Chapter 625: Transformation

“Commander……”
In front of the makeshift base tent.
The two soldiers on guard saw Tony walking straight toward them and instinctively raised the guns in their hands.
However, they soon noticed the colonel following behind Tony, hesitated for a moment, and then lowered their guns to salute.
With the colonel's endorsement, Tony entered the tent for placing cameras without any obstacles.
Due to the temporary nature of the setup, most of the buildings in the base are composed of tents, including the area used by the military to place cameras. However, compared to other tents, this particular base tent is evidently more special, not only in terms of its tight security, but also because it houses a large amount of equipment and busy researchers inside.
Upon seeing Tony enter the tent, several researchers made a noisy commotion.
Tony's gaze naturally fell upon the camera in the center, which was shielded by special bulletproof glass, as he scanned the tightly packed equipment inside the tent.
“Due to the special nature of this camera, we must... ”
As Tony stepped slowly into the tent, he made calming gestures toward the flustered research personnel. Aware that the truth could not be hidden, the colonel from the Australian military immediately spoke up, expressing a willingness to cooperate.
“Since seizing this camera, we have been analyzing its internal structure through various methods, and discovered that beneath the camera's exterior disguise lies an astonishing ability for transformation.”
With a wave of the colonel's hand, a researcher inside the tent pressed a button, and the device's screen began to play the footage they had recorded three days ago.
“……The 64th experiment has begun.”
The voices of the researchers inside the tent echoed, and soon after, a device that continuously emitted electric arcs slowly extended from the top of the camera platform. Under the stimulation of the jumping arcs, the ordinary camera that was disguised within the glass suddenly seemed to be greatly stimulated, leaping up with extraordinary speed, flipping over to transform into a small robot. It emitted a red laser from its mouth, instantly destroying the device that was generating the electric arcs.
After the destruction of the arc device, the robot transformed by the camera did not only fail to halt its actions; instead, it began to charge towards the glass cover like a furious beast.
The enormous impact caused the robot to tumble heavily after hitting the bulletproof glass, and this segment of the experiment came to an end. It quickly transitioned to the next experimental topic.
From the various experimental footage played inside the tent, it can be seen that the researchers have tried multiple methods to collect data from this camera—or should we say, the robot.
“He really is a special guy…”
This mechanical structure creature, transformed from a camera, is not too complicated in terms of its structure.
If given a little time, Tony could create an identical robot, or even a better one.
However, the madness or violence displayed by the opponent in the experimental footage is something that Tony could never instill in a machine, no matter what.
Perhaps? Through Ultron, he can simulate to this extent.
However, it is obvious that the emotions displayed by this robot in the video are not merely a simple simulation.
This performance? It resembles the emotions that a truly existing life form would possess.
A mechanical life form that has emotions.
Now, Tony begins to understand why Dr. Corasen described the camera as a 'miracle'.
```htmlCreating life, this is something that only appears in myths? It belongs to the authority of God.
"Perhaps, it really is the power of the Infinity Stones."
And this mysterious power? It made Tony begin to doubt, perhaps it really is as Natasha said? This could be the influence of the Infinity Stones.```
After all, according to the information provided by Thor, there is not just one Infinity Stone.
Currently, the Avengers are aware of and have come into contact with at least two: the Space Stone, known as the Tesseract, which was once possessed by S.H.I.E.L.D., and the Mind Stone, which is embedded in Vision's forehead.
But what gem should be called that can give life to the camera?
Life Gem?
Inside the tent, Tony's thoughts were drifting due to the content displayed in the experimental footage.
After a long while, he finally came back to his senses, took a deep breath, looked at the camera placed under the glass dome, and stepped towards it.
“Wait, you can’t……”
Seeing Tony's reckless act, the researchers instinctively wanted to speak up and stop him. However, the colonel beside them shook his head, preventing their intervention.
Since Tony already knew about the existence of the cameras, any further attempt to stop him would be of little use.
As long as the other party does not forcibly take the camera, Australia can only turn a blind eye to the rest of the actions and will allow them to proceed.
“Jarvis, scan the camera.”
Approaching the platform, Tony looked at the camouflaged camera and spoke to JARVIS to give instructions.
"Okay, sir,"
As his voice fell, a beam of infrared quickly swept through the glass device from his sunglasses.
Immediately, a complex mechanical structure appeared in Tony's sunglasses.
At the same time, as the scanning was taking place, a mechanical entity that had been maintaining the shape of a camera inside the glass cover began to change rapidly. With a series of mechanical sounds, it transformed into a small mechanical creature, taking on a fierce stance against Tony outside the bulletproof glass shield.
Obviously, the camera's scanning has provoked this life form.
“A very special structure, especially in terms of transformation; if we don't scan its internal mechanical structure, we might never realize that this is a machine disguised as a camera.”
The disguise and transformation of the mechanical life made Tony raise his eyebrows under his sunglasses.
As a mechanical expert, Tony's mastery of mechanical transformation far exceeds the imagination of the average person; however, even for him, the entire transformation process of the camera, its precise structural transformation, and smooth transitioning still left him somewhat in awe.
If he could apply this transformation idea to the Iron Man suit, perhaps he could equip the nano-suit with more transformation configurations to achieve a stronger combat effect.
Here, Tony was inspired by witnessing the transformation process of the camera, sparking some design ideas.
On the other hand, the mechanical lifeform of the camera, enclosed within a special bulletproof glass case, was frantically shouting at Tony, waving its sharp hands.
“Zzi... zzi...”
At first, the sound of the mechanical lifeform had no language, just pure mechanical noises.
However, soon after the various sizzling sounds from within the camera's mechanical body, a man's voice suddenly emerged from its mouth.
