Marvel: Starting with Iron Man in the Apocalypse

The establishment of the theoretical model pointed the way for subsequent research, but Chen Haotian's inherent adventurous spirit and Tony's pride as a top scientist made them unwilling to merely remain within the realm of "safety." The zombie virus had a relatively small deviation from the rules and a low risk of fusion, which was certainly a safe starting point. However, the extreme potential of the T-virus, which was full of both destruction and creation, attracted them like a magnet.

"We can't afford to be discouraged by one failure." Tony stood before the newly calibrated lab bench, his eyes burning as he stared intently at the azure liquid sealed within a high-intensity energy field—the Extremis virus—and beside it, the T-virus stock solution emitting an ominous dark red glow. "Risk and reward go hand in hand; that's the most basic principle of investment. If we can overcome the fusion barrier between the T-virus and the Extremis virus, the rewards will be revolutionary."

Chen Haotian leaned against the control panel beside him, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the cold metal surface, a faint smile playing on his lips. He understood Tony's eagerness; wasn't he just as eager? The academic thirst for knowledge and the thrill-seeking instinct of a playboy were strangely intertwined within him. "Theoretical models are just maps; the real treasure still needs to be unearthed by ourselves. However, this time we need a different approach; we can't just blindly rush in like last time."

“Of course,” Tony snapped his fingers, and the new scheme architecture immediately appeared on the holographic projection. “Now that we know that the T-virus’s rules are extremely ‘aggressive’ and ‘biased,’ we can’t let it directly impact the Extremis virus’s stable structure when we introduce it. We can try… to create a ‘buffer’ or a ‘translation layer’.”

"Use our own strength as a buffer?" Chen Haotian raised an eyebrow.

"To be precise, it's a derivative application of the 'bridge' energy," Tony explained, tracing complex energy flow paths on the virtual interface with his finger. "Based on the brief moment of success recorded last time, Jarvis reverse-engineered a possible 'neutralizing field' parameter. This force field is very weak, insufficient to completely negate the rule conflict, but it might provide a very short 'rule buffer' at the initial moment of contact between the two viruses, reducing the initial energy peak."

He looked at Chen Haotian, his eyes flashing with a challenging light: "We need to use the programmability and adaptability of the Extremis virus itself to forcibly analyze and 'learn' the rule fragments of the T virus within this extremely short time window—maybe only a fraction of a second—not to crudely integrate them, but to try to 'absorb' and 'transform' their beneficial parts."

"It sounds like dancing on a knife's edge," Chen Haotian commented, but his interest grew stronger. His cunning nature made him enjoy witnessing such risky and calculating experiments. "What are the chances of success?"

"Jarvis simulated it 170,000 times, with a highest success rate of no more than 3.5%," Tony stated a brutal number, but his face showed no sign of backing down. "But a simulation is still a simulation. Some variables can only manifest on the real physical level. For example... your special 'sensing' ability." He looked meaningfully at Chen Haotian. In his previous transmigrations and research, Chen Haotian occasionally displayed a keen intuition for alien energies or abnormal rules, which seemed to be related to his identity as a transmigrator or the mysterious runes.

Chen Haotian nodded slightly, not denying it. He himself knew that this vague intuition could often play a decisive role at crucial moments. "I can try to sense it at the moment of energy contact, and if I find any signs of the rules conflicting and getting out of control, I will immediately forcefully separate the sample."

"Then it's settled!" Tony said without further hesitation. "Jarvis, prepare the experimental chamber for Level 3 isolation. Activate the 'Neutralization Field' generator, setting the energy output to 80% of the theoretical value, leaving room for adjustment. Prepare the Extremis virus sample for active adaptation mode, and the T-virus sample for micro-pulse injection."

"Command confirmed. All systems are ready. Warning: This operation is highly risky; confirmation is recommended." Jarvis's voice was as calm as ever, but the tone was grave.

"Confirm execution." Tony and Chen Haotian spoke almost simultaneously.

The isolation measures in the central area of ​​the laboratory were raised to the highest level. Behind the thick, special glass walls, complex robotic arms began to move with precision. The tube of azure Extremis virus was injected into a specially designed reaction dish filled with micro-sensors and energy conduits. Immediately afterwards, another robotic arm carefully extracted an almost invisible wisp from the sealed T-virus stock solution and hovered above the reaction dish.

"Neutralization field activated... energy stable," Jarvis reported.

"Initiate micro-injection," Tony commanded.

That drop of dark red liquid, like a living venomous snake, fell onto the surface of the azure blue Extinction Virus.

At the very moment of contact—

hum!

A deep humming sound instantly filled the air, clearly perceptible even through the thick insulating layer. In the reaction vessel, the azure blue and dark red did not immediately mix, but instead formed an eerie standoff. The blue liquid boiled violently, as if resisting invasion, while the trace of dark red, like a living thing, attempted to penetrate and spread.

