographic projection, his fingers moving rapidly as he adjusted the parameters of a nanostructure.

The coffee beside him had long since run dry. Clearly, he had stayed up all night again.

"Back?" Tony asked casually without looking up.

"How are things with the mutants?"

Xiao Han walked over to him, his gaze sweeping across the data streams on the holographic projection. "More complicated than expected."

Only then did Tony stop working. He turned around and raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Even the famous Superman has problems he can't handle?"

"Magneto got involved, but I scared him off."

Xiao Han briefly explained, "He had his eyes on that alien crystal and believed it could rewrite mutant genes."

Tony's expression instantly turned serious. "Rewrite genes? That thing really has that function?"

"It does, but the risk is extremely high." Xiao Han nodded.

"I've absorbed it completely. There won't be any possibility of it spreading anymore."

Tony stared at him for several seconds, then suddenly laughed. "So you not only stole Magneto's target, you absorbed it too? I bet he went completely berserk."

"More or less." Xiao Han shrugged.

"But he withdrew for now. Professor X will take care of the aftermath."

Tony raised an eyebrow and turned back to fiddle with his holographic model. "Fine. You always manage to deal with trouble somehow. But remember to notify me in advance next time. I don't want to find out from the news one day that you and Magneto tore apart half of New York."

Xiao Han didn't respond. Instead, he walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at New York's nightscape.

After a moment of silence, he said, "Tony, I may have to leave for a while. I don't know how long."

Tony's fingers paused. He turned his head. "Where?"

"Somewhere quiet." Xiao Han's gaze turned toward the distance.

"I need to try a new way of using my power."

"Magic?" Tony immediately caught on, excitement flashing in his eyes. "The Kamar-Taj kind?"

"Mm." Xiao Han nodded. "Their magic requires a Sling Ring and magical artifacts, but I want to see if I can use the energy within my body directly as a medium."

Tony set down his tool and folded his arms. "Sounds like you're trying to forcibly combine technology and magic. That won't be simple."

"That is why I need time."

Xiao Han turned and looked at Tony. "If I succeed, I may be able to open up an entirely new path."

Tony was silent for several seconds before suddenly grinning. "Fine. Geniuses have the right to be willful. But..."

He pointed at the ceiling, indicating JARVIS's presence. "Notify me the moment you make any progress. I don't want to miss a breakthrough of this level."

Xiao Han chuckled. "I will."

As his voice faded, his body began to float.

"See you in a few days. Remember my armor."

The next second, Xiao Han vanished completely from the laboratory, transforming into a streak of black light that shot into the sky.

Tony stood where he was, staring at the place Xiao Han had disappeared. Only after a long while did he shake his head and mutter, "That guy is getting more and more ridiculous..."

He turned and returned to the workbench. The nanostructure model on the holographic projection continued rotating slowly.

Tony lightly tapped his fingers against the table, suddenly revealing a sly smile.

"JARVIS, pull up every theoretical study on combining magical energy with technology."

"Sir, the relevant data is extremely limited," JARVIS replied.

"Then start from scratch. Research the technology side first. We can deal with the magic side after I find Xiao and learn it."

A challenging light flickered in Tony's eyes.

"After all, I can't let him steal the entire spotlight by himself."

"Sir, it needs a codename."

"Let's call it... Anti-Magic Armor!"

Outside the window, New York's lights still glittered brightly.

Meanwhile, Xiao Han had already begun flying at high speed through the darkness.