Tony Stark's brilliance continued to shine, even in the challenging cave environment. He successfully crafted the miniature arc reactor, deviating from the original story where he would have built the Mark I armor. As a result, Dr. Ho Yinsen's fate was spared, offering a departure from the usual narrative.
The atrocities witnessed during their captivity had a profound impact on Stark. It planted a seed of change within him, and now its effects were starting to take shape.
Initially, their plan was to leave the cave immediately. However, upon stepping out into a valley filled with Stark Industries weapons and missiles, Stark was overcome with unease. The sight stirred a deep discomfort within him, compelling him to address it. He turned to his companions and made a request, "Can you wait for me? I've realized there's something crucial I must attend to."
Perplexed, Dr. Ho Yinsen asked, "What is it?"
Stark's expression grew complex as he responded, "I have to destroy these weapons. I never anticipated that they would end up in the hands of terrorists. I once believed they would bring peace to the world, but now I see my mistake."
Dr. Ho Yinsen attempted to console him, stating, "The weapons themselves are not to blame, Stark."
"I know, but I can't escape the guilt within my own conscience," Stark shook his head. "You know what? Even those terrorists ridiculed me, labeling Tony Stark as the world's most terrifying serial killer."
"Alright, so what's your plan?" Dr. Ho Yinsen asked.
Stark explained, "Give me some time. I'll create a delayed detonation device to ensure these weapons don't fall into the hands of other terrorists."
With his genius at work, Stark effortlessly crafted the detonation device, as if it were a trivial task. After the trio left the valley, a powerful explosion echoed through the desert, casting a vibrant red glow across the sky.
The vast expanse of desert stretched before them, with scorching yellow sand and scattered cacti. The relentless sun intensified the heat to unbearable levels, causing visible waves to shimmer through the air.
Soon, Tony and Dr. Ho Yinsen began to suffer from dehydration and show signs of heatstroke.
Meanwhile, Fang Mo appeared completely unaffected, as if he were leisurely strolling through a serene forest. To their surprise, he produced several cucumbers seemingly out of thin air, providing them with much-needed hydration.
Stark and Dr. Ho Yinsen relished the crisp and juicy cucumbers, their hearts filled with a mix of astonishment and envy. They couldn't help but sense an enigmatic aura surrounding Fang Mo, radiating mystery. The more they interacted with him, the more they recognized his extraordinary abilities and unique presence.
Fang Mo had long realized the connection between himself and Steve, his digitized counterpart. When facing the terrorists, Fang Mo's body, like Steve's, exhibited extraordinary traits. Despite being shot in the head, the wound quickly healed, leaving only a small hole. Just like Steve, Fang Mo didn't experience thirst and could effortlessly traverse any terrain, whether it be snow or desert, unaffected by extreme temperatures. Fatigue was foreign to him, and even near-fatal injuries could be fully healed within seconds.
With these remarkable abilities, Fang Mo became a formidable being, providing crucial support to Dr. Ho Yinsen and Stark, enabling them to endure. Their excitement grew as the sound of an approaching helicopter filled the air, prompting them to wave their hands eagerly.
The helicopter soon landed nearby, and a robust soldier with dark skin emerged from the cabin. Fang Mo instantly recognized him as Colonel Rhodes, Tony Stark's close friend and future War Machine.
"Enjoying the comfortable ride in the Happy Jeep?" Colonel Rhodes greeted Stark, visibly relieved. He added a playful remark, to which Stark responded with a relaxed smile, rather than words.
"Can you ride with me next time?" Colonel Rhodes patted Stark's shoulder, and the two embraced tightly, showcasing their deep and brotherly bond.
"These two are...?" Colonel Rhodes asked, his attention finally drawn to Fang Mo and Dr. Ho Yinsen standing nearby after the initial greetings.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Ho Yinsen," Dr. Ho Yinsen introduced himself with a warm smile, extending his hand. "I'm a surgeon."
"And who might you be?" Colonel Rhodes shook hands with Dr. Ho Yinsen before turning his focus to Fang Mo.
"I'm a Stand User, and also a video gamer," Fang Mo introduced himself in a less serious manner compared to Dr. Ho Yinsen's sincerity.
"What?" Colonel Rhodes was completely taken aback by the unusual introduction.
"I'm Fang Mo, just passing by," Fang Mo added casually.
A moment of silence followed, as Colonel Rhodes couldn't find the right words to respond. However, a sense of wariness prompted him to rest his hand on the gun at his waist.
