Chapter 6.
Every woman hopes that when she is in danger, a Prince Charming will bravely step forward, defeat the villain, and then turn to her gently, saying, "Don't be scared, I will save you."
Louise had always dismissed such fairy tale fantasies. She knew that real life didn't work that way. The odds of such a scenario happening to her were about as likely as winning the lottery.
Louise was a reporter for a news agency—one who had spent years struggling to be recognized for her work. Her bald, middle-aged boss had once tried to coerce her into an inappropriate situation. Rather than submit, she had landed a well-aimed kick between his legs.
Ever since, he had been making her life difficult, assigning her the worst jobs.
Today was no exception. He had sent her out to do street interviews—a task she despised to the core. If she weren't desperate to keep her job, she'd rather take off her high heels and smash them into his face.
But fate had other plans for her that day.
What Louise didn't expect was to stumble upon the biggest story of her career—a battle between two giant robots, right in the middle of the city.
When she realized they had emerged from Stark Industries, she sensed a major scoop. Wasting no time, she bypassed her incompetent boss and went straight to the network's president. She convinced him to authorize a live broadcast, promising that this was headline news.
If she pulled this off, she imagined, her sleazy boss wouldn't even be worthy of carrying her bags.
Determined to make the most of this opportunity, she focused entirely on the broadcast—so much so that she didn't notice the danger creeping closer.
At that moment, Louise finally snapped out of her focus and realized what was happening.
She turned—and her eyes widened in horror.
A colossal steel hand was reaching for her.
She wanted to run—but she couldn't move, her legs have given out in fear.
Then—just before the massive hand could grab her—a figure stepped in front of her.
It wasn't a broad-shouldered warrior, nor was it a towering superhero or one of the robos.
Yet, in that moment, his presence felt unshakable.
What happened next was something Louise would never forget for the rest of her life.
This ordinary-looking man raised a single right hand—and caught the robot's gigantic steel fist.
And he didn't budge an inch.
It was like seeing as if a child had effortlessly lifted an elephant.
Li Yue had stepped forward.
With his enhanced strength, he easily stopped the Iron Monger's attack. Thanks to his tenfold human strength, he could generate nearly two tons of force with a single punch.
Of course, under normal circumstances, this still wouldn't be enough to overpower the Iron Monger's full might.
However, Iron Monger was already severely damaged—and, more importantly, he wasn't trying to attack with full force. He had simply wanted to grab a hostage for leverage.
That's why Li Yue was able to block him with ease.
Iron Monger had actually noticed Li Yue earlier, but hadn't paid him much attention.
When he spotted Louise standing beside him, he had immediately chosen her as his target—after all, women were easier to control.
But now, his plan had completely failed.
Seeing the man who had just thwarted him, Iron Monger's expression darkened.
"It's you…" he growled.
Only now did he recognize Li Yue as the man who had previously rescued Pepper Potts.
His rage boiled over.
"Twice now, you've ruined my plans. I'll make sure you don't get in my way again!"
Iron Monger reared back, preparing to unleash his full power.
But before he could strike—
Li Yue vanished.
Iron Monger blinked. 'Where did he go?'
One moment, Li Yue was standing in front of him—and the next, he was gone. Panic set in.
His gaze darted around frantically.
Then—he looked down.
And his blood ran cold.
He was falling.
Hundreds of meters below, Tony Stark stood waiting—his repulsors primed and ready.
Before Iron Overlord could process what had happened, Li Yue reappeared beside Tony.
"What are you waiting for?" Li Yue said casually. "Finish him off."
Tony, still slightly stunned, quickly snapped back to reality.
"Right… got it."
Iron Monger plummeted toward Tony, unable to regain control midair.
But Tony had no intention of letting him survive.
Raising both palms, he unleashed two concentrated energy blasts.
Iron Monger had no way to dodge.
BOOM!
The explosion ripped through the night sky, and the Iron Monger was obliterated—his steel frame reduced to fiery debris.
Tony exhaled deeply, staring at the charred remains of what was once his uncle.
A part of him felt a twinge of guilt and sadness at this outcome—this had been a man he once trusted, someone who had been like his family.
