Tony’s Shock

Before the card draw, Nate Locke had been wondering if he might finally summon a resourceful servant—one that could change the tide of his operations. Instead, he found himself staring at a dishearteningly ordinary outcome. The harsh reality hit him like a ton of bricks: no matter how high the stakes, this was merely a card drawing game, and nothing had fundamentally changed. That bitter gap between his lofty expectations and the mundane results had driven him to spend countless hours—like kryptonite draining his energy—seeking that elusive "Krypton channel" of fortune. But no matter how many draws he attempted, he couldn't seem to unlock the breakthrough he longed for.

Nate's mind was heavy with disappointment as he muttered, "This is just normal probability…" His trusted partner, Quinn Maxwell, tried to comfort him with a few encouraging words over their secure comm, but Nate remained unmoved. It was in that very moment that Violet—one of his most precious summoned allies—pulled on his sleeve and looked up at him with her big, unblinking blue eyes, silently asking if there was anything she could do. "Wow, Violet's improved," Nate murmured, a small smile creeping across his face as he absentmindedly ran his fingers through her soft, beautiful blond hair. Her simple gesture had managed to lift his mood considerably.

He knew that if no new follower were drawn, he'd be stuck with the same set of resources—and that was a fate he could not accept. Even a mediocre card draw was better than nothing. With that in mind, Nate refocused on the only four-star guaranteed equipment from the draw he'd managed to secure. It was labeled as follows:

Name: Virtual Reality Experience Helmet From: Sword Art Online Evaluation: "Do you want to experience a magic that you will never experience in reality? Step into a virtual world—just be warned, you might lose your life here."

Nate couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. He remembered his younger self watching anime and feeling envious of players who could enter virtual worlds through cutting-edge gear. Now, after crossing over into this reality, he'd actually managed to acquire such a device—a virtual gaming helmet straight out of Sword Art Online.

"This… is a virtual gaming helmet!" Nate exclaimed, suddenly leaping to his feet. "How could I not be the chief if I get this? This is black technology that even the Marvel world hasn't seen before!" Rather than immediately extracting the helmet from his backpack, he took a deep, steadying breath. His heart still pounded with the earlier frustration, but he knew this was a turning point.

Pulling out his mobile phone, Nate dialed a number with purpose. "Tony, where are you?" he demanded into the receiver.

A moment later, Tony Stark's unmistakable voice crackled through the line. "I'm at a banquet—hey, beauties, quiet down the music for a second. What's up?" Tony's voice softened as he sensed urgency.

"Tony, you'd better come to me now—I have a super profitable project to discuss," Nate replied, his tone a mix of excitement and determination. Nate knew that virtual gaming technology, if harnessed correctly, could change the entire world. Without a strong partner, one might be devoured by corporate titans in the cutthroat market of high-tech warfare and commercial intrigue.

Tony laughed, his tone suddenly irreverent. "God, are you serious?" he said, chuckling. "I thought you'd say, 'Forget your project and bring your Chaldeans to Stark Industries!' I promise you, my friend, there'll never be a shortage of money around here."

"Stop talking nonsense, Tony—come here quickly," Nate insisted, his face dark with impatience. Despite having weathered multiple life-or-death crises, Tony's cheeky mouth still managed to irk Nate every time.

Since the last villa war, the relationship between Nate and Tony had grown surprisingly cordial. Fate had a strange way of binding them together—perhaps it was destiny or sheer circumstance, but Tony's efficiency never ceased to amaze Nate. Within half an hour of their conversation, a sleek Lamborghini sports car screeched to a stop outside the hotel where Tony's banquet was being held.

"Tony! Tony!" the hotel's front desk attendant stammered in disbelief upon seeing the celebrity arrive. In the United States, Tony Stark was a household name—a super celebrity whose every move was followed by the media. "Hey, where is your new boss? He asked me to come over," the attendant added.

Tony removed his sunglasses, revealing a bruise still fresh on his forehead, yet his suave demeanor remained intact. "He's on the 23rd floor," he replied coolly. The attendant, trying to impress, boldly asked, "Does our boss know you?"

"Of course—and I don't mind shy Chinese girls. Has anyone ever told you that you're cute?" Tony quipped, leaving the attendant with a blush as even the waitstaff whispered in awe.

Inside the living room of Tony's mansion, Nate was leisurely examining the new virtual gaming helmet he'd just drawn. The helmet's attached metal casing resembled a computer host, sleek and full of hidden sensors. "Tony's here," Quinn's voice suddenly announced over the comm. Just then, Tony himself opened the door and strode in.

"Happy housewarming, Nate! But to see your 'super profitable project,' I had to turn down billions of contracts just to attend this meeting," Tony exclaimed with characteristic flair. He noted the helmet on the carpet and scoffed, "This ugly thing isn't the project you mentioned—it looks more like a sleep aid for the elderly."

