Shattering Iron Man’s Perception of Reality

So what if she was supposed to be his heroine? Why was she called an unlucky heroine?

Did that mean that anyone who got involved with him was doomed to a tragic fate?

The thought reminded Tony Stark of those cliché Hollywood films where being the protagonist's friend or relative was practically a death sentence. Accidents, kidnappings, or outright murder—being close to the hero never seemed to end well.

And then, right before his eyes, new words began appearing on the blank pages of the notebook. He watched as the text materialized out of thin air, erasing any lingering doubt that this was some elaborate prank.

This notebook was undoubtedly a manifestation of some extraordinary power.

It wasn't something any ordinary person could create.

"This Gwen is stunning. She really was the dream girl of countless fans in my past life!"

"If I get the chance, maybe I can prevent her tragedy?"

"But something doesn't add up. If I remember correctly, Peter Parker should only be a few years old at this point—a kid who hasn't even hit puberty yet. So why is Gwen already a teenager? How is she supposed to be paired with Peter?"

"Isn't this Universe-1999? No, I know it is. I saw Tony Stark on TV—that arrogant bastard. He looks exactly like Robert Downey Jr. There's no way this is any other universe. This is definitely 1999!"

Tony Stark's scalp tingled.

The sheer amount of information packed into those few lines was overwhelming.

Up until now, he had assumed that he was the sole protagonist of this world. But now? That theory was crumbling.

Gwen Stacy wasn't meant to be his love interest. She was meant for some kid named Peter Parker.

He didn't know who Parker was yet, but the name alone confirmed one thing: he wasn't the only main character.

A part of him felt relieved.

For a brief moment, he had been concerned that Gwen Stacy—this teenage girl—was meant to be his official romantic partner. And the first person who had come to mind as an alternative was none other than his assistant, Pepper Potts.

That realization caught him off guard.

He had never truly examined his feelings for Pepper before. But now, faced with the possibility of being paired with someone else, he instinctively rejected it.

Unlike the fleeting flings he had with countless women—where money, publicity, or mutual benefits were the only real exchanges—the official partner was different.

She was someone meant to stay by his side for life.

He wasn't ready to think about that. Not yet.

At least now, he didn't have to.

But then, the next part of the diary made his hair stand on end.

Until now, he had only theorized that he was inside some kind of fictional universe.

Now, he had confirmation.

Not only was this world definitely a story, but it even had an official designation: Universe-1999.

And to top it all off, this Luo Chen had the audacity to call him a stuck-up narcissist.

Any other day, Tony would have tracked the guy down just to put him in his place.

But right now, all he could think about was the staggering implications of what he had just read.

If this was Universe-1999… did that mean there were 1,998 universes before this one?

And if so, how many more existed beyond that?

Did that mean there were other versions of him out there?

Was this what people called a multiverse?

The thought made his stomach churn.

And then, there was that name—Robert Downey Jr.

From the way Luo Chen had phrased it, it wasn't hard to guess. This Robert Downey Jr. was likely the actor who played him in the world beyond the fourth wall.

Tony clenched his jaw.

The idea that his entire existence was written by someone else, that his appearance was dictated by some random actor's face, made his blood boil.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., what do you think?" Tony asked, his voice laced with irritation.

"Sir, this situation is extremely complex," J.A.R.V.I.S. responded. "However, based on the information provided, several conclusions can be drawn."

"First, while there is a clear protagonist in this world, you may not be the only one. There appears to be another primary figure—Peter Parker—and Gwen Stacy seems to be intended as his heroine, not yours."

Tony exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples.

"Second," J.A.R.V.I.S. continued, "this universe appears to be a composite reality, merging multiple interconnected stories. In certain forms of media, this is referred to as a cinematic universe—a shared world where different protagonists exist within the same continuity."

Tony frowned. "Go on."

"Third," J.A.R.V.I.S. said, "this universe does not perfectly align with Luo Chen's expectations. In the version he is familiar with, Peter Parker should still be a child, yet Gwen Stacy has already matured. This suggests that while our world may follow a certain framework, it is not entirely dictated by an external author."

"In other words," J.A.R.V.I.S. concluded, "while we may be able to use Luo Chen's knowledge as a reference, we cannot blindly trust it. This world is not an exact replica of what he remembers."

Tony let out a sharp exhale.

"Right." He nodded. "We can't just take his words at face value. There are definitely deviations. But still…"

His fingers tightened into a fist.

"The idea that my entire existence—my face—is dictated by some actor? That's beyond frustrating."

To him, actors were nothing more than entertainers—celebrities who played pretend for a living.

The thought that his entire identity was based on one of them?

Unacceptable.

"And then there's the other Tony Starks…" Tony muttered under his breath.

The mere possibility that different versions of him existed out there—other Tony Starks with different lives, different choices—was unsettling.

For the first time in his life, he felt like he wasn't in control.

And Tony Stark hated not being in control.