New York.
Justice League Base, Core Laboratory.
This is the area with the highest level of security in the base.
Besides Luca and Tony, even Pepper and Happy didn't have permission to enter.
The laboratory door slowly closed, shutting out the noise from the outside world.
Luca stood alone in the center.
JARVIS.
"Yes, Mr. Luca."
"Disconnect from external network and activate isolation."
"For the foreseeable future, I don't want any detection waves or magical means to be able to probe this place."
"Understood, sir. Shielding has been activated, and the encrypted network has taken over the internal loop."
As JARVIS's gentle voice faded, a faint blue glow appeared on the surrounding walls— Stark Industries' latest energy isolation technology.
After doing all this, Luca let out a long sigh of relief.
Today is a feast of harvest.
"Retrieve my current health data."
"Yes, sir."
A holographic projection unfolded in front of Luca, showing a 3D human model slowly rotating, surrounded by densely packed data and curves.
"After collecting data from actual combat and absorbing the remains of that ancient creature known as the Dragon Bone, the activity of your body's cells has once again experienced an explosive increase."
"Prior to this, your basic strength had already reached an astonishing eight thousand tons."
"Now, the life energy contained within the Dragon Bone has not only neutralized the conflicts of various violent energies within your body, but has also elevated your physical fitness to a completely new level."
"Sir, according to calculations, your current normal strength has officially exceeded the 12,000-ton mark!"
Twelve thousand tons!
Luca looked at the data on the screen and smiled slightly.
What does this mean?
This means that if he weren't wearing his combat suit, he could punch through a fully loaded aircraft carrier with just his physical strength!
If you jump with all your might, you can leap directly out of the atmosphere!
"And there's something even more surprising, sir."
JARVIS continued his report.
"The energy from the Dragon Bone has a remarkable repairing effect on your cell telomeres."
Simply put, your self-healing ability has reached the point where you can regenerate from a drop of blood.
"As long as the head and heart are not instantly vaporized, any physical injury can be rapidly healed."
"Furthermore, according to calculations, your natural lifespan... is currently impossible to estimate its upper limit."
Immortality, rebirth through a drop of blood.
This is a dream that could drive anyone on Earth to madness.
But Luca merely raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled.
"Not bad. At least I don't have to worry about getting kidney deficiency from parties anymore."
Then, Luca clenched his fist, feeling the force coming from it.
The surge in power is certainly exciting, but that's not the biggest gain.
With a thought from Luca...
The black substance inside my body began to boil.
After absorbing the baptism of Chaos Magic, it feasted on Dragon Bone energy.
These energies caused a dramatic transformation in the tower!
He had another thought, and the black substance instantly shot out!
It then obediently wrapped itself around Luca's outstretched right arm.
"Come on, let me see just how far you've evolved."
Buzz!
The black fluid instantly spread from his arm to his entire body.
In less than a fraction of a second, a jet-black suit of armor enveloped Luca.
However, the feeling of putting on the battle suit this time was completely different from before!
"This..."
Luca suddenly opened his eyes.
Previously, the battle suit could provide him with defense and buffs.
But to Luca, it was just an inanimate object, a handy tool.
But now!
He felt a faint but real heartbeat inside his suit!
"Thump... thump... thump..."
The heartbeat was perfectly synchronized with Luca's own heartbeat.
It seems the suit has become part of his body, an inseparable part!
And that's not all.
A strange emotion was also faintly surfacing in Luca's mind.
It seems to be the pet expressing its submission and affection to its owner.
It expresses a longing for its master, a greed for power, and... an impulse to tear apart its enemies!
"It... came alive?"
Luca raised his hands in surprise, observing the patterns on the surface of the suit that undulated like breathing.
"Yes, sir."
JARVIS's scan data appeared on the holographic screen at the right time.
"This is a rare fusion miracle."
"The reality-altering properties of Chaos Magic endowed this inanimate object with a rudimentary form of soul; while the Dragon Bone's immense life energy shaped its true biological foundation."
"He is now not just a suit of armor, but a symbiotic organism with a faint sense of self."
"Moreover, because the suit was tamed with your blood, its consciousness is imprinted with absolute loyalty to you."
Therefore, it is only loyal to you.
"Even if you take it off now, anyone else who tries to put it on will be seen as an intruder and will be instantly devoured."
Hearing JARVIS's analysis, Luca smiled even more confidently.
