[Marvel : Spoiling Spider-man] Chapter 336 - 340

Chapter 336: Despair

[Sensing Tony's hostility, Maya stood up and walked toward him.]

[As she approached, she explained, "We've been through a lot, Tony! But I'm almost there! Extremis is practically stable now!"]

[Tony strained against his restraints and sighed helplessly. Hearing Maya's claim, he retorted angrily, "I saw it wasn't! I was on the street when people exploded! There was blood everywhere! Maya, you're deceiving yourself!"]

[Maya pulled out the business card Tony had given her years ago. "Then help me fix it!"]

[Tony examined the card closely. On the front was written: "Bern, 2000, you know who I am!" On the back was a complex formula Tony had scribbled for Maya that night.]

[It was precisely this formula that had allowed Maya to advance the Extremis virus to its current state, but she couldn't progress further without Tony's help.]

[Tony stared at the formula in surprise. "I wrote this?" He had no recollection of it.]

[Maya noted his expression and nodded. "Yes!"]

[Tony tilted his head thoughtfully. "I remember that night, but not the morning after. Have you been working on this all this time?"]

[Maya frowned, looking at him with disappointment. "You really don't remember?"]

[Tony rejected her plea without hesitation. "I can't help you! You used to have morals! You were an idealist who wanted to help people! Look at yourself now!"]

["The person I wake up next to every morning still has a soul!"]

[Maya regarded Tony with a perplexed expression. She remembered selling the Extremis virus to Killian to fund her research, but she'd been avoiding confronting the ethical implications of that decision.]

["Help me, Tony! Please!"]

[Maya swallowed hard and hesitated when she noticed Killian approaching. She turned away and stepped back.]

[Killian's voice echoed as he descended the stairs carrying a laptop. "You know what my father used to say? His favorite expression was: 'The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!'"]

[Tony looked at Killian with recognition. "Still upset about Switzerland?"]

[Killian spread his hands and approached. "How could I be angry with you, Tony? I'm here to thank you! You gave me the greatest gift anyone has ever given me—despair!"]

["Remember Switzerland? You said we'd meet on the roof. For the first twenty minutes, I actually believed you'd show up!"]

["For the next hour, I... I considered taking a shortcut to the lobby, if you understand my meaning."]

[Tony didn't react to Killian's implied suicide attempt. Instead, he quipped, "Honestly, I'm still wondering what happened to the first mouse."]

[Killian ignored Tony's deflection and continued, "But as I looked out at the city below, I realized something—no one could see me. No one was even looking. I was invisible."]

[The scene flashed back to that moment. Killian hobbled to the rooftop railing with his crutches, gazing down at the oblivious crowd below and the celebratory fireworks illuminating the night sky.]

"It must have been devastating to be stood up like that," the first-generation Spider-Man observed. "Alone on a freezing rooftop on New Year's Eve, watching everyone below celebrating the new millennium while being completely forgotten. No wonder he harbors such hatred for Tony Stark."

Uncle Ben nodded thoughtfully. "Killian dedicated himself to never being overlooked again. That's why he threatened the president and orchestrated everything from behind the scenes—to make everyone fear him. The unknown is always the most terrifying."

"The Extremis virus does have incredible potential if it could be stabilized," the first-generation Spider-Man mused, thinking of Dr. Connors' missing arm. He hoped that someday the technology might allow his mentor to regenerate his lost limb.

Although he wasn't as fixated on this possibility as the second-generation Connors, he understood the desire to be whole again. Who would choose to remain disabled if given the option?

Dr. Connors had helped him tremendously, sharing knowledge unavailable in textbooks and assisting with his spider-suit research. Spider-Man genuinely wanted to repay that kindness someday.

[Back in the present, Killian pointed at Tony dramatically.]

["That night gave me the idea that guided me for years afterward! To remain anonymous! Thanks to you, Tony, I discovered my greatest weapon!"]

[Tony raised his eyebrows skeptically.]

["You see, the real power lies in working from the shadows! When you give evil a face—Bin Laden, Gaddafi, the Mandarin—you give people a target!"]

[Tony turned his head away, remarking coolly, "You've certainly come a long way from the man you were."]

[Killian returned to the table and prepared to open his laptop when he suddenly asked, "I assume you've met my actor?"]

["Yeah, your theatrical majesty," Tony said sarcastically.]

["I know his performance gets a bit... theatrical sometimes, but that's not my fault! He's a stage actor!" Killian explained to Maya with a shrug.]

["They say his King Lear was the toast of Croydon! Who cares? The point is, ever since that big guy with the hammer fell from the sky, subtlety has gone out of style!"]

