That devastating punch Marcus had thrown wasn't something mere muscle could produce. It was the result of precise manipulation—an application of his metallic transformation ability taken to its limit.
Turning his hand into a steel fist wasn't about making it harder; it was about controlling density. By adjusting the bio-metal's mass, Marcus could redirect the full weight of his body into a single point.
He began with the fist at its lightest, accelerating it to peak speed, and then—right at the moment of impact—he instantly increased its density to the maximum.
By the law of kinetic energy, E = ½mv², that sudden spike in mass turned an already powerful punch into a strike of devastating magnitude. His arm alone was roughly a tenth of his total body weight, meaning his blow hit with more than ten times the force of a normal punch.
The result? The Tenfold Iron Fist.
Marcus glanced down at his own right hand, now crushed and deformed from the blow, and sighed with a bitter smile. The balance between hardness and density still wasn't perfect. "Guess I overdid it again."
He looked toward the ocean and shouted, "Hey! You still alive out there?"
A splash answered him.
Tony burst out of the water with an enormous spray, his armor's chestplate charred and smoking, bearing a deep fist-shaped dent. The propulsion systems flickered erratically, sputtering and coughing out steam. The billionaire was spinning in the air, flailing wildly in an undignified attempt to steady himself.
Still, he had the nerve to shout back, "I'm fine! Totally fine! I can handle it!"
"Sir," Jarvis interrupted through the armor's comms, "damage report: fifteen-point-four percent structural loss. Left propulsion system impaired. I recommend immediate assistance."
"Shut up, Jarvis!" Tony snapped, wobbling mid-air. "I know exactly what I'm doing, I—whoa, whoa, whoa—!"
Splash.
He hit the water again, vanishing beneath the waves as bubbles rose to the surface. It was… not his most heroic moment.
Eventually, two autonomous Iron Man suits descended to fish him out and replace his damaged armor underwater. When Tony finally staggered back onto land, dripping seawater and bits of seaweed tangled in his hair, he looked more like a drowned billionaire than a superhero.
"Alright," he huffed, peeling seaweed from his face, "I think we're done with testing for today. I've got a few parties to attend tonight anyway."
Before Marcus could answer, Tony picked up a syringe filled with a murky green fluid and, without warning, injected it into his arm.
[You have been injected with Tony Stark's Special Restraint Compound. All abilities sealed. Physical strength suppressed. Emotional instability nullified.]
Marcus scowled. "Really? A new formula this time?"
Tony adjusted his tie, smirking. "Yeah. The military developed it to sedate a certain big green rage monster. Didn't work—needle couldn't even pierce his skin. But don't worry, I checked the chemistry; it shouldn't do you any harm."
"You didn't need to bother," Marcus replied coolly. "If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't need a weapon."
Tony shrugged, walking toward the elevator. "Maybe. But I like being careful."
And with that, he left Marcus alone in the basement, his footsteps fading as he went upstairs to shower.
Marcus sighed, rubbing his neck. "Yeah, he's not an easy mark…"
Still, the experiment had proven fruitful. He now had a clearer grasp of his powers.
Metallic Derivative Skill: God Spear – A high-speed, no-warning piercing attack launched from any part of the body. Consumes 10%+ bio-energy.
Metallic Derivative Skill: High-Frequency Slash – An unstoppable vibration-based blade capable of cutting through nearly all materials. Consumes 10%+ bio-energy.
Metallic Derivative Skill: Tenfold Iron Fist – A supermassive blow amplifying physical force tenfold by adjusting density. Power depends on total body mass. Consumes ~5% bio-energy.
Three techniques, each terrifying in its own right. Together, they made Marcus a match for almost any single superhuman alive.
Unfortunately, his enemy wasn't a single hero—it was an entire world full of them.
When he considered it from that perspective, his strength suddenly didn't feel so invincible.
He had a long way to go.
[Remaining Bio-Energy: 10%]
After the exhausting test, Marcus could feel his energy reserves running low. Returning to the main hall, he found Tony gone—off, no doubt, to one of his endless social events.
Left to himself, Marcus ordered an extravagant dinner using Tony's account. The delivery man nearly dropped the tray when he saw the mountain of luxury dishes spread across the table. Marcus could practically see the envy in his eyes.
He took his time eating, savoring the taste of lobster and fine wine. His new body demanded far more energy than before, and Tony's money made it easy to indulge.
"Not bad," Marcus muttered between bites. "Though next time, I should order somthing else. Then again… American food might count as one of the best food."
By the time he finished, night had already fallen. After a hot shower, he returned to the immaculate living room—the same room Tony had generously dubbed "his" for the foreseeable future.
The sofa was soft, the lights dim, and for the first time since entering this chaotic world, Marcus allowed himself to relax.
He drifted off to sleep.
---
"Master… Master…"
A voice echoed in the darkness. Distant at first, then growing louder—urgent, pleading.
Marcus's eyes snapped open.
He wasn't on the couch anymore. He was standing atop a skyscraper under the moonlit sky. Below, a sprawling city glittered with life—yet directly beneath his feet stretched a vast, pitch-black district swallowed by silence.
One half alive, radiant and bustling.
The other, lifeless—cold, and still.
He recognized the layout instantly.
Queens.
The borough that had been sealed off by the military—the birthplace of the virus outbreak.
The dead city of New York.
Marcus frowned, scanning the lifeless streets below. "Why am I here…?"
And then he heard it again, faint but unmistakable—
That same voice, echoing from somewhere deep in the darkness, calling to him.
"Master…"
____
T/N:
Hello everyone! My Patreon is just $3 — a perfect opportunity to access 10+ advanced chapters and support the translation.
🔗 patreon.com/user?u=79514336
Or simply search Translator-Sama on Patreon