Marvel: Twelve Talismans, Hammering Hulk at the Beginning
Chapter 41 I Seem to Have Fallen
"Successful?"
"Hahaha…"
Tony Stark's voice echoed through the silent lab, filled with an indescribable, immense joy.
"Oh, my God…"
Happy's mouth hung open, watching his boss's frenzied state, unsure how to express himself.
Colonel Rhodes's faceplate retracted, and he looked at the brand-new, brightly glowing arc reactor in the chest of Tony's old armor, as well as the uncontrolled energy patterns emanating from beneath the armor, his eyes filled with shock and ecstasy.
"You did it, Tony! You really did it!"
Dr. Banner also adjusted his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses glinting with an unbelievable light.
"This… this is a miracle! A brand-new stable element! I can't believe it, we've changed the periodic table!"
The fervor of a scientist overwhelmed everything in that moment.
Lin Chen leaned against the wall, a faint smile playing on his lips, and clapped softly.
"Congratulations, Tony."
"Officially say goodbye to your poisoned life."
Hearing that voice, Tony suddenly turned his head, his eyes, rekindled with fire, fixed intently on Lin Chen.
The next second, he rushed over.
He gave Lin Chen a solid hug.
The force was as if he wanted to knead him into his own bones!
"Thank you…"
Tony's voice, with a barely perceptible tremor, came muffled from Lin Chen's shoulder.
"Lin, thank you… you saved my life."
He wasn't joking.
He was truly grateful to the savior who had pulled him from the abyss of death.
Lin Chen was a little breathless from the squeeze and patted his back in distaste.
"Hey, hey, hey, be reserved, Tony."
"I'm not interested in men."
"Let go quickly, damn it… did you wipe snot on my clothes?"
…To celebrate the birth of the new element and Tony Stark's "new life."
A Stark-style carnival began a few hours later at the open-air rooftop pool of Stark Industries headquarters.
The deafening electronic music almost tore through the entire California night sky!
The air was filled with a mix of champagne and expensive perfume, and the pool was packed with hot girls in bikinis, their laughter as clear as silver bells.
The long tables by the pool were laden with the world's finest food and wine.
Tony Stark was undoubtedly the king of this party.
He wore beach shorts, his upper body bare, his chest without an arc reactor looking infinitely more pleasing, and his appearance drew countless fervent gazes.
At this moment, he held a glass of champagne in one hand and had Pepper in the other, laughing unrestrainedly.
As if he wanted to cast away all the suppression, fear, and despair of the past few months!
Not far away, Lin Chen also, unusually, wore only shorts.
He lay on a beach chair, leisurely sipping juice.
Thanks to the youthful body brought by the Dog Talisman, his smooth and well-proportioned muscle lines possessed a natural beauty that surpassed Tony, the "gym quick-fixer."
Several bold models had already come over to chat with him multiple times.
And in the corner of the party.
Doctor Bruce Banner was holding a cocktail that seemed out of place with his temperament, sipping it slowly, his expression a little dazed.
He watched the men and women laughing and playing in the pool, and the two billionaires who had completely let themselves go.
He felt his worldview being severely impacted.
He, a top physicist, a fugitive pursued by the entire world, was now… at a pool party filled with alcohol, beautiful women, and decadent music?
Dr. Banner silently took a sip of his drink.
The drink was sweet.
But his heart was bitter.
I think… I seem to have fallen too… The party's revelry lasted for a day and a night.
When the first rays of morning sun shone down the next day, and the hungover beauties had departed in disarray, the entire top floor finally returned to tranquility.
Inside Tony's private Villa.
A faint scent of alcohol still lingered in the air.
But at this moment, there was no carnival like at Stark Industries headquarters, only extreme focus.
In the center of the Villa, a huge holographic projection floated, displaying dense, dazzlingly complex design blueprints.
Those were the brand-new blueprints for the Mark series of armor!
With the new element, the old armor was clearly unable to adapt to the output power of the new arc reactor.
Therefore, manufacturing new armor was a matter of urgency.
Tony, Lin Chen, and Banner.
The three of them, each holding a refreshing glass of whiskey, gathered around this blueprint and engaged in a heated discussion.
"No! This color scheme is absolutely unacceptable!"
Lin Chen pointed at the red and gold armor model on the holographic projection, his face showing utter intolerance.
"Tony, I seriously question your aesthetic sense!"
"This red with gold is tacky and vulgar, flying in the sky it looks like a fire-breathing… flying tomato!"
Tony took a sip of his drink, scoffing at the comparison.
"Hey! Watch your language, buddy!"
"This is called 'Hot-rod red,' it's classic! It's power! It's passion!"
"What do you know? This is the romance of a genius!"
Lin Chen rolled his eyes.
"Oh, come on, your aesthetic is still stuck in the last century. Listen to me, matte black paired with dark gold energy patterns, that's what you call understated luxury, mysterious power."
"Rejected! My armor must be the brightest one in the room!"
Dr. Banner looked at the two "three-year-olds" arguing fiercely over colors, shaking his head helplessly.
He knew nothing about mechanical engineering and aerodynamics, so he couldn't contribute to the conversation at all.
He silently walked to the holographic projection and pointed at a node concerning the energy circuit in the design blueprint.
"Ahem… Tony."
"From the output power curve of the new arc reactor, the energy circuit design here is too conservative."
"Its instantaneous peak output is enough to support you increasing the power of the repulsor rays by at least thirty-five percent."
"However, we need to redesign this part of the cooling system, otherwise…"
Banner's words instantly drew Tony's attention back.
"Exactly! You're right, Bruce!"
Tony's eyes lit up, he rushed to the projection, his hands rapidly operating on the virtual keyboard.
"We can use a parallel miniature cooling loop to share the pressure on the main conduit! Jarvis, simulate the feasibility of this plan!"
"Sir, the plan is feasible, but it will result in a 3.7 mm increase in chest plate thickness."
"Then thin out the memory metal lining! Who cares about a few millimeters!"
Watching the two instantly enter "scientist mode," Lin Chen smiled and shook his head, no longer arguing about the "flying tomato" color scheme.
The morning sun streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, falling on the three men.
A genius inventor who had just escaped the shadow of death.
A top physicist struggling to control the beast within him.
An Eastern transmigrator possessing the power of a god.
At this moment, the thoughts of the three collided fiercely, producing unprecedented sparks.
Their friendship, too, in this whiskey, this argument, and their shared vision for the future, became increasingly unbreakable.
A brand new, more powerful Iron Man.
And a Super Iron Trio that would one day shock the entire Universe.
On this morning after a hangover, quietly, the foundation was laid.
Chapter 42 I Know But I Don't Care
The salty, damp coolness of the early morning sea breeze dissipated the last lingering scent of alcohol in the Villa.
Lin Chen stood below the Villa, on a massive rock jutting out into the sea, and stretched lazily, facing the rising sun.
A series of crisp 'crackling' sounds emanated from his joints.
Refreshing!
From the laboratory upstairs, the excited discussions of those two mad scientists, Tony and Banner, could still be faintly heard.
Things like cooling cycles, energy redundancy, and the focusing mode of the repulsor rays... Lin Chen's head was about to explode just listening to it.
He swore that if he had to listen any longer, he would use the Dragon Talisman to flatten the entire Villa.
He simply couldn't understand what those brain-burning formulas they were discussing actually meant.
It was much more pleasant to come out, enjoy the breeze, and look at the sea view.
However.
Just as he retracted his arms, preparing to find a comfortable position to lie down and sunbathe for a while...
The corner of his eye suddenly caught a color that shouldn't have been there.
It was a particularly conspicuous bright yellow.
Lin Chen's movements instantly froze, and he slowly turned his head, somewhat unsure.
The next moment, he saw that not far from him, on another equally massive rock, a person had silently appeared at some point.
A gleaming bald head.
And a bald woman dressed in a bright yellow robe.
That person was currently standing with her hands behind her back, calmly observing him, her gaze as still as an ancient well, as if she had been standing there for centuries.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Lin Chen wouldn't have even felt there was a person there until now.
What the hell?!
Lin Chen's pupils suddenly constricted!
When did this person appear?!
With his five senses enhanced by the twelve talismans, he hadn't detected even the slightest trace.
Something was wrong, very, very wrong.
Without any hesitation!
On the lope belt at Lin Chen's waist, the Rabbit Talisman, representing speed, instantly lit up with a brilliant silver light.
"Whoosh—"
The next second, the air seemed to tear, emitting a sharp boom beside him.
Lin Chen's figure almost instantly transformed into an afterimage that was impossible for the naked eye to catch, disappearing from the rock in a flash, and in just the blink of an eye, he had already appeared at the entrance of the cliffside Villa, a hundred meters above.
However, he hadn't even had time to catch his breath.
