The laboratory's hierarchy was completely overturned in the following 48 hours.
Xiao Han stood before the central holographic console, his hands constantly swiping, with countless parameters swirling around him.
Tony had become the best assistant, processing components according to instructions that were precise to the smallest detail.
"The Vibranium base needs to be thinner," Xiao Han said without looking up.
"The lattice arrangement of the Uru Metal must be precisely at this angle."
Tony, gritting his teeth, operated, "Are you sure this curvature won't cause quantum decoherence?"
"I've calculated 642 possibilities," Xiao Han casually pulled up a string of formulas, "Use this magnetic field compensation."
When the last component was in place, Xiao Han pressed his hands down on top of the reactor.
His eyes shone with golden light, his heat vision spot-welding critical nodes with picosecond precision.
"Activate."
Buzz
All the electronic equipment in the lab simultaneously went dark.
In the central reactor, a single photon suddenly appeared, then two, then four… growing exponentially.
Tony instinctively took a half-step back: "God…"
A miniature golden sun was born in the reactor, its light gentle yet containing terrifying energy. The data screen frantically refreshed:
[Energy Output: 128,000 Terawatts]
[Stability: 99.999%]
[Estimated Operating Time: 12,000 years]
"This…"
Tony's voice trembled. "Did we just create Eternal Energy?"
Xiao Han reached out and lightly touched the protective shield, the light of the Artificial Sun flowing around his fingertips. "The key to the advancement of human civilization."
Tony suddenly grabbed Xiao Han's shoulder. "You have to tell me, this technology… this way of thinking… how can I get a brain like that!"
The golden light in Xiao Han's eyes gradually faded, revealing a mysterious smile. "I'll tell you next time. Now…"
He pointed at the energy monitor, which had begun to alarm. "We need to solve the heat dissipation problem first, unless you want Manhattan to become a crater."
Tony looked at the temperature curve, which had already soared to a dangerous level, and suddenly burst out laughing, "Ha! Come on! Jarvis, activate all cooling systems!"
\n\n
A few hours later...
\n\n
The light of the Artificial Sun burned steadily in the reactor, a golden glow illuminating the entire laboratory.
\n\n
Tony Stark stared at the readings on the data screen, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table, his eyes flashing with excitement and a hint of barely perceptible awe.
\n\n
"128,000 terawatts..."
\n\n
He murmured, "That's enough to supply the entire East Coast's electricity needs, and..."
\n\n
His gaze turned to Xiao Han, "Are you sure this thing won't suddenly go haywire and blow us all to kingdom come?"
\n\n
Xiao Han crossed his arms, leaning against the lab bench, a slight smile playing on his lips, "As long as the magnetic field confinement doesn't collapse, it's safe."
"Oh, that's reassuring," Tony rolled his eyes, but the smile at the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
He reached out and tapped the reactor's protective shield, causing the Artificial Sun's light to fluctuate slightly before returning to normal.
"So, besides being a power bank for you, what else can this thing do?"
"A lot," Xiao Han straightened up and walked towards the holographic projection table, his fingers gliding across it, displaying a new set of data models.
"For example..."
His fingertips sketched an energy path in the projection, guiding the Artificial Sun's energy into a brand new structural model, forming an intense beam of light.
"Directed Energy Weapon?" Tony raised an eyebrow.
"No," Xiao Han shook his head. "It's Interdimensional Energy Transfer."
Tony's expression froze for a moment, then he leaned in close to the projection. "Wait, you're saying you can use this energy to go directly to another place?"
"Theoretically, yes."
Xiao Han nodded. "I've fused solar energy with it, making it extremely malleable. If I can control it precisely, it can simulate the energy characteristics of any dimension. To be precise, it's magic."
A spark of madness ignited in Tony's eyes. "Xiao, what do I need to learn magic?!"
"Sir, you've been working continuously for 72 hours," Jarvis reminded him.
"Who cares!" Tony waved a hand dismissively.
"Let's talk about it later, let's deal with this first," Xiao Han chuckled, not arguing.
He walked to the projection, his eyes glowing slightly with golden light as his Super Brain rapidly calculated the optimal solution for the energy flow.
The two fell silent, the only sounds in the lab the hum of the holographic projections and Tony's occasional muttered curses.
Three hours later...
"Alright!"
Tony slammed his hand onto the virtual confirm button, and the model in the holographic projection abruptly contracted, forming a perfect energy loop.
"Ready to try it?"
Xiao Han nodded and placed his hand on the reactor's control terminal.
The energy from the Artificial Sun was channeled into him, a golden stream flowing like liquid.
He made a circle with his hand.
Buzz.
Space twisted slightly, and a golden spark burst from the center of the ring-shaped device, rapidly expanding to form a stable, circular portal.
The other side of the door revealed a desolate, red desert, with a bizarre purplish-red sky.
"Mars?" Tony squinted.
"No," Xiao Han shook his head, "It's the Mirror Dimension."
Tony whirled around, "What is this? Did we just use technology to open a magical dimension?!"
"The line between technology and magic is already blurred," Xiao Han retracted his hand, and the portal slowly closed.
"This is just a preliminary test. The real applications are still to come."
Tony stared at the now-calm circular device and suddenly grinned, "Xiao, do you know what this means?"
"Hmm?"
"You've made history." Tony's eyes gleamed with near-maniacal excitement.
"No, not just history, you've redefined the possibilities of energy!"
Xiao Han smiled faintly, saying nothing.
His super hearing picked up an anomaly in the distant sky, a faint energy fluctuation rapidly approaching New York.
"Tony." He spoke suddenly.
"What is it?" Tony asked, frowning, sensing the change in him.
"We have company," Xiao Han said, looking up at the ceiling, his gaze piercing through the layers of metal to the sky outside.
"And it doesn't seem friendly."
Tony immediately reacted, quickly initiating the suit-up sequence: "Jarvis, activate the tower defense protocols, scan the airspace above New York!"
"Unidentified flying objects detected, sir," Jarvis's voice announced.
"Energy signature matches... not of Earth's known technology."
Xiao Han's figure had already levitated, the gold patterns on his black armor faintly glowing: "I'll go take a look."
"Wait!" Tony called out to him, "Don't play the hero alone this time, remember to call me!"
Xiao Han glanced back at him, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Suit up, tin can."
Before his words even finished, Xiao Han's figure had transformed into a streak of black light, bursting through the lab's skylight and shooting towards the sky.
Tony watched the direction Xiao Han had gone, muttering a curse under his breath, and then sped up the process of putting on his armor.
"Jarvis, activate the Mark 6 Nano-Suit, preheat all weapon systems!"
"Sir, this suit hasn't been tested yet."
"Isn't that what we're doing now?"
"Ready, sir."
Tony put on his wristband and tapped it twice. The armor surged out like a tide, instantly covering his entire body. The moment the faceplate synthesized, the armor's power core roared to life.
He took a deep breath, his legs slightly bent, and the thrusters instantly ignited.
"Alright, you alien bastards..." His voice echoed through the armor, laced with a hint of excitement and battle intent.
"Welcome to Earth."