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[Marvel : Spoiling Spider-man] Chapter 216 - 220
🕑 Added 2025-03-08 01:00:02 +0000 UTCChapter 216: Freezing at High Altitude
[Tony soared into the sky, howling with excitement like a gorilla, reveling in the exhilaration of high-speed flight.]
[After a swift turn, he grinned and declared, "This is incredibly easy to control!" Then, without hesitation, he boosted the power and rocketed toward the city.]
[The long-range detection system of the Mark II was highly advanced, capable of analyzing distant objects with precision. As Tony flew past a Ferris wheel, he zoomed in and clearly saw a child seated inside one of the gondolas.]
[The kid, spotting Tony soaring through the sky, gaped in awe, his mouth forming a perfect 'O.' So stunned was he that he failed to notice his ice cream slipping from his grasp.]
[Leaving the Ferris wheel behind, a thought struck Tony—what was the altitude limit of the Mark II?]
[“Let’s see what this baby can really do! What’s the altitude record for the SR-71 Blackbird?”]
[Jarvis promptly responded, "The altitude record for the SR-71 Blackbird is 85,000 feet, sir."]
["Records are meant to be broken! Let's go!" Tony cranked the thrusters to full power and shot straight up into the sky.]
[As he ascended higher and higher, frost began forming on the surface of the Mark II. Jarvis quickly issued a warning: "Sir! Icing at high altitudes can lead to critical failure!"]
["Keep going!!!" Tony, caught up in the thrill, disregarded the warning and continued his rapid ascent.]
[However, as the altitude increased, more and more ice accumulated on the armor. Soon, sparks flickered from the thrusters on his legs, and then—abruptly—they shut down. The lights on Tony's helmet flickered before going completely dark.]
[In an instant, the entire suit lost power. Tony’s body went rigid as he felt himself plummeting from the sky. A scream tore from his throat. "AHHH!!!"]
[Encased in the now-pitch-black armor, Tony frantically called out, "We’re frozen! Jarvis, adjust the ailerons! Jarvis!!!" But with the power cut off, there was no response.]
[Spiraling uncontrollably, Tony realized he had mere seconds to act before he hit the ground. "Come on! I need to break the ice—now!"]
[With all his strength, he reached for the emergency release switch on his thigh. Twisting it with a desperate motion, he felt the ice crack apart instantly.]
[As the frozen layers shattered, the suit’s systems began rebooting at lightning speed. Just before impact, Tony managed to reignite the thrusters, halting his deadly descent at the last possible moment.]
[Narrowly missing a speeding vehicle on the highway, he pulled up and soared back into the sky, leaving behind a chorus of terrified honks from drivers.]
[Having barely escaped death, Tony let out an exhilarated shout. He then veered toward his Malibu mansion, regaining his composure as he slowly hovered half a meter above the rooftop.]
["Power down," he commanded calmly. The next second, the heavy armor shut off—and Tony promptly crashed straight through the ceiling, landing with a resounding thud onto a grand piano below. Well, so much for Obadiah playing the piano.]
[But it didn’t stop there. The impact sent him crashing through another floor before finally coming to a halt—on top of a sleek blue sports car in his garage.]
[A deafening alarm blared through the room as multiple luxury cars reacted to the sudden disturbance. Then, as if adding insult to injury, the robotic assistant, Dum-E, aimed its nozzle at Tony’s motionless body and began spraying him with fire-extinguishing foam.]
[Sitting up with a sigh, covered in white mist, Tony tilted his head back helplessly.]
"Tony!!! You actually pulled a stunt this dangerous?! Why didn’t you tell me?!"
Hearing the commotion, Pepper came rushing downstairs, her face filled with fury.
"Uh... I’m sorry, Pepper! I didn’t want you to worry! Really!" Facing her wrath, Tony immediately offered a heartfelt apology, swearing that he would never take such reckless risks again.
Even though Tony repeated his assurances, Pepper remained visibly upset. Meanwhile, Rhodey and Banner exchanged glances before silently slipping away—they had no interest in sticking around while a couple had an argument.
