Happy originally planned to return to the group and pick up Pepper, because Pepper needed to expand Stark Industries' business into Los Angeles to coordinate with Tony's future plans.
After the New York incident, Tony had specifically added several projects focused on disaster reconstruction and building repairs.
At the beginning, Tony had intended to lose money on these projects and use them as a way to wash away Stark Industries' old reputation as a weapons manufacturer.
However, sometimes, even if someone does not want to make money, opportunities still find them.
Tony's new plan had only just begun when the Hydra crisis unexpectedly created massive demand.
New York had not even finished recovering, and with the Avengers beginning operations in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago, more and more places would require Stark Industries' reconstruction services.
Pepper was now mainly focused on this project. She needed to reach the airport quickly under the protection of multiple Jarvis units and travel between cities like Chicago and Los Angeles to coordinate operations.
The result was simple.
Sometimes, even when you do not want money, money still comes looking for you.
Happy had just turned onto another street, preparing to take the main road back to Stark Industries.
Then a speeding vehicle ran through a red light and crashed directly into him.
The sports car was moving incredibly fast.
From the sound of the tires and brakes alone, it was obvious the vehicle had been traveling at nearly 180 miles per hour.
A speed worthy of such an expensive sports car.
However, a high-performance sports car was still just a sports car.
Against Happy's heavily modified, maximum-security Rolls-Royce, the collision was no different from a small object striking a mountain.
Happy only felt the vehicle slide sideways for a distance.
The impact left him dizzy for a moment.
Meanwhile, the sports car's front end was completely destroyed.
The driver was thrown forward into the steering wheel and dashboard, losing consciousness instantly.
"Wow."
After recovering, Happy immediately grabbed his pistol and stepped out of the Rolls-Royce.
He carefully checked the area, making sure no enemies, aliens, or machines emerged from the wreckage.
Only then did he approach the sports car.
After forcing open the damaged door, Happy pulled the unconscious Doctor Fate out of the vehicle.
The man was covered in blood, but he was still alive.
At the same time, inside the top-floor laboratory of Stark Industries.
Axel looked downward, seeing Doctor Fate's miserable condition through the building.
He rolled his eyes and laughed.
"Do not tell me you actually calculated this perfectly.
A few miles per hour faster and you would have died.
A few miles per hour slower and you would not have suffered those complete fractures in both arms.
But this speed is exactly enough.
Your organs are almost completely unharmed, yet your arms are destroyed.
You really are suited to become a mathematician. Even while drunk, you managed to calculate the perfect result."
Doctor Fate smiled.
"Axel, please stop praising me.
The rule is simple. Do not drink and drive, and do not drive after drinking.
At this moment, I still possess the foundation of a hero, compassion.
But beyond that, I am also full of arrogance and disregard for consequences.
That is not a virtue.
However, a disaster at the right moment can force someone to understand themselves and the world around them."
The Sorcerer Supreme raised his glass and touched it against Axel's.
After drinking, Axel looked at Doctor Fate.
"Do you think your younger self will figure out that you caused this?"
Doctor Fate smiled slightly.
"What if he does?
I can create a car accident caused by my own drunk driving, but I cannot create the tragedy that follows after losing my greatest achievements.
The current me may hate the person who caused this pain.
But the suffering that follows does not come from me.
The pain of watching the world slowly forget you after losing everything.
The helplessness of spending every resource you have but still being unable to reclaim what you lost.
The humiliation of abandoning your pride while refusing to accept pity.
And finally, learning to understand the suffering of others because you have experienced weakness yourself.
A disaster can take away many things.
But it can also give something back.
What I gained is more valuable than what I lost.
Besides, all of this was a gift from myself to myself.
Even if I felt resentment, how could I truly hate the future version of myself?"
After finishing his drink, the Sorcerer Supreme stood.
He raised his hand and opened a portal.
"I should leave, Axel.
This era is interesting, but my existence is usually filled with isolation.
The Lords of the Dimensions enjoy testing me because it creates weaknesses in my mind.
Humanity's greatest weapons against threats beyond reality are courage and hope.
Happiness is simply something extra.
Regardless, I wish you a safe journey.
As long as you do not intend to destroy this universe, you are always welcome here.
My teacher once welcomed you, and I will do the same."
With that, Doctor Fate entered the portal and disappeared.
The portal itself had already proven its uniqueness.