"Crack... crackle crackle..."
A series of grating sounds, like shattering glass, clearly rang in his ears.
Lin Chen sharply looked up.
He saw the world before his eyes... gently shatter.
The sky, the ocean, the Villa, the lawn—everything seemed to have turned into a giant kaleidoscope, divided into countless irregular geometric fragments, and began to fold, rotate, and reassemble frantically in a way that defied the laws of physics!
In just the blink of an eye, a magnificent yet deadly mirror dimension instantly enveloped him.
There was no escape.
"..."
Lin Chen's mouth twitched.
He saw the bald Sorcerer in the yellow robe step onto a folded rock, crossing a hundred meters with leisurely steps, and walking right up to him.
A faint smile still lingered on her face.
Lin Chen silently put away his posture, which had been ready to activate other Talismans, and sighed helplessly.
"Right."
"Old Man was indeed correct..."
"Only magic can defeat magic."
He looked up at the female bald Sorcerer before him, whose aura was so powerful it was suffocating, yet as calm as a clear spring.
He finally confirmed the identity of the person before him.
"So, the renowned Sorcerer Supreme, Ancient One."
"Is there something you need, going to such great lengths to find a small fry like me?"
Ancient One looked at him calmly, as if Lin Chen calling out her identity didn't surprise her in the slightest.
"I have been observing you, Lin Chen."
Her voice was gentle, yet it carried a magic that seemed to penetrate the soul.
"Although I cannot see through your past, nor can I clearly see your future."
"But I can feel..."
Ancient One's gaze seemed to pierce through Lin Chen's body, seeing something more fundamental.
"You do not belong to this Universe; it's as if you appeared out of thin air, with no trace of you in any timeline branch."
"You are a... variable from outside the dimension."
Lin Chen's heart suddenly sank.
Indeed!
He still couldn't hide from the top existences of this Universe.
In just a few days, his identity had been exposed.
"That is why I came to find you."
Ancient One continued, her tone as flat as if stating a fact.
"I can feel that your appearance will inevitably stir up monstrous waves in this world, completely disrupting the original trajectory of this world's fate."
"This is a very troublesome matter."
"Coincidentally, I am good at solving problems."
Having said that.
The air, at this moment, seemed to solidify.
Lin Chen's mouth twitched, he was silent for a moment, then suddenly grinned.
"So?"
He looked directly into Ancient One's eyes, which were as profound as the stars of the Universe, and spread his hands.
"Are you here to solve the problem of me? Are you going to eliminate me?"
"No, that is no longer necessary."
Ancient One shook her head.
This answer somewhat surprised Lin Chen.
He had thought a big battle was about to ensue.
"Your appearance is strange... but even stranger is that time has not created new branches because of your arrival."
Ancient One slowly explained, as if answering a curious student.
"It's as if... this Universe has tacitly approved your existence."
"It has accepted you, this 'variable' that should not have appeared."
"But for reasons I cannot ascertain, there is only you."
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow, said nothing, and quietly listened to what followed.
"So I came to you this time, firstly, to observe up close what a variable that can blur even fate looks like."
"After all, you are the only such special existence I have ever seen."
Ancient One's gaze swept over him and the lope belt at his waist.
"Secondly, I wanted to give you a piece of advice."
"Advice?"
Lin Chen smiled, adopting an expression that indicated he was eager to hear more.
"Perhaps you don't realize that the power within you is very special; it does not belong to this dimension, and every misuse tears at the fabric of reality."
Ancient One raised her hand and gently waved it.
The folded mirror dimension around them began to twist in an even more chaotic manner.
Constantly shattering and constantly reassembling, transforming into certain seemingly new scenes.
"Just like this, even a small demonstration requires an independent space to isolate the impact."
Her eyes became serious.
"If, in the real world, you were to exert your full power without regard for consequences..."
"You might tear open a permanent rift to the Dark Dimension in the heart of New York City."
"Or, cause the time of an entire continent to fall into an endless loop."
"The consequences would be unimaginable."
Lin Chen looked down at the twelve talismans at his waist and fell into deep thought.
He recalled the subtle sense of sluggishness he felt when using the Rooster Talisman's energy while accompanying Abomination on their freefall game.
At the time, he thought it was his imagination and didn't pay too much attention to it.
Also, when he first transmigrated and was studying the Talismans, he found that their power couldn't be fully utilized.
But he never expected... that this was the reason!
Was the Marvel Universe constantly limiting his abilities, fearing unpredictable outcomes?
However, just now, when he used the Rabbit Talisman, he seemed to feel a significant increase in speed. What was going on with that?
Lin Chen found it a bit difficult to understand.
"Thank you for your reminder, The Ancient One..."
Lin Chen looked up, meeting Ancient One's gaze again, and a brilliant smile appeared on his face.
"I understand what you mean."
"From now on, when I fight, I'll try to pick places where there aren't many people."
"I promise to minimize the impact."
Ancient One: "..."
Looking at Lin Chen's expression of "I understand but I don't care," even the Sorcerer Supreme, whose heart was as still as Water, couldn't help but feel her mouth twitch slightly.
This variable... seemed to be even more troublesome than she had anticipated.
Chapter 43: Rolling Meat
The Ancient One took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger that had choked her.
She had lived for hundreds of years and believed she had met countless unruly dimensional beings and human powerhouses, but she had never encountered a character as unyielding as Lin Chen.
Even though he was under the absolute control of the Mirror Dimension, there was not a hint of fear in his eyes; instead, they showed a devil-may-care attitude, as if he was enjoying a spectacle.
The Ancient One could feel that he truly wasn't afraid of her!
It felt like when fighting someone, both sides had arrayed themselves, but then the opponent suddenly set up a pot and started cooking.
It was not only disgusting but also showed a lack of respect.
To be honest, with Lin Chen not taking her bait, she was now in a bit of a predicament.
Should she continue to warn him?
But this fellow in front of her was like a slippery rogue, clearly an unyielding sort.
No matter how she tried to enlighten him, he just ignored it, as if he had never heard a word.
Then, should she act directly?
The Ancient One's gaze once again fell on the ancient belt around Lin Chen's waist, and a very subtle hint of apprehension flashed in her eyes.
Lin Chen didn't know.
In fact, just a moment ago, when he spotted the Ancient One and used the Rabbit Talisman to escape the reef.
The Ancient One had already made her move.
She had tried to silently take the belt using the most secretive spatial magic.
In her opinion, that belt was undoubtedly the source of all Lin Chen's Strange powers.
As long as it was taken away, this so-called 'variable' would be nothing more than an ordinary person with slightly better physical fitness, no longer posing any threat to this world.
To ensure nothing went wrong, she even mobilized the power of the Dark Dimension at the time.
This way, even if the opponent discovered her actions or had some backup plan, she would be able to handle it calmly.
After all, a lion uses its full strength even when hunting a rabbit.
Having lived for so many years, she couldn't possibly not understand this principle.
However.
She failed.
Her failure was... quite peculiar.
Even now, thinking back, she was still a bit confused, completely unaware of where the problem lay.
At that moment, her hand had clearly penetrated space, touched the physical belt, and sealed all the space around Lin Chen.
Forget about escaping; besides her, no one could use magic.
Yet, in such a well-prepared situation.
The instant she was about to remove that belt.
A gentle yet incredibly resilient magical energy suddenly emanated from the belt, directly shattering her spatial blockade and magical restrictions; if she hadn't dodged quickly, that power might have even tried to invade her body.
It felt as if she was facing a more skilled Sorcerer than herself, who had effortlessly found the loopholes in her magic.
Moreover, in her perception, the form of this belt changed in that instant, no longer being an external object.
It was more like... a part that had naturally grown out of Lin Chen's body.
It was firmly bound to his flesh, his blood, and his soul.
This was no longer just a simple matter of whether it could be removed.
The Ancient One knew very well that if she had forcibly torn it off at that moment, the consequences would definitely not have been as simple as the belt merely detaching.
That would be equivalent to... tearing off a section of Lin Chen's spine alive!
It might even trigger a violent backlash from that magical energy she had never encountered before.
The Sorcerer Supreme's sixth sense made her instinctively detect a hint of danger.
It was this discovery that instantly elevated her understanding of Lin Chen by several levels.
After all these years, even when facing creatures from the Dark Dimension, none had ever given her such a direct warning of danger.
At most, they were just a bit troublesome.
It was precisely because of this that she chose only to warn him, rather than act directly.
It wasn't that she was afraid of not being able to defeat him, but rather that she feared this variable might involve an even greater unknown that even the Time Stonecouldn't predict!
After all, an existence that could blur the lines of fate could never be judged by common sense.
"Hmph..."
The Ancient One slowly exhaled a turbid breath, the magical energy floating around her gradually calmed, and her eyes returned to their usual placid state.