"Wow! That was insane! He nearly fell to his death!" 1st Gen Spider-Man commented, tilting his head in disbelief.
"Yeah, that was seriously crazy!" 1st Gen Gwen was still shaken, her palms damp with sweat. Even though she knew Tony wouldn’t die so easily, witnessing such a close call had made her heart race.
1st Gen Spider-Man noticed her reaction and gently took her hand. Feeling the dampness, he smiled. "Don’t worry, Tony Stark isn’t the type to die that easily."
Gwen let out a small breath, realizing she had been overly tense. Now that the crisis had passed, she managed to relax.
Meanwhile, 2nd Gen Spider-Man and 2nd Gen Gwen burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Dum-E finally got his revenge!" They found the fire-extinguishing scene far too amusing to worry about Tony’s near-death experience.
Harry, on the other hand, was more intrigued by the technological aspects. He compared Tony’s Mark II armor to the Green Goblin armor developed by Oscorp.
"Hmm... the Mark II seems to have better mobility," he mused. "But the Green Goblin armor has built-in medical functions—something the Mark II lacks."
This realization made Harry more determined than ever to improve the design of the Goblin glider, aiming to match the maneuverability of Tony’s suit.
Ironically, Tony himself, after learning that the Green Goblin armor could even cure spider venom, later rushed to integrate a similar function into the Mark 7. Since medical technology wasn’t his forte, he had to rely on Banner for assistance.
As for the Mark I Destroyer armor, it wasn’t built for such functions, but it still had its own unique strengths.
[Tony, still covered in traces of ice, made his way into the lab. He grabbed the coffee Pepper had left for him and then noticed a small box beneath the cup.]
[Curious, he picked it up and saw a note attached: "Sent from Pepper."]
[Tearing open the brown paper, Tony’s eyes widened slightly—inside was his old arc reactor.]
[A message was written around the circular device: "Proof that Tony Stark has a heart."]
[Staring at the words, Tony’s lips curled into a rare, genuine smile.]
[Meanwhile, in a dark cave, the remnants of the Ten Rings organization were attempting to reassemble the Mark I armor.]
[They scrutinized the blueprints Tony had left behind. One of the members frowned and asked, "Where’s the piece that was supposed to go on the chest?"]
["Looks like it got lost," another replied nonchalantly.]
[Raza, sitting nearby with a cigarette between his fingers, gazed at the incomplete Mark I. The dim light cast ominous shadows across the scars on his face, making his expression all the more menacing.]
[Staring at the crude metal mask of the Mark I, Raza’s mind drifted back to the day they suffered a devastating loss at Tony’s hands. As they struggled to rebuild the past, they had no idea that Tony had already moved far beyond the Mark I—creating the far superior Mark II.]
Chapter 217: Low-Key and Simple
"He looks very unwilling," 2nd Gen Spider-Man remarked, studying Raza's expression.
"Yeah, someone that ambitious wouldn't give up so easily. And Obadiah… guys like him always do whatever it takes to achieve their goals," 2nd Gen Connors nodded.
His words weren’t just about Raza; they also referred to Gustav, a mastermind who had been hiding for days before finally being captured by 2nd Gen Spider-Man and Gwen.
The FBI uncovered an overwhelming amount of criminal evidence in Fiers’s laboratory, including data on computers that hadn’t yet been destroyed.
Faced with irrefutable proof, Fiers had no choice but to confess—not only to his hidden crimes but also to conspiring with McCann to assassinate Rajit Ratha.
This case, which had shocked the entire nation, was finally solved. The director of the FBI’s New York branch could finally breathe a sigh of relief. God knows how long they had been under pressure, enduring endless scoldings over the lack of progress.
That was why 2nd Gen Spider-Man had come to tell Connors the good news. Connors was visibly moved. To him, Obadiah was no different from Fiers and McCann—ruthless men who sought to seize power by any means necessary.
Though the exact reason behind Obadiah’s attempt to kill Tony Stark was still unclear, Connors had a strong suspicion—it had to be about completely controlling Stark Industries.