But that man was gone.
What remained was nothing more than a ruthless monster who had tried to kill the people Tony cared about.
Tony clenched his fists.
"You deserved this."
Louise stood frozen, watching the entire scene unfold.
She couldn't –believe it.
The man who had saved her life…
He wasn't just some ordinary guy.
And before she could even process what had happened—
He was gone.
Suddenly, a gentle voice broke through her daze.
"Are you okay?"
She turned—
And found herself face-to-face with him.
"Did you like the fireworks I prepared for you?" Li Yue shamelessly teased Louise.
"They were beautiful," she replied with a smile. "And I think, as a way to thank you for saving my life, I should invite you to dinner. Would you accept?"
Louise turned toward the familiar figure—the same one who had mysteriously vanished just moments ago. Her excitement was evident.
"Of course. But as a gentleman, I believe I should be the one inviting you instead. What's your name by the way?" Li Yue asked.
"Louise Ryan. But you can call me Louise."
That name sounded strangely familiar...
The Next Day
"Iron Man." Tony read aloud from the latest newspaper. "Not a bad name. Though, to be precise, it's made of a gold-titanium alloy. But while the description might not be entirely accurate... I kind of like it."
Seated comfortably in a chair, Tony was having his makeup done by Pepper Potts. In just a short while, he would be stepping up to address the press and clarify the recent events.
"Mr. Stark, here is your alibi. At the time of the incident, you were on a yacht. We've arranged the necessary customs documents stating that you were on Avalon Island last night, with testimonies from fifty witnesses."
Coulson handed Tony a neatly prepared document.
"I thought you'd at least let me say I was on a private vacation with Pepper," Tony quipped.
"And why isn't Obadiah Stane mentioned anywhere in this?" he asked, his –expression turning more serious.
Coulson gave him a measured look. "He was on his private plane last night. You know how it is—small planes are quite prone to accidents."
Tony smirked but said nothing.
"Don't you think it sounds a bit fake if I say the robot was my bodyguard? Because... let's be honest, that was me. Saying it's just a bodyguard feels a little..." Tony hesitated, clearly unsure about how to proceed.
"This isn't the first time we've handled situations like this," Coulson assured him. "Just stick to the script, and things will settle down soon."
As Coulson turned to leave, Pepper stopped him. "Agent Coulson, I just wanted to say... thank you. For everything you've done."
Coulson nodded. "No need to thank me. It's my job. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to reach out."
"Your organization is called... National Strategic Homeland..." Pepper trailed off.
"You can just call us S.H.I.E.L.D." Coulson interrupted smoothly.
Then, as if remembering something, he added, "Oh, and please inform Mr. Li Yue that our director would like to meet him."
The Press Conference.
Standing before a packed room of reporters, Tony took a deep breath.
"I haven't held a press conference in a while," he muttered. "Guess I'll just have to read from the cards."
He glanced down at the prepared statement in front of him.
"There –have been rumors that I was involved in a robot battle in the middle of the street..." he began.
Before he could continue, a familiar voice interrupted him.
"I'm sorry, but do you really expect us to believe that a bodyguard in a steel suit just happened to show up? And let's not forget, you have a history of..."
It was the same female reporter Tony had spent a night with before.
Tony cut her off. "Look, I understand how difficult this is to believe. But questioning the official statement is one thing. Assuming that I'm a superhero? That's something else entirely."
The room fell silent, waiting for what Tony would say next.
And then—with a smirk, he tossed aside the cue cards.
"The truth is..." he paused, then looked up.
"I never said you were a superhero," the female reporter interrupted Tony mercilessly.
"Oh? Good, because that would be ridiculous. I'm not a hero. I have far too many flaws in my personality. And let's not forget, I've done plenty of stupid things in public." Tony's expression became slightly unnatural, as if he were hesitating.
"Stick to the script," Rhodey whispered beside him, noticing Tony's incoherent response.
"Li Yue, how do you think Tony Stark will answer the media's questions?"
In the audience, Louise—who was attending as a reporter—turned to Li Yue, who was seated beside her.
"I think his answer will surprise you," Li Yue replied, but his gaze remained fixed on Tony, who was visibly wavering on stage.
