Marvel: Starting with Iron Man in the Apocalypse

The heavy alloy doors of the armory closed slowly behind them with a dull thud, temporarily isolating them from the deathly silence and danger of the outside world. The internal emergency lighting system emitted a stark white light, illuminating the spacious area filled with dust and various discarded crates. The air was thick with the smells of machine oil, metal, and a faint musty odor, but for the group who had just escaped danger, this place was nothing short of paradise.

The seven survivors of the Delta Research Station, after being confirmed to be temporarily safe, suddenly relaxed their tense nerves. Almost exhausted, they leaned or sat on the cold ground, panting heavily, their faces a mixture of relief at surviving the ordeal and deep-seated fatigue. They wore dirty and tattered white lab coats or research gowns, their expressions haggard, but their eyes still retained a certain sharpness and inquiry characteristic of researchers.

Chen Haotian and Tony stood before them, both having just survived a high-intensity operation, but in significantly better condition. Tony habitually brushed off non-existent dust from his clothes, his gaze sweeping critically over this group of "unarmed geniuses," finally settling on Dr. Allen Wesker, who was at the head of the group. Dr. Wesker was about fifty years old, with gray hair, a thin face, and wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses with cracked lenses. He possessed a composed demeanor, maintaining a scholarly calm even in his disheveled state.

"Alright, my fellow 'lucky ones'," Tony began, his tone carrying his characteristic blend of arrogance and cynicism. "Welcome to Stark... uh, the temporary safe house. Now, shouldn't you fulfill your duties as 'rescued' and satisfy the curiosity of us 'saviors'?" He emphasized "duty" and "saviors," his gaze fixed intently on Wesker.

Chen Haotian didn't stop Tony's somewhat aggressive opening remarks. He knew this was one of Tony's ways of gathering information—applying pressure and observing reactions. He himself preferred a calmer, seemingly accommodating interrogation. He walked over to a supply crate and sat down, his posture relaxed, but his eyes, like a precise scanner, meticulously observed the subtle expressions and body language of each survivor.

Dr. Wesker took a deep breath and slowly stood up amidst the somewhat uneasy gazes of the other researchers. He first bowed deeply to Chen Haotian and Tony: "Thank you both for saving our lives. If it weren't for you, we probably..." He shook his head, not finishing his sentence, but the meaning was clear. "What do you want to know? As long as we know it, we will tell you everything we know."

"Let's start with this disaster," Chen Haotian calmly replied, his voice echoing in the empty armory. "How did the virus break out? What was its source? And... what role did your Delta Research Station play in it?"

This question hit the nail on the head, causing the expressions of several young researchers to change slightly.

Dr. Wesker paused for a few seconds, seemingly organizing his thoughts, or perhaps recalling a painful past. He adjusted his cracked glasses and began his narration in a low, hoarse voice:

"The source of the virus... was not natural evolution, nor was it leaked by our institute—at least, it wasn't leaked intentionally by us." He first absolved himself of responsibility, but his tone carried a deep sense of powerlessness. "About four months ago, our institute accepted a research project commissioned by 'Umbrella Corporation'."

"Umbrella Corporation?" Tony raised an eyebrow. He vaguely remembered the name, having glimpsed it in some financial news or technology section. It was a massive multinational giant with businesses spanning pharmaceuticals, healthcare, biological weapons, and many other fields, and its reputation was mixed.

"Yes, Umbrella Corporation," Dr. Wesker confirmed. "They provided us with an RNA virus sample that we'd never seen before, with an extremely complex structure, and asked us to analyze its genetic sequence, infection mechanism, and potential applications. They claim it's an ancient virus discovered deep within the polar ice caps."

"Ancient virus?" A barely perceptible sneer appeared on Chen Haotian's lips. Having combined the original owner's memories with the perspective of a transmigrator, he instinctively doubted this explanation.

"We had our doubts at the time," Dr. Wesker said with a wry smile, seemingly sensing Chen Haotian's disbelief. "But the funding and equipment support they provided was simply too generous, and preliminary tests showed that this virus did indeed possess many unprecedented characteristics, an irresistible temptation for any virologist. We... couldn't resist."

He paused, a look of regret on his face: "Project codename 'T' (Tyrant). During the research, we discovered that this virus is extremely aggressive and mutable. It can quickly rewrite the host's genes and unleash potential, but the side effect is that it causes necrosis of the host's cerebral cortex, leaving only the most basic brainstem functions and an extremely strong desire to attack and devour... which is what you see outside as those 'walking corpses'."

"It really was a man-made disaster." Tony scoffed, his tone laced with sarcasm. "For money and so-called scientific breakthroughs, they opened Pandora's box."

Dr. Wesker did not refute, but his face grew even more ashen: "We submitted risk warnings to Umbrella Corporation multiple times, pointing out that if this virus got out of control, the consequences would be unimaginable. But each time they only asked us to continue our in-depth research and keep providing new, seemingly 'optimized' virus variants. Until... until about two months ago, the disaster broke out without warning."

"It wasn't leaked from you?" Chen Haotian pressed.

"Absolutely not!" Dr. Wesker said firmly. "Our biosafety level is P4, and all virus samples and laboratory waste have extremely strict handling procedures. The outbreak initially appeared in several large hospitals in the eastern part of the city, almost simultaneously in multiple locations. The speed and scope of the outbreak are not like an accidental leak at all; it's more like... a premeditated release."