[Tony recognized the reference to Thor and asked calmly, "What's your endgame here?"]

["Simple—I want to repay you in kind for what you so generously gave me all those years ago." He opened his palm and tossed three small spherical projectors onto the floor.]

[Pressing a remote, Killian activated a holographic image of Pepper strapped to a medical bed. Her body glowed with the same orange-red energy that emanated from Killian and his soldiers, clearly showing she had been injected with the Extremis virus.]

["Despair! This is happening live. I'm not sure if you fully grasp the situation, but her body is currently deciding whether to accept Extremis or reject it!"]

[Witnessing Pepper's agonizing struggle, Tony's fury exploded. He strained violently against his restraints to no avail. Maya watched the scene unfold and closed her eyes, unable to bear the sight.]

["If she rejects it... well, I can only say the resulting scene will be quite unforgettable. But before that decision is made, she must endure extraordinary pain!"]

"That monster!" Aunt May gasped, her hand covering her mouth in horror as she watched Pepper writhing in pain.

"Using an innocent woman to get revenge... there's no justification for that," Steve Rogers said grimly, his jaw tightening with anger.

"This is why I despise people who experiment on others without their consent," Bruce Banner added, his voice strained as he controlled his own emotions. "Science should heal, not harm."

The second-generation Harry watched with growing discomfort. "My father... did he ever consider using Oscorp research like this? To hurt people deliberately?"

"Extremis could save lives if developed properly," Wanda observed quietly. "But in Killian's hands, it's just another weapon to inflict suffering."

Rhodes shook his head. "And all because Tony forgot a meeting. The disproportionate revenge some people seek is beyond comprehension."

"Tony looks absolutely devastated," Natasha noted. "Pepper has always been his anchor, the one person he couldn't bear to lose."

Tony himself remained silent as he watched, his expression unreadable but his eyes never leaving the projection of Pepper. The weight of responsibility—that Pepper was suffering because of him—was clearly crushing him.

"In his twisted way, Killian actually thinks this is justice," Captain Marvel observed. "He's convinced himself that inflicting the same pain he felt is somehow righteous."

Chapter 337: Maya's Death

"Damn Killian, he deserves to die!" Tony couldn't help but feel furious when he saw Pepper tied there helplessly. If Killian hadn't been reduced to ashes, Tony would have wanted to drag out his corpse and whip it.

Rhodes said calmly, "We've already sent that guy to the afterlife. I hope he's enjoying his death."

"Yeah! Give him my regards!" Tony nodded involuntarily. Tony now believed that ghosts and deities existed in this world, but ordinary people weren't qualified to interact with such supernatural entities.

There truly was an afterlife in this universe, though the living had no concrete knowledge of what that realm was like. However, Tony didn't wish to discover it prematurely, so he was determined not to perish in the coming war.

Others who didn't know Killian was already dead couldn't help but worry for Pepper when they saw her captured and injected with the Extremis virus.

[After deactivating the projection, Killian approached Tony, grabbed him by the neck and said, "We haven't discussed compensation yet! What additional incentives would you like?"]

[At this moment, Maya suddenly intervened: "Let him go!"]

[Killian closed his eyes in frustration and said, "Hold on! Just wait!"]

[He turned to face Maya, saying, "Maya..."]

[But she had already raised an Extremis syringe to her own neck. "I said let him go!"]

[Killian stared at her in disbelief. "What are you doing?"]

[Maya met his gaze unflinchingly. "1200 cc's—just half this dose would be lethal!"]

[Killian glanced at Tony with exasperation. "There's always someone determined to test my patience!"]

[He extended his hand toward Maya. "Maya, give me the syringe!"]

[Maya remained resolute, threatening him further. "Killian, what happens to your soldiers if I die? What happens to your product?"]

[Killian tried to deescalate the situation. "We don't need to do this! Okay?"]

[Maya pressed on. "What happens to you? What if you overheat?"]

[Killian's patience finally snapped at Maya's words. He took a deep breath and exchanged a brief glance with Tony.]

[Without even turning his head, he fired a shot directly at Maya. She collapsed to her knees, staring at Killian in utter disbelief.]

[She had fatally overestimated her value to Killian and underestimated his confidence that Tony would ultimately cooperate to save Pepper.]

[Tony looked at Maya, blinking rapidly as his eyes grew unexpectedly moist.]

[Killian regarded Tony with cold calculation. "The good news is, there's now a vacancy in upper management!" He implied that Tony could join them to perfect the Extremis virus.]

