Rowan returned to the Marvel world.
Helen Zhao quickly came into his office to give her report.
"Boss, the upgraded version of the nano-explosive collar you asked me and Shuri to develop is finished. This new model embeds itself beneath the surface of the skin, leaving only faint necklace-like markings. Once the controller gives the order, the collar detonates, destroying the target's head. Based on our simulations, not even a super-soldier enhanced by the Heart-Shaped Herb or the Extremis virus could survive or regenerate from such an explosion."
Helen opened a sleek case, revealing several coin-sized discs of dark-blue metal. She held them out for Rowan to inspect as she continued explaining.
Once these discs make contact with the neck, they burrow beneath the skin and spread into a collar pattern. They anchor directly to the spinal cord and nervous system. Unless the person with control access releases it, there is no way to remove them.
"Did you add the electric shock function I requested?" Rowan asked.
That was a feature he had specifically insisted on. Because the collar connected directly to the spine and nervous system, even a mild current would inflict unbearable pain and temporary paralysis. It would be perfect as both punishment and warning.
"Yes. With just a thought, the authorized user can trigger it to deliver a jolt," Helen confirmed.
Testing the precise level of pain without it being lethal had taken her and Shuri a lot of time.
"Excellent. You've done well, Helen." Rowan nodded in satisfaction.
These weren't only for controlling the PMC's enhanced soldiers he planned to take some into the Swallowed Star world as well. He already had a rather interesting experiment in mind.
"Oh, and Boss, the Vibranium villa is nearly complete. Do you want to inspect it? We can still make adjustments based on your feedback."
Helen smiled as she asked.
"Sure. I'll head over shortly." Rowan agreed.
He suspected Loki's invasion of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New York branch was close. When the Tesseract's energy flared, that facility would collapse. Best to relocate his home ahead of time.
Once Helen left, Rowan got into his Vibranium supercar and drove toward Tony's private cliffside estate. But at the fork in the road, he turned in the opposite direction, heading down the coast.
Although he liked the idea of a cliffside residence, he didn't want to live right next door to Tony.
His villa was built on a lower cliff about two kilometers away. Driving up, Rowan could already see it: a striking, futuristic home perched above the waves.
Since Shuri had contributed heavily to its design, the house carried distinct Wakandan elements, giving it a unique aesthetic that blended technology with elegance.
Unlike Tony's mansion, which loomed twenty or thirty meters above sea level, Rowan's cliff was only about eight meters high. The architects had cleverly turned this into a four-level design three floors above ground, and one semi-subterranean floor built into the cliff.
That lower level sat flush with the water, transformed into an open-air pool. Styled like a natural cave, with white stone floors and winding alcoves, it gave the impression of a seaside grotto. Swimming there offered both the tranquility of nature and the safety of indoors.
Rowan was impressed.
Upstairs, after passing an iris scan and stepping through the Vibranium doors, he entered the main floor. To his surprise, the interior wasn't cold and metallic it was a warm fusion of natural wood and modern minimalism.
Accents of Vibranium and alloy trim highlighted the design, balancing futuristic sharpness with comfort and homeliness.
Rowan smiled, recognizing Sharon's touch. She had visited his S.H.I.E.L.D. apartment enough times to know his preferred style.
Running his hand along the white wall, he tapped it lightly. Though it looked like smooth plaster, the sound that rang back was unmistakably metal Vibranium. Defense clearly wasn't an issue.
The second and third floors only heightened his satisfaction. The entire home was smarter and more comfortable than the villa he had in the Swallowed Star world.
Finally, Rowan stepped outside and issued a command.
"Defense mode."
Instantly, the villa's glass walls and terraces sealed shut, transforming the home into a solid fortress. A translucent blue energy dome flickered to life, enveloping the entire property.
Extending his psychic senses, Rowan realized the shield wasn't just a dome it was a full sphere, encasing even the subterranean portions.
"Perfect," Rowan murmured with a satisfied nod. With this fortress, even if alien armies descended, his family would remain safe.
He sent Helen a message: "The villa is perfect. I'm very satisfied."
Helen quickly replied, "Glad to hear it, Boss! By the way, the interior design was Sharon's work. She spent days perfecting it."
Rowan chuckled. He had guessed right.
After returning to his S.H.I.E.L.D. apartment, Rowan began packing.
