, First Contestant! Entering the arena!

Tony Stark remained silent.

He had to admit that Jessica's words, though crude, made a lot of sense.

"Didn't you go to see Steve?" Tony suddenly asked.

"Yes, he agreed an hour ago."

"That old fogey is going too?" Tony raised an eyebrow. "If I don't go, won't I seem heartless? And letting him teach those kids? Good heavens, he'll turn them into Boy Scouts who only know how to salute."

Tony stopped, picked up his glass, and swirled it.

"Okay, I'll do it."

"But," Tony held up two fingers, "I want 20% of Walter's reality show earnings for my appearance fee."

"20%?!" Jessica's eyes widened. "Why don't you just rob me?"

"Hey, I'm Tony Stark." Tony flashed a smug grin. "My presence alone guarantees high ratings. And... this money will go to the Damage Control Bureau, specifically for repairing the streets we superheroes wreck."

"...Deal." Jessica gritted her teeth.

……

Three days later, in New York, in Walter's newly built studio.

The top 100 candidates for "Who's the Next Superhero?" have been selected.

The lights at the scene turned the night into day, and tens of thousands of fans screamed in the cold wind while holding up light boards.

Although Homelander is not here, Vought's "mystery guest" teaser has already whetted everyone's appetite.

Backstage.

Jessica Jones is wearing the brand new "Jewel Woman" costume.

A set of dark purple tactical light armor, paired with a black leather cloak, retained her personal style while also appearing capable and domineering.

The logo on the chest has been changed to a dark gold gemstone shape in the shape of a V.

She regulated her breathing and pressed her hand to her chest. The agitation of the ether particles had been suppressed and was temporarily calm.

"Are you ready?"

Steve Rogers walked over. He was wearing the classic red, white, and blue uniform, without a hood, but carrying a shield.

"I'm a little nervous," Jessica admitted honestly. "I've never hosted anything like this before."

"Relax, just be yourself." Steve patted her on the shoulder. "You are their leader."

"That's right, as long as you don't swear at people on camera."

Tony Stark walked over, dressed in a flashy red suit. "Although I know it's difficult."

"Shut up, Tony."

"Three hero mentors, fifteen points left, get ready to go on stage!" Ashley shouted into her headset, her voice trembling with excitement.

……

The curtain rises.

"ladies and gentlemen!"

"Although our leader, the Fatherlander, is currently in the vast universe, guarding the frontiers of Earth!"

"But he left behind his will! He left behind his friends!"

"Tonight, let's welcome—America's strongest team of hero mentors!!"

The host's voice was almost drowned out by the screams of the 10,000 audience members.

On the huge LED screen, red, blue and white particle effects flashed wildly as the countdown reached zero.

The first spotlight shines.

Steve Rogers slowly rose from the platform. His classic red, white, and blue bodysuit drew cheers from the crowd, and his iconic vibranium shield gleamed on his back.

He smiled and waved, his movements as precise as a military parade, but his handsome face and American-style perky buttocks still elicited screams from the women in the audience, as well as some men.

"Captain America!! Captain America!!"

Immediately afterwards, the lights changed abruptly, turning into a mesmerizing purple-gold color.

Jessica Jones, now known as Jumbo Woman, emerges from the side of the stage with a cool expression, sporting her new look.

She didn't seem to want to stay there at all; her "I want to beat you all up" expression only made her seem cooler.

"Treasure Heroine!!! Treasure Heroine!!!"

Finally, a burst of heavy metal rock music, "Shoot to Thrill," instantly bombarded the eardrums of everyone present.

"Whoosh—!"

A whooshing sound came from overhead.

Everyone looked up.

On the dome of the studio, dozens of meters high, a figure was falling rapidly!

There was no armor.

Tony Stark, dressed in that flashy red suit, spread his arms and slammed straight onto the stage like a professional diver!

"Oh my god!!" the audience exclaimed.

Just when he was less than 10 meters from the ground and about to be smashed into a pulp!

"Come on, prodigal son!"

More than a dozen golden and red streaks of light shot out from all around the stage; those were the disassembled Mark 42 parts!

Click click click click—!

The mechanical meshing sound was like a heavy metal symphony.

Leg armor, chest armor, mask... In a mere second, they precisely struck, locked, and closed onto his body!

"Click—Buzz!"

With a final, crisp click as the mechanical parts closed, the visor glowed with a ghostly blue light.

With Iron Man just ten centimeters off the ground, the thrusters in his palms suddenly activated, allowing him to hover precisely.

The airflow tousled the hair of the audience in the front row.

Tony Stark performs a stylish backflip.

boom! !

He landed on one knee in the center of the stage in the classic "superhero landing" style, and the shockwave made the hair of the audience in the front row fly.

The visor opened, revealing Tony Stark's nonchalant face as he raised an eyebrow at the camera.

"Okay, you can scream now."

"Aaaaaaahh ...

The studio erupted in chaos.

……

Steve Rogers sat in the mentor's seat, shaking his head helplessly, and said to Jessica beside him, "Does he really have to do this? Will taking the stairs kill him?"

"That's Tony Stark," Jessica Jones said helplessly. "If he doesn't show off, his reactor will shut down."

"Alright, stop complaining like a middle-aged couple." Tony walked to his mentor's chair and plopped down.

"Don't tell me you didn't think about how embarrassing it would be if you accidentally fell and died." Jessica, sitting in the middle, rolled her eyes.

"In that case, Wot's headlines tomorrow will be 'Iron Man Falls, Wonder Woman Loses Best Friend,' and the ratings will be even higher. You're welcome." Tony straightened his posture. "So, shall we begin?"

The host quickly explained the rules: "Three mentors! Each has ten team slots! When you see a contestant you like, press the light in front of you! If multiple mentors light up, the power reverses, and the contestant will decide whose team to join!"

"The 30 finalists will enter the next round of grueling training! And those who are eliminated, don't be discouraged! Wot has prepared A-level contracts for you, covering all fifty states across the US!"

"First player! Enter the arena!"