She looked at Lin Chen, who had a devil-may-care expression.
Since that was the case... "It seems a simple warning is useless to you."
"You are like a child who has just acquired a peerless divine weapon, only knowing how to wield its sharpness, but not understanding the consequences it will bring."
The Ancient One calmly met Lin Chen's gaze, her tone was flat, but anyone could hear the threat in her words.
As she spoke, she raised her left hand, and the Sling Ring on her index finger suddenly glowed with golden sparks, while her right hand gently drew a smooth arc in front of her.
"Buzz—"
As her fingers moved, a ring of golden sparks appeared out of thin air, spinning rapidly.
The other end of the ring revealed a snow-capped mountain range and a magnificent yet ancient temple.
Lin Chen recognized it at a glance; that was Kamar-Taj.
"Young man, your power needs guidance, and your temperament needs even more tempering."
The Ancient One turned sideways and made a 'please' gesture to Lin Chen.
"So, come with me to Kamar-Taj."
"There you will find the most extensive collection of magical ancient texts in the world, which can help you understand your power more clearly, learn how to control it, rather than be enslaved by it."
"Trust me, this will be very beneficial to you."
These words were spoken with sincerity, full of the care and wisdom of an elder.
Lin Chen, however, almost burst out laughing after hearing them.
He felt that the Ancient One was treating him like that fool, Strange.
Speaking so grandiosely, wasn't she just trying to trick him into going there and imprison him?
This old woman was very cunning!
"I say, Sorcerer Supreme."
Lin Chen picked his ear, looking at her with a playful expression.
"Your rhetoric might work on others, but for me, you can spare it."
"You know what? You're not suited for the job of conning people."
He paused, then grinned.
"Trust me, a few years from now, if a guy named Stephen Strange were standing here, inviting me with your rhetoric, his persuasiveness would be a hundred times stronger than yours right now."
The moment his words fell.
For the first time, a genuine emotion named "shock" appeared on the Ancient One's perpetually calm face.
Her eyebrows shot up sharply!
"You... you even know Strange?!"
This name was her last resort, hidden in the river of time, chosen for this world.
Besides herself, no one else could possibly know!
At the very least, there was no one on Earth currently who could see through her thoughts.
"I've said that to many people..."
Lin Chen spread his hands, an expression of helpless resignation, as if to say, "Why won't you people just believe me?"
"I know far more than you can imagine."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice, and chuckled in a volume only they could hear:
"For example, I also know that to ignite the fighting spirit and potential of that talented Doctor, you have even prepared... a heroic'suicide' for yourself."
"..."
The Ancient One's mouth opened, and she suddenly felt a sense of absurdity.
It was as if the person standing before her was not a young man, but an old monster who had lived for thousands of years.
He knew everything, and was privy to all knowledge.
But how could this be... The Ancient One took a deep breath, and her eyes completely chilled.
In her eyes, there was a bone-chilling coldness that seemed capable of freezing even the soul!
"Crack! Crack, crack, crack!"
As her hand moved, the fragments of the surrounding Mirror Dimension began to vibrate and cut at an even more furious rate, the sky above and the ground beneath had inverted, starting to press towards Lin Chen.
An icy, bone-chilling killing intent instantly locked onto Lin Chen!
"Now... I really do feel like getting rid of you."
The Ancient One's voice was no longer gentle; only an emotionless indifference remained.
She was truly intent on killing.
Even if it led to unpredictable consequences.
"See, see? You get angry after just a couple of words. As a Sorcerer Supreme, you can't be so narrow-minded that you can't even take a little criticism, can you?"
Lin Chen, however, seemed unfazed by the killing intent that could make even gods tremble. He chuckled and waved his hand.
"Don't be nervous, relax, Sorcerer Supreme."
"Don't worry, I promise I won't tell Strange about this. If you need me to, I don't mind playing the villain and helping you see this grand play through."
"Besides, I'm telling you all this not to threaten you, but just to let you know that I don't want to be your enemy."
"Also, I've actually been waiting for you..."
His smile faded, replaced by a serious expression, and he tentatively asked, "I just wanted to ask you, can I discuss something with you?"
Chapter 44 The Year's Biggest Hit
"Want to discuss something?"
Ancient One's eyebrows almost twisted into a knot.
She had seen arrogant people, but never one this arrogant.
Just a second ago, she had been harboring killing intent, and he couldn't possibly not have felt her strong murderous aura.
But what was the result?
This guy, as if nothing had happened, grinned and said he wanted to "discuss something" with her?
What was this kid's brain made of?
Was he really not afraid of her attacking?
"Hmph…"
The Ancient One took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart.
The cold killing intent that permeated the Mirror Dimension slowly receded like a tide, but her gaze remained as sharp as a blade.
"Speak."
She squeezed out a word through gritted teeth.
She wanted to hear what this guy was really up to.
Unexpectedly, Lin Chen's next words almost caused her hard-won calm to be disturbed once again.
"I want to… borrow your necklace for a couple of days."
Lin Chen pointed to the uniquely shaped golden pendant hanging on Ancient One's chest.
The eye of agamotto!
"???"
Ancient One suspected her ears were playing tricks on her.
She even subconsciously looked down at her chest, then looked up at Lin Chen's incredibly sincere face.
Then, an emotion called "absurdity" once again appeared on her usually unperturbed face.
Even the corners of her mouth couldn't help but twitch slightly.
She felt that years of her cultivation were being shattered today.
"Are you… joking?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Lin Chen spread his hands, looking innocent.
"Just for a borrow, I'll return it after I'm done, and I promise not to break it."
"Do you know what that is?"
Ancient One's voice rose slightly; she felt that her mental cultivation had regressed five hundred years in the short few minutes since meeting this man!
"I know, it's the eye of agamotto."
Lin Chen said nonchalantly.
"More precisely, it's the container embedded with the Time Stone."
Ancient One's pupils suddenly constricted!
Another piece of information that she thought was top secret!
Where did this guy come from? Why did he know so many secrets?!
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
"What do you want it for?"
"Well…"
Lin Chen scratched his head, revealing a slightly sly smile.
"It's a secret."
Ancient One: "…"
She really wanted to disregard everything and attack, to beat that hateful smiling face into a pig's head.
But reason told her no.
She couldn't see through the trump card of this "variable."
And beneath Lin Chen's outward composure, there was actually a deep anxiety hidden.
Just now, the instant Ancient One tried to snatch his belt, he wasn't unaware; he was just pretending not to know.
Although he didn't know why she hadn't succeeded, it had sounded an alarm for him.
Yes.
He was very strong now, no doubt.
In fact, on Earth at the moment, he could be considered one of the top powerhouses.
After all, with the combined power of the twelve talismans, he could practically walk sideways in this beginner's village called Earth.
Abomination, Chitauri cannon fodder, Mutants—in his eyes, they were all just experience packs.
But this power had a fatal weakness!
That was, all his power came from the twelve talismans on his waist.
This was his foundation, and also his greatest vulnerability!
Just like Ancient One had done just now, a powerful individual proficient in space magic could potentially snatch the belt directly from him when he was unprepared.
Even if a fight broke out, what if the belt fell off during an intense battle?
What if the talismans scattered everywhere?
The thought of facing an enemy holding the twelve talismans with his bare hands sent cold sweat down Lin Chen's back.
He had thought about this problem these days and had made some preparations.
He recalled the plot from "Jackie Chan Adventures."
He remembered clearly.
Jade once, in an accident in Section 13, was hit by a powerful magnetic field and electric current, causing the powers of the twelve talismans to fully merge into her body.
From then on, she herself became a walking "talisman power collective," able to use the power of the twelve talismans at will.
And the talismans themselves became worthless stones.
So, could he use this method to completely merge the power of the talismans with himself?
After all, this was the safest plan.
Only by making the power of the talismans completely his own, a part of his body, would he not have to worry about them being stolen or lost.
But the problem was… did he dare to replicate Jade's method?
To be honest, he didn't dare!
Jade's incident was completely accidental, a plot requirement, full of uncertainty, and even in that world, it only happened once.
He wasn't Jade, and this wasn't that lighthearted cartoon world.
What if something went wrong during the replication process, leading to the destruction of the talismans, the powers of the twelve zodiac animals entering certain animal bodies, or the energy going rampant and blowing him to smithereens… then he would truly become the dumbest transmigrator of the year!
As for swallowing them like Jade did when she ate… he had considered it, but quickly dismissed the idea.
After all, Lin Chen didn't think he had Jade's powerful digestive system, able to eat and drink as if nothing happened with a bunch of talismans in his stomach.
So, this idea had always been suppressed in his heart, without a suitable solution.
Until now.
Ancient One's appearance suddenly made him think of a potentially feasible solution.
