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Lin Feng knew he couldn't walk the streets like a celebrity now—his punch that shattered a giant mech had already made headlines. Without a proper disguise, every outing would turn into a media circus. Reporters would be on him like moths to a flame.
Thankfully, he had just spent 300,000 reputation points on a skill that made things a lot easier: true invisibility—for ten minutes. That might not sound like much, but it wasn't some cheap parlor trick or optical illusion. No, it was real. A perfect vanishing act. He remembered how even Superman, in the original comics, didn't have that power. That made this ring—compact, inconspicuous, and laced with tech-magic—an absolute game-changer.
Lin Feng could now reduce his presence to practically zero. During testing, even Agent Coulson looked right through him like he wasn't there. The agent's trained gaze had flicked past him, confused, dismissive—as if Lin Feng was a trick of the light.
It was that powerful.
If the skill could stack, Lin would've bought a whole collection of them—one for each finger. A hundred minutes of invisibility sounded like heaven. But the system had limits, and the rules were the rules.
By the time the sun began dipping behind the Los Angeles skyline, Tony had finally wrapped up a long day of media wrangling and industry handshakes. He dealt with it the way a seasoned billionaire would: with casual charm, witty sarcasm, and an instinct for knowing exactly how much to reveal.
Which, in this case, was very little. The world now knew one thing for certain—Tony Stark was Iron Man.
And that he had a mysterious friend—Lin Feng—who had punched a war mech out of the sky.
After politely but firmly ushering out the last wave of reporters, Tony turned to Lin Feng, amused and curious. "You said you've got something to show me?"
Lin nodded, producing a small envelope from his jacket. Inside were printed photographs taken by a determined young reporter—the same one Lin had saved earlier. The photos were damning: Stark Industries weapons in the hands of gang members. The kind of thing that could tarnish legacies.
Tony flipped through them, unfazed. "Small-time stuff. I'll have it taken care of." He waved the photos off like flies. "You don't need to go stomping around in armor. That's what underpaid interns and overpaid lawyers are for."
Lin chuckled and nodded. He agreed. Hell's Kitchen was crawling with rats, and trying to wipe them all out with heat vision would only push the dirt underground. Sometimes, you had to play the long game.
Adults didn't fight every battle. They chose their wars wisely.
By the time the car pulled up to Tony's cliffside villa, the conversation had shifted to lighter matters. Inside the sleek, minimalist mansion, Pepper Potts excused herself to the kitchen under the pretense of checking on dinner, giving the two men some space.
They strolled into the living room, still chatting, when Lin Feng stopped mid-sentence.
He froze.
Tony noticed the change in his friend immediately. "What is it?" he asked, his eyes narrowing as he followed Lin's gaze toward the window.
From the shadows, a low voice emerged. Calm. Commanding.
> "I am Iron Man? Really, Stark? You think you're the only superhero in the world?"
A tall, imposing figure stepped forward, cloak swirling, one eye gleaming with intensity.
"Who the hell—" Tony began, his tone sharp with alarm. The fact that JARVIS hadn't flagged the intruder made things worse. Whoever this was, they had the tech—and nerve—to walk right into Tony Stark's home undetected.
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. He already had a hunch.
"Nick Fury," the man said, his voice deep and measured. "Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."
He looked at both men, his gaze lingering on Lin Feng a moment longer, clearly intrigued.
"Tony Stark. Lin Feng. Mind if we sit?"
Tony didn't answer, but his silence was permission enough. The trio settled into the leather chairs surrounding the glass coffee table. The air in the room grew dense.
"I'm here about the Avengers Initiative," Fury said without preamble.
Tony arched an eyebrow. "Avengers missiles? I stopped making those."
Fury's eye twitched. "Be serious."
Tony wasn't in the mood. "Do I have to pay to hear about the future too?" he quipped, gesturing at Lin Feng. "Because I already have a fortune teller right here."
Lin held back a laugh, his expression amused but restrained.
Fury tried to keep his composure, but Stark was exhausting. "This is important," he growled. "It concerns the future of humanity."
Tony yawned dramatically. "Yeah? Got a PowerPoint?"
Fury's patience was fraying, but he pressed on, outlining the idea of the Avengers—a response team composed of extraordinary individuals, ready to defend Earth from threats beyond conventional means.
Tony leaned back, unimpressed. "I've got one question," he said, pointing at Lin. "You got anyone stronger than him?"
Fury paused. For once, he didn't have a quick answer.
Stronger than Lin Feng?
The man who could fly from orbit and survive reentry without a scratch? Who could punch through reinforced metal and toss tanks like toys?
Fury's silence said everything.
Tony stood. "Yeah. Thought so."
"We're not interested in your superhero club," he said flatly. "Dinner's waiting, and I didn't order a seat for you."
Fury rose without protest. He knew when to retreat. "We'll talk again, Lin Feng," he said, voice low. "Soon."
With that, the man in black disappeared into the shadows from which he came.
As the door clicked shut, Lin turned to Tony, arms crossed. "You rejected him for me?"
Tony blinked, looking genuinely surprised. "You wanted to join that Superboy League?"
Lin sighed. "It's not that. I just thought it might be worth considering."
"Well, consider this," Tony clapped a hand on Lin's shoulder. "I'm throwing a party in two days. Best way to grow up? Live a little."
Lin's eyes lit up. "A party?"
"Oh yeah. The Iron Man debut celebration. Industry elites, movie stars, scandal waiting to happen." Tony grinned devilishly. "You better bring extra cologne and... maybe some small umbrellas."
Lin scratched his head, puzzled. "For drinks?"
Tony just laughed. "Sure, kid. For drinks."
Lin smirked. "I've never actually been to a party before."
Tony's face softened. "Then we'll make it a night to remember. But first—food."
They headed toward the dining room, the earlier tension completely gone.
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