"You're certainly popular," Daniel Davis chuckled, shaking his head as he looked at the news and newspapers, all plastered with images of Tony Stark. After Stark publicly confirmed his identity as Iron Man, New York, and indeed all of the USA, buzzed with excitement. People quickly connected the recent footage of a hero fighting terrorists to Stark, amplifying the spectacle.
For most people, Stark being Iron Man was just another spectacle to watch from the sidelines. Whether Stark was a billionaire playboy or a superhero didn't change their daily lives.
Yet, the keen American merchants wasted no time. Soon after Stark's revelation, Iron Man figurines and even comics started flooding the market.
Now, alongside his title as a playboy, Stark was celebrated as a hero. Official reports stated that the other Iron Man suit from the recent battle was part of a terrorist retaliation against Stark. Obadiah Stane's involvement was quietly swept under the rug, with his death attributed to a car accident.
In any other situation, the death of someone like Stane would have dominated the news for days. However, in the current frenzy over Stark's revelation, no one paid it much attention.
Despite his newfound fame, Stark wasn't having an easy time. The U.S. military quickly approached him, demanding he hand over the Iron Man suit.
The military wasn't outright forcing Stark to surrender the suit's blueprints. Instead, they suggested that Stark Industries should produce the suits exclusively for them, effectively sidelining Hammer Industries.
But Stark, resolute after his kidnapping ordeal, refused. Determined not to sell weapons any longer, he cited the sanctity of personal property, and despite their frustration, the military couldn't coerce him into handing over the suit.
For anyone else without Stark's connections, refusing the military would lead to severe consequences—companies shut down under various pretexts, personal ruin. In today's world, it's easy to find or fabricate reasons to bankrupt a business or bring down an individual, even without any actual wrongdoing.
No matter how powerful Daniel was, he knew he couldn't stand against an entire nation.
Of course, the military wasn't ready to give up entirely. When underhanded methods failed, they turned to legal ones, and soon Stark received a subpoena from the military committee.
"Restoring things to their original state isn't always possible," Daniel sighed, examining the damaged mini arc reactor. This was from the Iron Monger suit, handed to him by Stark after the SHIELD clean-up. Stark had hoped that Daniel's magic, which had restored the damage to Stark Industries, might also fix the arc reactor.
Daniel had conducted numerous experiments with the "Reparo" charm, intrigued by its seemingly miraculous effects. Through these tests, he discovered that like other spells, "Reparo" required a clear mental image of the item's original state.
For simple objects like tables or walls, the spell worked perfectly. But for advanced technology, the charm struggled. Daniel had tested it on various modern devices and found that while it could restore the appearance, functional restoration was another matter. Tanks, cars, planes, and computers might look whole again, but they wouldn't work.
Moreover, the magical effort required increased with the technological complexity of the item.
Even with his precise understanding from the Ope Ope no Mi powers, Daniel found that restoring complex machinery like the arc reactor was challenging. The best wizards like Dumbledore or Grindelwald would face similar limitations.
This explained why Ron Weasley's mother was so furious when their flying car got damaged—it needed conventional repairs because "Reparo" wouldn't suffice.
For Daniel, learning advanced physics or engineering could help restore the arc reactor's appearance but not its functionality.
Advanced technology seemed to share a similar limitation with magical objects. For instance, in the Harry Potter world, damaged magical items like Harry's shattered broomstick or Ron's broken wand couldn't be restored with "Reparo."
Only exceptionally powerful magic, like that from the Elder Wand, could achieve such repairs, much like how Daniel couldn't expect the Sorcerer Supreme, Ancient One, to reverse time for every broken item.
Marvel's advanced technology also diminished the effectiveness of many traditional spells. For example, the unlocking charm "Alohomora" could easily open conventional locks and might work on simple electronic locks with more magical effort. But it was useless against more sophisticated security measures like fingerprint or retina scanners. In such cases, spells like "Open Sesame" or "Portus" might be more effective.
The wizarding world's spells have evolved over time. The modern "Alohomora" is a subtle, safe way to unlock things, unlike its explosive predecessors that worked more like blasting curses.
Most spells, however, remained highly effective in the Marvel world. Spells like Apparition could bypass most physical barriers unless protected by spatial defenses. Marvel's bank vaults, for instance, couldn't withstand Apparition without magical defenses, unlike the advanced security measures in the wizarding world post-modernization.
Transfiguration, a prominent spell, stood out as one of the most powerful. It could transform living beings into entirely different forms, akin to the effects of Pym Particles. With sufficient magical power, one could even permanently alter the substance of objects, turning lead into gold or coal into diamonds.
While only a few, like Nicholas Flamel with his Philosopher's Stone, could achieve such feats, Daniel believed that only beings as powerful as the Ancient One could match that level of transfiguration today.
Most wizards could only change appearances temporarily, not alter fundamental properties.
