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Chapter 494: The First Year of Cybertron
"You should know the complex relationship between Earthlings and the Celestials." Tony's expression was incredibly solemn.
Stephen nodded and said in a heavy voice, "I've been closely observing outer space, wary of them."
"That's not enough. The most troublesome ones aren't the Celestials from outside, but the one right beneath our feet."
Tony shook his head and stomped on the ground.
"Four billion years ago, a mysterious member of the Celestials went mad and died on Earth. That is what allowed life to emerge on this planet."
Tony revealed a piece of buried, ancient history—history from four billion years ago.
The origin of life on Earth stemmed from that Celestial member who went mad and died.
This planet, Earth, and this species, humanity, are destined to be inseparable from the Celestials.
"Four billion years has not been enough time for that Celestial's corpse to disappear completely. Its body has been infested with incredibly troublesome things, which is the very reason it went mad and died," Tony said.
Moreover, that deceased Celestial member came from the strongest team among all Celestials, the Final Host, renowned for its combat prowess. Yet, in the face of those parasitic creatures, it was utterly powerless.
And right there, in the Earth's core, those parasites are still dormant, just waiting for someone to barge in and wake them.
Even Tony, a Quasi-Unique God, had been hesitant to act, holding back for so long. Even knowing that the eighth Infinity Stone—the Rhythm Gem—might be hidden in the Earth's core, he had restrained himself, unwilling to disturb those things.
Whether the Rhythm Gem was hidden in the Earth's core of the Prime Universe remained an unknown, and Tony had no way of exploring it.
"Stephen, this is a secret that could end the world. You must constantly monitor any changes within the Earth's core, and most importantly, be on guard against any idiot who might barge in and awaken them," Tony instructed.
The members of the Final Host parasitized by that creature weren't limited to the one that died on Earth; there's a large number of them in the universe. Provoking one is tantamount to provoking a whole swarm of terrifying Celestials starting at Level Seven.
If they were to swarm here, it would be incredibly difficult for even Tony to handle.
Stephen's mouth fell open, stunned by these few short sentences. He glanced at Tony's solemn expression and nodded. "I understand. Although I don't know what's in the Earth's core, I will monitor it."
This explanation involving the origin of humanity was truly... bizarre. That was Stephen's feeling. The origin of their human race actually came from a dead member of the Celestials?
What an... honor?
Looking at the shocked Stephen, Tony couldn't bear to tell him that Earth's humanity actually originated from the vomit of that Celestial member before it died...
Cosmic Locusts—these parasites that infested the Final Host and caused them to go mad—would make their hosts vomit a mixture of substances. Some of this vomit escaped, eventually leading to the birth of the first single-celled organisms in the ocean.
Only then did life begin on Earth.
Therefore, all native life on Earth is likely a joint product of the Cosmic Locusts and the Final Host...
Patting Stephen's shoulder, Tony walked towards the crowd and said to Nicodemus, "You possess magical talent no less than Stephen's. I hope you won't walk the wrong path in the future. Listen more to Stephen's opinions on matters; he is more level-headed."
Nicodemus fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "I see... Is that why you disliked me so much when we first met?"
Tony paused, then said frankly, "It wasn't dislike. Although you are honest, you have an obsessive nature. I was worried you would walk a path that even you yourself wouldn't want to see, but fortunately, you haven't. Remember your identity and your responsibilities, Nicodemus. You are no less capable than Stephen, which means you must shoulder even more responsibility."
"I understand. I won't disappoint you. You've given me a new life, and I will not betray that kindness," Nicodemus said.
Tony nodded, chatted with many others who had arrived, and saw them off, one group after another.
Soon after, Crane called. The Authorities had handed over the complete manufacturing technology for True Adamantium and Beta Adamantium. He had already uploaded the relevant data to Ultron.
That guy Stryker was reportedly very unhappy. He had negotiated furiously with officials at all levels but was ruthlessly rejected and reprimanded. He could only begrudgingly hand over the Beta Adamantium technology and a sample of the beta alloy.
It was a small matter. If Tony hadn't been in urgent need of that technology all this time, he would have seized it long ago.
Leaving Earth was a momentous event, yet it was far simpler than imagined.
Tony had the ability to create portals and could travel between star systems at any time, making it much easier than one would think.
The Transformers were also hard at work researching Space Bridge technology, trying to enable interstellar travel as soon as possible.
The first group to leave with Tony, besides the Transformers, consisted of only a handful of people like Wanda. Others, like Johnny Blaze, remained on Earth.
