Marvel: Beginning with the Collection of Shinra Tensei

"I got it. I'll go find him myself."

With that, Han Yu hung up the phone and headed toward Stark's residence.

He hadn't set any specific deadlines for Stark to complete the battle suit, but Stark was clearly invested in the project. Aside from the fact that Han Yu had requested it, Stark likely found the challenge intriguing as well.

After all, Stark was now delving into the technology of another world—technology capable of storing objects and energy within compact devices that could be accessed at any time. Even for Stark, this was the kind of breakthrough that could usher in a new era.

Currently, Stark's progress on the armor had reached the point where it could be remotely controlled and deployed. Compared to the old method of assembling each part individually, this was already the fastest approach.

But even so, Stark wasn't satisfied. In a world fraught with danger, who could guarantee he'd always have enough time to suit up safely?

When Stark first agreed to become the Green Lantern Corps' equipment consultant, he still carried a hint of a genius's arrogance. He believed that even within Han Yu's Corps, he could provide top-tier technology.

However, after witnessing exoskeleton-like armor with offensive and defensive capabilities rivaling his own suits—and the fact that it could attach to the body in just five seconds—Stark's perspective shifted.

If this technology could be applied to the Hulkbuster armor, Stark could orchestrate countless ambushes. This was more than an upgrade; it was a revolutionary leap in technology.

Stark's Residence

At this moment, Stark had been holed up in his workshop for days. He ate and drank there, even moving his bed downstairs so he could get straight to work as soon as he woke up. Other than quick trips upstairs to the bathroom, he spent nearly all his time in the lab.

"Tony, you really need to get outside and get some sunlight. Just smell yourself—you've got a musty odor,"

A sharp yet concerned voice came from a blonde woman with an elegant figure. She stood by, watching Stark as he obsessively tinkered with a pile of tools.

"You've cut your sleep time in half these days. If you keep this up, your body's going to give out."

The woman was none other than Pepper Potts, also known as "Little Pepper," Stark's ever-reliable assistant—and the woman who would eventually become his wife.

They say that behind every successful man is a supportive woman. Pepper was exactly that. Her care for Stark came from the heart, and it was this genuine concern that drew them closer over time.

Hearing her words, Stark finally turned around. His bloodshot eyes were startling, evidence of days without proper rest.

He walked over to his desk, grabbed a cup of coffee, and took a large, aggressive gulp. The bitter taste flooded his mouth, but he wasn't drinking it for the flavor—just the caffeine.

The sharp bitterness helped clear his foggy mind, if only slightly. He yawned and replied, "Pepper, do you even know what this is? Do you understand what I'm working on? This is cutting-edge tech that can store objects inside itself! I'm on the verge of cracking it, and once I do, it'll revolutionize military technology on Earth!"

Han Yu had once mentioned that if he wanted to, he could store anything inside those cards—not just the Hulkbuster armor, but even several battleships if needed.

Just imagine: someone casually entering a foreign country, only to suddenly deploy multiple warships out of thin air. No matter how advanced the enemy's technology was, it wouldn't withstand such an ambush.

"I just know that if you keep pushing yourself like this, your body won't last,"

Pepper shot him an exasperated look. The meals she'd brought him recently had barely been touched; Stark had been surviving mostly on coffee.

Stark mumbled under his breath, though it was unclear what exactly he meant by "I'm fine." Was he referring to his physical condition, his mental state, or something else entirely?

Seeing his stubborn determination, Pepper knew that saying anything more would be pointless. She had rarely seen Stark so utterly consumed by something.

Even when he was developing the Iron Man suits, he hadn't reached this level of obsession—borderline manic, really—which only showed how deeply this project affected him.

Sigh. "I really don't know who gave you this thing that's got you working yourself to the bone. Whatever, I'll make you something nutritious to eat. Otherwise, your body's going to give out..."

Pepper muttered under her breath, knowing full well that her words would fall on deaf ears. She turned around, intending to head to the kitchen, but the moment she spun around, she collided directly into someone's chest.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I'm so—"

She instinctively apologized, but then her mind caught up with her reflexes—Wait a minute. This is Stark's private workshop. It was just the two of us here. Stark's behind me, so… who's in front of me?

Someone had appeared in the room without making a sound. A cold shiver ran down her spine as an unsettling feeling crept over her. Slowly, cautiously, she lifted her gaze, half-expecting to see something terrifying.

But when her eyes met the stranger's face, the fear dissipated significantly.

"I'm sorry, miss. I didn't mean to startle you. Are you okay?" Han Yu said with a gentle, friendly smile.

The sharp contrast between his sudden appearance and his calm demeanor was disarming. After a brief moment of shock, Pepper blinked and asked, "You're Han Yu?"

Han Yu raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised. "You know who I am?"

Pepper nodded. Although she'd just been grumbling about whoever had given Stark the Kamen Rider Driver—or whatever mysterious tech it was—she actually knew the answer. Stark hadn't kept it a secret from her.

If she ever wanted to know more, all she had to do was ask, and Stark would tell her.

Stark had been raving about a young man he'd recently met, someone extraordinary—so extraordinary, in fact, that Stark claimed he could change the universe itself.

At first, Pepper thought Stark was exaggerating, but now, considering the advanced technology he was studying and the way Han Yu had just appeared out of nowhere, maybe Stark hadn't been joking after all.

Han Yu's gaze shifted past Pepper to Stark, who had finally looked up from his work. Their eyes met—Stark's face lit up with delight, while Han Yu's expression darkened.

"Han! You're here! I've got great news—the research has made huge progress. I'm ahead of schedule; the suit will be ready even sooner than I estimated!"

Stark sounded excited, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. But then he noticed Han Yu's expression, which was far from cheerful. His smile faded slightly.

"What's wrong?" Stark asked, his tone shifting to one of concern.

Han Yu didn't mince words. "How long have you been working non-stop?"

Caught off guard by the question, Stark stammered, his confidence faltering. "Oh, uh… not that long. Just… a few days, maybe?"

His answer was as unconvincing as it sounded. He didn't even bother checking his reflection—if he had, he'd have seen the disheveled mess he'd become. His hair was a tangled nest, his face unshaven, and the most telling sign of all—his bloodshot eyes, the unmistakable mark of someone who'd been burning the candle at both ends for far too long.

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