---
"I won't hand over the Iron Man suit. For me, it's like a high-tech prosthetic. You wouldn't expect someone to give away their prosthetic limb, would you? Without it, how would I walk?" Stark declared to the generals and senators at the military committee hearing. He seemed unfazed, even playing a shooting game on his smartphone while Justin Hammer spoke.
During the game, Stark hacked into the committee's computers. Despite assumptions that J.A.R.V.I.S. handled everything, Stark's hacking prowess was unmatched. J.A.R.V.I.S. was his creation, not his father's, a testament to his genius even in his youth.
While Skye's hacking skills were impressive, she still lagged behind Stark in both hardware and software.
As Stark's hack displayed on the big screen, the military committee abruptly ended the inquiry, leaving Justin Hammer seething. Hammer had hoped to pressure Stark into handing over the suit's blueprints to Hammer Industries, potentially catapulting his company to the top of the arms industry.
Though the military and Hammer Industries fixated on the Iron Man suit, they were oddly silent about the arc reactor. This wasn't due to a lack of interest but rather fear. The energy sector, especially a breakthrough like the arc reactor, was already controlled by powerful American families like the Rockefellers.
Attempting to encroach on this territory would be suicidal. When Anton Vanko demonstrated his ability to build an arc reactor, and after his death, no one else pursued it largely because these families intervened. One of these families, the Symons, was particularly familiar to Daniel.
While Hammer Industries thrived, ExoSphere Aerospace struggled. Their research into humanoid armor was rendered obsolete by Stark's Iron Man suits. The military immediately froze their research funding.
Unwilling to fade into obscurity, ExoSphere Aerospace turned to Oscorp Industries. Failing in humanoid armor, they shifted focus to super-soldier serums. Despite the skepticism towards such serums post-Raccoon City incident, some factions, like General Ross who created the Hulk, still supported them. ExoSphere Aerospace aimed to acquire Oscorp and pivot to this new line of research.
---
"Stark seems to be back to his old ways," Daniel mused as he attended a lavish party filled with beautiful women. Stark's recent return to his playboy lifestyle disappointed many, including Pepper Potts and his friend, James Rhodes.
"The stress from the poisoning is making him reckless again," Daniel sighed, observing Stark from across the room. The once-responsible hero now seemed to have reverted to his carefree, hedonistic ways. Stark had even recently appointed Pepper as CEO of Stark Industries, a role she had little time for as Daniel's company's CEO. Managing two major corporations was no small feat, requiring someone of significant capability.
Daniel knew many skilled individuals in Marvel, mostly in scientific fields like Dr. Helen Cho, the pioneer of nanotechnology. However, finding management talent was trickier.
"You've been out of control lately," Daniel confronted Stark after the party. In the past, Stark would have eagerly discussed magic with Daniel, but now he seemed indifferent.
"I've always been like this," Stark shrugged. Although he continued to host parties, he no longer indulged with women. The latest Playboy models didn't even catch his eye.
"You seem to forget that I'm a wizard. Just because others can't solve your problem doesn't mean I can't. I've been waiting for you to ask for my help," Daniel said, placing a set of white chopsticks on a nearby table.
"These chopsticks are made from a unicorn's horn. They won't cure your poisoning completely, but they can alleviate the symptoms."
"You killed a unicorn for me?" Stark leapt up in shock.
"Calm down," Daniel replied, shaking his head. "I got them from poachers. I'm working on a new spell that might solve your problem entirely. So, keep your spirits up."
___________________
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"You know you're trespassing on private property, right? I could call the police." Daniel Davis, having just rushed home from Stark's villa in New York, immediately noticed an uninvited guest in his house: Nick Fury, the one-eyed man himself.
"Not surprising coming from the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., even the Red Queen didn't detect his infiltration." As he invited Fury to sit down, Daniel couldn't help but be astonished.
Artificial intelligence systems are indeed formidable, but ultimately, they are man-made. For the average person, catching up to AI might be a lifelong endeavor. However, for some, AI is not invincible. As the king of spies, Fury's computer skills were undoubtedly top-notch. And let's not forget, S.H.I.E.L.D. has quite a few nifty gadgets hidden away.
"What's your take on Stark's situation?" Fury ignored Daniel's words and got straight to the point.
"We need to replace the palladium in the Arc Reactor with a different element as soon as possible. If this drags on, he'll die of palladium poisoning." Daniel pondered for a moment before responding. When Stark was kidnapped, he built the Arc Reactor in a cave with an energy output of 3 billion joules per second. The reactor he now wears on his chest has an output of around 6 billion joules per second. If replaced with a new element, it could exceed 10 billion joules per second.
At this energy level, an aircraft carrier could be powered by it. In fact, an aircraft with this level of energy could theoretically operate without the need for an aircraft carrier. However, this is purely theoretical, as the presence of an aircraft carrier provides pilots with necessary rest.
