Tony had already taken off his shirt, revealing a body that, while not as exaggerated as Henry's, was undeniably muscular, along with the Arc Reactor on his chest emitting a faint blue light. He lay down without hesitation.
With Jarvis's assistance, the experimental pod slowly tilted up, just like when Captain America underwent the transformation.
Henry walked to the main control console and skillfully operated the instruments, preparing to inject the serum into Tony. Ethan took a syringe connected to various tubes and walked up to Tony.
"Ready, Tony?" Ethan teased, smiling.
"I should warn you, according to Dr. Erskine's notes that you just read, the process might be a little painful. Try not to scream; it would be embarrassing."
"Painful?" Tony was immediately angered. His damned arrogance took over again.
"Are you kidding me! I'm Tony Stark! I barely flinched when shrapnel lodged near my heart, and I didn't even use anesthetic! Is a little pain going to defeat the world's richest man? Ethan, you disappoint me!"
"Well, I hope so," Henry also mocked from the control console.
"But I still suggest Jarvis prepare soundproofing panels. I don't want to get tinnitus for several days because of someone's screaming."
"You two bastards!" Tony gritted his teeth.
"Just you wait! When I come out, I'll show you what true power is!"
"Alright, alright, we'll be waiting," Henry waved his hand.
"Everything is ready. We can start anytime."
Tony was about to say something, then looked at Henry, seemingly remembering something, and suddenly asked, "By the way, before I become 'seven-times-a-night,' I have one last question. Who exactly is that 'American Ass' you mentioned?"
Henry shrugged, wearing an expression that implied, How do you not know this?
"Who else? Captain America, Steve Rogers, of course," he said with a mischievous grin.
"Haven't you seen his photos? That spandex suit... it perfectly outlines his round, perky backside... tsk tsk, it's just ridiculous. The military recruited 30% more soldiers thanks to his poster. Didn't you know that?"
"..." Tony was stunned. He thought about the visual, then laughed.
"You're actually focusing on a man's butt. Is there something wrong with your orientation?"
"I'm just stating a fact," Henry countered.
"A man with a perfect ass will always be the centre of attention, no matter where he goes. And you're about to have one yourself."
"Alright, stop the nonsense. Lie down, Mr. American Ass."
"Damn it! You're the American Ass!" Tony retorted, but the smile on his face couldn't be hidden. He lay down completely, his eyes full of anticipation.
Henry pressed the final button.
WHOOSH!
The translucent chamber door slowly closed, completely enveloping Tony.
"Jarvis, begin the injection."
"Affirmative, Sir. Project Prometheus is officially launched."
Soon, the pale blue nutrient solution began to fill the experimental chamber. Simultaneously, another syringe filled with a pale gold serum slowly pierced Tony's arm. The machine began to hum loudly, running at high speed.
Ethan and Henry stood outside the chamber, watching Tony inside, and they started chatting.
"What do you think he'll turn into?" Ethan asked curiously.
"He'll probably be like that old popsicle—a few inches taller and a muscular hunk," Henry said dismissively.
"I just wonder if his ass can get as perky as Captain America's. After all, talent like that is hard to acquire later in life."
Just then, a painful cry echoed from the experimental chamber!
"AH!!!"
The sound was utterly miserable. Ethan instinctively looked at Henry, his face etched with worry. Henry just spread his hands, wearing an expression that said, I knew it.
"See, I told you," he said.
"He's always been stubborn."
"But, is he really going to be okay?" Ethan's scalp was tingling from the increasingly screaming.
"The serum transformation process is painful, but not this much. Could Tony's vital signs be in danger?"
"Danger? Of course not," Henry took a casual sip of wine.
"You underestimate him, Ethan. As stubborn as his mouth is, that's how stubborn his life is. Besides, do you really think he's screaming so miserably because of the pain?"
"Isn't he?" Ethan asked, puzzled.
"Of course not," Henry scoffed, analyzing.
"Based on my over twenty years of observation, Tony usually chooses to attack others with more vicious words to distract himself when he's in pain. He's screaming so loudly now because he probably thinks it adds a certain dramatic effect. He's probably imagining himself as some tragic hero undergoing an epic transformation and about to save the world. Trust me, he's loving it right now."
Ethan heard this twisted logic and was momentarily speechless. He looked at the figure inside the chamber, convulsing and veins popping out from the sheer pain, then looked at Henry, who was perfectly calm and even sipping wine. He felt like he was the abnormal one.
"Ah! Jarvis! The energy output is too high! Are you trying to cook me?! I smell burning protein! Are my chest hairs on fire?!" Tony's roar continued inside the chamber, his voice hoarse with pain. But listening closely, there was indeed a certain force behind his voice.
"Sir, all data is within safe parameters," Jarvis's gentle voice responded.
"Safe? You call this safe?!" Tony roared.
"My cells feel like they're being gnawed on by ten thousand flesh-eating ants! My bones feel like they're in a blender! Henry! You damned bastard! Did you put chili oil in the serum?!"
"Oh, you wound me," Henry responded lazily through the chamber door.
"I merely suggested Jarvis add a little mustard oil to the nutrient solution. You know, to keep you awake and prevent you from falling asleep during the transformation."
"F-ck!" Tony's curse was finally drowned out by an even more violent scream.
Ethan looked at the two living joke brothers and finally smiled helplessly. He thought, perhaps he really didn't need to worry too much. After all, a guy who still has the energy to curse at a time like this is usually quite resilient.
Time passed second by second amidst Tony's screams. The energy light inside the experimental chamber, which started as pale gold, gradually grew brighter and more intense, finally becoming a blinding pure white light that was hard to look at directly.
On the holographic screen, the curves representing Tony's physiological data spiked madly, breaking through limits and rising again. Red alarm symbols flashed continuously, only to be quickly resolved by Jarvis.
"Cell reconstruction 78% complete..."
"Bone density reinforcement complete..."
"Nerve response speed increased to ... 8-9 times that of a normal person..."
Jarvis continuously reported the progress of the experiment, his voice steady. Henry and Ethan stood silently by the control console, watching.
×××××××××××××××
If you're interested, you can read advanced chapters:
p-atreon.com/Heroicverse