[Marvel : Spoiling Spider-man] Chapter 201 - 205

Chapter 201: The Jericho Missile

[On the road, two cars—one white and one black—sped past at high speed. Tony Stark was behind the wheel, heading toward his private airport, with Happy trailing close behind. There, Rhodes was already waiting impatiently for him.]

["You're incredible! I really thought I had shaken you off!" Tony exclaimed to Happy.]

["Just once, sir! I hit a red light!" Happy responded as he popped open the trunk and retrieved Tony's luggage.]

["What the hell is wrong with you?" Rhodes asked Tony, visibly annoyed.]

["What?" Tony feigned ignorance, playing dumb.]

["You're late!!!"]

["Come on! What was I supposed to do? Natural disasters, man-made disasters—I'm helpless against them!" Tony shrugged nonchalantly as he boarded the private jet.]

["Three whole hours!!! You made me wait three hours!!!" Rhodes fumed.]

["Relax, let's just take off! Let's have some fun!" Tony waved dismissively and stepped inside. Rhodes sighed, pulled off his hat, and reluctantly followed.]

[Inside the plane, a beautiful flight attendant set the table for Tony, though his eyes were glued to her rather than the meal. Meanwhile, Rhodes sat across from him, engrossed in his newspaper.]

["What are you looking at?" Tony asked, curious.]

["Nothing," Rhodes muttered without lifting his gaze.]

["Oh, come on, don’t be mad. Anger is bad for your health!" Tony smirked, knowing full well that Rhodes was irritated.]

[Of course, Rhodes wouldn’t admit it. "I'm not mad. It doesn’t matter, okay?"]

["Alright, alright, I apologize! I sincerely apologize!" Tony said dramatically as two flight attendants arrived with hot towels.]

["I'm really not mad! If you don’t respect yourself, how can you respect me? You know what? I’m just your babysitter!" Rhodes shot back, exasperated.]

["If you need a diaper change, if you need your bottle, just let me know, okay?" Rhodes quipped sarcastically.]

[Tony wasn’t the least bit offended. Instead, he called out to the flight attendant, "Hey! A glass of sake! Want some? Thanks for the reminder!"]

["NO! I said we can’t drink right now! We have work to do!" Rhodes insisted, trying to maintain professionalism.]

[Tony waved him off. "Sake pairs perfectly with sashimi. It’s a must."]

["You… You are the most irresponsible person I know!"]

["Not drinking would be irresponsible! It’s just a nightcap!" Tony chuckled, unconcerned.]

["Hot sake?" The flight attendant asked, holding the bottle.]

[Tony nodded. "Yes! Two cups, please!"]

["NO! I absolutely won’t drink!" Rhodes declared adamantly.]

[The very next second, both Tony and Rhodes were sitting at the plane’s bar, sipping sake while watching the flight attendants dance.]

[Rhodes, now slightly tipsy, leaned against Tony with a bottle in hand. The two began showering each other with exaggerated compliments, clearly under the influence of alcohol.]

"Hahahahaha!!! Rhodes, weren’t you just saying you don’t drink?" Tony laughed, nudging him.

"Damn it! I told you I can't drink!" Rhodes groaned, covering his face in embarrassment. Now he was the one getting called out!

Spider-Man watched the scene with wide eyes, still struggling to understand why Tony was hugging the flight attendants or why Rhodes had caved so easily.

"Who would've thought the ever-so-serious liaison officer could be such a party animal in private?" Second-Gen Spider-Man muttered in amusement.

"This isn’t that wild. He’s just watching a few women dance. Totally normal for a guy like Tony," Harry shrugged, unfazed.

Second-Gen Spider-Man nodded thoughtfully, realizing he had no real understanding of high society.

Meanwhile, many viewers were envious of Tony’s extravagant lifestyle—bright lights, endless drinks, beautiful women, and a different indulgence every day.

[Afghanistan, Bagram Air Force Base. As the private jet landed, Tony stepped out. A group of soldiers was already waiting below.]

["General!" Tony greeted with a charismatic smile, shaking the officer’s hand.]

["Welcome, Mr. Stark! We’re looking forward to your demonstration."]

[After a few pleasantries, Tony wasted no time getting to business. Standing confidently before the gathered military personnel, he began his pitch.]

["Fear or respect? Why not both? Today, I introduce you to the pinnacle of Stark Industries’ freedom-enhancing arsenal!"]

["This is the first missile system equipped with our proprietary propulsion technology! Some say the best weapon is the one you never have to fire."]

["I have a different philosophy. I believe the best weapon is the one you only have to use once!" Tony declared.]

["This is what my father believed! This is what the United States believes! And history has proven it!"]

["Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the Jericho Missile!" Tony gestured grandly.]