"You'll know if you try it yourself," Nate retorted with a playful smirk.

Tony, ever the skeptic, picked up the helmet and scrutinized it. He discovered it was encased in metal and bristled with signal sensors—reminding him of a microwave oven more than cutting-edge tech. Glancing at Quinn, who stood off to the side, Tony carefully donned the helmet, trusting that Quinn's constant vigilance ensured no harm would come from it.

As Nate flipped the switch on the device, a gentle, almost ethereal female voice began to speak. Tony's other auditory inputs fell silent, and his vision blurred momentarily into darkness. Then, a dazzling, colorful halo emerged in the center of his sight. His entire body was suddenly drawn forward, as if pulled by an unseen gravitational force. Before he could even scream, the vibrant light dissipated, and an entirely new world materialized before him.

"My God…" Tony muttered, utterly taken aback. Before him stretched a vast grassland—an endless sea of green swaying gently under a brilliant blue sky. In the distance, clouds tinged with gold drifted lazily across the horizon. It felt as if he were suspended in the middle of a dream—a virtual realm belonging to the world of data.

Back in the villa, Nate watched Tony lie on a plush sofa, still shaken by his experience in the virtual realm. A pang of regret shot through Nate—what if Tony couldn't find an exit from that digital labyrinth? Thankfully, thanks to Quinn Maxwell's time-retrospective ability, Tony managed to withdraw safely from the virtual world.

"What is the principle behind this? Sight, touch, gravity induction…" Tony's voice, now trembling with wonder and shock, trailed off. Medicine wasn't his specialty, but even he could grasp how astonishing this tiny piece of technology was.

"How do you feel?" Nate asked, gently shaking Tony's shoulder.

Tony looked at him with a complicated expression—a mix of awe, fear, and a grudging admiration. "I only have one thought right now," he admitted. "You guys actually have more money than me."

A burst of laughter erupted from Nate. It was a rare moment of unguarded humor—a chance to see Tony's face soften, a face that rarely betrayed anything beyond his unshakable confidence.

As the laughter subsided, Tony's demeanor shifted. He now looked contemplative and even a little vulnerable, his earlier bravado replaced by a quiet curiosity about the virtual gaming helmet's capabilities. "I'm starting to think… maybe this project of yours isn't just some idle fancy," Tony said slowly. "Maybe it could change everything. But I'd rather not get involved if it means being swallowed up by corporate sharks or endless commercial intrigues. I can't afford more trouble."

"God, are you serious?" Tony laughed again, his voice rich with sarcasm. "I always thought you'd bring your Chaldeans over to Stark Industries, and I promise you—there's no shortage of money in my world."

"Stop talking nonsense and come here quickly," Nate said firmly, his expression darkening with urgency. Despite all the life-and-death crises they'd weathered, Tony's careless banter still had a way of getting under Nate's skin.

Since the last "Villa War," the rapport between Nate and Tony had grown unexpectedly close. Fate, it seemed, had drawn them together, and now Tony's efficiency was proving invaluable. Within just half an hour, a sleek Lamborghini sports car screeched to a stop outside the hotel where Tony's banquet was in progress.

"Tony! Tony!?" the hotel receptionist stammered in awe at the sight of the celebrity. In a country where Tony Stark was a household name, his every arrival stirred a frenzy.

"Hey, where's your new boss? He asked me to come over," the receptionist added, a mix of admiration and disbelief in her tone.

Tony removed his sunglasses, revealing a fresh bruise on his forehead, yet he still looked every bit the suave icon. "He's on the 23rd floor," he replied coolly. The receptionist, emboldened by Tony's casual charm, asked, "Does our boss know you?"

"Of course," Tony replied, flashing a mischievous grin. "And I must say, I don't mind shy Chinese girls—has anyone ever told you that you're cute?" His remark, delivered with trademark Stark confidence, sent a ripple of giggles among the waiting staff and guests, who soon began gossiping about his new boss and the mysterious man he'd been seen with.

Inside the living room, Nate was still busy experimenting with the virtual gaming helmet. The device's attached metal box, reminiscent of a compact computer host, lay open on the carpet as he scrutinized its design. "Tony's here," Quinn suddenly announced. Just then, Tony himself strode into the room, greeting everyone with a mix of flair and urgency.

"Happy housewarming, Nate!" Tony declared, his voice booming as he jostled his way through the crowd. "To see your 'super profitable project,' I turned down contracts worth billions." Tony's eyes caught sight of the virtual helmet on the carpet. "This ugly thing—are you serious? Is it meant to be a sleep aid for the elderly?"

"You'll know if you try it yourself," Nate shot back with a smirk.

