Late at night.
Stark Industrial Zone, Sector Sixteen.
A S.H.I.E.L.D. squad led by Level 7 Agent Coulson arrived at Stane's secret research facility, preparing to search for the Iron Armor technology.
Just as the team began their sweep, two piercing white beams suddenly lit up in the depths of the dark factory.
With the low whine of hydraulic systems powering up, a massive steel beast—over three meters tall—stepped fully into view, its cold metal plating exuding suffocating pressure.
"Open fire!"
Coulson made the call instantly, and the nearby agents raised their weapons without hesitation.
Countless bullets rained down on the Iron Monger armor, unleashing a relentless barrage of sparks and metal clangs.
But attacks that could easily tear through flesh were nothing more than light scratches to the Iron Monger—barely leaving pale marks before being harmlessly deflected.
"Get out of my way!"
Stane's voice blasted out from inside the armor, harsh and grating like metal grinding on metal.
Before the words finished echoing, the Iron Monger suddenly lunged forward, ramming straight into the agent at the front line.
The agent didn't even have time to dodge before being launched through the air by sheer brute force, slamming into a wall with a sickening crunch. His fate uncertain.
Realizing the overwhelming power difference, the remaining agents immediately scrambled for cover.
Fortunately, Stane's target clearly wasn't them.
Ignoring the hiding agents, the Iron Monger tore through the factory's reinforced wall and thundered out onto the main road.
Drivers froze at the sight of the towering steel monster.
What was this supposed to be?
A miniature Iron Giant?
Panic didn't erupt until the Iron Monger casually overturned a massive big-rig truck that dominated the national highway.
In an instant, screams and blaring horns flooded the night.
"Stane!!"
At that moment, a furious roar split the sky.
A gold-and-crimson figure streaked down from above, propulsion thrusters wailing, and slammed straight into the Iron Monger.
Boom!
The deafening impact exploded across the street.
The two armored giants collided and tumbled across the asphalt, grinding and sparking violently as they flipped several times before finally skidding to a stop.
But the Iron Monger rose again almost immediately.
Its blood-red mechanical eyes locked onto the gold-and-crimson armor. Inside, Stane immediately guessed who was piloting it.
"Tony, how is it? Like my new suit?" Stane's voice blared out, brimming with arrogance and mockery.
"Shut up, you knockoff!"
Tony was shaking with anger.
A genius like him could recognize the Iron Monger at a glance.
This was just his Mark I—scaled up and plagiarized.
The design, the structure—every bit of it was an enlarged version of the armor he hammered together in a cave.
To make matters worse, even the reactor powering that hulk had been dug out of his chest.
What else could this be but blatant NTR?
"Tony, you really are a genius," Stane sneered, "but unfortunately, your ideas don't always belong to you."
As soon as he said this—
The Iron Monger raised its right arm, the six-barrel Gatling gun on its forearm spinning to life.
Dadadadadada—!
A storm of bullets poured out, forcing Tony to retreat under the overwhelming firepower.
Gritting his teeth, Tony braced himself against the metallic barrage. His palms flared with blinding white light, firing two powerful repulsor blasts that interrupted the Iron Monger's assault.
"Sir, energy levels at 18%," Jarvis reported calmly.
"I know!"
Tony's stomach dropped.
The reactor in his chest was the early prototype—the energy inside was already running dangerously low.
The Mark III was far more efficient than the Mark I, but with so little power left, he wouldn't last long. If this continued, his suit would soon become useless scrap metal—and he'd lose all ability to fight back.
Rumble—!
The Iron Monger's heavy engines roared again.
Tony barely regained balance before he saw the Iron Monger barreling toward him with startling speed for something so massive.
"Damn it!"
With no time to think, Tony crossed his arms to shield himself.
Bang!!
Using its overwhelming mass and brute force, the Iron Monger slammed into the Mark III and launched Tony off the ground like he'd been hit by a speeding train.
He crashed into the road more than ten meters away, forming a shallow crater. Before he could even get up, the Iron Monger's massive shadow loomed over him—and then stomped down hard.
Looking at the trapped Tony beneath his foot, Stane sneered, "Tony, your armor just isn't as good as mine."
"Bullshit!"
Right now, Tony looked exactly like a powerless husband being crushed by a villainous bald homewrecker.
In his eyes, the Iron Monger was a cheap knockoff.
But the reality was undeniable: the Iron Monger's sheer mass and insanely thick armor made its defense absurdly strong. With his dwindling energy reserve, breaking through that defense was practically impossible.
Tony felt a humiliation he'd never known.
What was worse than being suppressed by someone who stole your own design?
The Iron Monger lifted its foot and grabbed the Mark III, hurling Tony into a nearby bus.
Stane controlled the Iron Monger as it stomped toward him again.
Staring at Tony wedged into the bus, Stane said coldly, "Listen. I built this company from the ground up. No one gets in my way—especially not you."
As he spoke, a shoulder-mounted anti-tank missile launcher unfolded, locking onto Tony.
Tony blinked as the familiar scene registered.
This again?
Without hesitation, the missile ignited and shot straight toward him.
Just as Tony braced to take the blast—
A figure suddenly appeared in front of him, holding an ordinary frying pan.
Like a baseball swing, he struck the missile.
Clang!
Boom!
The warhead detonated instantly, flames erupting into a rolling shockwave.
When the smoke cleared, Daniel stood unharmed before Tony, frying pan in hand.
"Starting a boss fight without calling me?"