Just like how McCann tried to bury the second-generation Harry.
[The Mark I mask smoothly transitioned into the Mark II design on Tony’s computer screen. Tony, still icing his left arm, sat in his chair, reviewing everything that had just happened.]
["For the record, above 40,000 feet, the primary sensors start acting up! Also, the suit’s pressurization system has issues—I think it’s due to ice buildup."]
["Your observation is quite sharp, sir! If you plan to venture into space, the suit’s exterior material will need an upgrade," Jarvis affirmed, simultaneously recording Tony’s observations.]
[Hearing this, Tony immediately instructed, "Contact SCO and have them reassess the exterior plating. Swap it out for the gold-titanium alloy used in Seraph tactical satellites."]
["That should allow for proper integration while maintaining the power-to-weight ratio," Tony added casually, taking a sip of his chlorophyll juice.]
["Understood. Would you like the graphical display adjusted according to the required specifications?" Jarvis asked.]
["The red carpet is rolled out at Concert Hall! The lights are dazzling, and the atmosphere is lively tonight! Tony Stark is hosting the third annual charity ball for the Firefighters Family Foundation!" ]
[Just as Tony finished giving Jarvis his instructions, a news report on the television caught his attention. He turned his gaze toward the screen and asked, "Jarvis, did we receive an invitation?"]
["No invitation records found, sir," Jarvis replied.]
["The elites of Los Angeles' upper-class society have gathered! The event’s host has been stirring up controversy recently after making bold statements at a press conference!"]
["Since then, he has vanished from the public eye. Some speculate he’s suffering from post-concussion syndrome, bedridden for weeks! But will he make an appearance tonight? It seems highly unlikely!"]
[Tony, still focused on his Mark II suit, glanced at the TV where the reporter was discussing Zoriana Kitt.]
[At that moment, Jarvis completed the preliminary color design for the suit. Tony took one look at the gold plating and immediately frowned—it was too flashy.]
["Apologies, sir! I momentarily forgot how low-key and simple you prefer to be," Jarvis quipped dryly.]
[Tony turned toward his chlorophyll juice, and just as he was about to take another sip, his gaze landed on a red sports car parked nearby.]
["Actually… how about adding some ‘sports car red’ to it?" he mused.]
["Of course, sir. It perfectly complements your understated and humble personality," Jarvis remarked with deadpan sarcasm.]
[Tony smirked as he took a sip. Jarvis promptly adjusted the color scheme, presenting a new model on-screen.]
["Now this I like! We'll paint it after the assembly is complete."]
["Automatic assembly is commencing. Estimated completion time: five hours," Jarvis confirmed.]
[Tony glanced at his watch—it was 10:09 p.m.]
["Don’t wait up for me, sweetheart," he remarked as he turned and left.]
"Did he really just say that?" Steve Rogers spread his hands, utterly baffled. "How does ‘low-key and simple’ have anything to do with Tony Stark?"
"Hahahaha! That’s Tony Stark for you! The fact that you’re even questioning it just means you don’t know him well enough, Cap!" Nick Fury laughed.
"Alright, looks like I need to do some research," Captain America conceded.
"I’d suggest using a computer. A simple search online should answer a lot of your questions," Natasha advised.
"I know… but I don’t really understand computers. Or smartphones, for that matter. I’m just not used to them." Captain America sighed, visibly frustrated. Seventy years had passed in the blink of an eye, and the world was completely different now.
[Tony’s silver luxury car sped down the road, the engine’s roar music to his ears.]
[Before long, he arrived at the venue. His license plate gleamed under the lights—STARK 4. The moment he stepped out, a valet was already waiting to take the car.]
[As expected, his arrival immediately drew attention. People began shouting his name, cameras flashing from every direction. Nearby, Obadiah was in the middle of an interview.]
["Weapons manufacturing is only a small part of Stark Industries. Our advancements in firefighting and emergency response technology are far more significant—"]
[Before he could finish his sentence, excited screams erupted from the crowd. Curious, Obadiah turned his head—only to see Tony nonchalantly strolling into the venue, casually buttoning his shirt.]
