{Chapter: 001 - Iron Man? Extremis?}
!!!HIGH SEXUAL CONTENT!!!
**READ AT YOUR OWN RISK**
"Where am I? What is this place? How did I get here?"
Aiden groaned, his head pounding as if a jackhammer was drilling straight through his skull. His body felt like lead, weighed down by an exhaustion that clung to his bones. He cracked open his eyes, immediately regretting the decision as bright flashes of fire and smoke assaulted his vision. A splitting headache pulsed through his skull, and the bitter taste of alcohol still lingered on his tongue.
"Damn… I shouldn't have drunk that much," he muttered, rubbing his temples. The last thing he remembered was drowning his sorrows in bottle after bottle, trying to numb the ache of a broken heart. Yeah, you heard that right. A broken heart, shattered dreams—nothing poetic about it, just a pathetic downward spiral. But now wasn't the time to dwell on past mistakes. There was a far more pressing issue at hand.
He had no idea where he was.
As he pushed himself upright, a strange sensation gripped him—weightlessness. It was as if he were floating, untethered, his entire body out of sync with reality. Blinking rapidly, he forced himself to take in his surroundings. Massive shipping containers towered around him like a metallic labyrinth, cranes loomed high above, and chaos erupted in every direction. Fires raged, explosions thundered, and—was something flying in the air?
Then he saw them. Dozens of red and gold armored figures zipped through the sky, weaving between the wreckage like a synchronized swarm of high-tech warriors.
His heart skipped a beat. "Fuck! Is that Iron Man?"
No. That can't be possible! But not just one Iron Man—many. Aiden's breath hitched as recognition dawned upon him. He had seen this before, hadn't he? This entire chaotic battle… it was familiar. The way the suits moved, the way the explosions rippled through the air—it clicked in his mind like a puzzle piece snapping into place.
"This… this is the final battle from Iron Man 3," he whispered, his pulse hammering against his ribs. He remembered watching Tony Stark's army of autonomous suits self-destruct at the film's climax. Back then, he had felt a twinge of sympathy for the suits—work of months and shit ton of money sacrifices for nothing. But now? Now he wasn't just watching. He was here.
"Arrrgh…!"
Aiden barely had time to process that horrifying realization before searing pain erupted in his skull. It felt like his mind was being torn apart, as if a thousand molten needles were carving symbols into his very essence. His vision blurred, his breath came in ragged gasps, and time itself seemed to fracture. Every second stretched into infinity, yet in the real world, barely a moment had passed.
He gasped, disoriented. It felt like he had overdosed on pure, undiluted CPH4, his awareness exploding outward. His thoughts raced, hyper-accelerated, his senses sharpened to an unnatural degree.
"This has to be a dream… Oh, God!!!"
Then, as suddenly as it had come, the pain vanished—leaving only clarity in its wake. His heartbeat slowed, his breathing steadied, and an eerie calm settled over him.
A knowing grin curled at his lips. "I never expected to cross into the Marvel Universe… and even get a system."
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind—[King Maker System Activated].
The voice was detached, clinical, lacking any trace of emotion. It did not explain why Aiden had arrived here, nor did it care. Its purpose was singular—to provide tools for conquest. Whether he thrived or perished was entirely up to him.
A king is not crowned—he takes his throne.
Aiden exhaled, his eyes gleaming with something dangerous. He was just an ordinary man thrown into a world where gods walked among mortals, where heroes shaped history, and where villains crushed entire civilizations. This world was a battlefield. A land ruled by power, where the weak were nothing more than fodder.
And then, he felt it—his body had changed.
On the surface, he appeared the same. But beneath the flesh, beneath the bone, something far more potent surged within him. The system had rewritten his very being, gifting him an ability that could shake the very foundation of this universe.
Devour and Stabilize.
That was his new gift, his edge. The golden finger if you will. He could consume the powers of others—Super Soldier Serums, Gamma Radiation, Extremis, Terrigen Mist, Centipede Serum, Goblin Formula, Infinity Formula… and if it existed in this reality, even the Golden Sentry Serum.
Others had tried wielding these abilities before and failed—driven mad, consumed by instability, or simply killed by the sheer potency of the transformations. But Aiden? He was different. The system would ensure his survival. The mutations, the side effects, the mental instability? All negated. His body would adapt, absorb, and perfect.
This wasn't just an advantage.
This was an ascension.
The Marvel Universe belonged to the strong. And he intended to carve his throne from the corpses of those who underestimated him.
Of course, power didn't just fall into one's lap. There were other sources—mutants, Inhumans, cosmic clouds, unique plants and metals, mystical artifacts. The world was brimming with potential. The question wasn't whether he could find them—it was whether he had the strength to seize them.
Especially now.
The Battle of New York was over. The Avengers were formed. The era of heroes had begun. But Aiden didn't care. If anything, he welcomed the challenge. What was the point of being a king in a world with no competition?
But first—survival.
He was in the middle of the battle between Iron Man and Aldrich Killian. Whether it was Tony Stark himself, the Extremis-infused warriors, or Killian, any one of them could end his life in an instant.
Aiden crouched behind a steel container, his mind racing. He needed to think fast. The extremis virus is a good thing, with a super self-healing factor, superhuman body, and generates extreme amounts of heat from his body. It can be said that it is much more powerful than Captain America's super soldier serum. With this stuff, at least he doesn't have to worry about damage or injuries.
