"Are you a mutant?" Ultimate Iron Man asked.
"I am, but not just that." Schiller gently shook his head and explained, "My mutant ability has nothing to do with my prophetic ability. As for that, none of the mutant leaders have a clue."
"Have you told them?"
"Both my abilities ring a bell with those of Professor X and Magneto: I can sense the future and manipulate molecules."
Ultimate Iron Man's gaze grew more and more fervent. He said, "So, are you like a combination of Professor X and Magneto?"
"But not as powerful as either of them." Schiller sighed, "I think one ability may have interfered with the other, causing neither of those abilities to grow to their fullest potential."
"I heard you telling that alien prince that you came into the cosmos this time to find your brother?" Ultimate Iron Man asked.
Schiller rested his hands on the arms of his chair and nodded. He continued, "He has the same mutant abilities as me. But he can't predict the future, which makes him more powerful at molecular manipulation."
"I think he could help with the current situation." Schiller slightly furrowed his brows, speaking solemnly, "Decomposing objects into molecules or reassembling them from molecules can achieve many wonderful things."
Without Schiller's prompting, as a scientist, Ultimate Iron Man understood more than he did what manipulation at the molecular level meant. But at the same time, he inferred that Schiller's ability in this aspect perhaps had many limitations, otherwise he wouldn't need him to build a cosmic propulsion engine.
As expected, he heard Schiller say, "I can also partially manipulate molecules, but it only extends to reassembling and repairing. I cannot directly disassemble matter, nor can I create things from nothing."
Ultimate Iron Man nodded. If that was the case, then it was merely a useful healing technique. However, if one could thoroughly disassemble and reassemble matter, it would be an unimaginable power. Schiller's prophetic ability, although more metaphysical, was arguably stronger to some extent.
So, the best choice would be to acquire Schiller's brother's perfect molecular manipulation ability and Schiller's prophetic ability.
Ultimate Iron Man had made up his mind, so he subtly changed the topic. He said, "Why did your brother leave Earth?"
Schiller shook his head, "He was kidnapped by aliens. I've been searching for him all these years."
"Obviously, your superhero friends don't agree with what you're doing."
Schiller pursed his lips and said, "I can understand them. There are enough uncontrollable mutants on Earth."
"That includes you too." Ultimate Iron Man stared seriously at Schiller, "Their real concern is that you're also uncontrollable, or at least there's a risk."
"I've said it, it isn't unreasonable."
"Have you lost control before?"
"Not yet, but many mutants….."
"Then this is an unfounded accusation." Ultimate Iron Man held an earnest gaze, "I know the rhetoric of those xenophobic towards mutants. They label mutants as ticking time bombs, but they refuse to admit their own weakness and stupidity."
Schiller deeply furrowed his brows, a touch of surprise coloring his face as he looked at Ultimate Iron Man, "So, do you agree with letting uncontrollable mutants harm ordinary people?"
"Why are they getting hurt?"
"Of course, it's because of the mutants..."
"It's because they are too weak, unaware of the need to guard against it. They completely had it coming," said Ultimate Iron Man.
Schiller was stunned, while Ultimate Iron Man revealed a cold expression. He said, "Yes, I am a supporter of survival of the fittest. The weaker deserves to be eliminated; there is no reason for them to exist in this world, which includes me."
"I have taken from them all that I deserve simply because of my strength. Those moral codes that bind them do not bind me, and that is also because of my strength."
"What if there is someone stronger than you..."
"If he doesn't kill me the first time, I'll always become stronger than him and then kill him."
Schiller leaned back, showing a retreating posture, and then shook his head, "No, neither humanity nor civilization is about endless transcendence. The pursuit of power has no endpoint, and eventually, all will perish in the face of increasing entropy."
"I would be stronger than the cosmos." Ambition shone in Ultimate Iron Man's eyes. He said, "I want to become an ultimate existence standing above the cosmos, an existence that is undefinable by any being. The number of weakling lives sacrificed on the path towards it doesn't matter. Because they and I are not of the same class."
Schiller quietly looked at him, appearing deeply shaken. But Ultimate Iron Man knew that he couldn't deny being attracted within. Any kind of extreme rhetoric is always more persuasive because humans are just like that, they are moved by the passion behind extremism.
"Do you want to become a god?"
"God cannot define me."
"You're insane."
"Can you say that you're not?" Ultimate Iron Man leaned forward again, eyeballs locked with Schiller's, saying almost word by word, "You could have not put yourself in such a miserable situation right now, not dragged yourself into such pain."
"Have you ever considered that if you were not a mutant, without such incredible abilities, you could have gotten along well with everyone?"