Marvel: Starting with Iron Man in the Apocalypse

Inside the Hive's main control room, the red light flickered like breathing. Chen Haotian stood in front of the holographic projection, his fingertips tracing the flowing data streams, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Transfer of authority complete. Welcome, Dr. Chen Haotian." The Red Queen's cold, electronic voice echoed in the room, and the authorization information of Chen Haotian and Tony was displayed on the holographic projection.

Tony whistled and casually brought up the control panel: "You got the highest level of access to the Hive so easily? I'm starting to suspect this is a trap."

"It's not simple, it's an equivalent exchange." Chen Haotian pointed to the quantum teleportation program running in the corner of the console. "We used the miniaturization technology of the Arc Reactor and some design blueprints for the nanoarmor to get the Red Queen's cooperation. Umbrella Corporation is guaranteed to profit from this deal."

"But what they don't know is that the technology we provide requires a specific energy source to function." Tony shook his head with a wicked grin. "You're really cunning."

Chen Haotian shrugged noncommittally, his fingers rapidly tapping on the control panel. Countless research data flowed across the screen like a waterfall, displaying real-time monitoring of the biological experimental area, virus cultivation room, and weapons testing range. The three-dimensional structure of the hive slowly rotated on the central holographic projection, with every floor and every laboratory clearly visible.

"Jarvis, begin a full scan of the database, highlighting all research on viral mutations and biological weapons," Tony said to the device on his wrist. "Especially those encrypted files."

"In progress, sir," Jarvis's response came from the device. "Thirty-seven encrypted zones have been detected. Decryption is expected to take twelve minutes."

Chen Haotian walked to the edge of the main control room and looked down at the experimental area through the bulletproof glass. The scale of the Hive far exceeded his expectations. It was not just an underground research facility, but more like a self-sufficient underground city. The corridors crisscrossed, the laboratories were lined up one after another, and there were even separate ecological cultivation areas and living areas.

"Red Queen, retrieve the personnel list and current status of the Hive," Chen Haotian ordered.

The holographic screen flashed, displaying information on all the staff within the hive. Most names were marked "infected" or "dead," with only a few areas showing signs of life.

"There are two survivors in the B-7 experimental zone," the Red Queen reported calmly. "According to surveillance, they have been trapped for seventy-two hours, but have not shown any symptoms of infection."

Tony frowned: "To survive in this situation, it's either good luck or there's something wrong with it."

"Perhaps both," Chen Haotian said thoughtfully. "But we have more important things to do now. Red Queen, take us to the Central Archives."

Please come with me.

A blue beam of light shone down from the ceiling, casting a guiding path on the floor. They followed the light through the control room and into a wide corridor. The motion-sensor lights on both sides turned on in sequence with their steps, then quietly turned off after they passed.

At the end of the corridor stood a heavy alloy door, bearing the Umbrella Corporation logo. A holographic image of the Red Queen appeared beside the door, and with a gentle wave of her small hand, the door slid silently open to both sides.

The central database was far larger than they had imagined. Rows of server racks stood neatly arranged, their indicator lights flashing like stars. The low temperature in the air made Tony shiver involuntarily.

"The computing power here is sufficient to simulate hundreds of millions of virus mutations simultaneously." Chen Haotian stroked the casing of a main server, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "If we could bring all this data back to Stark Tower..."

"Then my armor upgrade plan can be completed six months ahead of schedule," Tony replied, already walking to a terminal and starting to operate it. "Jarvis, start backing up all research data, prioritizing them from highest to lowest."

"Backup process has started, sir. It is expected to take four hours and seventeen minutes."

Chen Haotian stood in the center of the database, closed his eyes, and his mental energy spread out like a spider web. Since transmigrating to the Marvel world, he had found that his perception had increased with each transmigration. At this moment, he could clearly "see" the trajectory of data flowing between servers, and within those rivers of 0s and 1s lay the deepest secrets of the Umbrella Corporation.

"Tony, look at the folder marked 'Nemesis'." Chen Haotian suddenly opened his eyes. "I sense unusual energy fluctuations there."

Tony quickly pulled up the relevant documents: "Project Tracker... This is Umbrella's next-generation bio-weapon project. It looks like they're trying to create super soldiers who are completely obedient to orders."

A distorted biological image appeared on the holographic projection—muscular, with grayish-white skin, and some kind of mechanical device embedded in its right shoulder. As the data scrolled, more details emerged: enhanced skeletal structure, regenerative ability test results, weapon system compatibility analysis...

"They not only want to create monsters, but they also want a controllable army of monsters," Chen Haotian said coldly. "Make a separate backup of this data; it might come in handy later."

Just as they were focused on data collection, a terminal in the corner of the database suddenly lit up automatically. Several encrypted messages flashed quickly on the screen before it went black again.

"Jarvis, what was that just now?" Tony turned around alertly.

