The first to appear was Matt. Don't ask, if you ask, it's because he's the weakest. Moreover, Matt himself had no objections to this. Therefore, when Hong Fei raised the issue, he very proactively stood out first. Admitting it yourself is much better than having everyone imply with their gazes and smiles, "You newbie, why haven't you stepped out yet?"
In The Foundation's team, there is never any behavior where others look down on you or mock you because you are weak, because everyone is very clear that whether it's the weak one or the strong one, they have all been taught a lesson by someone to some degree; at most, everyone is just in the same boat, with no one better than the other.
Matt stepped forward, gave his wrist a light flick, and the new iron armor and uniform, crafted using nano technology, quickly covered his entire body. This was a suit of iron armor primarily black in color, fitting the body's lines very snugly, with no exaggerated sharp angles or bulges; it looked as if he had simply put on a black garment.
Under the sunlight, a soaring divine dragon could be faintly seen on the center of the chest and back of the iron armor... This was the uniform specifically made for everyone this time, and also for the first time.
Its prototype came from Hong Fei's black-based dark gold dragon-patterned iron armor; the biggest modification was changing the dragon pattern that wrapped around the body into a circular dragon on the chest and back, existing as a dark pattern that could only be discerned during the day or when light shone directly on it. It was very low-key, yet also very luxurious.
Because the main material was Vibranium, and the auxiliary material was Uru. Everyone's was the same. Vibranium provided the original powerful defensive capabilities, and its properties were also utilized by Dr. Helen Cho in conjunction with Princess Shuri from Wakanda. The Black Panther suit could store the kinetic energy received by the suit and release it to attack.
This function was too good not to use, and using it was definitely not a waste; it was equivalent to providing every iron armor owner with an extra powerful skill—the Star Shift. During the process of the Black Panther suit storing kinetic energy, the suit would display changes in different colored lights.
As for the performance of the black-based hidden dragon pattern uniform, it was in the circular dragon pattern on the chest and back; as the received attack power increased, the circular dragon pattern would gradually become brighter, until it finally condensed into a pure gold color, forming a sharp contrast with the black of all other parts.
At this time, the wearer could release this kinetic energy through various means, and the form after release would be a divine dragon. This was a very obvious technological innovation inherited from the same lineage. As long as the iron armor existed for a single day, no one could forget the Dragon King; even if they wanted to pretend, they couldn't.
The iron armor made from the combination of Vibranium and Uru was undoubtedly the best choice on Earth, bar none. If the iron armor disappeared, then the person wearing it was probably dead too, so the significance of forgetting or not forgetting would not be great by then. This was not Hong Fei's own consideration, but a little trick of Dr. Helen Cho. Hong Fei liked it very much.
As for why Uru was added, it was still for the sake of "Qi". Hong Fei had already passed down all the cultivation methods of "Qi", and everyone could practice step by step; as for what they could eventually achieve, it would have to depend on their own comprehension. It is true that superheroes are very powerful, but in reality, being a superhero is not that comfortable.
Besides having to pay various prices for their sense of justice, their biggest characteristic was probably self-improvement. Many people, after transforming into super-powered individuals, almost completely stood still; if they did not rely on special items or technological equipment, they might not have any obvious progress until they died, and might even inevitably regress.
Qi is not some peerless divine skill, nor can it help them advance by leaps and bounds overnight. But it is the most stable, safest, and clearest path of progress in the world. For example, Xu Wenwu had been practicing Qi for quite some time now. He not only made rapid progress himself, but his control over the Ten Rings energy had also leaped forward significantly.
If he were to encounter the Hong Fei of that year again, even if he didn't win, he would definitely not lose. It was precisely because of this that there was the so-called "stagnation" and "lack of ambition" in Hong Fei's words earlier. Being weak is fine; you can practice. If you are still weak after practicing, then perhaps there is a problem with your talent and the direction of your efforts.
Boss Hong, Second Brother Fu, and Third Brother Xu could help you solve the problem through various means. If you are weak and don't practice, then that means there is a serious problem with your attitude and spirit. Third Brother Xu would directly eliminate you, Second Brother Fu would say you are guilty and then eliminate you, and Boss Hong would eliminate you with a smile.
What a harmonious team this is. Besides the aforementioned almost identical main body, every set of iron armor belonging to different people had markings specific to their own characteristics. This was to distinguish the identities of different people, and this part of the markings could be hidden in daily life. When necessary, it could be used to hide one's identity.