"Umbrella Corporation..." Chen Haotian repeated the name in a low voice, memorizing it. This style of operation reminded him of certain villainous organizations that would stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

"After the disaster broke out, communications were quickly cut off, and we lost contact with the Umbrella Corporation. We barely managed to survive thanks to the fortifications of our underground facilities, trying to research antibodies or inhibitors for the virus while waiting for outside help. But the situation is getting worse; the virus continues to mutate, and more and more special infected like 'Hunters' and 'Vomiters' are appearing..." Dr. Wesker's voice was filled with despair. "We're trapped underground, resources are exhausted, and the outside world... is probably already..."

The narrative paused for a moment, and silence fell over the armory. Only the heavy breathing of the survivors and the low hum of the generator in the distance could be heard.

Tony stroked his chin, processing this information, then turned his gaze to Chen Haotian with a questioning look. He knew Chen Haotian definitely had more to say.

Chen Haotian slowly stood up, walked to Dr. Wesker, looked down at him, and asked with a deep gaze, "Dr. Wesker, do you still have your research data, especially the original sequence of the 'T-virus,' its mutation patterns, and all the information you've gathered about your attempts to develop inhibitors?"

Dr. Wesker paused for a moment, then nodded: "Most of the core data is on our central server. We made an emergency backup when the disaster happened, and it's stored on an encrypted solid-state drive." He pointed to the backpack that a young female researcher next to him was clutching tightly.

"Very good." Chen Haotian nodded, then suddenly changed the subject, his tone becoming calm yet carrying a shocking power, "So, what would you think if we told you that we are not from this world, and that this global catastrophe is, to us, just... an 'other world' that we need to explore and gather resources from?"

"What?!" "Not from this world?" "This...how is this possible?!"

The surviving researchers were instantly in an uproar, their faces filled with shock, absurdity, and disbelief. Even Dr. Wesker stared wide-eyed at Chen Haotian and Tony, as if trying to confirm whether they were joking.

Tony was taken aback by Chen Haotian's sudden "showdown," but a knowing and amused glint flashed in his eyes. He crossed his arms and watched the show with amusement. He understood that Chen Haotian was making a high-stakes gamble with information beyond their comprehension, aiming to completely seize the initiative and gain the other party's complete trust and cooperation.

"Another world...transmigration..." Dr. Wesker muttered to himself. After all, he was a top scientist, and his ability to process information far exceeded that of ordinary people. He recalled the technological capabilities that Chen Haotian and Tony had demonstrated, which far exceeded the average level of this post-apocalyptic environment (especially Tony's imaginative impromptu inventions), as well as Chen Haotian's calmness as if he had a complete understanding of the characteristics of zombies. An absurd but seemingly explainable possibility emerged in his mind.

"You... prove it." Dr. Wesker's voice was a little dry; he needed more conclusive evidence.

Chen Haotian didn't say much, simply raising his right hand. With a slight thought, the transmigration rune within his body, which had already resonated with the energy of the Walking Dead world, was quietly activated. Instantly, the air in front of his palm began to distort, and a miniature spatial rift, about the size of a fist and with unstable, eerie blue lightning flickering at its edges, suddenly appeared! The interior of the rift wasn't the armory, but a deep, chaotic void where countless lights and shadows seemed to flow!

A faint but distinct aura emanated from the crack, carrying a sense of alienation and oppression that did not belong to this world.

The spatial rift vanished abruptly in less than three seconds. Chen Haotian's face paled slightly before returning to normal. This brief demonstration had consumed a significant amount of his mental energy.

But the effect was stunning.

All the survivors, including Dr. Wesker, stared in disbelief at Chen Haotian's hand. What they had just witnessed had completely overturned their scientific understanding. Space technology? This was far beyond the scope of current human technology!

"Now, do you believe me?" Chen Haotian's voice remained calm, as if he had just performed a small trick.

Dr. Wesker took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart. His gaze towards Chen Haotian had completely changed, filled with awe, curiosity, and… a hint of burning desire. If the other party really came from another world, then the knowledge and technology they possessed might… might actually be able to find a solution to this disaster, or even bring about more incredible breakthroughs.

"I...we believe you." Dr. Wesker's voice trembled, but more than that, it was filled with excitement. "What...do you need us to do?"

"Cooperation," Chen Haotian said succinctly. "We need all your research data and expertise on the T-virus. In return, we can provide you with this relatively safe base, necessary supplies, and in the future... perhaps we can take you away from this hopeless world to a place... free of zombies, a place where civilization still exists."

For survivors trapped in the apocalypse, this promise was like the only light in the darkness.

Dr. Wesker didn't hesitate for a moment; he immediately gestured to the female researcher carrying the backpack. The researcher quickly took a small, silver, palm-sized encrypted solid-state drive from the backpack and handed it to Dr. Wesker with both hands.

Dr. Wesker took the hard drive and solemnly handed it to Chen Haotian: "This contains all the core research data from our Delta Research Station on the 'T-virus,' from the original sequence to the latest variant analysis, as well as all our previous failed or incomplete inhibitor research plans. Now, it's yours."

Chen Haotian took the hard drive, feeling its cold metallic texture. He weighed the small storage device in his hand, knowing that it contained not only the origin of despair in this world, but also potentially immense value—whether for understanding this supernatural virus or for other crises he might face in the future.

The information exchange was complete, and a new, fragile trust based on startling truth and shared interests was initially established within the Armory. Chen Haotian looked at the scientists before him, their eyes filled with renewed hope, and knew that the cornerstone of the joint research had been laid. Tony, standing to the side, a slight smile playing on his lips, was filled with the unique anticipation and excitement of a genius for the upcoming "joint research" that would integrate knowledge from two worlds.