In Tony Stark's private villa, deep in the underground laboratory, three multifunctional robotic arms worked in perfect synchrony, assembling metal pieces one by one. In a matter of moments, a fully-formed steel battle suit emerged.
Unlike Tony Stark's Mark II, Allen had built the Mark 46 series and installed unique modules into the armor.
Since Allen didn't have an Arc Reactor on his chest, he engineered two separate reactors: one triangular and one circular, both glowing brightly. He installed the more efficient triangular Arc Reactor in the chest of the Mark 46 armor and placed the circular reactor on the table.
Click, click.
Allen opened his hands, and the armor in front of him separated automatically before quickly enveloping his body. Mechanical components interlocked seamlessly, assembling at lightning speed.
The visor snapped down over his face, and the suit began to hum with energy. Its metal surface was sleek and uniform, with no visible seams or gaps.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
White light glowed behind the visor, illuminating Allen's eyes. The armor systems performed self-checks, and J.A.R.V.I.S. began to come online.
"Sir, J.A.R.V.I.S. at your service. All systems self-inspected. Everything is operational. Reactor energy at 100%."
"J.A.R.V.I.S., open the ceiling panels."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Allen's mouth. Inside the suit, he deactivated the shapeshifting mode, restoring his own appearance.
Following his command, the ceiling panels of the villa's laboratory extended outward. Allen opened his palms, and jets of high-temperature flame shot skyward from his hands and feet.
Boom!
Within two seconds, a silver-white figure shot into the sky, accelerating rapidly.
"Sir, flight systems stable. Energy output at 10%. Current speed: Mach 3," J.A.R.V.I.S. reported.
Data streamed across Allen's AR augmented reality display, overlaying the cityscape below. Buildings, vehicles, and other structures were instantly mapped in real time, each data point presented with precision.
His mind, enhanced with the light of wisdom, processed dozens of times more data than a normal human. Even as information flashed across the display at incredible speed, Allen remained unfazed.
"Flight system at 50% energy output… speed: Mach 7," J.A.R.V.I.S. continued.
The Mark 46 armor surged upward. Within moments, Allen pierced the stratosphere, the moon looming above him.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., 100% energy boost."
A satisfied smile spread across Allen's face. The power systems of his suit had been upgraded multiple times over Tony Stark's original design. Built entirely from a special titanium alloy, it was resistant to fire, cold, radiation, and extreme temperatures. Advanced shock absorption and climate-control modules ensured that Allen felt no turbulence or temperature variation.
Boom!
The Arc Reactor on his chest flared with a brilliant white light. The armor accelerated past the Earth's gravitational field, breaking into outer space.
Swish.
Allen paused mid-flight, hovering above the planet, and gazed down at the Earth with a smile. He was pleased — the Mark 46 had performed flawlessly.
Nearby, a military satellite orbited silently. Allen ordered J.A.R.V.I.S. to interface with it, immediately surveying the current situation in Afghanistan.
At the New York Military Intelligence Department, a soldier stared at the satellite feed in disbelief. Ten seconds passed before he could even react.
"F***k… what is this? A robot? An alien?"
The feed showed a humanoid figure, silver-white and flying toward the satellite with incredible speed. The soldier quickly reported it.
Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes, stationed at the base, was the first to hear the news.
Seeing the metallic figure, Rhodey initially thought of his old friend Tony Stark. With a puzzled expression, he grabbed his satellite phone and dialed Allen's number.
"Sir, Colonel James Rhodes is calling."
Allen, still scanning Afghanistan through the satellite, heard J.A.R.V.I.S.'s notification. A smile formed on his face, and his body subtly shifted to Tony Stark's exact appearance, allowing J.A.R.V.I.S. to answer the call seamlessly.
Swish.
A screen popped up inside the visor. Rhodey's face filled the display, but Allen paid him little attention, keeping his gaze fixed on the desert below.
In Afghanistan, Obadiah Stane, the second-largest shareholder of Stark Industries, stood in the barren desert with a grim expression.
His team of highly paid detectors combed the sands for any sign of Tony Stark. A reflective metal surface in Stane's hand caught the sun as he scowled.
"Still nothing? Damn Tony Stark," he muttered. Ever since he suspected that Tony had discovered his role in the kidnapping, Stane had been on edge. Only yesterday had he arrived in Afghanistan to personally investigate Tony's escape.
"Hey Tony, I just spotted a silver-white metal man in the sky today. Any thoughts?"
Rhodey's voice came through the comms, tinged with disbelief.
"Maybe an alien, Rhodey," Allen replied casually, his eyes serious yet distant.
"Tony… where are you? Why is it so quiet? Not a sound."
Rhodey didn't fully trust the explanation — after all, he knew Tony Stark better than anyone.
"Well, congratulations, Rhodey. You've discovered the truth. Yes, that metal man you saw… is me."
Allen had grown more comfortable in Tony Stark's identity. Everything he said and did now carried the same charisma and tone of Stark — blending perfectly with the world's expectations of the legendary Iron Man.
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