[Christine Everhart spotted him and called out, "Hey, Tony! Don’t you recognize me?"]
[Without looking back, Tony replied smoothly, "Of course."]
[As he walked past an old man who stood with his hands resting on his waist, Tony patted him on the shoulder and chuckled, "You’re looking great, old-timer."]
[The old man, pipe in mouth, turned slightly but didn’t seem to realize who had just greeted him.]
"He looks familiar," 1st Gen Spider-Man muttered, furrowing his brows.
"Yeah, I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before," 1st Gen Gwen agreed, equally puzzled.
By now, it was well established that people from alternate worlds couldn’t be found in this one unless they were originally from here.
This had been confirmed by governments and major media outlets. Even extensive searches for the second generation’s Uncle Ben and Aunt May had turned up nothing.
Yet now, a strangely familiar old man had appeared, stirring up confusion.
Tony Stark shared the same sentiment. He felt certain he had seen the man before—but couldn’t quite recall when or where.
Frowning, he immediately ordered Jarvis to pull up previous sky-screen footage.
Fast-forwarding through the recordings at eight times the speed, Jarvis soon made a startling discovery.
This old man had appeared in both 1st Gen Spider-Man’s world and 2nd Gen Spider-Man’s world.
Not just once—but in every single video of The Sky Screen.
Chapter 218: The Mysterious Old Man
Tony shared his discovery with Banner and Rhodes, and they were just as shocked as he was. He ran multiple facial recognition analyses across different universes, and the results were conclusive—the old man was exactly the same in every one of them.
Realizing the gravity of this anomaly, Tony immediately contacted Nick Fury to see if he had any insights.
Upon receiving Tony’s message, Fury set aside the documents he had been reviewing. He had long suspected that something was off about this old man and had already assigned agents to investigate.
Unfortunately, their searches turned up nothing. It was as if this person didn’t exist in their world at all—until Tony was seen greeting him on The Sky Screen.
Acting swiftly, Fury had his agents obtain the guest list for the charity event. S.H.I.E.L.D. worked fast, and soon, the list was in his hands. But to his dismay, the old man’s name was nowhere to be found.
Simultaneously, Jarvis retrieved security footage from the event. The video clearly showed Tony walking straight to Obadiah—but the old man was missing from the footage entirely.
Exchanging information with Tony, Fury felt a rare chill run down his spine. He couldn’t comprehend what kind of existence this old man was. How could someone appear in every known universe yet leave no trace behind?
If The Sky Screen hadn’t revealed him over and over again, they might never have discovered him at all.
The sheer impossibility of it left Fury at a loss for how to proceed.
Meanwhile, observing the old man on The Sky Screen, the Ancient One’s expression shifted into one of subtle reverence. Though she couldn’t discern his true identity, she could sense his overwhelming presence.
Whoever—or whatever—this old man was, he was far beyond the comprehension of mortals.
[Tony walked up to Obadiah and remarked, "What kind of world is this? You invite the guests but not the host?"]
[Obadiah greeted him with a grin. "Look who decided to show up! Hey! I didn't expect that!"]
["I’ll head inside and wait for you," Tony said nonchalantly.]
[Obadiah stopped him. "Hey! Listen to me. Don’t be so hasty, okay? I think I’ve convinced the board."]
["Got it." Tony nodded but didn’t comment further. Instead, he gave a small smile and added, "I was just impulsive. I’ll be leaving soon."]
[Casually, Tony made his way to the bar and called to the bartender, "Give me a drink."]
[As he waited, a familiar voice spoke from behind him. "Mr. Stark! I'm Agent Coulson."]
["Oh! Yeah, yeah… uh…" Tony trailed off, trying to recall what S.H.I.E.L.D. was called before it rebranded.]
["Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division," Coulson supplied helpfully.]
["Yeah, that’s right! Oh my God! You guys really need a better name," Tony groaned, shaking his head. "It’s a mouthful! Who actually remembers that?"]
["You’re not the first to say that," Coulson admitted with an awkward chuckle before getting back to business. "Look, I know things have been difficult for you lately, but we need to discuss some matters."]
