Chapter 260: Tony Stark, Void Pioneer

After spending five days at the Elite Hotel to unwind, Tony returned to his lab, diving back into his research with renewed focus. With the prototype of the wormhole jump technology already developed, Tony no longer faced the frustrating challenges that had previously slowed him down. Now, it was all about refining the tech.

In just over three months, using his Arc Reactor to power a starship, Tony had successfully initiated a series of tests. He simulated the strain caused by wormhole jumps, running tens of thousands of trials. The results showed that even after fifteen consecutive jumps, the effects on the human body were limited to mild discomfort, such as dizziness or nausea, while the starship itself remained unharmed.

With this breakthrough, Tony's jump technology was now on par with the best commercially available systems. However, a strong energy shield wasn't enough. The next step was to test the system's precision and speed in calculating and scanning wormholes in space.

Fortunately, Tony's expertise in artificial intelligence, while not necessarily the best in the universe, was exceptional. He designed a standalone AI to handle the complex calculations, then personally piloted a massive starship to test the system in space.

Even though a small margin of error would have been acceptable—say, a deviation of no more than ten thousand miles—Tony wasn't one to settle for mediocrity. His reputation and standards demanded perfection.

Once the system passed the precision tests, Tony knew he was on the verge of being able to manufacture his starships. A starship needed four core functions: a gravity system, a wormhole jump system, a powerful energy source, and a robust propulsion engine. Other components, such as weapons or auxiliary systems, could be purchased and assembled later.

Though Tony planned to develop these additional systems himself, he understood that mass-producing starships required a massive investment. After perfecting the wormhole jump system, his next step was to have Sonya hire a team of skilled workers to oversee the construction of his first starship.

Once the ship was built, Tony would create an advanced AI to assist Lalatina in managing the ship while he focused on more significant projects. He equipped his starship with multiple Arc Reactors and ample supplies of food, in case the system malfunctioned and stranded him in a desolate part of the universe.

After more than a month of adding new algorithms to the AI, Tony finally reduced the system's margin of error to less than ten miles. For a starship, a deviation of ten miles was insignificant. A ship could cover that distance in moments.

On July 20, 2013, Tony successfully piloted his starship through a series of consecutive wormhole jumps. In just half a day, he traveled back to Xandar's Void Island from a location 260,000 light-years away.

This achievement marked a critical moment. Developing wormhole technology was considered the hallmark of an advanced civilization. Without it, even a starship capable of light-speed travel would take years to reach its destination, making space exploration impractical.

While light-speed technology combined with genetic modifications and cryo-chambers would allow for rudimentary interstellar travel, wormhole jumps were the key to true interstellar navigation.

Thanks to the data and equipment provided by the Mogrians, Tony had essentially bypassed the stages that Blue Star would have needed to go through to reach this point. It was as if he had been lifted onto the shoulders of giants and given a direct path to success.

As Tony landed his massive starship on the tarmac outside his lab, word quickly spread that the tests had been successful.

"Whoa! Tony Stark cracked the wormhole jump tech?"

"That means we're close to being able to build our starships on Void Island!"

"Not just close. We've got everything we need now. Don't forget, Tony's already developed the gravity system, along with his various suits and JARVIS."

"The gravity system means we've solved one of the core challenges. His suits represent a powerful energy source. And JARVIS shows that Tony's mastered the AI systems needed for starships."

"Even if Tony hasn't built the most advanced propulsion engines yet, those are easy enough to buy."

"No doubt about it, he's a true Void Inventor."

The members of the Void Sect gathered around Tony's lab, their admiration for him growing as they discussed his achievements. While the Void Sect wasn't entirely independent in terms of building starships yet, having control over the core components was a significant milestone. It marked the beginning of the Sect's rise as a formidable force.

Though Tony hailed from Blue Star, his contributions to the Void Sect were undeniable. His inventions would bring untold wealth and technological advancement to Void Island, accelerating the sect growth exponentially.

In the eyes of many, Tony Stark was now a true pioneer of the Void. His status within the Sect surged, placing him just beneath Kassadin and Sonya in terms of influence.

Note: If you are interested, read up to chapter 330 at patreon.com/MythicForge11