Malrick was unusually cautious this time.

After all, he was about to enter the DC Universe—a world where Superman's legendary weakness, Kryptonite, existed.

He couldn't be certain whether his transformed body was truly immune to it. Though the Starry Sky World's core consciousness had reshaped him into a unique life form, logic suggested that all Kryptonian vulnerabilities should have vanished. Yet Malrick had never actually come into contact with Kryptonite before.

And Kryptonite was no ordinary mineral. It was a substance capable of stripping Superman of his powers, weakening him to the point of agony or even death. If something like that existed, no amount of caution could be considered excessive.

Besides, no life form was flawless. Even without Kryptonian weaknesses, there could still be hidden flaws—an imbalance in abilities, or a gap in adaptability.

So, to be safe, Malrick covered every inch of his body with the enchanted protection of the Dormammu Armor.

---

Stark Mansion – West Coast, Los Angeles

Half a year had passed since Malrick last stepped into Stark Mansion. The once-lively building had been empty for months. After Tony and Pepper moved to New York, only J.A.R.V.I.S. remained, keeping the machinery running and the halls spotless.

In the garage, sunlight filtered through the high windows, illuminating two brothers preparing for the unknown.

Tony, clad in his signature red-and-gold armor, circled Malrick, scanning the Dormammu Suit with critical eyes.

"Is that thing reliable? You sure you don't want me to reinforce it?" he asked. "Kryptonite emits radiation that reacts with Kryptonian cells. It's painful, crippling, sometimes fatal. You'll need maximum insulation."

Malrick nodded. "Relax. I'm sealed off from head to toe."

"Good. Because once we cross over, there's no telling what kind of environment we'll land in. Can your armor even function in space?"

A grin tugged at Tony's lips. "Funny you should ask. Feast your eyes on my Mark 16."

He spread his arms with theatrical flair. The armor shimmered, sleek plating catching the light.

"This baby can handle any extreme environment—space, volcanic lava, deep ocean trenches. Oxygen and heat for twenty-four hours straight, plus emergency adaptability. Built it overnight, by the way."

Malrick raised a brow. "Not bad. You bringing any gold reserves this time?"

The first time they traveled to another world, Tony had insisted on packing gold as a backup resource.

Tony smirked. "Already stored plenty in my world ring. But I doubt I'll need it. I've got other plans."

With a tap of his chest plate, the red-and-gold armor rippled and shifted into matte black. A bat insignia stretched across his chest, and the helmet reshaped into a cowl, leaving only his jaw exposed.

Lowering his voice, Tony declared, "I am Batman." Then he burst into laughter.

"You think Bruce would pay big for this design? I bet I could sell him a suit and buy half the Kryptonite in existence."

He flicked his wrist, launching a cluster of high-tech batarangs into the garage wall. The metallic blades embedded themselves with a satisfying thud.

"Tell me that isn't better than the real deal."

Malrick chuckled. "You haven't even crossed over yet, and you're already competing with Bruce Wayne?"

"Competing? Please. I'm already richer than Wayne Enterprises."

"You sure about that? Some comics say Batman's fortune could buy half the Earth."

Tony shrugged, grinning wider. "Then in another parallel world, maybe I own the whole Earth."

Malrick shook his head. His brother was clearly itching for the journey.

"So, you're ready?" he asked.

Tony puffed his chest. "Absolutely. Even if we land right in front of Doomsday, I've got your back."

"And Pepper? Have you told her?"

Tony froze, his bravado slipping. "Pepper… yeah, I told her. Besides, don't you time-jump when you return? She'll be fine."

Malrick narrowed his eyes, unconvinced.

Tony coughed, then quickly glanced around the garage. "Man, it's been months since I was here. Feels nostalgic. Remember when we built the first suits here? Anyway, enough stalling. Aren't we supposed to be crossing by now?"

"Positive you're ready?"

"Completely. J.A.R.V.I.S. is set, I'm set. Unless you're planning to drag this out longer?"

"Fine. Let's go. But when we get back, you're explaining everything to Pepper yourself."

"Pepper? Wait—hold on a second—!"

---

Energy surged within Malrick, vast and brilliant like a star. Taking Tony with him into a universe as massive as DC barely strained him at all.

Reality thinned, and the two brothers slipped through.

When Malrick opened his eyes, he felt solid ground beneath his feet. Good—no space this time.

Tony lay unconscious beside him, still encased in his armor. Even Malrick, whose body boasted the strength of tens of thousands of tons, always felt disoriented after crossing. For Tony, whose physique could only push a fraction of that, unconsciousness was inevitable.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., run a diagnostic," Malrick instructed.

"Yes, Young Master Malrick. Initiating life scan," the AI replied.

A pause, then: "Mr. Stark's vitals are stable. Neural activity is suppressed—he's in deep sleep. Estimated recovery: seven minutes."

Malrick nodded, glancing around. Rough stone surrounded them, walls uneven and ancient. A cave. Dark passages stretched in both directions, man-made from the look of the chisel marks.

J.A.R.V.I.S. echoed the observation. "We appear to be inside a constructed cave system, Young Master."

Malrick exhaled slowly. "Then the adventure begins."

---