With a loud "slap!" Matthews, who had been holding Pepper, suddenly seemed distracted for some reason. Pepper seized the opportunity, slapping him across the face while fiercely kicking his chest with both feet, trying to break free from his grip using the momentum.
Unfortunately, although Pepper had learned a few self-defense moves from Tony Stark after the frequent occurrences of extraordinary events, her speed and strength were still far inferior to those of a true extraordinary being.
Had it been an ordinary man, Pepper's combo might have caught him off guard. However, against Matthews, even though his body temperature hadn't risen to a dangerous level, her kick failed to push him away. Instead, it only served to snap Matthews out of his dazed state.
"Hmph! I didn't do anything to you, and yet you're acting out?" Matthews said with displeasure as a hint of frustration flashed across his eyes.
Just as he finished speaking, the door to the executive office was suddenly kicked open with a loud "bang!" and a large group of security personnel rushed in, armed with various laser weapons.
With even the average New Yorker now equipped with alien technology in the new wave of arms races, Stark Industries' security team was no exception, boasting weapons on par with those of the Chitauri.
However, having advanced equipment is very different from being able to use it effectively. Especially since these security personnel, despite wielding laser weapons, were still ordinary people. Moreover, with Pepper in Matthews' hands, they dared not open fire recklessly. All they could do was shout, "You dare! Release Miss Pepper immediately!"
Before the scolding could even finish, a terrifying explosion erupted within Stark Tower, shaking the entire building. Had Stark Tower not been built with top-tier materials and equipped with explosion-proof and earthquake-resistant mechanisms, the building would have collapsed on the spot.
Although the building remained standing, the security personnel at the forefront were swallowed by the explosion, and the remaining employees of Stark Industries were frantically fleeing the building, not daring to stay any longer.
After all, while working at Stark Industries came with many perks, it wasn't worth risking their lives for a paycheck.
Even the surviving security personnel were conflicted. They were just security guards, after all. Even trained military and special forces would hesitate when faced with such extraordinary powers.
Despite their advanced weapons, the disparity in power was too great. Continuing to fight wouldn't save Pepper; it would just mean their deaths.
After some deliberation, one of the security personnel said, "It doesn't look like that guy can fly. We should lure him outside where we'll have a better chance to aim. Rushing into the office through a single door is too risky."
"But if we go outside and he takes Pepper, how will we explain that to the boss?" another security officer hesitated.
"Better than dying here! I'm heading downstairs. You can stay if you want." The first officer turned and left, weapon in hand, as others followed him. None of them wanted to be singled out if Tony Stark demanded answers later.
"Hahahaha!" Inside the executive office, Matthews laughed smugly and looked at Pepper. "It seems like your security team isn't as fearless as I thought. I figured a superhero's company would hire people braver than this."
"They're human. Of course, they fear death," Pepper responded calmly. "Don't you fear death?"
"Heh, of course I do. But sometimes, death is just an escape. What about you? You're so calm. Do you think I won't kill you? Or are you waiting for Iron Man to save you?" Matthews asked, his tone now more mocking.
"I am afraid, but I trust him," Pepper said with conviction. Tony Stark had been unreliable in the past, but ever since becoming Iron Man, he had grown a lot. Pepper firmly believed that Tony, having already been informed of Matthews' plan, would come to save her.
"And you? You looked like you were figuring out how to escape earlier. Did you kidnap me on a whim, without any real plan? Or did you not expect to succeed? Where are your accomplices? Aren't they coming to help?" Pepper asked, trying to pry more information from Matthews based on his earlier actions and the intelligence Tony had provided.
"Escape plan? Didn't your security team just suggest one? Let's go. Stop trying to probe me," Matthews replied after a brief pause, quickly dismissing her questions. Grabbing Pepper, he rushed toward the stairwell.
He had no intention of using the elevator, fearing that after his earlier explosion, the elevators might malfunction, leaving him trapped when Tony arrived.
Matthews moved quickly. As his body heat increased to the point that even Pepper could feel it burning her skin, they reached the ground floor of Stark Tower. The building above was now completely empty, but some security personnel remained stationed on the ground floor, ready to try one last time to stop Matthews.
Of course, this was partially due to Tony Stark contacting his security team and offering them a hefty bonus. A basic paycheck wasn't enough to risk their lives, but a generous payout was worth the gamble.
Tony's request wasn't even that they save Pepper or kill Matthews. He just needed them to buy time until he could arrive.
As soon as Matthews reached the lobby, a laser shot at him, but he deftly dodged it.
"Ugh, more trouble," Matthews muttered, retreating behind a wall and assessing the situation. A sly grin spread across his face. "You want to save Pepper? Fine, then keep shooting. I'll use her as a shield. Let's see how accurate your weapons really are."
In the past, skilled marksmen could shoot around hostages to hit criminals, but the new laser weapons didn't allow for such precision. Their immense power meant that even a slight hit would severely injure Pepper.
Upon hearing Matthews' words, the security team hesitated, unsure whether to continue their assault, especially after seeing Pepper being used as a human shield.
"What should we do now, boss?" the security personnel asked as they halted their actions and tried to contact Tony. However, there was no response, as if Tony Stark had suddenly gone silent.
With no instructions from Tony, the guards were even more reluctant to act, fearing they might make the wrong move. Even those who had been eager to earn their bonuses were beginning to lose their nerve, hiding themselves to avoid becoming targets.
"Hmph, if I didn't need to take you back alive, I'd blow up these fools," Matthews muttered, casting a cold glance at the surrounding guards. He suppressed his anger, knowing that causing too much destruction could provoke them into a desperate attack, which might also endanger Pepper.
He continued to walk toward the main entrance, holding Pepper in front of him as a shield. "Your life sure is valuable. Just by holding you, I've got a free pass out of here..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a sudden heavy blow struck Matthews. His body temperature spiked as his head was knocked back. The force of the attack sent him flying, leaving him dazed. Whoever struck him had done so with full force.
Pepper, who had been in Matthews' grasp, was flung into the air. However, just as she was about to hit the ground, a pool of liquid metal materialized from thin air, catching her gently and lowering her safely.
"Tony!" Pepper cried out, her voice full of emotion. She had been terrified throughout the ordeal, but Tony Stark had not let her down. He had come and rescued her.
"Pepper, wait outside. I'm going to teach this guy a lesson. I need everyone to know—messing with me is one thing, but going after you is a death sentence," Tony said, his voice serious as his armor materialized around him.
"Are you planning to blow up our company? How about I stay here to handle the aftermath, and you take him outside? This guy might explode again, and if the building gets damaged, we'll have to close for repairs," Pepper said, regaining her composure and reminding Tony, showing her strong businesswoman demeanor.
"Yes, my queen. As you command!" Tony replied with a hint of amusement. A ball of liquid metal flew toward Matthews, encasing him in a sphere.
"Damn it!" Matthews snapped out of his daze, furious and confused about how Tony had managed to sneak up on him and what this strange metal was that trapped him.
Drawing from his previous experience dismantling Pepper's armor, Matthews began heating his body again, causing the metal to soften slightly as the exterior of the sphere began to turn red from the intense heat.
However, this metal had a much higher melting point than Pepper's suit. Matthews wasn't able to escape as quickly, making him increasingly anxious, especially as he felt himself losing balance—the metal sphere was now lifting him into the air!
"It's almost melting!" Matthews thought as he desperately increased his body temperature, his whole form resembling molten lava. The metal sphere began to liquefy even further, and his hope grew.
But before Matthews could react, he was abruptly dropped from the metal ball, crashing to the ground in a humiliating heap. Meanwhile, the liquid metal returned to Tony's armor under his command.
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