Deep within the hidden strongholds of HYDRA, where dark intentions take shape and shadows whisper of global domination, a new scheme was being forged—Project Malice, a plan to capture and exploit the mysterious secrets behind the Modia Units. The world had no idea that another force, one destined to shine brighter than the darkness, was working tirelessly somewhere else.
At the same time, in the heart of Malibu, another genius was also preparing for a revolution of his own. Tony Stark—Iron Man, one of the brightest minds on Earth—was not resting either.
Ever since that humiliating fiasco at the Global Tech Summit, Tony's pride had been deeply wounded. For the past ten days, he had locked himself away inside his underground laboratory. Not even Pepper Potts—the one person who could usually get through to him—had been allowed to step inside.
At first, Pepper thought he was exaggerating again. After all, Tony had always been dramatic. But as the days passed and she realized that he had not left his lab once, her curiosity and concern began to grow. Meals were delivered by household staff and pushed in through the automatic service hatch. Tony didn't even show his face.
For a man like him, who used to say "a day without parties is a day wasted," this was something close to a miracle.
Pepper couldn't help but think: What on earth is he building in there?
With that thought, she pressed her fingerprint on the glass panel of the Stark Industries Laboratory Entrance. A pleasant digital voice chimed instantly:
> "Welcome, Miss Potts,"
— J.A.R.V.I.S.
Tony's artificial intelligence sounded clearer, smoother, and stronger than before. It didn't surprise Pepper—Tony had completely rebuilt J.A.R.V.I.S. over the past ten days, adding a new level of cyber-defense that could block any external intrusion.
Ever since the mysterious hacker Izzy had breached the system once before, Tony had been obsessed with strengthening every security layer.
As the lab door opened, Pepper froze. The sight before her was pure chaos.
Tools, gears, and metal plates littered the floor. Disassembled drones and half-finished machines filled every corner like the aftermath of an industrial storm. It was hard to believe that a single person could have made this much mess in just a few days.
"Tony!" she called out, stepping carefully over a scattered pile of circuit boards.
"Hey, over here!" came Tony's muffled voice from behind a thick black curtain.
A moment later, he emerged—hair wild, face covered with a rough beard, eyes slightly red from exhaustion but glowing with excitement.
Pepper gasped. "Oh my God, Tony… you look like you haven't slept in days!"
Tony ignored the comment, his grin widening like a mischievous child. "I've been busy changing the world. Come here, you've got to see this!"
Pepper crossed her arms. "The board of directors sent me again. They're panicking. Stark Industries' stock price dropped another ten billion. They want you to make a statement—anything to calm the investors!"
Tony smirked, brushing off her words as if she were talking about the weather. "Relax, Pepper. I said I'd fix everything, and I'm a man of my word. Now, prepare to witness genius."
He snapped his fingers. "J.A.R.V.I.S.! Showtime!"
"Right away, sir."
With a soft hum, the black curtain lifted to reveal something massive gleaming under the lab lights—a suit of armor, polished steel blue, standing upright like a silent guardian.
Pepper's eyes widened but then furrowed with confusion. "That's… uh, nice. Is it another one of your… art projects?"
Tony's smile fell flat. "Art project? Pepper, this—this is evolution!"
He marched toward the armor, his voice rising with excitement. "This is my newest invention, the next step in human defense technology—a mechanized body armor designed for enhanced combat efficiency and personal protection."
Pepper raised an eyebrow. "In plain English?"
Tony grinned. "Wear it—and you become superhuman."
Before she could protest, Tony gestured to the robotic arms. They immediately came to life, breaking the armor apart into multiple segments that floated toward them. "Come on, Pepper, you'll be my first test pilot."
"Tony, no! Wait, I—"
But it was too late. The robotic arms moved with perfect precision, gently locking each piece of the armor around her limbs, torso, and back. Within seconds, she was standing there fully suited in gleaming blue metal.
"Don't worry, I left out the helmet for now. I want to see your face when you realize how amazing it feels," Tony said proudly.
