Immortal POV
"You already know—I'm the Immortal, a member of an organization called the Guardian Sword. As an organization, our sole aim is to gather a group of individuals dedicated to protecting innocent lives, and perhaps more."
I shared some basic information he likely already suspected.
"And about me? Specifically, regarding the help I offered last time?" he asked, taking a sip of his drink. My mention of the organization's purpose seemed to interest him, but not deeply.
"Before I answer, may I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"What do you think about humanity's position in this world? Not just on Earth, but in the universe as a whole?"
He looked at me quizzically, barely holding back a chuckle.
"Is this a philosophy class? Something existential?"
"I'm speaking broadly. You're intelligent, but you're an ordinary human. Even among regular humans, you're weaker than truly powerful mutants.
"And more importantly, do you think we're alone in this universe?"
The mention of mutants seemed to hit a nerve, as though it struck a sensitive point. However, the question about the universe intrigued him.
"Are you talking about aliens?"
"Of course," I said, drawing my wand.
With a flick of my hand, smoke appeared, forming intricate images.
"What is this...?" He seemed fascinated by the strange smoke and my control over it, but the scenes it displayed intrigued him even more.
The images I showed him weren't from this world. They were memories I had replicated in the training room of my system, based on a fictional alien planet I had created for fun and experimentation. The planet's advanced technologies were inspired by DC's lore, and its intelligent species, distinctly non-humanoid, served as a conceptual example.
"This is a planet that exists outside this world. You can see their technology and power far surpass ours—and they're not alone."
I shifted the scene, revealing a Star Wars fleet.
"Now, imagine this: What would happen to humans like you if these beings arrived here? Without comparable technology, power, or capabilities?"
My statement may have been exaggerated, given the Earth's gods, sorcerers, witches, and mutants. However, I doubted Earth was the sole hub of advanced civilizations capable of challenging such forces.
He fell silent, visibly affected by the images. I didn't plan to reveal everything I knew about Earth or the universe—I didn't know much myself. But I intended to give him a spark, a reason to continue advancing his technologies.
From the progress I'd seen since the first suit of armor he created, he had the potential to be pivotal in strengthening Earth. Despite his considerable ego, his actions appeared to stem from good intentions.
"Are you human?" he asked.
"I'm from Earth, and I want to protect it."
To claim I was human in the traditional sense was complicated, but at the very least, I was an Earthling.
He sighed. "Alright, so what exactly do you want from me?"
I smiled calmly.
"Nothing too demanding. I want an alliance between you and my organization. The only obligation is mutual aid—if you need help, we'll assist, and we expect the same. Of course, all assistance must align with moral principles and benefit the planet."
Ideally, I'd recruit him directly into the organization. However, he seemed a bit unpredictable and untrustworthy for now, so a simple alliance was more practical.
"Understood."
"Good. I look forward to a fruitful alliance in the future."
I stood, shaking his hand. He seemed on the verge of inviting me to dinner, but I declined.
"Oh, by the way, take this."
I handed him an identification item for our group. His version had certain restrictions, particularly on communication channels that had yet to be unlocked. I also gave him a brief explanation of its functions.
"For basic scanning, it's not an issue, but avoid tampering with or probing it deeply. If that happens, the item will self-destruct, and our alliance will be considered void. If you prefer not to keep it, simply leave it in an isolated location."
He nodded, intrigued but didn't press further.
I returned the gesture, then used teleportation to vanish.
....
Tony POV
The moment the mysterious Immortal disappeared, I turned to my AI.
"Jarvis, analyze this."
A bluish light emanated from the table as Jarvis began the analysis. While I sipped my drink, the report came through.
"Sir, the item is encoded, but the functions he described are evident. Additionally, the explosive feature he mentioned is confirmed."
"Can it be bypassed?" I asked, intrigued.
"No, sir. Any attempt to dismantle or exceed a certain level of intrusion will result in the item's destruction."
I frowned, listening as Jarvis continued.
"An unusual element has been identified, which I believe is part of the protection feature he mentioned."
"What is it?"
"The item contains symbols resembling letters and an unfamiliar energy signature. It's not hostile and, at its frequency, resembles energy shield technology, though with notable differences. This energy is unlike anything in my records."
I spun my chair slowly, contemplating. Could this energy be the same one I encountered before? I still remembered how an unknown energy saved me from significant harm, even saving my life once.
"It's a shame I can't examine this more deeply. But perhaps, if this alliance strengthens, I'll uncover its secrets." I sighed. Considering he had saved my life and helped me now, I decided to respect our agreement. Moreover, staying allied with him felt like the wiser choice.
"Jarvis, provide further details—how did he move, and what energy signatures surrounded him?"
"His entry and exit involved theoretical dimensional shifts related to spatial movement, something occasionally studied in the context of certain mutants' abilities.
"His energy, identity, and presence could not be analyzed as an unknown energy blocked my scanners."
I tapped my fingers on the armrest of my chair.
"Display the graphs."
At my command, various graphs appeared, helping me interpret the collected data. My mind lingered on his words and the strange images conjured from the smoke. Even if they weren't entirely truthful, his speech had undeniably sparked my curiosity.