A/n: I want to thank everyone for the support they've shown me. I'm trying to update on the Patreon page daily. Upto ch19 posted. Also use the hidden code I have given inside the chapter to get 40% discount for Tier 2. Valid for 24 hours only.
{patre n.com/Chaoswriter01}. I have the membership fee set to the minimum of $1. Hope everyone can support me a little.)
Everyone in the room was shaken by the outburst. The broken monitors from earlier still flickered weakly, vibrating under the residual pressure of Alex's rage. His reaction was understandable—this wasn't the first time Justin Hammer had caused them pain. First, it was Obadiah Stane. They let that go, mostly because Hammer hadn't gotten involved directly. But now? Now Alex saw his character clearly. Justin Hammer was a snake—an opportunist always waiting for the right moment to bite. And Alex was ready to cut the snake's head clean off.
Richard was the first to recover. He turned toward Elias, his expression steady. "If we're attacking them, we can't go in blind like last time. What's your plan to hit Hammer Industries without triggering another disaster?"
Elias adjusted his glasses and nodded. "Hammer's main political shield is Senator Stern. If we can stir up enough chaos to keep him busy, we can shake their protection loose. Hammer might be continuing Extremis trials, and we both know how ugly that gets. If we can uncover evidence—or even fabricate a convincing leak—and route it through Stark's servers, all signs will point back to Hammer. That'll force Stern to focus on damage control."
He took a breath and continued, "After Tony Stark shut down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark Industries, Hammer Industries was handed the primary weapons contract for the United States Armed Forces. That's how they've been funding these projects. We'll need Stark's help if we're going to move against that infrastructure."
Alex's eyes narrowed. "Do what you have to. I'll talk to Tony. And make sure we find Killian—no more screw-ups." He turned sharply and exited the room, leaving a silence that no one dared to break.
Richard watched the back of his nephew as he walked away, a rare, proud smile forming on his lips.
---
Alex stepped into Maya Hansen's lab. The research team were absorbed in their tasks and didn't notice his arrival. He moved toward Maya, who looked up from her screen, fatigue etched clearly on her face.
He paused beside the terminal and asked, "Any developments on stabilizing the formula, Dr. Hansen?"
"I'm trying," Maya said, not even looking up. "But I still can't fix the instability. Every attempt leads to cellular meltdown."
He glanced around the lab, then turned to the others present. "Give us the room," he said firmly.
Once they exited, he faced Maya. "Let me see the current serum," he said, holding out his hand.
She handed the vial over, and Alex examined it under the cold lab light. He stepped past her and set it gently on the table before placing a hand over it.
'System,' he asked mentally. 'Open Supremacy Enhancement and analyze the cost to enhance this?'
[After Enhancement the Serum will Give Instant Cellular Regeneration, Limb regrowth, DNA Perfection, and remove instability of the body. Cost: 135,000 SP.]
He frowned. 'What about just removing the instability?'
[Cost: 32,000 SP. Confirm?]
He glanced at his SP counter. [SP: 36,500]
'Ugh. Just do it.' Alex was frustrated. If he could complete System mission, he could have saved half of that.
The serum flickered faintly in his hand, a ripple of golden light pulsing through it.
[Host may now download the stabilized Extremis formula to any digital device.]
Two icons appeared in his system interface—one was the old Anti-Gravity Engine schematic, almost forgotten. The other: [Extremis Formula (S1)]. He selected the latter and touched Maya's terminal.
Data streamed instantly into her system.
Maya blinked, stunned. "How... how are you doing this?"
Alex smirked. "Magic," he said playfully.
She rolled her eyes. "There is no such thing as magic."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away. He paused at the door, turning slightly. "Don't be so sure about magic, Maya," he said with a wink. Then he stepped out, leaving Maya stunned and silently fuming.
After leaving, Alex opened the system shop.
'Show me the Utility items section.' Alex looked through it before, mostly amused by the junk—there was even toilet paper listed, for some reason. But there was an item that he found very useful, something truly valuable for someone running a PMC.
