c44 Tony's Missionary Work
"Tony, what happened to you?"
"You've been experimenting with genetic enhancement?"
Pepper rubbed her eyes, took a few steps closer in disbelief, and looked at Tony more carefully. She was filled with astonishment, but her words carried a hint of excitement and curiosity.
Because the kind of cutting-edge biotechnology Tony Stark had access to considering Stark Industries' history with advanced research could very well involve lifespan extension or cellular regeneration.
As long as there weren't severe side effects like instability or cellular rejection, something she knew had happened in various experimental technologies, it would become something highly sought after, especially among the wealthy elite and public figures.
"Stop guessing!"
Tony snapped, seeing Pepper's slightly excited and speculative expression, his tone sharper than usual.
"..."
Pepper flinched slightly at his words, clearly startled.
This was the first time Tony had spoken to her with such seriousness and told her to stop so abruptly, without softening it with humor.
"Pepper, you probably have a lot of questions for me."
"I will tell you everything, but from now on, you can speak freely and casually in front of me like you always do."
"But when you are outside, especially when dealing with people connected to organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D., you need to be more restrained."
Tony walked toward Pepper with his hands behind his back, his expression calm but firm, carrying a level of authority that had only appeared after the events involving Obadiah Stane and the creation of his Iron Man armor.
Pepper's candid and sometimes unfiltered reactions were fine around him, but if she behaved the same way in front of people like Nick Fury or others involved in the hidden world, it could attract unnecessary attention or danger.
"Is that an order?"
Pepper instinctively wanted to respond as she usually would, but seeing the confidence and authority emanating from Tony something far more grounded than his usual playful arrogance, she instead asked quietly.
"This isn't an order, it's a reminder."
"Because what I'm about to tell you will open up a completely different world to you."
"If you continue to stay by my side in the future, you will inevitably come into contact with things beyond ordinary human understanding."
"People like Agent Coulson, or even higher-level figures like Nick Fury, are only the surface."
"There are far more extraordinary beings and forces beyond them."
"Sometimes, a careless reaction or misunderstanding in front of such people could bring consequences that even I might not be able to handle right now."
"So you need to remember this."
Tony said as he walked step by step toward Pepper, his tone steady and serious.
"Is this… a proposal?"
Pepper's expression turned incredulous when she heard him mention her staying by his side in the future.
She clearly understood that her relationship with Tony had always been complicated more than friends, but never fully defined.
Tony Stark, despite everything he had gone through, was still known as a genius, billionaire, and former playboy who rarely committed emotionally.
Although he was approaching middle age, he had never truly settled down, and she had always been waiting for him to change on his own terms.
She hadn't expected him to say something so direct.
"You can take it that way."
Tony didn't deny it this time, his answer straightforward and without deflection.
Pepper had expected him to brush it off with a joke or shift the topic like he always did, but this time, Tony was unusually sincere.
"Okay… go on, I'm listening,"
Pepper said, her heart beating faster, a mix of anticipation and nervous excitement filling her chest.
"You asked me earlier why I suddenly became younger, and I didn't answer you then."
"Because at the time, I hadn't decided whether I should accept what was offered to me."
"But now I can tell you everything, the reason for my transformation, and the existence of a world that ordinary people will never come into contact with."
Tony sat down in a chair in the lab, the same place where he had once built the first versions of his arc reactor and Iron Man suits, and began to speak seriously.
Pepper felt a little strange hearing Tony's words, but she simply nodded to show she was listening, choosing not to interrupt him despite her confusion.
"The reason I became younger is because someone introduced me to a completely different world."
"And granted me a longer lifespan and continuously growing power."
"I've also come to understand the essence of life, the hidden side of this world, the vastness of the universe, and even the truth behind what people call gods."
"And the person who led me into that world… was Harvey Ambellaca."
Seeing Pepper remain quiet and attentive, Tony continued speaking in a steady tone.
"Tony… have you gotten yourself involved in some kind of cult or pyramid scheme?"
Pepper paused briefly before asking, clearly trying to process everything logically rather than dismissing it outright.
Tony wasn't surprised by her reaction. Given his own background as a scientist and engineer, he understood that extraordinary claims required undeniable proof.
Instead of arguing, he simply lifted his foot and brought it down hard onto the reinforced lab floor.
"Bang!" The composite floor panel cracked and shattered under Tony's stomp.
"How did you do that?"
Pepper's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the fractured surface beneath his foot.
Tony had never been physically weak his lifestyle and occasional fieldwork meant he was stronger than an average office worker but she knew very well that his physical condition was nowhere near superhuman.
Yet now, he had shattered a reinforced laboratory floor with a single stomp, something even trained soldiers or enhanced individuals would struggle to do.
