Marvel: Starting with Iron Man in the Apocalypse

Chapter 107 Kryptonite Shards

Three days later, at dawn, Chen Haotian stood alone in front of the isolation chamber in Wayne Enterprises' underground laboratory. The Kryptonian fragment slowly rotated in the energy field, emitting a brighter blue light than before. According to the newly revised agreement, he had obtained independent research rights to this alien artifact, provided that data from each experiment was recorded and shared.

"Good morning, Mr. Chen," Bruce's voice came from behind. He was dressed simply in a white shirt and black trousers, looking more like he was attending a board meeting than overseeing an experiment.

Chen Haotian didn't turn around, his gaze still fixed on the fragment: "It's more active than when we last met. Its energy output has increased by 17%, and its resonance frequency is also subtly changing."

"What does this mean?" Bruce walked over to him and handed him a cup of coffee.

"That means it sensed our presence." Chen Haotian took the coffee, took a small sip, and said, "Or rather, it sensed something familiar to it."

Bruce raised an eyebrow: "Familiar?"

"Tony's Arc Reactor." Chen Haotian put down his coffee cup and started the control panel. "Kryptonian technology is based on solar energy, and the Arc Reactor is essentially a small-scale simulation of stellar energy. There's some kind of... kinship between them."

The holographic screen lit up, displaying a series of complex data streams. Chen Haotian's fingers flew across the virtual keyboard, adjusting the parameters of the energy field.

"Today I want to test its energy conductivity," Chen Haotian explained. "If it can resonate with the arc reactor, perhaps we can use this property to develop new energy transmission methods."

Bruce leaned back on the control panel and asked casually, "Your technological development path is quite unique. I've checked all the publicly available technology databases, and there's no record of any technology that was a precursor to the Arc Reactor. It's like... it appeared out of thin air."

Chen Haotian smiled slightly, without directly answering the question: "In the history of science, many groundbreaking inventions seem to appear out of thin air. Alternating current, transistors, lasers... before they were invented, no one could have predicted their existence."

"But those inventions all have clear development paths and theoretical foundations," Bruce pressed on, "while your technology seems to have skipped all the necessary intermediate steps."

Inside the isolation chamber, the Kryptonian fragment suddenly emitted an even brighter light, interrupting their conversation. The energy readings surged, exceeding the safety threshold.

"Interesting." Chen Haotian wasn't nervous at all; instead, he showed an excited expression. "It's responding to our discussion."

"A response?" Bruce straightened up alertly. "You think it's conscious?"

"No, it's not consciousness." Chen Haotian adjusted a few parameters to gradually stabilize the energy level. "It's more like a programmed response. Just like plants turn towards the sun, these fragments react to specific energy patterns and topics of discussion."

He pulled up another set of data: "Look here, when we discuss the origins of technology, its energy fluctuations are noticeably different from when we discuss other topics. It seems... to have a particular fondness for innovation and breakthroughs."

Bruce studied the data curves carefully, his brow furrowing slightly. "This is incredible. We've studied it for so many years and never discovered this characteristic before."

"Because you always try to control it, instead of communicating with it." Chen Haotian shut down the main energy field, leaving only the basic levitation field. "Now, I'm going to try to make direct contact."

"What?" Bruce stopped him. "The agreement clearly states that any direct contact must undergo triple security approval."

Chen Haotian took a silver metal glove out of his pocket: "I made this last night. It can simulate the energy characteristics of Kryptonian fragments, making them think I'm 'one of their own'."

Before Bruce could object, Chen Haotian had already put on his gloves and opened the isolation chamber. His hand slowly reached towards the suspended debris, his fingertips stopping a few centimeters from the surface.

"It's...breathing." Chen Haotian closed his eyes, feeling the flow of energy. "Like a miniature heart beating."

The light from the fragments softened, as if responding to his touch. A blue halo spread throughout the laboratory, bathing everything in a dreamlike hue.

Bruce watched warily, one hand discreetly pressing the emergency button on his belt. But unexpectedly, the fragments showed no aggression; instead, they moved closer to Chen Haotian's hand like docile pets.

"Incredible..." Bruce whispered.

Chen Haotian opened his eyes, which shimmered with a blue light similar to that of Krypton fragments: "It is lonely. On this planet, there is no other energy source that can communicate with it."

"You can communicate with it?" Bruce asked incredulously.

"It's not a verbal exchange." Chen Haotian carefully withdrew his hand and closed the isolation chamber. "It's a resonance at the energy level. It yearns for connection, yearns to be understood."

Back at the control panel, Chen Haotian began recording experimental data. His movements were swift and precise, each operation demonstrating his mastery of the technological equipment.

"Based on my preliminary analysis, this fragment is not just an energy sample," Chen Haotian said, pulling up a set of three-dimensional molecular structure diagrams. "It has complex energy channels inside, similar to the neural network of a living organism. I believe it may be part of some larger structure."

Bruce stepped closer for a closer look: "A larger structure?"

"Like a worker bee in a swarm, or a node in a neural network," Chen Haotian zoomed in on the image. "On its own, it's amazing enough; but what if we could find other fragments and reconnect them..."

"You will receive a complete Kryptonian technology system," Bruce continued, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

Chen Haotian nodded: "That's right. Moreover, if my theory is correct, this connection may not be just physical."

The laboratory suddenly trembled slightly, and the light from the Kryptonian fragment intensified dramatically, illuminating the entire room as if it were daytime. An alarm sounded, and red warning lights began to rotate.

"Energy overload!" the safety system issued a mechanical warning.

Bruce immediately activated the emergency protocol, but the control system did not respond.

"It's no use," Chen Haotian said calmly, typing a series of commands on the console. "It's not trying to attack us, it's trying to communicate."

"Communication?" Bruce stared incredulously at the energy readings, which had exceeded the danger threshold. "This method will destroy the entire lab!"

Chen Haotian didn't answer, but continued operating. Surprisingly, after he finished inputting his commands, the energy level began to stabilize, and the light from the fragments gradually returned to normal.

"How did you do that?" Bruce asked, his tone a mixture of surprise and wariness.

Chen Haotian pointed to the energy waveform on the holographic screen: "It's not releasing energy randomly, but transmitting information. The fluctuation just now is a kind of binary code, which translates to 'searching for its own kind'."

Bruce paused for a moment, then said, "I need a complete copy of this data, and a record of your decoding process."

"Of course, that's part of the agreement," Chen Haotian readily agreed. "However, I think we should focus on finding the other fragments. If my speculation is correct, there should be another Kryptonian fragment somewhere in Gotham."

"Why Gotham?" Bruce pressed.

Chen Haotian shut down the main control system, and the laboratory lights returned to normal: "Because the energy resonance is pointing here. Besides, don't you think Gotham's ability to attract special things is extraordinary?"

Bruce didn't answer, but his eyes showed he agreed. In Gotham, strange things always seem to happen one after another.

After the day's experiment concluded, Chen Haotian returned to the Marvel Universe with the first batch of data. Before the teleportation point closed, he turned to Bruce and said, "I'll bring Tony with me tomorrow. Two geniuses are always better than one, aren't they?"

Bruce stood in the empty laboratory, gazing at the now-calm Kryptonian fragments. He activated his communicator: "Alfred, I need all the files on the unknown energy source, especially those related to meteors or UFOs."

He paused, then added, "Also, check if there are any other similar debris reports in Gotham. Keep a low profile and don't attract attention."

The fragments shimmered faintly in the isolation chamber, as if responding to his words. Bruce approached to examine them, and for the first time realized that this collection was no longer merely an object of study, but a crucial piece of a mystery waiting to be solved.