Let's reach 200 Power Stones for an extra chapter
***
Back in the Digi-Home, after jumping through some public wi-fi from a fast food joint, Agumon and Gabumon are going ham on a mountain of burgers. It's a well-deserved feast after kicking Dokugumon's butt.
"Nice job out there, you two," I say, watching them chow down.
Gatomon nods approvingly. "Indeed. Your Champion forms are quite impressive."
BlackGatomon, ever the tease, adds, "Not bad for a couple of rookies. Though, let's see you try that against a real challenge."
I glance over at the TV screen. Apparently, the news is all over the abandoned film studio incident. They're reporting that the missing people were found safe and sound. Witnesses claim there were explosions and even a dinosaur sighting, but they chalk it up to mass hysteria or some bizarre marketing stunt.
"Guess we dodged a bullet," I mutter. "Good thing people are so quick to dismiss the unbelievable."
I bring up my stats screen. Whoa, level five to seven? Not bad! And check it out: twenty whole points to play with.
"Alright, time to get buff!"
[Stats]
[Available Points: 20]
STR: 17 (+4)
VIT: 17 (+0)
DEX: 17 (+0)
AGI: 17 (+6)
INT: 17 (+0)
WIS: 17 (+0)
CHA: 17 (+0)
Where should I put these points?
"I'm thinking speed and strength are still the way to go," I say out loud.
Gatomon raises an eyebrow. "A balanced approach might be wiser, Ethan."
"Nah," I reply, grinning. "Gotta go fast, gotta hit hard. That's the Cipher way."
I dump ten points into AGI, watching as the number jumps, then another ten into STR. Boom! My agility is off the charts, and my strength is about to become legendary.
[Stats]
[Available Points: 0]
STR: 17 (+14)
VIT: 17 (+0)
DEX: 17 (+0)
AGI: 17 (+16)
INT: 17 (+0)
WIS: 17 (+0)
CHA: 17 (+0)
With my stat points all spent, I stretch, feeling the small changes in my body. A little bit faster, a little bit stronger. It's not like I'm suddenly gonna bench press a car, but every little bit helps, right?
"Alright, I'm calling it a night," I announce, stifling a yawn. "Long day of web-slinging and Digimon wrangling. Plus, gotta catch that red-eye back to New York tomorrow."
Gatomon nods. "Alright. Goodnight, Ethan."
BlackGatomon, of course, has to get in one last jab. "Don't want you getting all soft on us, now, do we?"
I roll my eyes and head for the comfy couch in our little Digi-Home. It's not exactly the Ritz, but it's home. As soon as my head hits the cushion, I feel a couple of furry bodies snuggle up against me. It's Gatomon and BlackGatomon, seeking a little warmth and companionship after a long day.
I smile, feeling a genuine sense of contentment. Even with all the crazy superhero stuff and Digimon battles, moments like these make it all worthwhile. I close my eyes, the image of Tony Stark's card still dancing in my head. What am I going to do with that? I have time to decide.
-Tony-
Alright, time to suit up. I gotta say, this Mark III is a thing of beauty. I can never get tired of putting this suit on. Rhodey is standing beside me, gawking like a kid in a candy store. "Man, that is the coolest thing I have ever seen."
"You think so, honey bear? I've got a few more in the pipeline that will blow your mind." I say as the faceplate of the helmet slides into place, sealing me in.
I've got to move fast. I overheard Pep on the phone planning to arrest Stane. As if Obie is going to let himself get taken in without a fight, especially now that he's juiced up on my tech. Plus, I have a sneaking suspicion that he's planning something big with that reactor. He wouldn't just take it to power his toaster. No, something big is coming, and I have to stop it before it happens.
"Alright, JARVIS, systems check."
"All systems nominal, Mr. Stark."
"Time to fly."
Rhodey steps back, giving me room to move. "You need me for anything, T?"
I shake my head. "Just keep the skies clear, Rhodey. And maybe have a bottle of scotch waiting for me when I get back. This is gonna be a long night." I need to make sure that no one interferes with what I am about to do.
The garage door opens, and I blast off, heading straight for Stark Industries. Time to pay Obadiah Stane a little visit. I'm not Iron Man yet, but I sure as hell am going to give him the iron fist.
I cut through the night sky over Los Angeles. The destination: the old Stark Industries warehouse downtown, where we built that oversized arc reactor years ago. What a waste of space, I thought at the time. Guess it's coming in handy now.
