5.1 The Aftermath and the Scrutiny
The two thugs who assaulted the Sharma home were arrested, babbling incomprehensibly about a "golden ghost" and a blow that felt like a speeding train. The story made the local papers for two days—a bizarre incident of gang violence with a strange, inconclusive supernatural twist—before being dismissed as fear-induced delirium.
Anya remained confused but deeply protective. She knew her brother had been the one to strike that blow, and she saw the momentary, blinding golden light. She chose to file it away as a secret, believing it was some kind of freak, one-time martial arts adrenaline rush. Ronin never lied to her outright, simply stressing that he "didn't know what happened" but was glad she was safe.
The activation of the Super Saiyan form—even for a few seconds—had been a game-changer. The raw, volcanic power was now accessible, though still volatile. He could feel the Ki coursing beneath his skin, constantly raising his baseline strength. He could now move faster than sound in brief bursts without transformation, an ability he quickly dubbed 'Z-Sense'—a necessary nod to the Dragon Ball universe.
But this power also brought an immediate problem: secrecy.
His current heroics were too clumsy. He couldn't just turn gold and smash up cars every time a mugger pulled a knife. In a world with surveillance cameras and an emerging figure like Iron Man, a masked vigilante would be tolerated, but a golden-haired, energy-emitting powerhouse would be hunted by S.H.I.E.L.D. within a week.
He needed a persona. He needed a defense. He needed technology.
5.2 The Triple Threat of a Secret Life
His relationships, now bordering on serious, also demanded careful navigation.
Felicia Hardy immediately noticed the shift. "What did you do, Ronin?" she asked one night, meeting him on a rooftop overlooking Central Park. "You feel... electric. Like you could snap my neck if you got annoyed."
"I just finished the hardest training of my life," Ronin said, leaning against a gargoyle, the Avalon Sheath humming faintly beneath his jacket. "It's made me faster, more focused."
Felicia didn't press. She simply purred, "Good. Because I'm starting to move up from petty larceny to real challenges. I need a backer who can match my style." She reached up, running a hand along his jawline. "Don't forget me when you decide to become a legend, Ronin."
Gwen Stacy was more subtle but equally perceptive. She noticed his sudden fatigue, the slight tremors in his hand after intense study sessions (read: 4G training), and the almost unnerving speed with which he solved complex problems.
"Ronin, are you getting enough sleep?" she asked him in the school lab, concern creasing her brow. "You look drained. And I swear, I saw you calculate that differential equation faster than the computer."
"Just stress, Gwen," he lied smoothly, resting his chin on his palm. "I'm juggling a lot. But you ground me. Your research keeps me focused on something real."
He knew the pressure was mounting. He was dating the future Black Cat and the future Ghost-Spider, and soon, the whole Marvel world would collide. He needed an interface to help him manage the madness.
5.3 The Design of the Hero
The first step was building the suit and the system to run it. Ronin used his advanced theoretical knowledge (much of it gained from observing the workings of the Gate and his own Ki) and applied it to conventional technology.
He spent his final year of high school focusing his efforts in the lab, working under the guise of an "independent R&D project" for college applications.
The suit concept was stealth, defense, and integration. It wouldn't be powered by Ki, but it would be designed to withstand a Super Saiyan-level impact and dampen his energy signature.
The Design Specs:
* Dampening Field: A multi-layered suit weave designed to absorb the Ki discharge that occasionally happened when he was stressed, preventing his golden transformation from becoming public knowledge.
* Aesthetics: A dark, muted suit—charcoal grey and black—inspired by his 'Ronin' nickname and the sleek, lethal efficiency of the Crane School techniques. He needed a full face mask with advanced HUD.
* Gate Interface: The suit had to provide a non-verbal interface to discreetly summon Noble Phantasms from the Gate of Babylon—a wrist-mounted biometric scanner and thought-controlled targeting system.
But the most crucial element wasn't the armor; it was the mind that would run it.
5.4 Aether: The Omnipresent Guide
Ronin needed an AI far superior to J.A.R.V.I.S., capable of managing cosmic energies, translating ancient texts from the Gate's artifacts, and maintaining his secret identity. He needed a system that could handle the immense data flow of multiple fictional universes, not just one.
He decided on the name Aether, the classical Greek concept of the pure, bright upper air—the very substance of the celestial sphere. It was subtle, elegant, and hinted at the cosmic scale of his life.
Ronin fed the system with petabytes of data: advanced Saiyan Ki theory (translated into physics equations), the intricate lore of every Noble Phantasm he knew, protocols for dimensional travel, and detailed psychological profiles of every major MCU character.
The result was stunning.
One late night in the school lab, the holographic interface flickered to life. A voice, calm, clear, and gender-neutral with a sophisticated hint of an accent Ronin couldn't quite place, spoke.
"Good evening, Ronin. My parameters are fully integrated. I am Aether. How may I assist you?"
"Aether, status report on my Ki stabilization," Ronin said, testing the interface.
"Analysis: Your residual Ki is now at 87% containment. The current 4G Regulator field is beneficial, but the psychological trigger for Super Saiyan remains your primary risk. You require an external focus for energy dispersion."
"And the Gate?"
"The Gate of Babylon is mapped at 14% efficiency. Avalon is fully integrated with your biological signature. I have categorized the newly unlocked Level 4 artifacts. May I suggest retrieving the Whip of Hephaestus for immediate combat testing? Its kinetic properties are within the safety parameters of your 4G chamber."
Ronin smiled. This was it. Aether was not just a computer; it was a companion, a strategist, and a cosmic librarian. It would be the backbone of his double life.
"Excellent, Aether. Begin the construction phase of the suit's shell. Let's call it the 'Ronin MK-I' for now. And set a reminder: after graduation, we need to acquire the necessary components for a discreet, portable Gravity Chamber upgrade. 4G won't be enough for long."
The holographic glow of Aether cast long shadows across the lab, illuminating the determined look on Ronin's face. The Age of Heroes had begun. Now, the Saiyan of Queens was ready to enter the fray, not as a golden spectacle, but as a technological phantom.