Tony looked momentarily lost. His eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on Li Yue. Seeing the subtle encouragement in Li Yue's expression, he finally made up his mind.
"Actually... I am Iron Man!"
Tony's voice was firm and resolute.
"So, Li Yue, you knew all along..."
A single statement sent shockwaves across the nation. Tony Stark publicly admitting that he was Iron Man instantly became headline news. Every major media outlet rushed to report on it.
The reactions were mixed—some admired him, some resented him, and some were just caught up in the spectacle. Regardless, Tony Stark had become a sensation, more famous than ever. Even Hollywood superstars had to step aside.
The name "Iron Man" spread rapidly, and as a consequence, Stark Industries' stock prices skyrocketed. Those who had hastily sold their shares after Tony shut down the weapons division were now kicking themselves in regret.
Meanwhile, Tony had also acquired all the stock previously held by Obadiah Stane. Now, Stark Industries was entirely under his control.
But let's set that aside for now...
That night, as Tony and Li Yue returned to the villa, they were greeted by a rather unexpected guest—Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
With his signature eye patch and imposing presence, Fury wasted no time getting to the point.
"I'm Iron Man. Tony Stark, do you really think you're the only superhero on this planet?" he said, his tone brimming with authority, as if implying that Tony knew very little about the real world.
"I know there was Captain America during World War II and that Captain Marvel returned to Earth in –1995 before heading back into space to be a hero," Li Yue cut in smoothly.
"Oh, and by the way, you lost your left –eye back then. You were scratched by Goose. Yeah... Goose is an alien cat."
Li Yue spoke casually, completely ignoring Nick Fury's shocked expression.
Fury had been mildly surprised by –Li Yue's prior knowledge, but hearing this last remark made his face shift through a range of –emotions in a matter of seconds. He stood there, silent, for a good while before finally regaining his composure. He abandoned any thoughts of silencing Li Yue—the truth would come out sooner or later, especially now that Tony knew.
Tony, on the other hand, was quick to seize the opportunity.
"Haha… A guy who got blinded by a cat? I'm pretty sure I don't know you. And honestly, I don't think anyone I know would ever let that happen to them."
Tony smirked, clearly enjoying himself.
"So, tell me, what brings you sneaking into my villa? What exactly do you want?"
"I'm Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. And for the record, that wasn't just an ordinary cat—it was a Flerken. A highly dangerous creature in the universe. This information is classified, so I expect you to keep it that way."
Nick Fury had no choice but to offer an explanation. If the truth about how he lost his eye ever reached the ears of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, it would be humiliating. He had spent years convincing people that he lost his eye in a fierce battle against a formidable opponent.
"A Flerken? Never heard of it before. Are you sure you didn't just make that up?" Tony questioned, clearly skeptical.
But then, shifting his focus, he continued, "Alright, enough about that. Why did you break into my villa? If you don't give me a good reason, I'll suit up in my armor and personally throw you out of here."
Nick Fury remained unfazed. "I'm here to talk to you about the initiative to form the Avengers."
He then turned his gaze toward Li Yue and added, "And also to discuss this Mr. Li Yue's abilities and origins."
"The Avengers? What is that? Some kind of boy band?" Tony quipped, as indifferent as ever.
"I've been working to assemble a team of extraordinary individuals. When the Earth faces a threat beyond its ability to handle, they will serve as the last line of defense. I call them… the Avengers."
Fury's tone was solemn, and as he spoke, a certain powerful figure flashed through his mind. The one who single-handedly repelled an alien fleet that had attempted to invade Earth. That incident had made it clear: Earth was not alone in the universe. There were countless powerful extraterrestrial beings out there, watching, waiting. This was why he needed the Avengers.
"So, how many members does your 'Super Squad' have so far?" Tony asked, feigning curiosity.
"Ah… well, the initiative hasn't been officially sanctioned yet. So, technically, there are only two members at the moment."
Nick Fury looked slightly embarrassed as he admitted this. After all, the initiative was still in its infancy. Technically, Tony was the first non-S.H.I.E.L.D. recruit he was approaching. The other two—Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) and Hawkeye (Clint Barton)—were already S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, making them default members.
