Marvel Transmigration: I Possessed Iron Man

Aetheris couldn't help but notice how much older Ethan looked. His beard, once streaked with white, was now completely gray.

"My parents were both killed in a bombing raid," Ethan said bitterly. "And the weapons those rebel militias used? All supplied by Stark Industries, courtesy of the United States."

"Uh…" Aetheris didn't know how to respond. He was completely at a loss for words.

"Tell me, who should I hate? I feel so lost," Ethan muttered, collapsing onto the couch in anguish. "Got a cigarette? I need a smoke."

Aetheris shot a glance at Nova, who immediately understood and hurried over to the nearby cabinet, pulling out a pack of cigarettes.

"Here, old friend. You can't stay like this. I called you here because I want us to change the situation," Aetheris said as he lit one up himself.

"Change it? Just the two of us?" Ethan let out a bitter laugh. "I've already brought my wife and daughter over. That's thanks to your help. Without you, I honestly don't know what I would've done."

"Don't be so formal with me. We've been through hell together—dodging bullets, crawling through trenches, risking our lives against militant groups. Your problems are my problems. Your wife…"

"Hm?"

"Is my sister-in-law!"

"And your daughter is my daughter!"

"But my daughter's already eighteen."

"Alright, forget I said that," Aetheris shrugged with a grin.

"Have you ever heard the old saying? 'Man can triumph over destiny!'"

"Besides, you've seen the armor. Don't you think if I can develop an even more powerful, more devastating suit, we might just tip the balance of power in the world?" Aetheris asked.

"You mean…?"

"Exactly. This!"

With a wave of his hand, a hidden panel in the office wall slid open, revealing the Mark II Hellfire Armor.

"It looks different from before." Ethan stood up immediately, his eyes fixed on the suit.

"Haha, this is my newly improved Mark III Hellfire Armor. The material is stronger, yet it's ten kilograms lighter."

"Wow… It's a masterpiece."

Ethan's eyes lit up as he stared at the suit, its red and gold shell gleaming like molten metal, blazing with power.

"It's made of Seraphim-6 alloy and capable of supersonic flight."

"What's its power source?" Ethan asked, cutting straight to the point.

"That's exactly why I need your help." Aetheris pulled out a small device. "I call it the Arc Reactor. In simple terms, it's a miniature controlled nuclear fusion reactor."

"How much power does it generate?"

"If I remember right… about three billion joules per second."

"Enough to light a bulb for centuries!"

"Exactly. But there's one problem—the core element is palladium," Aetheris admitted with a sigh.

"Palladium?" Ethan's brows furrowed.

Palladium, a platinum-group metal, was discovered in 1802. In 1803, British chemist William Hyde Wollaston successfully extracted palladium and rhodium from crude platinum.

It's an essential material in high-tech industries like aerospace, aviation, and automotive manufacturing.

But palladium is highly radioactive. Prolonged exposure to the human body can cause irreversible damage.

That's why Aetheris was determined to find a replacement.

The answer wasn't hard to guess. Somewhere among the relics left behind by that stubborn old man, Howard Stark, lay the solution. But Aetheris knew himself better than anyone.

Right now, when it came to science, he was practically a rookie. Even if you handed him Howard's notes a hundred times, there was no guarantee he'd understand them.

Study everything from scratch?

Sure, might as well wait for Thanos to snap his fingers.

In other words, wait for death.

"But there's no known element in the periodic table that can replace palladium," Ethan said with a troubled expression.

The periodic table is to chemistry what the multiplication table is to math.

Trying to develop a new element? That's like asking a caveman to build a nuclear bomb.

"It's fine. My father's notes mention a new element. Take a look—maybe they'll spark something," Aetheris said, handing over a USB drive.

"Why don't you figure it out yourself?" Ethan asked, puzzled. Sure, he was confident in his skills, but compared to Tony Stark? That was like comparing the light of a firefly to the brilliance of the sun.

"Don't worry about that. You've got that spark of genius just waiting to explode. You may be older, but you've got incredible talent. You're a once-in-a-century genius. If one day your potential gets fully unlocked, you'll be unstoppable," Aetheris said, handing him the USB.

"What potential?" Ethan asked, completely lost.

"As the saying goes, 'If I don't face danger, who will?' Whether we can punish evil, uphold justice, and protect peace—it's all on you now."

"Why me?"

"Because you're my sworn brother, in life and death!" Aetheris placed the USB drive in his hand.

"This contains my father's scientific legacy. It's priceless. But since fate brought us together, consider it a gift."

"Wait… you're serious?" Ethan's hands trembled slightly.

"Of course I'm serious. Have I ever joked with you?" Aetheris waved him off.

"What is it, boss?" Nova approached quickly.

"Clear out the best house I own in Manhattan for Ethan and his family. I want him settled without a single worry."

"By the way, Ethan, is your daughter still in school?"

"She's in high school this year. Here's a photo."

Aetheris grabbed the photo and his eyes widened instantly.

"This is your daughter?!"

The girl in the photo looked like the French pop star Alizée—delicate features, short hair, a pure, radiant smile.

Ethan, the moment I saw your daughter's photo, I made up my mind.

I'm going to be your friend for life. Not even Jesus could stop me!

"We've got to get my precious niece into the best high school in New York."

"Nova, find out which high school is the best in the city."

"Yes, sir. That would be Horace Mann School, located in Manhattan. It's ranked third nationally and considered the best in New York."

"That's the one!"

"But a school like that… I probably can't afford the tuition," Ethan admitted, clearly embarrassed. A father's desire for his child's education is universal.

"Ethan, come on. With everything we've been through, you're talking about money? That hurts, man. And besides, I already told you… your daughter is practically my… cough, cough… you get it. As her uncle, I'll do everything I can to support her."

"One day, the Ethan family is going to produce another great scientist."

(End of Chapter)

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