Not that he owned much worth moving. With wealth to spare, he could easily replace everyday items.
"Rowan, are you going on assignment?" Maria Hill asked as she entered, noticing him packing while changing her shoes.
Rowan turned, smiling. "Not an assignment. I'm moving."
"Moving…?" Hill blinked in surprise.
"Yes. I had a villa built on the coast. Let's relocate there in the next couple of days."
"It's already finished?" Hill asked with curiosity and excitement.
Though she had fondness for their long-time apartment, she wasn't overly attached. The thought of a new home thrilled her more.
"It's ready. I just inspected it. All that's left is furnishing and I'll leave that to you and Natasha." Rowan replied.
Just then, the front door clicked open. Natasha leaned in with a raised brow.
"Leave what to us?"
Her hearing, sharpened by both the Heart Jade and Extremis enhancements, had caught Rowan's words outside.
"Rowan built a villa," Hill explained cheerfully. "He wants us to choose the furniture."
"Really?" Natasha's eyes lit up.
Like Hill, she was eager but for slightly different reasons.
A villa meant space. And good soundproofing.
For weeks now, she hadn't dared sneak into Rowan's room at night Hill's enhanced senses made secrecy nearly impossible.
Natasha cast Rowan a quick, sidelong glance.
Catching her look, Rowan smirked knowingly. "Of course. The villa is spacious, with excellent soundproofing."
Natasha flushed, cheeks burning. She knew exactly what he was implying.
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow Hill and I will take leave and handle the furnishing," Natasha said decisively.
"Tomorrow works. I'll notify Fury," Hill added with a smile.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. apartment had been convenient, but it wasn't truly theirs. Now they would have a real home.
…
The next morning, Rowan allowed himself to sleep in. His body didn't need long rest, but sleep relaxed the mind.
Around ten, he shifted to the Swallowed Star world and headed for the Nine-Tier Tower at the center of the training camp.
Although it had only nine levels, the tower was as tall as a twenty-story building. It housed the camp's most vital resources: the Trial Tower, Gravity Chambers, and Challenge Rooms.
Since Rowan had better training methods elsewhere, this was his first real visit.
He made his way directly to the ancient Gravity Chamber.
The chamber's alloy walls gleamed yellow and black, exuding a strange aura. A faint fist-shaped dent marred one wall likely left behind by Hong himself.
Rowan adjusted the controls to five times gravity.
At once, an invisible force pressed down on him from all directions, smothering his chest and pounding in his ears like a war drum.
But with his physique already at advanced War General level, it took him only a few seconds to adapt.
He steadily increased the load: six times, eight times… eleven times gravity.
By then, every breath burned, every step felt like moving under a mountain. His cells screamed with strain, yet he pressed on.
"Good enough."
Sweat poured down his body as he practiced his blade forms, pushing himself to the brink. Finally, collapsing cross-legged, he switched into cultivation, absorbing cosmic energy at nearly ten times his normal speed.
When the hour ended, an electronic chime echoed.
"Cadet Rowan, your monthly Gravity Chamber time has expired. Please exit within five minutes."
Exhaling deeply, Rowan rose to his feet. That single hour had equaled a week of grinding practice. His strength had grown noticeably, his body processing more of the Dragon's Blood serum lingering within him.
Leaving the chamber, he headed to the Trial Tower next door.
Inside, two blue helmets rested beside a pair of couches. Without hesitation, Rowan lay down and slipped one on.
His vision blurred then he was standing in a gleaming silver wasteland, beneath a sky filled with countless stars.
"Incredible… this is the virtual space?"
The ground rang metallic beneath his boot. Everything felt vividly real.
Far in the distance, a massive tower loomed, carved with images of beasts spiraling across its seven tiers.
"The Trial Tower," Rowan murmured, striding toward it.
At the entrance, glowing letters appeared across the stone pillar.
Name: Rowan
Gender: Male
Status: Elite Training Camp Cadet
Trial Tower Level: 1
A cold electronic voice followed:
"Cadet Rowan, please select your combat uniform and weapon. You have one minute before entry."
Along the passageway, racks of weapons appeared.
Rowan selected his usual combat gear: his battle suit, shield, and the Dragon-patterned saber.
Ahead, a yawning black portal opened.
Without hesitation, Rowan strode inside.
The scene shifted, and he found himself on a vast, open grassland.
