The high temperature on Extremis soldiers' bodies were no longer a threat, as it flickered a few times and then went out completely.
Charles's ice release, powered by immense chakra and boosted by the Dragon Ring, far exceeded Haku's capabilities, instantly freezing the energy of all nine of them.
Tsunade, seeing this, stopped and released her hold on Pepper Potts and Maya Hansen.
Maya, witnessing the entire scene, ran towards the ice pillars in awe the moment Tsunade let go of her.
Standing before the ice pillars, Maya Hansen exclaimed, "My God, it's unbelievable that you stopped their self-destruction. That's a 3000-degree Celsius explosion."
Charles turned to Maya Hansen and said, "Maya, you need to fully disclose everything you know."
"Lyell, arrange for these nine popsicles to be sent to Orochimaru's lab."
"Yes, Lord Charles!"
Realizing she could no longer hide the truth, Maya nodded and said, "I'll tell you everything I know."
…
Meanwhile, in the air, Rhodey, piloting the Iron Patriot, received another command from headquarters.
"This is support team Blue Zero, sending you coordinates of a suspicious Mandarin signal."
Rhodey, looking at the received coordinates, responded, "Got it!"
Following the coordinates, Rhodey stormed into the location. Bursting through the door, he lit up his weapons and shouted, "Don't move."
What met his eyes was a group of workers in black robes, operating sewing machines to make sportswear.
Scanning the area and finding no weapon threats, Rhodey reported back reluctantly, "Support team Blue Zero, this is a sportswear manufacturing workshop. We've got the wrong target again."
The workers, seeing the Iron Patriot, excitedly approached to shake his hand.
Believing it to be a sweatshop, Rhodey said, "You're free now, if you weren't before."
Rhodey shook hands with each worker who were expressing gratitude. The last worker, a woman in a black robe, held his hand and bowed repeatedly.
"No need to thank me, ma'am. It's my honor."
The next moment, her hand turned red-hot. The Iron Patriot suit immediately reported malfunctions, the extreme heat turning its arm red.
Rhodey fell down.
The woman removed her veil, revealing her blonde hair, and took out her phone to report, "Seven, I got my hands on the Iron Patriot armor."
Rhodey, seeing the malfunction messages on his HUD, said, "If you want this suit, you'll have to pry my cold, dead body out of it."
The woman hung up the phone and looked at the fallen Iron Patriot, saying calmly, "That's exactly what I intend to do, Colonel."
…
Elsewhere-
Believing Killian sold the product to the Mandarin, Tony Stark prepared to return to Harley's place to suit up for battle. On the road, Tony Stark called Harley and asked, "Harley, tell me the situation. Give me a full report."
Harley answered while munching on candy, "Okay, I'm eating candy. Do you think I should keep eating?"
Tony casually asked, "How much have you eaten already?"
"Two or three bowls, maybe."
As Harley reached for more candy, Tony, concerned, asked, "Can you see clearly?"
"Sort of."
"Then you're fine. Hand the phone to JARVIS."
Harley placed the phone near the faceplate of Mark 42, and Tony asked, "JARVIS, what's the status?"
"No issues at all. I've been quite well lately. But at the end of sentences, I tend to misspeak. Also, sir, you were right. Each time I accessed AIM's download link facility, I found Mandarin's broadcast signals."
Tony asked, "Where are they? Far East, Europe, North Africa, Iran, Pakistan, or Syria? Where exactly?"
JARVIS replied, "Actually, in Miami, sir."
Hearing this location, Tony paused and said, "Alright, kid, I'll teach you how to reboot JARVIS's voice drive step-by-step, but not now. Harley, where is it exactly?"
Tony, suspecting a reporting error, had Harley double-check the location on the computer.
"Look at the screen and tell me where."
Harley picked up the phone, checked the computer screen, and said, "It definitely says Miami, Florida."
After confirming the address again, Tony asked about the suit's status, "Alright, most importantly, I need my suit. How's it doing?"
"It's not charging."
Hearing this, Tony slammed on the brakes and stopped the car.
JARVIS then chimed in, "Sir, it is charging, but there's an issue with the power source. It might not be able to reactivate Mark 42."
Tony quickly asked, "What's wrong with the power? Is it okay?"
"That's my suit. I can't... I won't... I don't want..."
Before Tony could finish, he began taking deep breaths as his anxiety attack kicked in again.
"Oh no, it's happening again."
Tony opened the car door to get some fresh air but collapsed as soon as he stepped out.
Harley, concerned, asked, "Tony, are you having another attack?"
"I didn't even mention New York this time."
Tony, removing his cap and leaning against the car, replied, "You just mentioned it by saying you didn't."
Harley apologized, "Alright, my bad."
Tony, frustrated, said, "God, what do I do now?"
At this moment, his body was trembling uncontrollably.
Harley shouted, "Breathe! Listen to me, breathe."
"You're a mechanic, right?"
"Yeah."
"You said so."
"Yes, I did."
"Then why don't you build something and fix it?"
With Harley's words sparking an idea, Tony quickly recovered, stood up, and said, "Alright, thanks, kid."
Back in the car, Tony drove to a supermarket to buy supplies to make some tools and fix Mark 42's charging problem.
Soon, he had two shopping carts full of materials and was heading back to Harley's place.
…
Meanwhile-
Jiraiya, considering Kankuro's condition, wasn't running at full speed.
"Parker, has Tony's position changed?"
Parker, running alongside, turned to the two and said, "He has been moving constantly. Looks like there's no immediate danger."
"And judging by the movement and speed, it doesn't seem like he has been kidnapped."
Hearing this, Kankuro breathed a sigh of relief.
Jiraiya looked at Kankuro and asked, "Do you need to rest?"
Kankuro shook his head, "I can keep going. Let's find Tony first."
Jiraiya nodded, "Alright."
Quickly, the two of them, along with Parker, continued moving through the night.
###
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