Marvel: Starting with Iron Man in the Apocalypse

The lights in the special ward of the medical center were dimmed to a soft, warm tone, but even with his eyes closed, Chen Haotian could still feel the tiny sensors hidden in the walls, ceiling, and even inside the medical equipment, like countless cold electronic eyes, fixed on him without blinking. Ever since Jarvis confirmed that damned blood relationship, the "security" level of this room had clearly been raised by more than one level.

He maintained even breathing, mimicking the physiological state of deep sleep, but deep within his consciousness was a turbulent tsunami.

At first, it was just a series of blurry fragments, like watching a silent film through frosted glass. A man who always wore a sharp, vintage suit, with a tall, upright figure yet exuding a sense of aloofness—Howard Stark. I hardly remember his face; more often, I see his profile as he works at his desk in his study, or his hurried footsteps as he leaves, the air still carrying the mingled scents of cigars and cologne. A yearning for attention, yet a fear of approaching—a repressed and complex emotion belonging to the original owner of this body—slowly seeped in.

Then came more scenes. An elegant and gentle woman, whose features bore a resemblance to the original owner, but was perpetually shrouded in a lingering melancholy. In the quiet of the night, she would caress a faded photograph of herself with Howard, softly humming an off-key lullaby. That was her mother, a woman with an Eastern name (Lin Wan) who lived in the Western world, her love and regrets all tied to that unattainable man.

Then there was Tony Stark. Not the flamboyant billionaire and genius inventor he is now, but the earlier, more charismatic "heir to Stark Industries" he had seen on television and in newspapers and magazines, surrounded by countless spotlights and accolades. The original owner of this body hid in a dimly lit room, watching Tony speak eloquently at a tech expo on the screen, his eyes filled with an indescribable mix of envy, jealousy, and a secret, unacknowledged sense of blood ties. The word "brother" had been chewed over countless times in his heart, but he had never had the chance to utter it aloud.

The memories before the car accident finally settled. The original owner seemed to have been secretly gathering information about the Stark family, especially Tony, not out of malice, but more like an obsession, an impulse to understand his origins, to "get closer" to them on some level. Was the car accident that led him to this world not an accident? The fragmented memories became blurry and chaotic here, only the blinding headlights, the sharp screech of brakes, and the immense impact remained…

Chen Haotian (or rather, the current owner of the body, whose two souls were rapidly merging) silently endured the onslaught of this torrent of memories. He could clearly distinguish which memories belonged to the original owner and were imbued with strong personal emotions, and which were his own, as a transmigrator, observational perspective—calm and even slightly amused. This process of separation and fusion was uncomfortable; his mind felt like it was being stuffed into a high-speed blender, with various images, sounds, and emotions colliding and intertwining.

However, at the heart of this chaotic storm of consciousness, a strange "light" caught his attention.

It was not visual light, but something more primordial, existing at the level of consciousness. A set of extremely complex patterns, composed of countless fine lines and strange symbols, was quietly suspended deep within his soul (or rather, the core of his consciousness). It emitted a faint but constant glow, its structure intricate and precise, filled with an ineffable sense of order and vastness.

"This is... what brought me into this world?" Chen Haotian was shocked. He tried to touch and sense the runes with his mind.

In an instant, a faint but clear stream of information flooded into my mind:

[Multiverse Transcending Systems (Fragment)] [Core Rune Bound to: Chen Haotian] [Current Status: Initial Activation (Energy Level: 1.7%)] [Basic Functions:]

[Single-player Travel]: Allows travel to a known coordinate world. (Insufficient energy to activate)

[Cooperative Travel]: Allows travel with other living beings. Initial slots: 2. (Requires energy level of 5% or higher to activate)

[World Scan]: Randomly searches and locks onto the coordinates of neighboring planes. (Cooling down...)

[Energy Absorption]: Passively absorbs free energy from the current world at a slow rate. This can be accelerated through special events and items.

[WARNING: Energy too low, rune functionality limited. Forcing activation may result in unknown risks such as coordinate shifts and energy backlash.]

The information flow abruptly stopped, but the set of runes seemed to glow slightly as if being "watched," and their circulation speed seemed to increase a little. Chen Haotian could sense that it was like a dormant seed, just beginning to absorb water, preparing to sprout. Meanwhile, the "World Scan" function seemed to have just finished a cooldown and was vibrating slightly, preparing for its first random search.