Not everyone would want to leave, and Tony also needed to leave some people behind on Earth.
"Once the Space Bridge technology is perfected, we'll be able to travel between Earth and Cybertron at any time."
The crowd gradually dispersed as dawn slowly approached.
Tony sat on the rooftop with Wanda in his arms, facing the rising sun. Looking down at Wanda in his embrace, he couldn't help but hold her tighter. He stroked her silky hair and spoke in a low voice.
Wanda hummed softly and hugged him even tighter, as if embracing the entire world. Her dark eyes were wide with anticipation for the future.
"I want a vast grassland, and a vast forest," Wanda said.
"Of course. I'll prepare two vast expanses for you." Tony lowered his head, nibbled her ear, and blew a puff of hot air.
Wanda hummed, snuggling against him as she watched the slowly rising sun.
The great star spread its heat, nurturing life on Earth. Countless fiery rays of radiation bathed the entire solar system.
Earth, the Moon, and Mars all bore the grace of the Sun. Its light felt warm upon the skin.
At that moment, all the Transformers seemed to sense something. They raised their heads in unison, their expressions excited, looking in a single direction with anticipation and longing.
"It's time to go," Tony said. He was the first to stand up, moving to the edge of the roof, facing the wind and looking down upon the familiar scenery.
The land beneath his feet was his home, and always would be. But like a wanderer leaving home, he was destined to have a piece of the sky to call his own.
Tony possessed power that surpassed others, but more than that, he possessed a spirit that surpassed others.
While the Mutants were still busy fighting with ordinary humans, while the Kryptonians were still stressing over candidates for the Justice League, while the Avengers were striking out time and again against various criminals...
Tony was already leaving Earth to build a planet.
A black box floated in the air, as if supported by Tony's outstretched palm. A mechanical voice emanated from it: "Ultron-1 is coming online."
"Change your name. From now on, you are Host Ultron."
"Command accepted. Host Ultron is loading. Awaiting your orders, Creator."
"First command: 'Record.' Classify this as the highest S-Class file and seal it separately..." Tony paused. The sunlight began to shine on his face, making it itch.
He subconsciously scratched his face, and a genuine smile spread across his lips.
"Call it... The First Year of Cybertron!"
(end of chapter)
"You should know the complex relationship between Earthlings and the Celestials." Tony's expression was incredibly solemn.
Stephen nodded and said in a heavy voice, "I've been closely observing outer space, wary of them."
"That's not enough. The most troublesome ones aren't the Celestials from outside, but the one right beneath our feet."
Tony shook his head and stomped on the ground.
"Four billion years ago, a mysterious member of the Celestials went mad and died on Earth. That is what allowed life to emerge on this planet."
Tony revealed a piece of buried, ancient history—history from four billion years ago.
The origin of life on Earth stemmed from that Celestial member who went mad and died.
This planet, Earth, and this species, humanity, are destined to be inseparable from the Celestials.
"Four billion years has not been enough time for that Celestial's corpse to disappear completely. Its body has been infested with incredibly troublesome things, which is the very reason it went mad and died," Tony said.
Moreover, that deceased Celestial member came from the strongest team among all Celestials, the Final Host, renowned for its combat prowess. Yet, in the face of those parasitic creatures, it was utterly powerless.
And right there, in the Earth's core, those parasites are still dormant, just waiting for someone to barge in and wake them.
Even Tony, a Quasi-Unique God, had been hesitant to act, holding back for so long. Even knowing that the eighth Infinity Stone—the Rhythm Gem—might be hidden in the Earth's core, he had restrained himself, unwilling to disturb those things.
Whether the Rhythm Gem was hidden in the Earth's core of the Prime Universe remained an unknown, and Tony had no way of exploring it.
"Stephen, this is a secret that could end the world. You must constantly monitor any changes within the Earth's core, and most importantly, be on guard against any idiot who might barge in and awaken them," Tony instructed.
The members of the Final Host parasitized by that creature weren't limited to the one that died on Earth; there's a large number of them in the universe. Provoking one is tantamount to provoking a whole swarm of terrifying Celestials starting at Level Seven.
If they were to swarm here, it would be incredibly difficult for even Tony to handle.
Stephen's mouth fell open, stunned by these few short sentences. He glanced at Tony's solemn expression and nodded. "I understand. Although I don't know what's in the Earth's core, I will monitor it."
This explanation involving the origin of humanity was truly... bizarre. That was Stephen's feeling. The origin of their human race actually came from a dead member of the Celestials?
