"Adamantium? Vibranium?" Tony narrowed his eyes. "Project the data on the table."
J.A.R.V.I.S. immediately displayed holographic schematics for both metals. Neither existed on the open market—these were strictly black-market commodities, controlled by shadowy brokers and rogue states.
Governments didn't let materials like this circulate freely. Their value wasn't measured in tons or pounds, but in grams. Adding even a single gram to an alloy could exponentially increase its durability.
"Adamantium has no stable supply chain," Tony noted, dismissing the holographic claw with a wave of his hand.
He was rich enough to buy small countries, so price wasn't the issue. If it was for sale, he could afford it. But if the supply didn't exist, all the money in the world wouldn't help.
"But Vibranium... I've heard that name before." Tony rubbed his forehead, searching his memory. "Wait. Didn't my dad write about this? Didn't he use Vibranium to make that shield for Captain America?"
"Correct, Sir," J.A.R.V.I.S. replied. "The records are in the archived hard drives from your father's estate."
"I knew it! That's why it sounded so familiar."
Tony immediately began rummaging through the crates Fury had given him—Howard Stark's legacy. After a moment of clattering, he pulled out a prototype shield. It was unfinished, raw metal, but looking at it, he could almost see his father in the workshop decades ago, forging the icon that would define a generation.
"Looks like it's time to finish what he started," Tony murmured, running a hand over the cool metal. "Especially since the old relic himself is about to pop out of the ice. He's going to need his shield back."
Tony liked to call Cap an "old antique" to maintain his cynical edge, but deep down, like most Americans, he held a grudging respect for the legend. Or at least, for the idea of Captain America.
With the future looking increasingly dangerous—aliens, gods, cosmic snaps—Tony knew he'd need every ally he could get. And Captain America's shield was the ultimate defensive asset.
"Dad didn't finish it. I will," Tony said, setting the shield down. "J.A.R.V.I.S., scan this prototype. Run a full analysis and compare the metallurgical data with the black market specs for Vibranium. Correct any discrepancies. And contact the supplier immediately. I want their entire stock. Every ounce they have."
He knew the supplier—likely Ulysses Klaue—would gouge him on the price. He didn't care. Money was just a number. Vibranium was survival.
According to the intelligence reports, Vibranium wasn't just strong; it absorbed kinetic energy. It dissolved impact into harmless vibration.
It was perfect.
The ideal material for the Anti-Thor Armor.
Tony had seen Mjolnir in action. That hammer didn't just discharge lightning; it hit with the force of a freight train. Kinetic energy that could shatter titanium like glass. Even the Iron Monger suit would have been crushed like a soda can.
He needed a suit that could take that hit and keep standing.
But Thor wasn't the only threat.
There was another monster Tony needed to prepare for.
Lucas.
The man who had punched through the Iron Monger suit with his bare hands. The memory was still vivid. Lucas possessed "Superman" physique and magic immunity.
And then there was the other big guy mentioned in the diary—the Hulk. Lucas claimed this green rage-monster was on par with Thor, maybe even stronger in raw physical power.
Tony preferred to overestimate his enemies. It was safer that way.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., create two more files," Tony ordered, his voice all business. "Codename: Hulkbuster. And Codename: Anti-Superman Armor."
"Files created, Sir."
"Scour the internet for any sightings or data on these two. Update the files in real-time. I need to know where they are and what they're doing 24/7."
He paused, his mind racing ahead to the next problem.
"Also, remind me to start researching deep-space combat capabilities. I need a suit that can function in the vacuum of space as smoothly as it does in Earth's atmosphere."
He gestured vaguely at the ceiling.
"It needs to handle extreme environments. Absolute zero. Solar flares. I need advanced life support systems—long-term oxygen recycling. And I want single-stage-to-orbit capability. No booster rockets."
Watching Thor fight the Destroyer had been a wake-up call. Asgard wasn't on Earth. If Tony had to fight Loki or the Purple Titan, the battlefield wouldn't be New York. It would be space. Or another dimension.
Compared to the cosmos, Earth was a warm, safe cradle. Tony needed to be ready to leave the cradle.
"Collect the latest astrophysical data," Tony added. "Filter the papers for me. I don't have time to read every dissertation."
"Processing, Sir."
"Oh, and one more thing," Tony said, snapping his fingers. "New project: Quantum Communication."
"Quantum Communication, Sir?"
"Light speed is too slow for space," Tony explained, tapping his temple. "Radio waves take minutes to reach Mars, years to reach other stars. If I'm going to control a suit remotely across the galaxy like Loki did with the Destroyer, I need zero latency. Quantum entanglement is the only way."
Loki's magic remote-control trick had made Tony jealous.
If magic could do it, science could do it better.