"What the hell!?"
Stane's eyes nearly bulged out of his sockets as he observed the scene through the Iron Monger armor's visual display.
A frying pan had actually blocked his anti-tank missile!
Could someone please explain the science behind this!?
As a top-tier scientist, Tony's reaction was simple: I'd like to know that too!
Stane forcefully suppressed the absurdity threatening his mind, staring at Daniel. "I know you… you're Tony's bodyguard."
Daniel calmly replied, "Stane, stop this. Your daughter is still waiting for you to come home for dinner."
Stane froze. Wait… how do you know that?
"No matter who stands in my way, they die!"
Stane snorted and powered the Iron Monger armor into a violent charge at Daniel. The massive metal fist was raised high, crashing down with terrifying force!
Daniel executed a perfect roll, avoiding the attack. The ground where he had been just moments ago now had a crater.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Daniel drew his Golden Desert Eagle, firing continuously as sparks danced across the Iron Monger armor's surface.
"Hahaha! It's useless! My Iron Monger armor is invincible!"
Stane laughed arrogantly. The armor raised its arm, and the Gatling gun barrels began spinning furiously.
Da-da-da-da-da—!
A storm of bullets erupted, raining down toward Daniel!
Daniel moved with incredible agility, sprinting and rolling fluidly. Each dodge was precise, every movement calculated.
These were basic techniques from Soulslike games; the footwork seemed embedded in his very DNA.
After Stane's volley, not even a thread of Daniel's clothing was touched.
What made it worse—Daniel kept taunting relentlessly as he dodged:
"Old lady crossing the road, old lady square dancing, old lady stepping back..."
Fck your old lady!*
Stane's blood pressure spiked, his face turning crimson.
"Stane!"
Tony wasn't going to just watch. Seizing the moment, the Mark III's shoulder-mounted micro-missiles locked onto the Iron Monger armor and fired!
Boom!!!
The explosion enveloped Stane entirely. Thick smoke and flames shot into the sky.
But, as the saying goes, "all smoke, no damage."
Heavy metallic footsteps sounded as the Iron Monger armor emerged unscathed. Only scorch marks marred its otherwise pristine surface.
Daniel leaped to Tony's side, whispering, "This BOSS's defense is a bit over-tuned. Way stronger than your armor."
Tony sighed. "Damn it… I'll build a bigger one when I get back!"
"His shell is too thick. This won't work, Tony. I have a plan!" Daniel announced suddenly.
"What plan?"
"Don't ask. I'll prepare first. You just stall Stane as long as possible and lure him to this location. I'll handle the rest." He named a suburban area.
"Got it."
Tony had no choice but to trust him.
As Daniel ran off, Stane sneered, "Tony, your bodyguard abandoned you, huh?"
"Just like your wife abandoned you, and then you married again… using her daughter as your assistant?" Tony shot back, sharp as ever.
"You're asking for it!"
Enraged, Stane focused entirely on Tony. The Iron Monger armor pummeled him repeatedly, grinding him into the floor. The Mark III showed visible battle damage.
Still, the armor's anti-vibration system was phenomenal. Normally, such brutal impacts would pulverize a human body. Yet Tony, aside from dizziness, remained unharmed—as if the armor absorbed all damage. It was like a "damage only to clothing" mode in a video game.
Thump!!
Tony was slammed again. He activated the hand thrusters, stabilizing mid-air in an awkward "maiden's pose."
Stane roared with laughter. "Not bad, you upgraded, but so did I!"
Flames burst from the Iron Monger armor's feet as it lifted slightly off the ground, wobbling.
Tony grit his teeth. "Plagiarism Dog!" He instructed J.A.R.V.I.S. to head to Daniel's designated location.
Stane chased relentlessly, his legs firing like rockets, leaving thick black smoke in their wake.
They reached the suburbs quickly.
"Remaining energy below 5%," J.A.R.V.I.S. reported as they landed.
Where did Daniel go? He didn't abandon me, did he? Tony panicked, scanning the area.
Bang!
A heavy thud came from behind. Tony turned to see the Iron Monger armor landing behind him, then squeezing him in a tight embrace.
"Tony, is this the grave you chose?" Stane taunted.
The Iron Monger executed the "Maiden's Hug of Death," crushing the Mark III.
J.A.R.V.I.S.: "Left arm critically damaged. Most weapons offline. Air conditioning system intact..."
"Flares!!" Tony shouted. Flames shot from the Mark III's legs, forcing Stane to release him.
"Energy 2%. Activating emergency backup power."
Damn! Tony cursed mentally. Most of the Mark III's functionality was gone.
Stane laughed mockingly. "Irony, Tony. You wanted to destroy weapons, but ended up creating a more powerful one yourself."
"Now, die by your own creation!"
He advanced.
Suddenly, a voice rang out from a distance.
"Hey, over here."
Stane turned. Daniel was aiming an RPG at him.
"You really think that can hurt my armor?" Stane scoffed.
"One won't… but how about a hundred?"
Before Stane could react, Daniel fired!
Whoosh—!
The rocket streaked toward Stane's feet.
Rumble!!!
The explosion ripped the ground open. Stane lost footing, plummeting uncontrollably into a massive underground space.
The dirt and rocks formed perfectly regular blocks, with clear excavation marks.
Scattered across the pit's floor were countless identical red and white blocks, flashing urgently.
Three glaring letters were printed on them: TNT!