Tony Stark's Mark II was equipped with shockproof measures, but in pursuit of a sleek design, there wasn't enough space for proper protection. When he fell heavily from the air, he was left battered, feeling as if his bones were about to break.
In the next moment, a massive foot stomped down with force—it was none other than Obadiah's Iron Overlord.
"Tony, you still like making these flashy toys, huh?" Obadiah sneered, stepping on the Mark II armor. "You certainly have talent, but you waste it on things like this. It's embarrassing. Did you bring me the information I want?"
Obadiah didn't waste any time. He knew the situation was dangerous; he was still a wanted criminal. While it was often said that rich people in the Beacon Country could do whatever they wanted, that wasn't entirely true. There were limits, and not even capital could always have its way. It was one thing for corporations to dominate, but when it came to individuals, it was a different story.
Obadiah needed Tony Stark to hand over the information quickly, then dispose of him, leaving him as the only one in the world who knew the secrets of nuclear fusion. Once he fully developed the technology, it would revolutionize the energy industry, and he would become the richest man in the world. The fortune and reputation he had lost in Stark Industries could be reclaimed instantly.
"Don't even think about it!" Tony Stark spat, pushing Obadiah aside.
The two clashed, and as they fought, Pepper Potts, who had been held captive, saw her chance and fled. She wasn't naïve; she knew better than to stay as a bargaining chip.
As for Obadiah, he didn't care about Pepper. She was simply a tool to lure Tony Stark. Now that Tony had arrived, she was no longer of any use to him.
"You're really something!" Obadiah sneered. "You're just as stubborn as your dead father, but it's all useless. People like you might have a higher IQ than the average person, but do you really think you're a big shot? Hah!"
Obadiah launched another vicious attack. Compared to Tony Stark's fully upgraded Mark II, his Iron Overlord was clunky and unwieldy.
Mark II may have looked better, but in battle, looks weren't everything.
Obadiah's relentless assault nearly crushed Tony Stark underfoot. Tony, realizing the dire situation, was about to power up the engines to fly away. But Obadiah wasn't going to let him escape that easily. He stomped over, yanked him down, and threw him to the ground, knocking the wind out of Tony.
Tony Stark could barely catch his breath. He'd always known that in a fight between a small body and a large one, the smaller would be at a disadvantage. It was like a 1.6-meter-tall person facing off against someone who was two meters tall—no matter how much training the shorter person had, the taller one could easily overpower them.
Tony had once considered building a large mech to fight against foes like the Hulk or Abomination. But now, he was experiencing firsthand the immense pressure of facing a giant.
Though the bulky, black Iron Overlord wasn't the most attractive design, it was incredibly powerful.
"Tony, let's see if I don't rip you out of that turtle shell!" Obadiah taunted, a laugh of triumph escaping him.
He felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction as he vented his anger, stomping Tony Stark into the ground. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated joy for him.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Each stomp made Tony Stark feel as if his body was about to crumble. The Mark II was riddled with cracks, and it seemed as though Tony was on the verge of being beaten to death.
Suddenly, a clear and slightly playful voice rang out.
"Ah, isn't this our Iron Man, Tony Stark?"
Tony's spirits lifted instantly. He recognized the voice—it was Luo Chen. Why was he here?
It wasn't a hallucination, nor was he imagining things. Luo Chen had arrived, hearing the commotion and rushing to the scene.
Luo Chen wasn't specifically monitoring Tony Stark, but with his superhuman hearing, he often picked up on things. Usually, he controlled it to avoid overwhelming his senses with too much information.
"Need help?" Luo Chen asked casually, floating in mid-air.
"Definitely!" Tony Stark replied hastily, his pride as a genius scientist forgotten in that moment. He knew that if things continued like this, he would die.
"I'll give you ten million. Just help me out this time!" Tony added without hesitation.
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