After evading several satellites, Leon returned home just before 1 PM Los Angeles time. For lunch, he quickly made a simple meal of fried eggs and spaghetti. As expected, Tony was still in battle with the Ten Rings and hadn't returned yet.
Leon took the opportunity to perform a thrust test in the basement, which was part of an experiment to predict the upper limits of his Kryptonian heritage's growth. The plan involved testing his thrust both before and after his daily sunbathing sessions in space. The goal was to use Jarvis to help build a model to estimate the potential of Leon's physical enhancements over time.
Leon had agreed to this easy test without hesitation. After all, sunbathing in space had become one of his most anticipated and joyous moments. It felt like being immersed in a hot spring—his blood pulsing like spring water flowing through a stream. During this time, Leon could feel his power increasing at an astonishing rate, more and more each day.
He realized that the process was accelerating quickly. His power was growing at an impressive rate, similar to how the effect of exercise might start slow but gradually intensify. He was currently in the "weak" stage of rapid growth—reflected in the numeric value of his thrust. After several days of sunbathing, his thrust reached a massive 400,000 tons.
The speed of this strengthening was intoxicating, and it felt like a continuous surge of dopamine. Each second in the sun seemed to pull him deeper into a state of bliss, like a series of aftershocks that kept him in a meditative, sage-like state.
"Di Di!" Jarvis's voice cut through Leon's reverie, reminding him that the time for his sunbathing had ended.
Reluctantly, Leon opened his eyes and flew out of the spacecraft. He had designed it to be his temporary "park" in space, as it was far easier to stay in orbit while sunbathing than doing so directly in the vacuum. Sunbathing in the vacuum would attract satellite attention, and that was always a hassle, with satellites crowding around him like zoo animals surrounding a gorilla.
After returning home, Leon quickly completed his thrust test. Just as he was about to relax, Jarvis brought up an unexpected update: "Mr. Stark is being pursued by the Eagle flight formation. Would you like to assist him?"
Leon froze. "Tony's being chased? Where?"
"In the West Coast Mountains."
Leon couldn't help but smirk. "Ah, isn't that the place where I was chased by reconnaissance planes last time? I see."
He was right. Tony must have flown in from the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and the military's airspace satellites must have spotted him. Leon, with a grin, continued, "Tony must have just been photographed by the military. He's probably already surrounded."
"Mr. Stark's current situation is not looking good. This is the footage sent back from the scene," Jarvis added, displaying a video projection.
The video showed Tony's first-person perspective. Several military fighter jets flew past him in tight formation. There were more than a dozen planes, enough to wage a small battle. Leon could hear Tony swearing under his breath, and then the footage rotated 180 degrees as Tony attempted to escape.
The next thing Leon saw was a barrage of projectiles flying past, followed by Tony taking several hits from airborne machine guns. The video then wobbled as the impact rocked the camera.
"It seems like the Air Force is giving Tony a hard time," Leon commented, raising an eyebrow. "But isn't the Mark III capable of Mach 8? Shouldn't he be able to escape without trouble?"
Jarvis responded, "Mr. Stark's suit is capable of that speed, but it can only sustain maximum velocity for a short time. Overexerting the suit's capabilities can result in severe strain on Mr. Stark's body, potentially causing his heart to fail."
Leon nodded, understanding the situation. "So, he's probably exhausted after fighting the Ten Rings and doesn't have enough strength to accelerate, huh?"
"That's correct," Jarvis confirmed.
"Then why hasn't he called for help?"
"Mr. Stark specifically requested that I send this video to you," Jarvis replied.
Leon chuckled, "Ah, Tony is too stubborn. But how can I leave my dear friend in danger?"
Jarvis responded with a hint of confusion, "Legally, you and Mr. Stark are the closest people to each other."
Leon smirked. "Exactly! Help me get the Mark II ready, Jarvis. I'm going to give Tony a lesson!"
"Wait, aren't you already wearing your Superman suit? The steel armor will only limit your strength."
"It's better to wear armor for this," Leon replied, still smiling. "Besides, I've been wanting to show off. What better chance than this?"
He had been planning for a moment like this, where he could make Tony feel embarrassed. Now, the opportunity had arrived.
Meanwhile, on the West Coast Mountains, Tony was dodging several air-to-air missiles as if performing an intricate dance, weaving between the projectiles with agility. His armor, once shining with golden red, had now turned black, riddled with bullet holes and scratches, resembling a grilled skewer freshly pulled from the flames.
"Look at Tony," Leon said with a chuckle as he walked toward his garage. "Poor guy is being bullied by the Air Force. But no worries, it's time for me to step in and save the day."
In the Military Command Room
The high-ranking officials who had recently met to discuss the "Afghanistan Superman" gathered again. They were watching satellite footage of the ongoing situation, specifically of Tony's armor, which was barely escaping missile impacts, with Leon's armor visible in the distance.
"They are not Superman," Rhodes commented. "These are just humanoid exoskeleton mechs. Superman would have destroyed our flight formation in seconds."