"Energy readings are surging! Rule conflict index exceeds 50 percent of the safety threshold!" Jarvis immediately called the police.

"Increase the neutralization field strength to 95%!" Tony stared intently at the data stream and quickly gave the order.

The light within the isolation zone intensified, attempting to suppress the two opposing yet strangely attractive energies. The scene within the reaction vessel became even more violent; where blue and red intertwined, fine, arc-like purplish-black energy threads flashed and vanished continuously—a direct manifestation of intense friction at the level of rules.

Chen Haotian closed his eyes, his entire mind immersed in that vague perception. He "saw" two completely different "orders" colliding and tearing apart at the microscopic level. The Extremis virus represented a relatively orderly and controllable rule of reinforcement and regeneration, while the T-virus was a chaotic, radical rule that pursued infinite mutation. The essence of the two was almost diametrically opposed.

"The core of the conflict lies in the underlying logic of 'the direction of cellular evolution'!" Chen Haotian suddenly opened his eyes, speaking rapidly. "The Extremis virus tends towards 'optimization' and 'stability,' while the T-virus tends towards 'mutation' and 'transcendence.' They are vying for the right to define the blueprint of life!"

"Damn it!" Tony cursed, his fingers flying across the control panel. "Try to guide the Extremis virus, temporarily abandoning the struggle for 'definition rights,' and focus on 'learning' its energy structure! Jarvis, inject a high-concentration nutrient matrix to provide additional energy and support the Extremis virus's analysis process!"

More reagents were injected into the reaction dish, providing the Extremis virus with powerful computing power (based on its biological programming characteristics) and energy support. The azure light shone brightly again, actively wrapping around the dark red energy threads, no longer a head-on confrontation, but an attempt to decompose and understand its composition.

However, the T-virus's rules were far more aggressive than imagined. Sensing the "learning" behavior, the dark red energy became even more violent, like an enraged beast, suddenly unleashing an even stronger corrosive force.

boom!

The reaction vessel emitted a muffled thud as it strained under the strain. A visible dark red shockwave, accompanied by purplish-black lightning, spread outwards and slammed into the level-three isolation field, causing the entire laboratory to tremble slightly. The light from the isolation field flickered violently, becoming unstable.

"Warning! Neutralization field overload! Rule conflict out of control! Immediate termination of the experiment recommended!" Jarvis's alarm became urgent.

"No! It's not enough!" Tony gritted his teeth. He could see that in the raging energy turbulence, the Extremis virus had indeed captured and analyzed a small portion of the T-virus's energy structure information. That tiny achievement was like a candle in the wind, which could be extinguished at any moment.

Chen Haotian's eyes narrowed, and he no longer hesitated. He took a step forward, his right hand pressing towards the isolation layer. It wasn't physical contact, but rather an extension of his unique ability to sense space and energy, derived from runes. An invisible, gentle yet resilient force permeated the force field, not forcibly suppressing the conflict, but like a pair of nimble hands, gently guiding it at the most critical energy nodes.

It was this extremely subtle shift that created a brief window of equilibrium in the energy standoff that was on the verge of complete collapse.

"Now! Force separation!" Chen Haotian shouted.

Almost simultaneously, Tony ordered: "Robotic arm, perform physical separation of the sample! Maximum power cooling!"

Two robotic arms cut in at millisecond speeds, and a beam of ultra-low temperature liquid nitrogen instantly enveloped the reaction vessel, while a robotic claw forcibly pulled the two virus samples, which were not yet fully mixed, apart.

laugh--!

With a piercing cooling sound, the violent energy within the reaction vessel rapidly diminished, and the chilling dark red light and purplish-black lightning gradually dissipated. The flickering of the isolation field also subsided, leaving only the virus sample, frozen at ultra-low temperatures and now somewhat murky in color, and a chaotic experimental area.

The experiment failed again. But this time, Tony and Chen Haotian didn't show much frustration.

"It's been recorded!" Tony excitedly pulled up the data from the final moments. "0.03 seconds before it went out of control, the Extremis virus successfully analyzed three key energy nodes in the T-virus rule fragment! Although it was just a fragment, it proves that the 'learning' path is feasible!"

Chen Haotian also breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a slight mental fatigue—the price of forcibly intervening in the conflict of rules. "Moreover, we've identified the core of the conflict. Next time, we can design a more refined intervention plan targeting the crucial issue of the 'right to define'."

Although a successful fusion is still a long way off, they are no longer blindly groping in the dark. Every failure brings them closer to the door to unknown power. In the Stark Tower's laboratories, the smoke of battle has not yet cleared, but the pace of exploration will never stop.