Tony Stark's expression darkened.
What he had been talking about were the APU exoskeleton mechs, not Nolan's liquid-metal monsters. But Tony Stark was Tony Stark. Explaining himself wasn't something he did unless it was to a woman, and only to clarify just how amazing he was.
At that moment, Jarvis's calm voice cut through the tension.
"Sir, the Legion will arrive on-site in ten seconds."
The words instantly restored Tony's smug arrogance. His lips curled into that familiar, self-satisfied grin as the countdown began.
"Ten… nine… eight… seven…"
With every number, his chest swelled a little higher. Then he chuckled, deliberately loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Yeah, you heard me. I was talking about those things. All of them. Trash."
As his words fell, the night sky roared with engines. The air split with a series of metallic howls, and one after another, a dozen armored figures dropped into place, their thrusters blazing as they hovered in perfect formation above the battlefield.
Tony spread his arms wide as if he were welcoming his personal choir.
These were his suits. His creations. His legacy.
This was the Iron Legion.
A dozen gleaming suits of armor formed his backdrop, each one catching the light like a banner of his genius.
The smugness on Tony's face was impossible to miss. Sure, the number was a little thin compared to the grandeur he envisioned, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that Nolan Lock had just seen what real power looked like.
Nolan's eyes tracked the mechanical display. He had to admit, the sight of that many suits lined up together, engines thrumming in unison, was undeniably impressive. It was a spectacle worthy of headlines.
Still, he couldn't help the irritation that flared inside him.
"That show-off bastard," Nolan muttered under his breath.
The Iron Legion had cut into his perfect performance. What should have been a flawless hundred-point entrance was now down to ninety, maybe less.
He let out a low laugh and spoke just loud enough for Tony to hear.
"Looks flashy enough, I'll give you that. But tell me, Tony did you bring all that firepower just to watch from the sidelines?"
Tony froze. His smile faltered for the briefest moment.
Of course he hadn't brought them just to stand around. He had intended for the Legion to join the fight, to show the world how his tech could crush anything in its path.
But the problem was obvious.
The Hulk who only minutes ago had been a roaring, unstoppable force now stood hunched and gasping for air. His muscles trembled, his chest heaved, and every breath rattled like thunder trying to break free from a cracked vessel.
It was over.
The fight had already ended.
His grand Legion, assembled with so much pride, had arrived too late. All they could do now was stand there like expensive spectators.
And sure enough, the inevitable happened.
With a guttural groan, the Hulk collapsed, his massive green form shrinking by the second. Muscles deflated, skin tone faded, and soon the monstrous giant was gone. What remained was a battered and unconscious Bruce Banner, sprawled on the ground.
The soldiers who had survived the chaos erupted with cheers. Their voices carried a raw, unrestrained relief.
They were alive.
These were hardened veterans, men and women used to facing death but nothing could erase the bone-deep terror of watching gods and monsters tear through the world.
Above, the few news helicopters still circling swooped in to capture the moment. Cameras zoomed in, microphones stretched to their limits, and every broadcast carried the same story: Nolan Lock, the hero who had turned the tide.
No one dared to snatch away his spotlight.
Not even Tony Stark.
Tony clenched his teeth, his jaw flexing as fury burned in his chest. The Legion had been his trump card, but they'd arrived too late. Instead of glory, they had only handed Nolan the stage on a silver platter.
Across from him, Nolan noticed his sour expression and let out a low, satisfied chuckle. For once, he felt the balance of their rivalry tilt firmly in his favor.
At that moment, General Thaddeus Ross strode forward, his boots grinding against the broken earth.
"Dr. Lock," Ross said, his voice tight. "When I visited Lock Industries, you never mentioned a model like the T-1000."
His eyes burned with a mixture of greed and accusation.
Nolan, perfectly composed, replied with disarming calm.
"At that time, the T-1000 was an immature prototype, not ready for market release. Even now, there are… issues. For instance, the cost of production is still extremely high."
To Ross, that explanation was little more than noise. He heard only one thing: price.