[Maya clutched her wound, gazing at Tony with profound sadness. Tony watched helplessly, his lips trembling, as she collapsed to the floor and died.]

[Despite whatever moral compromises Maya had made in pursuit of her research, in the end, she'd tried to do the right thing. Tony lowered his head in sorrow and sighed.]

["You're a maniac!"]

[As Killian prepared to leave, he replied, "No! I'm a visionary! But I do have a madman under my command! Let's see his performance tonight!"]

[Tony remained behind, staring at Maya's lifeless body.]

"Oh! Maya!" Pepper couldn't help covering her mouth in shock. When she had first seen herself being injected with the Extremis virus, she'd been terrified. But then she remembered her appearance in the Spider-Man footage and her engagement to Tony, which meant she must have survived.

That knowledge had somewhat calmed her fears, but Maya's death underscored a chilling reality—without the broadcast and their foreknowledge, Pepper would have truly been at Killian's mercy.

The present-day Maya lowered her head in silence. Although she and Killian no longer shared any romantic connection—only a professional relationship—she still felt a profound sadness watching her alternate self being murdered without hesitation.

Wanda stepped forward to comfort her. "It's okay. Killian is dead. He can't hurt you anymore."

"Yes, thank you," Maya replied, wiping her reddened eyes and offering Wanda a grateful smile.

"Maya, tell me everything about the Extremis virus," Banner interjected, deliberately giving her something productive to focus on rather than allowing her to dwell on the disturbing footage.

Maya immediately straightened, responding with newfound purpose. "Of course." She followed Banner out of the room that Tony had prepared for her—conveniently situated near Wanda and the others.

[Meanwhile, Eric Savin walked alongside Killian, discussing their plans. "Once we secure the Iron Patriot, it'll take me nine, maybe ten minutes to complete the mission."]

[Killian tilted his head thoughtfully. "That's excellent, but last I checked, there was someone inside it."]

[The scene shifted to show a technician futilely attempting to cut through the Iron Patriot armor with an electric saw, making virtually no progress despite sustained effort.]

["Good afternoon, gentlemen!" Killian greeted as he entered the facility. He removed his jacket and casually tossed it to a nearby security guard.]

[Approaching the suspended Iron Patriot suit, Killian addressed its occupant. "Hello, Colonel!"]

[He then dismissed the technicians. "Everyone, stand back!"]

[Killian raised his body temperature, causing his hands to glow orange-red as he pressed them against the Iron Patriot's midsection.]

[Rhodes' expression changed immediately. The temperature inside the armor rose rapidly, and he began to feel the searing heat. Even the exceptional materials of the War Machine armor couldn't indefinitely withstand temperatures approaching 3,000 degrees.]

[Killian observed the armor with satisfaction. "We'll help you out, don't worry!"]

[Eric Savin approached with concern. "This will damage the armor!"]

[Killian responded with indifference. "Yes, but you can repair it, right? I'm taking the suit to the base. Bring Potts with us."]

[Eric cautioned, "She's still in the second phase of treatment."]

[Irritated by this opposition, Killian closed his eyes momentarily, licked his lips, and fixed Savin with an intimidating stare. "Didn't you understand what I said?"]

[Savin twisted his mouth but dared not challenge him further.]

[As Killian continued applying heat, Rhodes grew increasingly uncomfortable inside the armor, reaching his limits of endurance.]

George Stacy immediately assessed Killian's character. "He clearly has control issues—can't tolerate anyone contradicting him."

"That's definitely true," the second-generation Spider-Man nodded emphatically, respecting George's insight. As police chief, George had developed an accurate eye for reading people, a skill Peter never doubted.

"Can Rhodes hold out?" Gwen asked worriedly, concerned for the colonel's safety.

The second-generation Spider-Man, familiar with the armor's specifications and the properties of gold-titanium alloy, explained, "His armor can withstand extreme temperatures, but 3,000 degrees is pushing its limits. If exposed for too long, he'll definitely be in trouble."

"He won't die, will he?" Gwen's brothers asked anxiously. They had grown quite fond of Rhodes.

The second-generation Spider-Man could only shrug uncertainly. Without knowing the precise timeline relative to the Civil War, he couldn't be sure. "I don't know for certain... but he should survive."

"Rhodes is tough," Tony remarked, his eyes fixed on the screen. "And that armor, while not as advanced as mine, has significant heat resistance. But Killian's playing a dangerous game."

"It's not just about the armor," Bruce added. "Even if the suit protects him from direct burns, the secondary effects of extreme heat—dehydration, heat stroke—those can be just as deadly."