Stark has been researching new elements, but progress has been painfully slow. Finding an element that can provide high-efficiency energy stably and be completely harmless to the human body is exceedingly difficult.
Among all the elements, palladium's toxicity is relatively minimal. If Stark didn't have to wear the Arc Reactor on his chest, palladium would be almost harmless.
Technically, the element inside the Arc Reactor could be replaced with something like uranium, but its danger is too great, making it unsuitable as a clean energy source.
The real clean energy source is the new element Howard Stark left behind, based on the Tesseract, the Space Stone. It's not on the periodic table. Just as Hank Pym developed Pym Particles using the Tesseract, Howard Stark also made significant strides. The anti-gravity system, the new element, and even the Arc Reactor were all invented through research on the Tesseract.
"I know that. I'm here to see if magic could temporarily alleviate the poison in his body."
"You don't need to ask. I've already started on that. I gave him a pair of chopsticks made from unicorn horn. Using these can delay the effects of the poison, but it's just a stopgap measure. His real problem lies in the shrapnel in his body."
The Arc Reactor on Stark's chest is primarily to attract the shrapnel lodged in his body. The fragments are too small and have merged with his bloodstream. Current technology simply can't remove them.
The doctor named Yinsen who devised this solution was truly remarkable. Without it, Stark would have died from the shrapnel reaching his heart.
"A unicorn horn? I didn't know such creatures really existed."
"So, you're here just for Stark?"
"Correct." Fury nodded.
"Then you can relax. With the unicorn horn and some other remedies, Stark can hold on until I finish the magic."
For Daniel, it wasn't an option to leave Stark reliant on the Arc Reactor until modern medical science advanced enough to cure him. In the movies, it seemed like Stark's reactor only caused palladium poisoning. However, there were many more issues. For instance, Stark couldn't bathe, as water would seep into his body through the hole in his chest.
Currently, the 6 billion joules per second from the Arc Reactor are more than enough for Daniel. He doesn't need the 10 billion-plus output. If it weren't inconvenient to reveal the abilities of the Ope Ope no Mi, Daniel would have cured Stark long ago.
To keep the abilities of the Ope Ope no Mi under wraps, Daniel decided to classify them as magic. And to let Stark feel personally indebted, he planned to claim he learned this magic specifically for him. He wouldn't bring Stark to the world of Harry Potter, so there was no fear of his deception being uncovered.
"Magic, like the one used to heal Coulson's gunshot wound?"
"Exactly. It's a very challenging magic. Treating a gunshot wound like Coulson's is straightforward, but the shrapnel in Stark's body is too small. Without further advancement, there's no way to treat him."
The Ope Ope no Mi is fundamental to Daniel, and he has been tirelessly honing its powers. In comparison, the magic from Kamar-Taj and the Harry Potter world takes a back seat. This dedication is in the hope of someday achieving the fruit's awakened state.
"Alright, then. I hope you complete it soon," said Fury as he stood up and headed towards the door.
"No need to see you out."
"Spider-Man, truly the friendly neighborhood hero." Looking at the spider web in his hand and the front-page photo of Spider-Man on the Daily Bugle, Daniel couldn't help but smile.
Times have changed. What Daniel once struggled to achieve through countless experiments—the creation of spider silk—was now accomplished quickly after obtaining a sample left behind by Spider-Man in New York. Using the Ope Ope no Mi, he analyzed it swiftly, and the Red Queen continued the analysis non-stop. Now, he finally had the formula for Spider-Man's web fluid.
Peter Parker is truly remarkable, developing such a complex formula at his age. Unfortunately, he seems to have no intention of monetizing it, which is why he's still a poor high school student. Whether this Spider-Man is the chatty one with close ties to Iron Man or not remains unknown to Daniel.
"With abilities like Spider-Man's, S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn't tried to recruit him? Is it because they can't uncover his true identity? Even if S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn't, what about Hydra?"
Although Spider-Man's news was overshadowed by Iron Man's initial appearance, it resurfaced once Stark's news cycle ended. Despite the Daily Bugle's publisher constantly badmouthing Spider-Man, it was clear the publisher secretly idolized him. He even occasionally dressed as Spider-Man himself.
Even though he disparaged Spider-Man, he still brought him into the public eye.
Thanks to Spider-Man, crime in areas like Queens and Brooklyn had significantly decreased. Police work became easier as many dangerous criminals were apprehended by Spider-Man.
As Daniel pressed a few buttons, multiple webs shot from his wrist. Unlike Spider-Man, who could run out of web fluid, Daniel had no such concern. Spider-Man's web shooters are limited by their carrying capacity, but with the Infinite Extension Charm, Daniel didn't have this issue.
In addition to the wrist-mounted web shooters, Daniel had also created other web-based weapons, such as web bombs, similar to his Serpent Bombs.
