c26 - The Essence of Humanity
After Tony Stark saw the progress bar for the image destruction fill up, he placed his hands on the table, a sense of relief washing over him.
His back was already drenched in cold sweat, but Tony knew why.
When people encounter something mysterious yet possessing limitless possibilities, they feel curiosity and excitement.
So, Harvey Ambellaca's healing of him and his improved health naturally excited him.
Considering the potential enemies that might appear in the future whether it be alien races like the Kree or Skrulls, or even cosmic-level threats hinted at by S.H.I.E.L.D.—he considered it an incredibly powerful superpower.
Because with Harvey Ambellaca around, they wouldn't need to fear injury too much, as long as they didn't die.
But when people truly encounter something unknowable and incomprehensible, yet are aware of the danger it brings,
their first reaction is no longer excitement and curiosity, but an irresistible surge of fear stemming from their biological instincts.
After witnessing Harvey Ambellaca's healing process firsthand, Tony Stark was gripped by fear.
If the news of Harvey Ambellaca's healing ability were to be revealed...
Countless people including billionaires, politicians, and even organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D. would yearn to find Harvey Ambellaca, hoping for cures for diseases currently incurable by modern science and to extend their lifespans.
But in the footage just now, Harvey Ambellaca demonstrated more than just healing abilities.
There was also that strange violet energy eerily similar to the unknown cosmic energies occasionally recorded in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s classified files, its specific function unknown but wielded with effortless precision, and Harvey's fingers were as sharp as surgical blades.
Clearly, Harvey Ambellaca also possessed the ability to protect himself; otherwise, he would never have risked exposure to treat him and reveal these things so casually.
"Did you destroy the footage?"
Harvey's voice sounded behind Tony Stark.
"I saw that footage; I had no choice but to destroy it."
Tony Stark turned around, looking at Harvey as he entered the underground research lab, and said with a wry smile.
"I know you might be afraid of me, but don't worry, if I were your enemy, I wouldn't help you."
Harvey said calmly.
"Then why did you approach me?"
Tony Stark asked.
"Tony Stark, didn't you even think before you said that?"
Harvey said, somewhat speechless.
"Have you forgotten that you've been contacting me for a month straight?"
Although he had intended to leave an impression on Tony Stark so he could later guide him toward understanding greater forces beyond Earth, he hadn't expected Tony Stark to contact him so incessantly, almost like how he obsessively pursued solutions during his captivity with the Ten Rings.
So, to stop the constant calls routed through J.A.R.V.I.S., Harvey answered the call to see what Tony Stark was up to.
"..."
Tony Stark wanted to retort after hearing this blunt remark, but after thinking about it, he realized he had indeed contacted him repeatedly, and for a moment, he was speechless.
"My actions are entirely based on my mood, so you don't need to worry too much about it."
"Let's talk about your technology."
Seeing that Tony Stark wanted to argue but couldn't find the words, Harvey let him off the hook and shifted the topic toward something Tony was most confident in.
"The latest ones I'm developing right now are the Mark III and Mark IV."
"One is the finalized combat model with a gold-titanium alloy shell, while the other is an optimized iteration for sustained deployment and adaptability."
"These are the culmination of my engineering and design capable of exceeding Mach speeds at high altitude, equipped with repulsor technology derived from the Arc Reactor, and fitted with micro-missile systems and enhanced targeting interfaces."
"The materials used in their construction are adapted from aerospace-grade alloys—heat-resistant, impact-resistant, and capable of withstanding heavy ballistic fire—and they even incorporate repulsor-based offensive systems."
Tony Stark, intrigued, immediately approached the two suits and proudly introduced them, his tone carrying the same confidence he once had when presenting weapons to the military only now, his purpose had changed.
"In just over a month, you've refined the suits to this level; that's genuinely impressive."
"Your armor will only become more advanced as you continue integrating new technologies."
"However, this also means that no matter how much you improve them, your suits' greatest weakness still lies within yourself."
"Don't say I didn't warn you. In battle, if you have an irreplaceable yet easily targetable core your human body you could lose your life in an instant."
Harvey tapped the armor lightly with his right hand, producing a metallic echo that resonated through the lab.
"I've thought about this weakness too, but I can't fundamentally change it right now."
"Because even if my mind rivals the greatest scientists on Earth, I'm still human. I can be injured, I can age, and eventually, I will die."
Tony Stark, hearing Harvey Ambellaca's words, didn't deny it, acknowledging this limitation with rare honesty.
Piloting the Iron Man armor wasn't fundamentally different from piloting advanced military hardware something Tony understood well from his past dealings with the U.S. military and weapons development.
Once the armor was compromised, he himself would be exposed to lethal danger, just like any pilot ejected into a battlefield.
Therefore, his earlier idea of working with James Rhodes still lingered in his mind.
He possessed unparalleled intellect and innovation, while Rhodes had real combat experience and discipline; together, they could maximize the armor's true potential just like coordinated operations between engineer and soldier seen in modern warfare.
