'Whoosh—!'
An orange glow ignited from the tail of the Boeing 777, signaling extreme heat corroding the aircraft's structure.
At first, scattered sparks appeared, then rapidly spread and merged into a blazing inferno, melting the plane's rear and emitting a screeching sound.
Within moments, thick smoke billowed as the metal tail bent and twisted under the intense heat, eventually dripping molten metal onto the runway and turning the rear half of the plane into a sea of flames.
"What a grand entrance, Aldrich Killian," Kagura Hitomi remarked as she turned to face the molten core of the blaze. "Looks like you've given yourself a bit of an upgrade."
"You Avengers... always meddling in other people's business!" Killian's voice roared from the inferno. "And YOU! Flashblade! I have no quarrel with you! Why are you targeting me?"
"No quarrel?" Kagura's golden eyes glinted with icy resolve. "Then tell me, what did those soldiers and civilians do to deserve death at your hands?"
"Death? I saved them!" Killian slowly emerged from the fire, his body glowing with the intense heat of the Extremis virus.
He looked like a walking human torch. "The Extremis virus cured their disabilities. They should be thanking me!"
"And then you turned them into weapons? How compassionate of you, Mr. Killian." Kagura sneered. "Your so-called breakthrough, your so-called research, it's all for your own selfish gain. There's no progress, no responsibility—only your pathetic ambition."
"Is it wrong to pursue one's own goals?!" Killian raised his hand, surrounding himself with molten metal to form a blazing suit of armor.
"I once sought partnership with Tony Stark, but he dismissed me like I was nothing!"
"Judging by your current state, it seems Stark made the right choice." Kagura waved her hand, commanding the "Sparrow" drones to attack.
"You're nothing but a clown, seeking validation through destruction."
The drones, equipped with cryo-blades to counter the Extremis virus, swarmed toward Killian.
"I've done my research on you, Mr. Killian." Kagura's gaze was cold as she watched the man emerge from the molten chaos. "All you've ever done is market yourself, steal others' work, and pretend to be a scientist. You're not even in the same league as Tony Stark. You're just a pathetic fraud."
"You bitch! I'll kill you!" Killian howled, striking down the drones with molten metal tendrils.
"Stark mocked me! Maya Hansen betrayed me! The World Security Council dismissed me! And now you... YOU will die like the rest! I am the true Mandarin!"
The small, agile drones relied on speed and cutting precision, but against the sheer heat of Killian's Extremis-fueled body, they melted before they could land a blow.
"You think I'm looking down on you?" Kagura stepped forward.
"No, Killian. The one who looks down on you the most... is you. You wasted your life pretending to be a scientist, stealing others' achievements to validate yourself."
"But deep down, you despise who you are. If you can't accept yourself, how do you expect others to?"
Deactivating her "Dragoon" module, Kagura drew a vibranium dagger from her waist.
"You threw away your future, your company, and your humanity, all for the sake of proving your worth. But true recognition comes from genuine achievements, no matter how small or humble. That... is what defines Aldrich Killian."
"You think you can lecture me, little girl?!" Killian roared, hurling molten projectiles at Kagura. "If the world refuses to acknowledge me, I'll create a world that does!"
'Whoosh—! Whoosh—! Whoosh—!'
Burning chunks of molten metal rained down on Kagura, but she gracefully danced through the firestorm, her movements elegant and fluid.
"This is why you tried to seize control of the World Security Council? This is why you became a monster and destroyed everything you built?"
"You don't understand! You don't understand! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!"
Killian lunged forward, wielding a piece of the Boeing's tail fin, now a blazing molten greatsword. "I'll make you all pay! I'll make the world remember the name Aldrich Killian!"
Kagura smirked coldly. "What a pitiful fool. With your intellect, you could've achieved greatness. Instead, you wasted it on deception and self-promotion. Pathetic."
Drawing her blade, she activated her combat skill. "Enough talk. If a one-on-one fight is what you want, I'll gladly cut your delusions to pieces."
Killian laughed maniacally, swinging his molten sword. "Without your precious Iron Man, you're nothing! I can't wait to hear Stark scream when he sees you burn!"
Kagura's eyes narrowed as her UI interface displayed:
[Charging Combat System: Activated]
"You think you stand a chance against me in a one-on-one battle? Don't make me laugh."