Marvel: Starting with Iron Man in the Apocalypse

The door to the ward slid open silently.

Chen Haotian adjusted his state almost the instant the door opened. He leaned against the headboard, his face still pale with illness, but his eyes were no longer completely confused or weak. Instead, they contained a just-right complexity that belonged to the identity of "Chen Haotian"—a scrutiny of the unfamiliar environment, a consideration of his own situation, and perhaps even a trace of expectation for the newborn born out of blood ties, an expectation that even he himself might not be fully clear about.

Tony Stark walked in.

He was dressed in what appeared to be casual dark attire, but the fabric and cut exuded understated luxury. His face wore an expression that blended scrutiny, curiosity, and undisguised wariness. He didn't approach the visit with the concern one would show to an ordinary patient; rather, he seemed more like a mad scientist entering his laboratory, ready to examine some anomaly.

"It seems Dr. Selvig's medical skills are quite good; at least there's the sparkle in your eyes now," Tony said casually, but his footsteps stopped precisely at the foot of the bed, a position that allowed him to clearly observe Chen Haotian while maintaining a safe distance.

Chen Haotian's lips twitched slightly, revealing a weak smile tinged with self-deprecation: "Having escaped death, I should at least understand where I've landed. This place... is quite special." His gaze swept over the futuristic medical equipment around him, finally settling on Tony, his tone tentative, "Mr. Stark?"

"Tony," Tony corrected, arms crossed, his sharp gaze scanning Chen Haotian's face like a scanner, "Now that Jarvis has confirmed that thing (referring to the DNA report), perhaps we can skip some unnecessary formalities. Let's get straight to the point, Mr. Chen, or rather… my brother whom I've never heard of before, how much do you know about the surname 'Stark'?"

The question went straight to the heart of the matter, with a relentless edge.

Chen Haotian's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained impassive. He lowered his eyelids, seemingly recalling something, or perhaps organizing his thoughts, fully displaying the hesitation expected of an injured person who had just experienced a major upheaval and whose memories were not yet fully processed.

"My mother... rarely mentioned it." When he looked up again, his eyes held a genuine darkness, stemming from the repression brought about by his mother's deliberate avoidance deep within the original owner's memories. "She only said that my father... was named Howard Stark, and was a... very remarkable person. That's about it." He paused, looking at Tony, his tone tinged with a barely perceptible bitterness. "Until I woke up, I always thought I was just an ordinary, perhaps unlucky, Chinese-American exchange student."

"Ordinary?" Tony raised an eyebrow, his suspicion almost overflowing. "An 'ordinary' international student, found near Stark Industries in a near-death state? Without any valid identification to prove his 'ordinary' status? And then, Jarvis tells me you have half of my genes in your blood?"

He took a step forward, a sense of unease creeping in: "This story sounds like a third-rate afternoon soap opera, full of coincidences and plot holes. And, coincidentally, I hate coincidences the most."

Chen Haotian met his gaze without flinching. His cunning nature made him adept at exploiting logical flaws and emotional weaknesses in verbal exchanges. Tony's aggressive questioning reflected his own uncertainty and intense curiosity. Pure denial or justification would only deepen suspicion; appropriate honesty, mixed with genuine confusion, was more likely to gain trust.

"I find it unbelievable too." Chen Haotian's voice was perfectly hoarse and weary. "If this is an elaborate scam, then the planner is incredibly unprofessional. At least they should have provided me with proper identification, instead of making me appear before you in this disheveled state." He took a deep breath, as if gathering strength. "Stark... Tony, I understand your suspicions. If it were me, and a stranger suddenly appeared claiming to be related by blood, I would also be wary. But I'm equally confused. Why am I here? Was my previous twenty-odd years of life a lie? Those memories..."

He subtly revealed a hint of genuine confusion and pain, his fingers unconsciously clenching the pristine white sheets. This performance wasn't entirely fake; the cognitive conflict arising from the merging of memories was real.

Tony stared at him, not responding immediately. Chen Haotian's reaction was calmer and more complex than he had expected. There was no obsequious eagerness to curry favor, no guilty conscience at having his identity exposed, only logical confusion and a kind of... settled calm. This calmness was not what one would expect from a young man in his early twenties, especially when facing Tony Stark.

