บท 26: Chapter 26: The Nature of Humanity
Tony Stark watched as the progress bar for the destruction of the footage finally filled up, and he leaned on the table, feeling a wave of relief wash over him.
Cold sweat had covered his back at some point, though he knew exactly why.
When a person encounters something mysterious, imbued with infinite potential and beauty, curiosity and excitement are inevitable.
So, of course, when Harvey Amberlock healed him, leaving his body in perfect condition, it thrilled him.
And when he thought about the kind of enemies they might face in the future, he saw this as an incredible power—perhaps even unbeatable.
Because as long as Harvey Amberlock was around, they didn't need to fear injury. As long as they weren't dead, they'd be fine.
But when confronted with the unknown and the incomprehensible—mysteries you can sense are dangerous—the excitement fades. The curiosity is swallowed by a primal, biological fear.
Watching Harvey heal him had sparked that very fear.
If word got out that Harvey Amberlock possessed such healing abilities, there would be countless people seeking him out—hoping for cures for diseases modern medicine couldn't fix, or ways to extend their own lives.
But it wasn't just the healing Harvey had shown in that footage.
There was also that strange purple energy, which he seemed to control effortlessly, and his fingers, sharp as blades.
Clearly, Harvey wasn't just a healer. He had other abilities, ones that could protect him. Otherwise, there was no way he would have taken the risk of exposing himself like this to heal Tony.
"Did you destroy the footage?"
Harvey's voice came from behind Tony.
"After seeing that footage, I had no choice."
Tony turned to face Harvey, who had entered the underground lab, and gave a wry smile.
"I know you might be afraid of me," Harvey said calmly, "but don't worry. If I were your enemy, I wouldn't have helped you."
"Then why did you approach me?" Tony asked, curious now.
"Tony Stark, do you ever think before you speak?" Harvey replied, shaking his head. "Did you forget that you've been contacting me non-stop for the past month?"
It was true. While Harvey had been interested in making an impression on Tony, to set him up for recruitment into the Void, even he hadn't anticipated Tony's relentless pursuit of him.
After Tony reached out again and again, Harvey finally gave in, curious to see what the genius inventor wanted.
Tony opened his mouth to retort but realized he had no ground to stand on. It was true—it was he who had pursued Harvey.
"My actions depend entirely on my mood, so don't dwell on it too much. Let's talk about your tech."
Harvey was amused by Tony's inability to argue, but he moved on, gesturing toward the Iron Man suits in the lab.
"I'm currently working on two new models: the Mark IV and Mark V. One is built for combat, the other for convenience—it's more portable."
Tony's excitement returned as he led Harvey toward the suits, proudly explaining, "These are my masterpieces. In full flight, they can reach speeds up to Mach 2. They're made of satellite-grade materials, tough and cold-resistant, immune to bullets, and equipped with palm repulsors."
"In just over a month, you've improved them to this extent? Impressive," Harvey remarked, knocking lightly on the armor. "It sounds like your suits are going to get even better."
"But no matter how much you upgrade them, the biggest weakness of your suits is still...you."
Tony fell silent.
"Don't get me wrong, you've done great work. But in battle, a glaring, easily exploitable weakness will get you killed." Harvey's fingers tapped the suit rhythmically, emphasizing his point.
"I've thought about that," Tony admitted. "But as brilliant as I am, I'm still human. I'll age, get injured, and die. There's no way around that."
Tony had accepted this truth. Operating the Iron Man suit wasn't much different from piloting a fighter jet. If the suit was damaged in combat, it left him vulnerable, just like any pilot.
That's why he originally wanted Colonel Rhodes to join him—Tony had the brains, and Rhodes had the combat experience. Together, they'd be unstoppable. But Rhodes had refused, leaving Tony to pilot the suits himself.
Harvey's words were meant as a warning, pushing Tony to confront his human fragility.
"You said 'for now.' Does that mean you've got a solution?"
Tony looked at Harvey, intrigued by the shift in the conversation.
"I want to enhance my body," Tony said thoughtfully, "to eliminate the suits' biggest weakness. I've considered genetic engineering, but developing a safe, side-effect-free gene therapy would require experiments that go against everything I stand for."
"And that's why you've avoided venturing into genetics," Harvey mused. "But tell me, Tony Stark, what is it that truly makes someone human?"
Tony looked at Harvey, a bit confused. Some people have powers and want to hide them, blend in, be seen as human and not as something else. Yet, even among normal humans, differences exist—like wealth and power.
People are inherently selfish and greedy. Given the opportunity, they'll always want more—more control, more resources. Those with even a little bit more than others tend to start looking down on those beneath them.
And when someone gains power but chooses to suppress it, to fit in with the weak, they're missing the point entirely. Harvey had come to this realization after he embraced the Void's power.
"What are you really asking?" Tony questioned, still trying to grasp the direction of the conversation.
"My question isn't about men versus women. It's about what humans, as a species, truly desire at their core."
Harvey turned, locking eyes with Tony, smiling as if he knew the answer already.
"Human nature can't be reduced to a single thing. Different people want different things," Tony replied after a moment.
"Human beings can be arrogant, humble, kind, or selfish. But these are just personality traits, not their essence," Harvey continued. "At their core, humans desire survival. And to survive, they crave power."
"Knowledge, strength, status—anything that makes one superior is power. Throughout history, men have mostly been in charge, but there have been women who reached the top. It shows that the desire for power isn't limited by gender, but by opportunity."
"Once someone has the slightest edge over others, they'll begin to separate themselves, thinking they're better. That's just how it is, whether in history or today. Even you and I are no exception."
"Do you still think humanity's nature can be divided by gender?" Harvey asked as he toyed with the Iron Man suit.
Tony wanted to argue, but he found himself unable to refute Harvey's point. It was true—once basic survival was secured, people always wanted more: better living conditions, higher status, and more power.
"Are you telling me to abandon morality?" Tony finally asked, his mind racing.
"I didn't say that. I'm just reminding you of what humanity's nature truly is," Harvey replied with a sly smile. "When you want more power, ask yourself if you're truly ready for it."
"If you aren't, it's okay to play it safe and stick to your principles."
Harvey's words slithered into Tony's mind, planting seeds of doubt. He might not act on them immediately, but when the time came, when Tony needed more power, these seeds would grow.
"Well, I've already had dinner, so I won't be staying for a midnight snack," Harvey said casually. "I've purged the palladium poisoning from your system, but don't think I'll always be here to clean up after you."
"Don't rely on me. Use this time wisely to find a replacement for the palladium in your arc reactor."
With that, Harvey turned and left, leaving Tony alone in the lab, deep in thought.
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