The moment Tony put on the mechanical pieces, he actually jumped up, probably attempting an aerial suit-up.
Yet the suit's immense kinetic energy propelled him higher into the air.
He was launched by the first piece to attach—the chest plate—then struck mid-air by the arm and leg armor, causing his trajectory to become erratic.
Finally, the head and groin armor pieces caught up.
When those two clicked into place with a solid thud, Tony muttered a curse.
Everyone around inhaled sharply.
Even Wen Wu, whose expression had been as still as water since his arrival, raised his eyelids slightly, revealing surprise.
"Hiss... As expected of a rebellious Mark. Tony spent months building this?" Malrick muttered, unable to hide his disbelief.
If it weren't for Tony's exceptional physical condition, this stunt could have ended badly.
Malrick looked up into the sky, his enhanced vision piercing the clouds to spot the aerial fortress.
He hadn't noticed it before, but the fortress had stationed itself above Los Angeles, ready to support Tony.
Presumably, many Men in Black were watching the decisive battle from there.
This display from Tony demonstrated what a rebellious Mark meant—to both his enemies and allies.
Fortunately, Tony activated the suit's thrusters just in time to steady himself, avoiding a complete disaster.
He flew back to land before Wen Wu.
"I'm fine. That was just a small accident. Now, let's begin." Tony feigned calm.
Wen Wu shook his head.
"I will let you make the first move. After ten moves, you will die."
He already knew Tony was no match.
After witnessing Tony's clumsy performance, Wen Wu was even less concerned.
"Come on. Let's end this quickly."
Wen Wu's hands trembled as the Ten Rings on his wrists burst with mysterious blue light, powerful energy radiating from them.
"Ten moves? Are you serious? Sorry, but I only need one."
Tony had heard from Malrick that Wen Wu's Ten Rings could even open dimensions.
He did not underestimate his opponent but refused to lose momentum.
Tony launched an immediate attack, raising his hand to fire a laser beam.
When this weapon debuted in the movies, it annihilated numerous Iron Man suits built by the villain, showcasing incredible cutting power.
Now, the crimson laser split toward Wen Wu like a lightsaber.
The weapon clearly caught Wen Wu off guard.
His usually indifferent face turned pale.
He raised his hands just in time to block.
Though the Ten Rings stopped the beam, it grazed his cheek.
Wen Wu crossed his arms, thrusting forward to disperse the laser's recoil.
He wiped the blood from his cheek with his thumb, eyes half-lidded but flickering with murderous anger.
"Nine more moves."
This time, he raised his right leg and hands, showing increased seriousness.
"Nine moves? That's quite a lot. Good news: that laser can only be used once for now, so you can relax temporarily."
As soon as Tony gained a slight advantage, he taunted.
Wen Wu, used to power, narrowed his eyes coldly.
These two were born to clash.
Neither could tolerate being looked down on, yet both insisted on superiority.
When they met, sparks flew—like dropping a match into a gas station.
Tony soared through the air, unleashing relentless attacks.
Palm repulsor rays, chest unibeam, small missiles—
He deployed every weapon on his Mark without restraint.
It looked less like a battle and more like a weapons test.
The damage was minimal.
Even the strongest unibeam only pushed Wen Wu back a few centimeters.
The opponent remained unharmed.
But the insult was profound.
Wen Wu's eyes grew fierce like an eagle's.
His aura tightened as if countless hidden blades surrounded him.
Tony had enraged his opponent but reclaimed lost ground.
"Phew... Ten moves, tough, huh? My turn's over. Now you can..."
Tony floated in the air, arms crossed, ready to taunt.
Suddenly, Wen Wu sprang into action.
He leaped over ten meters, blue light surging from the Ten Rings.
He slammed a punch into the Mark's chest.
Tony crumpled midair, falling to the ground in a cloud of dust.
But Wen Wu's assault did not stop.
He followed up, raising his hands and striking down like a collapsing mountain.
The impact thundered through the air, shaking the earth itself.
Had this been pre-Resident Evil World Tony, the blow would have crippled him.
But now—
A brilliant light burst through the dust, and a red energy beam blasted Wen Wu backward.
Then, the Mark 5, its chest armor nearly destroyed, charged a palm repulsor aimed at Wen Wu's face.
Wen Wu reacted swiftly.
His left hand's five rings glowed brightly as he grabbed the palm repulsor, yanking hard and tearing off the Mark's entire arm.
He repeated with his right hand, ripping off the other arm.
Tony lost balance, both tumbling through the air.
After crashing into the ground again, Wen Wu flipped to his feet.
He jammed his hands into the Mark's seams and activated the Ten Rings, tearing the Mark 5 apart like Lego bricks.
Large fragments scattered, wires sparking blue and white electricity.
Stripped of armor, Tony was lifted by Wen Wu, who grabbed him by the collar.
"To last this long fighting me, I must commend you. Your invention is impressive."
Wen Wu's eyes were dark.
"I should kill you now, but I've changed my mind."
"Hand over the technology for this Mark, and I might let you and your brother live."
Dust-covered, Tony grinned.
"Not a bad offer, but you're too early. The second round has just begun."
He grabbed Wen Wu's wrists with both hands, using pure strength for the first time.
"What?" Wen Wu was shocked.
Tony's lean hands pried open his wrists.
Wen Wu's eyes widened, unable to believe it.
"What did you do?!"
He intensified the Ten Rings' power, unleashing vast energy that bounced Tony away like a spring.
The Ten Rings' body enhancements were a side effect.
Their true power lay in their deadly energy.
Wen Wu waved his hands.
The Ten Rings detached from his wrists, forming ribbon-like weapons connected by energy.
Using the Ten Rings as weapons was his deadliest move.
He was finally serious.
Meanwhile, Tony stood unharmed, dusting himself off and tearing his ruined shirt, revealing a muscular frame.
As he said, the second round had just begun.
"Who exactly are you?" Wen Wu asked, eyes sharp as a hawk's.
"Me?"
Tony pulled an Arc Reactor from his pocket and placed it on his chest.
In the next moment, countless black filaments surged from his body, assembling a new Mark.
"I am Iron Man."
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