Captain Marvel frowned. "They need the armor intact enough to carry out whatever plan they have. They'll stop before it's completely compromised."

"Killian's already shown he has no regard for human life," Steve noted grimly. "Maya tried to stand up to him, and he eliminated her without a second thought."

"She died trying to do the right thing," Natasha observed quietly. "After crossing so many lines, she finally found one she wouldn't cross."

Uncle Ben nodded solemnly. "Sometimes people lose their way before they find it again. Unfortunately for Maya, that realization came too late."

Chapter 338: The Stolen Armor

[Meanwhile, Tony remained bound to the bed. Suddenly, his watch began to beep loudly. Tony immediately perked up—this was the alert indicating Mark 42 had finished charging.]

[One of his guards heard the alarm, traced the sound, and picked up the childish digital watch.]

[Tony observed this and warned, "Careful with that—it's a limited edition!"]

[Then he taunted the other guard: "Hey, Ponytail Express... how far is Tennessee from Miami?"]

[The guard immediately replied, "832 miles!"]

[Tony nodded with satisfaction. "Very good!" He mentally calculated how long it would take for the Mark 42 to arrive.]

[Ponytail smiled smugly at his companion. "I'm good with distances."]

[He then glanced at the beeping watch impatiently. "Can you shut that thing up?"]

[Tony issued a warning: "Break it, you bought it!"]

[The guard contemptuously threw the watch to the floor, crushed it beneath his boot, and ground it against the concrete. He looked at Tony with disdain. "I'll buy you another."]

["That's actually not mine. It belongs to my friend's sister. So I'm gonna kill you first," Tony glared while eyeing the destroyed watch.]

[The guard chuckled and gestured at Tony's restraints. "How are you planning to do that? You're tied to a bed!"]

["Just watch," Tony estimated Mark 42 was nearly there and dramatically waved his hand, initiating the summoning gesture for his armor. "Like this!"]

[To his confusion, nothing happened. The two guards looked at Tony as though he'd lost his mind. Tony waved again with more emphasis. "Like that!"]

[The guards watched Tony's peculiar performance with bewilderment. Tony closed his mouth helplessly, wondering if something had gone wrong.]

"Is he summoning the armor?" the first-generation Gwen asked, uncertain about Tony's strange gestures.

"Yeah! That's how he calls the suit. The sensors he implanted in his body allow the armor to locate him and respond to his movements," the first-generation Spider-Man confirmed with a nod.

He added concernedly, "I don't understand the delay. He must have calculated the arrival time precisely, but something's wrong. I hope Harley's okay!"

"Oh! I hope Tony escapes safely and saves Pepper!" Gwen clasped her hands together in prayer.

Spider-Man reached out and embraced her reassuringly. "He will! And Rhodes too—I believe they'll both be fine."

Gwen gazed upward and pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Without his armor, Tony Stark is just an ordinary person, like me. Without Venom, I can't help you either."

"Hey, you've always had what matters most," Spider-Man gently lifted her chin and tapped lightly on the Venom symbiote at her chest. Sensing his touch, Venom instinctively wrapped around his fingers in recognition.

[Meanwhile, Rhodes was sweating profusely inside the Iron Patriot armor, no longer able to withstand the intense heat.]

[Killian addressed him calmly. "Planning to come out anytime soon?"]

[Rhodes repeatedly muttered, "Don't open it, don't open it! Don't open it, don't open it! Don't..."]

[But as the armor's warning systems blared and his vision began to blur, Rhodes recognized the suit had reached its thermal limits and was losing functionality. He reluctantly conceded, "Fine, I'm coming out!"]

[The moment he spoke, the armor disengaged its locks. Rhodes leaped out and immediately struck Eric Savin in the face, catching him off guard. He followed with a powerful kick that sent Savin crashing into a nearby table.]

[Witnessing this, Killian instantly raised his body temperature until his entire form glowed red-hot. He then exhaled a concentrated stream of fire.]

[Rhodes had started toward the stairs but found his path blocked by flames. He and Savin both stared at Killian in astonishment.]

["You... you can breathe fire too? Okay!" Facing such a formidable opponent while unarmed, Rhodes wisely chose to surrender rather than risk a futile resistance.]

[Killian gradually lowered his temperature. Eric Savin seized Rhodes, slammed him against the wall, and knocked him unconscious. He then looked to Killian for further instructions.]

[Killian raised his hands triumphantly. "What a glorious day this is turning out to be! Seven!"]

[As he turned to don his suit jacket, he outlined his ambitions. "By this time tomorrow, the most powerful leader in the free world and the most feared terrorist will both be under my control!"]

