Another two days slipped by, a quiet stretch of time where, on the surface, nothing of great consequence occurred.
If one were to consider Tony Stark making a breakthrough in his research a "major event," then perhaps the week wasn't entirely uneventful.
"So, let me get this straight. You're looking for a guinea pig to test your new toy?"
Rumlow stared at Tony, his expression etched with blatant annoyance.
It was a rare, beautiful day, and Rumlow had planned to head to the Sacred Mountain to challenge the Rifts. He had made a trip back yesterday, but unfortunately, he hadn't achieved his goal. When he finally tracked down Talic, the Ancient had flatly—and quite grumpily—refused Rumlow's request to enter the trial.
Talic's Insignia of Honor had also begun to look… different. The change sat uneasy with Rumlow, but no matter who he asked, he received no clear answer. It seemed the Ancestors were collectively unwilling to discuss the matter.
"You're the strongest opponent I can find," Tony said airily, adjusting a sleek, new bracelet on his wrist. He made a show of waving his hand in front of Rumlow, the gesture dripping with intentional vanity. "Or rather, the strongest opponent I can actually trade blows with without dying instantly."
"I don't recall our relationship being quite that cordial," Rumlow replied, his tone indifferent as he slipped in a subtle probe. "If you're itching for a fight, go find Luke or Matthew. Or even Rorschach. I'm sure you've already figured out where all of us are hiding."
In an era where smartphones were ubiquitous, the reach of a scientist like Stark was limited only by his imagination. Moreover, the existence of his AI butler, "Jarvis," was hardly a secret anymore.
"I have no intention of crashing Luke and Jessica's date. Tonight is the opening of that show," Tony said, his signature mustache twitching in a playful smirk. It was Tony who had sponsored those two Broadway tickets for Luke—a small bribe in exchange for a future favor.
Of course, Tony had prepared plenty of other incentives. He knew he could extract many "interesting" things from Luke. For instance, the various "toys" forged by Bul-Kathos that sat in his laboratory.
As a shop clerk, Luke had certain discretions. When selling equipment, Luke could instinctively sense which pieces possessed higher quality. To facilitate this "professional relationship," Tony had purchased a Reaper's Hook as a gift for Luke.
Luke wasn't the type to stoop to blackmail or embezzlement; it was simply standard business. Every cent earned was placed, untouched, into Bul-Kathos's drawer.
"You used that to buy him off? I doubt Luke or Jessica can even make sense of the high-brow performances those elites enjoy. Hell, I can't even understand them," Rumlow grumbled.
He felt a nagging restlessness. Lately, he'd been experiencing a strange sensation—a faint, rhythmic throbbing in his brain that made him perpetually drowsy. Usually, when his instincts acted up like this, it meant something unpleasant was lurking on the horizon.
The last time he'd felt this off, Madawc had pinned him to the floor and thrashed him within an inch of his life. Even after chugging a potion, the phantom ache hadn't fully subsided. He was starting to question whether "pain" counted as "damage" in this world's strange logic.
"Anyway, let's skip the small talk. I don't have much to offer you, and frankly, you don't seem like the materialistic type," Tony said, his voice trailing off as he struggled to think of a suitable payment for Rumlow's time. "How about cash? I heard you're trying to earn enough to pay off some sort of 'atonement debt.' I could certainly help with that."
"Do I look like I'm desperate for a handout? If you've got that much extra cash, go do some charity. I'm not in the mood to dance with you," Rumlow snapped, turning toward his bedroom. He was done with the day before it had even truly begun.
"I can help you become stronger. At least, I can provide the kind of combat edge that technology offers—something Bul-Kathos and his lot don't bother with."
Tony had finally hit the right chord.
Strength was the only thing Rumlow truly cared about now. Though he was confident he could handle the threats of his past, the shadow of Hydra still loomed over his thoughts. It was too familiar, a ghost that refused to be laid to rest.
"You mean that tin suit of yours? Don't make me laugh. I can tear those metal toys apart with my bare hands," Rumlow said, though his eyes remained fixed on Tony, waiting for the catch.
"I am Iron Man. The armor and I are one; don't even think about prying us apart. But I can offer you some interesting gadgets. You don't plan on killing every enemy you face, do you? I imagine you could use something non-lethal, yet discreet."
Tony reached out, resting the hand with the bracelet on Rumlow's shoulder.
