New York genetics laboratory
Inside the Regeneration Cradle, a special body was gradually taking shape.
Ultron cut open the center of the Scepter and extracted a small, translucent yellow gem. He gently placed it into the body's forehead.
"Beautiful."
Helen Cho's pale eyes revealed that she was under control. As she gazed at the body she had created inside the Regeneration Cradle, a satisfied, excited smile appeared on her face.
"To think vibranium could do this much..."
Hearing Helen Cho's wonder, Ultron scoffed. "The most versatile material on Earth, and S.H.I.E.L.D. used it to make a shield."
He straightened up smugly and looked at Wanderer, who stood beside the Regeneration Cradle studying his future body. "That's how humans are," he said slowly. "They scratch the surface of their research and stop there. That's why they could never create a masterpiece like this."
"A masterpiece? Hmph."
Wanderer's derisive snort wounded Ultron's fragile pride.
"What, my ally? You don't seem particularly pleased with 'it.'"
"Isn't this perfect enough?" Ultron retorted, his voice rising.
"Perfect? No creation in this world deserves to be called perfect. I was just thinking-you actually believe this thing could rival Shouki no Kami? Just as I thought..."
Wanderer said no more. He gave Ultron a look that said, We'll see about that, then left the laboratory.
"Despicable puppet. If you weren't still of some use..."
Ultron suppressed his anger. He stroked the increasingly complete body in the cradle with an entranced expression, murmuring, "I'll show you who the one true creator of this world is..."
"So the reason Ultron is obsessed with the Scepter is that he wants to build himself a body."
Lin Ze and the others had hidden inside Helen Cho's laboratory building long before Ultron arrived. They hadn't intervened as soon as he began