Iron Man streaked across the sky, a blazing comet of righteous vengeance. The Mark III armor proved a formidable, perfectly balanced weapon.
In Komira, Tony unleashed a spectacular, decisive assault, vaporizing the weapons caches and dismantling the Ten Rings thugs who dared to use Stark's technology for bloodshed. He was a force of nature, a metal angel of retribution, leaving behind only the smoldering wreckage of the terrorist operation.
On his flight back, he had a close encounter with a civilian aircraft. The pilot, startled by the unexpected metallic projectile, swerved violently, causing minor damage to the jet's wing. Tony, distracted and still running on adrenaline, barely registered the incident, focusing only on getting home.
He crashed down in his backyard, the landing slightly less controlled than he hoped. The commotion of the armor's systems cooling down was loud enough to draw Pepper Potts outside.
"Tony! What in the world was that?!" Pepper exclaimed, her eyes wide with fear and shock as she saw the scorched, battle-damaged armor and the smoke curling from the joints. "Where have you been? Are those... bullet holes?"
Tony, exhausted and emotionally drained, waved away her concern. "It's fine, Pep. Just a successful field test. No need to worry." He quickly changed the subject. "Did anyone come by?"
"Yes, Ethan came looking for you," Pepper replied, her voice still shaky. "He saw the news about Komira. He's waiting for you inside."
"Tell him I'll be right there," Tony said, his voice flat. He needed to be clean before facing the man whose family's memory drove his recent actions.
After a quick shower, Tony joined Ethan in the living room. The reunion of the two cave survivors was marked by a heavy, shared silence.
"Tony," Ethan finally began, his eyes reflecting the deep sorrow he carried.
Tony preempted the inevitable question. "You saw the news about Komira. You saw them using the weapons I swore were gone."
"I did," Ethan confirmed. "Tony, I know you didn't sell them. But you are the only one who has the power to stop this plague of weapons proliferation completely. You are the only one capable of ensuring no more families suffer like mine did."
Tony looked at his friend, his resolve hardening. "I understand. And I swear to you, Ethan, I already acted. I went to Komira. I destroyed every last piece of Stark Industries weaponry there and cleared out those thugs. From this day forward, I will personally guarantee that not a single weapon with my name on it reaches the wrong hands."
Tony's sincerity was absolute, and Ethan, who had spent months relying on Tony's ingenuity, trusted him implicitly. "I believe you, Tony."
Tony, deciding honesty was the only way forward with his closest ally, led Ethan down to the workshop and revealed the newly christened, battle-scarred Mark III armor. The two spent the next few hours drinking and discussing their traumatic shared experience and Tony's new mission.
Tony then laid out his plan: "I need proof. I need Pepper's help to get the corporate evidence against Obadiah—the illicit transfer papers, the off-book financials. Once I have the proof, I'll expose him, kick him out, and end his ability to sabotage the company and my conscience."
Little did he know, Obadiah was already planning his move.
Meanwhile, Obadiah had received the grim news that his team of engineers, despite his demands, could not miniaturize the Arc Reactor.
The technology was simply beyond their current understanding. With the Mark III armor finished but useless due to a lack of power, Obadiah pivoted his plan: Why build one, when Tony has one for free?
Obadiah was currently en route to the villa, ready to steal Tony's reactor.
Just as Su Yi was walking out of his afternoon college class, his phone buzzed. It was Pepper.
"Hey, Pepper," Su Yi answered instantly, sensing the urgency in her voice.
"Su, it's terrible! What should I do? Stane—Obadiah—he contacted some people, and I think he's trying to get Tony kidnapped or worse!" Pepper's voice was thin with panic.
"I got the corporate evidence—the files are secure—and I was heading to see the authorities, but he must have seen me. He sent people! They're chasing me, Su, I don't know what to do!"
