Akai sat in his office, the room filled with a pleasant silence. The comfortable chair he had won in the last drawing made the work more enjoyable, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He held three cards in his hand—a white one and two yellow ones—and was curious about the surprises they held. He knew each of these cards could bring him an important ally, but what exactly awaited him remained a mystery.
Taking a deep breath, he activated the white card. A shimmering light filled the room, and Akai watched as a figure slowly materialized from the light. As the shape before him took form, he saw a man in his mid-30s with brown hair, a short beard, and intelligent, flashing brown eyes. The figure seemed familiar, but it took a moment for Akai to realize who was in front of him.
Then, recognition struck him like lightning.
This wasn't just any man—this was Tony Stark. Iron Man.
Akai was stunned. This wasn't the Tony Stark who was once known as an arrogant, self-serving playboy. No, this was the Tony Stark who had sacrificed his life fighting against the Mad Titan Thanos to save the universe. The Tony Stark who had learned that true power lies in selflessness and responsibility.
For a moment, there was a deep silence in the room as Tony tried to orient himself. He looked around, his eyes sharp and observant, but there was also confusion in his gaze. The man who had once saved Earth had been reborn in an unfamiliar world.
"Where... where am I?" Tony's voice was rough and exhausted, but it still carried that typical sharpness that defined him. He raised a hand to his forehead as if trying to gather his thoughts. "Am I... really dead?"
Akai, still overwhelmed by the presence of the genius, cleared his throat slightly. "Tony Stark," he began slowly. "Iron Man. Yes, you are... or rather, you were dead. But now you've been reborn. In another world, far from your old one."
Tony blinked, the shock still evident in his eyes. "Another world? This sounds like a bad sci-fi movie..." He looked at Akai, hoping for some hint of a joke. But as he saw Akai's serious expression, reality began to settle in. "Okay... okay. So I really died? Thanos, the snap... I remember using the stones. But now I'm here."
A smile spread across Akai's face, full of admiration and respect. "Yes, Tony. You saved the universe. You made a sacrifice that only the greatest could make."
Tony snorted lightly, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Great. I sacrifice myself to save the universe, and end up... where exactly?"
"You're in a new world," Akai explained patiently. "And I am Akai, the president of this rising nation, the Land of the Heavens. We face challenges and great plans, and I believe that your knowledge and skills can help us shape this world. Here, you can begin a new chapter."
Tony let the words sink in for a moment, his gaze wandering around the room before focusing on his right hand. A familiar symbol blinked on his wrist. A familiar, comforting light. Jarvis.
"Jarvis...?" Tony asked quietly. Almost immediately, he heard the soothing voice of his loyal AI.
"Good morning, sir. I'm pleased to see you conscious again."
Tony smiled crookedly, a sign of relief. "Well, at least there's something here that makes sense."
Akai stepped closer. "Jarvis is here too? That's... amazing. So you've brought not only your skills but also your loyal AI companion."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Seems like it. No idea how that works, but hey, I'm not gonna complain." He looked at Akai again. "So, you brought me here. What exactly do you have in mind, President?"
Akai nodded slowly. "This world is full of dangers and challenges. My nation is still in its infancy, and I need brilliant minds to make it into a powerful, safe, and just society. Your technology and intellect are exactly what we need to advance this nation. I want you to become my Minister of Technology and Research."
Tony grinned slightly. "Technology and research, huh? Sounds like my thing. And where do I start?"
Akai's smile deepened. "I have part of the Umbrella base that we recently activated. It's a massive underground center, and I think you'll like it. You'll have all the resources you need to start your work. Shiho, our first scientist, will also be there. The two of you will surely work well together."
Akai led Tony down to the Umbrella base. Tony was initially skeptical when he entered, but the deeper they went, the more his eyes began to light up with excitement. The massive underground halls, advanced systems, and high-tech laboratories instantly sparked his inventor spirit.
"Not bad," Tony muttered as they entered one of the main research labs. "Reminds me of my basement in Malibu, only... maybe a bit gloomier."
Akai chuckled. "I thought you might like it. Here, you have everything you need to research, develop, and innovate."
Tony stopped in front of a huge holographic interface that rose almost seamlessly from the wall. His eyes sparkled. "Now, this is the kind of toy I've been missing."
At that moment, Sora, the base's AI that Akai had renamed, spoke in her calm, mechanical voice. "Welcome, Tony Stark. I am Sora, the management unit of this base. I am at your service."
Tony raised an eyebrow, impressed by the AI. "An AI, huh? Alright, maybe I'll introduce you to Jarvis."
"As you wish," Sora responded.
Akai watched the scene with satisfaction. He knew Tony would accomplish incredible things here. "Tony, this base is now your domain. Use it as you see fit. But I also want to say that we are infinitely grateful to you—not just for what you did for your old world, but for what you will do here."
Tony looked at him with a rare expression of seriousness. "Akai, I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. But if I'm given a second chance here, I'll do everything I can to make the most of it. So yes—I will help you. Not because I have to, but because I want to."
Akai nodded deeply, moved by the determination in Tony's voice. "I know you will."
As Tony began to settle into the Umbrella base, Akai knew he had just gained one of his most important allies. Tony Stark wasn't just a genius; he was a man capable of changing the fate of entire worlds.
And this time, it was his world that Tony would shape.