"My power?"
Carl curled his lip. Typical of a mad scientist—on the verge of death, yet still obsessed with someone else's strength.
"You're not learning it. Maybe in your next life."
Boom—!!
A thunderous explosion erupted across the deck, violently rocking the entire cargo ship. Tony descended from the air and landed beside Carl.
"Finally dealt with them. Those guys were a real pain," Tony said as his faceplate retracted, revealing his face.
"Where's Rhodey?" Carl asked.
"He already sent the President back. No need to wait for him."
Tony turned his gaze toward Killian.
"You owe me a mansion worth several hundred million, plus Happy's medical bills."
"Tony Stark—my idol—you're finally acknowledging me?" Killian snarled.
"Do you have any idea what it was like, waiting on that rooftop all night? You humiliated me for an entire night!"
That memory was etched into his soul—the most humiliating, helpless night of his life.
"Oh. Well," Tony shrugged casually, "I still don't remember who you are, but I'll apologize for standing you up. How's that? Satisfied?"
He waved his hand dismissively. If anything, Tony was glad he hadn't taken Killian seriously back then. Had he done so, the consequences might have been even worse.
"Tony Stark—you're still mocking me!"
Killian's body flared crimson as rage consumed him. He charged forward, hurling two blazing fireballs from his fists.
Tony casually swatted them aside and fired a repulsor blast—but Killian dodged.
Bang!
Killian slammed a punch into Tony's abdomen. The intense heat turned part of the nanotech armor red-hot, though the suit quickly absorbed the energy. Tony seized Killian's arm and hurled him away.
Killian rolled across the deck, sprang back up, and unleashed a stream of fire from his mouth. Tony raised his palm, countering with a repulsor blast.
Boom—!
A violent explosion erupted between them, briefly obscuring Killian's vision. Tony seized the moment, rocketing upward and grabbing Killian, carrying him onto the crane platform. Killian smashed through the railing and crashed onto the platform.
"Tony Stark!!"
Killian tore away his tattered clothes, revealing a chest that looked like flowing magma. His body glowed brighter, red light blazing even in his eyes.
He easily dodged Tony's repulsor blast and smashed a fist into Tony's chest. The nanotech vibranium armor glowed red under the impact. Killian followed up with three more strikes to the same spot, leaving visible damage across the armor.
Tony ignited his thrusters and drove a powerful kick into Killian's chest, sending him flying into the crane behind him.
Tony pinned Killian down and raised his palm to fire—but Killian grabbed his hand and twisted it aside. The repulsor blast severed the steel cables anchoring the crane.
Crack—crack—!!
The crane began to groan and tilt visibly. Killian ignored it, lunging forward and flipping Tony onto the deck.
Straddling Tony, Killian hammered down with relentless punches, each impact sending red-hot shockwaves through the nanotech armor.
"We're finally face to face, Tony Stark—on a rooftop, just like before."
He continued raining blows.
"How does it feel? Do you feel the helplessness and despair I felt back then?!"
Killian opened his mouth, spewing searing flames directly into Tony's face. The heat turned the nanotech vibranium nearly molten.
"Sir, kinetic energy has reached critical levels," JARVIS warned.
The nanotech armor had been absorbing energy—just like Black Panther's suit.
Suddenly, Tony slammed both hands into the deck.
Boom!
A crimson shockwave exploded outward from his body, blasting Killian away. It didn't stop there—the wave expanded nearly ten meters, ripping through much of the crane structure.
Rumble—!!
The crane finally collapsed. Another nearby crane detonated, its massive fireball instantly engulfing Killian before he could react.
Tony rocketed into the air, escaping the blast radius. From above, he watched the flaming crane crash down, its wreckage punching straight through the already-ruined deck.
Tony landed slowly, scanning the smoldering wreckage—when suddenly a container was hurled toward him.
He fired a repulsor blast, shattering it instantly. The drone cannons deployed behind him, locking onto the inferno.
Killian emerged from the flames, his body glowing like molten lava, red energy coursing through him as though magma flowed in his veins.
He walked forward, seemingly fused with fire itself.
"You can't kill me, Tony Stark," Killian declared.
"With the Extremis virus, no one can kill me. I am… invincible—"
Boom!
A drone cannon fired.
A blue energy beam punched straight through Killian's chest. His body collapsed, eyes filled with disbelief and resentment.
Even at the moment of death, he couldn't understand how Tony Stark had managed to kill him.
"…I almost admire your confidence," Tony said calmly as the drone cannons retracted.
Extremis was powerful—capable of regenerating limbs—but it had limits. Fatal damage to the heart or brain was still lethal. Some things couldn't be repaired in time.
Carl stepped beside Tony. Together, they watched the cargo ship engulfed in flames. Water was already flooding in, and the vessel had begun to list.
"The ship's going down. Let's leave," Tony said, giving Killian's lifeless body one last glance.
"This ship can't be left intact," Carl added.
"There could be data on the Extremis virus here. We can't let it fall into anyone's hands—especially the military. They'll definitely try something stupid."
Carl knew the military well. They never gave up on the dream of super soldiers, always trying to build an army of them to dominate the world—only to create monsters instead.
"You're right," Tony agreed grimly.
"Those idiots never learn. Let's wipe it out."
He looked at Carl, the meaning obvious.
"…Fine. Move farther away first," Carl sighed.
Once again, he was the one cleaning up the mess.
For the first time, Carl truly understood Nick Fury's constant frustration—always being the one left to deal with the aftermath.
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