Money was never the issue. Banner was captured, the Hulk neutralized. Despite the collateral damage, his standing remained secure. And secure footing meant secure funding.
"Tell me the number," Ross pressed. "How much?"
Nolan paused as if considering, then said lightly, "Thirty-two million. And that's the lowest I can go."
Even Ross's seasoned composure cracked. His mouth twitched at the absurdity.
Thirty-two million dollars for a single unit.
That kind of money could buy a Black Hawk helicopter with change left over. Even worse, the T-800 units had only cost eight million each. For the same price, he could field four of those instead of one T-1000.
Ross's frown deepened. "Twenty-two million. That's a fair deal. I'll accept that."
Nolan let his features shift eyes thoughtful, expression conflicted, as though the offer tempted him. For a heartbeat, Ross believed he'd won.
Then Nolan shook his head firmly.
"No. Thirty-two million. Not a cent less. It's not about unwillingness, General. It's about impossibility. At this stage, I cannot lower the price."
Ross's gaze bored into him, hard and searching, but Nolan's face remained unflinching.
Finally, Ross relented with a sharp exhale. The price was high painfully so. But he knew the truth: once word spread of the T-1000, every government and private power on the planet would scramble to get one. If he didn't secure his share now, he'd lose the race entirely.
Nolan's smile widened as the deal closed. Bringing the T-1000 into the open had always been his plan, and the numbers had landed exactly where he wanted them.
Ross's ambition, however, didn't stop there.
The T-1000 was merely an appetizer. His true hunger focused on the armor Nolan currently wore.
The Thunder Hammer Suit.
Nolan noticed the glint in Ross's eyes. So did Tony Stark, whose brows pulled tight.
If the military gained access to Nolan's armor, the consequences could be catastrophic. Tony didn't even want to imagine that tech falling into the hands of terrorists.
Ross drew a long, steady breath.
"Dr. Lock. The suit you're wearing what's its name?"
"Thunder Hammer," Nolan answered.
Ross hesitated at the odd name but quickly brushed it aside. Names didn't matter. Ownership did.
"And how much for it?"
He cut straight to the heart of the matter.
Nolan shook his head.
"Sorry. Not for sale."
Ross stiffened. Those three words were the ones he hated most. Non-negotiable. Off-limits. Not for sale.
Tony Stark's suits had been the same. Untouchable.
And now, Nolan's was too.
Nolan elaborated with an easy smile. "The Thunder Hammer Suit isn't ready for mass production. Its creation was… a product of unusual circumstances. It also carries severe limitations. As of now, it's one of a kind."
He raised a single finger, as if offering a hypothetical.
"If I were to sell it…"
Ross leaned forward. "Ten billion?"
Nolan shook his head again.
"One hundred billion."
Ross exploded. "What the hell!"
The sheer audacity of the number left him sputtering. One hundred billion dollars more than the cost of an aircraft carrier. For a single suit of armor.
The demand was so outrageous he could only curse under his breath.
Realizing the futility, Ross backed off. He had achieved enough today. Banner was in custody, and the T-1000 deal was in motion.
Still, his eyes lingered on Nolan with unspoken intent. Nolan Lock was no longer someone he could easily push around. Today's battle had secured his reputation. From now on, the world would know his name.
Nolan, meanwhile, watched Banner being carried away and clicked his tongue twice.
The Hulk was a monster unlike any other. Ross believed he could contain him. Nolan doubted it.
Elsewhere, in a shadowed office of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury stared at the news coverage. His single eye glinted with thought, already calculating what today's events meant for the balance of power.
And the world braced itself for what came next.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————
Caught in the currents of this adventure? Tell us what hooked you—your thoughts and reviews keep the story blazing! Every 300 Power Stones unlocks a bonus chapter, propelling the journey even further!
Nolan's path is just getting started, and the story of justice is only unfolding. Keep riding the waves with Unbound Evolution and sail beyond the horizon!
[email protected]/_tey
Change @ to a.