"Two? You expect two people to protect the Earth? I think I'd do a better job handling it alone. Honestly, I don't see the point in your 'Super Squad' plan."
Tony rejected the offer outright, showing no interest in the proposal.
Nick Fury, however, didn't argue. Instead, he turned to Li Yue, who had remained silent all this time.
"Mr. Li Yue, what about you? Would you be interested in joining?"
"I'll have to pass," Li Yue replied calmly. "You should already know that my abilities aren't suited for combat. However, I believe we can make a deal."
While rejecting Fury's offer, Li Yue saw an opportunity—one that could benefit him. He considered revealing certain key details about the future in exchange for something valuable. After careful thought, he realized that the one thing he truly needed was the Tesseract—the Space Stone contained within it.
Ever since he had gained his space-related abilities, Li Yue had felt that the Space Stone would be the perfect catalyst to further enhance his powers.
He still had no idea how he had acquired his abilities in the first place. He refused to believe that he had simply obtained them after watching a movie—there had to be an unknown factor at play.
Now, living in the Marvel universe, he knew that relying solely on his current abilities wouldn't be enough. Sooner or later, he could end up on a villain's radar, and even if he managed to avoid them all, he would still have to face the inevitable snap—Thanos' 50/50 gamble.
But for now, his primary goal was simple, trick Nick Fury into leading him to the Tesseract. If he could get close to the Space Stone—one of the six Infinity Stones—he might have a chance to strengthen himself before things spiraled out of control.
"I believe that both Tony and S.H.I.E.L.D. are curious about my origins," Li Yue continued, his voice calm yet firm.
"And you'd be right. Because the truth is—I am not from this world."
"So, you're from another planet? Are you an alien? Then how did you end up on Earth?"
Before Li Yue could continue, Tony interrupted impatiently. He had been curious about Li Yue's background for a long time, but since Li Yue never brought it up on his own, Tony hadn't felt comfortable asking directly.
"Tony, don't interrupt me, okay? Let me finish," Li Yue sighed. "I never said I was from another planet. I am from Earth—but not this Earth. I come from another universe. You should know about the concept of the multiverse."
Seeing Tony's eagerness to interrupt him, Li Yue felt a little helpless.
"So, what you're saying is that you're from an alternate version of Earth within the multiverse? That's hard to believe. I mean, the multiverse is just a theory. No one has ever actually proven its existence," Tony said, his expression a mix of skepticism and intrigue.
As a scientist, Tony wasn't an expert in the field of quantum mechanics, but he understood the theory well enough. However, hearing someone claim they had traveled from another universe was a completely different matter—it sounded almost absurd.
"Whether or not the multiverse exists, you still need to explain how you got here and, more importantly, why you're here," Nick Fury cut in, his tone serious.
Unlike Tony, Fury wasn't as concerned about the theoretical implications of Li Yue's claim. His primary concern was the security of Earth. Ever since Li Yue had been discovered, Fury had considered having him captured and interrogated. However, he wasn't sure they could actually contain him. If Li Yue wanted to escape, there was likely no one who could stop him.
"Where should I begin? Let's start with the situation on Earth in my universe," Li Yue said. "Unlike this version of Earth, my Earth isn't inhabited solely by humans. There is another group of special humans—mutants, like me. Mutants possess one or more unique abilities."
"For example, some can read and control minds, others can shapeshift, some can shoot lasers from their eyes, and some can regenerate from injuries almost instantly."
Li Yue paused before adding, "Oh, and there's one mutant in particular—Tony's worst nightmare. He has the ability to control metal and manipulate magnetic fields."
He glanced at Tony, whose face instantly turned pale.
"The abilities of mutants vary. Some are insignificant, while others are unimaginably powerful—capable of destroying the world itself. Unfortunately, some mutants are uncontrollable. When chaos broke out, the world was on the brink of destruction. Under the threat of death, I was forced to use my powers to escape through space… and I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I found myself here."
Nick Fury and Tony fell silent, processing the information. After a long pause, Fury finally spoke.