Reality is not a movie; there is no need for everyone to see at a glance who this guy is. The marking was on the right chest position, diagonally above the circular dragon. The marking belonging to Matt was simple: a pair of sunglasses. In order to highlight the black on the iron armor, white edges were specially drawn on the periphery.
The sunglasses were not to mock him for being blind, but because the most prominent feature of his entire body was the sunglasses. Besides that, in terms of combat skills, most people in the team could use their skills to beat the crap out of him directly.
His most brilliant aspect was his god-like senses, but using sunglasses to represent this wasn't bad either: apart from not being able to see, the other organs on my body are very useful. Matt took a deep breath and turned to face Hong Fei. Hong Fei patted his shoulder with a smile, "Go."
Matt nodded solemnly and flew up.
Flight is very important; this means that everyone in The Foundation's hero sequence can easily confront over 90% of the criminals in the world... as well as official violent institutions. At the very least, no one can easily threaten all the heroes with ordinary bombs or even missiles.
They can withstand it and not die in situations where they cannot evacuate due to various factors, and even when facing problems of trains and killing, they don't need to blame themselves too much. For the sake of some heroes, Master Hong really broke his heart worrying. When Matt soared into the air from the building, the drones patrolling in the distance discovered his existence immediately.
The view turned over, and whether it was the onlookers and reporters on the scene, or the audience watching the live broadcast across screens, everyone instantly let out surprised shouts. Heroes! They're here!
"Dragon King! It's the Dragon King! That is the Dragon King's iron armor!"
"It's a pity, the Dragon King didn't show his face."
"Sigh, I really want to know what the Dragon King looks like."
The domestic TV reporter broke in with urgent coverage, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Superpower Foundation delegation has arrived. Let me clarify—the Foundation comprises several distinct membership categories."
"According to our exclusive briefing from the Dragon King," the reporter continued, "the Foundation now classifies all members into five sequences: Hero, Special Service, Logistics Support, Paradise, and Volunteer. Of these, the Hero and Special Service sequences represent different tiers of combat operatives."
"All superpowered individuals must complete a probationary period in Special Service before qualifying for Hero status through rigorous evaluation. Notably, like the Volunteer Sequence, Special Service recruitment will soon open globally to all humans."
"Every sequence follows the Foundation's ten-level advancement system. Even volunteers can theoretically reach Level 10 through dedicated service, earning corresponding privileges. This has been an exclusive report from ** TV station."
The barrage exploded with comments:
"So that explains it! Then this guy probably isn't the Dragon King?"
"Obviously not—headliners always make their entrance last!"
"Hold up—why 'exclusive' briefing? Straight from the Dragon King's mouth?"
"Confirmed shady dealings—spill the tea! Your secret's safe with me."
"Fifty-cent army alert above!"
"Standard backroom deals, plus the Dragon King's gotta be Chinese."
"Please don't tell me he's a banana."
"Zero chance. Sokovia's crawling with our construction crews, and our domestic outlets always break his news first. My bet? Deep-cover operative."
"Hey 'expert' above—care to share your home address? Let's have a chat."
The screen cut back to the studio where the news anchor wore a professional smile, though excitement glittered in his eyes.
"Viewers, you've just witnessed the official uniform debut for the Foundation's Hero Sequence."
"This cutting-edge design utilizes advanced nano-armor technology," he announced, "powered by the micro cold fusion reactor you all recognize. Our nation has achieved critical breakthroughs in this field, with civilian applications expected imminently."
The barrage went wild:
"Holy hell!"
"Holy mother of—"
"Did the anchor forget a whole sector?"
"That tech's been around for years but never caught on overseas, right?"
"Roll it out today, wake up tomorrow with twelve gunshot wounds to the back—suicide, obviously."
"If you claim there's no backroom dealing, I'll eat my hat!"
"Will electricity prices drop?"
"H20 should go nuclear already! I've got time!"
"Uh... just bought a gas guzzler. Return it now?"
"Return it and wait for fusion-powered wheels? How many diamond mines you own, buddy?"
"Stock market's gonna implode!"
"Brothers... the rooftop breeze tastes salty today. And bitter."
"Brothers, quick question—what exactly do cops check after sudden deaths?"
"Can formatted hard drives be recovered? Best way to nuke browser history?"
As the comments spiraled into chaos, the live feed glitched. The camera zoomed in sharply, centering on the emblem emblazoned across the iron armor's right breastplate.