"Memory can be deceiving," Tony said, his tone slightly softening, but his wariness remained. "Technology can also forge many things." He abruptly changed the subject, asking, "How much do you know about Stark Industries? Or rather, what are your thoughts on the 'Arc Reactor'?"

This is a trap. If Chen Haotian was sent by someone with ulterior motives, he would inevitably have some understanding of Stark's core technologies, and regardless of praise or criticism, he would try to demonstrate his value or pander to them. If he knows nothing, it would actually further confirm his identity as an "ordinary international student," although this still wouldn't completely clear him of suspicion.

Chen Haotian understood immediately. His brilliant mind worked at lightning speed, instantly analyzing the multiple intentions behind the question. He appropriately feigned a slight bewilderment, mixed with the awkwardness of being asked about something outside his field of expertise: "Stark Industries… is a top global arms and technology giant, frequently featured in the news. The Arc Reactor… is a revolutionary technology in the field of clean energy, right? Very impressive. But I studied theoretical physics and classical literature; my understanding of these cutting-edge applied technologies is limited to publicly available reports."

His answer was proper and even a little bookishly reserved, perfectly fitting the persona of a top student specializing in theoretical subjects. There was no excessive praise, nor any pretentious evaluation.

Tony narrowed his eyes, neither confirming nor denying the answer. He changed his approach: "Your mother, Ms. Lin Wan. As far as I know, she was a very talented classical instrument player and restorer. Did you inherit her talent?"

"A little bit." Chen Haotian nodded slightly, this time with a genuine gentleness. "I've picked it up from what I've seen and heard, and I know a little bit, but it's nothing compared to my mother's expertise." He paused, then added, "She always said that there's another dimension of truth hidden in music and ancient artifacts."

This statement was half truth and half a test. He wanted to see Tony's reaction to the concept of "another dimension."

Tony's eyes flickered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "An interesting point of view. Unfortunately, I have more faith in the truths constituted by mathematical and physical formulas." He seemed to have temporarily lost interest in continuing the interrogation, or rather, Chen Haotian's response had not left him with any obvious flaws.

"Get some rest." Tony turned and walked towards the door. "Jarvis will meet your reasonable needs. As for your identity... we'll have plenty of time to 'verify' it."

Before the door closed, he turned back and said meaningfully, "This floor is very safe, and also...closed off. I hope you get used to it."

The door closed silently, isolating the inside from the outside.

Chen Haotian slowly loosened his grip on the bedsheet, his palms slightly sweaty. He knew he had barely passed this initial confrontation, but Tony's wariness had only increased. That remark about the floor being "closed off" was tantamount to a soft warning and a declaration of surveillance.

He leaned back against the pillows and closed his eyes. His consciousness sank back into his body; the transmigration rune was still slowly circulating, its energy level remaining at 1.8%. The conversation with Tony had taken far more mental energy than it appeared.

"High intelligence, suspicious, and controlling..." Chen Haotian mentally sketched out Tony's image. "Directly revealing 'spoilers' would probably backfire, and might be interpreted as a sign of mental instability or something even more dangerous. I need to find a more natural, more impactful opportunity that he can't explain with common sense..."

His thoughts once again swept over the rune that locked onto the coordinates of the "Walking Dead" world. A cold, deathly aura faintly emanated from it.

Perhaps that apocalyptic world would be the best "proof" of that. But before that, he needs more energy, and he also needs to... let Tony witness some "extraordinary" phenomena firsthand to prepare him psychologically.

Next time, it can't just be a verbal battle.

He sensed that the runes were absorbing energy at a slightly faster rate than before, though still slowly, but definitely changing. Was it because he had successfully performed a lock-on operation and become familiar with some of the runes' properties? Or was it because… he had crossed paths with this chosen one of the Marvel universe?

Chen Haotian didn't know the answer, but he was happy to see this change. He needed power, and he needed to seize the initiative as soon as possible. In this perilous Marvel Universe, simply being "Stark's illegitimate son" was far from enough.

Outside the window, the New York cityscape glitters like a galaxy. Inside the hospital room, a young man, having just emerged from a silent battle, is quietly gathering his strength for an even greater storm to come.