Awakening Kryptonian Bloodline In Marvel.

"Yeah... it's true."

"But how should I put it?" Malrick rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully. "I just learn and process information faster. It doesn't mean I'm more creative than you."

He tried to ease Tony's shock with a calm explanation of his abilities.

"The Iron Man suit is the culmination of the most advanced and comprehensive knowledge you've mastered. Every step reflects a cutting-edge application of that knowledge."

"Plus, you guided me step by step last night."

"So I was able to grasp it quickly."

"What I did was essentially replicate your knowledge with high efficiency," Malrick said. "My brain processes information like a supercomputer. That's the so-called 'super brain.'"

"But when it comes to creativity, I still have to rely on my own talent."

"And even super brains have limits."

"In some DC comics, Superman's brainpower is mostly used to restrain his strength."

"But I haven't encountered that kind of constraint yet."

He held his thumb and forefinger close together. "Only a small fraction of my brain is used to regulate my abilities."

"So get ready, Tony. In three days, I'll use everything you've taught me—plus my own innovations—to beat you."

Tony, slouched in his chair, looked a little less stunned now. Hearing that last part, he sprang up, his pride reigniting.

"Don't kid yourself, kid. Have you ever heard of a copycat surpassing the original? There's no way my masterpiece is going down!"

Malrick grinned and headed for the stairs. "We'll see. The wisdom of mortals." He left Tony with that parting shot and disappeared upstairs.

Back in the parking garage, Tony's eyes sparked with renewed determination.

He would never accept defeat in his own domain—especially not to Malrick, his infuriating little brother.

But before he could return to the bench—

Malrick reappeared behind him.

"Oh, right. One more thing. You're in no condition to keep working. Take a break."

Before Tony could react, he felt a tingling numbness in his neck—and the world went black.

Cheater! He's playing dirty! was Tony's last conscious thought before collapsing.

"Look at him, sleeping like a baby," Malrick remarked, effortlessly carrying Tony to the bedroom.

"Master Malrick, this might be considered unfair. Mr. Stark may not accept it," JARVIS cautioned.

"Good. Let him be upset. I'd be more worried if he broke down after I beat him," Malrick said, already walking into Tony's lab.

"You seem confident," JARVIS commented.

"Of course." Malrick began activating power systems at the workbench. "At this stage, it's all about function over flash. You don't need cutting-edge tech—just clever designs."

"And I've got several upgrade concepts that can be built with existing materials."

Joking aside, Malrick had watched every Iron Man film and read enough comics in his past life to know how Tony's suits evolved.

Those design concepts, once fantasy, were now blueprints waiting to be realized.

He simply had to follow the path those other Tonys had walked.

Poor Tony... he'll be working in my shadow from now on.

Grinning, Malrick carried the machines up from the garage and began his own build process.

"Alright, time to stash that arc reactor Tony made—"

"Master Malrick!" JARVIS interrupted sharply.

"What's up?"

"Miss Potts is here. She's asking for you."

"Tell her I'm not available. I'll come out in three days."

"She's already inside."

"What?" Malrick blinked. "Then tell her Tony's sleeping!"

"Perhaps you should tell her yourself."

Just then, Pepper came down the stairs and appeared behind the glass doors of the lab.

She spotted Malrick, who greeted her with an awkward smile, and immediately tapped on the glass with a glare. She keyed in the access code and walked inside.

"Hi, Pepper. Good morning!" Malrick said quickly.

Pepper crossed her arms. "You didn't show up at the company yesterday, Malrick!"

He had completely forgotten—his focus had been on armor design.

"Ah, but Joe Bush was there!" he said with a sheepish smile. "Old Joe's hardworking, right? I'm sure he had things under control."

"That's not an excuse to go off the grid!" Pepper scolded, noticing his disheveled appearance. "What on earth were you doing last night? Your hair... your clothes... oh my God, did you—did you bring in cover models like Tony used to?"

Her expression darkened with suspicion.

Malrick nearly choked. "No, no, no! What are you saying? I've never done that kind of thing and I never will, Pepper!"

"This—this is all Tony's fault!"

He held up the oldest arc reactor, freshly snatched from the Dum-E's grip.

"I came down to get Tony back to work, but he dragged me into building a new armor instead."

He held the reactor up like a trophy. "Look. He even made a gift for you."

"A gift?" Pepper asked, her interest piqued as she took a closer look. "Is that...?"

"That's right," Malrick said, nodding. "This is the arc reactor from Tony's chest. The first one. The one he built in a cave with scraps, remember?"

"A cold nuclear energy source—the future of power itself."

"He was going to give it to you after he replaced it, but you know how Tony is. He can't say anything directly if his life depended on it."

"So..."

Malrick gently placed the reactor in Pepper's hands. "You know what this gift means, don't you?"

Pepper didn't answer.

She couldn't.

The meaning behind the arc reactor—its symbolism, its story—was too overwhelming.

She stared at it, tears glistening in her eyes, her hand trembling slightly.

"Did he really give this to me?" she whispered, holding it like the most precious thing in the world.

Happiness swept over her like a wave, unexpected and deep.

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