[Eric Savin remained silent, glancing at Rhodes' unconscious form as Killian approached.]

["I'll have complete dominion over the war on terror! Creating both supply and demand! For your brothers and sisters!" With that declaration, Killian departed.]

[Back to Tony, who continued his attempts to summon the armor: "Trust me, you're only five, four, three seconds away from drowning in your own blood. Come on! Two..."]

[His guards exchanged exasperated looks. "How did we get stuck with this lunatic?"]

["I'm giving you one last chance to walk away! Drop your weapons! Tie yourselves to those chairs! I'll let you live! We're at five... four... bang!"]

[The guard who had destroyed the watch regarded Tony with a pitying sigh.]

[Ponytail held his gun casually, laughing. "Wow, that's really..."]

["You should be dead by now! You should be in the afterlife!" Tony couldn't understand the delay—Mark 42 should have arrived long ago.]

[Ponytail mockingly addressed his partner: "I'm absolutely terrified!"]

[Tony persisted undeterred: "Here it comes! Three! Four..."]

["Shut up!"]

[Tony quickly recited: "Five, four, three, two, one!"]

[Before he finished speaking, the window glass suddenly shattered as the right palm component of his armor crashed through, knocking Ponytail to the ground before attaching to Tony's hand.]

["I told you!" He immediately fired a repulsor blast, sending one guard flying across the room. The recoil caused Tony to spin uncontrollably.]

[Tony quickly stabilized himself and used his armored hand to tear through the restraints binding him to the bed, finally breaking free.]

[As Ponytail struggled to his feet, Tony engaged him using Wing Chun techniques he'd learned from Happy. The two reached a temporary stalemate.]

[Just then, the left leg section crashed through another window and successfully attached to Tony. With his newly armored leg, Tony delivered a powerful kick and seized the guard's weapon.]

[Glancing out the shattered window, Tony asked in confusion: "Where's the rest?"]

[Back in Tennessee, Harley discovered the warehouse door had somehow been locked, trapping the remaining armor components inside. He quickly retrieved the simple explosives Tony had crafted earlier.]

[The door lock was blown apart, and the armor pieces instantly soared skyward, racing toward Tony's position in Miami.]

[Harley watched the Mark 42 components streaking through the sky, his eyes filled with wonder and envy.]

"So that's where the armor was," Bruce observed. "Locked in the barn in Tennessee."

"Smart kid," Tony remarked with genuine appreciation. "Quick thinking with those explosives."

"The armor is coming in pieces," Steve noted. "Can it still function effectively that way?"

Rhodes nodded. "Each component has independent flight capabilities and power. It's not ideal, but Tony can work with it."

"Meanwhile, Killian now has my suit," Rhodes added with visible frustration. "Whatever he's planning can't be good."

"The Iron Patriot is a powerful weapons platform," Natasha commented. "In the wrong hands, it could cause significant damage."

"Seven," Captain Marvel repeated thoughtfully. "Killian mentioned 'seven.' What's happening tomorrow that involves the number seven?"

"Could be a time," Bruce suggested. "Seven o'clock?"

"Or Air Force One," Tony suddenly realized. "The President's plane is designated as Air Force One. Killian said he'd control the most powerful leader in the free world."

"And the most feared terrorist," Wanda added. "He means the Mandarin—or rather, his fake version of the Mandarin."

"He's planning something involving both the President and his fictional terrorist," Steve concluded grimly. "A false flag operation?"

"With Extremis soldiers, Iron Patriot armor, and a manufactured terrorist threat, he could reshape global politics," Natasha observed. "Create permanent demand for his enhanced soldiers by escalating conflicts."

"All while making billions selling Extremis to the military," Tony finished. "War profiteering on an unprecedented scale."

Chapter 339: Dungeon Fight

"So it was locked in the barn! No wonder there was no movement after Tony Stark summoned it for so long. Those two parts must have broken through the glass and escaped, right?"

The second-generation Spider-Man suddenly understood the situation. He had been wondering why Mark 42 hadn't responded immediately, since someone like Tony would never miscalculate the timing.

It turned out the warehouse door had been locked. Perhaps Harley's mother had secured it without realizing what was inside.

Gwen couldn't contain her laughter. "Hahaha! Tony Stark never anticipated this, did he? He completely forgot the warehouse door might be locked!"

Tony himself looked slightly embarrassed at having endangered himself over such an oversight.

Banner couldn't help but feel relieved. "Luckily Harley noticed in time, otherwise you would have been fighting with just one hand and one foot!"

Tony responded sullenly, "When I get back to the lab, I'm adding a function that automatically identifies alternative exit routes!"

