Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Arrival in the New World
The desert stretched endlessly around Alexander, a scorching wasteland of golden dunes and shimmering heat. Yet the heat barely registered to him; his advanced Armament Haki shielded his body from the harsh conditions. He moved with purpose, his boots crunching against the sand, his mind racing to make sense of his situation.
The rift had dragged him into another world, but where?
As he walked, he allowed his Observation Haki to extend outward, sweeping the area for signs of life or danger. For a long while, there was nothing—just the empty vastness of the desert. But then, faintly, he felt it.
A disturbance.
The First Disturbance
Alexander froze, his eyes narrowing as he concentrated. The disturbance was faint but unmistakable—a chaotic, desperate presence. Someone nearby was fighting to survive.
He closed his eyes, letting his advanced Observation Haki sharpen the details. He could see it now: a man encased in a crude, bulky suit of armor, stumbling through the desert. A wave of recognition hit him like a tidal force.
"No way…" Alexander whispered, his heart pounding.
The pieces came together quickly in his mind. The suit, the desperation, the
faint traces of explosions nearby—it all pointed to one moment, a moment he had read about and watched countless times in his first life.
"Tony Stark… escaping Afghanistan," Alexander muttered, his voice tinged with awe and disbelief.
He felt his chest tighten with excitement and unease. In his first life, he had been a Marvel fanboy. He'd poured over comics, watched every movie, and debated fan theories with friends. But this—this was real.
"Okay, Alex, keep it together," he told himself, shaking his head. "You're in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That's Stark down there. Which means… things are about to get wild."
Without wasting another second, he launched himself into the air using Geppo, the sky around him rippling as he bounded toward the source of the disturbance.
First Encounter
Alexander landed softly on the sand a short distance from the armored figure, his Observation Haki scanning Tony Stark closely. The crude metal suit hissed and groaned as it moved, steam escaping from its joints. The man inside was gaunt and exhausted, his every step labored.
Alexander's heart raced as he took in the sight. "This is really happening," he muttered under his breath.
Tony noticed him immediately, the suit's visor turning toward him. The man tensed, raising his arms defensively.
Who the hell are you?" Tony rasped, his voice hoarse but sharp with suspicion.
Alexander took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. "Name's Alex," he said, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "I'm not here to hurt you, Stark."
Tony flinched at the mention of his name. "You know me?"
Alexander smirked, trying to hide the fanboy excitement bubbling under the surface. "Let's just say I'm a big fan of your work."
Tony didn't lower his guard. "You're a fan, huh? Well, unless you've got a solution to get me out of here, you're wasting my time."
Alexander chuckled, shaking his head. "Relax. I'm on your side." He gestured at the bulky suit. "That's the Mark I, right? Your first Iron Man suit. Made it in a cave, didn't you?"
Tony froze. "How… how the hell do you know that?"
Alexander shrugged, keeping his tone casual. "Let's just say I know more about you than you'd believe. But we can talk about that later."
Before Tony could respond, Alexander's Observation Haki flared violently. He spun toward the horizon, his eyes narrowing.
"We've got company," he said.
The Attack
In the distance, a convoy of vehicles appeared, speeding toward them in a cloud of sand and dust. Alexander's Observation Haki brushed against the men inside, reading their hostility and intent.
"They're here for you," Alexander said, glancing at Stark.
Tony groaned. "Yeah, that's the Ten Rings. They're not exactly thrilled about me escaping."
Alexander smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Good. I was hoping for some action."
The vehicles skidded to a halt a few hundred meters away, and armed men jumped out, rifles raised.
Hand over the suit, Stark!" one of them shouted. "And maybe we'll let you live!"
Tony sighed. "I hate these guys."
Alexander stepped forward, his Conqueror's Haki flaring. The sheer pressure radiating from him caused the ground to tremble, and several of the men dropped unconscious where they stood.
What the hell is that?!" one of the attackers yelled, stumbling back.
Alexander grinned. "That's your cue to run."
But they didn't, and he moved faster than they could react. Using Soru, he closed the distance in an instant, his fist glowing with Armament Haki as he struck the nearest attacker. The man flew backward, slamming into a vehicle with enough force to crumple the metal.
The remaining men opened fire, but Alexander was already airborne, using Geppo to dodge the bullets. He landed behind another vehicle, sweeping his leg out in a Rankyaku that sliced clean through two attackers and the vehicle they were hiding behind.
Within moments, the battlefield was silent.
Tony's Reaction
Tony stood frozen, his jaw slack as he stared at Alexander. The crude suit hissed and groaned as it adjusted, but Tony barely noticed.
"What… the hell… was that?" he finally managed.
Alexander dusted off his coat, his expression calm but amused. "That, Stark, was me saving your life."
Tony blinked. "Yeah, no kidding. But how? Who are you?"
Alexander hesitated for a moment, then smirked. "Let's just say I know a lot about you. More than you'd believe." He gestured at the remains of the battlefield. "Now, let's get out of here before more of your 'friends' show up."
Tony frowned, clearly suspicious, but nodded. "Fine. But once we're out of here, you're explaining everything."
Alexander chuckled, his Observation Haki sweeping the horizon to ensure they were alone. "Deal. But trust me, Stark—you're just the beginning."
With that, the two began their trek toward safety, an unlikely partnership forged in the middle of the desert.