"Sir, I must remind you that the power output of the current arc reactor is not optimized for sustained combat. It could lead to—"
"Yeah, yeah, catastrophic failure. I heard you the first time, JARVIS. But if I don't stop Stane, who will? Besides, I work best under pressure."
I can already see the glow of the facility from miles away.
As I drop onto the scene, I see Pepper cornered in the parking lot. Stane looms over her in that monstrosity he calls armor. It's like a twisted version of my own design, only bigger, bulkier, and it wasn't even painted. It is like a brick wall with guns.
"Stane!" I yell.
He turns toward me, and I don't waste any time. I fly straight at him, hitting him with everything I've got. We crash through the warehouse wall and end up on the highway, cars swerving to avoid us. This is going to be messy.
The force of the blow sends him staggering back, sparks flying from his armor. "You think you can stop me, Tony?" He roars, his voice distorted by the suit. "I have been holding you up for thirty years. I built that company from nothing. Nothing is going to stand in my way anymore!"
I dodge a swipe of his massive arm, the metal whistling past my head. Traffic is still moving on the highway, and I'm doing my best to keep the fight away from the civilians, weaving between cars as Stane keeps swinging. That is the difference between me and Obie. I would never let a single person die.
"You always were a delusional bastard, Stane!"
Suddenly, he grabs a car, people still inside, and hurls it at me. What the hell?! I manage to catch it, the weight almost too much for my suit to handle. I set it down gently, watching as the occupants scramble out, terrified.
Before I can even react, Stane is on me, a metal avalanche of fury. One punch connects, sending me flying backward. My armor groans under the force, the wind knocked right out of me. I slam into the side of a semi-truck, the metal caving in around me. The world spins.
Flying is the only option, so I engage the thrusters, pulling myself free from the wreckage. The suit is damaged, systems flickering erratically, but I manage to stay airborne, circling above the chaos. I need to get him away from the civilians.
"You think your little suit can compete with this?" Stane bellows, pounding his chest. "You upgraded your armor, huh? Well, I made some upgrades of my own!"
With a deafening roar, rockets ignite in his boots, and he rockets straight at me. The Iron Monger is surprisingly fast, closing the distance in seconds. This is not good.
"JARVIS, get me to maximum altitude. Now!"
"Sir, current power levels are at fifteen percent. Engaging maximum thrust could result in—"
"I don't care, JARVIS, just do it!" I yell.
The suit strains, pushing me higher and higher. I can feel the G-force pressing me back against the seat, my vision blurring as we climb. Stane is still coming, a dark silhouette against the night sky, closing in fast.
We reach maximum altitude, and I can see the curvature of the Earth. It's a sight to behold, but I can't enjoy it. Stane is right behind me, closing in fast.
"You can't escape me, Tony!" He yells over the comms, his voice filled with a sick glee. "I'm going to crush you!"
But then, something happens. Stane's suit starts to sputter, his movements becoming erratic. He slows, and I can see him struggling to maintain control.
"Looks like someone forgot to factor in a little thing called icing. Rookie mistake, Obie," I said. "You should've consulted with me." He plummets toward the earth, a hunk of metal and missed opportunity.
Unfortunately, my own ride is about to become a lawn dart. All the juice I had in the tank is gone. "Well, that's just great," I say. "JARVIS, give me something positive here."
"Calculating trajectory... best chance of survival... deploy emergency brakes."
"Emergency what now?"
Too late. The thrusters die, and I start hurtling down, and then I engage my thrusters for a brief period to keep from crashing. After that, I slam into the parking lot of the warehouse, the ground shaking on impact. I need a scotch... and maybe a new suit.
I barely have time to process the landing before Stane's voice booms.
"It's over, Tony!"
Somehow, he's still alive. The Iron Monger lands hard right in front of me, kicking up dust and debris. I try to stand, but a crippling pain shoots through my body. Before I can react, Stane's fist connects with my jaw, sending me flying.
I hit the asphalt hard, skidding across the rough surface. My vision swims, and I taste blood. Stane approaches, his shadow looming over me.
"Nowhere left to run, Tony. Time to say goodnight."
I frantically try to think of something, anything, but my mind is blank. Is this really how it ends? Then, a sound cuts through the night, growing louder. It's a motorcycle, but not like any motorcycle I have ever heard. The engine roars like a jet, shaking the ground.
Suddenly, a bike streaks down from the sky, landing with a thump. What the... Something yellow jumps off the bike and glows with a blinding light. As the light fades, it reveals...a dinosaur? And it is standing between me and Stane. What the actual hell is going on?
***
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