["Yeah, yeah. Lots of unknown issues and all that. But hey, time’s tight. Let’s set up another meeting. How about 24:00 on the 7th at Stark Industries?"]
[Coulson continued talking, but Tony’s attention was elsewhere—on Pepper, standing across the room in a stunning blue backless dress, deep in conversation with someone.]
[Not bothering to listen further, Tony absentmindedly extended his hand for a shake. "Yeah, sure, you’re right. Absolutely right."]
[Coulson blinked at the sudden handshake but accepted it anyway.]
["I’ll go find my assistant first, then we’ll set a time," Tony said, pointing toward Pepper before striding off.]
"Honestly, that name is so hard to remember," 2nd Gen Spider-Man muttered. "I heard it twice and still didn’t get it."
"Hahaha… It is pretty long! I have to break it into two parts just to remember it," Gwen giggled.
"I really hope they change it soon. I don’t want to hear it again—just hearing it gives me a headache." 2nd Gen Spider-Man threw up his hands in frustration.
He wasn’t someone with a particularly strong memory. Fans took pictures with him all the time, and remembering their names was already difficult enough. Now he had to remember Coulson’s organization’s ridiculously long name, too?
Honestly, he’d rather avoid another awkward Max situation altogether.
Unlike 1st Gen Spider-Man or Tony, 2nd Gen Spider-Man hadn’t paid much attention to these details. Though the incident at his school had caused some temporary buzz, the excitement faded quickly.
And with it, people forgot—forgot about the event, about the anomalies… and even about the old man.
["You look gorgeous! I almost didn’t recognize you," Tony greeted Pepper with a smirk.]
[Pepper turned, surprised to see him. "What are you doing here?" Shouldn’t Tony be holed up at home, working on his armor?]
["Hiding from a government agent," Tony replied smoothly.]
["You came alone?" Pepper was surprised—Tony usually had a girl on his arm at these events.]
["More importantly, where’d you get that dress?" Tony’s curiosity was piqued. He had never seen her wear it before.]
[Pepper glanced down and smiled. "Oh, this? It was a birthday gift. From you."]
["Nice! I’ve got great taste," Tony grinned proudly.]
["Yes, you do," Pepper agreed with a laugh.]
["Wanna dance?" Tony asked, offering his hand.]
["Oh! No!" Pepper shook her head quickly.]
["Too bad. Come on!" Ignoring her refusal, Tony grabbed her hand and led her toward the dance floor.]
[As they danced closely, Tony studied her face. "Are you mad at me?"]
["Oh, no! No, I just—" Pepper hesitated. "I forgot to put on perfume today, and now I’m dancing bare-backed in public with my boss."]
[Tony smirked. "Relax. You look amazing. And you smell great."]
["Oh, God," Pepper mumbled, lowering her head in embarrassment.]
["Maybe I should fire you. That way, you’d loosen up," Tony teased.]
["Ha! I don’t believe that for a second. Without me, you wouldn’t even be able to tie your shoelaces," Pepper shot back, grinning.]
["I could try managing on my own for a week," Tony mused.]
["Really? What’s your Social Security number?" Pepper challenged playfully.]
[Tony froze at the unexpected question. After a long pause, he finally blurted out, "Five!"]
["Five! That’s right! You’re just eight digits short!" Pepper burst into laughter.]
["That’s what I have you for," Tony retorted, guiding her smoothly through the dance.]
[After a while, Tony looked at her and suggested, "Let’s step outside for some fresh air."]
["Yeah, I think so too," Pepper agreed, nodding.]
[Meanwhile, from across the room, Coulson watched Tony with thinly veiled disdain.]
Chapter 219: Photos
"Wow, it took him half a day just to come up with the number five. Hahaha!" Otto burst into laughter at Tony’s struggle.
"Hmm! You act like you could’ve done any better!" Rose rolled her eyes at him, teasing.
"Hey! That kind of thing is easy to remember, but I usually just read it off the card! I carry it with me anyway, so why bother memorizing it?" Otto retorted.