Of course, the drawbacks of Extremis are obvious, the chances of success are low, and there is danger of self destruction with little emotions. If it was not for his body's ability to stabilize everything, Aiden will never pay attention to Extremis, which is no different from suicide.
Aiden was not one to let an opportunity slip away. However, now was not the time to dwell on the possibilities of the future—his immediate concern was survival. He had landed smack in the middle of the battle between Iron Man and Aldrich Killian, and either one of them, along with the extremis-enhanced warriors, could kill him in an instant if he wasn't careful.
Ducking behind a stack of metal shipping containers, Aiden kept a keen eye on the ongoing battle. His goal was clear—acquire Extremis. The virus was a double-edged sword, offering immense physical enhancement, rapid regeneration, and a nearly indestructible body, but at a tremendous risk. The unstable formula could cause violent emotional outbursts and even self-destruction.
Yet, for Aiden, these risks did not apply. His body's unique ability to devour and stabilize foreign elements meant he could take in Extremis without worry. It was a perfect first step toward a true step in this unpredictable universe.
Boom!
A deafening explosion rocked the harbor, sending a wave of heat and debris into the air. Aiden peeked out just in time to see an Iron Suit burst into flames, the fiery wreckage collapsing onto the dock below. In the distance, Tony Stark stumbled backward onto the ground, looking battered but still alive.
"That explosion contained Killian… but I know better," Aiden muttered to himself, watching closely. Sure enough, just moments later, a molten figure emerged from the wreckage. Aldrich Killian, his body glowing like magma, advanced toward Tony with lethal intent.
Tony, visibly exhausted, scrambled back, but before Killian could strike, a figure leaped into action—Pepper Potts. With a sudden burst of strength and speed, she struck Killian hard, sending him flying backward. Aiden smirked. Pepper had been infected with Extremis, making her a good opponent, at least temporarily.
"Be careful!" Tony shouted, alarmed as Killian recovered, rage burning in his molten eyes.
Pepper, however, remained calm. Spotting a discarded Iron Suit gauntlet on the ground, she swiftly picked it up and slid it onto her arm. Without hesitation, she raised her hand, and with a burst of energy, the Repulsor fired straight into Killian's chest. The beam tore through his already unstable body, and then… Killian's soul flew into her realm.
Aiden let out a sigh. "Damn… there goes my easiest chance at acquiring it."
Still, all was not lost. He turned his gaze toward Pepper. She still had Extremis coursing through her veins, and if Tony Stark's words from the movie were anything to go by, he would soon attempt to cure her and was successful. That was Aiden's new opportunity.
The sky was now illuminated by countless explosions as Tony activated the clean-up protocol. One by one, the Iron Suits detonated in mid-air, creating a dazzling display of destruction. The fireworks signified the end of an era for Tony Stark, but for Aiden, they marked the beginning of something far greater.
With confidence in his stride, he stepped forward, approaching the duo. Tony was still catching his breath, while Pepper stood alert, keeping an eye on their surroundings.
"There's still one enemy left!" Tony suddenly shouted, raising his arm.
Pepper reacted instantly, lifting the Iron Man gauntlet and aiming directly at Aiden, her fingers tensed over the trigger.
"Who are you?" Tony demanded, his voice sharp with suspicion.
Aiden raised his hands in a gesture of peace, a charming smile on his face. "Relax, I'm not here to fight. I'm here to help. That beautiful lady next to you looks like she might be in a bit of trouble."
Tony didn't lower his guard. "You think cracking jokes is gonna make us trust you? Give me one good reason not to blast you right now."
Aiden remained unfazed. "Because I know what's happening to her, and I know how to fix it."
Pepper, her eyes widening slightly, glanced at Tony. "Fix it? You mean—"
Aiden nodded. "The Extremis in your body is unstable. You've felt it, haven't you? The heat rising when you get emotional, the unnatural bursts of strength? I don't need to tell you that it's dangerous. And sure, Mr. Stark is a genius. He'll find a cure. But can you really be certain it will work in time?"
Tony narrowed his eyes. "And you're saying you can just fix it? Just like that?"
"I have a method," Aiden said smoothly. "No risk, no side effects. If it doesn't work, you lose nothing. But if it does work… you won't have to worry about Mrs. Pepper randomly exploding, now would you?"
Pepper hesitated, looking between Aiden and Tony. The genius in Tony was screaming to call this a scam, but the billionaire also knew better than to dismiss anything outright.
"Why do you want to help us?" Pepper asked, her voice cautious but intrigued.
Aiden shrugged. "I'll be honest—I came for the Extremis. I want it. And in exchange for helping you, I only ask that you let me take the unstable strain from you. Win-win."
Tony clenched his jaw, thinking fast. "And what happens if this backfires? If you're lying?"
Aiden chuckled. "Then you blast me, Iron Man. Simple as that. But trust me when I say this—I don't want to be enemies with Iron Man."
'At least… not yet.'
The tension in the air was thick, but the wheels in Tony's mind were already turning. The offer was tempting, and as much as he hated to admit it, Aiden might just be the answer they needed now in this unstable time.
Now, all that remained was whether the great Tony Stark was willing to take a gamble.