"I have no way to verify whether you're telling the truth," he admitted. "But for now, let's assume you are. If you wish to stay on Earth, you'll need to abide by our laws. S.H.I.E.L.D. has the right to monitor you and ensure that you don't do anything that threatens this planet's safety."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it—your world, your rules," Li Yue replied, shrugging. He knew he wasn't strong enough to defy Fury yet. If he had Superman-level strength, he wouldn't be standing here negotiating—he'd be doing whatever he wanted.
Seeing that Li Yue had agreed, Fury continued, "Now that we have an understanding, let's talk about the deal you mentioned earlier."
"The deal is simple," Li Yue said. "I'll exchange valuable information with you… in return for something I need."
"Information? What kind of information?" Fury asked, narrowing his eye. "S.H.I.E.L.D. may not have the best intelligence network in the world, but we can uncover just about anything we set our minds to. What could you possibly offer us that we don't already know?"
Li Yue smirked. "Trust me, Director Fury… I know things that even S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't."
Nick Fury didn't say it out loud, but he certainly thought about it. Luckily for him, he kept his thoughts to himself. If Li Yue had known what was on Fury's mind, –he might have landed a punch on that ever-serious face just to vent his frustration.
"For example, Captain America is still alive—how's that for a piece of news?" Li Yue casually dropped the bombshell.
"What did you say?! Captain America is still alive? How do you know that?"
Nick Fury shot up from his seat in shock, his one eye fixed intently on Li Yue, eager for confirmation.
Tony, equally stunned, remained silent for a moment. Of course, he knew about Captain America—after all, the man's shield was made by Tony's father. But Steve Rogers had disappeared during World War II, nearly seventy years ago. How could he still be alive?
"Yes, Captain –America is alive," Li Yue affirmed. "As for how I know... well, I don't really know myself. Maybe when I crossed universes, I accidentally glimpsed into the flow of time. When I woke up, I found all kinds of strange knowledge in my mind—including the fact that my previous universe was designated as Earth-616, while this one is Earth-199999. I also know about past and future events in this universe."
Of course, Li Yue shamelessly plagiarized the words of a certain future trickster, Mysterio. In his own reality, Mysterio had fooled Spider-Man with a similar multiverse explanation. But here, in the actual Marvel universe, Mysterio had yet to appear, so Li Yue decided to borrow his tactics.
Nick Fury, regaining his composure, processed the information before asking directly, "Can you predict the future?"
"It's not exactly predicting the future," Li Yue clarified. "It's more like I know what's supposed to happen. Some events might change, but others are inevitable. For example, in two years, you're supposed to find Captain America. But now that I've told you, you can find him much sooner."
Nick Fury's expression darkened in thought. If what Li Yue was saying was true, then having access to future knowledge would be an invaluable asset.
"So, Mr. Li Yue, what do you want in exchange for this information?" Fury finally asked.
"Not much," Li Yue replied casually. "I just want to take a look at the Tesseract—the so-called 'Cosmic Cube'—and study it. From what I recall, its energy is quite similar to mine."
He was being honest. He wasn't worried about Fury refusing. Even if he was denied access this time, there would be plenty of future opportunities to come into contact with the Tesseract.
After considering it for a moment, Nick Fury nodded. "Alright, I agree. But first, I need to verify whether your information is accurate."
"Since you're being so cooperative, let me give you another free tip," Li Yue added with a smirk. "If, in the near future, a hammer falls from the sky in New Mexico, you might want to come find me for an explanation."
He had originally considered telling Fury about HYDRA's infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D., but ultimately decided against it. That revelation would cause too many unpredictable consequences.
"Alright, then we have a deal," Nick Fury said, his tone firm. "If I confirm that your information is true, I'll send someone to contact you."
With that, Fury wasted no time. After extracting every possible detail about Captain America's whereabouts from Li Yue, he left in a hurry—headed straight back to S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
After Fury's departure, Tony remained seated, staring at Li Yue with narrowed eyes.
"Tony, I know what you're thinking," Li Yue said before Tony could even speak. "And the answers you're looking for… can be found in the things your father left behind for you."
Meanwhile, at the Triskelion—S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters—Nick Fury was already making calls.
