Chapter Two: The Volkswagen Santana Came Before the Heavens

"Something still feels missing," Yang Xin muttered, his brows furrowed in deep contemplation. Anyone watching might’ve thought he was wrestling with some global crisis.
"What’s missing… Oh right! Entrance music!" His eyes lit up, and he immediately began fiddling with the controls of the Dinosaur Express Koseidon. Even a basic sedan has music, let alone a battle machine of this caliber.
"What lies beyond the rainbow, no one knows,
Is it a world of the past or a shining track, a radiant machine,
With smiles we set out on our journey now,
Koseidon, Koseidon, faster than light, transcending time,
Travel through the fourth dimension, go, go, go!
Dinosaur Squadron Koseidon…"
“What awaits beyond that rainbow? Is it an enigmatic world of the past?
Shining rails, gleaming ships, with a smile, we embark on our journey…
Koseidon, Koseidon, faster than light, transcending time…
In four-dimensional space, advance, advance, advance!
Dinosaur Express Koseidon!”
"Oh my god, that super warrior is Coulson?" Inside the vehicle, Pepper pointed in astonishment at the red figure.
"Yes, Ms. Potts, that’s SHIELD’s Level Seven Agent Phil Coulson. But I’d rather you call him the Warrior of the Era—Kosei."
"You can just call me Potts. So, this Coulson—also known as Kosei—can defeat Iron Monger and save Tony?"
"Absolutely. You’re underestimating the power of the Warrior of the Era. Did you see the sword in Coulson’s hand?"
"I did."
"Does it look familiar?" Yang Xin teased.
"Is that… the lightsaber used by Jedi in Star Wars? But that’s just a movie!" Pepper’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"This world isn’t as you imagine, especially since Mr. Stark returned from Afghanistan. Gradually, you’ll see its true nature… And officially, the sword in Coulson’s hand is called the Laser Saber, also known as the Laser Blade."
Pepper wasn’t the only one concerned with the battle unfolding before them. Far away at SHIELD headquarters, Nick Fury watched the events with equal intensity.
"Coulson, is that you? How does it feel?"
"Director, it’s me. It feels fantastic!" Coulson shouted exuberantly, waving his Laser Blade. "I feel unstoppable—the support came at just the right moment."
"Coulson, you might not believe this, but I didn’t send any support." After a brief pause, Fury replied in a low voice.
"Then who did?" Coulson pointed at the battle vehicle.
"I’m still investigating. For now, focus on defeating Iron Monger and saving Tony. Are you confident?"
"Extremely confident. And I haven’t even used my ultimate move yet! Here it comes!" Coulson raised his sword high and shouted, "Time, stop!"
Suddenly, the entire battlefield was enveloped in a strange temporal stasis. In that frozen moment, Coulson moved at an unimaginable speed, slicing Iron Monger’s limbs and cutting off his power supply with five swift swings of the Laser Blade. Iron Monger was immediately incapacitated…
Transformed into the Warrior of the Era, Coulson violently tore open Iron Monger’s front panel and dragged Obadiah out, throwing him to the ground.
Koseidon’s ultimate technique, Time Stop, of course didn’t halt time globally—only locally, covering the scene, and excluding Yang Xin and Pepper inside the Dinosaur Express Koseidon.
"Is it over already?..." Pepper’s voice was filled with disbelief. She vividly remembered Coulson being battered and running like a hunted dog just three minutes ago—now, she could hardly trust her own eyes.
Seeing Iron Monger defeated, Yang Xin disengaged Coulson’s transformation inside the vehicle; Coulson reverted from the red-clad Kosei to the black-suited agent in an instant.
"What happened, Coulson?" Nick Fury’s voice came urgently through the headset from SHIELD.
"It must be the end of the transformation period. If I’m not mistaken, it was ended externally…" Coulson replied.
"By any means necessary, detain that person and that vehicle," Fury ordered immediately.
"Honestly, Director, I have no confidence in detaining either," Coulson said, pointing to himself and the car, which had reverted to its battered sedan form—if it could still be called a car. Someone with that kind of technology or mysterious power surely wouldn’t bother with us.
"If you can’t detain the person or the car, you stay by that person’s side!" Fury shouted, his heart burning with desire as he gazed at the battered sedan. The hazy plan in his mind was becoming ever clearer—Coulson was now a key part of it.
"Understood, Director!" Coulson replied, his eyes shining.
"Phil Coulson, Level Seven Agent of the Homeland Strategic Defense, Attack, and Logistics Division, thank you for your assistance." Back inside the car, Coulson extended his hand.

"Yang Xin." Yang Xin shook Coulson’s hand lightly, and at that instant, a voice from the Treasure System echoed in Yang Xin’s mind: "Trial mission complete. Randomly acquired Coulson skill: Coulson’s Hands-on Coffee Brewing Lesson."
"Damn it! What kind of useless skill is this?" Yang Xin cursed inwardly, but his expression remained unchanged as he got straight to the point. "I need a real set of identification and a residence. With your capabilities, that should be possible."
Coulson’s eyes shone like twin headlights, and he quickly replied, "I’d be delighted to serve you. Not only will we provide you with a luxury residence in Central Park, Manhattan, but also a reward of one hundred thousand dollars."
"Ten million dollars plus a top-tier luxury lakeside residence!" Pepper Potts interjected immediately.
"What?" Yang Xin and Coulson turned to look at Pepper.
"I mean, Stark Industries is offering ten million dollars plus a luxury lakeside home to purchase your sedan," Pepper said decisively. "If that’s not enough, I’ll convince Tony to add two percent of Stark Industries’ shares, and I’ll personally give you one percent from my own holdings."
"Holy…!" Coulson cursed inwardly. Three percent of Stark Industries’ shares could buy the entire Manhattan luxury district. SHIELD simply couldn’t compete with Tony’s wealth.
"Please wait a moment. I’ll report to the Director immediately. Please believe our sincerity matches Stark Industries’." Coulson hurried to the side to seek Fury’s approval, while Pepper winked playfully at Yang Xin. Instantly, Yang Xin understood—perhaps she truly wished to buy the Dinosaur Express Koseidon, perhaps not. But by declaring it in front of Coulson, she was both asserting her determination and, in another way, offering Yang Xin protection.
It signaled that Tony and Stark Industries were watching, thus deterring the institution Coulson represented from taking any covert action against Yang Xin. In America, the power of a top tycoon can rival that of the President.
"Thank you, Miss Potts," Yang Xin replied sincerely.
"No need to thank me—you saved Tony, after all," Pepper responded earnestly.
Shortly, Coulson returned, saying hurriedly, "Regarding your reward, our Director will personally meet with you. Please trust in our strength."
Yang Xin nodded and patted the steering wheel. "Miss Potts, this car will unleash its full power only in the hands of someone truly suited for it. You’ve just witnessed its abilities. Thank you for your appreciation, but I still feel it doesn’t suit Mr. Stark—he has already found his own path."
"Of course, if Mr. Stark is interested, he’s welcome anytime to inspect and learn from the car," Yang Xin gently declined Pepper’s offer.
"I’ll visit you with Tony to see the car. By the way, what’s this sedan called?" Pepper pointed at the battered vehicle.
"Dinosaur Express Koseidon."