James shrugged. "Not my department. Kyle's handling that. All that matters is you and me. We're the core." He glanced toward the container. "Now—help me with something. The Nexus Arms weaponry is nice, but it lacks a melee package. I didn't spend a month at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters just to walk away with gaps in my kit."
Tony raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? And what kind of weapon do you want this time?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tony Stark leaned back against his workbench, eyebrows raised as James finished explaining the concept.
"So let me get this straight," Tony said. "You want a close combat weapon… but also throwable for range. A spinning axe that comes back like a boomerang. And this is from one of your digital gladiators?"
James gave a short nod. "League of Legends. A champion named Draven. He fights with spinning axes—reckless, but deadly. I don't care about the theatrics. In reality, with the Umbra Sentinel and Cortana's targeting, I can throw, track, and recover. The challenge is the recall under combat conditions."
Tony grinned. "Violent and impractical… which makes it my kind of problem."
James ignored the jab and expanded a holographic projection of the new weapon. The sketch shimmered in the air: twin crescent blades facing opposite directions, connected by a split circular ring at the center. Its surface, traced with crimson energy veins, the whole form sleek and lethal.
"Throwing's easy. The problem is getting it back in my hands without wasting time chasing it."
[Recommendation: electromagnetic recall. Capacitor coil embedded in the haft. Counterweight ring at pommel optimized for spin stability. Guidance laser to control return trajectory.]
"And what about connecting them and separating them? If these don't split clean, I'm standing there with half a weapon while the other's out of reach."
[Recommendation: dual-mode lock. Electromagnetic clamps built into the core ring. Seamless integration until pulse-triggered. Energy lattice stabilizes spin when combined; compensates balance when separated.]
Tony grinned and snapped his fingers. "Exactly. You'll get magnetic recall for each half, gyros in the blades to smooth the spin, and the central ring doubles as stabilizer and anchor. One weapon or two—you won't drop them by accident."
James allowed a faint smile. "Then we build. After that, Championship Night."
The lab stirred to life. Robotic arms swung into place, sparks hissing as alloy was cut and fused. Holo-screens scrolled tolerances and magnetic field calibrations, Cortana layering refinements into Stark's adjustments. The sound of welders and cooling fans filled the bay.
Hours later, two sleek blades rested on the bench. Matte black, edges honed to a cruel gleam, their surfaces etched with red tracer lines pulsing faintly. At the center, the modular ring locked them together with flawless asymmetry.
James lifted one, testing its weight. The counter-rotation felt natural; the lock clicked smooth under his grip. He gave it a quick spin, the glowing veins flaring briefly with motion.
"Good balance," he muttered. "Now we see if the recall works."
Tony adjusted the emitter housing. "You'll get your test later. Right now, we're flying to California. Show time."
By August 15th, the Silicon Valley Alliance Games Arena pulsed with life. Floodlights bathed the glass-and-steel complex in silver, and the roar of tens of thousands filled the summer night. The Night of Champions had arrived.
James stepped into the main hall with Stark at his side. The arena was packed beyond capacity. Forty-foot holo-screens floated overhead, streaming the live broadcast. Fans wore shirts with their favorite champions' faces, some even carrying replica props—plastic blades, foam shields, and glowing LED staffs.
This wasn't just a game tournament anymore. It was culture.
Inside, two teams prepared for the grand final. Fifteen others filled the side stages for exhibition matches, their fans chanting names and waving banners. Vendors ringed the concourse selling merchandise—shirts, figurines, and collectible cards. The League Games logo was everywhere, luminous and unmistakable.
The company's coffers overflowed. Even with the headquarters still under construction, funding was secure. Partnerships across the globe had latched on to the momentum, spinning up simultaneous publicity campaigns. League Games was no longer just an American phenomenon—it was a global movement.
Carlos arrived with Hannah and Mindy, the girl clutching Anny in her arms.
"Tony, this is my father, Carlos Gibson, his wife Hannah, and my sister Mindy," James introduced.
Tony clasped Carlos's hand firmly. "Finally. One of the shareholders in the flesh. First time here?"
"Yes," Carlos replied calmly. "James just wanted to give me money."
Tony smirked. "Oh no, credit where it's due. You raised him. Without you, we wouldn't have our shadow sniper." He gestured toward the lounge. "Come on, I'll get you all settled. We've got a long night ahead."
As they walked, Mindy bounded over to James with Anny nestled against her chest.
"James! Anny missed you," she said, eyes bright.
James crouched, tapping the cat's nose lightly. "Oh yeah? Did you miss me, or did Anny miss me more?"
Mindy puffed her cheeks. "I missed you first. But Anny kept running into your room while you were gone."
James chuckled. "Then you both missed me. Tonight's going to be special—Anny gets grilled fish. And what about you, Mindy? What do you want?"
Her eyes widened. "Anything?"
"Anything."
She thought hard, then blurted, "I want to be in League of Legends! With Anny! If Iron Man's in it, then I can be too, right?"
James glanced at Stark, who shrugged with a grin.
"No problem," James said. "We'll design it. You and Anny are fighting side by side. Sounds good?"
Mindy squealed and darted back to Hannah to share the news.
James leaned toward Cortana. "Swap Annie for Mindy, Tibbers for Anny. Adjust visuals accordingly."
[Confirmed. New champion data recorded. Prototype available for next season's rollout.]
James nodded. "Good. Backstory: a playful girl sneaks away from home, bringing her cat into battle. Carlos can even cameo as the overprotective father."
[Amusing. Approved.]
The lights dimmed. A booming voice rolled across the arena.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Hall of the Moon! Tonight, we crown the very first League of Legends champion!"
Cheers thundered in reply. The host leaned into his mic with a grin. "For those unfortunate enough that they can't attend, the whole event is broadcast live! And yes, you can even watch the broadcast in the bathrooms. This is the power of technology, people!"
The final match began—best of five. Between rounds, lucky draws gave away full hero rosters and all-skin accounts, stoking the crowd into a frenzy.
James and Stark were invited to the stage for an exhibition match after the trophy ceremony. Celebrities filled the roster, joking and trash-talking over comms. Stark naturally played Iron Man in the jungle, and once he hit level six, the crowd roared as he rocketed across the map, dunking unsuspecting opponents.
Mindy watched from the VIP box, eyes wide with envy.
By the end of the night, confetti rained from the rafters as the first championship trophy was raised. The CEO, Kyle Robert, handled the formalities, shaking hands and posing for cameras, while James and Stark stood back, letting the spotlight fall on the players.
For Mindy, though, the highlight came later.
She cornered James backstage. "You promised! When can I see myself in the game?"
James smiled. "Soon. Very soon. We'll make it happen."
That night, after the crowd dispersed and the lights dimmed, James sat with Cortana in his private suite.
James leaned back in his chair, picturing Mindy's joy when she saw herself and Anny immortalized in digital legend.
The empire was growing. Hydra was bleeding. And for one night, in the roar of the crowd and the glow of screens, James allowed himself to bask in glory.