But let's compare the products of the two industrial giants.
After Tony Stark shut down his weapons division, Stark Industries pivoted to the clean-energy field, becoming the world's top pioneer in new energy. With patents firmly in hand, he should have been making money faster than he could count it.
But right away, a problem surfaced—the difficulty of popularizing clean energy.
Tony Stark had to face resistance from Middle Eastern oil fields and the old-energy tycoons who ran them. Many of those oil fields were backed by American financial groups. There was no way these people would sit quietly while their fortunes shrank—or collapsed. Honestly, if S.H.I.E.L.D. weren't protecting Tony, with the way he moved against the oil barons, he probably would have been assassinated already and replaced by someone more compliant.
Then there was the issue of global job loss due to the decline of old energy. How many workers depended on the oil industry?
And what about the students studying old-energy engineering and management? The schools built around those programs? The teachers who taught them? The automotive and manufacturing sectors relying on fossil fuels? The countless families whose livelihoods depended on these related industries?
The number of people affected was astronomical. For humanity to accept new energy, it would have to be a slow transition—at least four generations before clean energy could become mainstream.
And those four generations were a very optimistic estimate. As mentioned earlier, the old-energy giants would never willingly let their wealth evaporate. They would mobilize the workers who depended on them to protest, riot, and sabotage Stark Industries' clean-energy facilities. If that happened, it might take five or six generations before new energy could ever become the norm.
Humanity wasn't blind to the benefits of new energy—they just weren't willing to accept the cost.
This was exactly why Zod never bothered with clean energy. It was far too troublesome. Developing materials and weapons earned money much faster.
So he merely registered the patent for the miniature arc reactor—he never intended to use it to sell energy.
And that was why Blade Tech Industries had managed to catch up to Stark Industries—and even surpass it—so quickly.
"Boss, you're incredible, a genius even… but you shouldn't bury yourself in research forever."
Urd spoke cautiously. She had seen Zod essentially never leave the lab. As much as she admired his dedication, she also felt helpless—and worried.
Urd wasn't the type to handle personal matters at work, but it frustrated her that she couldn't bridge the distance between them.
As for the worry… she feared her boss might damage his health by pushing himself too hard.
"Urd, the number of people who want me dead is enormous. Going outside would only put others at risk. I'd rather stay in here and focus on my work."
Zod shook his head. Just like Tony offended the oil tycoons with clean energy, Zod had enraged many military-industrial giants with War Machine. Plenty of people wanted him dead. He didn't mind, but he had no interest in playing games with ordinary assassins.
Urd had to admit he had a point. Safety was a serious concern.
Even though Zod was hailed as a revolutionary figure pushing humanity into a fourth industrial era, such praise hardly guaranteed safety—history was full of brilliant scientists dying inexplicably.
"Oh, right. How's Emil Blonsky?" Zod asked suddenly.
As a villain capable of trading blows with the Hulk, Blonsky was exactly the kind of super-soldier Zod wanted for experiments with the new generation of the Super Beast Serum. If captured, he could become another powerful subordinate.
Most importantly, Zod believed villains in the Marvel world carried their own "plot armor." They wouldn't die easily.
"He already accepted our invitation," Urd replied. At this point, no one could refuse an offer from Blade Tech Industries. The recent avalanche of résumés from top-tier experts had been staggering.
And since Zod wanted to recruit more biotech talent, Urd had been busy contacting every notable figure in the field.
Emil Blonsky was flattered by Blade Tech's invitation and agreed almost immediately.
Less than two days later, Zod met the man himself—played by Tim Roth in another universe.
A former special-forces commando, Blonsky was caught off guard when he finally saw Zod in person. He hadn't expected to meet the young man shaping the entire modern world.
Zod looked extremely young. According to public records, Zod Heath was only twenty. "Talented" didn't begin to describe him.
A Kryptonian who had basked in sunlight never needed to worry about lifespan, so Zod hadn't cared much when filling in his age—he'd simply picked a number.
"Mr. Blonsky, would you be willing to join Blade Tech Industries?" Zod asked with a polite smile.
"It would be an honor, Mr. Heath," Blonsky replied instantly.
Though he didn't quite understand why he had been chosen.
Zod knew exactly what Blonsky longed for—power, and a return to the battlefield. His age had made it impossible to maintain peak performance, and as a pure warrior with no spouse, no children, and no attachments, he had never been able to let go of combat.
"Our company recently made a groundbreaking advance in the field of biotechnology. We invited you because among the candidates we're evaluating, you meet our requirements exceptionally well."
Of course, Zod didn't mention his second target—the number-one male model of HYDRA.
For now, World Serpent needed to stay low-profile. If HYDRA found out, Zod would be forced to swallow them whole prematurely.
Zod still wanted HYDRA to unwittingly shelter the World Serpent, acting as a convenient disguise.
Blonsky's breathing quickened.
What was Blade Tech Industries most famous for?
Its two world-shifting inventions. Owning even one of them was enough to carve your name into human history—to become a term future students would memorize—an enduring monument to mankind.
For example, the secondary kryptonite alloy. Some people had already begun calling it the Heath Alloy or Zod Alloy.
War Machine hadn't been named after him of course—no one called an atomic bomb the "Einstein Bomb."
But now Blade Tech was claiming they'd made another epoch-defining advance in biotechnology?
Blonsky couldn't believe he'd be fortunate enough to witness such a thing.
He cooperated fully as they placed him on the operating table.
The second-generation beast-soldiers created with the upgraded Super Beast Serum no longer resembled any earthly creature. They were monstrous—yet vastly superior to the first generation in every way.
After the injection, Blonsky was submerged inside the incubation tank.
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