That was to use the power of the Infinity Stones.
The idea was simple.
Why should I gamble on that uncertain future myself?
Isn't there a BUG in front of me who can see through time!
The eye of agamotto!
The Time Stone!
Dr. Strange once used it to see 14,000,605 possible outcomes of the Endgame, which meant that the idea of observing the future through the Time Stone was feasible.
As long as he could use it to glimpse the future, to find a way… no, to find the safest way to integrate the talismans into his body.
Then all his worries would completely vanish!
By then, he, Lin Chen, would himself be the walking Twelve Divine Powers.
Watching Ancient One fall silent, Lin Chen knew that the time was ripe.
"How about it, Grand Sorcerer? Consider it?"
"The eye of agamotto contains terrifying power capable of distorting reality."
Ancient One looked at him coldly, finally speaking.
"It is not a toy, nor is it something anyone has the qualification or ability to touch and use."
Her subtext was clear: You, can't.
"Hey, don't be so absolute."
Lin Chen chuckled.
"How will you know if you don't try?"
Ancient One stared at him for a full half-minute, seemingly trying to discern something from his eyes.
But in the end, she gave up.
In those eyes, there was only a pure, unmasked… indifference.
"Alright."
She took a deep breath, suddenly saying.
"Huh?"
Lin Chen was stunned.
So straightforward?
"But, there's a condition."
The corner of Ancient One's mouth curved into a profound arc.
"You want to use the eye of agamotto, fine."
"But you must return to Kamar-Taj with me."
"And, the entire process must be under my supervision."
Indeed, old ginger is spicier.
This old woman, after going in a circle, still wanted to bring him to her territory and keep an eye on him.
Lin Chen stroked his chin.
Going to Kamar-Taj wasn't entirely unacceptable.
After all, there was a vast amount of magic knowledge there, which would also be a good opportunity for him to recharge.
It was just that he was very annoyed by Ancient One's attitude; he was afraid that once he went, he wouldn't be able to shake her off.
"Alright then."
Finally, Lin Chen shrugged and mused, "Let me think about it."
"Alright."
Ancient One seemed to have anticipated his response, showing no surprise.
She looked deeply at Lin Chen, her gaze incredibly complex, containing apprehension, curiosity, and a hint of… helplessness.
"When you've made up your mind, come find me."
She raised her hand, and the portal leading to Kamar-Tajonce again bloomed with dazzling golden sparks behind her.
"Believe me, Kamar-Taj is the most suitable place for you."
As her voice fell, she stepped into the portal, her figure instantly disappearing.
"Crack—boom!"
With Ancient One's departure, the entire Mirror Dimension, like glass struck by a giant hammer, let out a deafening roar of unbearable stress, instantly shattering.
Countless fragments rolled back, and both the twisted buildings and the inverted sky instantly returned to their original state.
The morning sun shone down again, the sea breeze carried a salty scent across his face, and in the distant Villa, Tonyand Banner's discussion could be faintly heard.
Everything, as if nothing had ever happened.
Lin Chen stood on the reef, gazing in the direction Ancient One had disappeared, and stroked his chin.
"Pity, Benedict Cumberbatch still has a few years before he takes over…"
Chapter 45: Mark X! Symbiote Armor!
Lin Chen hadn't yet decided whether to go to Kamar-Taj.
The reason was simple.
That guy, Tony Stark, if you don't watch him for two days, he'll poke a hole in the sky.
And this time, what he poked out was a huge treasure.
"Hey! Lin! Come here! Come see my new treasure!"
Two days later, in the early morning, Lin Chen had just stretched on the Villa's terrace when he was roared over by Tony's excited loud voice from his private laboratory.
Inside the laboratory, Tony and Dr. Banner both had panda eyes, but their spirits were exceptionally high.
Between them, a brand new Iron Man suit stood silently, surrounded by mechanical arms.
"Done?"
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow.
This efficiency was comparable to a donkey in a production team.
"Of course!"
Tony snapped his fingers proudly, like a child showing off a new toy.
"With Dr. Banner and I working together, what can't be done?"
Dr. Banner pushed up his glasses awkwardly, humbly saying:
"I just... provided some theoretical suggestions."
"Don't be modest, Bruce!"
Tony put an arm around Banner's shoulder.
"Your suggestions were simply inspired!"
Lin Chen's gaze fell on the new suit.
The new suit, although still presenting that flashy red and gold color scheme, had a streamlined design full of power and a sense of the future, unlike any suit he remembered.
"What Mark is this?"
"No, no, no."
Tony wagged his finger, a mysterious smile on his face.
"It's not called Mark something, it has a brand new codename."
"Mark X, I call it —'Symbiote'!"
"Symbiote?"
Lin Chen savored the word.
"Exactly!"
Tony stepped forward and stroked the cold armor like a lover.
"Dr. Banner proposed a groundbreaking concept that completely changed my design Ideas!"
He looked at Banner, his eyes full of approval.
Dr. Banner was a bit flustered and began to explain:
"I just thought... Tony's previous suits were essentially relying on armor thickness to resist damage."
"But I know very well that when the physical impact reaches a certain level, for example... Hulk's level, no matter how thick the steel plate, it's just paper that can be poked through."
"So, I proposed an idea of using softness to overcome hardness."
Tony took over, excitedly introducing: "Look here!"
He pointed to the connection between the suit's shoulder and chest.
"See these tiny gaps? This is no longer a single, rigid steel plate!"
"I made it into a modular bionic structure, mimicking an insect's exoskeleton, plus the shock-absorbing joints of human bones..."
Tony introduced it excitedly, and Lin Chen looked in the direction of his finger.
He saw that the edge of each armor plate was connected by elastic alloy hinges that were almost invisible to the naked eye.
And the Arc Reactor was embedded between these plates.
Tony reached out and pressed on the armor, and that area of the armor actually sagged slightly, deforming in a ripple-like manner outwards.
"When it suffers a heavy impact, it can deform by 15 to 30 degrees, like a water wave, instantly dispersing the impact force to the entire torso! Instead of letting one point take the brunt!"
"Not only that!"
Tony then pointed to the deep coating on the armor's surface.
"In key areas, I also embedded a Gamma-resistant coating developed by Banner! Radiation protection! Understand? This is simply a genius idea..."
Dr. Banner's face flushed slightly.
"And the most important point..."
Tony's tone became even higher.
"The outer layer is'soft', and the inner layer is 'hard'!"
"I've embedded tens of thousands of miniature pressure sensors in the lining of this suit!"
"Jarvis will use these sensors to capture my body posture, muscle exertion habits, and even my... combat intentions in real time!"
"So, it's no longer just a simple suit, but a robot with autonomous counter-attack capabilities!"
Tony's eyes sparkled with the light of a genius.
"That is to say, even if I'm ambushed or my attention is not focused, 0.01 seconds before the enemy's fist strikes, the suit will move on its own to block and counter-attack for me!"
"It's like my second skin, my second nervous system! It's my'Symbiote'!"
"Holy crap..."
Lin Chen's eyes twitched as he listened.
Bio-feedback structure?
Autonomous counter-attack?
Isn't this the black technology that, according to the original plot, wouldn't be fully revealed until the Mark 42 "Prodigal Son" suit?!
It's already been made now?
Indeed... when two geniuses get together, what they rub out isn't sparks at all.
It's nuclear fusion!
"How about it? Awesome, right?"
Tony had a "praise me quickly" expression.
"Awesome."
Lin Chen genuinely praised.
"Hahaha, I knew you'd say that."
Tony waved his hand, excitedly shouting: "Jarvis, suit up! Let's test flight it now!"
"Alright."
Jarvis's voice sounded, and the mechanical arms moved swiftly, the "Symbiote" suit covering Tony like flowing Water.
Then, Tony, wearing the suit, walked outside and, without a word, soared into the sky, drawing a magnificent arc in the air.
He performed several difficult maneuvers, eliciting gasps from Pepper, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion.
A few minutes later, Tony landed steadily in front of Lin Chen, and the helmet visor opened with a "swish."
"This suit is definitely my most perfect work!"
He announced excitedly.
Then, his gaze fixed intently on Lin Chen.
"Now, it's time for the most crucial step."
"What for?"
Lin Chen had a bad feeling.
"Sparring partner!"
Tony's lips curled into a wide smile.
"No matter how perfect Jarvis's simulated data is, it's not as real as a true 'monster'!"
"I need you... to hit me with all your might!"
Lin Chen: "..."
He had seen all sorts of requests.
But this was the first time someone actively asked to be beaten.
"You said it, okay?"
Lin Chen stretched his wrists, his knuckles making a series of crisp cracking sounds.
"If it breaks, I won't pay."
"Bring it on!"
Tony confidently closed his visor.
"Boom!"