[In the dungeon, several of Killian's men heard the commotion and rushed in with weapons drawn. Tony immediately fired a repulsor blast at the wall above their heads.]

[The guards ducked in panic, giving Tony the opportunity to activate his boot thruster. However, with only one armored hand and foot, he struggled to maintain balance and accidentally triggered his repulsor mid-flight.]

[After stabilizing himself, Tony quickly engaged the enemies before him, flying toward them while laying down suppressive fire.]

[A fierce gunfight erupted. Tony took cover in a blind spot and returned fire, but soon exhausted his ammunition and discarded the weapon.]

[At that moment, someone opened fire from his flank. Tony dodged and immediately dropped prone. He fired a repulsor blast at the assailant above him, the powerful force shattering a section of concrete wall.]

[Simultaneously, he used the recoil to propel himself backward, changed direction, and landed gracefully on the upper level, where he engaged two more guards in hand-to-hand combat.]

[Spotting movement in his peripheral vision, Tony dodged sideways as one guard fired at him. The unfortunate guard behind Tony took several shots and collapsed.]

[Tony seized the advantage, hitting him with a repulsor blast before naturally dropping his arm to fire another quick blast backward. In the same fluid motion, he grabbed the arm of the man in front of him.]

[He turned the guard's weapon against another opponent. The guard struggled desperately to resist, but Tony pinned him down with his armored foot, causing the man to immediately weaken from the pain.]

[Tony first shot the approaching guard, then activated his boot thruster, pushing his captive violently against the wall and knocking him unconscious instantly.]

[Without pause, Tony aimed the gun downward at another guard below. Seeing this, the man immediately raised his weapon in surrender.]

["Honestly, I hate working here! They're all freaks!" He tossed his pistol aside and raised his hands high.]

[Tony gestured with his finger for the man to leave, and the guard immediately fled.]

[After neutralizing the dungeon guards, Tony stepped into the corridor just as the remaining Mark 42 components arrived and attached to his body.]

[He couldn't help but complain, "Better late than never!"]

[Running from the dungeon while the armor assembled around him, Tony saw the faceplate flying toward him and quickly reached out to catch it.]

["Not this time! Don't hit me in the face!" Tony sighed with relief as he secured the faceplate and completed the armor.]

["It's great to be back! Hello, by the way," he greeted JARVIS as the HUD activated.]

["Hello, sir!" JARVIS responded warmly.]

[Tony observed an air transport plane departing in the distance, with a familiar figure aboard. After a quick scan, he confirmed it was the Iron Patriot armor.]

"Tony Stark is pretty impressive!" Wanda remarked, admiring his ability to handle multiple adversaries under such challenging circumstances.

"He does train regularly," Natasha acknowledged with a slight smile toward Wanda. "But don't let him hear you say that. If he knows you're praising him, his ego will become unbearable."

"Looks like he's also afraid of the mask hitting him in the face again," Scott noted with amusement. "He got a pretty nasty injury last time."

As expected, Tony took the opportunity to boast to Rhodes and the others about how easily he'd dispatched three armed guards despite his limited armor.

Rhodes simply rolled his eyes, refusing to engage with Tony's grandstanding. In a real fight between them, Rhodes knew he could hold his own against Tony any day.

[Meanwhile, Rhodes had regained consciousness. As he got to his feet, he heard an alarm blaring: "Attention all personnel, Stark has escaped! He's somewhere in the compound! I repeat, Stark has escaped and is somewhere in the compound!"]

[Rhodes quickly stood and raced up the nearest stairwell.]

["Let's go!" Tony prepared for takeoff, but the armor lacked sufficient power for sustained flight. Only a few sparks emerged from the boot thrusters before they sputtered out.]

["Damn it!" he cursed under his breath.]

[At the same time, Rhodes made his escape, taking down a guard and throwing him from the building's edge. Rhodes leaped down after him, knocking the still-resisting guard unconscious with a well-placed punch.]

[He immediately searched the man's body, retrieving a cell phone. Watching the Iron Patriot flying increasingly distant, he made a call: "Tony..."]

[Tony answered immediately. "Rhodes, please tell me that's you in the armor."]

["No. Did you get yours back?" Rhodes replied as he located a pistol on the unconscious guard.]

["Uh... more or less. Get to the main house as quickly as possible. There's someone I want you to meet." Hearing this, Rhodes immediately rushed toward the indicated location.]

[Inside the mansion, Trevor Slattery remained oblivious to the chaos, sleeping soundly with an empty beer bottle clutched to his chest.]

