Tony Stark had never doubted Ethan Cole's abilities. After everything he had witnessed in the laboratory, skepticism simply didn't make sense anymore. If Ethan said something could be done, then it could probably be done. Still, Tony couldn't quite understand why Ethan had told him to go back and study a map of Stark Industrial Park.
The advice seemed oddly specific.
Even so, Tony followed it without hesitation.
After Tony left, Ethan calmly instructed Svija to keep a close watch on him. He wasn't worried about Tony betraying him, but observing the man's next move was still worthwhile. Tony was brilliant, ambitious, and stubborn, and Ethan had a fairly good idea of what direction his thoughts would take next.
The events that followed unfolded almost exactly as Ethan expected.
During the next several days, unusual activity began appearing around Stark Industries. Certain individuals started moving in the shadows, quietly attempting to acquire control of Tony's experimental armor technology. Their methods were subtle but desperate, suggesting that someone behind the scenes was becoming increasingly impatient.
A few days later, on a quiet night, Svija's voice suddenly broke the calm inside Ethan's residence.
"Sir, a strong energy reaction has appeared above the city. There are currently two distinct energy signatures. I have already dispatched a reconnaissance drone to investigate. Would you like the visual feed?"
At that moment, Ethan was relaxing in a large private bath.
Warm water filled the enormous stone tub, its surface covered with soft white bubbles. Dim golden lights reflected off the steam drifting through the room, creating a calm and luxurious atmosphere.
Lorna Dane was resting in Ethan's arms, her back leaning comfortably against his chest. Both of them held glasses of wine while soaking in the warm water, enjoying the quiet evening.
When Svija spoke, Ethan paused slightly before answering.
"Send it here."
Lorna turned her head and looked at him with curiosity in her green eyes.
"What's wrong, honey?" she asked softly. "Who were you talking to?"
Ethan smiled faintly.
"Nothing serious. I just thought you might enjoy watching a good show."
As soon as the words left his mouth, a holographic projection screen materialized in front of the bath. The image flickered briefly before stabilizing, revealing a dark night sky illuminated by distant city lights.
Two objects were moving rapidly across the screen.
The first was a silver humanoid suit of armor streaking through the air with incredible speed. Its sleek design reflected faint glimmers of light as it maneuvered through the sky.
The second figure was another armored mech, but this one was much larger and bulkier. Its heavy frame looked far more intimidating, built for brute strength rather than agility.
Both machines were flying at extreme speed while firing energy beams at each other. Brilliant flashes of light erupted as their attacks collided in the sky.
Lorna's eyes widened instantly.
"Wow," she exclaimed with excitement. "Are they fighting? What are those things?"
Her curiosity made her sit up suddenly in the bath, completely forgetting about the water sliding down her shoulders. The movement sent small waves rippling across the tub.
Ethan chuckled quietly.
"The smaller one is Tony Stark," he explained casually. "The larger one… actually, I forgot for a second. Svija, who's inside that thing?"
A calm electronic voice responded from somewhere nearby.
"Sir, the pilot of the larger armor is Obadiah Stane, a senior executive of Stark Industries."
Ethan nodded slightly.
"That makes sense."
He took another sip of wine before continuing.
"The smaller armor is called the Mark II. The bigger one is known as the Iron Overlord. Tony and Stane have quite a personal grudge against each other. Right now Tony is trying to settle that score."
He gestured toward the projection screen.
"Just sit back and watch. This is far more entertaining than any movie."
Lorna laughed softly.
"How would you know all that?" she asked.
Ethan grinned.
"It's simple," he replied. "Because I set it in motion."
Lorna shrugged, clearly no longer surprised by statements like that. After spending time with Ethan, she had gradually realized how extraordinary he truly was.
He possessed immense wealth, abilities beyond anything she had ever imagined, and resources that seemed limitless. Every time she thought she understood him, he revealed something even more unbelievable.
That mystery fascinated her.
It was exactly why their relationship had developed so quickly. Over the past weeks, she found herself visiting him more and more often. The things Ethan showed her, the world he operated in, and the power he carried had slowly pulled her deeper into his orbit.
On the projection screen, the aerial battle intensified.
The two armored figures climbed higher into the night sky, darting through the air like metallic comets. Energy beams shot back and forth between them, streaks of glowing light slicing through the darkness.
Occasionally, small missiles launched from hidden compartments in the armor, exploding in bright bursts of fire.
Even from miles away, the spectacle looked dramatic.
The disturbance was impossible to hide for long.
After a moment, Svija's voice spoke again.
"Sir, multiple government agencies have detected the energy signatures. The FBI and several classified departments are already responding. Helicopters are currently approaching the area. If our drone continues monitoring, it may eventually be detected."
Ethan waved his hand dismissively.
"Don't worry about that. Keep watching."
He leaned back comfortably against the edge of the bath.
"We're not missing the ending of this show."
"Understood, sir."
The battle on the screen had now reached a critical stage.
What began as long-range attacks had turned into close combat.
The Iron Overlord gradually gained the advantage. Its massive frame gave it overwhelming physical strength, and in direct combat it easily overpowered Tony's lighter Mark II armor.
Blow after blow landed against Tony's suit.
Lorna watched with growing excitement.
"Wow," she said again. "At this rate, it looks like they're about to decide the winner."
She had just watched the Iron Overlord deliver a devastating punch that sent Tony flying more than ten meters through the air. The Mark II armor spun uncontrollably before Tony barely managed to stabilize himself.
Before he could recover, the Iron Overlord charged forward and slammed another heavy punch directly into Tony's chest.
The impact sent him flying again.
Ethan shook his head slightly.
"It's not over yet," he said calmly. "The outcome isn't certain."
On the screen, the two armored figures clashed again and again.
But the pattern was obvious.
Obadiah Stane was attacking relentlessly, while Tony was mostly forced onto the defensive. The Iron Overlord's overwhelming power made it difficult for Tony to counterattack effectively.
Ethan watched with mild amusement.
"In the end, Tony's still a bit inexperienced," he commented. "Stane's far more ruthless."
He pointed toward the screen.
"Look at that punch. An ordinary person wouldn't think to strike from that angle. It's precise, fast, and aimed straight at the weak points."
His running commentary made Lorna giggle repeatedly.
Neither of them appeared concerned about the life-or-death struggle happening on the screen. To Ethan, it really was just entertainment.
Lorna didn't know the deeper story behind the conflict, so she watched it like an action movie. Ethan, on the other hand, simply didn't care.
Suddenly something changed in the battle.
Tony seemed to realize that fighting on the ground was disadvantageous. Without hesitation, he activated his thrusters and shot straight upward into the sky.
The Mark II armor climbed rapidly into higher altitude.
The Iron Overlord followed immediately, but its heavy design made it slower and less agile. Compared to Tony's suit, it was clearly inferior in speed and maneuverability.
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched.
"Well," he said quietly.
"The real show is about to begin."
.....
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