"Non-biological... nanite cluster."
Baymax's cold, electronic voice reverberated through the silent underground laboratory, each word a heavy hammer striking Paul's heart.
He squatted on the floor, staring intently at the black, viscous substance drained from the waste pipe, which reeked of a metallic tang.
Nanites?
Inside his body?
When did they get in? Who put them there? Was it that mysterious stream of information from his infancy? Or some hidden enemy lurking in the shadows?
Countless thoughts exploded in his mind, and a layer of fine, cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.
This was beyond the realm of science, carrying with it a strange, unspeakable horror.
He had always thought his greatest secrets were his identity as a transmigrator and the memories of Hiro Hamada, that his greatest enemy was Obadiah, or other villains who might appear in the future.
But now, it seemed an unseen hand had long ago planted a chess piece on him, one whose nature—fortune or curse—was unknown.
"Seal the sample. Classify it as a top-tier threat." Paul stood up, his voice devoid of emotion, but his tightly clenched fist betrayed his inner turmoil.
"Of course, Paul."
Baymax extended a mechanical arm, carefully collecting the waste fluid in a sealed, inert gas container and storing it in the deepest vault.
The crisis was contained for now, but the feeling of being watched and manipulated by an unknown power was like a poisoned thorn, lodging itself deep in Paul's heart.
He needed power.
Power far beyond what he currently possessed, enough to handle any unknown.
"Bring up my latest physical examination report," Paul commanded as he walked to the main console.
Baymax's avatar, a floating orb of light, immediately projected a detailed series of data into the air before him.
Paul's gaze swept quickly over the data stream. When he saw the cellular activity analysis section, his pupils contracted sharply.
[Cellular Telomere Attrition... Displaying Trend of Reverse Repair.]
[With continued use of this device, physiological age can be maintained at current levels, with slight signs of reversal.]
Reversing aging!
The two words exploded in his mind like a thunderclap.
If the previous physical enhancements were a pleasant surprise, then this discovery was nothing short of a miracle!
The stasis pod he had designed was initially intended to repair the physical toll and mental exhaustion from intense brainwork, and incidentally solve the after-effects of Tony's palladium poisoning.
But he never imagined that after combining various advanced biotechnologies and that mysterious nutrient solution formula, the machine would possess the heaven-defying potential to change one's fate!
Eternal youth! Immortality!
From ancient times to the present, this was the ultimate dream of countless emperors, generals, and magnates!
Paul's breathing quickened, a magnificent commercial blueprint unfolding before his eyes.
He could almost see it: the world's wealthiest, waving their checkbooks, begging on their knees for a chance to enter the stasis pod. Limited edition sports cars, private jets, luxury yachts—all would become worthless in the face of "life extension"!
He could easily build an unprecedented business empire. Wealth would pour in like a tide, submerging the entire Stark Tower.
At that point, he would possess immense power, immeasurable by money, enough to influence the world order!
"Haaa..."
Paul exhaled slowly, forcibly pulling himself back from the euphoria that had almost consumed his reason.
The excited glint in his eyes faded, replaced by an almost absolute calm.
Wealth and power were tempting, but the nanites hidden in his body were a Sword of Damocles hanging over his head, a constant reminder that this world was far more dangerous than he had imagined.
Before he had the absolute ability to protect himself, prematurely revealing this "divine technology" would only bring about his own demise.
He needed a tool that would allow him to conduct research, deductions, and simulations without restraint.
A world... entirely his own.
Paul's gaze sharpened. He turned and sat back down at his workstation, his hands becoming a blur on the virtual keyboard.
His goal was crystal clear—to design a virtual reality mainframe specifically for brain overclocking and deep-dive immersion!
This wasn't some entertainment-grade VR device on the market, but a "neural interface device" capable of fully connecting human consciousness to the world of data.
His newly "reforged" body and brain were at an unprecedented peak. Countless inspirations and data streams surged through his mind like a bursting dam, unstoppable.
"Core processor will use a graphene superconducting chip. Zero latency, extreme computation."
"Neural signal converter... using bio-current simulation to ensure 100% sensory synchronization."
"The shell... platinum. Not only does it have good thermal conductivity, but it also looks cool enough."
His thought process was astonishingly fast. Lines of complex code and precise design schematics flowed from his fingertips.
In less than half an hour.
A complete set of designs, including the core mainframe and three different consumer-grade headset models, lay quietly on the server.
From a high-end professional mainframe to a simplified model focused on immersive entertainment, and even a version designed for education and medical fields, he had already mapped out the entire future product line.
This terrifyingly calm control and execution were far beyond what a fourteen-year-old should be capable of.
"Baymax, are the materials ready?"
"Material reserves are sufficient. Printing can begin immediately."
"Begin," Paul ordered.
Inside the lab, several high-precision 3D printing arms activated simultaneously. Laser beams scanned accurately across metal powder, building the epoch-making machine layer by layer.
Time passed, minute by minute.
When the final screw was automatically tightened, a headset—gleaming with a platinum sheen, its design futuristic and elegant, like a work of art—was gently placed before Paul by a mechanical arm.
It was smaller and lighter than he'd imagined, less like a helmet and more like an exquisite coronet that wrapped around his head.
Paul picked it up, the platinum shell cool to the touch.
This was the door to a new world.
He took a deep breath, his expression growing more solemn than ever before.
"Baymax."
"I am here, Paul."
"Sever all external physical network connections to this server. Initiate the highest level of electromagnetic shielding. I need an environment completely isolated from the outside world."
"Command confirmed. Executing..."
As the commands were issued, rows of indicator lights on the lab's servers went dark. The heavy alloy door slid shut, turning the space into a sealed "information island."
Paul, holding the device he had named "Deep Space," walked over to the stasis pod and lay down inside.
This time, it wasn't to repair his body, but to protect his brain.
He didn't know what would happen after his consciousness was fully digitized, nor the terrifying load his brain would endure in an overclocked state.
The stasis pod was his final safety net.
The lid of the pod closed slowly, and the pale blue nutrient solution once again enveloped him.
He raised the "Deep Space" device and slowly placed it on his head.
The cold metal pressed against his temples. In that instant, he could clearly hear his own heartbeat.
Thump, thump, thump...
Strong and powerful.
For the first time, he felt a sliver of uncontrollable uncertainty and tension about what he was about to do.
Because behind that door was no longer the known physical world, but a virtual divine realm, built from 0s and 1s, with rules written entirely by him.
He closed his eyes and issued the final command with his mind.
"Activate."