c39 – Welcome to the Void
Just as Tony Stark was still immersed in shock, his body began to undergo a transformation. A deep violet energy surged through his veins, resembling yet fundamentally different from the Power Cosmic once granted by Galactus to his heralds.
This was not borrowed power, it was evolution at the level of existence itself. The Void power rewrote the very essence of Tony Stark's life form.
"The creature the host has persuaded is Tony Stark, possessing a high destiny. Reward: 100,000 Void Energy."
"The more times Tony Stark evolves, the more Void Energy the host will receive."
"The host has successfully persuaded the first creature to join the Void, unlocking the second Hero Template selection. Host, please choose an opportune time."
Hearing that the Hero Template selection had been unlocked, a genuine smile appeared on Harvey's face.
Obtaining different Hero Templates would bring a qualitative leap to his strength, similar to how different cosmic entities possess unique authorities like The Living Tribunal or Eternity governing different aspects of existence.
However, now was clearly not the time to choose, so Harvey wasn't in a hurry
Meanwhile, at Kamar-Taj,
the Ancient One stood silently, gazing into the flow of time.
Previously, she could observe countless possible futures through the Time Stream, guided by the Eye of Agamotto, but about six months ago, something had changed.
It was as if the River of Time itself had been obscured.
A vast darkness now covered the future of the universe.
This was not ordinary interference—not even something like the Dark Dimension ruled by Dormammu could completely block her perception like this.
All she could perceive now was a massive, shadowy presence, like a dark star spanning galaxies, devouring all possible futures.
Even when peering deeper into time, she found no clear origin—only an ever-expanding unknown.
This foreshadowed something immeasurable happening within the universe.
The Ancient One wished to intervene, to correct the imbalance as she had done countless times before.
But for the first time… she felt powerless.
"Stephen Strange… I hope you can stop it in the future."
She could only place her hopes on the one destined to surpass her, the future Sorcerer Supreme.
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Time passed, and when Tony Stark finally regained consciousness "Tony Stark, do you understand what the Void is?"
Harvey smiled as he watched Tony open his eyes.
Tony Stark looked at the familiar yet now completely unfathomable Harvey Ambellaca and felt a strange sense of unreality.
"Although I don't fully understand it yet… I understand its scale."
"I've seen things that even S.H.I.E.L.D. files or cosmic theories couldn't explain."
Tony Stark nodded slowly, recalling the incomprehensible entities he had witnessed beings that made even gods like Thor seem grounded in comparison.
"Welcome to the Void."
Harvey smiled sincerely upon hearing this response and extended his hand.
"Thank you… for this opportunity."
Tony Stark paused briefly, then reached out and shook Harvey's hand.
Having witnessed the cosmic horrors and transcendent entities within the Void, Tony Stark no longer felt fear—
Only awe.
And gratitude.
Although Harvey had described the Void as a place, a race, or a dimension, Tony Stark now understood something deeper.
The Void was not just an existence.
It was a hierarchy beyond comprehension.
And Harvey Ambellaca, The man standing before him was not merely a participant within it.
He was becoming something far more terrifying.
Something that, in time, might rival or even surpass beings like Eternity or other abstract entities.
The Harvey Ambellaca before him…
Would one day become the will of the Void itself.
His thoughts were indeed correct; no matter how much he upgraded the Iron Man Armor, he could not become an enemy of Harvey Ambellaca.
Joining the Void might be the most correct decision he had ever made.
He didn't dare imagine what it would be like to stand against someone who could rival cosmic entities beyond even what S.H.I.E.L.D. had ever recorded.
He neither wanted to oppose Harvey Ambellaca, nor did he believe someone like himself still bound by human limits not long ago could survive such a confrontation.
Harvey Ambellaca wasn't yet an existence like Eternity or other abstract cosmic beings.
However, Tony Stark now fully understood why Harvey had said he would never reach his level.
"This was just a small matter."
"Now that you've joined the Void, let me tell you its essence."
"The essence of the Void is survival, evolution, and adaptation."
"You now possess the ability to evolve by devouring living beings and matter."
"As long as you continue to devour and evolve, your power will exceed your imagination."
"Experience your current weakness."
"Before long, your mindset will change along with your power."
Harvey released his grip, looking at Tony Stark as he began to explain.
"Didn't you say that was the price?"
Tony Stark asked, somewhat surprised to hear that evolution required consumption.
"That is indeed the price, because it's not just food you devour; you can devour living beings too."
"And by devouring stronger entities whether enhanced humans, aliens, or even mutated lifeforms like those created through cosmic radiation, you will evolve faster and stronger."
"For example, beings altered by forces similar to the Power Cosmic or gamma radiation would provide far greater returns."
"So remember, never let that hunger control you, and don't become a mindless monster who only knows how to devour and evolve."
"If you are consumed by hunger and cause too much trouble, I will personally kill you."
"I hope I won't see you like that."
Harvey warned him seriously.
"Okay… I'll be careful."
Tony Stark nodded, a chill running down his spine as he understood the implications.
As soon as he spoke, Tony Stark felt a surge of hunger within him.
This hunger was instinctive, primal yet it did not weaken him. Instead, it sharpened his senses.
Tony Stark immediately turned his gaze toward the table filled with food.
With heightened perception, he noticed something completely new, faint streams of energy flowing across the surface of every dish.
It resembled bio-energy, something far more tangible than anything he had previously measured with scientific instruments.
Tony Stark realized that his perception of the world had fundamentally changed, and he instinctively turned to look at Harvey Ambellaca.
However, he saw nothing.
No energy. No fluctuations. No readable presence.
It was as if Harvey existed on an entirely different level of existence—far beyond what Tony could currently perceive.
Tony didn't dwell on it.
Instead, he immediately began eating.
Previously, food was simply nourishment.
Now, every bite felt like absorbing energy directly into his body.
A warm current surged through him with every mouthful.
In just two minutes, Tony Stark devoured more than a dozen dishes far exceeding even his enhanced appetite after the Extremis-like improvements Harvey had given him earlier.
His body began to visibly change.
His brown hair became more vibrant.
His skin appeared healthier.
Even his facial features subtly shifted, making him look younger—closer to his prime rather than a man nearing forty.
"System, in which direction will Tony Stark evolve?"
Harvey observed Tony Stark with great interest.
"Other beings who join the Void are different from the host; they don't have hero templates."
"So, other beings will initially only evolve their physical abilities, and what they ultimately evolve into is unknown."
The system, rarely responsive, provided a concise answer.
"So, they need to evolve and learn certain abilities on their own to truly become powerful?"
Harvey asked thoughtfully, but the system fell silent again.
Harvey considered the concept of hero templates—similar in structure to how some beings in the universe inherit power systems or cosmic roles.
Unlike entities such as Silver Surfer, who were directly empowered by higher beings,
Tony Stark would have to carve his own evolutionary path.
He would not receive predefined abilities.
He would have to discover, adapt, and refine them himself.
However, Harvey was not worried.
As long as Tony Stark maintained his rationality and avoided being consumed by instinct With his intelligence, now combined with a long lifespan and a body capable of surviving even in extreme environments like deep space, He would eventually grow into something extraordinary.
Even without a hero template,
Being able to join the Void, gain limitless evolutionary potential, and escape the constraints of a normal human lifespan was already an immeasurable blessing.
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