Chapter 1: Becoming Iron Man: System-Triggered Chaos

Late at night, Aetheris lay sprawled on his bed, dressed in nothing but a snug pair of shorts, lazily watching an American TV show.

One leg crossed over the other, he held a cold bottle of pineapple beer in his hand.

On his phone screen played Marvel's iconic blockbuster, Iron Man.

At that moment, Tony Stark was showing off his company's latest super missile to the U.S. military.

Tony joked, "Gentlemen with wigs, hold onto your hats."

A sleek cruise missile launched, splitting into dozens of smaller bombs, obliterating a mountain range kilometers away.

Boom!

The shockwave roared across the desert, engulfing the military officials, leaving them stunned.

"Standard procedure!" Tony announced smugly.

"Damn, this guy pulls it off every time," Aetheris muttered, taking a satisfying swig of pineapple beer, letting out a loud burp. "A mortal wielding power that rivals the gods… now that's living."

Ding. God-Tier Choice System activated. Binding successful.

A sudden notification popped up on his phone.

"Huh? Another ad from that shady streaming site? What is it this time—one slash, 999 damage? Or that ridiculous 'Legend of the Hero Brother' thing?" Aetheris frowned but still couldn't resist tapping the option out of curiosity.

Please choose—

1. Keep watching Iron Man and live your ordinary life.

Reward: The Sunflower Manual (automatically cultivates itself).

2. Enter the Marvel Universe and become Iron Man.

Reward: Superhuman physique on par with Captain America.

3. Enter the Marvel Universe and become Black Panther.

Reward: Death within one year.

Aetheris winced. "What kind of messed-up system is this? First option? No thanks—I'm not losing… that. Third option? Die in a year? Just like the poor actor who played Black Panther."

"Do I really have a choice here? Time to be a real man for once."

Option 2—Become Iron Man!

At the very least, he'd keep his manhood intact and gain the physique of Steve Rogers. It was a no-brainer. The system could stay confused—he was about to win big.

Boom!

His phone exploded, and Aetheris's soul was instantly sucked into the blast, vanishing into the device.

In his final moment of consciousness, Aetheris thought: Well… at least I don't have to worry about clearing my browsing history now.

But what a shame… that life-sized silicone doll he ordered was still in transit.

Hopefully, the delivery truck explodes too.

---

Avengers Universe — Central Desert Region

Who am I? Where am I?

Aetheris groaned, patting his head as he struggled to stand.

"Mr. Stark, run!" shouted a U.S. soldier at the wheel—but that was all he managed to say.

Bang!

A deafening gunshot.

The soldier's head burst open like a watermelon, blown apart by a sniper's anti-materiel rifle.

Blood and brain matter splattered across Aetheris like whipped cream on a cake.

"AAAAHHHHHH—!"

Aetheris screamed at the top of his lungs, overwhelmed by the gruesome scene.

My newly mortgaged apartment…

Damn it!

That pretty nurse I just met on a blind date… never even held her hand!

Damn it!

The stable government job I just landed…

Damn it!

Everything had happened so fast. One moment, he was lounging in bed, watching Tony Stark flaunt his brilliance. The next, a so-called "God-Tier Choice System" had tossed him straight into a war zone in the Marvel Universe, surrounded by explosions and gunfire.

"Mr. Stark, get out of the vehicle! We're surrounded!" a U.S. soldier shouted, pounding on the window of the armored car.

Snapping back to reality, Aetheris realized his current body—the infamous Tony Stark—was in no shape to fight or flee. Years of wine, women, and reckless living had left him wobbly and weak. He stumbled out of the vehicle, chasing after the soldier.

Shells exploded around him. Debris sliced across his cheeks, leaving bloody cuts, but he barely felt it. He only wished Tony's parents had gifted him two extra legs at birth.

Then, it hit him. If Tony Stark kept running, he'd be blown up by one of his own company's missiles. That explosion would lead to shrapnel lodging near his heart and the arc reactor being implanted in his chest.

He had zero interest in daily blood poisoning from palladium. Sure, the Iron Man suit was flashy, but staying alive was his priority.

But if he didn't run? The armed group would capture him, drag him to their cave, and force him to build weapons. Survival would only come after Yinsen—the scientist—sacrificed himself to help Tony escape.

The problem was… Aetheris wasn't Tony Stark. He wasn't some engineering genius. No chance he could build an Iron Man suit in a cave with a box of scraps. Without the armor? He'd be dead meat.

Ding. Host detected to be in a dilemma.

Please make a choice.

1. Keep running with your trusty "Bus 11" (your legs).

Reward: Blown to pieces by a Stark missile.

2. Wait here and get discovered by the armed group.

Reward: AK-47 with unlimited ammo.

3. Surrender to the enemy willingly.

Reward: Mark II Iron Man suit (delivered upon arrival at their base).

"Do I even need to think about this?" Aetheris scoffed inwardly. "I, Tony Stark—a proud American—will never betray my roots… but surrendering temporarily? That's called strategy."

I surrender to the enemy!

Smells like victory.

Unarmed, Aetheris ripped off his white shirt, tied it to a wooden stick, and waved it furiously.

"Stop! Stop! I surrender—I surrender!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, terrified the armed group wouldn't hear him.

The gunfire and explosions ceased. Ears ringing, Aetheris barely registered the buzzing in his head as a group of armed men surrounded him, dressed in desert camouflage, their heads wrapped in cloth, rifles pointed his way.

They muttered among themselves, staring at his bare chest.

"What the hell are you laughing at? Never seen a handsome guy before?" Aetheris grumbled under his breath, though his face remained calm and submissive.

Clearing his throat, he declared loudly, "I am Tony Stark."

The armed group burst into cheers.

Their mission was to capture the heir of Stark Industries—Tony Stark himself.

One of them jabbered into a radio for a while, ignoring Aetheris's protests, then shoved a black hood over his head.

(End of Chapter)

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