Being ambushed by the enemy was already hard enough to swallow—but what he saw now was even worse: the enemy's fighter jet seemed capable of turning invisible.
Just moments ago, he'd assumed the other aircraft had vanished from his radar because it had fallen far behind.
Now it was clear that wasn't the case at all. The enemy had activated stealth mode, slipping past radar detection entirely.
"Damn it—where the hell did this freak come from? What kind of jet is this? And why's it shaped like that?"
Tony Stark's mind raced as he pushed his thrusters harder, trying to shake off the Batplane clinging to his six.
But no matter how fast he flew, the bat-shaped fighter above him clung like a shadow—inescapable, relentless, hovering just out of reach.
"What's our current speed in Mach?" Tony demanded, his voice tight with focus.
"Reporting, sir: Mach 2.5."
"Mach 2.5 and I still can't lose it? How fast can that thing go? Fine. I'll have to push the envelope."
"Mr. Stark," JARVIS interjected smoothly, "increasing thrust further will bring the suit to Mach 2.8—beyond the structural tolerance of the current armor alloys. Suit stability will degrade, risking catastrophic failure. Additionally, the G-forces may exceed safe physiological limits for the pilot. I strongly advise against it."
At that moment, JARVIS finished rebooting and issued an urgent alert.
Tony's jaw tightened. "Every breakthrough comes with risk, JARVIS. If you're too scared to take one, you'll never move forward."
"But, sir—"
"Save it. Override safety protocols. Ramp the engines to 97%. Now."
"Understood, Mr. Stark."
JARVIS relinquished manual override, and instantly the suit's output surged to 97%.
In seconds, Iron Man hit Mach 2.8.
For context: the U.S. Air Force's premier air-superiority fighter, the F-22 Raptor, tops out at Mach 2.25—and it's widely considered one of the most advanced combat aircraft ever built.
Iron Man, by comparison, wasn't just matching it—he was shattering benchmarks in both speed and maneuverability. His suit represented a quantum leap in aerial combat technology.
Or at least, it had—until Batman's Batfighter showed up.
That was precisely why Tony couldn't accept this. As the world's foremost technological genius, the idea that someone—anyone—had outpaced him in engineering was unacceptable.
This wasn't just about evading pursuit anymore. It was about pride. Legacy. The unspoken rule that he set the standard.
As the suit screamed through the stratosphere at Mach 2.8, aerodynamic stress spiked exponentially—and friction began heating the armor's surface to dangerous levels.
Although this high temperature doesn't reach the level of actual fire, it still compromises the suit's stability.
Tony Stark is currently wearing the Mark II—one of the earliest Iron Man suits. At this stage, the armor can't compare with later models in terms of performance or materials.
The Mark II's maximum flight speed is actually supersonic—capable of breaking the sound barrier. Such velocity places enormous stress on both the suit's structure and its power system. If not handled precisely, a malfunction or mid-air stall becomes highly likely.
One has to admit: Tony Stark is remarkably courageous… or recklessly bold. He's essentially gambling with his life.
"Did you shake that damn Batplane?" Tony Stark demanded, voice tight with urgency.
"Negative, sir. The enemy remains directly above us."
"What?! How is that possible? Are you sure you've unleashed 97% of the engine's output? What's our current speed?"
"Confirmed, sir. We're flying at supersonic velocity—already exceeding the suit's recommended flight limit."
"Damn it! What the hell is that thing? How can it fly this fast? That's unscientific!"
"Jarvis, scan the other aircraft's fuselage immediately. I need to know how it's pulling this off."
"Scanning…"
"Scan complete. The enemy craft's basic structure closely resembles that of a bat—clearly biomimetic in design. However, the aerodynamics alone aren't exceptional. Its extraordinary speed appears to stem from an unknown power system."
"Exactly what I suspected. Bats aren't exactly aerodynamic marvels. There's no way bionics alone could achieve those speeds. It's all about that power source."
Tony frowned. "But who the hell built a craft this advanced? That kind of technology… it shouldn't exist yet."
"Sir, this isn't the time for speculation. The enemy's speed is still increasing—and it's now overtaking us."
"What?! What's the upper limit on that thing? It's practically taunting me!"
"Jarvis, crank up the horsepower—maximize output. Push us to 100%."
"Mr. Stark, engaging full power will drive us into hypersonic velocities that risk catastrophic suit failure. I strongly advise against this… competition."
"This isn't meaningless, Jarvis. It's a battle of technology. A test of nerve. And, above all—a matter of dignity."
"I, Tony Stark, have spent decades at the forefront of innovation. I don't back down—not from anyone, and certainly not from some mystery jet with a bat fetish. Full power. Now."
"Understood. Engine output increasing… 98%… 99%… 100%. Flight velocity now hypersonic."
"Perfect. Did we lose him?"
"Negative, sir. On the contrary—he's pulling ahead."
The gap between them widened rapidly. Worse still, the enemy's speed continued to climb.
"Hypersonic… Mach 4… Mach 4.3…"
"Sir, the target is now beyond sensor range. We've lost visual and telemetry contact. It's… gone."
"!!!!" Tony Stark stared into the empty sky, stunned into silence.