Leon's right hand was also held in a grasping posture, though his fingers were not spread as wide as his left—almost as if he were clutching something soft yet invisible.
Everyone else in the lab had their attention fixed on the bright silver liquid metal seeping from between the nails of his right hand. No one noticed that Helen Cho was already so tense and embarrassed her toes had curled against the floor.
With Absolute Thought Acceleration, Super Self-Regeneration, Bio-Field, and Telekinesis working in seamless coordination—
Leon rapidly hand-forged a swirling cluster of Living Adamantium nano-molecules, suspended midair like silver mist.
It resembled a Reality Stone before crystallization—except luminous silver.
This was the raw building block.
Leon's version of a "Reality Stone."
What it ultimately became depended entirely on programming.
Of course, if Leon and Tony were willing to dedicate a fully trained AI to something as trivial as a neural inhibitor, the programming step could be skipped altogether.
With AI integration—J.A.R.V.I.S. for Tony, Arcee for Leon—the system could self-configure.
Next, Leon shaped the nano-mass into the outward form of a neural inhibitor collar.
But it was hollow—purely cosmetic.
The moment he withdrew his telekinesis, it would collapse back into shapeless "sand."
Helen placed the construct onto the wireless data-transfer platform and began typing rapidly.
Within moments, the neural inhibitor module data streamed directly into the nano-assembly.
On the nano-scale—far beyond normal vision—
The previously force-bound molecules began extending micro-linkages like chemical bonds.
They clasped one another, forming stable chain structures, coupling perfectly and autonomously.
From a macro perspective—
Even after Leon withdrew his telekinesis, the structure retained its collar form.
Now functional.
Now indestructible.
Now fully inheriting the defensive properties of Living Adamantium.
It appeared that Tony's Mark VII Armor, designed in half a day using the Regeneration Cradle's nano-printing framework as reference, was entirely feasible.
"Nice!"
"I knew I was a genius!"
Unlike previous armor iterations that required endless trial and error, this nano breakthrough had succeeded in a single attempt.
Tony was ecstatic.
Nearly overwhelmed by the thrill of an imminent new toy.
He instinctively moved to hug Helen in gratitude—
Then remembered she was technically his sister-in-law.
Improper.
Instead, he grabbed DUM-E's mechanical arm and waltzed around the lab.
"That's my partner right there!"
He spun with the robotic arm dramatically while the rest of the lab stared.
"Arcee, make a copy of both the neural inhibitor and Mark VII data."
"Yes."
Leon summoned Arcee (A2 Mode), casually giving her a near-instinctive Leon's Grip pat on the shoulder.
She accepted the data from Helen—and thoughtfully refastened the few overstrained buttons along Helen's neckline that had given up under structural stress.
Those buttons had endured a battle of pressure from both sides.
They had served bravely.
Arcee briefly considered that Helen might benefit from more properly fitted clothing.
Preferably reinforced.
Perhaps vibranium-woven.
Safe. Durable. Recyclable.
Efficient.
"Hey~"
"Come here, darling."
Leon beckoned Supergiant forward with teasing familiarity.
She approached gracefully, posture elegant, movement softened by her enhanced physique.
A faint fragrance followed her as she knelt obediently before him, lifting her gaze upward.
"Ma… Master~"
Gone was the sharp arrogance of their first meeting.
Now, her voice was soft—pliant.
Within Leon's ranks, as a former prisoner of war, her status was low.
Anyone could command her.
So she focused entirely on pleasing the one person whose opinion truly mattered.
Better devotion than disposal.
The thought of being erased by a casual decision terrified her.
If she must perish—
Better in glory than insignificance.
Leon noticed her flushed expression.
He hadn't even done anything yet.
Strange girl.
Whatever.
He smiled—bright, infectious.
With a deliberate motion, his right index finger lifted her chin, increasing the angle of her gaze.
From eye contact—
To lips aligned with his.
His finger traced lightly across her lower lip.
Then—
Tap. Tap.
He lightly struck the opposite side of her cheek with the newly formed nano neural inhibitor collar, spinning around his left index finger.
"Here."
"Put it on yourself."
His right hand slid down along her cheek and neck, removing the previous Adamantium collar in one smooth motion.
With his left, he flicked the new Living Adamantium nano-inhibitor onto her collarbone.
And—
It adhered instantly.
Duang.
…
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