Changing the Course of the World

"What happened to Mr. Mercenary Tao?!"

The young Kred Parker looked worried. He was wearing a black-and-white combat suit, a nanotech suit specially made by Iron Man Tony Stark to commend him for saving thousands of civilians during the New York Collapse Battle.

It could perfectly adapt to his build and movements, activate at any time, and offered considerable protection against most attacks.

At that moment, Tony Stark stood farther away, looking at the abandoned building guarded by countless black monsters.

This abandoned building seemed to have been turned into some kind of nest by those creatures.

The petite Black Armored Knight stood guard outside with her sword planted on the ground. She glanced at the worried young man but said nothing, nor did she stop him from entering.

Parker quickly slipped into the pitch-black building.

Iron Man, following behind Parker, was just about to move when he immediately felt the Black Armored Knight’s pale golden eyes fall upon him like swordlight.

Nearly half a month had passed since that battle above old New York. The turmoil stirred up by those two dragons over the ocean was still regarded by Nick Fury as a potentially massive threat.

But without question, according to footage captured by Captain Marvel Danvers and his own equipment, that serpent-like creature had already been defeated by Mercenary Tao and his companions.

However, Mercenary Tao had not appeared again since that battle. This made Nick Fury and the others keenly realize that the dangerous Mercenary Tao might have suffered severe injuries in the fight as well.

This information gave the upper echelons of the United States, along with Nick Fury and the others, many ideas.

They intended to probe him.

Although Tony Stark opposed the plan, as Mercenary Tao remained out of sight for longer and longer, the ambitions of those political creatures gradually swelled.

A living Mercenary Tao would be viewed by the United States leadership as the most terrifying threat. But a gravely wounded, or even dead, Mercenary Tao would be research data the United States had to obtain.

Even Tony Stark could not help being curious about the secret behind Mercenary Tao’s power.

What was more, among the Avengers was a top-tier Avenger burdened with the hatred of his father’s murder. Tony felt it was already difficult to persuade him to suppress his rage.

After all, not many things could make a man give up avenging his father. Gods were no exception.

Thus, Tony Stark prepared to personally confirm Mercenary Tao’s condition.

The hand behind his back was gradually covered by armor, and a fly-sized micro-robot was quietly released from within the suit.

It flew toward the building without drawing attention.

The black monsters densely crawling over the entire ruined building seemed not to notice the micro-robot at all and showed no reaction.

Tony Stark slightly shifted his weight, casually tapped his leather shoe, and even smiled at Artoria, who was watching him coldly.

Artoria slowly closed her eyes, allowing the tiny insect to pass by her and fly inside.

But the next moment, accompanied by the clattering of chains.

The tiny insect suddenly froze in midair.

"If Mr. Tony wants to come in, why not simply come in and take a look yourself? This sort of thing… is terribly boring~"

Bang!

Amid sparks, the micro-robot exploded. From the shadows at the building entrance, a tall white-haired man leaned out, a frivolous smile that inspired disgust on his face.

Tony Stark, however, was thinking that fortunately, he had not sent that man called Scott to carry out this task. Otherwise, the Avengers’ strength would probably have been weakened again.

After thinking for a moment, he straightened his suit, took off his brown-tinted sunglasses, and strode into the building that now seemed so mysterious to the Avengers and the higher-ups alike.

The moment he stepped beneath the shadows, Tony felt the temperature around him plummet. He involuntarily shivered as he looked at the black creatures on the walls beside him. Some of them even felt insubstantial.

Some of the monsters had human faces, their heads and necks twisted in ways no normal human body could manage.

Monsters!

In an instant, Tony understood exactly what these things were.

As a top scientist, he should have been among the people farthest removed from such things. Yet the chill he felt firsthand, along with the bone-deep discomfort, immediately convinced him that these spiritual creatures existed.

Tony Stark had experienced all manner of major events and possessed strong emotional control. After only a few steps, he had already calmed down.

This made Satoru Gojo, following behind him, curl his lips into a smile.

This guy has talent and value too~

As Tony Stark sensed the icy aura within the dilapidated building, he formed even more guesses about Mercenary Tao’s abilities.

Then he saw the black-haired man leaning against a beam that had collapsed from above, as though he were seated upon some throne of black stone.

His face was pale, and he indeed appeared to be in poor condition.

He still had one arm missing, but now there also seemed to be something wrong with his eyes.

Tony Stark noticed that the man’s eyes had turned grayish white, as if he had lost his sight.

"Tony~"

With a soft laugh, as though his own name had reminded the other man of something amusing, that familiar voice sounded out. Seeing the familiar smile appear on Mercenary Tao’s face, Tony Stark’s heart involuntarily tightened.

He deliberately shifted his position slightly, yet those grayish-white eyes continued to face him.

The smile on Bai Cangshu’s lips deepened. He saw through Stark’s little thoughts completely.

Meanwhile, White Face, who sat alone in a corner far from Mercenary Tao, let out a disdainful snort.

"Hmph, those idiots probably want to turn you into some kind of specimen for research. This hypocrite who calls himself a hero is pretending he wants to mediate, while deliberately coming here to test you~"

Although she had no mind-reading abilities, White Face knew the character settings, personality traits, and the direction of development in the Plot World like the back of her hand.

She could easily guess what Tony Stark was thinking.

White Face did not understand why Mercenary Tao, this killing star, had suddenly become so merciful this time and had yet to begin a massacre. Clearly, the slaughter could have begun long ago.

This world had already been damaged beyond recognition, and even the overt plotlines had been disrupted. Its value to reincarnators had plummeted.

Moreover, after the earlier chaotic battle between Solomon, Mercenary Tao, and the Black King—especially after Rhongomyniad had drawn the Holy Lance in this world—

The world’s Restraining Force should have already been weakened beyond recognition.

At this moment, even if they slaughtered major figures like Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America, and the others, they probably would not suffer too severe a backlash.

The Possessed Spirit: Kamikaze behind White Face unconsciously manifested and paced around her. It too sensed the killing intent in White Face’s heart.

"Mr. Mercenary Tao, if you’re injured, I can arrange for you to recover at my private hospital…"

Tony Stark took in each of the unusual individuals within the building.

The Asian girl who had just spoken, the black-haired man watching coldly from the sidelines, the frivolous white-haired man who had brought him inside, and then…

Tony Stark looked at the silent figure standing to Mercenary Tao’s right, his face covered in Black Curses. He remembered clearly that this guy possessed an ability that had made him feel as though his heart would shatter in an instant…

Mercenary Tao’s forces were powerful!

He realized that he could not turn hostile toward this group at this time.

But before he could speak, Bai Cangshu took the initiative.

"It’s difficult, isn’t it, Mr. Tony~"

"Being controlled by a bunch of idiots—even a smart person like you would find it hard to save this world freely, right? For example…"

"If I deliberately walk out of this building right now, perhaps a sniper rifle will shoot at me. Then, a new war will begin~"

Tony Stark realized something, but Bai Cangshu continued.

"This world has changed, Tony. From now on, more and more Ability Users will emerge in this world."

"It’s time to reform the order. Of course, Tony… I’ll help you~"