Daniel had played the Marvel's Spider-Man game, and aside from lacking Spider-Sense, he could become Spider-Man himself with the right suit.
In addition to the mentioned weapons, Daniel had developed various other projectiles—armor-piercing rounds, freezing bullets, incendiary rounds—though he rarely used them.
It's not that he didn't want to use them; it's just that opportunities to do so were scarce. Even his Ope Ope no Mi abilities, initially used in battle, had limited application now.
"Perhaps selling these web bombs to S.H.I.E.L.D. could be profitable, but I'm not keen on getting into the arms business." Despite rarely using these weapons, Daniel kept plenty in reserve. You never know when you might need them.
In the past, carrying Pym Particles and other such weapons was problematic. However, with the Infinite Extension Charm, there were no such issues now.
"Breaking news: The Empire State Building is under attack by a mysterious individual." Daniel, engrossed in a game, immediately put it down upon seeing the urgent news.
"The Green Goblin, and Spider-Man. How could I forget about Norman Osborn?" Watching the news, Daniel instantly recognized the green-armored figure on the glider and the web-slinging hero rescuing people.
Today was the Osborn Corporation's celebration. Norman was using this event to eliminate all the board members, ensuring he would be the sole director and preventing the company's sale to Horizon Labs.
Although Norman founded Osborn Corporation, several rounds of financing had diluted his ownership.
Unfortunately, Norman didn't realize that even this drastic measure would only provide temporary relief for Osborn Corporation. The side effects of their human enhancement serum were too severe, deterring any potential buyers.
"Let them fight it out." Daniel closed the news broadcast, having no interest in fighting the Green Goblin. The Goblin's technology wasn't impressive enough to capture his attention. With the advent of the Arc Reactor, the power problem for the glider was solved. Daniel could easily replicate it if he wanted to.
In this world, once the energy problem is solved, many issues cease to be issues.
"Wait, this is actually a good opportunity." Just as Daniel decided not to intervene, he realized something and quickly donned his gear. Reopening the news feed, he then Disapparated away.
"This is a chance to obtain Spider-Man's blood." Daniel quietly appeared in the area where Spider-Man was injured and collected a sample of Peter Parker's blood.
He felt it was inappropriate to harm Peter himself for the blood, but this injury wasn't his doing.
"I guess I should help you out." Seeing Spider-Man struggling against the Green Goblin, Daniel sighed
, took out a Barrett sniper rifle, and aimed at the Goblin's left leg.
With a loud bang, the Green Goblin, about to continue his assault on Spider-Man, felt a sharp pain in his left leg. He lost his balance and tumbled from his glider.
"The armor's defense is quite impressive," Daniel noted, surprised that his shot hadn't completely blown off the Goblin's leg. "Hopefully, you won't lose to him now." Although the Goblin's leg wasn't shattered, it was severely injured from the sniper bullet.
For Daniel, using armor-piercing rounds would have obliterated the Goblin's leg, but he had opted for regular bullets.
What happened next was up to Spider-Man, Peter Parker.
For a hero like Peter, who abhors killing, Daniel would have had much more interaction with him if they had met during Peter's school days. But now, that interaction seemed unnecessary.
Norman's issue could be resolved by Daniel, but he wasn't Tony Stark. Daniel wouldn't go out of his way to help.
"You arrived just in time. Give me a hand." Appearing again at Stark's beachfront mansion, Daniel was immediately called upon by Tony in his lab.
"What's all this?" Daniel asked, noticing a pile of historical-looking artifacts, including something very familiar: Captain America's shield.
"These are my father's relics, sent over by S.H.I.E.L.D.," Stark explained while directing Daniel to help lift the lab's floorboards to reveal thick cables.
"Bringing them over at this time, Fury must be in a hurry after hearing my suggestion." Fury's strategy mirrored Daniel's: garnering favor with Stark. Without Daniel's involvement, Fury would likely have waited until Stark was desperate before revealing Howard's relics. Although unaware of their true content, Fury must have known they held something crucial for Stark.
"You're too slow. Let me do it." Watching Stark manually pull cables, Daniel pulled out his wand.
"I almost forgot about that," Stark said, directing Daniel to place the items in their designated spots.
"You're going to create a new element here? What if something goes wrong?"
"Don't worry. This new element is perfectly safe. Nothing will go wrong," Stark said confidently, perhaps assured by Howard's instructions, dismissing any possibility of failure.
"Conducting a nuclear experiment at home, you're really something." Considering the energy level of the new element, it was akin to a nuclear experiment.
While Daniel silently grumbled, he didn't intend to leave. Howard wouldn't harm Tony, and Tony wasn't about to meet his end here. Instead, Daniel saw this as an opportunity to witness the birth of the new element and perhaps learn how to create it himself.
___________________
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