Before he finished speaking, a scorching palm cannon had already slammed into Lin Chen's face!
Lin Chen tilted his head, easily dodging it.
"Is that all?"
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Tony's shoulder-mounted micro-missile launchers opened, and a dozen small tracking missiles, trailing exhaust, shot towards Lin Chen from all directions!
Lin Chen didn't dodge, a slight smirk on his lips.
Pig Talisman, Electric Eye!
"Buzz buzz buzz —"
Two thick, crimson lasers burst from his eyes, accurately detonating all the incoming missiles in mid-air.
"Rumble!"
The Fire of the explosion reflected the surprised red sensor lights on Tony's armor.
"Warm-up's over!"
Lin Chen's voice carried a hint of playfulness.
He pushed off the ground, activating the Rabbit Talisman!
He instantly vanished from Tony's sight!
"So fast!"
Tony was startled, and Jarvis immediately issued a warning.
"Sir! He's behind you!"
Tony spun around abruptly, and what greeted him was a fist the size of a casserole.
Ox Talisman, Absolute Strength!
For this punch, Lin Chen only used three-tenths of his strength.
He wanted to see how strong Dr. Banner's "using softness to overcome hardness" theory really was.
"Bang!!!!"
Accompanied by an extremely dull thud, his fist seemed to strike an ancient bell like a battering ram.
The air was instantly blown apart, forming a visible White ripple of air.
However, the anticipated scene of the armor shattering did not occur.
Instead, the chest of the "Symbiote" suit, at the moment of impact, the entire armor plate caved in, but it wasn't broken; rather, it was like a super-elastic metal pressed by a heavy object.
Countless intricate energy patterns spread from the impact point along the armor seams, like a spiderweb, across the entire body.
The impact force was dispersed to the extreme at this moment!
"It held up?!"
Beneath the faceplate, Tony was both surprised and delighted!
But Lin Chen's next punch had already arrived.
This punch was faster, more cunning, aimed directly at his face!
Tony's body couldn't react in time!
But just then...
Chapter 46: Unchangeable or an accident?
"Detecting high-speed physical threat, initiating bio-feedback, autonomous blocking!" Jarvis's calm voice rang out.
"Clang!" Mark X's left arm, as if possessing a life of its own, instantly rose at an incredible angle, precisely blocking Lin Chen's fist.
"Clang—!" The sound of metal clashing pierced the eardrums!
"Jarvis, smash him!" Tony yelled excitedly from inside the armor.
"Is that so?" Lin Chen's voice echoed faintly in his ear.
"If you're going to put it that way, then I'll have to get serious."
As he spoke, the Rabbit Talisman activated again, and Lin Chen's figure appeared above Tony's head.
With both hands clenched into fists, the power of the Ox Talisman was unleashed to fifty percent.
His legs descended like falling meteors, striking down with immense force.
"Sir, evade... it's too late!"
"Boom—!!!"
With a loud bang, Tony Stark was driven into the ground like a nail, leaving a massive human-shaped crater, filled with smoke and dust.
After a while, a steel arm emerged from the pit.
Tony shakily climbed out.
Although the surface of the armor had many cracks, it bravely withstood the blow.
The helmet visor "swished" open, and Tony's face showed no sign of defeat; instead, he was ecstatic, as if he had won the lottery.
"IT WORKED! Hahahaha! Lin! Did you see that?!"
"It held up! It all held up!"
"My baby succeeded!"
Watching Tony jump and dance in place, looking like a madman, Lin Chen shook his head helplessly.
This guy... he's really like an idiot... The test ended, and the two mad scientists plunged back into the lab.
After this practical combat, Tony believed that the armor's impact dispersion structure could be further optimized, and Banner agreed.
Lin Chen, however, couldn't be bothered with them.
For these two, doing scientific research was probably more interesting than picking up girls at a pool party.
He walked leisurely to the Villa terrace, enjoying the salty sea breeze of a California morning.
Just then, "Buzz—" his phone vibrated in his pocket.
Lin Chen took it out and saw a name on the screen that surprised him slightly: Nick Fury.
What did this guy want with him?
... S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, top floor of the Triskelion.
Maria Hill was holding a freshly brewed cup of coffee, ready to enjoy a moment of peace.
Suddenly, "Pop." A soft sound, like a bubble bursting.
A figure appeared without warning in the center of the office.
"Pfft—" Hill spat out a mouthful of coffee, startled and almost dropping the cup.
"Cough cough... Lin?!"
Nick Fury, sitting behind the desk, his single eye twitching violently a few times, was clearly quite startled by this ghostly entrance.
"Can't you just use the main entrance?" Fury's voice carried a hint of helpless weariness.
"The corridor is so long, what a hassle." Lin Chen naturally shrugged.
"Next time, for sure." Fury: "..."
He took a deep breath, deciding to skip this topic.
"Alright, Director Egghead, what do you need me for?" However, before he could speak, Lin Chen pulled over a chair and sat down boldly.
"Whew..." Fury took a deep breath, clasped his fingers together on the table, and his expression became serious.
"That monster... he's awake."
"Monster?" Lin Chen was stunned for a moment, then slapped his forehead.
"Oh, Abomination, right." He almost forgot about that.
Speaking of which, did he hit him a bit too hard?
This guy actually lay in a coma for so many days before waking up; he's really not durable.
Fury didn't know what Lin Chen was thinking. "If you want to ask anything, you can have Hill take you over."
"Okay, thanks." Lin Chen didn't refuse, simply got up and walked out.
Hill glanced at Fury, then reluctantly followed him... A few minutes later.
Led by Hill, Lin Chen passed through several heavy alloy gates and arrived at a heavily guarded special prison.
The prison was made of high-strength bulletproof glass.
Emil Bronski, dressed in a prison uniform, sat dejectedly on the ground.
Around his neck was a metal collar that glowed with a faint blue light.
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. "Is this... dog training?"
"Cough... It's just to restrict his transformation. We got some inspiration and technical support from Charles Xavier." Hill explained from the side.
"It can effectively suppress the gamma energy in his body and prevent him from transforming."
Lin Chen nodded.
And Bronski, inside the glass room, his pupils constricted sharply the moment he saw Lin Chen.
His body instinctively moved backward, and an undisguised fear appeared on his face.
Clearly, the memory of being repeatedly pummeled like a sandbag in Virginia that day had become an inescapable nightmare for him.
"Open the door." Lin Chen said to Hill, his tone flat.
"What?" Hill thought she had misheard.
"Open it." Lin Chen repeated.
Hill hesitated for a moment, but remembering the incredible combat power of the man in front of her, she gritted her teeth and pressed the button to open the door.
"Hiss—" The glass door slowly slid open.
Lin Chen swaggered right in.
"You... what do you want to do?!" Bronski instantly shrank into the corner, terrified, like a startled wild dog.
He thought Lin Chen was going to beat him again.
"Don't be nervous." Lin Chen squatted in front of him, even a kind smile on his face.
"I'm just a little curious."
"How did you turn into that monstrous thing?" Bronski was stunned by the question, then a hint of morbid madness and mockery crept onto his face.
"What? Do you want this power too?"
"It's wonderful, isn't it?"
"Heh heh..." Lin Chen chuckled.
He slowly raised his hand, gently brushing his palm across the lope belt at his waist.
"Ah!" Bronski let out a scream, his body instantly floating uncontrollably.
His limbs flailed helplessly in the air, as if an invisible hand had seized the throat of his fate.
Fear once again overwhelmed his entire mind.
"I'll tell! I'll tell everything!" He shrieked in terror.
Lin Chen snapped his fingers, and Bronski "thudded" back to the ground.
Next, Bronski dared not hide anything, pouring out everything like beans from a bamboo tube.
From General Ross's
Chapter 47 Fury's Regret
Hearing Consultant Lin Chen's words, "Let's discuss salary and benefits," Nick Fury's single eye twitched violently.
He knew it.
In this world, there was never a free lunch, much less a free "Consultant."
Especially when this Consultant could use Abomination as a punching bag, Fury had no reason to refuse him.
Fury expressionlessly picked up his coffee cup.
"You can ask for any conditions you want, as long as they're not too excessive…"
…Half an hour later, inside a secret research base of S.H.I.E.L.D., hidden deep underground.
The air here was filled with a cold scent, a mix of ozone and metal.
Consultant Lin Chen followed behind Fury, his eyes wide like brass bells, looking left and right, like a bumpkin visiting the city for the first time.
"Wow, is this a prototype particle beam weapon? The design concept is completely different from Stark Industries'!"
He reached out, wanting to touch the barrel that was flickering with dangerous electric arcs.
"Don't touch it!"
Fury's voice suddenly rose an octave, startling a nearby researcher so much that he almost dropped his petri dish.
Consultant Lin Chen reluctantly withdrew his hand.