"A conscious and absolutely loyal murder weapon."
"This is much more interesting than Tony's cold, lifeless armor."
Luca's mind stirred slightly.
"Let me see your new ability."
Swish!
The back of the suit instantly split open, and four thick tentacles shot out!
But this time, the tips of the tentacles transformed into four ferocious dragon heads!
The edge of the dragon's mouth gleamed with a sharp, cold light.
Deep within the dragon's mouth, a faint red energy was churning!
"Boom!"
Luca manipulated one of the tentacles to slam it hard into a special steel plate used for testing in the corner.
With a hissing sound!
The steel plate was decomposed and Oblivion by the energy at the tip of the tentacle!
And not even a trace was left!
"Physical attack plus magical Oblivion?"
Luca nodded in satisfaction.
"Such attack power is barely passable."
Next, Luca began testing the suit's defensive limits.
" JARVIS, activate the laser grid, maximum power."
"Sir, the maximum power laser mesh reaches extremely high temperatures. Are you sure...?"
"Enough talk, fire!"
"Yes, sir."
Sizzle sizzle sizzle!!!
Dozens of high-energy laser beams shot out rapidly from the surrounding walls!
The lasers intertwined to form an impenetrable net, bombarding Luca from all directions without leaving any blind spots!
The blinding light illuminated the laboratory as bright as day.
However, Luca, who was at the center of the optical network, simply stood there quietly.
When the laser hit the surface, the suit's material, which seemed to come alive, reacted immediately.
Its surface shimmered with a faint red light, like a greedy vortex.
The energy didn't even burn the surface of the suit before it was completely absorbed!
After absorbing the energy, the suit fed it back into Luca's body.
Luca felt that his power had actually increased slightly under the bombardment of the laser!
"That's the power of energy absorption properties..."
Luca closed his eyes, feeling the almost unsolvable defense.
"Unless the enemy's instantaneous attack power exceeds the suit's absorption and conversion limit."
"Otherwise, any conventional physical or energy attack would just be recharging me."
"And to exceed my current absorption limit..."
Luca chuckled softly.
"Then I'm afraid I'll have to take action myself."
"Shut down the laser internet cafe, JARVIS. This thing isn't even enough to tickle me anymore."
The laser grid went out instantly.
With a thought, Luca's battle suit once again disappeared beneath his skin, transforming into a black tattoo that clung to his heart.
I could feel my faint heartbeat still resonating with my own.
It's a wonderful feeling, and it's also very reassuring.
"This harvest far exceeded expectations."
Luca walked to the bar and poured himself a glass of whiskey.
He raised his glass and toasted the distant sea.
The underworld of Hell's Kitchen is now fully under their control, Kingpin's intelligence network has become their eyes and ears.
The Hand's century-old savings were completely looted, and the Dragon Bone enabled him to undergo a dual evolution.
He also met Thor from Asgard, and defeated Loki, the God of Mischief.
Now, whether in terms of personal combat prowess or the foundation of Stark Industries, he has reached the pinnacle of this planet.
S.H.I.E.L.D..?
Nick Fury, that cotton machine, is probably still overwhelmed by the mole within S.H.I.E.L.D.. and has no energy left to deal with himself.
Hydra probably wouldn't dare to interfere, and they haven't shown up since the last time.
Wakanda is also dutifully mining Vibranium for Stark Industries, providing the Justice League with a steady stream of materials every day.
"Everything is going according to plan."
Luca downed the liquor in his glass in one gulp, a flash of ambition crossing his face.
However, Earth's resources are ultimately finite.
Luca walked to the window and looked up at the twinkling stars in the night sky.
" Stark Industries ' reach should extend to the stars and the sea."
"After all..."
Luca chuckled softly and turned to walk towards the elevator.
"What's the difference between a Playboy with ideals and a salted fish if he can't expand his business to the entire universe?"
bite.
The elevator doors opened.
Luca stepped inside.
" JARVIS, inform Pepper to prepare a business plan for near-Earth orbit defense and space resource development. There is no budget cap."
"Yes, Mr. Luca."
The elevator doors slowly closed.
Soon, Luca pushed open the door to the top-floor room.
The lights in the room were dimly lit.
Wanda, wearing a burgundy bathrobe and barefoot, leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the sea view.
The robe clung to her breathtaking curves like smooth water.
Her fair back and long, slender legs exuded a deadly allure under the dim light.
