Where some rejoiced, others worried.
As Tony listened to the report, his expression grew grave.
He immediately seized on the crucial issue.
"Wait, JARVIS. Every container has a limit. If he absorbs energy without any restraint, something's bound to go wrong, right?"
"You've identified the critical issue, sir," JARVIS replied.
"That is the greatest drawback. Mr. Luca must be careful at all times not to absorb too much."
"If the energy he absorbs exceeds the rate at which his cells can convert it, it can easily accumulate faster than he can process it. The end result... something terrible would happen. It could cause his cells to collapse or even trigger an explosion."
Hearing that he could explode,
Tony immediately turned to Luca and mocked him mercilessly.
"You hear that, Glowing Boy?"
"You're like a fat guy who can never eat enough. If you stuff yourself, you'll blow up like a firework! Don't expect me to collect your body when that happens. I won't be able to find your scraps!"
JARVIS proceeded to reveal the final piece of data.
"Additionally, to answer Mr. Tony's earlier question about friction during flight, a bioenergy field of indeterminate composition is constantly present around Mr. Luca's body."
"This energy field is like an invisible shield."
"This appears to be the underlying reason why Mr. Luca possesses such tremendous strength, yet does not damage his own clothing or his surroundings when moving or colliding at high speed."
After hearing JARVIS's analysis,
Luca finally smiled in satisfaction.
"Did you hear that clearly, Tony? That's what real power looks like."
"Nothing external can compare to evolving yourself. I'll say it again: don't waste that brilliant brain of yours hammering away at scrap metal. Don't shut yourself in an iron shell and hold yourself back."
"All you have to do is listen to me and let me draw some blood."
"We'll replicate the serum's data. With our combined IQs, we can definitely develop a version that works for you. Then you can become a superhuman as powerful as me. We'd be invincible together. Wouldn't that be great?"
"We could blast anyone we don't like. Wouldn't that be a lot cooler than hammering sheet metal?"
Tony pursed his lips, his face full of disdain.
"Forget it! I don't want to turn into a plant that needs sunlight to survive!"
"Real power has never depended on mutation or external things! I'll use my brain and my own two hands to make my dreams come true!"
Tony proudly raised his chin.
"Also, let me correct you. My armor is absolutely not junk!"
"Don't get too cocky, Luca. Just give me a little time, and I'll build a suit of armor with my own hands that can pin you to the ground and beat you senseless! I've even thought of a name for it: the Anti-Luca Armor!"
Tony poked Luca in the chest.
"Only technology is the most powerful and controllable! No matter how strong you are, could you withstand a direct hit from a nuclear bomb?"
"Forget it, Luca! There's a limit to human flesh and blood, but the potential of technology is limitless!"
Faced with Tony's bold declaration,
Luca burst out laughing, unconcerned.
"All right, I'll be waiting for your armor. But let me remind you, I'm evolving in the sun every day."
"Can your research keep up with how fast I'm getting stronger? Don't end up getting beaten down by me even after you've built it."
"Just wait. I'll show you how thoroughly technology can crush you!" Tony replied through gritted teeth.
The two clashed once again over their respective paths.
Luca championed physical evolution, while Tony insisted on mechanical armament.
These were the different sources of pride they held as geniuses.
But in truth,
beneath Tony's loud rebuttal, his mind was rapidly working through another idea.
As a scientist,
Tony naturally knew just how terrifying Luca's power was now.
Outwardly, he said he would build armor to defeat his younger brother, but in truth, he wanted to study Luca's serum thoroughly.
After the kidnapping, Tony had come to understand one thing deeply.
Enemies would not reason with them.
They had to arm themselves! They had to have enough power to fight back!
Especially Luca.
When Tony had thought Luca had been taken away and killed by the terrorists,
the fear of losing his only family in the world had made him miserable.
He swore he would never let anyone hurt his family again!
So,
Tony wanted to understand the serum thoroughly.
He wanted to see if he could help Luca eliminate the hidden danger of an energy overload and explosion.
He even wanted to use technology to help Luca evolve a second time.
To make Luca more perfect and more powerful!
He was an older brother.
It was only natural for an older brother to protect his younger brother.
But proud as Tony was by nature, he would rather die than say any of those caring words aloud.
Some people were fine, but someone else was at her wits' end.
Standing between the two of them, Pepper felt as though her head was about to explode.