"Agent Coulson, I have a mission for you."
"Director, I just finished dealing with Tony Stark, and I was hoping to take some time off. Can't you assign it to someone else?" Coulson replied, clearly exhausted from his last assignment.
"Captain America is still alive," Fury stated plainly.
"...Director, please assign this mission to me immediately."
It seemed no one could resist the allure of a good mystery.
"Director, what about Stark?" Coulson asked after accepting his new mission.
"Call Agent Natasha Romanoff back," Fury instructed.
"And send a team to New Mexico. Report to me immediately if anything unusual happens."
"Unusual?" Coulson repeated, puzzled. "What exactly do you mean by unusual?"
"For instance, if a hammer of unknown origin suddenly appears."
Coulson nearly choked.
"Did you just assign our top agents to go… hammer hunting?" he muttered under his breath.
Time passed quickly.
In the months that followed, Li Yue found himself in an unexpected situation—he had fallen into a relationship with Louise Ryan, a journalist.
When he had first asked about her work, he had been relieved to find out she didn't work for the Daily Planet—which meant she had no connection to a certain Clark Kent.
Ever since that night when he had saved her, the two had gone out for dinner together. Nothing extraordinary had happened—it had just been a simple meal.
During dinner, however, Louise had been filled with curiosity.
"Li Yue… how did you do it?" she had asked. "How did you disappear right in front of my eyes?"
Li Yue didn't hide the truth—he openly told Louise about his superpowers. He saw no reason to conceal his abilities from an ordinary person, especially not in front of someone important to him. When it came down to a choice between keeping his powers secret or being honest with the woman he liked, Li Yue unhesitatingly chose the latter.
"Li Yue, sorry to keep you waiting," Louise said apologetically.
"It's no problem. It wasn't long at all. Besides, for a beautiful woman like you, I'd gladly wait as long as necessary," Li Yue replied with a hint of flattery.
Although Li Yue had never had a girlfriend in his previous life, he had heard that women often take their time getting ready. It was just part of their routine. Considering that Louise had only kept him waiting for less than twenty minutes, he found it perfectly acceptable.
"Thank you for the compliment, Li Yue. So, where are we going today?" Louise asked with a smile.
It was the weekend, so Louise didn't have to work. As for Li Yue, he had no real job—or rather, he didn't see the point of working when he had all the money he needed. Thanks to Tony's generosity, financial concerns were the least of his worries.
Today was a significant moment for him—his first official date with Louise. It had taken him months to finally muster the courage to invite her out, something he had only done after Tony's repeated encouragement. After all, he had no experience in dating, having never had a girlfriend in his past life.
"Louise, I promise that today will be the most unforgettable day of your life!" Li Yue declared confidently.
"I'm looking forward to it!" Louise responded with a bright smile.
"Louis, may I have the honor of holding your hand?" Li Yue asked, extending his right hand.
"Li Yue, I used to think you were a bit slow. It took you months to ask me out, but now you're suddenly so bold," Louise teased him playfully. However, she still reached out her hand without hesitation.
"Are you ready, Louise? Here we go!" Li Yue grinned. Without waiting for a reply, he activated his superpowers, and in the blink of an eye, both of them vanished.
Not far from where they had been standing, two plainclothes S.H.I.E.L.D. agents exchanged bewildered looks.
"How are we supposed to monitor someone like that?" one of them muttered in frustration.
"Be grateful. At least you're not the poor guy sent to New Mexico to look for a hammer. That's the real joke," the other agent replied with a chuckle.
Meanwhile, at a S.H.I.E.L.D. base in New York, Nick Fury sat in front of a monitor, his one eye fixed on the screen. The room being displayed had an old-fashioned appearance, and on the bed lay a man in deep sleep.
Standing beside him, Agent Coulson stared at the sleeping figure with unconcealed excitement—like a lifelong fan meeting their idol. Every so often, he reached out to touch a prototype shield resting nearby, its surface emblazoned with a blue five-pointed star.
...…..
Please support us and read at least 10 chapter ahead at my patréon.
patréon.com/PrimorDious.
I'll be very grateful. Thank you.