[BLOOD OATH CONTRACT – 2,500 SP: Seals a sacred vow with blood, binding souls irrevocably to a single promise. Violation means instant death. Can bind upto 10 people.] 03A1B
He didn't hesitate. 'Purchase.'
A crimson scroll materialized in his hand, radiating an aura of ancient power.
With this, a situation like Reyes will never happen again.
---
At another location, Justin was listening to the report from Nevada
"Sir, the trap was triggered," Hammer's bodyguard reported. "We swept the entire area, but nothing ties it directly to Kane International. No trace evidence. Survivors were evacuated before we could get anything. We've filed it as a weapons malfunction."
Justin Hammer sat back with an exaggerated sigh, twirling a pen between his fingers. "Isn't that just delightful? We set the table, and they eat somewhere else."
The guard looked confused but stayed silent.
Another aide entered the room, tablet in hand. "Update on the Extremis trials, sir. Of the ten volunteers, only four survived. Dr. Killian is requesting authorization for more test subjects to continue the trials."
"Fantastic," Hammer replied with a forced smile. "We're getting better. Just 60% mortality now. Cover it up. Use our Nevada site explosion as the official report. Full blackout otherwise."
Minutes later, Hammer walked into another lab, where Aldrich Killian stood reviewing charts.
Hammer raised an eyebrow. "When we agreed to this, Doc, you didn't say we'd be stacking bodies like firewood. Those were my people."
Killian, busy at another table with data sheets, didn't look up. "The instability wasn't something I could control. The real data is with Maya's."
Hammer folded his arms. "And she's not exactly sending care packages."
Aldrich finally looked up. "What about Kane?"
Hammer finally looked up. "They're ghosts. No leads, no patterns. But they're moving."
Hammer's tone turned thoughtful for a moment. "Is there any way to tone down these accidental explosions from the serum trials? I am having a hard time finding 'volunteers' for you."
Killian looked back to the new improvised formula on the table. "Evolution isn't painless. You want to create an immortal army, Hammer? Then expect casualties. I need more data."
Hammer forced a grin. "immortals, huh? Let's just hope they're not allergic to bullets."
---
Back at Metro-General Hospital, Davies lay awake in bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, a flicker of doubt twisting in his chest. The door creaked open slowly, and Alex stepped inside, a strange scroll tucked beneath his arm.
"The serum's ready," Alex said, his voice firm. "But there's something you have to do before we proceed."
Davies turned his head slowly. He is already relieved because Alex kept his promise. "If I can stand again, I'll walk through hell for you, sir."
Alex unfurled the parchment. Crimson runes pulsed across its surface.
"There's no need for you to walk through hell or anything like that. But you must take a vow—one that binds you to never betray me or Kane International. Break it, and the consequences will be beyond anything you can imagine."
Davies stared at the scroll, uncertainty in his eyes. He has never seen anything like this before. "What... what should I do?"
Alex nodded. "Just make a small wound on your thumb and press here at the bottom." Alex had already received instructions from the system earlier.
Davies hesitated, then bit his thumb and pressed it to the scroll.
A black light shimmered from the scroll, passing into Davies's eyes and then back into the parchment. He was startled and let out a scream—but then nothing happened. Realizing the room was intact and he was unharmed, Davies coughed awkwardly, embarrassed.
"Damn... I just screamed like a girl," he muttered, face flushing with embarrassment. After making such a serious vow, his reaction felt ridiculous—yet deep down, he couldn't shake the overwhelming rush of what he'd just experienced.
The commotion had drawn in a couple of guards, who burst into the room with weapons raised. Alex raised a hand calmly. "It's alright. Wait for me outside."
Alex nodded once. "Then rise again, soldier. Stronger than ever." A thought crossed his mind, and a faint smile tugged at his lips. "From this day forward, you'll serve as the captain of the Phoenix Squad."
He glanced down at the now dormant scroll, its light fading. Something had changed—and this was only the beginning.