At this moment, inside Stark Tower, Howard Stark was conducting an experiment that could affect the World; he was about to attempt to synthesize a new element.
Once successful, humanity would usher in a new energy era.
He had originally collaborated with Anton Vanko to design the first generation Arc Reactor.
However, Vanko later wanted to sell this half-finished product, and Howard disagreed, leading to their eventual falling out.
Vanko ultimately stole the incomplete design blueprints and fled to the Soviet Union, but he never managed to obtain a generous reward from those half-finished reactor blueprints.
He blamed all of this on Howard Stark, which directly influenced his son, Ivan Vanko, who also possessed a genius mind but was radical; in the original timeline, he would eventually seek revenge on Tony, who became Iron Man.
However, these were all matters for later!
The Arc Reactor was a groundbreaking product, a significant leap forward for humanity in the energy era, and it had even greater potential for evolution.
After years of continuous improvement, Howard was able to control the size of the Arc Reactor to that of a fruit plate, greatly enhancing its portability.
The only limitation, however, was the reactive element within it, and the new element he was currently trying to synthesize was the key to moving it into a new phase.
"Mr. Howard, are you sure this experiment isn't truly dangerous?"
"Should I inform Mrs. Mary or Tony, lest they worry?"
In the specially cleared-out, massive laboratory, Howard was adjusting the necessary experimental equipment with the help of mechanical assistants.
Beside him, the diligent personal butler, Jarvis, looked at the experimental equipment he didn't understand at all, speaking with some concern.
"Jarvis, relax, there won't be any problems; I've been preparing for this experiment for twenty years!"
Howard, whose hair had turned gray, still wore that confident expression on his face; the traces of time on him had not extinguished his passion for science.
He had conceived of this element long ago, but due to the technological limitations of the time, he had been unable to meet the requirements for synthesizing that new element.
Furthermore, a few years ago, Nick Fury had warned him that the remnants of HYDRA might target them, the founders of the Homeland Defense Bureau.
For this reason, he hid his vision for this new element in a model of a future city that he had created.
He thought that if he didn't live to see a more technologically advanced day, then this item would be a gift for his son, Tony Stark.
To this end, he even specifically wrote the phrase "The key to the future is here" on the model's label, believing his son would surely understand his meaning.
Moreover, to be even safer, he had also specifically left something with his old friend, Nick Fury; if he truly met with an accident, those things would guide Tony to discover the gift he had left.
Regarding danger and Death, he was very open and calm.
However, after so many years, HYDRA had shown no activity, as if it had vanished into thin air.
Furthermore, after many years of development, Howard felt that current technology was barely sufficient to meet the technological level required to create the new element, so he decided to commence the experiment.
Without injecting serums like the Infinity Formula, he could feel his body's energy declining day by day; growing old and dying with his wife was also a kind of romance.
However, this new element was his greatest achievement besides his son Tony, and he was unwilling to die with regrets.
"Alright, sir, what can I help you with then?"
Jarvis, who knew very little about the experiment, still wanted to do something for his master.
"Let me think, Jarvis, you help me guard the laboratory door; no one is allowed to disturb me during my experiment, especially Obadiah."
Originally, Howard naturally trusted this business partner of his immensely.
He had even thought that if he truly died tragically at the hands of HYDRA's assassination, Stark Industries could be temporarily entrusted to him.
Then, when Tony truly grew into a qualified successor, Stark Industries would be transferred into Tony's hands.
However, some time ago, Nick Fury had told him to pay more attention to Obadiah, but he didn't elaborate on the specific reasons.
This made Howard a bit more wary, and he began to secretly investigate Obadiah, subsequently discovering the small schemes he was making in the dark.
Although it hadn't reached the point of betrayal, it made Howard no longer trust him as he once did.
"Yes, sir, what if the madam or young master Tony comes?"
As he was leaving, Jarvis asked an extra question.
"Don't worry, Jarvis, Tony won't be here now, and as for Mary, she's invited by Ms. Peggy to attend a party."
Howard understood his son very well; his talent was unparalleled, and he could easily master anything, perhaps which was why he had no interest in anything beyond a life of pleasure.
After sending Jarvis away, Howard once again checked all the experimental equipment.
At this moment, what he didn't notice was that Kytheron was standing beside him, watching him.
"If Howard didn't die, would Tony still become Iron Man later?"
"Or perhaps, his old man would become Iron Man before him, just like Barton Blaze, taking his son's place as Ghost Rider, and then forming a true Father-Vengers League."
After a glance, Kytheron knew that what Howard was attempting at this moment was what his son Stark would do more than ten years later, so he had some expectations.
At this time, compared to the conditions when Tony synthesized the new element more than ten years later, Howard's preparations seemed much more elaborate!
Just powering the prism accelerator was a huge undertaking, so he specifically rebuilt a small reactor inside this laboratory.
Plus a series of other equipment, the vast laboratory looked quite full.
Once everything was confirmed ready, he adjusted the angle of the prism's refraction and then activated the entire set of instruments via a key.
Immediately, the small reactor began to output energy, and a sky-blue high-energy ray began to form within the accelerator.
Then, he carefully adjusted the prism's angle to direct the high-energy ray towards a pre-prepared reactor core; as the energy output continued, the core also began to flash with blue light, but it was not very stable.
"Not enough, continue to increase energy output."
Seeing that the core had not yet achieved the desired result, Howard began to continuously increase the energy output.
However, the powerful energy caused the accelerator to become unstable.
[Warning, energy overload 10%, 15%...]
"Just a little more, just a little more!"
Ignoring the warnings, Howard's eyes were fixed on the core.
However, the prism accelerator at this point began to vibrate violently.
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