Marvel: Starting with Iron Man in the Apocalypse

The sample collection was completed. The ominous tissues were carefully sealed and labeled, and temporarily stored in a separate, relatively cool and dry metal cabinet in a corner of the armory. Chen Haotian carefully washed his hands and tools, even though a faint, strange smell of decay and disinfectant still lingered in the air.

Tony watched Chen Haotian complete all of this, and his focus and composure reaffirmed that his "younger brother" was no ordinary person. He clapped his hands, drawing their attention back to the more practical issue at hand. "Alright, the biological files are temporarily sealed. Now, let's upgrade this place from a temporary shelter into a real fortress. I don't want to be disturbed by their relatives and friends while we're researching those 'little cuties' or tinkering with new energy sources."

Chen Haotian dried his hands and surveyed the massive underground armory. The sturdy concrete structure, the heavy alloy doors, the ample space, and the large quantity of weapons and equipment stored inside, along with the generator set that Tony had initially modified—all provided an excellent foundation. "Agreed. Defense is the primary prerequisite for survival and research. We need systematic planning."

The two began with the outermost perimeter. The main entrance to the armory was the weakest point. The heavy alloy blast-resistant door itself was strong enough, but the hinges and electronic locking system might have been compromised due to prolonged disuse and potential impacts. Tony carefully inspected the hinge structure, applied lubricant he found in the equipment room to critical parts, and reinforced them with the tools he found. As for the electronic lock, he bypassed the original complex system, connecting it to an independent power supply line he had built using armory parts and void energy crystals, and setting a new combination of password and physical bolts.

"Double insurance," Tony patted the now-functioning control panel. "Make a backup of the original system, and I'll take control of this one. Unless they launch a frontal assault with massive explosives, or someone knows this temporary system better than I do, they won't be able to get in easily."

Inside the main gate, they used scrap steel and barbed wire to construct a makeshift obstacle and firing position. Though crude, it effectively slowed down any enemy's charge through the gate, buying time and space for the defenders.

Next were the ventilation system and pipe shafts. The armory wasn't completely sealed; several large ventilation openings and maintenance pipes led to the outside. These areas could become passageways for zombies, especially smaller mutants with special climbing abilities. Chen Haotian was in charge of inspecting these areas. He used the sturdy barbed wire and grilles he found to seal and reinforce all openings larger than ten centimeters in diameter, ensuring only air could circulate while preventing any living creatures from passing through.

Tony, on the other hand, focused on the early warning system. Using vibration sensors, infrared modules, and some discarded wiring from the armory's inventory, combined with his brilliant mind and the stable energy provided by the void energy crystal, he cobbled together a simple monitoring network covering key areas around the armory. Sensors were cleverly placed in the entrance corridor, outside the ventilation shafts, and at points they suspected of being potential weak points. Once an object vibrated at a specific frequency or approached with a bio-heat source, buzzers modified by Tony, located in several key positions inside the armory, would sound alarms at different frequencies.

"It's a basic version," Tony said, adjusting the last sensor. "The accuracy might not be high; a big rat running by could still trigger it, but it's better than noticing a zombie at the door. If we have more materials later, we can upgrade it to a more intelligent recognition system."

Inside the armory, they planned clear functional zones: the area near the generator sets was designated the "technical zone," used for energy research and equipment upgrades; the area where the sample storage cabinets were located was the "research zone," where more in-depth biological analysis could be conducted in the future if conditions permitted; the corner furthest from the entrance and with the most stable structure was designated the "living and rest area," storing food, water, and bedding; weapons and ammunition were stored together on easily accessible shelves on the other side, called the "armed zone." This clear zoning improved efficiency and the speed of response to emergencies.

Tony also optimized the lighting system. Utilizing the stable output of the Void Energy Crystal, he modified some of the armory's lighting circuitry, providing several key areas, especially the entrance, technical area, and rest area, with a more stable and longer-lasting light source than before, which relied on batteries. This not only improved the living environment but also reduced the risks of operating in the dark.

Finally, and this was the point Chen Haotian insisted on—the escape route. He carefully studied the original structural diagrams of the armory (found in a clerk's desk drawer) and discovered a narrow passage originally used for emergency supplies transport. The exit was disguised as a rock face on the side of the mountain, making it very well hidden. This passage had fallen into disrepair over the years, with debris piled up inside, and the exit mechanism was jammed.

After much effort, they cleared the obstacles from the passage, and Tony even managed to repair the mechanical opening mechanism of the exit with tools and lubricant. "Hopefully we won't need this route," Chen Haotian said, inspecting the disguised exit door that could finally open and close properly, "but we must be prepared."

Tony nodded, unusually not arguing. In a post-apocalyptic world, having more escape routes means having more lives.

By the time all the fortifications, early warning systems, and escape routes were initially completed, most of the day had passed. The armory had been completely transformed; although still rudimentary, it had become a relatively fully functional survival base with basic defense and early warning capabilities, instead of a cold warehouse.

Looking at everything he had helped build, especially the stable energy system and the flashing warning lights, Tony felt a long-lost sense of accomplishment well up inside him. Even in this godforsaken place, his wisdom and talent could still create value.

Chen Haotian, however, was more concerned with the overall system's coordination and potential vulnerabilities. He toured the area again, checking all the key points to ensure there were no obvious oversights. "The basic defenses have been established, but they still need to be tested in actual combat, as well as continuously maintained and improved," he calmly concluded.

Night fell again, and in the deathly silence outside the armory, distant, unsettling roars occasionally drifted through the air. But within this fortified underground fortress, the lights remained steady, the early warning system operated silently, and the two "visitors" from another world had, for the time being, a relatively safe foothold. They both knew this peace was temporary; the threats from the outside were ever-present, but at least they now had a proper "home," a base from which they could face the challenges to come.