After only a few steps, he was again attracted by a peculiar mechanical arm suspended in mid-air.
"Hey, this mechanical arm looks a bit familiar…"
As he spoke, he reached out to grab it.
"Stop!"
Fury felt his blood pressure skyrocketing geometrically.
"Consultant Lin Chen!"
He practically squeezed these words through his teeth, "Let me give you a friendly reminder."
"Any piece of equipment here is worth at least several million U.S. dollars."
"And some things are third-generation cutting-edge technology that money can't buy."
"If you break it, I won't be able to explain it to the Security Council."
Fury's single eye stared fixedly at him, full of warning.
"Don't worry, don't worry."
Consultant Lin Chen raised his hands, looking innocent.
"I'm a very law-abiding person."
"Click—"
Suddenly, a very faint but exceptionally clear crisp sound echoed in the quiet laboratory.
Fury's eyelids twitched wildly, and he spun his head around.
Consultant Lin Chen still stood in place, smiling brightly, harmless to humans and animals.
Only, one of his hands was subtly placed behind his back.
Fury stared intently at him, as if trying to burn two holes into him with his gaze.
Consultant Lin Chen met his gaze without blushing or a racing heart, his eyes as clear as a baby's.
A few seconds later.
Fury took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
He silently repeated three times in his mind:
I can't beat him.
He is an idiot.
The world needs him.
"…This way."
Fury turned around, feeling his stomach begin to ache again.
Behind him, Consultant Lin Chen stealthily tucked a silver-White metal handle, which he had accidentally broken off a precision instrument, into a gap in a nearby piece of equipment.
His movements were fluid and seamless.
Soon, the two arrived at a more heavily guarded core area.
A massive cylindrical instrument, covered in cooling lines and energy circuits, stood in the center of the laboratory.
Through the thick special glass, a cube could be clearly seen quietly suspended in the instrument's core.
It was the Tesseract that Howard had salvaged from the bottom of the sea all those years ago!
Its ethereal blue light seemed to possess life, breathing with a certain rhythm.
It wasn't actively emitting energy, but merely its presence caused a subtle, invisible distortion in the surrounding Space.
Every ray of light seemed to carry the weight of an entire galaxy.
Consultant Lin Chen's eyes instantly lit up!
It was like a wolf, starved for three days, seeing a plump lamb.
"That's it!"
"Quick! Open it! Let me touch it!"
He rubbed his hands, looking eager, almost drooling.
Seeing him like this, Fury suddenly began to regret his decision profoundly.
He started to question whether agreeing to this man's conditions was truly the right decision.
That's right.
Consultant Lin Chen had agreed to help Fury with a "trivial little matter," and the reward he demanded was neither an astronomical sum of U.S. dollars nor any special privileges.
Instead, it was a seemingly simple yet utterly absurd request… which was to let him personally touch the Tesseract.
To this day, Fury couldn't figure out what had possessed him to inexplicably agree!
But now, it was too late to regret.
He walked to the instrument with a grim face, and after a series of complex unlocking procedures like iris scanning, fingerprint verification, and voiceprint comparison, he entered a long string of passwords.
"Warning, energy core shield is about to be deactivated."
Along with a cold electronic voice.
"Sizzle—Hiss—"
A burst of White condensing gas spewed from the instrument's seams.
The cylindrical cover slowly rose, and a precise mechanical arm, holding the blue cube, slowly ascended to face the two men.
Space, at this moment, seemed to twist.
Endless energy, in a restrained yet magnificent posture, was displayed before Consultant Lin Chen.
Fury was about to open his mouth to warn him to "be careful, don't mess around," but he only felt a blur before his eyes!
"Whoosh!"
When he could see clearly again, the Tesseract had already landed steadily in Consultant Lin Chen's hand.
"You…"
Fury's single eye instantly widened!
This speed… if he hadn't known that the person in front of him had no ill intentions, he would have almost thought the other party was trying to snatch the Tesseract.
Consultant Lin Chen, however, completely ignored him; his entire mind was immersed in the small cube in his hand.
It was cold to the touch, yet it felt like holding a newborn star.
He tentatively injected a trace of the power of the Talismans into it.
First, the speed of the Rabbit Talisman!
"Buzz—"
Just a trace, yet the blue light on the Tesseract's surface surged!
The Space around Consultant Lin Chen instantly stretched and twisted, as if he was about to be flung to the other end of the Universe in the next second.
Good heavens!
Consultant Lin Chen was startled and quickly cut off the power.
Next, the power of the Ox Talisman.
"Boom!"
A powerful and irresistible repulsive force erupted from the Tesseract, almost shaking his palm open!
Then, the Rooster Talisman… the Tesseract vibrated violently, and all the surrounding metal instruments began to groan under the strain, as if about to be uprooted from the ground by it!
Consultant Lin Chen's expression gradually became solemn.
When he tried to simultaneously inject all the power of the twelve talismans, even just a tiny trace… "Buzz buzz buzz buzz—"
In an instant, the Tesseract seemed to transform into a cosmic deity that had been thoroughly enraged!
The dazzling blue light almost devoured everything!
An unstable Space wormhole suddenly tore open in front of Consultant Lin Chen, and a frantic suction emanated from it, seemingly wanting to swallow the entire laboratory.
"Alert! Alert! High-risk Space rift detected! Energy index off the charts!"
Piercing alarms instantly blared throughout the entire base!
"Let go!"
Fury roared in utter horror.
Consultant Lin Chen's forehead also broke out in a cold sweat.
Without hesitation, he quickly "clacked" the Tesseract back into the mechanical arm's slot.
Instantly.
The blue light receded, the wormhole closed, and the alarms subsided.
Everything returned to calm.
As if the apocalyptic scene just now was merely an illusion.
Consultant Lin Chen looked at his empty hands and sighed softly in his heart.
It really didn't work.
The Tesseract, as the container for the Space Stone, was essentially one of the six singularities of the Universe, a manifestation of rules.
Its power was pure, domineering, and exclusive.
His Talisman power, though miraculous, was essentially an "external" rule system.
Trying to use the Tesseract to activate the magic within the Talismans and integrate it into his body was indeed… no different from a fool's dream.
It would be good enough if two completely different rule powers didn't clash.
"It seems…"
In Consultant Lin Chen's mind, the bald woman in the yellow monk robe, smiling like an old fox, reappeared.
"…I really can only go to Kamar-Taj and try to borrow the Time Stone from that bald woman."
Chapter 48 Popsicle Veteran
The thought had just fallen in Lin Chen's mind, and he was about to turn around and argue with Fury, asking him to send him to Nepal before the mission began.
Just then, an unexpected change occurred!
"Buzz..."
An extremely faint tremor, like the flapping of a mosquito's wings, suddenly sounded.
The Tesseract, which had been securely placed back into its slot, unexpectedly flashed a faint blue light again without any warning.
The light was fleeting.
Immediately after, a streak of dark, cold light appeared out of thin air, falling straight towards the hard alloy ground with a sharp whooshing sound!
"Clink!"
Before the object even landed, and before Fury even had a chance to blink,
Lin Chen's figure had already transformed into an afterimage, his right hand shooting out like lightning, steadily catching the falling object.
His movements were so fast they seemed like an illusion.
Fury only felt a blur before his eyes, and Lin Chen was already back in his original position, as if he had never moved.
Only his open palm proved that everything that had just happened was not an illusion.
It was a uniquely shaped throwing star.
It was entirely black, exhibiting a matte texture that was neither metal nor stone.
The main body resembled the ninja throwing stars commonly seen in movies, star-shaped, with an overall gear-like appearance, its edges exceptionally sharp, exuding an ominous and eerie aura.
The moment Lin Chen saw this throwing star, his eyes suddenly widened.
His heart even skipped a beat!
A tidal wave surged through his mind.
Holy cow!
Isn't this... isn't this the standard shuriken of the ninja soldiers in the Shadowkhan?!
How could this thing fall out of the Tesseract?!
Could it be... Lin Chen's mind raced at an unprecedented speed.
Did my use of the twelve talismans' power to stimulate the Space Stone just now not merely cause a simple energy conflict?
But rather... but rather, it accidentally tore open an imperceptible rift between two Universes with different rule systems?!
Did it connect to the Shadow Kingdom with its Nine Generals?
Or... did it connect to another United States where Talismans exist and there's an archaeologist named Jackie Chan?!
Regardless of the possibility, Lin Chen's eyelids twitched wildly... He even began to suspect whether his arrival in this world, and inexplicably carrying the lope belt, was part of some grand scheme by powerful figures.
But then he thought, before his transmigration, he was just a small fry; if there really was a conspiracy, it wouldn't involve such a minor character like him.
"What is this?"
At this moment, Nick Fury's voice pulled Lin Chen back to reality from his shock.
