Meanwhile, at the Avengers Tower.
The project to develop Ultron had officially commenced, lasting for several days during which Tony Stark and Bruce Banner barely managed to squeeze in ten hours of rest combined.
Banner gazed at Stark, who was relentlessly tweaking the program, and thought, "He's really pushing himself to the limit. He's been drinking coffee like water these past few days."
Unable to contain himself, Banner spoke up, "Let's call it a day. Ultron's development has stabilized, and it's Saturday already. We have that gathering later, remember?"
Stark finally turned around, his eyes bloodshot from three days and two nights of nonstop work. Glancing at the time, he realized how long they had been working and nodded.
"Ah, right, it's been that long already. Alright, we should rest. You go take a break, and we'll head to the gathering later."
Banner silently let out a sigh of relief. He had mentally prepared himself for another "overtime" session, knowing that they were only a trio – himself, Stark, and the AI Jarvis – and he had committed to seeing the project through.
"Jarvis, keep me updated on any progress."
With that, Stark followed Banner out, pulling out his phone and dialing a number as they walked.
As the two left, within the dimly lit workshop, the Green Lantern Ring and the Mind Stone Scepter suddenly glowed, emitting wispy green and yellow energies that intertwined from their respective resting places.
A mechanical voice echoed intermittently through the room.
"Protect...the...world...peace. I...am...Ultron..."
...
At the general store, it had been half an hour since Han Yu published his first novel on Celestial Skies Novels.
Within that brief span, "An Incredibly Satisfying Read" had caused a massive stir on the platform. Many had clicked on the title, expecting to find another obscure author worthy of mockery, given that even established writers wouldn't dare boast about their work being purely entertaining.
But as they opened the novel, intending to skim a few lines before unleashing their criticism, their eyes seemed glued to the pages, unable to tear away.
By the time they regained their senses, they had devoured the entire 30,000-word chapter.
"What just happened?"
"This novel...it's too satisfying!"
"Gosh, I was just going to take a break and find something to distract me, and now I've been reading for over ten minutes. I almost had an accident!"
"Oh my god, does the author have more chapters? Update faster!"
"I was so caught up that I jumped up and accidentally slapped my wife. Now I'm still kneeling in apology..."
Within half an hour, the novel's page was flooded with hundreds of comments, all praising its thrill and urging for more updates.
Han Yu read each comment with amusement, never expecting such an overwhelming response.
In this world, novels typically updated weekly with only a thousand or two words per chapter, often delving into more profound themes. So, the sudden emergence of a novel like this was nothing short of a punch to the face, leaving readers exhilarated and disoriented.
Han Yu had written this novel based on the simplest, most straightforward "white paper" style from his previous life, where the focus was solely on delivering nonstop entertainment. Although the plot might be riddled with plot holes, it didn't matter because it was just so darn satisfying. Compared to traditional literature, it didn't require much thought; all it needed was for readers to consume it and enjoy the thrill.
In this world filled with flying superheroes and supervillains, perhaps only games and novels offered the populace a much-needed outlet.
Just as Han Yu was planning to churn out tens of thousands of words in one go, his phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he was surprised to see that it was Tony Stark calling.
Han Yu answered, and Stark's cheerful laughter filled the line, indicating that he had solved some issue. "Han, we're having a gathering tonight, and we'd love to have you. Are you free?"
Han Yu was taken aback. He hadn't expected to be invited to their inner circle so soon. Stark's eagerness to befriend him was quite evident.
Chuckling, Han Yu replied, "Of course, when and where?"
Stark answered promptly, "Half an hour from now, at the top floor of the Avengers Tower. I've already informed the security. Just tell them your name, and they'll let you in."
Surprised that Stark had already made arrangements without his confirmation, Han Yu smiled and said, "I'll be there, for sure."
After hanging up, Han Yu glanced back at his computer. Refreshing the page, he saw over a hundred new comments.
Deciding not to release more chapters just yet, Han Yu knew that even for a thrill-ride novel, leaving some suspense was crucial. Releasing too much at once could hinder the book's momentum. The last chapter of the 30,000 words ended just before a particularly exciting point, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. It was the perfect way to ignite the novel's popularity even further.
With that, Han Yu prepared to attend the gathering Stark had mentioned.
...
At the top floor of the Avengers Tower, the Avengers were gathered in a circle, discussing something.
"Tony, this is a private gathering. Inviting a stranger might not be appropriate," said Thor, the God of Thunder, who had heard before the party that Stark was introducing someone "special." Thor wasn't pleased, as Stark's tone held a hint of respect that he found insulting.
In Thor's eyes, no matter how powerful an Earthling might be, he was still just a mortal, whereas Thor was a deity from Asgard.
Hawkeye chimed in with a chuckle, "Hey, Thor, why don't you challenge him to a fight when he arrives? See who's stronger."
"Regardless of who he is, he's Tony's guest. For Tony's sake, you should all show him some respect," Captain America, Steve Rogers, admonished Hawkeye for his provocative suggestion.
Most of the group remained silent, except for Banner, who knew exactly who the guest was – the one who had given Stark the Green Lantern Ring. Banner was particularly intrigued, as his recent work with Stark on Ultron had only further highlighted the terrifying power housed within that ring. Whoever could casually gift such a device must be formidable, as Earth's current technology was nowhere near capable of creating something like it.
As the elevator doors chimed open, a young couple emerged – Han Yu and Wanda. Han Yu couldn't help but let out a low whistle as he surveyed the guests at the party, all of whom were prominent figures from society, recognizable names that frequently graced the news.
"Han, I'm so glad you could make it," Stark exclaimed, immediately excusing himself from his conversation to greet Han Yu warmly.
Han Yu shook his hand, noting the ease on Stark's face, suggesting that progress on Ultron was going smoothly. "Of course, Mr. Stark. An invitation from you is not one to be missed."
Stark's gaze shifted to Wanda, who was holding Han Yu's arm, and he visibly stiffened. He recognized her – one of the twin superpowered siblings encountered during the mission in Sokovia just a few days ago. What was she doing with Han Yu?
"And this is...?" Stark asked, his tone cautious as he delicately probed Han Yu.
Han Yu wasn't surprised by Stark's guarded expression, knowing full well about the Avengers' recent excursion to Sokovia, where they had dismantled an enemy stronghold and retrieved the Mind Stone. Wanda and Pietro had emerged on that day, only to be found by Han Yu shortly after.
"Allow me to introduce, Wanda, my girlfriend!" Han Yu emphasized the last three words, and Stark, being no fool, immediately grasped the subtext.
Stark didn't pursue the matter further, as he held no personal grudges against either of them despite their initial encounter. "Come, let me introduce you to some friends!"
With that, Stark led Han Yu and Wanda deeper into the gathering. Along the way, many were surprised to see Stark walking side by side with Han Yu, as it was rare for him to show such familiarity with anyone.
Han Yu's appearance also caught the attention of several beautiful women. His Asian features were arranged in a way that was strikingly attractive, and his demeanor exuded a maturity beyond his early twenties. They had never seen an Asian man with such impeccable looks and poise.