The moment his figure appeared, a cold electronic voice echoed across the plains.
"Trial Tower, Stage A assessment. Within thirty minutes, eliminate fifty Mountain Deer of the Primary Beast General class. If you die, the trial ends in failure. If thirty minutes pass and fewer than fifty are slain, it is also a failure. First-time entrants are granted five minutes of preparation time."
Rowan nodded calmly.
He had encountered herds of these Mountain Deer before, back in City 001. At that time, he had even used them to hone his footwork.
"My footwork has now reached Minor Mastery at the Micro level, and my blade technique has reached Minor Mastery at the Proficient level. Clearing the first floor's C-stage should not be a problem…"
With the countdown finished, Rowan faced the oncoming herd of fifty without fear.
Compared to what he had seen in City 001, this was hardly overwhelming.
Moving with blinding speed and ruthless precision, he carved through the beasts. In just sixteen minutes, all fifty Mountain Deer lay dead.
"Congratulations, Cadet Rowan. You have passed the first floor, Stage A. Proceed to the next assessment."
A new black portal appeared ahead.
Rowan stepped through and emerged onto a barren wasteland.
"Within thirty minutes, eliminate one hundred Wild Bulls of the Primary Beast General class."
The battle began immediately.
This time, Rowan felt more pressure.
The bulls charged like a living tide. One wrong step would leave him battered by a dozen trampling hooves and horns in succession. Survival demanded flawless movement, no mistakes allowed.
Unlike real-world combat, here he had no Vibranium armor to fall back on. A single slip meant failure.
For twenty-seven grueling minutes, Rowan fought, every muscle screaming, every breath ragged. But one by one, the bulls fell beneath his blade until the last collapsed.
"Hah… hah…"
Exhausted, he staggered, drenched in sweat, but his eyes burned with exhilaration.
In that crucible of pressure, his footwork and blade work had both advanced subtly.
So this was why others loved training in the Nine-Tier Tower. Progress here came with unmatched speed.
The voice returned.
"Congratulations, Cadet Rowan. You have passed the first floor, Stage B. Please rest for ten minutes before proceeding to the next assessment."
Rowan exhaled deeply, satisfied.
His Trial Tower score had already reached 1.6, though the system would not finalize it until the entire trial concluded.
Ten minutes later, the voice sounded again.
"Cadet Rowan, the next test is Stage C. Within fifty minutes, eliminate two hundred Wild Bulls. Among them are one hundred and ninety of the Primary Beast General class, and ten of the Intermediate Beast General class. Good luck."
A black portal opened.
Rowan stepped through into a crimson wasteland.
Before him stretched two hundred massive bulls, the ground trembling with their unified charge.
He inhaled sharply.
There was only one path forward. Kill them all.
Shield in one hand, saber in the other, Rowan charged.
This time, unlike before, he could not remain untouched. The herd was chaos incarnate, and the ten Intermediate-class bulls were far faster and stronger than the rest.
Rowan had no choice but to weave among the weaker bulls, using their bodies as living shields against the devastating charges of the stronger ones.
Even so, danger came close. Once, he was struck, buried beneath a storm of trampling hooves.
At that desperate moment, inspiration struck. He fully integrated the second layer of the Ninefold Thunder Blade's force technique into his legs, doubling his speed to 2.1 times normal. He barely escaped alive.
By the forty-ninth minute, the battlefield was silent. Corpses of bulls sprawled across the red earth.
Rowan collapsed atop a mound of carcasses, chest heaving, his body streaked with blood.
"Congratulations, Cadet Rowan. You have cleared the first floor of the Trial Tower. Proceeding now to the second floor."
The wasteland dissolved. Rowan suddenly found himself in an endless desert.
To his surprise, his stamina fully recovered, his wounds vanished, and his gear was restored to pristine condition.
"A full reset? Interesting."
The voice returned.
"Within ten minutes, eliminate fifty Iron-Armored Scorpions of the Primary Beast General class. Good luck."
Rowan frowned.
This trial was different.
Iron-Armored Scorpions could burrow beneath the sand. Ten minutes to slay fifty? A near-impossible task.
Still, he readied himself.
A hiss rose from the dunes as crimson-shelled scorpions clawed their way out. Their black stingers gleamed with deadly venom.