"Brothers, may I ask what the police will check if I suddenly die?"
"Ladies and gentlemen, take note of this distinctive mark on The Foundation's pristine uniform. It serves to identify each individual hero. The emblem you see now depicts a pair of sunglasses, which clearly indicates this isn't the Dragon King, but another member of The Foundation: Matt Murdock, also known as Daredevil."
The barrage erupted with comments, "Daredevil? The Night Demon? He's a hero now?"
The reporter nodded.
"Yes, though blind, his other senses are extraordinarily heightened."
A viewer quipped, "Can he smell that I'm on the toilet right now?"
"He's also a practicing lawyer," the reporter added.
Another comment popped up, "Sorry, my cat just walked across my keyboard."
Matt soared through the air, the cheers of the crowd below vibrating through him. For a brief moment, exhilaration surged through his veins. He followed the flight path Hong Fei had mapped out, circling the sky before plunging downward in a dramatic descent toward the center of the square in front of the United Nations headquarters. Every eye in the crowd and every camera lens tracked his movements.
When Matt touched down, the cheers momentarily ceased, replaced by a collective intake of breath. He could hear the rapid heartbeat of every person around him. Rising slowly, he felt a nervousness unlike anything he'd ever experienced.
He was acutely aware that the world was watching—not just the people in front of him, but countless viewers across the globe behind screens. Nervousness was inevitable. He straightened his posture, lifting his chin and squaring his shoulders. He'd never stood taller.
Taking a deep breath, the nano-armor retracted seamlessly. Matt retrieved his sunglasses from his pocket and slipped them back on. In that moment, he appreciated his blindness—it spared him the discomfort of making eye contact with so many people.
Silence. Then, thunderous applause. Though Matt was a newcomer to The Foundation, he already had fans. His time with the Avengers had earned him a following. In a sense, he'd already debuted.
Upstairs, Luke Cage prepared to follow, and the others lined up behind him. The intervals between their departures shortened, and the cheers crescendoed into a continuous roar.
More than a dozen superheroes landed in unison, quickly shedding their iron armor to reveal their true faces. Each arrival sent ripples of excitement through the already electrified crowd. When Tony Stark and Steve Rogers appeared, the frenzy peaked.
In contrast, Xu Wenwu's landing at the forefront of the group elicited a more subdued reaction. Most of Hong Fei's team were unfamiliar to the crowd, and Xu Wenwu's presence didn't immediately ignite the same fervor.
The reporter's voice cut through the noise.
"Xu Wenwu, current chairman of The Foundation, ranks first in the Hero Sequence. He is primarily responsible for all major decisions within The Foundation and is one of the Dragon King's most trusted allies. He is also the strongest in the Hero Sequence, second only to the Dragon King himself. Recently, a terrorist impersonated him to attack Tony Stark, who is now a subordinate of The Foundation. Xu Wenwu exposed the deception and restored his reputation."
At the same time, we learned from the Dragon King that he comes from China."
His title alone—Chairman of The Foundation—ensured his face would be remembered. On the roof, Dr. Helen Cho adjusted Hong Fei's clothing one last time.
"Go ahead. I'll take the car downstairs, and we'll meet at the headquarters."
"You can come with me," Hong Fei offered. "No need to rush."
The voice carried quiet amusement.
"It's enough that you can say that."
"Then... alright."
"Remember one more thing."
"Got it—don't cause trouble."
Dr. Helen Cho suddenly laughed, the sound bright against the tension.
"I know it's impossible for you not to cause trouble. Just try not to kill anyone on live television."
Hong Fei's answering smile made her sigh helplessly before she even finished speaking. What awaited Hong Fei were the world's top elites—many of whom nursed open hostility toward heroes. Worse, they despised anyone outside their inner circles. Half of them probably worshipped those pale monstrosities too.
They considered the United Nations their personal playground, New York their backyard. Trouble was inevitable. These fools would absolutely seize any chance to provoke him. And Hong Fei had exactly one method for dealing with provocateurs: sending them straight to God.
Though if their own dogma held true, such trash would burn in hell instead. Today wouldn't end without bloodshed. Some people only learned through violence—if they learned at all. Killing wasn't just necessary now; it would remain a recurring requirement.
This wasn't escalation. This was establishing the new normal. The Foundation is the revolutionary of the world, and revolution always requires bloodshed and sacrifice. Let the blood be theirs. Let the sacrifice be theirs. The math was brutally simple.