"Too easy."
Henry shook his head as he gently set the sports car down.
"Jarvis, the numbers."
"Based on your muscle contractions and energy output just now, sir, your current base strength is approximately forty-five tons. In addition, cellular readings indicate your body is still continuously absorbing and converting solar energy. Your strength is increasing— very slowly, but at a steady rate."
"Forty-something tons? Not bad. At least enough to handle small-time villains." Henry flexed his wrist a little.
"And defense? Run some conventional weapons tests."
A few minutes later, he was looking at the display: bullets, even small explosives, had hit his skin. The playback showed not so much as a white mark left behind.
"Good. If I don't need to worry about bullets and RPGs, that's enough for now."
What he needed now was equipment— armor that could match his current abilities.
"Jarvis, pull up everything on Kryptonian technology. Focus on their combat suits."
Sitting at the control desk, Henry flipped through a storm of images and schematics flashing in the air.
His past life's memories, combined with his current life's superhuman intelligence, allowed him to process them rapidly.
Before long, he paused on an image from Man of Steel: Faora, General Zod's female lieutenant.
"That's the one." Henry pointed at the sleek, powerful-looking black armor she wore.
"This aesthetic blows Tony's red-and-gold tin can out of the water. But the details need changes."
He began modifying the holographic model.
"First— cover every exposed seam. I want full-body coverage. None of that 'lingerie on the outside' nonsense."
"Second, the materials: use our latest composite titanium alloy, and add a layer of energy-absorbing gel on the inside for impact buffering."
"And most important— no face covering. With a face this handsome, hiding it under a helmet would be a crime."
"As for color— pure matte black. Remember: sleek, stylish, intimidating. Something that screams 'expensive' and 'deadly' at first glance."
He worked like a perfectionist artist, tirelessly adjusting and refining every detail of the design.
Time slipped by unnoticed as Henry threw himself into the project.
The lab doors slid open quietly. Pepper walked in, carrying a cup of coffee.
"Henry. I knew I'd find you here." She looked a little tired, but her eyes were bright.
"How'd it go, Pepper?" Henry didn't look up, his hands guiding the robotic arms through the final assembly.
"Got the evidence." Pepper set a data drive on the console.
"Happy did well— he traced Obadiah to a secret account in a Swiss bank. Huge funds transferred to an arms dealer connected to the Ten Rings. Enough to guarantee Obadiah a very long retirement in prison."
"Nicely done," Henry praised.
"And there's more." Pepper went on.
"The military found Tony's blown-up convoy in the Kunar mountains of Afghanistan. And the suitcase. It's intact. They couldn't open it— Tony's biometric lockout stopped them."
"I knew that idiot would screw things up," Henry muttered, pausing his work to turn around.
"But at least it's safe. Once I get back, everything will be back on track."
"Get back? Where are you going?" Pepper immediately caught the weight of his words.
"Where else? To bring back the head of this family who ran away from home." Henry gestured at the nearly completed black armor behind him.
"And while I'm at it… test out my new toy."
"You're going to Afghanistan? Alone?" Pepper's face instantly paled.
"Henry, that's way too dangerous! You don't even know exactly where he is! You're just relying on that iron shell?"
"Not just this." Henry smiled. He walked over to a ten-centimeter-thick alloy testing plate.
In Pepper's stunned gaze, he casually reached out his right hand— and twisted the metal slab like it was nothing more than dough.
Pepper covered her mouth in shock, eyes wide with disbelief.
Oh my god. Did I just see that?
He bent solid alloy? With his bare hands? That's impossible! Is he even human?!
"You… Henry… you…" She stammered, unable to string a sentence together.
"Surprised?" Henry tossed aside the mangled hunk of metal and dusted his hands off with a casual air.
"Don't make such a fuss. While I was kidnapped, I 'accidentally' got dragged into a HYDRA super soldier experiment. Pure accident. And wouldn't you know it— it worked. To be honest, their customer service sucked, but the product's results aren't half bad."
It took Pepper several minutes to process the revelation.
Her eyes were complicated— shock, worry, and above all, a pang of heartache.
For years, she had treated Henry like a younger brother. She couldn't begin to imagine what he had been through to end up like this.
"Listen, Pepper." Henry's smile faded; his tone turned serious.
"This stays between us. No one else. Keep Obadiah's evidence safe. Don't make any moves yet. When I bring Tony back, we'll give him a huge surprise."
"I understand." Pepper nodded firmly. "But Henry— please, be careful."
"Relax." Henry's grin returned, full of confidence.
"In this world, the person who can hurt me… hasn't shown up yet."
After Pepper left, Henry threw himself back into his work.
Hours of polishing and adjustments later, the suit stood complete before him.
Matte black, deep and imposing. Its streamlined curves radiated both power and elegance.
The armor was covered in overlapping plates, like dragon scales, its contours highlighting the muscles of chest and limbs— less a cold weapon, more a futuristic work of art.
Most striking of all: it had no helmet. The wearer's face remained fully visible.
Henry stepped forward. The armor sensed him, splitting open at the center.
He strode inside. The plates closed seamlessly, molding perfectly to his body, without the slightest bulk or discomfort.
He moved a little— it felt like wearing a second skin.
"Jarvis, status report."
"All systems fully operational, sir. Synchronization with your biometrics is flawless. Suggested designation: 'Divine Envoy Armor.'"
"Divine Envoy? Ugh, too edgy." Henry rolled his eyes.
"Call it the Black God Armor. Simple, direct, classy."
Unlike Tony, he had no intention of smashing through his own ceiling for a dramatic debut. He wasn't in the habit of destroying his own home.
Grabbing Tony's Mark II suitcase in one hand, Henry— now clad in the dazzling black armor— left the lab and took the elevator to the villa's second-floor balcony.
Night had fallen. The sea breeze was cool. The stars above glittered like diamonds.
Standing at the balcony's edge, Henry looked down at the surging Pacific. Then he turned, glancing back at the brightly lit house behind him.
"Tony… wait for me. Your little brother's coming to bring you home."
As the words fell, his body slowly lifted off the ground.
The next second—
BOOM!
A shockwave of white vapor blasted out behind him as his figure blurred into a black streak, vanishing from the balcony.
Silently, he tore across the night sky, heading eastward— toward that distant desert torn apart by war.