In the spacious hall of Stark Industries, the battle between two mechas had reached a fever pitch.
Although Iron Monger had immense strength and high defense, Mark III's agility was something a brute like Iron Monger couldn't match.
For the moment, there was no clear winner.
After narrowly dodging a massive iron fist from Iron Monger, Tony Stark inside the Mark III suddenly tensed.
His attention was drawn to a figure in the corner of the office.
Through the mecha's visor, he saw in horror that his beloved Pepper Potts was curled up under a desk.
She had clearly been caught off guard by the sudden fight.
Iron Monger noticed Pepper too, a cunning glint flashing in his eyes.
With all his might, he swung and sent Iron Man flying.
Iron Man tumbled through the air before crashing heavily to the ground with a cacophony of metallic sounds.
Iron Monger didn't miss the opportunity. He strode forward, charging toward Pepper's hiding spot.
Realizing the danger, Pepper knew she couldn't just sit there.
She quickly rose from the corner, her high heels clacking against the floor as she raced down three flights of stairs—almost as if she were running against death itself.
But just as she thought she was safe and tried to catch her breath, a violent shaking sound came from above.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Iron Monger, using his massive weight and power, smashed through the three floors above, landing right in front of Pepper and blocking her escape.
Pepper's heart nearly stopped as she stared at the enormous mecha, like a mountain, cutting off her path.
Obadiah Stane lifted the hatch of Iron Monger's cockpit, revealing a bald head.
"Hey, isn't this the company's darling, Ms. Virginia Pepper Potts? Working late again?"
Pepper forced a smile. "Mr. Stane, your outfit is… quite something today. Is there a party nearby?"
"Yes, ma'am. May I have the honor of inviting you as my dance partner? If you're busy… I mean, if you refuse…"
Obadiah closed the hatch again. The sharp "thunk" made Pepper flinch.
A deep, mechanical synthesis sound echoed. "I'll turn you into meat sauce for spaghetti!"
With words already at this point, Pepper, no matter how scared, had no choice but to cooperate and step forward.
Just as Pepper was about to be grabbed by the Iron Monger, a few missiles suddenly whistled through the air, striking the Iron Monger's back with pinpoint accuracy!
The explosion's flames and shockwave made the Iron Monger stagger, causing his movements to temporarily freeze.
Iron Man dove rapidly from the sky.
Seizing the moment when the Iron Monger faltered, he quickly flew to Pepper's side, extending his mechanical arms to lift her out of danger.
However, the Iron Monger's reaction speed exceeded Iron Man's expectations.
The Iron Monger clenched his fists together.
With astonishing strength and speed, he slammed Iron Man to the ground as if swatting a fly!
A tremendous "CRASH" resounded as Iron Man's suit collided violently with the ground.
The shockwave reverberated through the Mark III armor.
Tony Stark felt a wave of dizziness.
The impact on his head caused a mild concussion.
Darkness clouded his vision, and a constant ringing filled his ears.
By the time Tony Stark recovered, the Iron Monger already had Pepper firmly in his grasp, his hand on her waist.
"Tony," Obadiah returned to his usual facade of a caring father, "I really didn't want it to come to this between us."
"As long as you hand over the company…" He paused briefly, then continued.
"Hand over the Arc Reactor, and the 'Halloween suit' on your body, then maybe, just maybe, one of you will survive."
"Don't worry." Obadiah looked up at the Stark Industries logo.
"I consider this company my greatest creation. In my hands, it will grow to be the strongest, most unrivaled military enterprise in the world!"
Tony Stark removed his damaged, energy-depleted helmet.
"Then go ahead and kill me first."
During the days he was held captive by the Ten Rings, Stark had witnessed the sorrow that war brings.
He refused to be a blacksmith crafting guillotines for executioners.
"Heh, you think that if you die, Stark Industries will slip from my hands?"
Obadiah said as he lifted a rock, ready to throw it at Tony Stark, who was prepared to die.
Tony Stark closed his eyes, waiting for death.
"CRASH!"
The crisp sound of impact echoed throughout the arena!
Stark realized he wasn't dead and hurriedly opened his eyes!
Immediately, he saw a scene he would never forget.
A black-haired Asian boy arced gracefully through the air, kicking toward Iron Monger's head!
This Asian boy was using a signature flying kick of Tony Stark's idol—Bruce Lee!
The force of the kick was astonishing, enough to make the massive Iron Monger stagger and lose his balance!
Seeing this, Tony Stark's eyes widened in shock!
How was this any different from watching Bruce Lee deliver his famous flying kick in the movies?
No—this was a hundred times more shocking!
The most stunned of all, however, was Obadiah.
No one understood the weight and strength of Iron Monger better than him.
"How is this possible?" Obadiah muttered, his eyes fixed on the sudden enemy, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.
The three present were completely shattered by Yujin's appearance, their minds struggling to process it.
Two mech pilots who had just started feeling accomplished suddenly realized that someone nearby could kick a car away with a single strike.
The impact on them was enormous.
Taking advantage of Obadiah's momentary distraction inside Iron Monger, Yujin scooped up Pepper and ran toward a distant spot.
"Don't run!" Obadiah shouted, maneuvering Iron Monger to pick up a nearby rock and hurl it toward the fleeing pair.
Tony Stark tried to intercept, but the energy in his Mark III suit hadn't fully recharged. He leapt, but fell with a heavy "thud."
Victory gleamed in Obadiah's eyes; in his view, that rock could crush any carbon-based life form!
Just as the rock was about to strike the two…
Suddenly!
A spectacular wall of water shot up in the rock's path!
The appearance of the water wall was so sudden that no one had anticipated it!
The height and thickness of the wall were staggering, forming a solid barrier behind Yujin and Pepper.
The force of the water was immense. When the rock hit it, water exploded everywhere!
The wall didn't just stop the rock—the impact shattered it instantly, scattering fragments across the ground!
The two mech pilots were dumbfounded once again!
"What is going on!?"
While they were still in shock, Yujin had already settled Pepper.
When he appeared again, the cloud-like marks of the Heavenly Curse covered half of his body.
The flesh bulging behind his sweatshirt stretched it high, and faint white steam rising from him proved that he had activated the first-level gene lock.
He picked up a cement slab three times larger than the stone Iron Monger had just thrown and charged toward Iron Monger's face!
His Two Tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly as he skillfully dodged the punch swinging toward him.
Leaping into the air, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky just in time!
In the stunned eyes of the three onlookers, Yujin gathered all the resentment he had accumulated over the past fourteen years and focused it into his wrists.
He roared,
"Take this!"
"I!"
"Smash!!!"
****
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