How could they start arguing anytime, anywhere?
"Enough! Gentlemen!"
"What on earth are you talking about? Nuclear bombs? Mutations? What exactly happened to you in Afghanistan?!"
Pepper's eyes had reddened.
Her two bosses, who usually knew nothing but how to party, were now discussing how to withstand a nuclear bomb. The thought left her shaken.
Seeing that Pepper was genuinely upset,
Luca dropped his joking expression.
He walked over to a chair and sat down, picked up a glass of red wine, and took a sip before speaking casually.
"Don't worry, Pepper. It's actually pretty simple. We went to demonstrate weapons and got kidnapped by terrorists. Obadiah paid them to kill us."
"But who are we? We're Starks. And we managed to save ourselves using our unparalleled intelligence."
"I used the equipment there to whip up a vial of serum for myself, then got some sun, and turned into the glowing Superman you see now."
"As for Tony..."
At that, Luca gestured for Tony to explain himself.
Tony did not refuse and set down his glass.
Looking at the worried expression on Pepper's face, he hesitated for a few seconds.
But in the end, he reached out and lifted the hem of his short-sleeved shirt, showing Pepper the secret he had kept hidden beneath it.
Over Tony's heart,
a round metal device emitting a faint blue glow was embedded deep in his flesh.
Like a small engine, it radiated the coldness of technology from Tony's chest.
"See that, Potts? This is my evolution."
Tony's voice was somewhat subdued.
"It's also one of the greatest inventions of my life! I call it the Arc Reactor!"
"A piece of shrapnel got into my chest. To stay alive, I had to put this thing in my body. It uses magnetic force to hold back the metal fragments trying to travel into my heart."
At the sight,
Pepper froze.
Her eyes fixed on the blue-glowing reactor, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Tears blurred her vision and slid down her cheeks.
She reached out a trembling hand, wanting to touch the cold device.
But afraid of hurting Tony, she stopped with her fingers in midair, not daring to lower them.
"Oh, God... Tony..."
Pepper's voice was thick with tears and heartache.
"You were hurt so badly, and there's such a huge hole in your chest! Why didn't you say anything after you came back? Why didn't you tell me?"
Pepper seized Tony's arm.
"Come on! We're going to the hospital right now! Contact the best cardiac surgeons in the world immediately! Get this thing out!"
"I know a surgeon named Strange. He's very skilled!"
Seeing Pepper teary-eyed from all the fuss, Tony grew uncomfortable.
He could not stand sentimental scenes.
They left him at a loss and made him feel as though he were showing weakness.
So he immediately lowered his shirt to cover the reactor and gently pulled free of Pepper's grasp.
"Listen, Potts, calm down."
Tony forced a change of subject, making his voice sound casual.
"I know my own body! This isn't an illness at all, and those quacks at the hospital can't fix it. Besides, Yinsen, who came back with me, already took care of it. I'm fine."
Tony clapped his hands and walked straight toward the back of the lab, calling out loudly as he went.
"Forget about that little toy. Come on over! Come see the real spectacle! Come see the latest fruit of my hard work!"
Pepper wiped away her tears. Though she was still worried, she understood how stubborn Tony was.
Taking a deep breath, she had no choice but to follow him.
Luca also got up from his chair and strolled over.
This was the latest result of his and Tony's research.
Tony walked up to a huge wall.
He straightened his tie and confidently snapped his fingers.
"JARVIS, open the doors."
"As you wish, sir."
With a low mechanical rumble,
the wall slowly slid open to either side, revealing an illuminated display platform with a high-tech look.
Lights came on inside the display case.
And under their glow,
a suit of mechanical armor, shimmering silver-white from head to toe, stood silently inside!
Its streamlined design fit the human form perfectly, and its metal armor plates radiated power.
This was the embodiment of technological force.
This was the Mark II armor!
Tony raised an eyebrow and gave a proud, arrogant smile.
He spread his arms as though embracing the whole world.
"Well, Potts? Do you realize something now?"
"This is the real future of Stark Industries! Those lousy guns and cannons we used to sell the military were garbage!"
"I've named this suit of armor the Mark II! But it's just my own personal armor, belonging to me, Tony Stark!"
"Obadiah is dead, and the troubles of the past are over."
"Of course, none of that matters. What matters is that, starting today..."
Tony paused, a fiery light blazing in his eyes.
"The age of Stark has officially arrived!"