Chapter Forty-One: Understanding the New World

"Of course, aside from eating, there’s also the path of adaptive evolution," Harvey explained. "But if you want to enhance your abilities through adaptive evolution, you’ll need to go somewhere that makes you extremely uncomfortable—somewhere actually harmful to your body. Stay there for a while, and your body will automatically evolve a resistance. The harsher the environment, the faster the adaptation process."

He shared with Tony Stark the insights he’d gained over the past few years. Harvey wasn’t afraid that Tony would surpass him, so he was generous with his experience.

"A harsh environment? Like a desert, maybe?" Tony mused aloud.

"No," Harvey replied, shaking his head. "The surface of a desert might make you uncomfortable, but it’ll only train you to withstand heat. If you want to achieve a deeper level of evolution in the desert, you have to bury yourself alive beneath the sand for a while. The immense pressure of being entombed will force your body to develop profound abilities. The same applies to the ocean—if you can endure it, you’ll eventually gain the power to breathe underwater. But if you want to resist the crushing pressure and venture into the deep sea, you’ll need to undergo a period of adaptation and evolution."

Tony’s plan to take a dual approach was instantly abandoned as he listened to Harvey’s explanation. "Sounds like you’re risking your life if you want to evolve this way."

"In essence, that’s exactly what you’re doing," Harvey replied solemnly. "Adaptive evolution is what happens when you’re forced to survive in extreme conditions with no other choice. But if you want to travel the universe with just your body, exploring hostile environments, seeking truth, and battling powerful foes, then you must prepare for everything you can imagine. Strengthening yourself is the only way to survive."

Tony fell silent, pondering Harvey’s words. "Traveling the void in one’s own body..." He recalled the colossal void creatures he’d witnessed earlier, so vast they rivaled galaxies. He couldn’t comprehend the extent of their power.

But one thing was certain: if he could ever evolve to such a degree, traversing the universe would be effortless—the cosmos itself would be his backyard. No cosmic radiation or gamma rays would threaten such terrifying void entities. And all those unimaginable monsters wielded only a fraction of the power Harvey Ambellica possessed. To reach Harvey’s level—or even master just one of the powers at his command—would require an unimaginable length of time.

Fortunately, Tony’s lifespan was no longer limited to a mere century. As long as he lived long enough, he was certain he’d eventually glimpse the truths of the void and acquire one of its powers. As the first to join the Void, Tony felt it was his duty to outpace any future arrivals. He wanted to make it clear to those who came after what it meant to be a pioneer.

"It sounds absolutely exhilarating," Tony said at last, a smile spreading across his face. In the past, he’d only dared dream of reaching space with his inventions. With enough research, he believed his Iron Man suit could one day let him roam near Earth’s orbit. But venturing into the universe with his own flesh and blood—he’d never even considered it. The challenges of space went far beyond the need for air; the deadly ultraviolet rays, unchecked by any ozone, could kill him outright, not to mention the myriad forms of radiation.

"Don’t get ahead of yourself," Harvey cautioned, seeing the gleam in Tony’s eyes. "Just because you’ve joined the Void doesn’t mean you can do as you please. There are some formidable beings on Earth. If you provoke them, you could die before you even get started."

"Formidable beings? Do you mean Captain Marvel?" Tony asked, immediately thinking of her.

"Captain Marvel is currently traveling through the cosmos, assisting life on various planets. You won’t need to worry about her for now," Harvey replied. "But you should be very wary of the Ancient One, the Supreme Sorcerer. She’s protected Earth for centuries."

Now that Tony was officially part of the Void and on Harvey’s side, the latter shared more information, hoping to keep Tony from making any reckless mistakes that might draw the Ancient One’s attention.

"Protected humanity for centuries? So the Ancient One isn’t human?" Tony asked, astonished. In all his life, he’d never heard of a human living more than a hundred and fifty years.

Harvey’s mention of centuries made Tony’s mind reel. "She is human," Harvey clarified. "But she’s mastered the power of magic and used certain means to extend her life. Normally, she doesn’t interfere in the material world unless necessary. Her domain is the magical realm and the threats that come from other dimensions."

"I always thought magic was a fantasy," Tony murmured, reflecting. "But having met you and joined the Void, I suppose it’s not so hard to believe that someone in the universe wields magic."

"Magic is only the beginning," Harvey said. "Even on Earth, there are forces beyond ordinary comprehension. You’ve just barely crossed the threshold out of humanity. Soon, your power will defy common sense for regular people. But compared to those who command superpowers and magic, you’re little more than an ant with a bit of self-awareness."

Harvey’s words were a cold awakening. "I know I’m weak," Tony acknowledged, "but at least call me a person, not an ant." He didn’t argue with Harvey’s assessment, but after nearly forty years as a human, even if joining the Void had changed his race and his world, he still considered his mind fundamentally human.

"I’m only speaking of the difference in power," Harvey replied, glancing at Tony with a hint of approval. "But it’s good that you’re aware of it. That self-awareness will help you resist temptation in the future."

"How powerful is the Ancient One, exactly?" Tony pressed, curiosity getting the better of him. "Tell me more. When Pepper joins the Void, I’ll have some good stories—explanations, I mean."

He committed every word of Harvey’s to memory. Now that he was truly part of the Void—part of Harvey Ambellica’s camp—he finally felt connected to the extraordinary world beyond humanity. But he knew all too little about this world of wonders.