"Is this also something sent by your colleague?" Tony asked, now frowning as he examined the helmet more closely. He noticed it was covered in a layer of metal with numerous signal sensors integrated into its design. "It looks like a microwave oven," Tony remarked, half in disbelief.

Tony then turned to Quinn, who was standing nearby. "With Quinn by my side, there's no danger, right?" Tony said, adjusting the helmet carefully on his head.

As Nate flipped the switch on the helmet, a gentle female voice began to speak. In an instant, all other sounds vanished from Tony's ears, and his vision darkened. Suddenly, a radiant, colorful halo burst into the center of his sight, and his entire body felt as if it were being sucked toward that luminous vortex. Before Tony could even cry out, the brilliant light faded, revealing an entirely new world—a vast, sprawling grassland under a flawless blue sky, with golden-hued clouds drifting lazily across the horizon. Suspended in midair, Tony marveled at the surreal beauty of this virtual realm—a world composed entirely of data, where every element was rendered in breathtaking clarity.

"My God…" Tony whispered, his voice heavy with awe and disbelief. Even though his expertise was in technology rather than medicine, he could grasp how extraordinary this new experience was.

After what felt like an eternity, Tony managed to withdraw from the virtual world—thanks to Quinn Maxwell's time-retrospective ability, which allowed him to reverse time just enough for Tony to escape unscathed. Tony emerged, dazed and shaken, his face a mixture of shock and wonder.

"What is the principle behind all this? Sight, touch, gravity induction…" Tony muttered, still processing the incredible technology contained in such a small device.

"How do you feel?" Nate asked, shaking Tony's shoulder gently as he approached.

Tony's expression was complicated—he looked both impressed and slightly envious. "I only have one thought right now," Tony said slowly, "You guys apparently have more money than me." A burst of laughter erupted from Nate; such candid moments from Tony were rare, and Nate savored the warmth in his voice.

As the conversation wound down, Tony's villa buzzed with a quiet intensity. The banquet, initially intended as a lavish celebration, had now taken on an entirely different significance. Tony's birthday was approaching—a milestone that symbolized not only his rebirth as a hero but also the turning of a new chapter in his tumultuous life. Yet, the events of the night and the shocking revelations from the virtual gaming helmet had left him reeling.

In the days that followed, as Tony recovered from his shock and Nate continued to evaluate the new equipment, both men knew that the stakes had never been higher. The virtual helmet—this marvel of technology—had opened a window into a realm that defied all expectations, a realm that promised untold possibilities if they dared to harness it. And while Tony's eyes still sparkled with the residual shock of his experience, Nate's mind was already whirring with plans for the future.

"This is something else, Tony," Nate remarked quietly as he patted his friend on the shoulder. "The potential here is immense, but we must tread carefully. There's no telling what dangers lie in wait when you start blending virtual reality with our world's technology."

Tony, still adjusting to the enormity of what he had just seen, nodded in solemn agreement. "I get it, Nate. I really do. I always thought I was invincible, that nothing could shake me. But that little helmet—it showed me a world I never knew existed. I'm both terrified and exhilarated."

Nate smiled softly. "We're in this together, Tony. Whether it's fighting off Hydra operatives, protecting our allies, or exploring new virtual frontiers, I promise we'll face it head-on."

As the echoes of their conversation faded into the background, the reality of their situation set in. Tony's shock, mingled with awe and uncertainty, was just the beginning. In this chaotic, high-stakes world where superpowers clashed with advanced technology and ancient relics dictated the course of events, every discovery carried the potential to reshape their destinies.

Nate Locke, with his unwavering resolve and a keen sense of responsibility, knew that every moment counted. The follow-up from the virtual gaming helmet had not only expanded their technological arsenal but had also sparked a renewed sense of purpose. With Quinn Maxwell at his side and Tony Stark's unyielding determination fueling their endeavors, the trio prepared to dive deeper into the mysteries that lay ahead.

"Come on, Tony," Nate urged softly, his eyes reflecting both challenge and camaraderie, "let's not waste any more time. We have a world to protect, and every second brings us closer to either a breakthrough or a new threat."

Tony took a deep, steadying breath and nodded. "You're right, Nate. I may be shocked today, but I'm also ready to fight for what I believe in."

And so, under the soft glow of twilight and the lingering hum of advanced technology, Tony's shock gradually gave way to determination. In that pivotal moment, the path forward was clear: to harness the incredible power of the virtual gaming helmet, to explore uncharted virtual realms, and to use every asset at their disposal to build a better, safer future.

In the quiet moments that followed, as Tony and Nate exchanged knowing glances and shared a rare moment of vulnerability, they both understood that the challenges ahead would test not only their physical might but also their capacity for trust, innovation, and sacrifice. The battlefield of life was shifting once more—and with it, the very definition of what it meant to be a hero.