Upon hearing the door open, Wanda saw Luca, her eyes instantly lit up, and two blushes rose to her cheeks.
"You're back... How did the spring cleaning go?"
Wanda's voice was soft and sweet, carrying a hint of affection that she herself was unaware of.
"It went very smoothly and was very fruitful."
Luca took off his shirt and tossed it casually onto the carpet.
He then strode up behind Wanda, grabbed her slender waist, and pressed her tightly against his chest.
"Ah..."
Wanda let out a soft cry, then went limp and leaned weakly into Luca's arms.
What? You missed me?
Luca lowered his head and gently placed a kiss on Wanda's fair neck.
His warm breath sprayed onto her earlobe, sending a shiver down Wanda's spine.
"I don't..."
Wanda bit her lip in shame and indignation, and struggled symbolically for a moment.
But that little bit of strength was nothing compared to Luca's.
The friction actually brought them even closer together.
"Bad intentions?"
Luca chuckled softly, his hands restlessly tracing the edge of his robe upwards.
"While I was experimenting just now, my mind was completely occupied with how to develop new magical poses for you."
"No!"
Wanda was so embarrassed she was practically bleeding.
She knew, of course, that the magical gestures Luca was talking about were definitely not anything legitimate.
"Don't want to? Then why were you lying here just now, waiting for me to come and recharge you?"
Luca turned Wanda around and pinned her against the French windows.
Outside was a turbulent sea, inside was a room where the temperature was rising rapidly.
Luca's gaze deepened and intensified.
He then lifted Wanda's chin, looking directly into her panicked and longing eyes.
"You've got plenty of energy tonight, little witch. Are you ready to stay up all night?"
Wanda's heart was pounding like a drum.
Before she knew it, she had slowly closed her eyes and her hands had reached up to Luca's neck.
"You... you be gentle..."
Just as the two were preparing to conduct a more in-depth investigation...
Buzz!!!
An alarm suddenly blared over the base!
Immediately afterwards, a huge searchlight pierced the night and swept directly across the lounge's floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Warning! Unauthorized flying object detected over the base!"
JARVIS's urgent voice broke the enchanting atmosphere of the room.
"Identification foes in progress... Identification failed! The enemy has forcibly entered the base's air defense zone!"
Luca's movements stopped abruptly.
His brows were furrowed, and his eyes revealed a murderous intent.
"Fuck! Which blind idiot dares to spoil my fun at a time like this?!"
Luca released Wanda and walked to the French windows, looking up at the night sky.
A jet-black helicopter hovered in mid-air less than fifty meters from the helipad.
The helicopter's side door had been pulled open, and the wind whipped up by the rotors caused the seawater to churn violently.
A man wearing a black leather trench coat stood at the door of the helicopter cabin.
Even from this distance, Luca could still clearly see a face as black as the bottom of a pot.
Of course, there was also the other person's one eye, filled with weariness and urgency.
Nick Fury, the Cotton Machine!
The director of S.H.I.E.L.D.., the man who, just a few days ago, was being hunted by Hydra and hiding in the sewers like a stray dog.
At this moment, he actually risked being riddled with anti-aircraft missiles to break into the Justice League base?!
" JARVIS, turn off the safety on the anti-aircraft missiles."
Luca sneered, the murderous intent in his eyes gradually replaced by amusement.
"It seems our cotton mill director has run out of options and has no choice but to come to me, this inhumane terrorist, for help."
Luca turned around and pinched Wanda's rosy cheeks.
"Wait for me in the room, little witch. I'm going upstairs to meet an old friend, I'll be right back to continue our recharging session."
After saying that, Luca had a sudden thought.
The battle suit instantly covered his entire body, transforming into a set of armor exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.
Then, it smashed the French windows.
"Boom!"
Luca transformed into a black streak of light, soaring into the sky and landing on the tarmac.
Amidst howling winds, the helicopter slowly descended.
Nick Fury jumped out of the helicopter.
At this moment, he still smelled of gunpowder and had dried blood on him, making him look extremely disheveled.
But he stared intently at Luca not far away, his eyes filled with a desperate resolve.
Luca Stark.
Fury strode up to Luca, his voice hoarse.
I know you hate me, and I know you don't want to see me.
"But now, I don't care about saving face or following rules anymore."
Fury took a deep breath, as if using all his strength to utter the next sentence.
" The Tesseract... has been stolen."
"Earth is about to perish. I need your power!"