What an... honor?
Looking at the shocked Stephen, Tony couldn't bear to tell him that Earth's humanity actually originated from the vomit of that Celestial member before it died...
Cosmic Locusts—these parasites that infested the Final Host and caused them to go mad—would make their hosts vomit a mixture of substances. Some of this vomit escaped, eventually leading to the birth of the first single-celled organisms in the ocean.
Only then did life begin on Earth.
Therefore, all native life on Earth is likely a joint product of the Cosmic Locusts and the Final Host...
Patting Stephen's shoulder, Tony walked towards the crowd and said to Nicodemus, "You possess magical talent no less than Stephen's. I hope you won't walk the wrong path in the future. Listen more to Stephen's opinions on matters; he is more level-headed."
Nicodemus fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "I see... Is that why you disliked me so much when we first met?"
Tony paused, then said frankly, "It wasn't dislike. Although you are honest, you have an obsessive nature. I was worried you would walk a path that even you yourself wouldn't want to see, but fortunately, you haven't. Remember your identity and your responsibilities, Nicodemus. You are no less capable than Stephen, which means you must shoulder even more responsibility."
"I understand. I won't disappoint you. You've given me a new life, and I will not betray that kindness," Nicodemus said.
Tony nodded, chatted with many others who had arrived, and saw them off, one group after another.
Soon after, Crane called. The Authorities had handed over the complete manufacturing technology for True Adamantium and Beta Adamantium. He had already uploaded the relevant data to Ultron.
That guy Stryker was reportedly very unhappy. He had negotiated furiously with officials at all levels but was ruthlessly rejected and reprimanded. He could only begrudgingly hand over the Beta Adamantium technology and a sample of the beta alloy.
It was a small matter. If Tony hadn't been in urgent need of that technology all this time, he would have seized it long ago.
Leaving Earth was a momentous event, yet it was far simpler than imagined.
Tony had the ability to create portals and could travel between star systems at any time, making it much easier than one would think.
The Transformers were also hard at work researching Space Bridge technology, trying to enable interstellar travel as soon as possible.
The first group to leave with Tony, besides the Transformers, consisted of only a handful of people like Wanda. Others, like Johnny Blaze, remained on Earth.
Not everyone would want to leave, and Tony also needed to leave some people behind on Earth.
"Once the Space Bridge technology is perfected, we'll be able to travel between Earth and Cybertron at any time."
The crowd gradually dispersed as dawn slowly approached.
Tony sat on the rooftop with Wanda in his arms, facing the rising sun. Looking down at Wanda in his embrace, he couldn't help but hold her tighter. He stroked her silky hair and spoke in a low voice.
Wanda hummed softly and hugged him even tighter, as if embracing the entire world. Her dark eyes were wide with anticipation for the future.
"I want a vast grassland, and a vast forest," Wanda said.
"Of course. I'll prepare two vast expanses for you." Tony lowered his head, nibbled her ear, and blew a puff of hot air.
Wanda hummed, snuggling against him as she watched the slowly rising sun.
The great star spread its heat, nurturing life on Earth. Countless fiery rays of radiation bathed the entire solar system.
Earth, the Moon, and Mars all bore the grace of the Sun. Its light felt warm upon the skin.
At that moment, all the Transformers seemed to sense something. They raised their heads in unison, their expressions excited, looking in a single direction with anticipation and longing.
"It's time to go," Tony said. He was the first to stand up, moving to the edge of the roof, facing the wind and looking down upon the familiar scenery.
The land beneath his feet was his home, and always would be. But like a wanderer leaving home, he was destined to have a piece of the sky to call his own.
Tony possessed power that surpassed others, but more than that, he possessed a spirit that surpassed others.
While the Mutants were still busy fighting with ordinary humans, while the Kryptonians were still stressing over candidates for the Justice League, while the Avengers were striking out time and again against various criminals...
Tony was already leaving Earth to build a planet.
A black box floated in the air, as if supported by Tony's outstretched palm. A mechanical voice emanated from it: "Ultron-1 is coming online."
"Change your name. From now on, you are Host Ultron."
"Command accepted. Host Ultron is loading. Awaiting your orders, Creator."
"First command: 'Record.' Classify this as the highest S-Class file and seal it separately..." Tony paused. The sunlight began to shine on his face, making it itch.
He subconsciously scratched his face, and a genuine smile spread across his lips.
"Call it... The First Year of Cybertron!"
(end of chapter)
