Loki leaned back against the sofa, holding a teacup, wearing a half-smile.
"You said it's 'close to completion', does that mean it's not done yet?"
Tony nodded. "The final stage. Banner and I have already conquered the most core algorithm problems, and now we just need to do the final integration testing. If things go smoothly, it can go live in a few weeks."
Banner added from the side, his tone much more cautious than Tony's. "It's theoretically feasible. But an artificial intelligence's autonomous consciousness is a very subtle thing, and we need to handle it very carefully."
Thor scratched his head. "This... artificial intelligence you guys are talking about, what exactly is it?"
Tony looked at him, his expression somewhat surprised. "You don't know what artificial intelligence is?"
Thor replied righteously. "Why should I know? I'm Thor, not... what's that called again?"
"A programmer," Loki said for him.
"Right, right!" Thor nodded. "I'm not a programmer."
Tony's mouth twitched, and he turned to look at Banner. "You explain it."
Banner thought for a moment and said in as simple language as possible, "Artificial intelligence is letting machines possess thinking abilities like humans. It can learn, can judge, can make decisions. Jarvis is a type of artificial intelligence, but it doesn't truly have'self-awareness'. Ultron is different; Ultron will have its own thoughts, its own goals, its own—will."
Thor's expression became somewhat subtle. "Its own will? What if it wants to do bad things?"
Tony waved his hand. "It won't. Its core directive is to protect Earth. It's impossible for it to violate its own nature."
Loki chuckled softly. "Are you sure? Do you think you can control an entity with an independent will?"
Tony looked at him, a trace of displeasure in his eyes. "Your Highness Loki, what misunderstandings do you have about human technology?"
Loki shrugged. "No misunderstanding. Just seen too many stories of 'creators being backlashed by their creations'. In Asgard's legends, this sort of thing is common."
Tony snorted. "That's mythology, this is science."
The corners of Loki's mouth raised slightly. "What's the difference?"
Tony opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but right at that moment——
The communicator he was carrying suddenly emitted a sharp alarm.
Tony's expression changed instantly.
"Jarvis?" he shouted.
"Sir, something's not right…"
"Jarvis?!" Tony's voice became urgent. He raised a hand to press the communicator in his ear, but there was only harsh static and intermittent noise on the other end.
Banner stood up, his expression also becoming grave. "Tony, what's wrong?"
"Anomaly detected, Ultron is attempting to ascend system defense…"
"Ultron... has appeared abnormal, it is... attempting to devour me…"
Banner's pupils suddenly contracted: "What?"
Tony suddenly stood up and rushed towards the door.
"Tony—" Banner wanted to say something, but Tony had already rushed out of the living room.
A crisp sound of metal colliding came from the courtyard, the sound of Tony putting on his armor.
Then with a roar, the red-and-gold figure soared into the sky, disappearing into the afternoon sky.
The living room was quiet for a few seconds.
Thor looked in the direction Tony had disappeared.
"Is there really a problem?" Thor said innocently: "I was just joking earlier, it has nothing to do with me!"
Loki watched Tony's receding figure: "Is it okay for him to go alone?"
Banner stood by the window, looking at the sky, his expression grave.
"I don't know. Jarvis is his core system. If Ultron is really devouring Jarvis…"
He didn't finish.
But everyone understood his meaning—this meant the "Guardian" created by Tony had lost control.
Mavuika put down his teacup and stood up. "Banner, you just said that Ultron's core directive is to protect Earth?"
Banner nodded.
"Then why is it devouring Jarvis?"
Banner fell silent; he didn't know the answer either.
Thor also stood up. "Big Bro, should we go take a look?"
Mavuika thought for a moment and nodded. "Let's go take a look. In case anything happens, we can also give him a hand."
Loki put down his teacup, stood up, and straightened his collar. "Then what are we waiting for?"
Mavuika turned around to leave, and just at that moment, a voice came from behind.
"Wait a minute."
Wanda stood up from the sofa, and Pietro followed suit.
She looked at Mavuika, her brown eyes still holding lingering anger, but with something else added—a complex, struggling light.
"We're going too," she said.
Mavuika looked at her.
Wanda didn't explain. Pietro stood beside her with his arms crossed over his chest, his tone cold.
"We're not going to help him; we just want to go and see what kind of trouble Stark has made again."
Banner's expression was a bit awkward, but he didn't say anything.
Mavuika looked at Wanda and Pietro for a few seconds, then nodded.
"Alright, then let's go together."
He turned and walked toward the door. Golden-red flames rose from beneath his feet, wrapping his body within them.
Thor shouldered Mjolnir, lightning crackling around him.
Loki raised his hand, green magical light dancing at his fingertips. His body began to turn transparent—not disappearing, but some kind of fast-moving magic.
Dark red light lit up in Wanda's hands, and her body slowly lifted off the ground.
Chaos Magic supported her like an invisible pair of wings.
Pietro stood beside her, slightly bending over, ready to sprint. His speed was enough to keep up with anyone.
Banner stood in the living room, watching these people one by one display extraordinary powers, suddenly feeling a bit redundant.
"I... I'd better drive there," he said.
Thor looked back at him and grinned, "No need! I'll carry you."
Banner instinctively felt something was wrong. Before he could refuse, Thor had already stepped forward and grabbed Banner's arm.
Waving the Mjolnir in his hand, the hammer carried the two of them rushing into the sky.
Leaving behind only Banner's screams gradually dissipating in the wind.
Mavuika hovered above the garden, his golden-red long hair fluttering in the wind. He looked at Wanda and Pietro, and in those amber eyes, there was a warm light.
"Let's go," he said.
He transformed into a stream of golden-red light and soared into the sky.
Wanda hovered in the air, watching those distant streams of light, and took a deep breath.
She had never flown such a long distance using Chaos Magic before, but today, she didn't want to be left behind.
Dark red light wrapped around her, and she chased after them.
Pietro stood in the garden, looking at the four streams of light in the sky, and stretched his legs and feet.
Then he took a deep breath, his body transforming into a silver-white flash of lightning, speeding away close to the ground.
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