Boom!
The deafening crash echoed across the parking lot as the massive robot slammed into the ground. The impact was so violent that everyone nearby felt the pavement shake beneath their feet.
The Decepticon lay sprawled across the ground like a fallen building.
For General Ross, the scene was almost impossible to process. His brain struggled to keep up with what his eyes were seeing.
But before the giant robot could even attempt to stand again—
Ryan Cross moved.
A blur flashed across the air.
Ryan had already leapt several meters forward and landed directly on top of the Decepticon's body.
Boom!
His fist smashed down into the robot's chest with terrifying force.
The blow punched a massive hole straight through the metal armor. Sparks burst everywhere as electrical currents surged wildly, and shattered metal fragments scattered across the ground.
The internal core of the Decepticon was now partially exposed.
If Ryan destroyed that core completely, the mechanical lifeform would die instantly. Not even divine intervention could revive it.
But Ryan didn't do that.
He needed the Decepticon alive.
"Ack—!"
A harsh mechanical coughing sound escaped the robot's damaged voice system.
Even as a mechanical lifeform, the Decepticon had nearly been destroyed by that single punch. Ryan's strength had already reached a level where ordinary Decepticons simply couldn't endure it.
And that was Ryan holding back.
If he had used his full strength, that punch alone might have sent the machine straight to the scrapyard forever.
That was the reality.
Against Ryan's current power, an ordinary Decepticon was completely outclassed.
Even without heat vision, pure physical strength alone was enough to crush them.
"Get… off me!"
The Decepticon roared weakly.
Summoning what little strength remained, it swung its massive arm toward Ryan.
Ryan reacted instantly.
With one hand, he grabbed the mechanical arm mid-swing.
Then he grabbed the robot's shoulder with his other hand and pulled.
Hard.
Crunch!
The arm tore free.
The enormous mechanical limb was ripped straight out of its socket.
Ross and Howard stared in stunned silence.
Their hearts pounded violently in their chests as they watched the scene unfold.
"Compared to that robot," Ross muttered under his breath, "that kid is the real monster."
Howard exhaled slowly.
"I couldn't agree more."
Boom!
Another violent noise echoed across the parking lot.
Ryan grabbed the Decepticon's remaining arm and tore that one off as well.
The giant robot now lay completely disarmed.
Ryan then kicked the broken body aside casually.
The massive machine slid across the pavement like discarded trash.
After Ryan's brutal assault, the Decepticon had been reduced to little more than a pile of wrecked metal.
Both of its arms—along with the weapon systems mounted on them—had been completely removed.
At this point, it posed almost no threat.
Ryan clapped his hands lightly.
"Alright. That's done."
His tone sounded casual, as if he had just finished a minor chore.
Howard immediately ran out from behind the car where he had been hiding.
"Ryan," he asked nervously, "you didn't kill it, did you?"
He glanced at the motionless robot and then back at Ryan.
"No," Ryan replied calmly.
"It's still alive."
Howard visibly relaxed.
"Good."
He let out a long breath of relief.
Finding a second Decepticon had taken enormous effort. If Ryan had accidentally destroyed it, the entire operation would have been a huge waste.
A dead Decepticon still had research value.
But the value was limited.
Once the remaining energy inside its body dissipated, it would become nothing more than a pile of exotic extraterrestrial metal.
"Stark… so all of this is real?"
General Ross finally spoke again.
He walked closer to the wrecked Decepticon, examining it from every angle.
If he hadn't seen it transform with his own eyes, he never would have believed it.
That giant mechanical monster had just been his car.
Which meant everything Howard Stark had said earlier was true.
Mechanical lifeforms existed.
"Yes, General Ross," Howard said seriously.
"As you can see, it's all real."
Ross slowly turned his head.
His gaze settled on Ryan.
The look on his face became increasingly complicated.
Compared to the robot that had turned into his vehicle, the young man standing nearby seemed even more unbelievable.
"Stark," Ross whispered quietly, leaning closer, "who is he?"
Howard spread his hands helplessly.
"That question is… complicated."
"It's not something I can explain in just a sentence or two."
Ross nodded slowly.
"Well then, Stark," he said meaningfully, "I believe we have quite a lot to discuss."
Both the Decepticon and Ryan had shattered Ross's understanding of the world.
At that moment, he felt as if everything he thought he knew had been turned upside down.
And he was determined to understand the truth.
"Of course, General Ross," Howard replied without hesitation.
"You're welcome anytime."
Since Ross had already witnessed everything firsthand, there was no longer any way to keep the Decepticon research program completely secret.
Trying to deny it now would only make things worse.
"Oh my God… what is happening here?"
"What is that thing?"
"Is that an alien?!"
The noise from the battle had already attracted attention.
People from the nearby villa began rushing toward the parking lot. Within moments, a crowd had formed.
The guests froze when they saw the wrecked robot.
Shock spread across every face.
For Howard Stark and General Ross, this was the worst possible outcome.
The last thing they wanted was for such an event to be exposed publicly—especially during a high-profile gathering full of influential figures.
If these had been ordinary civilians, it would have been easy to brush off the situation with some clever excuse.
But the guests here were powerful individuals.
Politicians.
Business leaders.
Military officers.
Convincing them would not be simple.
Howard felt a headache forming.
"Mr. Stark," Ryan said calmly, "since the situation here is settled, I'll be leaving."
The scene was becoming chaotic, and there was no reason for him to stay any longer.
Howard was already overwhelmed with problems to deal with. He barely had time to spare.
"Thank you, Ryan," Howard said sincerely.
"And sorry—I can't see you off right now."
Ryan waved casually and turned away.
While Howard and Ross began dealing with the increasingly chaotic crowd, Ryan left the scene alone.
.....
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