The screen flickered.
[In the dark of night, Tony drove swiftly, making a phone call. "Harry, tell me how it's going. I want a detailed report," he said.]
[Harley responded lazily, "I'm still eating candy. Do you want me to keep going?"]
[Tony snapped, "Give the phone to Jarvis."]
[Harley placed the phone on Mark 42's helmet while continuing to munch on candy and Tony's voice came through: "Jarvis, how's the situation?"]
[Jarvis replied, "Quite a problem, sir. There was a clear passage, but at the end of the sentence, I misheard 'cranberry.' Also, you were right, when I acquired the AIM downlink equipment, I located the broadcast signal of the black-robed master."]
["Where are you talking about?" Tony asked sharply.]
[Jarvis answered, "It's in a specific city."]
[Tony sighed. "Alright, kid. I'll teach you how to restart Jarvis's voice drive, but not now. I need my suit. Most importantly, how is he now?"]
[Harley grimaced. "He's not charged."]
[Tony slammed on the brakes, the car veering sharply to the side with a squeal of tires. His demeanor appeared increasingly unstable; sweat beaded on his forehead, and his hands clenched tightly as if battling inner demons.]
[Jarvis's calm voice broke through: "Sir, it's actually charging. But there's a problem with the power supply. We need to restore power to the Mark 42."]
[Tony shouted, "What's wrong with the power? This is my suit, can't I just..."]
[His breathing grew rapid, and his condition visibly deteriorated.]
At the federal hospital, Jay watched the screen in awe.
Tetsuo nodded solemnly. "This isn't just anxiety; his dependence on the armor is overwhelming. It's almost impossible for him to leave it behind."
Jay looked thoughtfully at Tetsuo. "It's like we can't live without our mobile phones. If the battery dies, we rush to fix it immediately. Otherwise, it shuts down?"
Tetsuo confirmed, "Exactly. His reaction suggests a dependence far deeper than we thought. If this isn't a passing phase…"
"It'll be even harder for him later," Jay murmured, eyes fixed on the broadcast.
Suddenly, he said, "The suit created him, but it might also destroy him."
Tetsuo nodded in agreement. "Without the suit, Tony is just an ordinary person."
This sentiment wasn't just theirs; it echoed across the audience and the people of Earth. Tony relied entirely on his suit, not even on Rogers' physical prowess.
[Inside the car, Tony was panting heavily, clearly aware that his condition was worsening. He hastily opened the door and staggered out, leaning against it. His eyes widened in panic.]
[Harley's voice crackled through: "Tony, are you having another attack? I didn't even mention New York."]
[Tony wavered, collapsing to the ground. "Right, you said it by name, but then denied it…"]
[He clutched his shoulders, trembling violently, his eyes showing distress.]
Spectators watched with concern.
"Hey, Tony, you've got to hold on. I hope you can pull through!"
"Come on, Tony! You're the best!"
"Stay strong!"
Countless fans cheered for him.
[Harley's voice soothed, "Just breathe, Tony. Just breathe. You're a mechanic, right?"]
[Tony steadied slightly and replied, "Right."]
[Harley encouraged him, "You said so."]
["I did," Tony admitted.]
["Why not build something?" Harley prompted.]
[Tony's rapid breathing slowed, and he seemed to snap out of his distress. He tilted his head, then stood up, saying, "Okay, thanks."]
"Does that count?"
Tony regarded the sky, thinking about the power of the Chitauri. Only the suit gave him confidence, a false sense of security. That reliance, however, was what Harley's words had awakened in him. His true strength wasn't in the armor; it was in his knowledge. He was starting to feel inspired. What could Tony build next?
That's right, he could craft more than suits. His ingenuity was limitless. Knowledge, not iron, was his greatest weapon.
[The screen flickered, then cut to Tony at a supermarket, shopping. He returned home and began assembling a stun gun, a glove with various components, and some bottled chemicals.]
"Tony… what's all this?" someone asked.
"I saw that he also bought fertilizer," another remarked, puzzled.
"I don't understand," someone else said.