It could reach any location across the universe and even cross the boundaries between parallel worlds.
Watching the portal vanish, Lex stopped his work and narrowed his eyes.
After a moment, he spoke.
"Axel, do you think magic can be combined with technology?
If so, could I cooperate with someone like Zatanna to create magical armor?
Enchanting equipment exists in countless fictional stories. Could we apply the same principle to battle armor?"
"Of course."
Axel answered immediately.
"It is only enchantment. Zatanna could do it.
However, I doubt the results would be extraordinary.
Objects with truly overwhelming magical power are usually called artifacts.
But those artifacts are rarely powerful because of simple enchantments.
Most of them possess unique abilities created through history, symbolism, and strange magical circumstances.
They are not simply upgraded equipment."
Axel finished his drink and placed the glass down.
"Still, today was interesting.
I watched Gwen become Spider-Woman, and I watched Spider-Woman accidentally crush her little boyfriend.
But we cannot leave Peter like that.
I still plan to pursue Aunt May. If her nephew leaves with me and returns with broken bones everywhere, that would be embarrassing."
Gwen, standing nearby, froze.
"Peter is not my boyfriend!"
"Yes, yes, I know. He is not your boyfriend.
I hope you can still say that ten years from now.
For now, I will bring Peter back and treat him.
But remember, control your strength.
Because when you hurt Peter, you are not just lightly pushing him around.
You are actually capable of crushing him."
Axel rubbed Gwen's hair.
Although Spider-Man's strength was sometimes underestimated, his true physical abilities were far beyond normal humans.
Captain America could barely hold back a helicopter.
Spider-Man could stop massive moving vehicles and support enormous structures.
If someone with that level of strength lost control, the result could easily exceed what ordinary machines could produce.
Gwen lowered her head sadly.
She understood how serious her mistake had been.
Seeing her expression, Axel squeezed her cheek.
Then he reached out.
A moment later, Jarvis was pulled back into the laboratory.
Jarvis looked confused.
"Axel, I have not finished arranging Peter's treatment. Why did you bring me back?"
He looked down at Peter, who was still unconscious in his arms.
Lex rubbed his ears.
"Axel, I am working. Can you stop the screaming?"
Axel nodded.
He reached out again.
A portal opened.
Zatanna appeared instantly, still wearing only her performance clothing.
"What?"
Before she could react, Axel pointed toward Peter.
"Help me treat him."
Zatanna stared.
Then Peter's condition immediately caught her attention.
After restoring Peter's injuries, Zatanna adjusted her clothes and glared at Axel.
"Axel, I was not wearing a costume. I was changing."
Axel looked at her.
"Relax. Nobody here cares."
Lex nodded.
"Correct. I have no interest in such things."
Zatanna narrowed her eyes.
"So you are saying Axel is controlled by his instincts?"
"Axel and I are different," Lex replied.
"Axel represents humanity at its most authentic. Desire, emotion, and ambition are part of being human.
I am different.
Bruce and Clark also have their own psychological problems.
Bruce's issues come from losing his parents.
Clark's issues come from losing his adoptive father.
My own problems come from my desire to guide humanity's evolution.
Many of humanity's greatest struggles are connected to their origins."
Lex returned to his research.
Zatanna had no response.
Soon after, Axel sent her back.
After comforting Gwen and Peter, Axel took the two children back to the exhibition.
He intended to continue enjoying the event while also demanding compensation from Oscorp for the damages involving Stacy's family and Aunt May.
However, before he could continue, his watch rang.
Axel answered.
Bruce's voice came through immediately.
"Axel, something serious has happened in Los Angeles. I need your help."
"Oh? What happened? Did Hollywood suddenly suffer a massive crisis?"
Axel joked.
Bruce ignored the comment.
"Do not joke. Los Angeles really is in danger.
After I eliminated Hydra's leader in Los Angeles, something unexpected happened.
The city caught fire.
The wind is extremely strong today, and the flames have already consumed a third of Los Angeles.
The fire is still spreading.
If this continues, the entire city could be destroyed."
Axel's expression changed.
But after only a moment, he responded.
"Do not even think about blaming me. I did not start this fire."
"I never said you did.
I am asking whether you have a solution.
Before calling you, I already contacted Clark and asked him for help.
But no matter how hard he tries, he cannot create an icy breath strong enough to stop it."