"It appears to be an external communication attempt, sir. The source of the signal...cannot be traced."

Chen Haotian and Tony exchanged a glance. Since the Red Queen was fully cooperating with their work, this sudden communication could only have come from one place—outside the Umbrella Corporation, or from other organizations interested in the Hive.

"Red Queen, explain the communication from just now," Chen Haotian asked.

The Red Queen's holographic image appeared before them, her expression still calm: "That's an information automatically sent by the periodic security reporting program, reporting the normal operating status of the system."

Tony raised an eyebrow: "It's that simple?"

"That's how the program is set up," Red Queen said calmly.

Chen Haotian stared at Red Queen for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Very good. Now, take us to see the Hive's virus sample library."

"As you wish."

Guided by the Red Queen, they left the central database and took a private elevator downwards. The numbers on the elevator display kept changing until it finally stopped at "-15th floor". After the door opened, a passageway made entirely of alloy appeared before them, leading to another security door with clear biohazard markings.

"Access to the virus sample database requires special privileges," Red Queen warned. "Even I can't bypass this security protocol."

Chen Haotian stepped forward and placed his palm on the identifier by the door. A blue light swept across his palm, and then the identifier emitted a soft "beep".

"Access granted. Welcome, Dr. Chen Haotian."

Tony stared in astonishment at the slowly opening security door: "How could you...?"

"When I gained control of the Hive, I had the Red Queen add my biometric information to the whitelist of all security systems," Chen Haotian said casually. "After all, we're the masters here now, aren't we?"

The virus sample library was smaller than they had imagined, but the security measures were extremely tight. Rows of cylindrical containers, each containing liquids of various colors suspended in fixed slots on the wall, were arranged in rows. Each container was labeled with the virus type and hazard level.

Chen Haotian walked straight to the innermost row of containers, where several of the most dangerous virus samples from the Umbrella Corporation were stored. His gaze finally settled on a container labeled "T-Virus," the liquid inside gleaming with an eerie blue light.

"This is the origin of everything," he said softly, reaching down to take the container.

The moment he removed the container, the lights in the sample storage room suddenly turned a warning red. A mechanical voice came from all directions:

"High-risk sample detected. Emergency lockdown procedures initiated."

The heavy alloy door closed quickly, the ventilation system stopped operating, and nozzles extended from the four corners of the ceiling, releasing white disinfectant gas.

"Red Queen, explain!" Tony shouted, activating the nanotech armor on his wrist.

The Red Queen's holographic image appeared blurry in the fog: "This is the sample library's automatic security mechanism, which I cannot interfere with. I suggest you find a way to lift the blockade as soon as possible, otherwise this place will be filled with nerve gas in ten minutes."

Chen Haotian calmly placed the T-virus sample into a specially made storage box, then walked to the control panel. His fingers flew across the keyboard, and the code on the screen scrolled like a waterfall.

"Jarvis, help me crack this security protocol," Tony added. "Find the main control program."

"We're trying, sir. This system is physically isolated from the main network and requires direct access to the control terminal."

Chen Haotian looked around, his gaze settling on an inconspicuous interface in the corner of the sample library: "Tony, over there."

Tony quickly walked to the interface and pulled a data cable from his wrist to connect it. The nanotech armor's panel immediately began flashing complex data streams.

"This system is older than I thought, but it's extremely secure," Tony said, frowning. "It'll take time to crack."

The concentration of the disinfectant gas was rising, and a pungent odor was already noticeable. Chen Haotian closed his eyes and unleashed his mental power once more. This time, his perception penetrated the alloy walls, tracing the circuitry all the way to the core of the security system—an independent miniature server embedded in the ceiling above their heads.

"Up there." Chen Haotian opened his eyes, pointed to the ceiling, and said, "Physically destroy it."

Tony understood, raised his hand, aimed at the ceiling, and the nanoarmor quickly transformed into a small cannon muzzle. A precise energy beam pierced through a panel in the ceiling, revealing the servers behind it.

As the server was destroyed, the red warning light went out, the disinfectant gas stopped being released, and the safety door reopened.

"Well done." Tony breathed a sigh of relief and retracted his armor. "But could you have spotted this trap earlier next time?"

Chen Haotian picked up the storage box and smiled slightly: "Isn't it good for you to stretch your muscles once in a while? After all, staying in the lab all day isn't good for your health."

They left the sample storage area and returned to the elevator. Chen Haotian pressed the button leading to the control room, his eyes becoming deep.

"The Hive's secrets go far beyond this, Tony. I can sense something much bigger is hidden here."

Tony nodded, his expression turning serious. "I feel the same way. But right now, we need to ensure the security of the data we already have. Jarvis, how's the backup progress?"

"Sixty-seven percent complete, sir. All is well."

The elevator doors slowly closed, sealing the virus sample library back deep underground. Unbeknownst to them, in a hidden corner of the hive, a camera quietly rotated, recording their every move.