"Travel together...with two people..." Chen Haotian immediately grasped the key information, and a vague plan instantly took shape in his mind. Tony Stark, the world's top technological genius, was undoubtedly the best initial "travel companion" candidate. But convincing the suspicious Tony, and even getting him to willingly embark on an unknown journey with him, would be no small feat.

The headache from the memory fusion gradually subsided, replaced by an unprecedented clarity. The original owner's emotions and memories were rapidly integrating with his own knowledge and personality. His meticulous logic and high intelligence, typical of a top student, began to operate at full capacity, analyzing the current situation, assessing risks, and planning a strategic path. His carefree, playboy-like demeanor and keen observation skills allowed him to better understand Tony's psychology. His cunning nature, however, made him accustomed to concealing his true intentions, preparing to deliver a "surprise" at crucial moments.

He is now Chen Haotian, Howard Stark's unacknowledged illegitimate son, Tony Stark's never-before-seen brother, and also a soul from another world carrying the secret of time travel.

The door to the ward slid open silently, interrupting Chen Haotian's thoughts.

A middle-aged doctor in a white coat and gold-rimmed glasses, with a gentle demeanor, walked in, followed by a nurse pushing a medical equipment cart. It was Dr. Selvig, whom he had met briefly when he woke up earlier.

"Mr. Chen, how are you feeling? Is there anything else that's bothering you?" Dr. Selvig walked to the bedside, his tone gentle, but his eyes held a hint of a scientist's inquisitiveness. Clearly, Tony had already shared some information with him, albeit in a limited way.

Chen Haotian slowly opened his eyes, his face revealing the confusion and weakness of someone who had just woken up. He gently shook his head, his voice a little hoarse: "Much better, Doctor... it's just that my head is still a little dizzy, and it seems like... I've forgotten a lot of things." He perfectly played the role of a patient with amnesia and trauma, which was the best cover he could make at the moment.

Dr. Selvig nodded, gesturing for the nurse to perform a routine vital sign check, and then casually asked, "Really no recollection of the past? For example... family? Or any places that left a deep impression?"

As Chen Haotian cooperated with the nurse to measure his blood pressure, his gaze was somewhat vacant as he stared at the ceiling, trying hard to recall (perform): "Family...it's very blurry...it seems like there's a woman's figure, very gentle...but I can't see her face clearly. The rest...it's all blank." He mentioned his vague impression of his mother, Lin Wan, and this half-truthful answer was more believable.

Dr. Selvig carefully recorded the data, his eyes flickering behind his glasses. He didn't press further, instead saying, "This is a normal post-traumatic reaction; don't put too much pressure on yourself. Your recovery is excellent, far exceeding expectations. Get plenty of rest; perhaps some memories will slowly return."

At this moment, Chen Haotian felt that the [World Scan] function deep in his consciousness, which had just finished cooling down, had finally completed its first random search.

[World scan complete.] [Primary plane locked: T-07 (The Walking Dead)] [Coordinates recorded.] [Energy absorption rate slightly increased. Current energy level: 1.8%]

The Walking Dead…a post-apocalyptic world filled with death and crisis. Chen Haotian's heart stirred; this was indeed an excellent stage to "persuade" Tony. In absolute crisis and an unfamiliar environment, it would be easier to break down existing perceptions and barriers.

Dr. Selvig gave a few more instructions, then left with the nurse. The ward door closed again, and silence returned to the room.

Chen Haotian closed his eyes again, but his heart was no longer at peace. The fusion of memories allowed him to understand more deeply the entanglements and resources behind this identity, while the initial awakening of the transmigration runes and the locking of the first world opened a door to infinite possibilities for him.

He knew Tony would arrive in person soon. His blood brother was probably sitting in his top-floor studio right now, looking at his genetic comparison report with suspicion, vigilance, and scrutiny.

"Brother..." Chen Haotian silently chewed on this word in his heart, a very faint and almost imperceptible smile curving up the corner of his mouth. That smile was a mixture of the complex emotions left by the original owner, as well as the playful and scheming nature of the current owner, which belonged to a playful rogue and a cunning scheming person.

The real show has only just begun. And he has already obtained a crucial part of the script.