Marvel: The Ultimate Superman
Chapter 188. Assimilation

Chapter 188 - 188. Assimilation

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"Metallic cells?"

Nolan murmured, staring through the microscope.

What he saw wasn't just standard alloy structure or molecular bonding it was something else entirely. The pieces of metal were arranged in cellular patterns.

Biometal cells.

The moment he saw them, he understood.

No wonder these Sentinels exhibit both mechanical durability and biological adaptability.

His brow furrowed. Only two known entities in his memory possessed similar traits, Colossus and... Vision.

But Vision wouldn't have volunteered his biology to Trask Industries. And even if he had, there's no way they could develop working prototypes so quickly.

Which left one possibility.

Otto noticed Nolan's expression change. "Boss... do you know where these came from?"

Nolan narrowed his eyes.

"The Cradle. A miraculous piece of tech."

Trask had somehow acquired technology based on the Regeneration Cradle an innovation from a bygone S.H.I.E.L.D. lab that could print living tissue. Ten years ago, he would've chased down Helen Cho himself to study it.

The Cradle was the foundation for both Ultron's body and Tony Stark's Bleeding Edge Armor.

Compared to current nanotech? The Cradle was still more terrifying.

But that raised a critical question how did Trask get their hands on it?

S.H.I.E.L.D. was dissolved and absorbed into the U.S. military. Someone must've lifted Cho's tech before the fall.

"Military involvement," Nolan muttered grimly.

"Sir?" Otto asked, intrigued.

Nolan turned sharply. "E.L.L."

"Yes, sir?"

"Trace Trask's locations. Prioritize black sites and facilities with sealed transport logs. Full recon."

"Right away."

Nolan knew one thing he needed the Cradle. Not to heal his body he was far beyond human fragility but to evolve further. Merging its principles with nanotech and regenerative systems would push his work into a whole new frontier.

He turned to Otto. "You keep analyzing these samples. See if you can reverse-engineer a working analog."

He handed Otto a new vial with shimmering silver cells inside.

"This is a sample from Colossus's tissue. See if it helps synthesize similar functionality."

Studying Colossus's cells would be more difficult than dissecting the Cradle's output, but still worth the effort.

Otto nodded and exited the lab, carrying the Sentinel parts and the metallic tissue-like prized artifacts.

Nolan was left alone, holding a final sliver of bio-alloy.

He didn't swallow it yet.

Colossus's power needed activation he'd have to alter the sample before integration. Like with the Red Hulk's radiation metabolism, this power had to be hardcoded into his own cells.

Passive transformation. A true upgrade.

Nolan placed the tissue under a microscope.

Within minutes, the X-gene was parsed and decoded.

"E.L.L.," he called, "run simulations. Pinpoint the activation sequence."

"Working... completed. Identified: cellular conversion pathway and release enzyme for bio-organic alloy synthesis."

"Metal factor," Nolan muttered. "So this isn't pure metal... it's more like organo-metallic carbon steel."

He grinned.

"Keep the activation gene perpetually on... no deactivation fallback."

With practiced hands, he picked up a micro-scalpel and genetic slicer. No need for deep genetic fusion. This was simpler—remove the reversal code, bind the trigger loop, and stabilize the protein expression.

Hours passed. As the sun began to dip below the skyline, Nolan finished his genetic edits.

What remained looked inert... but it wasn't.

The gene's off-switch was gone.

Nolan placed the modified tissue onto his forearm.

His skin, ever-hungry, devoured like a starving beast.

Pain surged.

Muscle. Bone. Skin. Nerves.

Everything shifted as his cells mutated once more. Not just adaptation evolution. Harder. Denser. Faster. Molecular pathways thickened, hardened, and reinforced.

Then warmth flooded him. The burn faded.

"God, I love this ability."

Nolan clenched his fists. His strength had surged again.

With symbiote compatibility, mystique-based mimicry, and now Colossus's passive defense, his body was nearing its apex.

And thanks to his [Spirit of Evolution] trait, these powers didn't clash they harmonized.

He didn't need to test it. Just by feeling he was pushing 300 tons of force. With the [Dragon Force] active?

350 tons, easy.

The power curve was flattening. Ordinary enhancements couldn't elevate him anymore. Only top-tier abilities remained relevant.

And Colossus's [Steel Body] had undergone a transformation. Combined with enhancements from Luke Cage and Jessica Jones, his durability may now rival vibranium.

But Nolan wasn't done yet.

The next upgrade was the most vital—dimensional traversal.

He didn't just want to walk between realms.

He wanted to phase his consciousness into quantum states, navigate alternate timelines, and one day wield the Time Stone without fear.

Not until Dormammu was dealt with. That last encounter had taught him caution.

The Time Stone wasn't just a tool it was a key. A beacon. A risk.

"Sir," E.L.L.'s voice echoed again, breaking his thoughts.

"The Rockefeller family is requesting a secure line."

Nolan raised an eyebrow.

"What do they want now?"

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