"This is power granted by the Void. Don't worry, I'll explain it step by step."
Tony casually crossed his legs, lightly shaking his foot to ease the lingering discomfort as he spoke.
He had expected to damage the floor slightly, but not completely shatter it clearly, he still hadn't adapted to his new strength.
However, the soreness in his foot faded almost instantly, his body recovering far faster than normal human physiology would allow.
This only confirmed to him that the Void's enhancement was fundamentally different from anything like mechanical augmentation or serum-based enhancement.
"Sir's physical capabilities are currently multiple times greater than baseline human standards, exceeding even peak conditioned individuals, and are still gradually increasing,"
J.A.R.V.I.S. added, following Tony's earlier instruction to provide objective analysis.
"..."
Pepper listened to J.A.R.V.I.S. and then looked back at Tony—young, confident, and completely transformed.
She didn't fully understand what the "Void" was, but she could tell that something real had happened.
So Pepper quietly walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down, preparing herself to listen carefully.
"Before you've personally experienced the Void, it's normal to doubt it."
"I was the same way. Before I saw it with my own eyes, I couldn't understand it either."
"But now I do. The Void is about survival, adaptation, and evolution."
"You probably still won't fully understand that yet,"
Tony said, noticing her composed but puzzled expression.
Realizing this explanation was still too abstract, Tony quickly adjusted his approach.
"To put it simply, it can grant you abilities far beyond human limits.and more importantly, a lifespan that can reach hundreds, thousands, or even longer."
"As you can see, I've already gained that power and regained my youth."
"Pepper, I know you're not someone obsessed with power."
"But let me ask you something, do you want to stay young forever?"
Tony asked directly, watching her reaction closely.
"I do… no woman wouldn't want that."
"But I need to know what's the cost?"
"If something grants power or extended life, there has to be a price, right?"
Pepper thought for a moment, her initial shock fading as her rational side took over, and asked seriously.
"The price is a drastically increased appetite. You'll need to consume large amounts of food regularly."
Tony answered without hesitation.
"Like Mr. Harvey Ambellaca?"
Pepper immediately recalled Harvey's overwhelming appetite from earlier.
"Yes. But you can think of it less as a cost and more as a requirement for growth."
"The more you consume, the more you evolve, the stronger you become, and the longer you live."
"The real cost is psychological, you have to resist the influence of desire and instinct."
"Because once you gain this kind of power, your mindset will inevitably change."
"Even now, I can feel the difference. In the past, I might have held back my thoughts out of pride or hesitation."
"But now, I don't have to. I have time far more time than before."
"And I asked Harvey Ambellaca to give you the same opportunity."
"Now I'm asking you to join me… to live through those long years together."
"I don't want to face that future alone, Pepper."
Tony looked directly into her eyes, his voice steady and sincere.
He knew this was a rare opportunity—perhaps the only one.
If she refused, there was no guarantee Harvey would offer it again.
And if she chose not to follow him, then their paths would inevitably diverge.
"I'm not particularly drawn to power…"
"But yes, staying young is something every woman cares about."
"And… thank you for thinking of me."
"But I have one question."
Pepper met his gaze briefly before looking away, her voice softer now.
"Go ahead."
Tony felt a slight tension in his chest but kept his expression calm.
"If I eat as much as Mr. Harvey Ambellaca every day… will I gain weight?"
Pepper asked seriously.
"...That's your concern?"
Tony blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
"What do you mean 'that'? With an appetite like his, it's a valid concern!"
Pepper defended herself earnestly, clearly taking the matter seriously.
"I can't give you a precise answer yet, but based on Harvey Ambellaca's condition…"
"That doesn't seem to be an issue. His physique is… actually something I'd consider ideal."
"There's still more I can explain, but right now, I need your answer."
"Do you want to join me in the Void?"
"To gain a longer life… and explore everything beyond this world together?"
Tony said, extending his hand toward her in a rare, genuine invitation.
"I do… but what do I need to do?"
Pepper looked at him—more confident, more resolute than ever—and asked quietly.
"I'll ask—"
Tony began, excitement rising as he prepared to contact Harvey Ambellaca.
But before he could finish speaking, Pepper's eyes suddenly closed.
Her body gently lifted off the ground, suspended in midair as if gravity no longer applied.
Her dress swayed slightly, untouched by any visible force.
More importantly, faint strands of purple energy began to envelop her body, pulsing with an unfamiliar but powerful presence.
"The Void… really is something beyond comprehension,"
Tony murmured, watching the scene unfold.
To be able to share this transformation with someone he cared about—to step into an entirely new world together this wasn't just power.
It was something far greater.
....
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