…
“Are you ready?”
Arcee looked at Leon, who was stripped naked and lying in the coffin—oh no, lying in the Regeneration Cradle—and reminded him:
“If we are to bond all your body tissue cells, excluding your skeleton, with Vibranium atoms, it will take about two and a half hours.”
“During this time, you must remain conscious at all times, and you will feel an unbearable itch and sharp pain as if countless ants are crawling and biting all over your body.”
“This kind of pain cannot be alleviated by anesthetics. If you want to regret it, it’s still not too late.”
To be honest.
Based on Arcee’s understanding of Leon, she didn't think that Leon, who had grown up pampered and indulged in pleasure, could endure such pain.
His usual confidence and composure were entirely based on his extraordinary background and powerful strength.
Once lost, his willpower might even be inferior to that of an ordinary person who worked hard every day.
However.
Leon’s answer surprised and moved Arcee.
She thought that it was only at this very moment that she truly understood the man named Leon Stark before her.
“How painful can a person’s endurance be?”
Leon chuckled, without a trace of confusion in his eyes: “Rather than waiting until I’m too weak in the future to protect my relatives and loved ones and then regretting it, I’d rather seize every opportunity to become stronger now.”
“Arcee, I will definitely become your ‘Eternal Partner who will never wear out’.”
“I promise you, so—”
“Let’s begin!”
Leon closed his eyes, quietly waiting for the infusion of Vibranium atoms.
“If you break your word, I’ll dig you out of your grave…”
Arcee murmured in a voice only she could hear.
Then.
She no longer hesitated.
She pressed the start button on the main control screen of the Regeneration Cradle, instantly beginning the complete bonding process of Leon’s body cells with Vibranium atoms.
“Ugh!!!!!!”
As soon as it began, Leon couldn't help but let out a painful howl!
This feeling was no less painful than when he had previously fused with the Adamantium Skeleton, but it was even more unbearably itchy!
Yet, at this time, he had to remain absolutely conscious, enduring the pain while also distracting himself to control his own tissues to decompose into individual cells and bond with the Vibranium atoms.
This was like being cut into a thousand pieces by himself!
How could one word describe the pain!
When Leon first had the thought of giving up, he asked Arcee how much longer it would be until it ended, and Arcee’s reply made him utterly despair:
“It’s still very early for it to end, only three minutes have passed.”
“What?!”
“Only three minutes?!”
“I feel like a year has passed!”
Leon instantly broke down, beginning to regret why he hadn’t borrowed the Time Stone from Ancient One beforehand, even if the chances were slim, he should have at least tried!
“F*ck!!!!!!”
Leon cursed, no longer asking Arcee about the time in a self-abusive manner, and began to focus solely on enduring the pain, bonding cells with Vibranium.
Time passed very slowly.
For Leon, time passed even slower.
Gradually.
He began to feel numb.
It seemed that the body’s self-protection mechanism was starting to kick in.
But this was a bad sign.
Leon could not lose control of his body yet.
He began to actively grasp that feeling of pain, stimulating his nerves as if seeking abuse, forcibly keeping his brain awake, and continuing to maintain this painful process.
He…
Could not fall yet!
…
One hour.
Two hours.
Last five minutes.
Last thirty seconds.
“…ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.”
Boom!
As Arcee uttered the last countdown, the string that Leon had been forcibly holding onto with his willpower instantly snapped.
And he, not surprisingly, fell into a very deep sleep.
This kind of mental trauma could not be healed by Super Self-Regeneration; Leon could only recover slowly over time.
However.
After a pleasant system notification sound, Leon’s mouth instinctively curved into a smile.
【Notification: You have, through your own efforts, acquired ‘Vibranium Body’. This ability has been certified by this system and can be linked with ‘Super Self-Regeneration’ and ‘Adamantium Skeleton’.】
【Vibranium Body: While maintaining your flesh and blood body, your body has received comprehensive enhancement with Vibranium properties, significantly increasing your strength and defense, and gaining the abilities of kinetic energy absorption and energy deflection.】
【Introduction: The human body has its limits, so are you no longer planning to be human?】
【Explanation: ‘Vibranium Body’ will be considered the host’s innate physique. The stronger You are, the stronger it is, with no upper limit.】
【Explanation: ‘Super Self-Regeneration’ functions normally for ‘Vibranium Body’.】
【Explanation: ‘Vibranium Body’, as a physical characteristic, is not controlled by magnetism.】
…
Host: Leon Stark
Abilities: Soldier Boy Template, Super Self-Regeneration, Adamantium Skeleton, Starlight Template, Biological Stance, Vibranium Body
Items: soldier boy suit, Desert Eagle with infinite bullets (Quality: Never Worn), Arcee, Regeneration Cradle, Super Elastic Fiber Underwear (Quality: Never Worn), Super Deadpool Suit, Carbonadium Dual Blades, Endless Instant Noodles, Endless Milk Tea, Endless Melon Seeds, Endless Balloons, Endless Stockings…
…
An unknown amount of time passed.
When Leon woke up again.
Skids Mode Arcy, in the form of Tifa created through holographic projection technology, was blocking the entrance to Leon’s Wonderful House, pulling back and forth with Tony and Pepper, who were worried about Leon’s safety.
“…I’ll say it one last time, Arcee, get out of the way!”
Tony, wearing his Mark 4 armor, began to charge his palm repulsors, threatening Arcee.
“I have already told you, Leon’s brother.” Arcee explained without changing her expression: “Leon is resting inside and cannot be disturbed by anyone.”
This was only a half-truth.
The reality was that Leon’s Regeneration Cradle was conspicuously placed inside, and he hadn’t had time to retrieve it into the system space before losing consciousness.
And because Leon had given instructions.
Before Zhao Hailun could successfully develop the Regeneration Cradle, even his own brother, Tony, could not be exposed to the existence of the Regeneration Cradle unless absolutely necessary.
Therefore.
Arcee had faithfully executed Leon’s “dying” wish, not letting anyone in during his coma.
Even Tony and Pepper.
“Arcee, I know you and Leon are close, and I trust you wouldn’t harm Leon, but Leon has been in there for so long without coming out.”
“As his family, we are just worried about his safety and want to confirm that he is truly just ‘resting’.”
Pepper pleaded with teary eyes.
A flicker of unbearable emotion crossed Arcee’s eyes, but the current situation was far from reaching the level of ‘necessity’; she could not expose Leon’s secret due to a soft heart.
“I am as worried about him as You are, but You really cannot go in.”
“So, there’s nothing to discuss, then? Pepper, move aside!”