"So, I'm going to shut down Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing division."
Tony's announcement caused a stir among all the reporters present. Obadiah, standing nearby, quickly took Tony by the arm, nudging him off the podium, and took his place with a smile.
"Our main purpose today is to tell everyone…" Although Obadiah was smiling, the twitching at the corners of his eyes indicated his extreme displeasure with Tony's actions.
"Tony is back, and he's in excellent health."
Tony ignored the chaotic reporters and Obadiah, who was trying to divert their attention on stage. Under Happy's protection, he pushed through the crowd.
Tony suavely pushed away the microphones extended by reporters, the flashes behind him merging into a dazzling white light. He winked at Pepper: "What, worried I'd be devoured alive by those vultures?"
Pepper's tightly pressed lips relaxed. She reached out to straighten Tony's crooked tie: "I'm more worried you'll suddenly announce you're turning the Stark Factory into an animal shelter."
"That's a good idea, write it down." Tony snapped his fingers, then turned to look at the grim-faced Rhodes, "Hey, Air Force Colonel, don't look at me with that 'I have to write another ten-thousand-word report' expression. Do you know how much tax I pay to earn the right to be this willful?"
Rhodes rolled his eyes: "The taxes you pay are enough to buy the Pentagon, but apparently not common sense."
Tony laughed, patting his old friend's shoulder, his gaze sweeping over the crowd to land on Chen Tian and Ethan standing in the corner. Ethan was nervously rubbing his fingers, while Chen Tian was thoughtfully staring in Obadiah's direction.
"Hey! Longguo Boy!" Tony shouted loudly, causing several reporters to turn their heads curiously, "What are we waiting for? Time to go home and throw my welcome back party!" He deliberately exaggerated his mouth movements as he added: "Free Maotai!"
Chen Tian snapped back to reality, a helpless smile flashing across his face. As he pulled Ethan through the crowd, he noticed Obadiah's icy glare—the bald CEO was still dealing with reporters on stage, but his eyes were fixed on Tony's back like a venomous snake.
"Are you sure you want to provoke him like this?" Chen Tian asked in a low voice as the three of them followed Happy out the door, "Obadiah looks like he wants to smash your head with a microphone."
Tony nonchalantly slipped into the Rolls-Royce: "That old geezer tries to murder me with his eyes three times a month." He took the whiskey Pepper handed him, "Seriously, you should see the board meeting minutes—every time I propose an environmental initiative, his bald head gets a little shinier."
Ethan nervously pushed up his glasses: "Tony, while your closing the weapons department touches me, it will affect many people's interests…"
"Doesn't matter." Tony's smile was still as cynical as ever, "Don't forget, my 'Armor' and…" Tony pointed to his chest, "This thing will make Stark Industries even more profitable, and those guys will lick my ass like pugs."
The car quickly arrived at the airport. Tony bounded up the boarding ramp, taking three steps at a time. At the cabin door, he suddenly made a dramatic turn and almost tripped over his suit—fortunately, he grabbed the handrail just in time.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he spread his arms wide exaggeratedly, "Welcome aboard the 'Piss Off Obadiah' private jet! This flight will take you away from boring board meetings and straight to the alcoholic paradise of Malibu!"
Pepper rolled her eyes and squeezed past him: "Excuse me, genius boss."
She turned back to Chen Tian and Ethan with a professional smile, "Don't mind him, this guy broke his brain in the cave."
"Hey! My brain is fine!" Tony protested, slapping the cabin wall, "Jarvis can testify—even though he's only a junior AI right now."
An elegant British accent suddenly filled the cabin: "In fact, Sir, according to your brain scan this morning, there was indeed a slight— "
"Shut up, Jarvis!" Tony huffily threw himself into the leather seat, "I'm going to fire you!"
Chen Tian, suppressing a laugh, found a seat with Ethan. Through the porthole, he saw Obadiah's black Mercedes speeding towards them, kicking up a trail of dust.
"Tony…" Chen Tian was about to warn him when he was interrupted by the pop of a champagne cork.
"Relax, Longguo Boy." Tony handed him a glass, unconcerned that the foam splashed onto his custom suit, "That old bald vulture's Mercedes is no match for my Gulfstream G650."