Rose shook her head, speechless at his logic. Still, she couldn’t argue—it was convenient enough just to have the card on hand when needed.
Meanwhile, 1st Gen Uncle Ben guiltily scratched his nose. He couldn’t remember his number either. Luckily, Aunt May didn’t say anything—she already knew without asking.
[The two stepped outside, and Pepper shifted uncomfortably. "This is so weird!"]
[Tony, calm as ever, replied, "Not surprising at all."]
["Actually, it’s the exact opposite of what you think! All my... colleagues are here!" Pepper touched her flushed face.]
["We’re just dancing! No one’s watching," Tony insisted, dismissing her concerns.]
["No! You don’t understand!" Pepper sighed. Tony, being who he was, simply didn’t grasp how others would perceive the situation.]
["I think you’re overthinking this. It’s just a dance," Tony reassured her.]
["No, it’s not just a dance! Because you are you! You don’t get it!" Pepper argued, frustrated. She hesitated before continuing, "Everyone knows your reputation. They see you as a playboy, and while there’s nothing wrong with that…"]
["But me? I’m your assistant. If people see me dancing with you like this… they’ll think I’m someone who’s willing to do anything to get ahead."]
["I really didn’t expect you to worry about that," Tony admitted. He finally understood what she meant, but he simply didn’t care about those kinds of things.]
["Here I am, in this ridiculous dress, and we’re dancing like this…" Pepper muttered, shaking her head.]
[Tony looked at her, their faces gradually drawing closer. Pepper closed her eyes slightly, as if preparing herself—]
[Then, just as they were about to kiss, she suddenly opened her eyes and blurted, "I want a drink!"]
["Okay, no problem!" Tony agreed instantly and turned to get one for her.]
[Pepper took a deep breath and added, "Vodka martini. Make it strong. And extra olives—at least three!"]
[Tony walked to the bar, ordered two vodka martinis, and relayed Pepper’s request to the bartender before slipping a crisp green bill into the tip jar.]
"Handsome boss and beautiful assistant! Her worries aren’t unreasonable. Rumors can be awful," 1st Gen Gwen commented knowingly.
Even she, despite her complicated relationship with 1st Gen Spider-Man—especially after the events revealed by The Sky Screen—had experienced similar gossip when they reunited in real life.
Many women who thought highly of themselves had aggressively pursued 1st Gen Spider-Man, hoping to win him over. Gwen had found it frustrating, but thankfully, Peter had ignored them all.
Despite everything, these trials had only strengthened their relationship, making them inseparable—something that made plenty of people envious.
George and Helen had also noticed the attention their daughter received, but they had unwavering trust in 1st Gen Spider-Man. After knowing him for so long, they were confident in the kind of person he was.
[As Tony waited for the drinks, a familiar voice called out to him. "Tony Stark! Nice to see you here!"]
["Oh! Hey!" Tony turned to look at her but couldn’t remember her name for a moment. "Uh… Kelly!"]
["Christine!" She corrected him immediately.]
[They both spoke at the same time, and luckily, the names sounded similar enough that she didn’t realize Tony had gotten it wrong.]
["Right!" Tony’s mouth twisted slightly. If I don’t feel embarrassed, then she’s the one who’ll feel awkward.]
["You seem pretty carefree tonight," Christine noted, watching him closely.]
[Tony’s expression faltered. "You could at least pretend to like me," he quipped.]
["Panic! I feel very panicked!" Tony immediately responded, turning to the bartender. "Drinks! Hurry up!"]
[Christine tilted her head, studying his reaction. "Because I called out your company’s involvement in that atrocity?"]
["Look, I’m just here because I was invited. I don’t know anything else," Tony dismissed her.]
["I actually believed you when you said that," she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm.]
[Tony’s eyes narrowed. "I’ve been gone for two months. Maybe you didn’t know that."]
["Is this what you call being responsible?" Christine countered, pulling a stack of photos from her bag and handing them to Tony. "This is Gulmira. Ever heard of it?"]
[Tony’s gaze darkened as he flipped through the images. The photos showed the Ten Rings occupying a small village—his company’s weapons littered everywhere.]