"Hey, Rhodes, no need to be so tense," Tony Stark intervened, noticing the tension in the air. Having spent some time with Fang Mo, his initial skepticism had softened. Despite Fang Mo's strange abilities and occasional teasing, Stark didn't perceive him as a threat. "Both of them saved my life, and we've agreed to return to the US together."
"Oh, is that so?" Hearing Stark's reassurance, Colonel Rhodes gradually relaxed his guard.
With lingering doubts, he realized it wasn't the appropriate time to ask further questions. Instead, he gestured for the three of them to board the helicopter first, indicating they would discuss matters later.
Soon, the helicopter took off. However, instead of flying directly to New York, they headed towards the nearest military base. Given the considerable distance, they would switch to a military transport plane for the rest of the journey.
Before long, the transport plane touched down at a military base in New York.
As the cabin door opened, Pepper Potts, who had been informed in advance, and the loyal butler Happy stood waiting to receive them.
Stark, now in a fresh suit after changing at the military base, approached his personal secretary with a leisurely stride. "Let me guess, did your long-lost boss make you cry?" he quipped.
Potts, her eyes slightly red, replied with a smile, "No, it's because I'm happy. I no longer have to search for a new job."
"Well, well," Stark raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Looks like your vacation is over."
After a brief exchange, Stark introduced Dr. Ho Yinsen and Fang Mo to Potts. They all got into the car, and following Stark's directions, Happy sped off towards the nearest burger joint.
Satisfied after their meal, Stark proceeded to hold a press conference. Journalists, ever swift in their attendance, never missed an opportunity to cover Tony Stark's news conferences, especially since he was the world's richest man.
And Stark did not disappoint. He dropped a bombshell by announcing the closure of Stark Industries' weapons division.
Instantly, society was shaken. Shareholders were furious, and a wave of news caused turmoil within Stark Industries.
However, Stark himself remained unfazed.
After settling Dr. Ho Yinsen and Fang Mo, he quietly disappeared into his laboratory.
As for Fang Mo, he did not bother Stark.
Having read the original work, Fang Mo understood that Stark was not going crazy; he simply desired to capture the fleeting sparks of inspiration in his mind. After all, with a miniature reactor at his disposal, how far was he from creating the Iron Man armor?
Moreover, Fang Mo needed time for his own experiments.
There was no other option. Fang Mo was still new to the Marvel world, with many Stand abilities yet to be fully tested. It was wiser to make use of the present and conduct more experiments, rather than suffer in future crises due to a lack of understanding.
By combining his previous experiences and conducting thorough tests, Fang Mo finally grasped the nature of his Stand ability.
First and foremost, there was the aspect of strength.
Fang Mo discovered that his physical strength was tremendously formidable, capable of incapacitating someone with a single punch.
Fang Mo speculated that the reason behind these changes was his ability to share his life with his Stand. With his digitized body surpassing human capabilities, it seemed reasonable that he could possess the same extraordinary abilities as Steve.
Alongside increased strength, Fang Mo made several other intriguing discoveries. The flexibility of his Stand's movement module granted him remarkable agility in the real world. Unlike the limitations of the game, his Stand could effortlessly execute intricate swordplay even while airborne.
However, amidst these positive developments, Fang Mo encountered a significant problem. Steve seemed unable to gather resources in the real world. When Fang Mo had Steve mine rocks or a cactus, they disappeared without leaving any drops or items behind. It was a puzzling limitation that he had to find a workaround for.
Fortunately, the blocks Steve had brought from the Minecraft world were exempt from this limitation. They could be freely placed and mined again, providing some relief for Fang Mo.
Furthermore, Fang Mo discovered another intriguing aspect. He instructed Steve to hand him an apple from his backpack. The apple retained its pixelated Minecraft appearance while in Steve's hand. However, when Fang Mo touched the apple, a sudden flash of light occurred, transforming the pixelated apple into a real, tangible red apple.
This transformation was irreversible, and Fang Mo's attempt to return the apple to Steve failed.
"I see..."
After conducting research and making comparisons, Fang Mo instinctively nodded. "Items from the Minecraft world can be transformed into real-world items, but not the other way around... Does this imply a one-way logical rule?"
Lost in thought, Fang Mo's curiosity was sparked when he noticed the Ender's hand in Steve's backpack. "If something that doesn't exist in this world undergoes transformation... What will it become?"
"What form will it take?"