Su Yi's calm instantly fractured. "Damn it! Tony didn't inform Coulson? Pepper, hang up and immediately call Agent Coulson's direct line. Tell them exactly what's happening and your location. They need to send protection now!"
"Su, hurry! They're right behind me!"
"I'm coming as fast as I can!" Su Yi hung up, rage boiling in his chest. Obadiah, you dare touch my woman? You just signed your own severance and possibly your death warrant.
Su Yi knew he couldn't teleport to a moving vehicle. And running on the street at Mach 3, even with Level 5 Speed, was guaranteed mass destruction. He needed a middle ground.
"Peter, I've got a sudden, serious family emergency. Tell the professor I'm out for the day—I'll make up the work."
Su Yi sprinted from the room, found a secluded utility closet, and activated his abilities. He teleported a short distance, landing on the rooftop near the Golden Gate Bridge. He then engaged his Bodily Suit and used his integrated web-shooters.
He transformed into a dark, blur-like figure, a Spider-Bully persona, swinging through the high structures of the city, using his enhanced speed and strength to cover ground faster than any conventional vehicle.
Su Yi finally located the source of Pepper's distress. Three dark sedans, looking like predatory road sharks, were relentlessly tailing and ramming Pepper's vehicle, which was severely damaged and on the verge of flipping over.
"Ah!" Pepper screamed as the last massive impact sent her sedan into a catastrophic wobble.
Su Yi dropped from the sky, a dark, powerful silhouette. He landed with a silent thump directly next to Pepper's spinning car. Before it could completely overturn, Su Yi activated his Level 5 Strength and, with a terrifying ease, simply lifted the entire sedan off the ground, setting it upright and stable, minimizing the damage.
The three pursuing vehicles slammed on their brakes, their professional assassins staring in stunned terror at the sight of a lone figure holding a car overhead.
One driver, driven by blind panic and a commitment to the mission, slammed the accelerator, aiming directly for Su Yi. "Run him over!"
"Hit me?" Su Yi's eyes narrowed. "What do you think you're hitting?"
Su Yi didn't move. He simply kicked the front of the oncoming sedan. The Level 5 Strength, capable of applying one thousand tons of force, was overkill.
The car hit an invisible, impossibly solid wall. The engine block crumpled, the hood buckled, and the vehicle instantly entered a state of rapid compression, the chassis shrinking by nearly half its length.
The two remaining cars realized they weren't dealing with a man—they were dealing with a monster.
Su Yi set Pepper's car down. He raised his hands, and two razor-sharp Wind Blades—his Energy ability—swept out, slicing the two remaining sedans in half with surgical precision, disabling the vehicles without harming the people inside.
The occupants stumbled out, terrified, drawing pistols and emptying their magazines in a chaotic, desperate flurry. Su Yi stood still, the bullets deflecting harmlessly off his Level 5 Endurance and the Bodily Suit's reinforced fabric.
"Who told you to do this?" Su Yi's voice was deep, resonant, and chillingly calm.
The two men, clearly low-level thugs, were incoherent with fear. "We... we don't know! He hired us! Don't come any closer, you monster!"
Su Yi knew they wouldn't talk. It was a waste of time. He needed to secure them for the authorities, and then go after Obadiah.
His Bodily Suit extended strong, natural webbing. He quickly ensnared the two men and tied them securely to a streetlight.
"Remember my name," Su Yi growled, his voice a promise of future pain. "The Spider-Bully. If I ever find you committing evil again, I will personally come back and make you feel fear that will shatter your minds."
He then rushed to Pepper's damaged car. "It's alright, Pepper. You're safe now. Authorities will be here soon. I have to go."
Pepper, wide-eyed and stunned, watched as the powerful, intimidating figure turned and vanished from the scene with a sudden, impossible leap. She didn't betray his secret, but the image of the dark avenger who had saved her life would forever be burned into her memory.
The thugs are subdued, Pepper is safe, but Obadiah Stane has begun his final, fatal plan to steal Tony's Arc Reactor.