["When were these taken?" he asked gravely.]
["Yesterday," Christine replied, her eyes locking onto his.]
["I didn’t authorize any transactions," Tony muttered, but his words felt empty.]
["Your company did." To her, there was no difference—Stark Industries selling weapons was the same as Tony Stark selling weapons.]
["My company is not me!" Tony snapped, frustration lacing his voice. But his anger wasn’t directed at Christine.
[It was directed at himself.]
[Because Gulmira was Yinsen’s hometown.]
[The place where his savior had lived.]
[And now, that very place was being devastated—by his weapons.]
"Anyone selling weapons to terrorists deserves to die!"
"Tony Stark may have stopped making weapons, but someone inside Stark Industries is still secretly selling them."
Seeing the tragic scenes in the photos, and the abundance of Stark weapons in the hands of terrorists, the world was outraged.
"Damn Obadiah! He has to be behind this!!!" 2nd Gen Uncle Ben clenched his fists in fury. This kind of crime was unforgivable!
"Poor Tony Stark… he keeps taking the blame for things he never even did," Aunt May sighed, shaking her head.
"I hope he can put an end to this," 2nd Gen Spider-Man said seriously. "Selling weapons to terrorists? That’s insane!"
Gwen nodded in agreement. If it weren’t for criminals like Alexei, why would her father constantly be in danger?
Chapter 220: Gulmira
[Tony immediately sought out Obadiah, confronting him outside the venue. As he approached, Obadiah casually pushed away a reporter’s camera and muttered, "Stop filming, okay?"]
["Have you seen these photos? Huh? What’s going on with Gulmira?" Tony demanded, his voice sharp.]
[Obadiah whispered back, "Tony, Tony… you can’t be this naive."]
["You know what? I was naive before!" Tony scoffed. "They told me, ‘This is the bottom line, don’t cross it!’ That’s how business works, right?"]
["But what about deals made behind the scenes? Are there any?" Tony pressed, hoping Obadiah would come clean.]
[At that moment, unaware of the tension between them, people nearby called them over for photos. Obadiah turned away, smiling as he walked down the steps. "Come on! Time to take pictures!"]
[Tony clenched his fists but didn’t want to make a scene in front of everyone. Reluctantly, he followed Obadiah, standing beside him for the photographs.]
[As the cameras flashed, Obadiah leaned in and whispered, "Tony, do you know who’s been stopping you from working? I filed the injunction with the board of directors."]
["I did it to protect you," he added before walking away, leaving Tony standing there, frozen, watching his retreating figure in silence.]
"Is that why you left me standing there that night?" Pepper glared at Tony, arms crossed.
"Yeah… Listen, I’m sorry, Pepper. Really," Tony raised a hand in surrender, his expression genuinely apologetic.
Rhodey, standing off to the side, nudged Banner, who was still engrossed in his work. Banner blinked, realizing what was happening, and quickly followed Rhodey as they both snuck out of the basement.
Once they were upstairs, Rhodey let out a frustrated sigh. "Damn it, Tony! He always finds a way to shove his relationship in my face!"
Banner, now catching on, smirked. "You do realize you’re standing here complaining about it, right?"
Rhodey shot him a look. "Yeah, yeah, whatever."
[“The journey to Gulmira can only be described as a journey through hell!” A beautiful reporter on TV was broadcasting live from the war-torn region.]
[“This is yet another case of violent colonization. Warlords, backed by a mysterious force, have forcibly driven farmers and herdsmen from their peaceful villages.”]
[“These displaced people are now homeless, forced to find shelter in the ruins of other villages.”]
[Tony, adjusting the arm components of the Mark III suit, watched the report in silence.]
["Some have found refuge here—an abandoned Soviet-era steel mill," the reporter continued. Suddenly, the sharp crack of gunfire rang out in the background.]
[“The ones behind this violence are foreign militants! The locals call them The Ten Rings!”]
[The camera panned to reveal a familiar figure—Raza.]
