The scorching heat seared the endless desert.
Dizziness and drowsiness soon overwhelmed his faltering steps.
The vast, uninhabited expanse in the northern part of the Middle Eastern desert.
A desperate, gaunt figure trudged through the endless sands for what felt like an eternity.
His face was pale, his eyes bloodshot, and he staggered across the dunes. Tony Stark no longer felt alive.
*Boom, boom, boom.*
After walking for two full days without water, his condition was dire.
Hunger, thirst, dizziness, weakness.
The loss of physical strength and hydration had reached a point of near exhaustion and collapse.
For the first time, he felt the sun's cruelty. Its ultraviolet rays and blistering heat scorched the golden sand, making everything around him burn.
There were no beauties like those on Hawaiian beaches, not even a scorpion crawling across the searing yellow sand.
Though he had wrapped his head like a Bedouin, he couldn't escape the agony of sunburn after walking for so long.
Was he going to die?
Would anyone mourn him?
Tony Stark opened his mouth with difficulty, and in that moment of exhaustion, he seemed to want to utter a few final words. The words he mumbled through gritted teeth were incoherent, as if calling out someone's name.
His vision began to blur, and the instinct to collapse at any moment felt like the god of death whispering his surname.
*Plop!*
Finally, everything spun before him. Stark missed a step, tumbled down a dune, closed his eyes, and lacked the strength to rise again.
---
The yellow sand filled the sky.
Time seemed to stretch on endlessly.
It was as if his life was starting over from nothing.
Like a newborn, he was traversing the long journey through ovarian and amniotic fluid.
*Gurgle.*
*Gurgle.*
Yes, that was the only explanation Stark could muster for his current state, surrounded by water.
*Gurgle.*
It felt as though his outer ear canal was completely blocked, water rushing against his eardrum, swirling in the cochlea until it flooded his nasal cavity through the Eustachian tube.
The moment Tony Stark regained consciousness, his eyes snapped open, jolted by the sensation of water surging into his nose.
But what appeared as the water drained wasn't the soft wall of a womb—it was a luxurious chamber rivaling a five-star hotel.
The minimalist home design cleverly blended colors, light, and shadow.
A series of soft, non-primary lights kept the room bright and airy.
The atmosphere of the vast space was entirely innovative, with a floating cabinet, a platform mattress, a lavish bar counter, and a wine cabinet.
Stark was stunned. Since being thrown into the dark dungeon of the Ten Rings and enduring the scorching sun of the merciless desert alone, when had he ever seen a place this civilized?
It felt like a dream, as if he were back in Stark Tower, back in the days of luxury and his playboy lifestyle.
But everything had changed.
When his fingers brushed the glass in front of him, the transparent wall seemed to spark his imagination—or confirm a fact.
He was still alive!
*Drip, drip, drip, drip!*
The rapid sound of a machine echoed through the room. Tony Stark glanced over and saw that the massive water-filled container he was in seemed to activate upon his awakening.
In an instant, the sound of water being pumped roared beneath his feet. Feeling the change in flow, the indicator on the machine's far-left lever shifted from red to green.
*Gurgle!*
*Hiss.*
After a long moment, the clear green liquid drained completely, and the long-lost sensation of standing on solid ground flooded back into his mind.
Looking around, he saw lush green plants and manicured grass everywhere, which, combined with the high-end living environment, showed that the homeowner valued style and had substantial financial means.
Taking in everything before him, Tony Stark slowly moved his limbs, touched his face for a moment, and removed his oxygen mask.
"What's going on? Where is this?"
After taking two deep breaths and glancing around warily, Tony Stark poked his head out, still shaken.
As his movements became strangely light, he was shocked to realize that his physical condition was remarkably healthy.
Not only had the injuries and weakness that plagued his body vanished, but even the pain from muscle strain was gone.
In its place was the soft, comfortable sensation of skin fresh from a shower.
*Sizzle!*
Startled, Tony Stark immediately tore open his clothes, revealing the faintly glowing Arc Reactor in his chest.
"Damn, it wasn't a dream."
His eyes darkened for a moment, and Stark's expression grew heavy.
He remembered his last memory: a man completely dehydrated, collapsing in the vast desert. How could he now be in such a luxurious, civilized house?
The reactor in his chest reminded him that the journey toward death in the depths of the desert wasn't some absurd dream.
Tony Stark wrung the water droplets from his body, brought them to his nose, and sniffed gently.
"This smells like some kind of potion?"
*Ziiip.*
Suddenly, the glass cover in front of him slid open slowly. Tony Stark was instantly on guard. He glanced at the machine, which spanned about 50 square meters, and roughly understood its operating principle.
It seemed the glass cover opened automatically.
Stepping out of the container, Tony Stark carefully observed his surroundings and found no trace of surveillance cameras in the house.
He walked step by step into the living room and noticed the television was still on.
"Good morning, New Yorkers, and welcome to today's news."
"On July 30, Dr. Breezif, founder of Universal Capsule Company, announced that Pym Technologies, founded in 1973, has been officially acquired by Universal Capsule Company."
The founder, Dr. Hank Pym, and his daughter Hope Dane hold 35% of the shares. Dr. Breezif has appointed his son-in-law, Carrot El, as CEO!
"On the evening of the 30th, Carrot El announced that Universal Capsule Company will officially launch its core technological product to the public for the first time: the Universal Capsule!"
"On July 31, four months after Tony Stark's disappearance, Stark Industries' stock market stabilized. Obadiah announced the appointment of his successor as CEO, with Pepper Potts as his assistant."