In an instant, a surge of electricity—strong enough to knock a normal man unconscious—ripped through Rumlow's frame.
"That's it? I'd be better off buying a Taser," Rumlow said, casually smoothing back his hair. The jolt had been mildly uncomfortable, leaving his scalp feeling a bit tingly, but for a Nephalem of his caliber, it was negligible.
"The electricity itself isn't the prize," Tony said, releasing Rumlow's shoulder and waving his hand. The skin was completely unmarked, showing no signs of insulation or protection. "It's the fact that I used it without harming myself. Not even Tesla achieved this level of bio-integration."
Tony leaned in, his voice tinged with pride. "Even someone like you isn't immune to the effects of high-voltage current; it's just a matter of intensity. I can give you the means to discharge that energy during combat. Imagine your opponent's muscles seizing up, their form crumbling at the moment of impact. Tell me that's not a useful invention."
The bracelet was a byproduct of the technology Tony had successfully reverse-engineered from the Cybermen. It represented a brand-new way of channeling and controlling energy. Cyberman bodies were conductive, yet they could utilize that current without frying their remaining human neural tissue. It was a masterpiece of energy manipulation.
"Doesn't sound like much to me. I'm going to sleep. Lock the door on your way out," Rumlow said, his interest seemingly evaporated. He retreated into his bedroom without another word.
Tony's inventions were undoubtedly powerful. As a civilization based entirely on technological supremacy, Cyberman tech far surpassed standard human development. But electricity wasn't their greatest strength.
The true power of the Cybermen lay in Infinite Upgrading.
A small, knowing smile played on Tony's lips as he stepped out of Rumlow's apartment. He had achieved his goal. Jarvis had recorded Rumlow's biological response to the current; now, it was time to apply that data to the next iteration of the armor.
In a Cyberman, the brain existed only to maintain the concept of "individual" and "species." What truly drove them was the relentlessly evolving intelligence of the collective. Tony had extracted the primordial template of that logic. It was weak now, but as his experiences grew, his power would follow suit. It was only a matter of time.
"Jarvis, compile a list of how many people Rumlow still owes 'debts' to. Check how many job openings the Stark Group currently has, then send out invitations to those who are capable but unemployed."
Tony tapped his earpiece. Directly handing Rumlow cash was meaningless. The people Rumlow had harmed needed a chance to rebuild their lives—and that was the payment Tony would provide.
"And let Pepper know we're going to Broadway tonight. I don't think Luke will mind helping Jessica pay off a bit of her own 'atonement' while we're there."
With a confident stride, Tony walked out of the apartment complex and took to the skies, leaving behind a crowd of stunned pedestrians staring at the streak of gold and red.
The first step to becoming truly powerful was starting with those you knew. And while the "Anti-Barbarian Armor" was already in development, Tony still felt he had a long way to go.
"Matthew, who are you looking for now?"
Angel sat on the sofa in Matthew Murdock's office, her posture relaxed. The smoke from her cigarette curled into the poorly ventilated room, making the air thick and stinging.
"I don't know. Neither Luke nor Rumlow would be a match for the Kingpin. Right now, the only ones who can help us are probably Rorschach or Thor," Matthew said, his voice heavy with hesitation.
He had spent hours weighing his options. In his experience, Luke and Rumlow lacked the specific edge needed to face someone like the current Fisk. And yet, he didn't dare trouble Bul-Kathos. He felt like a child who had made a mess and was too afraid to tell his parents, even though he knew the "parent" in this scenario would likely provide the answer.
Deep down, he also feared that Bul-Kathos simply wouldn't care enough to intervene.
"Then why haven't you reached out to them?" Angel asked lazily, sinking deeper into the cheap, worn-out cushions of the sofa.
"I can't find them. To teleport to another Nephalem, you need a War Banner as a beacon. I... I haven't earned the right to carry a Banner yet."
For a Nephalem, teleporting was an art guided by the War Banner—each one a symbol of a legend's beginning. Currently, on the Sacred Mountain, only Rorschach was even close to qualifying for one, and even he didn't have it in his possession yet.
"So we just sit here and do nothing?" Angel closed her eyes, trying to find a comfortable spot on the lumpy couch. It was clear the cheap furniture was an affront to her sensibilities.
"I'm thinking... Spider-Man still needs time to recover from his injuries. We have a window. Kingpin hasn't made a move against us yet. I have no idea what he's planning."
Matthew's voice was laced with dread.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 30 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"