Chapter 52:
[TL: Thank you, everyone! We've hit 321 Power Stones, exceeding our target of 300! As promised, I'll be releasing an extra chapter today, meaning a double update!
Now, let's set a new goal of 400 Power Stones. If we achieve this milestone, I'll treat you guys again next week with another double update!]
Tony wanted to say something, but he couldn't even move or speak. Mark could be really annoying sometimes. Tony wondered how Mark could come up with so many irritating things to say using the same 26 letters.
Compared to Mark, Tony considered himself quick-witted, but he felt completely outmatched. Mark was like a mythical being, and Tony felt like a helpless baby in comparison.
"Mr. Mark, Tony really needs your help," Pepper pleaded sincerely, breaking the silence. "He cares more about a stupid reactor than his own life, he has a terrible personality, and he won't listen to anyone. But as Tony's friend, I'm begging you to find a way to help him, just this once."
Mark thought about how to save Tony and replied, "But his problem is with science. Why don't you go to a doctor instead of coming to me, a sorcerer?"
"Mark, science can't save Tony anymore," Dr. Ho Yinsen chimed in after finishing his work on the medical equipment. He turned to Mark and explained, "There's too much palladium in Tony's body, and his organs and bones are permanently damaged. We've tried everything we know, but nothing has worked."
"That's right," added Nick Fury. "None of the medical techniques we know can fully cure him."
"Huh? You think I can do something about it?" Mark asked.
"You've been to the realm of the gods, so you must know more methods than us," Nick Fury replied. "If even you can't save Tony, then we're out of options."
"Mark, is your friend sick?" Thor asked after listening for a while. "If the medical technology here isn't enough, you can bring him to Asgard. We have the best healing methods in the Nine Realms."
"And who is this?" Dr. Ho Yinsen looked curiously at Thor.
"Oh, he's Thor," Mark introduced. "The Thor from Norse mythology, the son of Odin from Asgard. He's my friend."
"Norse mythology? The God of Thunder?" Dr. Ho Yinsen was completely stunned. He was just a surgeon.
Pepper immediately asked, "Can Asgard heal Tony?"
"Of course," Thor replied proudly. "The healing methods in Asgard..."
Before he could finish, Tony suddenly showed signs of extreme pain, and his body tensed up.
"Tony's heart has stopped!" Dr. Ho Yinsen exclaimed, rushing over. "We need to perform CPR."
"Let the experts handle this," Mark said, pushing Thor forward. "Dr. Ho Yinsen, put down that tool."
"But Tony..."
"I can handle it," Mark thought. "Let me show you some real magic, old man."
Thor, always reliable, realized that Tony's heart had stopped. Using his experience from the Nine Realms, he placed his hand on Tony's body. With a surge of electricity, Tony suddenly jolted up from the bed, and his heartbeat returned to normal.
"Keep working on him here. I'm going to test something," Mark instructed the others and pulled out a large blade.
Everyone in the room was shocked.
Pepper was horrified, but since no one else reacted, she managed to stay calm.
Mark made an incision, and an unpleasant smell filled the air. It wasn't the smell of blood, but something like a foul odor from a sewer. It was hard to describe, but definitely unpleasant.
Stark's palladium poisoning was severe. His internal organs had turned a strange dark greenish-black color, and his blood vessels were twisted and tangled. It was a terrifying sight. Dr. Ho Yinsen hadn't been lying; Tony was in critical condition.
"Oh my god, Tony!" Pepper couldn't help but cover her mouth in shock.
"It looks really bad," Nick Fury said, frowning, and turned to Mark. "Can it still be cured?"
"Let's give it a try," Mark replied. He raised his hand, and Steve handed him a vial of regenerative potion. With a bright flash, the potion appeared, and Mark poured it into Tony's mouth.
After giving Tony the potion, Mark called Dr. Ho Yinsen over. "Let's see if my method works."
"Do you know which organ in the human body can be removed without causing death?" Mark asked.
Dr. Ho Yinsen looked at Mark, feeling overwhelmed. "I do. But is this how sorcerers heal?"
"What do you think we do?" Mark waved his hand. "Chant and ask for blessings, perform elaborate rituals, and rely on powerful mysticism..."
"...You can try cutting here." Dr. Ho Yinsen, starting to regret involving Mark, pointed and said, "This is the gallbladder. Even if you remove it, it's okay. The common bile duct will take over its function..."
"Here we go." Mark raised his hand and brought the knife down.
"..."
Everyone in the room silently mourned for Tony, watching this scene. Even Nick Fury secretly concluded that sorcerers weren't very good at healing.
But to their surprise, the re
moved gallbladder started growing back.