After a brief rest, Su Zhan stood up, stretching his arms and feeling the lingering fatigue from his recent time-space travels. He was ready to focus on his next objective—one that was not for himself, but for the people he cared about. Iron Man's battle suit.
Su Zhan had never been particularly interested in Tony Stark's steel suits for his own use. With his array of powers, the armor would offer little he did not already have. But for someone like Felicia, who possessed remarkable flying skills but no superhuman ability, a steel suit would be a perfect fit. He recalled how Pepper Potts, too, had shown a clear fondness for the suits. Since they liked them, why not help them get what they wanted?
He smiled to himself. Sometimes, giving someone the means to protect themselves was the greatest gift he could offer.
With a thought, Su Zhan vanished from his room and reappeared inside Stark Tower. He paused, letting time freeze around him. The silence was absolute; the bustling city outside stilled as if caught in a photograph. Su Zhan walked through the luxurious halls, quietly impressed by the opulence of the place. Stark truly knew how to enjoy life.
It did not take long for him to find Tony Stark's laboratory. The place was a marvel of technology, filled with prototypes, tools, and holographic displays. Tony was there, focused intently on his work. Su Zhan noted that if Tony had not been on a break, or if Jarvis had been active, he might have been discovered even without using invisibility. He was not worried about being caught, but he preferred to avoid unnecessary delays.
His goal was not to steal a finished suit but to understand the process and structure behind their creation. The old adage echoed in his mind: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." It was better to master the art of making steel suits himself than to rely on taking what Tony had already built.
He moved to the workbench, where blueprints and materials were spread across the screens. Su Zhan's eyes widened in surprise. Among the designs was the anti-Hulk armor—a project Tony had apparently already begun. Tony's genius was undeniable. The anti-Hulk armor was only the beginning; Su Zhan knew that, in time, Tony would develop armors to counter Thor, the Phoenix Force, and perhaps even himself.
Shaking his head in amusement, Su Zhan turned his attention to the suits on display. With a gentle wave of his hand, the steel suits floated from their stands, lining up like soldiers awaiting inspection. He approached one and, with a touch, activated his telekinetic ability. The suit slowly disassembled, piece by piece, each component hovering in the air.
Su Zhan called upon the power he had gained from Sylar—the intuitive understanding of how things worked. He studied each part, not just memorizing its shape and placement but striving to comprehend its purpose and function. This ability was not as simple as copying or devouring; it required patience and practice, a careful balance of observation and intuition.
He assembled and disassembled the suit several times, gradually piecing together the logic behind its construction. With each repetition, his understanding deepened. He moved on to the other suits, noting the differences in function and design but recognizing that the core principles remained the same.
By the end, Su Zhan felt confident. If he had the right materials, he could build a steel suit from scratch. The only obstacle was the operating system. Tony's bond with Jarvis was unique, and without a sophisticated AI, the suit's power would be greatly diminished.
He considered this for a moment, then shrugged. There was no need to worry about the operating system just yet. With his abilities, he could always find a solution—or someone who could help create one.
Satisfied, Su Zhan reassembled the suits and returned them to their original places. He glanced at the clock and realized he had spent nearly three hours in the lab. The process had been draining, and he felt a wave of dizziness as he stood. He quickly teleported out, leaving the lab as pristine as he had found it, and restored time to its normal flow.
Back on his ship, Su Zhan allowed himself a moment to recover. The light ring glowed softly, wrapping him in energy as he flew toward the dark elf's spacecraft. By the time he arrived, the exhaustion had faded, replaced by a sense of accomplishment.
He entered his room and sat down, closing his eyes. "System, send me into the fighting arena," he commanded.
In an instant, the world shifted. Su Zhan found himself in the familiar space of the fighting field. He expected to see Claire, but instead, Jessica appeared before him. Like Claire before her, Jessica was startled and wary, her hands raised in a defensive posture.
"Where am I? Is this some kind of illusion?" she demanded, scanning her surroundings.
Su Zhan smiled reassuringly. "You're not in danger. I brought you here because I have something important for you to do. I need you to help me find two people: Charlie, a waitress with a super memory, and Hannah Gitelman, who can control networks. If there's a boy named Micah who can control machines, find him too. Once you do, have Charlie study artificial intelligence, and with Hannah's help, I want them to create a perfect AI."
Jessica looked taken aback. "Artificial intelligence? That's… a lot to ask. Finding people is one thing, but building an AI"?
Su Zhan nodded. "It won't be easy, but with Hannah's help, it should be possible. If you run into trouble, let me know. I'll do what I can to help."
He knew that technology could rival superpowers if developed properly. With the right team, he could not only replicate Tony's achievements but surpass them. Once the AI was perfected, he could copy their abilities, make any necessary modifications, and save time in the process.
Jessica hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. I'll do my best."
Su Zhan smiled, his confidence unwavering. "That's all I ask."
As the fighting field faded, Su Zhan returned to his room, mind already racing with possibilities. The road ahead would not be easy, but with knowledge, allies, and determination, he knew he could build something extraordinary—not just for himself, but for everyone he cared about.