"The hardworking man is really impressive!"
"To make weapons, I only know one formula," Tony muttered. "Nitrate and disulfide charcoal?"
"God, nitrosulfur charcoal!"
"Whoever's working hard with this equipment, they're brave."
"Tony's a master of weapons!"
"Don't laugh, I don't know if this stuff is useful."
"When the time comes, don't just kill the enemy, maybe it'll kill you first!"
"If you learn math, physics, and chemistry, you can go anywhere without fear!"
"That chemical bomb in the water, Tony's trying to eliminate all trouble?"
"Get ready for Tony's reckoning!"
In the training grounds, Ren and Lara watched Tony's progress with wide eyes.
Ren was stunned, speechless for a moment. Finally, he shook his head. "Can these things be useful? I've never seen anything like it!"
Living in the wild all year, Ren knew how to craft small tools, but Tony's inventions baffled him. How powerful could those tiny gloves be?
"They're probably not as strong as my fists," Lara said with a grin. "But of course, my brother is the best, Battle First!"
Ren rolled his eyes. "Watch your words."
Elenora and Aldice observed Tony's new creations with concern.
Elenora said, "Without the suit, Tony's strength has dropped dramatically. I don't think he's as capable as us. Relying on these little gadgets? Better not to die trying."
Aldice nodded. "I agree. I'm not the only one who thinks so. Many are telling Tony to hold back."
No one argued further. The suit had left a deep impression on everyone. Without it, Tony and Jarvis were just ordinary men with knowledge.
Ren watched the screen, nodding slowly. "Let's see if it works."
Behind him, Noël crossed his arms. "He should wait. It'd be better if Jarvis's charge finished, then he could fly in with the armor."
The crowd nodded in agreement.
Lara whispered, "Tony's vengeful. He won't wait long."
Everyone was stunned, then understood. Elenora shook her head slightly, still worried. Even so, she believed Tony's reckless move was a step toward death. Terrorists wouldn't wait for him.
[The scene shifted to a heavily guarded villa. Tony, perched in a tree in the distance, peered through a telescope, observing the patrols inside.]
"Tony's really here?"
"All alone? That's brave!"
"The place is heavily guarded!"
"Something's definitely up!"
"Tony, wait for the Mark 42 to fully charge."
"That guard dog looks scary."
"Those terrorists are going too far."
"Tony's trying to save the world alone."
[With a bag slung over his shoulder, Tony crept toward the wall. He dashed forward with force, scaling the perimeter stealthily. Approaching a guard on the stairs, he threw a special rope, entangling the target instantly. A second guard appeared, and Tony raised a homemade nail gun-like device to attack.]
[As he spun around, he dragged the guard behind him and stunned him with an improvised electric shocker.]
[Meanwhile, a blue toy ball rolled nearby. One of the terrorists picked it up, and it exploded. The other drew a gun, but Tony fired first, knocking him into the flower bed.]
"Wha—?!"
"F*ck!"
"Supermarket weapons are deadly?!"
"Can you believe it?!"
"Tony! The police are calling you back!"
"That's right! @FederalPoliceDept!"
"Just one word, deserved!"
Tony's actions flowed smoothly. Critics cheered: "Who said Tony can't fight without armor? Come see for yourself!"
"Master math, physics, and chemistry, travel the world fearlessly!"
"It's so cool! So exciting!"
"Tony's a playboy, but he's tough, he kills them with his bare hands!"
The audience was electrified. Compared to armored combat, Tony's unarmed takedown of terrorists was even more thrilling.
Back in the training ground, Elenora, Aldice, and others looked at Tony's makeshift weapons with wide eyes and flushed faces.
Aldice's nose dripped sweat. His lips pressed tightly together as he stared, overwhelmed.
"Are these really that powerful?" Noël asked, lowering his arms. He wanted to find a hole and hide in it.
Meanwhile, Ren's expression was stubborn. "It's not bad. The power's okay."
Lara pouted. "Brother, you're just stubborn; these are much better than what you make!"
Ren shook his head and said nothing.