"Pepper might not be able to endure the invasion of the Virus." In the Human Potential Development Organization, Jay stared intently at the screen.
"Most of the people who took Killian's tests were soldiers, people with exceptional physical fitness," she said solemnly.
"But Pepper… she's just an ordinary woman. The risk of failure is enormous." Tetsuo frowned. "Killian's methods are far too extreme."
Deep down, a conflicted thought surfaced in Jay's mind. Part of her wanted Tony to join Killian's organization because, if he did, they might be able to seize the Virus's improvement process, which could be an enormous breakthrough for them. Yet, joining would also mean aiding the enemy. The future had never looked more uncertain.
With a quiet sigh, Jay turned back to the display.
[On screen, Killian watched Pepper's pain with chilling calmness. He said to Tony, "This is live, Tony. I'm not sure if you fully understand the situation."]
[He pointed toward Pepper, "This body is deciding whether to accept the Virus or give up completely. If she gives up, well... what you'll see will be unforgettable."]
[Tony's eyes welled up with tears; every word from Killian struck like a blade to the heart.]
["But before you make your choice," Killian continued evenly, "you'll have to endure unimaginable pain."]
[Setting aside the remote, he rose and gripped Tony's neck, orange-red lines flaring across his own skin, "We haven't discussed compensation yet," he growled. "Tell me, what more do you want?"]
The chat flared.
"Killian injected himself with the Extremis Virus too?!"
"He's insane, he turned himself!"
"His state looks stable... He's been hiding this all along!"
"Once a person falls that far, there's no coming back!"
"Tony's in grave danger now!"
"Wait, Maya? She's waking up?!"
"The turnaround's coming!"
The next scene stunned everyone.
[Killian strangled Tony until a sudden voice cut through the chaos. Maya's voice sounded, "Let him go!"]
[Killian paused, sighing as he turned. "You wait first."]
[Maya stood there, syringe in hand, the needle aimed at her neck.]
[Killian spread his hands. "Maya…"]
["I said let him go," she snapped.]
[Killian frowned. "What are you doing?"]
["1200 milliliters," Maya said coldly. "Half of that is enough to kill me."]
The viewers erupted:
"She still cares for Tony!"
"Maya can't stand watching him suffer!"
"She's the inventor of the Extremis; this is her redemption!"
"She's trying to save Tony the only way she can."
[Killian chuckled darkly. "There's always someone testing my patience. Maya, hand me the syringe."]
[Maya didn't move. "Killian, if I die, what happens to your soldiers? To your precious formula? To you when you overheat?"]
[Killian's expression hardened. Without another word, he drew his pistol and shot her.]
["Maya!" Tony gasped.]
[Killian turned calmly to him. "Good news, there's now a vacancy at the top."]
[Maya collapsed into a pool of blood while Tony stared in horror.]
["You're insane," he whispered.]
[Killian smirked. "No, Tony. I'm a dreamer. But I do have a lunatic under my command, and I'll enjoy watching his performance tonight."]
[With that, he ascended the stairs and left.]
The live chat froze in disbelief.
"He just… shot Maya?"
"She was the key to stabilizing the Extremis formula!"
"He's lost it."
"Or maybe he's making a point, he's showing Tony who's in control."
"This virus is darker than we thought."
"What about Pepper? Tony's still trapped!"
"At least Killian didn't kill him… yet."
Jay exhaled softly. "If no cure appears soon, Pepper might not survive this."
[Killian follows Savin to another room.]
[Savin said, "Once the Patriot is on board, I can handle it in nine or ten minutes."]
[Killian smirked. "Good. But last time I checked, there was still someone inside."]
[Inside the chamber, a worker sawed desperately at the Patriot suit's shell, sparks flew, but the armor held firm.]
"Did they actually bring Rhodes over, too?" someone gasped.
"They're trying to cut open the Patriot suit? That's impossible!"
"Those alloys are gold-titanium, no way they can breach it!"
"As long as Rhodes resists, that armor won't open!"
In Essen Heavy Industries Group, Astor and his team burst into laughter as they watched the screen.
An employee chuckled. "Mr. Astor, do they really think that tool can cut through the Patriot's shell?"
"You can't expect much," another replied. "They probably don't understand what they're dealing with."
Astor waved his hand. "Let's see what Killian does next."
[Killian enters, discarding his coat. He approached Rhodes with a chilling smile. "Hello, Colonel. Step aside."]
[Then he pressed his glowing hands onto the Patriot's armor. Instantly, searing red light spread across the suit as heat rippled outward. His eyes gleamed crimson; fiery lines ran across his body.]
["Relax," he said. "We'll help you out."]
[Savin warned, "This will destroy the armor!"]
[Killian smirked. "You'll fix it, won't you?"]
[The temperature surged. The Patriot's shell glowed like molten metal.]
Everyone watching was stunned.
"The temperature must be over a thousand degrees to do that!"
"He's far stronger than the others who used the virus."
"Even Rogers wouldn't want to touch that!"
Astor frowned. "At this rate, the Patriots' self-protection mechanism will trigger!"
Faces paled across the room. If that armor opened under such heat, the results would be catastrophic.
[Inside the Patriot suit, alarms blared as Rhodes's HUD flickered. Sweat streamed down his face.]
[Killian's voice echoed. "Are you coming out, Colonel?"]
["Do not open, do not open! Don't open! Don't open!" Rhodes yelled. But the armor's protection system kicked in, and the suit opened on its own.]
["Alright, let's go!" Rhodes leapt out and landed a punch square on Savin's head.]
[Killian's body flared with molten light, lava-like lines pulsing across his skin. He opened his mouth and unleashed a jet of fire.]
"Spitfire?!" Jay gasped.
"He can breathe fire now?" Tetsuo blurted in disbelief. This was no longer about enhanced strength or regeneration. This was something else entirely.
Viewers across Terra were left speechless.
"Holy, he's breathing fire!"
"Is the Virus… some kind of magic?"
"I want that power too! This is insane!"