GUARDIAN OF THE MARVEL REALM

Although the ambulance didn't hit anyone thanks to Qimu Kusuo's psychic shield, the patient inside—a middle-aged man with a pre-existing heart condition—suffered a sudden myocardial infarction from the shock.

"Please! Someone help my husband!"

The man's wife cried out, her voice filled with desperation.

"No! He must be taken to an emergency room within three minutes!"

The paramedic frantically performed CPR, trying to stabilize him, but their equipment was insufficient.

Shen He squeezed through the crowd, quickly searching his system inventory for anything useful.

Weapons. Camping gear. A few healing potions labeled "game use only." No medical supplies.

And Qi Shen wasn't around.

"Can I help?" he asked the paramedic.

"Only God can help him now," the man muttered grimly.

"Well, then. God has arrived."

A familiar, slightly arrogant voice rang out.

A red-and-gold blur streaked across the sky, the roar of repulsors echoing through the street.

"It's Iron Man!"

The crowd erupted in cheers.

The billionaire genius playboy philanthropist landed with a dramatic flourish, retracting his helmet.

"Alright, let's see what we've got here. Jarvis, scan him."

"Myocardial infarction detected. Heart has ceased function. Blood supply to the brain is critically low. Estimated time remaining: one minute. Prognosis: fatal. Sir, you cannot save him."

Tony grimaced. "Yeah? Well, I'm gonna try."

He pressed his armored palms to the man's chest.

"Two hundred and forty volts, now."

A sharp crack echoed through the air.

No response.

"Three hundred and sixty volts. Inject dopamine."

His fingers moved over his suit's holographic interface, commanding the nanotech to administer a chemical boost.

The surrounding cheers faltered. People watched with bated breath.

"Sir, no response. Brain function has dropped below critical threshold."

Tony's jaw tightened. "Damn it—keep going!"

The man's wife sobbed, clutching Tony's arm. "Please… stop. You're not God. You can't save him."

"I... I'm sorry."

For the first time, Iron Man's hands trembled.

He couldn't fix this. He could build arc reactors, design world-changing technology, but he couldn't stop death.

"Keep going," Shen He said suddenly, gripping Tony's arm.

"What?"

"No matter what, hold on until the last moment."

Because he knew—if they could just stall a little longer, there was hope.

"…Fine." Tony clenched his teeth. "Jarvis, override. Continue defibrillation!"

"Sir, the probability of success is zero percent."

"I DON'T CARE! KEEP GOING!"

His voice cracked. His body ached. His mind screamed at him that it was useless. But he kept fighting.

And then—

"Back in time."

A calm voice. A flicker of pink hair.

Qimu Kusuo had arrived.

A miracle occurred.

The man's ashen complexion brightened. His chest rose. His pupils refocused. Medically, he had already died. But now—he was alive.

"Patient stabilized. Heartbeat restored. Brain damage reversed."

Shen He exhaled. "Just in time."

The crowd exploded into cheers.

"Iron Man! Iron Man! Iron Man!"

Tony Stark stared at his shaking hands.

"…Jarvis?"

"There is a 97% probability that the anomaly was caused by the pink-haired individual standing behind you, sir."

Tony turned, scanning the crowd until he spotted Shen He and Qimu Kusuo, quietly trying to slip away.

"Oh no, you're not getting away that easily."

With a burst from his thrusters, he landed in front of them—blocking their exit.

Qimu Kusuo, meanwhile, was levitating a Hydra assassin wrapped in psychic restraints.

Shen He sighed. "What now, Iron Hero?"

Tony lifted his faceplate. "I was gonna buy you a drink. How about a milk tea instead? My treat."

Shen He raised an eyebrow.

"…Alright. Let's talk. Rooftop, over there."

Qimu Kusuo frowned but teleported them both instantly.

Tony whistled. "Jarvis?"

"They vanished, sir."

"Great. Just what I needed—more people who can break physics."

Still, he stopped at a café, grabbed a few snacks, and flew up to the rooftop where they waited.

As he landed, Qimu Kusuo deadpanned, "I don't like him."

"Yeah, I figured," Shen He said, amused. "You don't like attention. And Tony is attention."

Tony set down the snacks and took a bite. "So, how'd you do it? Superpowers? Advanced tech? Magic?"

Shen He met his gaze. "We can't save you, Tony."

Tony froze.

Then, he forced a laugh. "Oh, come on. I'm Tony Stark. I don't need saving."

"Your arc reactor is killing you," Qimu Kusuo stated bluntly. "If you keep using it, you have maybe a few months left."

Tony's smirk twitched.

Then, he sighed dramatically. "And I just got out of a Senate hearing, too. Man, this day sucks."

Shen He chuckled.

He could tell Tony how to save himself. But he wouldn't.

Because this was Iron Man's journey.

Pain. Loss. Redemption.

That's what would make him a true hero.