Rowan's eyes sharpened. He darted forward, blade flashing toward the nearest scorpion.
Pass or fail, it didn't matter. He would give everything.
Treating this as training rather than a pass-or-fail test, Rowan fought like a man possessed.
Somewhere during that frenzy, his movements shifted. Blade and footwork no longer felt separate. They became one.
Realization struck.
He had been wrong all along to treat his saber forms and footwork as distinct paths. Each true technique came as a complete system. Blade and movement were meant to complement each other seamlessly.
With this insight, clarity bloomed in his mind.
But the timer ran out.
"Trial failed. Cadet Rowan, Stage A of the second floor incomplete. In ten minutes, forty-one Iron-Armored Scorpions slain."
Rowan let out a long breath. "So close."
Still, he was not disappointed. This was only the beginning. With practice, he knew he could clear this stage.
"Trial complete. Cadet Rowan, Trial Tower rating: 2.2."
Rowan chuckled. "Not bad. I thought I'd score around 1.7 or 1.8."
More than the score, the revelation about uniting saber and footwork was priceless. He suspected it was the key to reaching Perfection, or even the realm of Intent.
"Now, let's test my force amplification."
Calling for the test machine, Rowan steadied himself. His base War General strength was 10,000 kg.
Focusing on the Ninefold Thunder Blade's force technique, he unleashed a strike.
Boom!
The machine flashed with numbers.
"21,031 kg."
Rowan smiled. That was twofold dark force, three layers each contributing seventy percent. Total: 2.1 amplification.
"Cadet Rowan, your force amplification is recorded as 2.1."
Rowan laughed softly. With his Tower score and his amplification logged, the Black Dragon Rankings would now update.
…
Outside, it was noon.
Cadets streamed to the central square for lunch, as usual checking the Rankings board.
One blond student froze when he noticed his own name had dropped. Curious, he looked up and his eyes widened in shock.
Rank 78: Rowan (551006).
His jaw dropped. The digits 55 at the front meant Rowan had only entered the camp this year.
Other cadets quickly noticed. Whispers spread. Then shouts.
In minutes, word raced across the square.
Rowan had broken into the top eighty.
First month in the camp.
An achievement so rare it could be counted on one hand across the camp's entire history.
When Rowan arrived at the square, he found a crowd buzzing. His name was on every tongue.
He glanced at the board. Sure enough, his name gleamed at rank 78.
No wonder everyone was staring.
It made sense, though. His monster hunt alone had pushed him to 131. With the 2.2 amplification and his 2.1 multiplier, his total power was over four times higher. Jumping into the top eighty was only natural.
"Only 78, not the most stable. But I don't really care. This was just for fun." Rowan smirked.
He turned toward Jiangnan Pavilion, unconcerned. Three days remained in the month. Others might rise and push him back down. But so what?
He was not Luo Feng. He had wealth and resources. Rankings were just a game.
Moments later, he ran into Zach, James, and two other cadets from his region.
"Rowan, there you are!" Zach sprinted up, face alight with excitement.
"What's going on? You looking for me?" Rowan asked.
"You sly dog! Breaking into the top eighty without saying a word. How did you even do it? Weren't you only a mid-level Warrior not long ago? How's this possible?" Zach fired off questions like bullets.
"Enough, Zach. Give him a chance to answer," James laughed, tugging him back.
"Seriously though, Rowan, what happened?"
The other two leaned in eagerly. The group chat had already exploded with Rowan's ranking.
"Nothing special," Rowan replied casually. "I just never took the force amplification test before. That's why my rank was low."
"What?!"
They all gasped in unison.
That explained it.
No wonder his score had skyrocketed.
But even so, it was terrifying.
To reach 131 on monster points alone? And now, with amplification factored in, all the way to 78?
James shook his head in awe.
The first month, and already top eighty.
When he had entered, he had not even cracked the top hundred.
Soon, the others escorted Rowan back to Jiangnan Pavilion.
By evening, every cadet of their group had gathered. The celebration was livelier than his welcome party.
News spread fast Rowan's ranking broke not only through the student body, but into the instructors' circle, and from there to the highest levels of the global martial world.
Far away in Jiangnan Base City, even strategists like Theodore had heard. Shock rippled through them.
Meanwhile, Luo Feng, still only a senior martial arts student, remained unaware. His world had not yet connected to such heights.
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