"Humans..."
“The mechanical life form has exhibited a linguistic function that it did not show before.”
Hearing the sound of the camera, the researchers inside the tent exclaimed in surprise.
As for Tony, he raised his eyebrows even more because of this voice.
He had a vague impression of this voice.
Previously, he had heard it in the video footage played by Ultron in the Avengers Tower.
This sound was unmistakably the same as that of the camera used to film the Stone Gate.
Clearly, the camera did not actually possess the language capabilities that the researchers were astonished by; rather, it was speaking through its own equipment by utilizing recorded sounds.
Of course, regardless of which one, it proves that this mechanical life form, transformed by the camera, possesses not only the ability to transform but also intelligence.
“You have no chance…Great…Lord Megatron, the leader of the Decepticons will dominate everything…Give up your struggle…Surrender to the Decepticons…”
The sound emitted by the camera was somewhat distorted and intermittent due to changes in the sound of the cameraman, yet the content it conveyed undoubtedly furrowed Tony's brow tightly.
From the content revealed by the camera, the spaceship behind the stone door is not as simple as he had previously thought.
The terms mentioned by the other party show that this is not a life form influenced by the power of the Infinity Stones, as he originally believed.
"Tell me, what exactly are you?"
"I am confusion, a member of the Decepticons led by Lord Megatron."
Declaring its identity to Tony, the transformed robot from the camera once again let out a frenzied roar and began attacking the bulletproof glass in front of it.
The mechanical collision against the glass emitted a thudding sound.
Yet the chaotic figure seemed to react not at all, continuing its frenzied assault.
"Colonel, please notify the rest of the personnel at the base immediately."
Pulling his gaze away from the chaotic frenzy, Tony turned to look at the colonel behind him.
The information revealed by the frenzy clearly exceeded this soldier's ability to comprehend; only after Tony's reminder did he belatedly react.
```htmlAfter explaining to the colonel, Tony also controlled the nanomachines on his body to quickly wrap himself up, forming a brand new nanotechnology suit.
The reactor in his chest began to emit a flickering blue glow, and Tony generated a massive shockwave from his palm, lifting the tent into the air.```
“J.A.R.V.I.S., give me…”
Tony, wearing the next-generation upgraded nano suit, was about to issue a command to J.A.R.V.I.S. with his helmet on.
Boom!
In an instant, a loud explosion echoed from within the cave.
Amidst the deafening roar, the entire cave and nearby temporary base began to shake violently.
At the same time, numerous screams and shouts erupted.
“Megatron, it is Lord Megatron…”
The intense shaking caused the disoriented entity inside the bulletproof glass dome to stumble and fall onto the platform.
However, it paid no attention to this and continued to let out excited calls.
“Dammit, is it too late?”
From the chaotic reaction, Tony realized that his response was still a bit too slow.
He controlled the Mark 54 on his body to charge out of the tent, using the visuals from his helmet.
Tony clearly saw the frenzied crowd escaping from the collapsed grotto, followed closely by a gigantic, pitch-black steel giant.
This steel giant resembled the one Tony had seen in the images of the throne, yet there were obvious differences. Its crimson eyes exuded a sense of brutality, and despite its body being filled with mechanical structures, it had sharp teeth like those of a beast when it opened its mouth.
“……there…”
Waving his hand, he effortlessly crushed the rock that clung to the cliff of the grotto.
The steel giant watched the fleeing crowd, letting out frenzied roars from his mouth.
“……Where have you hidden the fire?”
"Spark?"
Above the base, Tony heard the Iron Giant's cry, instantly connecting it to the mysterious cube he had seen in video footage in the past.
However, before he could think further.
The steel giant that broke through the cave had already set its sights on Tony in mid-air.
"You are one of Optimus Prime's new subordinates?"
The crimson glow emitted by the frenzied mechanical eyes cast down upon Mark 54, with the steel giant erupting in a deafening question.
Without waiting for Tony's response, it suddenly jumped, its massive form creating huge craters and cracks in the ground, also turning this ancient historical site into ruins.
In the next second, the entire figure had already appeared in front of Tony.
Unlike ordinary machinery, the giant steel figure before him still displayed an unexpectedly agile posture.
The massive impact generated by the Steel Giant's leap directly trampled a base, and Tony, gazing at the towering Steel Giant right in front of him, gained a clearer view of its appearance.
The entirely mechanical structure, covered in cracks and scratches all over its body, though differing greatly in size, bears a striking resemblance to the chaos he had seen in the tent earlier. Especially the frenzied aura emanating from it puts immense pressure on Tony.
After making eye contact with the Steel Giant's flickering crimson mechanical eye, Tony didn't hesitate to raise his arm. The nanobots on the Mark 54 instantly transformed and combined to form a hand cannon filled with various mechanical details. It emitted a shimmering blue light as it gathered energy and fired towards the Steel Giant.
Boom!
Under the immense power of the pulse electromagnetic hand cannon, even the massive form of the menacing steel giant couldn't help but pause for a moment.
The damage from the shock cannon caused noticeable cracks to form on the armor shell of the steel giant.
At the same time, noticing the flying movement of the Steel Giant, Tony also controlled the nano-suit to increase his flight altitude. Seizing the opportunity while the opponent paused, he transformed the back of the suit into a missile bay and launched micro-missiles at the Steel Giant.
With the help of the Illuminati members and the research data provided by T'Challa on the Black Panther suit, Tony's nano suit has finally made further progress. Additionally, considering the lack of combat modes in the previous generation of the nano suit, Tony has specifically designed more targeted combat forms based on the transforming capabilities of the nano suit to cope with different battle scenarios.