The plane's engines roared deafeningly. Tony suddenly leaned close to Chen Tian's ear and shouted: "Know why I call it the 'Piss Off Obadiah'?" Without waiting for an answer, he answered himself, "Because this plane cost him his dividends!"
As the sensation of super G-force hit, the plane soared into the sky. Tony pressed himself against the window like a child on his first flight, watching the ant-sized Obadiah stomp his feet in frustration.
"Ha! Look! He's stomping!" Tony excitedly slapped Ethan's shoulder, "I bet he's cursing right now—"
Before he finished speaking, the plane suddenly lurched violently. Tony's champagne spilled all over his pants.
"Damn it!" He frantically tried to wipe it off, "Pepper's going to kill me! This was her birthday gift to me!"
Pepper's voice came from the seat in front: "Fasten your seatbelts, kids, we've hit a little turbulence—and by the way, boss! Are you wiping spilled alcohol on the suit I gave you again?!"
Tony shrank his neck like a child who had done something wrong, muttering: "Does she have eyes on the back of her head…?"
— — — —
The group soon arrived at Malibu Beach. Inside Tony's large Villa, music was already booming, and colorful lights streamed through the windows.
Tony kicked open the Villa door, and deafening music immediately washed over them. He raised his arms like a rock star, dramatically spinning under the spotlight from the DJ booth: "Welcome to Starkland! Tonight's theme is—celebrating that the genius wasn't blown to smithereens!"
Ethan was pulled into the dance floor by several bikini-clad models, his glasses reflecting the hazy colorful lights. He awkwardly cast a pleading look at Chen Tian but was grabbed by Tony: "Don't even think about escaping, Doctor! Tonight we're rescuing you from the lab!"
Chen Tian stood at the Villa entrance, surrounded by music and laughter, yet it felt as if an invisible barrier separated him from it all.
He mechanically accepted the champagne offered by a waiter but didn't take a sip, simply letting the bubbles in the glass slowly dissipate.
Pepper keenly noticed his unusual behavior. "This isn't the place for contemplation," she said with a smile, handing Chen Tian a glass of Water. "Tony's parties are famous for 'destroying brain cells.'"
Chen Tian smiled: "Maybe I haven't adjusted to the time difference yet."
Pepper nodded understandingly, her gaze more concerned: "You know, Tony often talks about you two fighting side-by-side in the cave." She gently tapped Chen Tian's glass, "There will always be a place for you here."
"Thank you, Miss Potts." Chen Tian took a sip of Water.
"Just call me Pepper." She elegantly turned, then paused, "The sofa in the corner is more comfortable, and you can see the whole party—including whatever Tony throws into the pool next."
Chen Tian nodded gratefully and walked towards the corner shrouded in the shadow of palm trees.
The scene from the plane in the desert reappeared in his mind.
— — — —
The brilliant starry sky unfolded in his vision, the desert's heat replaced by the Universe's chill.
Lia stood in that starlight, her red leather jacket outlining her slender figure, and her shoulder-length black hair gently floating in the zero-gravity environment.
"Welcome, Summoner." Lia's voice, mixed with Diablo's deep voice, echoed in Chen Tian's ears.
"Summoner?" Chen Tian didn't understand.
"Yes, it was you who summoned me from my World." Lia's form began to change, Diablo's terrifying body replacing Lia.
He spread his hands, and the flowing galaxy suddenly stopped. "Summoner, what do you see in these stars?"
Chen Tian's pupils suddenly contracted. The scenes within the galaxy spun like a kaleidoscope, each fragment reflecting a chilling power—
Uchiha Madara's Rinnegan flashed with an eerie purple light, and the ninja alliance beneath his feet fell like waves of wheat; Saitama's bald fist tore through the atmosphere, his Impact blasting a thousand-meter-wide hole in the clouds; wherever Frostmourne's blade pointed, armies of the undead surged from the frozen Earth like a tide…
"This… What does this mean?" Chen Tian stammered.
"Summoner, these are all yours." Diablo's tone was somewhat teasing, "I didn't expect your power to be so strong, that you could summon various characters from all Worlds, and even make them obey your commands, including me."
Chen Tian looked dazed, pointing to himself, "Me? Summon them?"
Diablo nodded, then knelt on one knee, "Summoner, no, Master, Lord of Terror - Diablo, awaiting your call at any time."