[Two women in underwear were playing ping-pong in the room when two security guards burst in with weapons drawn. "Everybody out! Now! Move it!"]

[The startled women fled immediately.]

[The guards scanned the area and reported, "Room secure. Maintaining visual on the Mandarin."]

[Meanwhile, Tony had found a car battery and was connecting it to the Mark 42 armor to recharge it.]

[Suddenly, an armored hand appeared holding a ping-pong paddle. "What's this? I win!"]

[The guards spun around at the sound and opened fire, but the bullets ricocheted harmlessly off the armor.]

[Rhodes seized the opportunity to crash through the window behind them. He slid across the floor and fired several precise shots at both guards. The gunfire finally roused Trevor, who merely took another swig of beer in response.]

[After Rhodes neutralized the threats, Tony approached Trevor and asked instinctively, "What are you still doing here?"]

"I can't believe Trevor just slept through all that chaos," Aunt May commented, shaking her head in disbelief.

"The man's probably been drunk or high for days," Uncle Ben replied. "He's completely detached from reality."

Captain Marvel crossed her arms. "Meanwhile, the Iron Patriot armor is getting further away by the second. Whatever Killian has planned with it, the timeline is accelerating."

"Tony's armor needs more power," Bruce observed. "The car battery is clever, but it won't give him full functionality."

"Rhodes did well without any armor at all," Steve noted with appreciation. "His military training shows in how he handles himself in combat."

"They make a good team," Natasha acknowledged. "Now they just need to figure out what Killian's planning with the Iron Patriot and how to stop it."

"And save Pepper," Tony added, his expression serious as he watched the broadcast. "She's still infected with Extremis and running out of time."

The second-generation Harry frowned thoughtfully. "Killian mentioned something about controlling the most powerful leader in the West. Is he planning to use the Iron Patriot to kidnap the President?"

"That would explain why he needs a suit with military clearance," Rhodes realized. "The Iron Patriot would be allowed near Air Force One without raising alarms."

"And with the Mandarin supposedly behind it all, he maintains plausible deniability," Natasha finished. "A perfect false flag operation."

Chapter 340: Vice President

[Rhodes pressed the gun against Trevor's head, stepping on the chair to increase the intimidation factor. "If you dare to move, I will blow your face off!"]

[Trevor looked at Tony plaintively. "I never knew anyone was hurt. They lied to me!"]

[Like Tony before him, Rhodes turned with an incredulous expression. "This is the Mandarin?"]

[Tony couldn't bear to watch. "I know, it's... it's embarrassing!"]

[Trevor extended his hand toward Rhodes. "Hello! I'm Trevor!"]

[Rhodes slapped his hand away, but Trevor continued undeterred. "I know, I'm a little short and thin, everyone says so, but... hey, if you guys are here to arrest me, I have to make a phone call first!"]

[Tony interrupted him. "Let me explain the situation to you, Meryl Streep!" His reference to the acclaimed actress was a sarcastic jab at Trevor's theatrical performance.]

["I'll stop only when you tell him where Pepper is!" Tony gestured toward Rhodes.]

[Trevor still didn't grasp the gravity of the situation. "Stop what?"]

[Rhodes pressed the still-hot gun barrel against Trevor's cheek, causing him to yelp in pain. "Ow! I get it! It hurts! I understand! I understand!"]

[Trevor covered his ears defensively. "I don't know who Pepper is! But I know their plan!"]

[Tony urged impatiently, "Then tell us, now!"]

[Rhodes, more concerned about his stolen armor, demanded, "What did they do with my suit?"]

["What? No idea! But I know the location is on the coast! Something about a big ship! I can take you there!" While Trevor didn't know about the Iron Patriot, he'd revealed another crucial piece of information.]

[Rhodes deflated slightly, worried about what Killian planned to do with his armor.]

[Suddenly, Trevor shouted excitedly, startling Rhodes. A player on the television had scored a goal, and Trevor began humming cheerfully, completely disregarding the circumstances.]

["Tony, I swear, I'm going to smash his face!" Rhodes snapped back to the moment, his patience exhausted. He turned to Tony with a threatening glare toward Trevor.]

[Sensing the danger, Trevor quickly offered another revelation to save himself. "Oh! And this whole thing involves the Vice President! Is that... is that important?"]

["I'd say so!" Tony and Rhodes exchanged significant looks.]

["Yeah, that's important," they agreed in unison. Tony leaned in to confer with Rhodes. "What do we do now?"]

[Rhodes frowned. "We still have no transportation!"]

[Tony turned back toward Trevor, with Rhodes following his gaze. Trevor sat holding a beer glass with a bewildered expression.]

