Stark Industries, research and development base.
Potts arrived there together with Coulson and his team.
"District 16, this way!" she led them forward, familiar with the layout of the building.
With Coulson's help and the use of tactical bombs, the group broke through the door and entered the production hall inside District 16.
There they saw a huge steel suit, newly assembled.
"You were right… he's building suits," said Coulson, his face serious, aware of the threat it represented.
"I thought it would be bigger," muttered Potts, turning toward the shelf behind her. On it hung torn cables, still sparking.
"Split up and be careful!" Coulson ordered the team.
---
Whirr!
Tony pierced through the night sky in his suit, but the flight was unstable, and he was falling in a steep dive.
"Jarvis! Check the energy level!"
"Sir, the reactor is at 48% and continues to drop. This core is not designed for long flights."
"Just keep me updated!" Tony replied, determined to see how long the reactor could last.
"Jarvis! Help me get to Potts!"
"Understood, sir."
At the same time, in the research facility, Potts barely managed to pull out her phone and, as soon as the connection was established, shouted:
"Tony! Obadiah… he—!"
"I know! Just get out of there right now!" Tony snapped back, feeling his anxiety rise. He accelerated to maximum speed.
But suddenly his whole body trembled sharply, as if someone had pressed down on him from above.
"Jarvis?!"
"Sir… it seems someone is standing on your back," the AI reported with a trace of uncertainty.
"What!? Who the hell?!" Tony was startled. He was flying at such speed that it was unthinkable for someone to sneak up on his back.
Yet, the weight was real, though it didn't significantly slow his flight.
"It's me."
Alaric's voice echoed in Tony's head.
"Oh, fuck! You're standing on my back?!" Tony shouted in surprise.
"Yes," Alaric answered calmly, standing with both feet on Tony's back, gazing into the night wind. His levitating cloak fluttered behind him like dark crimson wings. Regardless of the flight's speed, he stood still and composed.
"Damn it! Can't you see I'm busy right now!" Tony shouted angrily. Although he was grateful to Alaric for saving his life earlier, he had no patience for him in the middle of the mission.
"I'm just here to remind you not to forget about me."
"I haven't forgotten! Now get off! My reactor is running out of energy!" Tony yelled.
In the distance, he could already see the research and development center of his company. On the ground, he spotted the massive robot, the Iron Monger, whose next-generation reactor, stolen by Obadiah, shone brightly on his chest.
"Low battery? I'll help you again," said Alaric.
"How the hell?!" Tony's face lit up with hope. With the mage's help, he had a better chance against Obadiah.
"Recharge the battery," Alaric replied and crouched down, pressing his palm against Tony's suit. His right hand glowed and flashed.
Zap!
In an instant, Tony's suit was enveloped in electric light.
"Ahhh!!" Tony screamed and plummeted like a stone.
---
Meanwhile, Obadiah stood in front of Potts, raising his right arm with the built-in Gatling gun.
"Goodbye, Potts," he said coldly.
"Ahhh!!" Potts screamed in panic, instinctively stepping back.
At the moment Obadiah was about to open fire, a scream suddenly came from above.
Obadiah and Potts simultaneously looked up and saw Tony in the red suit plummeting from the sky.
He crashed to the ground, rolled several times, and stopped in front of Obadiah.
"…?"
"Tony Stark! You never fail to surprise me!" Obadiah laughed, clearly pleased with his condition.
"Damn it… it hurts…" Tony muttered, still numb from the electric shock and cursing the culprit inwardly.
"Hm? Why isn't your suit resistant to electricity?" Alaric's doubtful voice echoed again in Tony's head. He remembered how in the future Tony could withstand Thor's lightning without issue.
"Oh… I forgot your suit hasn't been upgraded yet," Alaric added, a bit embarrassed. "Sorry, Tony."
"Do you even know what you're doing?!" Tony was on the verge of despair. This guy was way too unreliable!
Fortunately, the electricity wasn't strong enough to seriously injure him.
"Sir, the core's power has been restored to 100%," Jarvis announced at just the right moment.
"Hm!? Seriously? It actually worked!" Tony looked at the holographic screen in front of him in surprise, shocked that Alaric's intervention had actually succeeded.