The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s single eye was fixed on the throwing star in Lin Chen's hand, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, filled with scrutiny and vigilance.
His heart was also in turmoil.
The Tesseract had been studied by S.H.I.E.L.D. for decades, and apart from providing some energy, such a bizarre thing had never happened!
Yet, this guy named Lin Chen merely touched it... not only did it almost blow up the entire base, but now, it was like a gashapon machine, spitting out a strange, unheard-of weapon out of thin air.
How many secrets was this kid still hiding?!
"Do you recognize this thing?"
Fury asked in a deep voice, every word carrying an undeniable sense of pressure.
Lin Chen heard this and slowly raised his head.
The shock on his face had long vanished without a trace, replaced by that devil-may-care smile that Fury was already starting to get a stomach ache from.
"Swish."
He flipped his wrist, and the black throwing star disappeared, having been discreetly put away by him.
"Well..."
Lin Chen deliberately drew out his words but did not answer Fury's question.
He just deeply, meaningfully, glanced once more at the Tesseract, which had returned to its calm state.
As if looking at an old friend who had just sent him a surprise "delivery."
Then, he clapped his hands and turned to Fury with a relaxed expression.
"Alright, Director Egghead."
"I have received my reward, and I am very satisfied."
"Now, let's talk about my job."
"As your newly appointed S.H.I.E.L.D. Special Consultant, who is the first unfortunate soul I need to deal with?"
"..."
Nick Fury's single eye stared intently at him, silent for a full minute.
Even though he had a thousand questions he wanted to ask, he knew that at this moment, he would not get a single truthful word from this man, who was as slippery as an eel.
Force him to answer?
Fury had no doubt that the next second he might actually become blind.
He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, temporarily suppressing the surprise and vigilance in his heart.
"I plan to assemble a team."
Fury's tone returned to its usual steady calm.
"A rapid response unit to deal with... special crises that may arise in the future."
"The initially proposed core members, besides you, also include Tony Stark and Bruce Banner."
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow, a playful smile playing on his lips.
He almost blurted out,
"Oh? The Avengers?"
"You've finally made up your mind?"
Nick Fury's single eye, once again, widened abruptly.
"You..."
"How do you know everything?!"
He had just come up with the team's name himself; could this guy really read minds?
He felt like a naked fool in front of Lin Chen, with no secrets to hide.
This feeling was terrible!
"I guessed it."
Lin Chen spread his hands, his smile as innocent as could be.
"Don't be so tense, Director."
"Regarding joining this... 'Women's Federation' thing, I'll have to think about it."
"However, as a consultant, helping you with a small favor is still possible."
Fury: "Women's Federation?"
He clearly didn't get the joke.
But that didn't stop him from feeling exhausted.
He decided not to dwell on this conversation-killing guy and got straight to the point.
Fury turned directly, reactivating the Tesseract's protective device, and the heavy cylindrical casing slowly descended, completely isolating the faint blue light.
"There's a mission that requires you to go."
Fury spoke with unprecedented seriousness, his back to Lin Chen, while watching the Tesseract slowly descend.
"A week ago, an oil exploration team belonging to a Russian industrial group discovered a large aircraft, frozen for decades, near the Arctic Circle."
"I need you to go there."
"Ensure the absolute safety of the excavation work, and... bring the people, or things, inside back intact."
He gave Lin Chen a deep look.
"Recently, there have been some undercurrents in S.H.I.E.L.D."
"There aren't many people I trust with this matter."
Upon hearing this, Lin Chen's eyes instantly lit up.
The Arctic?
A frozen plane?
Good heavens!
This was about to kick off the Captain America's return storyline.
His brain raced.
Based on the movie timeline he had seen in his previous life, Captain America's unfreezing was roughly between "Iron Man 2" and "Avengers 1."
Which was around 2010 to 2011.
It perfectly matched the current timeline!
So... if the frozen old soldier was about to make his appearance,
Was the explosive male lead with the hammer also about to fall from the sky?
The Battle of New York seemed to be getting closer and closer!
Chapter 49 Captain, welcome to the 21st century!
The Arctic Circle.
The biting wind was like a knife, whipping up ice shards across the sky, and as far as the eye could see, there was only an endless expanse of white.
This was the end of the world, a desperate place where even life had to retreat.
"Hoo…"
Agent Coulson pulled his heavy, custom-made cold-weather suit tighter, and the white mist he exhaled instantly froze into frost.
He glanced at Natasha Romanoff, similarly dressed but still agile, a hint of solemnity in his eyes.
"The coordinates from headquarters are here. Thermal imaging and metal detection both show the target is about thirty meters deep beneath our feet."
Natasha nodded, her red hair fluttering slightly in the wind and snow, adding the only splash of color to this desolate white landscape.
"The excavation equipment and engineering team will take at least six more hours to arrive, and at this depth, the ice structure is very complex. Forcibly breaking the ice could easily damage the target."
Just as the two were discussing their next steps, a sudden sonic boom, as if air had been compressed to its limit, echoed in the sky.
The next second, Lin Chen's figure cut through the swirling wind and snow, landing steadily in front of them.
He was only wearing a thin black windbreaker, the zipper undone, leaving his T-shirt exposed to the terrifying sub-zero temperatures.
The biting cold wind whistled, making the hem of his coat flap, yet he seemed completely unfazed, even looking around at the snowy scenery with keen interest.
Coulson and Natasha fell silent simultaneously.
They exchanged glances, seeing the same speechless exasperation and headache in each other's eyes.
Why him… What on earth was Nick Fury thinking?
"Yo, good day to you two."
Lin Chen waved at them with a wide grin, as if he wasn't there for a top-secret mission, but for an Arctic vacation.
"Beautiful Ms. Romanoff, I must say, this bulky cold-weather suit does absolutely nothing to hide your astonishing charm."
Natasha's lips twitched almost imperceptibly as she responded in a professional, uninflected tone:
"Consultant Lin Chen, it's a pleasure to see you."
"Don't be so formal."
Lin Chen flashed, appearing like a ghost in front of Natasha, leaning closer to her, and whispered in a magnetic voice:
"Just call me Lin Chen."
Feeling the male presence so close, Natasha's body instinctively tensed for a moment, fearing he might pull another magic trick on her.
Fortunately, years of being an Agent quickly allowed her to regain her composure.
She simply took a half-step back, subtly creating a safe distance.
"Alright, Mr. Lin Chen."
Coulson stepped forward at the right moment, interrupting the tedious flirtation.
The good-natured Agent adjusted his goggles, a helpless expression on his face.
"Where's the plane?"
Lin Chen finally shifted his attention from Natasha to Coulson.
He looked around, then down, and stomped his foot on the accumulated snow.
"It's not under here, is it?"
Coulson nodded, pointing to the thick ice layer beneath Lin Chen's feet.
"Yes, it's right under your feet."
"OK, got it."
Lin Chen rubbed his hands together, an eager, excited expression on his face.
"Then you two step aside, stand clear."
"Such a glorious, historic mission as rescuing 'Captain America's Butt' is better handled by me personally."
Coulson: "???"
Captain… what?
Natasha's brows furrowed. She keenly sensed that Lin Chen seemed to know much more about the mission's target than they did!
"Be careful."
Natasha still dutifully reminded him.
"The ice structure below is very unstable, and we don't know the exact orientation of the plane. Any violent vibration could trigger an ice collapse."
"Don't worry, I'm a professional."
Lin Chen gave her an "OK" gesture, his confident demeanor both annoying and amusing.
Before he finished speaking, he slowly raised his hand and lightly brushed the lope belt at his waist.
The talisman totem carved with a pig's image immediately lit up with a yellow glow.
The next second, "Zzzzzzt—"
Two laser beams, hot enough to melt everything, shot out from his eyes.
The lasers, like two indestructible divine swords, instantly pierced the thick ice layer beneath his feet!
There was no violent explosion, no earth-shattering sound.
The millennia-old ice, hard as iron, was as fragile as a block of tofu before the Pig Talisman's laser light.
Lin Chen rotated his head, and the laser beams from his eyes moved with it, cutting out a massive square, a hundred meters on each side, from the vast ice surface with unimaginable precision.
The cut was smooth as a mirror, emitting wisps of white steam.
Coulson and Natasha's eyelids twitched wildly, their jaws nearly dropping into the snow!
This… this is what you call professional?!
However, what shocked them even more was yet to come.
Lin Chen retracted his gaze, his palm once again sweeping over his belt.
"Rise!"
He let out a soft cry and, with an ethereal lift of his hand, gestured towards the enormous block of ice he had just cut.
The Rooster Talisman activated!