["Hey, Ringo! Didn't you mention something about a nice speedboat?" Tony asked, throwing in a Beatles reference to mock Trevor further.]

[Trevor blinked in response.]

Banner narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Influenced by his former father-in-law's political machinations, Banner harbored deep distrust toward most government officials. "These people will do anything for power!"

"He wants to be president," Rhodes realized immediately. "That explains why the Mandarin has been threatening Ellis. If something happens to the President, the Vice President automatically takes office."

"The ambitious man remains as ambitious as ever," Steve Rogers sighed heavily.

In their timeline, the Vice President had already resigned voluntarily and would face trial according to the law, though this information wasn't yet public knowledge.

The benefit of his coming clean to President Ellis was that only he would face consequences—his family would remain untouched by scandal, and he wouldn't have to weather the storm of public outrage. Additionally, his political party could negotiate on his behalf.

When the scandal broke, the White House had rapidly prepared for a national press conference, though this held little relevance for Tony and the others at this point.

[The scene changed to show a speedboat racing across the water.]

[Tony spoke urgently to Rhodes as they cut through the waves. "If what Trevor said is correct, we're still twenty minutes away from reaching Pepper!"]

[Rhodes reminded him, "We still need to address the Vice President situation, right?"]

[Tony glanced at his friend with a confident smile. "Already on it. Guess who I'm calling? The Vice President himself!"]

[On the other end of the line, the Vice President was hosting a birthday celebration for his granddaughter. He took the phone from a bodyguard. "Hello?"]

["Sir! This is Tony Stark!"]

[Upon hearing the name, the Vice President responded with practiced calm. "Welcome back to the land of the living!"]

[Tony dispensed with pleasantries. "We have reason to believe you may be involved in the Mandarin attacks. We need to get you to a secure location immediately!"]

[The Vice President replied dismissively, "Mr. Stark, I'm about to enjoy honey ham under the protection of elite Secret Service agents, while the President and Colonel Rhodes are safely aboard Air Force One. I believe we're all quite secure."]

[Rhodes interjected, "Sir! This is Colonel Rhodes! They plan to use the Iron Patriot as a Trojan horse to assassinate the President! We must alert the Air Force One crew immediately!"]

[The Vice President's expression subtly shifted upon hearing Rhodes' voice. He recovered quickly, responding with apparent seriousness. "I'll have security personnel take action right away. If necessary, F-22s can be on-site within thirty seconds. Thank you, Colonel."]

[Rhodes exchanged a knowing look with Tony while holding the phone. "Rhodes and Stark out." Their test of the Vice President's loyalty had yielded its answer.]

[After disconnecting, a security guard approached the Vice President. "Is everything all right, sir?"]

[The Vice President handed him the phone with a faint smile. "Absolutely not."]

[He then walked into the adjacent room, where he approached his granddaughter and kissed her forehead tenderly. "I love you, baby."]

[As the camera panned downward, it revealed the heart-wrenching truth—the little girl's right leg had been amputated below the knee.]

Seeing this, everyone immediately understood the Vice President's motivation for cooperating with Killian. The promise of Extremis's regenerative capabilities offered hope for his granddaughter's missing limb.

Yet he also knew the virus was unstable. He couldn't subject his beloved granddaughter to such a dangerous gamble without assurances. This explained his willingness to collaborate with Killian—it served both his political ambition and his desperate desire to help his granddaughter.

The two parties had reached a mutually beneficial arrangement: presidential power for the Vice President, and governmental protection for Killian's research.

Unfortunately for them both, the sky broadcast had exposed everything. Killian was already dead, and the Vice President would soon face imprisonment for his role in the conspiracy.

"I almost feel sorry for him," Aunt May said softly, watching the tender moment between the Vice President and his granddaughter.

"Many villains believe they're doing the right thing," Bruce noted. "It doesn't justify their actions, but it makes them human."

"He had resources," Tony countered sharply. "He could have funded legitimate research into prosthetics or regenerative medicine. Instead, he chose to collaborate with a terrorist."

"When it's your child suffering, rational thinking often goes out the window," Uncle Ben observed. "Not an excuse, but perhaps an explanation."

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions," Steve added solemnly. "He compromised his oath of office and endangered countless lives, including the President's."

"And now we know why they needed the Iron Patriot," Rhodes said grimly. "They're planning to attack Air Force One—with the President on board."

"While the whole world believes it's the Mandarin," Natasha finished. "Leaving Killian free to sell his Extremis soldiers to the highest bidder in the ensuing chaos."