"Now, try walking," he encouraged, stepping back.
Pepper hesitated, then took a cautious step.
Clank.
The sound echoed through the lab, but she didn't feel any weight. In fact, the armor felt light. Almost natural. She blinked in surprise, then took another step—this time faster, easier.
"Tony… it's like wearing air," she said, astonished.
Tony beamed. "Exactly! Lightweight titanium-carbon alloy, reinforced with micro-hydraulic actuators. The armor adjusts automatically to your movements using a liquid polymer suspension that molds to the body. The more you move, the lighter it feels."
He leaned forward, pride shining in his eyes. "That's my shock absorption system—pure genius, if I say so myself."
Pepper moved around the lab, gradually growing comfortable, even playful. She threw a light punch in the air, and the motion triggered a subtle pulse of energy from the armor's joints.
Tony clapped. "Ha! Did you feel that? A twenty percent increase in kinetic efficiency! Pepper, you're walking in the future!"
He wasn't exaggerating.
Ever since Tony had encountered the Modia Unit demonstration from Vanderbuilt Technologies, he'd been fascinated. Those synthetic beings, powered by an advanced kernel that mimicked human thought and movement, had inspired him deeply.
But Tony wasn't like the others. The big corporations had all tried to buy or copy the Modia technology. Tony, however, had decided to create something entirely new—to borrow the idea of perfection without stealing the soul of it.
"If I can't replicate their consciousness," he had told himself, "then I'll enhance humanity instead."
That was the philosophy behind the armor. It wasn't about replacing people—it was about empowering them.
The suit's concept resembled a human exoskeleton, a perfect blend of robotics and biotechnology. Once worn, it amplified every physical trait—strength, speed, and durability multiplied several times over.
In another world—the one we call the "original timeline"—Tony Stark would have created his first Iron Man suit in a cave, under threat of death. That tragedy would have forged the hero we all know.
But now, because of Henry's intervention, the world line had shifted.
The events that once led Tony to build armor out of desperation were no longer necessary. Instead, he was building out of inspiration.
This new timeline's Tony Stark invented the Iron Man armor far earlier than destiny intended.
Pepper looked at him, awe mixing with admiration. "Tony… this could change everything."
"I know," he replied softly. "This isn't just about war. This is about what humanity could become if it stops fearing technology and starts mastering it."
She smiled faintly. "You really believe this can fix your reputation?"
Tony winked. "Reputation? Pepper, this will rewrite the definition of human innovation. Stark Industries will rise again—not as a weapons company, but as the heart of the future."
The armor hummed gently as he spoke, blue light glowing from the arc nodes embedded in the chestplate. Its design wasn't the bulky Mark I of another reality—it was sleeker, more elegant, and curiously familiar to fans of a certain Japanese hero.
Its appearance was strikingly similar to the G3 Armor from Kamen Rider Agito—sleek lines, cobalt-blue plating, and glowing circuits tracing across the limbs like veins of light.
"Meet the prototype," Tony said proudly. "G3 Armor—Generation Three. Human-made perfection."
Pepper tilted her head. "G3? What happened to G1 and G2?"
Tony chuckled. "Let's just say those were… prototypes of the prototype. They didn't exactly survive the explosion tests."
"Explosion tests?!" she exclaimed, stepping back in alarm.
"Don't worry, the G3's stable. Probably," he added under his breath.
Pepper sighed but couldn't help smiling. "Only you could make saving the world sound like a punchline."
Tony laughed, brushing the dust off his hands. "Hey, someone has to keep things interesting."
But deep down, behind that smirk, Tony felt something else—a flicker of destiny. The invention standing before him wasn't just a machine; it was the first step toward the future Iron Man would one day become.
Outside, the sun dipped below the California horizon, casting golden light through the glass walls of the Stark mansion. The blue armor gleamed under it, reflecting both the brilliance and the burden of the man who built it.
The world line had truly changed.
In this new reality, Iron Man was born not out of fear—but out of hope.
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