Chen Tian clutched his head. Oh no, his brain felt so itchy, like it was growing brains.
No… that's not right. This… this is a transmigrator's benefit! It's a golden finger!
"Diablo! Do you mean I can freely summon characters from these scenes for my use?"
Diablo's ugly face, the corner of his mouth twitched. Did this guy not understand what he was saying? He was clearly speaking in human language.
But Diablo still didn't speak, because deep in his soul and thoughts, a deep imprint had been placed: obey the Summoner.
He nodded, as if in response to Chen Tian's words.
Chen Tian laughed excitedly, hands on his hips. When he first arrived in the Marvel Universe, he couldn't find his golden finger and thought he might die in some dangerous corner at any time.
Hardship leads to sweetness, indeed~
"Um… Master." Diablo looked at this seemingly crazed human and whispered, "Summoning has limitations."
Chen Tian's laughter abruptly stopped. "Oh, there are limitations? That's right, even systems in novels can't be without limitations, it's not some kind of ridiculously overpowered rich-guy novel."
Diablo didn't know what Chen Tian meant, so he ignored it and continued: "Master, the summoning limitation is very simple: one summon per day. It could be a summoned character, or an ability from the character's World, or, nothing at all."
Chen Tian's mouth twitched: "Sure enough, the system's summoning function is designed according to the black-hearted planners back on Earth. It can even be 'nothing at all,' isn't that just 'Thank You for Your Patronage'?"
Diablo watched Chen Tian talk to himself, increasingly feeling that the human who summoned him seemed a bit unclear in the head.
A hint of helplessness flashed in his crimson eyes, and his deep voice echoed in the void: "Master, now that I am your servant, you only need to utter the incantation to summon me, and I will appear wherever you need me."
"Incantation? There's an incantation?" Chen Tian's mouth gaped slightly, looking at the words Diablo had formed with Fire in front of him.
"In the name of Chaos and Fear—Crimson Moon, tear reality asunder!"
(When shouting, it is recommended to cooperate with the following actions: kneel on one knee, right fist pressed against the left chest, left hand raised to the sky in a claw shape, and finally, fiercely swing the left hand down. The effect is better, but please be careful not to have flammable items nearby.)
"Shadow obscures the sun, flames consume the heavens!"
(Advanced version can include: cross palms in front of the chest and suddenly expand outwards, while stomping to create a small earthquake effect. Minors, please attempt under the guidance of a professional demon.)
"Wings of Fear, cover the sky and obscure the sun!"
(Ultimate killing version requires: biting a finger to draw blood runes in the air, it is recommended to prepare a band-aid in advance.)
"Holy crap! What is this?" Chen Tian's mouth opened wider and wider as he read, "Who designed such chuunibyou incantations and actions?"
Diablo proudly puffed out his chest, crossing his arms, an expression of satisfaction with the incantations that summoned him.
Chen Tian's cheeks burned, as if someone had lit a fire on his face.
He stared at Diablo's smug expression, the demon's crimson eyes sparkling with a "praise me" light, his horns proudly tilted upwards.
"This… this…" Chen Tian's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, his tongue tied in knots. He could already envision the horrible scene of himself striking that "kneel on one knee, left hand in a claw shape" pose in front of the Avengers—passersby would definitely look at him like he was an idiot, and Tony would absolutely record this scene and loop it a hundred times.
Diablo tilted his head in confusion: "Master is not satisfied?"
He snapped his fingers, and the fiery words immediately transformed into an even more exaggerated version: "Or try this—'In the name of the Pandemonium, Wings of Fear obscure the sun and moon, King of Demons, heed my command!' The accompanying action is a backflip followed by three and a half twists…"
"Stop!" Chen Tian covered his eyes, the skin showing through his fingers so red it could bleed, "Can't you design something normal? Like… snapping your fingers or something?"
The King of Demons' tail curled into a question mark shape in confusion: "But that wouldn't be majestic enough." He suddenly lowered himself, leaning in mysteriously, "Master, when I hold motivational meetings in Hell, this set of actions makes low-level demons pee lava…"
Chen Tian despairingly realized that the Diablo in front of him was definitely not the majestic, terrifying demon god from "Diablo," but a chuunibyou-like, deeply otaku-esque idiot.