"Buzz—"
A massive cubic ice block, weighing tens of thousands of tons, comparable to a small iceberg, along with the plane frozen within it, silently and slowly, under the lift of an invisible force, rose from the depths of the ice layer… and flew into the air!
The scene was filled with groundbreaking visual impact.
Coulson's mouth hung open in an "O" shape, unable to close for a long time.
Natasha's usually placid green eyes were filled with unprecedented shock!
She couldn't help but mutter:
"This guy… isn't he making a bit too much of a commotion?"
Coulson took a deep breath of the frigid air, forcing his heart to return to its normal rhythm.
He adjusted his sunglasses and replied with a tone mixed with awe and numbness:
"At least… he saved us several days of work."
Lin Chen maneuvered the giant "ice tofu," gently placing it on a clear space nearby.
Then, he repeated his trick, shooting lasers from his eyes again.
This time, his movements were more precise, like a surgeon performing delicate surgery, peeling away the ice encasing the plane layer by layer.
Soon, the complete fuselage of an antique-looking, giant bomber with Allied star insignia on its wings was exposed to the air.
Lin Chen excitedly used the laser to cut a standard doorway on the side of the plane's fuselage, then swaggered inside.
Inside the cabin, the cold was biting.
It was exactly like the scene in the movie.
The first thing that caught his eye was the circular shield, lying quietly on the floor, covered in thick frost.
Made of Vibranium, with a Stars and Stripes paint job.
Lin Chen's gaze lingered on the shield for a second, then fell on the pilot's seat.
There, a figure, frozen solid, still maintained the final piloting posture.
Steve Rogers.
Captain America!
Lin Chen's eyes lit up. He quickly stepped forward and tapped his finger lightly on the ice covering Steve, producing a crisp "thump-thump" sound.
He closed his eyes and sensed for a moment.
A moment later, he opened his eyes, immediately exclaiming in wonder:
"My goodness, this Super Soldier Serum is truly incredible!"
"A living person, frozen solid for decades, still has a heartbeat?"
Although the heartbeat was as faint as a flickering candle in the wind, threatening to extinguish at any moment, it was, indeed, a sign of life!
Lin Chen thought to himself, 'Well, of course.'
If he died so easily, then it wouldn't be Marvel.
Thinking this, he no longer hesitated.
He flipped his palm, and this time, it was the Horse Talisman, shining with healing light.
A gentle yet powerful surge of life energy, like a warm tide, instantly enveloped Steve's entire body.
"Crack… crack…"
The solid ice covering him melted and vaporized at a visible rate.
His pale, bloodless skin rapidly regained its healthy flush.
His almost stopped chest, after only two or three breaths… "Whoosh—Hah—!"
Suddenly heaving violently!
Startled, Steve Rogers' frost-covered eyelids shot open, revealing a pair of blue eyes filled with confusion and struggle.
He gasped for air, his body falling from the chair due to an instinctive survival reaction, collapsing onto the cold cabin floor.
Lin Chen looked down at him, a playful smile on his face.
He slowly spoke, his voice echoing clearly within this seventy-year-old frozen tomb.
"Captain."
"Welcome to the 21st century."
Chapter 50 I Missed a Very Important Date
Lin Chen's voice, like a stone dropped into an icy lake, stirred up ripples in Steve Rogers' chaotic consciousness.
"21st...century?"
Steve's blue eyes were bloodshot and filled with incomprehensible bewilderment.
The word was too distant, too sci-fi for him.
His brain was like an old machine being forcibly rebooted, with countless fragmented memories tumbling and colliding within it.
The roar of the engine...Red Skull's hideous grin...the cold control stick...and Peggy Carter's tearful promise over the comms...
"Hydra!"
He suddenly raised his head and grabbed Lin Chen's arm, the strength from the Super Soldier Serum still formidable even after seventy years of slumber.
"Where are Schmidt's bombs? Where is Doctor Zola?!"
His voice was hoarse, yet filled with the urgency and resolve characteristic of a soldier.
Lin Chen looked at him, not at all surprised, but rather with a hint of admiration.
As expected of Captain America, the first thing he cared about upon waking was not himself, but his unfinished mission.
"Relax, old popsicle."
Lin Chen casually patted Steve's hand, a gentle force causing him to involuntarily release his grip.
"Hydra?"
Lin Chen scoffed, his tone three parts casual, seven parts disdain.
"You mean those fascist remnants who tried to rule the world? Oh, they've already been crushed."
"Their leaders all died off a few years after your plane crashed."
"But..."
He changed the subject, drawing out his words.
"Cockroaches are always incredibly resilient. There are always those shadowy rats, hiding in dark sewers, stirring up the world's affairs for decades on end."
Steve's mind was even more muddled.
Crushed?
But not completely crushed?
What was all this about?
He staggered to his feet, looking around the cold metal cabin, every detail exactly as he remembered, but the presence of this man in the cabin and the surrounding frost told him that everything had changed.
"What...what exactly is going on?"
Lin Chen looked at his classic "Who am I, where am I, what am I doing" expression and almost burst out laughing.
Well, it seemed he had to double as a history teacher.
"Simply put."
Lin Chen held up one finger.
"You, Captain America Steve Rogers, to stop Hydra's bomb, flew this plane and plunged into the Arctic Ocean."
He held up a second finger.
"Your good friend, Howard Stark, who is Tony Stark's father, searched for you for a long time but couldn't find you."
Finally, he held up a third finger.
"So, you, like a human popsicle, were frozen here for seventy years. The world has undergone tremendous changes; we won World War II, experienced the Cold War, and now even cell phones can access the internet to watch videos."
"And I..."
Lin Chen pointed to himself, "accepted an invitation from an organization called S.H.I.E.L.D. to come here and dig up your old bones."
His words carried a huge amount of information.
After listening, Steve froze in place.
Seventy years...he hadn't just taken a nap, but had crossed an entire era.
Everything he knew, his comrades, his friends, the world he fought for...it was all gone.
An indescribable sense of loneliness and loss, like a cold tide, instantly engulfed him.
He was silent, head bowed, his broad shoulders appearing so desolate for the first time.
Lin Chen looked at him like this, raising an eyebrow with interest.
"Hey, are you alright?"
Steve numbly raised his head, his blue eyes, once as bright as the sky, now filled with an unresolvable sadness.
He tugged at the corners of his mouth, forcing a smile that was uglier than a cry.
"I...missed a very important date."
Lin Chen inwardly thought, "Here it comes."
This line was the soul of the Captain America character.
He was not a perfect War Machine; he was a lonely man who had lost his past and could not see his future.
Just then.
"Thump!"
"Thump!"
Two thuds of heavy objects landing came from behind Lin Chen.
Coulson and Natasha, finally unable to suppress their curiosity, jumped through the opening Lin Chen had cut with his laser.
"Who?!"
Steve's body instantly tensed, almost instinctively adopting a fighting stance, his eyes sharp as an eagle's!
Even unarmed, he was still a warrior.
"Don't be nervous, they're with us."
Lin Chen lazily waved his hand and stepped aside.
"Let me introduce you: S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents Phil Coulsonand Natasha Romanoff."
He paused, a playful smile on his lips.
"Speaking of which, they are also considered...descendants of your date."
"Cap...Captain?"
Agent Coulson, usually a steady and capable senior Agent, was now as excited as a star-struck fan, even stammering a little.
"Captain Rogers, it's an honor to meet you...a tremendous honor!"
Natasha was much calmer; she simply gave Steve a solemn, standard military salute.
"Sir."
Steve looked at the two people in front of him, dressed in modern clothes and with distinct temperaments, the wariness in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by deeper confusion.
Descendants of his date...?
Peggy...at the thought of that name, his heart felt as if it were being tightly squeezed by an invisible hand.
Just then, Lin Chen's slightly alluring voice echoed in his ear again.
"Hey, Captain."
"Want to see your date?"
"Boom!"
These words, like a clap of thunder, exploded in Steve's mind!
He suddenly turned his head, staring intently at Lin Chen, his voice trembling violently with excitement.
"She...she's still alive?"
Lin Chen nodded.
At the same time, he silently calculated in his mind, 'Hmm, according to this timeline, Peggy Carter, although an old lady now, is indeed still alive and well.'
"Of course."
Upon receiving the affirmative answer, the light in Steve's eyes was instantly ignited!
It was a flame of hope, like finding life in a desperate situation!
"Quick!"
He almost rushed to Lin Chen, grabbing his shoulders, pleading urgently.
"Take me to see her now!"
"Please!"
Watching Captain America's excited reaction, Lin Chenclicked his tongue.
Alas, heroes are always susceptible to beauty.
He deliberately put on a troubled expression, slowly saying:
"Taking you is no problem."
"However, you need to be mentally prepared."
"After all, seventy years have passed, and time, that butcher's knife, treats everyone equally."
"She...might not look the same as you remember her now."