However, Rhodes had previously refused to fully support his reckless approach and had kept a professional distance, especially after Tony's return from captivity with the Ten Rings, so Tony ultimately chose to pilot the armor himself.
Harvey's words were naturally a deliberate reminder of Tony Stark's physical vulnerability.
"Just now? So, you mean you have a method?"
Harvey, hearing these words, glanced at Tony Stark and spoke.
"I want to strengthen my body to improve the suit's greatest weakness, which is to develop genetics."
"However, the experimental process for developing a gene-based enhancement without any side effects and suitable for the human body would inevitably cross ethical boundaries—similar to the forbidden lines seen in advanced bio-enhancement research like Extremis."
"That's why I've never set foot in the field of genetics."
Tony Stark shared his thoughts upon hearing this.
"Tony Stark, what do you think truly defines a human being?"
Harvey asked, his eyes flashing as he listened to Tony's words.
Perhaps some people possess powers different from ordinary humans but still try to suppress themselves and integrate into society, much like certain enhanced individuals or mutants in recorded cases, hoping not to be treated as outsiders but as normal humans.
But frankly speaking, even among ordinary humans without any enhancements, there are still vast differences between people, such as wealth, intelligence, and influence.
Countless people, relying on their limited power, still seek to expand it amassing wealth, influence, and control whenever given the chance.
Human nature is inherently driven by desire and self-interest; given the opportunity, people will naturally want to obtain more and control more.
And when given this opportunity, instead of seizing and utilizing it, some deceive themselves by deliberately suppressing their potential to conform, hoping to be accepted as ordinary.
To Harvey, this was nothing but a restrained and mediocre mindset.
Although he had possessed the power of the Void for nearly three years without deeply reflecting on its nature, it was only after Nick Fury's subtle probing and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attention that
he finally acknowledged that his abilities did not originate from conventional science, but from something far beyond forcing him to accept what he truly was.
"What do you crave? Are you talking about men or women?"
Tony Stark asked, misunderstanding the direction of Harvey's question.
"My question doesn't distinguish between men and women, but rather what humanity inherently desires."
Harvey turned around, looking directly into Tony Stark's eyes, and said with a faint smile.
"Human nature cannot be categorized into one type, because different people have very different desires and needs."
Tony Stark pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Humans can be arrogant, insecure, compassionate, or selfish, but these are expressions, not the foundation."
"The essence of humanity is the instinct to survive. To survive and thrive, humans seek power and with that power, they obtain more of what they want."
"Knowledge, advanced technology, physical strength, influence, authority even innovation like the Arc Reactor all of these are forms of power that elevate someone above others."
"Throughout history, men have often held dominant positions, but there have always been exceptions where women rose to equal or greater heights."
"That only proves that the desire for power isn't limited by gender, it's limited by opportunity and circumstance."
"Once a person gains even a slight advantage, they begin to distinguish themselves from others."
"They distance themselves from those they see as inferior, sometimes even subconsciously."
"This pattern repeats throughout history and neither you nor I are exceptions."
"Now, do you still think the essence of humanity needs to be divided into male and female?"
Harvey said slowly, his gaze shifting toward the Iron Man armor standing silently nearby.
"…"
Tony Stark wanted to refute, but after careful consideration, he couldn't find a convincing argument.
Indeed, while personalities differ, the underlying drive remains the same survival first, then the pursuit of more.
Better living conditions, greater influence, superior status—these desires evolve naturally.
"Are you suggesting I go against human nature?"
However, reflecting on Harvey Ambellaca's words, Tony Stark grasped the deeper implication and spoke with a trace of seriousness.
"I didn't say that. I was only reminding you of what humanity truly is."
"As for what you choose to do with that understanding, that's your decision."
"Even if the essence of humanity is survival and the pursuit of power,"
"when you reach for greater power, you need to ask yourself whether you are truly prepared to bear its consequences."
"If you're not prepared, then choosing restraint isn't weakness, it's simply another choice."
Harvey's words carried a subtle weight, like a quiet pressure that lingered beneath the surface of Tony's thoughts.
There might not be immediate results, but when Tony Stark eventually seeks to overcome his greatest limitation his human fragility, this conversation would resurface and influence the path he chooses.
"I already ate one of your dinners, so I won't stay for any supper."
"I helped you eliminate the palladium poisoning in your body this time, but don't assume that I'll always be there to fix it again."
"Your Arc Reactor still relies on palladium. Unless you find a new element like the theoretical clean energy model you've been pursuing, you'll face the same problem again."
"So don't take chances. Use the time you've gained and solve the root cause."
Harvey looked at Tony Stark, who was now deep in thought, spoke calmly, and then turned to leave the underground laboratory.
Tony Stark was left alone in the lab, surrounded by the quiet hum of his machines, his eyes flickering with calculation as countless possibilities began forming in his mind.
...