627

[Super Artificial Intelligence]

"Maybe. But my uncle once told me, 'With great power comes great responsibility.' I believe I have the power to be a hero," Peter said.

Tony was visibly moved, nodding in agreement. "The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility... Your uncle sounds like a wise man. Can I have a chat with him someday?"

Peter replied sadly, "My uncle is no longer with us."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Tony said quietly.

The atmosphere grew silent for a moment before Tony scratched his helmet. "Well, Peter Parker, you said you want to be a hero. How about becoming a member of the Avengers?"

Peter was stunned for a moment, then looked up in surprise. "Really... can I?"

"Of course," Tony smiled warmly. "The Avengers welcome every like-minded fighter."

After a pause, he continued, "We're gearing up for a major operation in a few days, an assault on a Hydra stronghold. Join us, Spider-Man."

...

London, England.

Thor, dressed in casual Earth attire, strolled down the street with Jane Foster. "Jane, let's go sightseeing. How about visiting the Berlin Wall?"

"But I still want to finish college," Jane replied.

"Actually, all the knowledge you seek can be found in Asgard's archives. Asgard also boasts teachers ten times better than the professors at Cambridge University," Thor added.

Jane Foster remained silent, her expression troubled.

Discovering her boyfriend was a mythological god had been a surprising and wondrous experience, but it also brought with it unexpected challenges.

As Thor pointed out, pursuing university studies and scientific research on Earth seemed pointless to her now.

If she desired, Thor could easily arrange for the most knowledgeable teachers in the universe to satisfy her thirst for knowledge.

However, Jane was reluctant to abandon her hard-earned place at Cambridge University. She had spent over a decade striving to get there, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Giving it all up seemed inconceivable.

Thor continued, "Moreover, it's not safe for you to return to campus just yet, given the residual Aether particles in your body."

That was indeed a concern.

As one of the Infinity Stones, the Aether's energy was unimaginably potent, theoretically capable of destroying entire planets. While it remained bonded to Jane's body, albeit unstably, the risks of its uncontrolled release on a college campus were far greater than any school shooting. Staying with Thor seemed safer.

"Okay," Jane Foster finally relented.

Thor smiled warmly. "Then as we planned—France, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia... and Sokovia."

Jane nodded, then asked, "Why Sokovia?"

"Heimdall mentioned that Forseti has shown a peculiar interest in that region lately. I'm curious to see what's special about it," Thor remarked casually.

...

Avengers Tower.

"Tony, do you think the Mind Scepter can enhance our project?" Bruce Banner asked, eyeing the scepter on the table.

The scepter emitted a radiant glow. Just yesterday, the Avengers had wrested this enigmatic artifact from Hydra's grasp.

"Yes, it's the only explanation for the advanced technology Strucker and his associates have been developing," Tony Stark affirmed.

After a pause, he changed the subject and snapped his fingers. "Jarvis."

A golden, three-dimensional projection materialized before them, resembling a miniature star system with a shimmering core surrounded by a halo of golden rings.

"In its infancy, Jarvis was merely a natural language interface, akin to a toy's voice recognition... but now, he's my invaluable assistant, managing the entire Iron Legion," Tony explained, slowing down. "That's the potential of artificial intelligence."

"Now, take a look at our contender."

With a gesture and a command, another projection materialized—a pulsating cluster of ganglia, bathed in a dreamy blue light.

Bruce Banner widened his eyes in awe. "Incredible... it resembles a brain, yet it's not."

"Exactly," Tony exclaimed, enthusiasm evident. "I'm almost certain this is the key to Ultron's creation. The mystery of the Mind Scepter holds the secrets to a higher-level artificial intelligence."

"Once we harness its power, we can forge a flawless super artificial intelligence that will safeguard Earth from all threats, allowing us to retire and enjoy the sun and sand—your skin would tan instead of turning green," Tony quipped.

Bruce fell silent for a moment. "To be honest, Tony, this plan seems rushed. Perhaps we should discuss it with the rest of the team first."

Tony shook his head firmly. "Their combined PhDs amount to less than a fraction of ours. Any discussion with them would only lead to pointless debates."

While neither Tony nor Bruce held a billion PhDs, several other Avengers lacked even one.

"We're the experts in this field—you and I, two geniuses," Tony asserted, pointing at the blue projection. "With our collaboration and the scepter's power, Ultron is assured."

After a moment of contemplation, Bruce nodded. "I'm in."

Tony grinned. "What are we waiting for? Let's get started."

Thus began the collaboration between two of Earth's foremost geniuses, combining their expertise in computing with the mystical energies of the Mind Scepter to craft an unprecedented creation—the super artificial intelligence known as Ultron.

Their progress was swift, aided by their unparalleled brilliance in their respective fields and the wealth of data on the scepter's capabilities acquired from Hydra's research.

Yet, after days of intensive work, their project hit a wall, stalled—like a frustrating software update.

"Tony, I think we've reached an impasse," Bruce Banner remarked, gazing at the holographic blueprint of Ultron.

Tony rested his chin on his hand, brow furrowed, lost in thought.

After a brief silence,

"Mr. Stark, Dr. Banner, it's time for the party," Jarvis interjected. "It's the welcoming ceremony for Bucky Barnes and Peter Parker."