Tony stepped forward. His voice grew stronger. "Your armies are scattered. Your bases are destroyed. Your grip on this planet is slipping. And now I'm going to finish what I started."
The camera angle shifted to show the full devastation of Prague behind him. Buildings collapsed. Fires burning. The cost of war visible in every direction.
"I'm challenging you. One on one. No Horsemen. No armies. No tricks. Just you and me. Tomorrow at dawn in Cairo."
Across the globe, people stopped what they were doing. In shelters underground. In refugee camps. In the few remaining cities that hadn't been destroyed. Everyone watched.
In Tokyo, a family huddled around a salvaged television screen. The father translated for his children. "The Iron Man is challenging the monster."
"Can he win, Papa?" the youngest daughter asked.
The father had no answer.
In London, survivors gathered in what remained of Parliament. They watched the broadcast on emergency screens. An elderly woman spoke to no one in particular. "He freed Magneto here. Saw it myself. Tore that Celestial corruption right out of him."
"But Apocalypse is different," a younger man argued. "He's the source of all this. You can't just punch your way through a god."
"Maybe not," the woman replied. "But someone's got to try."
In Mumbai, where Storm had been freed, people prayed in the ruins of temples. A priest watched the broadcast and said quietly, "He saved us from the storm. Perhaps he can save us from the nightmare too."
But not everyone had faith.
In New York's remaining underground shelters, arguments broke out. "He's going to get himself killed," one man shouted. "And when he dies, there's no one left to stop that monster!"
"So what's your plan?" a woman shot back.
"Hide down here forever? At least Stark is doing something!"
"Doing something stupid isn't the same as doing something useful!"
The debates raged. But everyone kept watching.
Tony's broadcast continued. "You claim evolution favors the strong. That only the powerful deserve to survive. Let's test that theory."
He pointed directly at the camera. "Face me. Prove your philosophy. Show the world that five thousand years of power means something. Or admit you're afraid of one human who dares to stand against you."
The broadcast ended abruptly.
Silence followed. Then chaos.
---
In the Avengers bunker, heroes gathered around screens in complete shock.
Captain America stood frozen. His hands gripped the edge of the tactical table. "Is he serious? He can't actually be planning to fight Apocalypse alone."
"He just announced it to the entire world," Black Widow said quietly. "That makes it real."
Falcon paced back and forth. "This is insane. Apocalypse is god-tier. We've seen what he can do. He shattered Professor X's mind just by making telepathic contact."
"Tony beat his Horsemen," Hawkeye pointed out. "All four of them. Maybe he knows something we don't."
"The Horsemen were corrupted and controlled," Iron Fist said from his meditation position. "Apocalypse himself is fully conscious and has five thousand years of combat experience. There's a difference."
Doctor Strange floated near the corner with his Cloak of Levitation. His expression was grim. "He's baiting Apocalypse's ego. Forcing him to accept the challenge publicly. If Apocalypse refuses now, he looks weak."
"That's a smart tactical move," Peggy Carter acknowledged. "But it only works if Tony actually has a plan to survive the fight."
Shang-Chi stood with arms crossed. "Does he have such a plan?"
No one answered.
Daredevil tilted his head. His enhanced senses could detect the elevated heart rates around him. "Everyone's terrified. Not for Earth. For Tony specifically."
"Because we've seen what Apocalypse can do," Captain America said quietly. "And as strong as Tony has become, I don't know if it's enough."
War Machine's voice came through the communicator from his patrol route. "I just saw the broadcast. Rhodey here. What the hell is Tony thinking? Someone talk some sense into him!"
"He's not here," Black Widow replied. "He's still in Prague. Hasn't returned yet."
"Then someone portal over there and drag him back before he gets himself killed!"
But no one moved. Because deep down, they knew Tony had made his decision. And nothing they said would change his mind.
---
In Cairo, Apocalypse finally moved.
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