["As you can see, these armed forces have seized control. Anyone who dares to resist faces immediate and brutal consequences."]
[As Tony stared at the screen, his eyes darkened at the sight of Stark Industries’ weapons in the terrorists' hands. He tightened the final screw on his armor and slowly stood up.]
[“Without international intervention, these refugees have no hope.” The reporter’s voice was heavy with despair.]
[In front of the TV, a desperate woman held up a photograph, pleading for news of her missing husband. “He was kidnapped! Either he’s been forced to join them, or he’s already dead!”]
[With a sharp hum, energy gathered in Tony’s palm, and then—BOOM! A powerful beam of light erupted from his hand, sending shockwaves through the lab.]
[The blast was so strong that several objects on the opposite side of the room shattered, and even a ceiling lamp came crashing down.]
[The reporter’s voice echoed in the background: “Desperate refugees clutch old family photos, begging passersby for information. A child asks, ‘Where are my parents?’”]
[Tony looked at the destruction he had just caused. His jaw clenched. He exhaled sharply, then strode forward, his mind made up.]
[“These people are on the verge of despair. Their only hope is that someone will save them.”]
[His reflection in the glass stared back at him. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and fired again—shattering three glass panels in rapid succession.]
1st Gen Uncle Ben studied Tony’s expression and shook his head. "He’s furious. I can tell. He’s taking it out on his own house, but it’s not enough. I bet anything—Tony Stark is heading to Gulmira."
Aunt May nodded. "I hope he puts those terrorists where they belong. They deserve nothing less than prison!"
Uncle Ben sighed. "Prison? That’s unrealistic. And Tony doesn’t look like the type to hold back."
"He was held captive for three months… and Yinsen died because of them," he added. "Tony hates them."
Aunt May hesitated before nodding again. She wanted to believe in justice, but deep down, she knew Uncle Ben was right. These terrorists weren’t the kind to surrender quietly.
[Tony stepped onto a platform, and the surrounding mechanical arms immediately sprang to life. One by one, the parts of the Mark III armor rose from their slots.]
[He positioned his feet into the boots, and the automated assembly began. Piece by piece, the armor snapped into place over his body.]
[As the final components locked in, the Arc Reactor on his chest flared to life, its blue-white glow shining through the suit’s plating. Finally, the helmet lowered, sealing him inside.]
[The next second, Iron Man shot into the air at breakneck speed, soaring toward Gulmira. As his altitude increased, a deafening sonic boom erupted behind him—he had just broken the sound barrier.]
[Meanwhile, in Gulmira, panic and chaos reigned.]
[The air was thick with dust and smoke from missile strikes. Refugees ran in terror, trying to escape the carnage.]
[Inside their homes, civilians huddled together in fear. The terrorists showed no mercy, kicking down doors and opening fire indiscriminately.]
[One militant casually lobbed a grenade into a small house—BOOM! The structure was reduced to rubble in an instant.]
[Families were herded like cattle, driven toward a wall with their hands over their heads. They had no choice but to obey.]
[The small-time leader Tony had seen in the cave—now a full-fledged warlord—barked orders to his men. "Load the women onto the truck! Unload the weapons! Move it!"]
[A man and his family were forced from their home. A terrorist struck him in the back with the butt of a rifle, sending him to the ground.]
["Please! Please!" His wife sobbed, clinging to their young son.]
[The warlord sneered. "Take him! Put him with the others!"]
[A terrorist dragged the man away, but in the struggle, his son broke free from his mother’s arms and ran toward him.]
[The father, desperate, wrenched himself free from his captors and rushed forward, scooping the boy into his arms. The warlord turned, his face twisting in irritation. "What’s going on?"]
[He grabbed the child by the back of his collar and threw him into the arms of another soldier. Then, he kicked the father to the ground and began stomping on his chest, again and again.]
["Stop whining! Shut up!!!"]
["Shoot him!" the warlord finally barked, stepping back. "He’s useless!"]
[A terrorist raised his rifle, aiming directly at the father’s head. The man’s wife let out a scream, her son struggling in the soldier’s grip, crying out—"Dad!"]