[A nearby launcher whirred to life. The soldiers turned their gaze toward the firing site as a missile rocketed into the sky with a deafening boom.]

[Mid-air, the missile split into dozens of smaller warheads, scattering toward the designated target area.]

[Behind Tony, a massive explosion erupted, sending a powerful shockwave through the valley. The sheer force blew off the general’s and Rhodes’ hats, while Tony himself took a step forward to steady himself against the blast.]

[As the fireball roared behind him, Tony coolly opened a sleek case, revealing several bottles of high-end liquor and crystal glasses.]

[Raising a glass, he smirked. "One purchase—over five million dollars! And guess what? Free drinks. For peace!" He took a sip, completely unfazed.]

"Whoa!!!" First-Gen Spider-Man shot up from his seat in shock. "That is terrifying!"

The first gen Gwen gasped in disbelief. Meanwhile, all around the world, audiences were equally stunned by the sheer devastation on display.

Governments, in particular, were deeply unsettled. The Jericho Missile wasn’t just powerful—it was a strategic nightmare. A single launch could level an entire battlefield, with guided warheads that made interception nearly impossible.

"This… This is the Jericho Missile? Damn warmonger! Damn Tony Stark!!!" Wanda Maximoff clenched her fists, trembling with anger.

Even though the screen had shown Tony sacrificing himself to save the universe, she could not forget the devastation his weapons had caused—especially to her own family. Her parents had died because of Stark Industries’ creations.

Even if the world forgave him, she never could.

Chapter 202: First Meeting with Yinsen

[Tony sipped his drink while casually scrolling through his phone. At this time, smartphones were still small-screened, and the person he was video chatting with was none other than Obadiah Stane.]

["Obie! Why aren’t you asleep yet?" Tony asked with a smirk.]

[Obadiah, lying in bed shirtless, sighed. "I can’t sleep without knowing the results! So? How did it go?"]

["Everything went smoothly. Looks like we’re going to make a lot of money this time," Tony replied, clearly pleased with himself.]

[Hearing this, Obadiah grinned in satisfaction. "Hey! Good job, kid! See you tomorrow, alright?"]

["By the way, why don’t you ever wear the pajamas I got you?" Tony teased, unaware that Obadiah had no intention of letting him see the sun rise again.]

[With that, he climbed into a military Humvee and hung up the call. Just as he was settling in, Rhodes approached, intending to join him—but Tony stopped him with a playful grin.]

["Sorry, buddy! This is the Happy Humvee! That one over there? That’s the Angry Humvee! See you at the base!"]

[Denied entry, Rhodes had no choice but to get into the last vehicle, which would ultimately save his life.]

[Moments later, the convoy was ambushed—the very opening scene of Tony's nightmare.]

[In a hazy trance, Tony drifted in and out of consciousness. He saw flashes of a makeshift operating room, the sensation of hands pulling something from his body, and a doctor placing a strange device onto his chest.]

"Yinsen..." Tony’s eyes shut tightly as the memories of captivity resurfaced. A pang of regret hit him—he had failed to save Yinsen, his true savior.

Sensing his change in mood, the others in the viewing space remained silent, not daring to interrupt.

"Serves you right!" Wanda scoffed as she watched Tony suffer. Pietro, standing beside her, nodded in agreement.

To them, Tony Stark was one of the men responsible for their parents’ deaths. Seeing him wounded and helpless gave them a twisted sense of relief.

"What is that? A magnet?" First-Gen Spider-Man squinted at the screen, puzzled. He turned to the first gen Gwen for answers.

She examined it carefully before nodding. "Yeah, it looks like a magnet. But what’s it for?"

"Maybe it’s to control him—like, a bomb attached to his chest, so he can’t escape?" Uncle Ben guessed.

"No way, that doesn’t make sense," First-Gen Spider-Man countered. "Tony's already injured, and he barely looks like he can move. Why would they bother putting a bomb on him when he might not even survive?"

"Besides, bombs don’t look like that," he added. "That thing seems to serve a different purpose."

[Tony finally regained consciousness after an unknown amount of time. His head was spinning, his body weak. He reached up and yanked a thin tube from his nose, grimacing at its length.]

[Thirsty, he struggled to grab a nearby cup, only to knock it over in his weakened state.]

[That was when he noticed another person in the room. A man was casually shaving in front of a small mirror, seemingly indifferent to Tony’s presence.]

[Tony turned away, reaching for the kettle this time. But in doing so, he accidentally tugged at something attached to his chest.]

["If I were you, I wouldn’t mess with that," the man said calmly.]

[Tony turned his gaze downward, realizing for the first time that wires from a car battery were connected to his chest. He gave one a small tug—only to feel a sharp pain.]

[Panic flared in his eyes as he clutched his chest, feeling something foreign beneath his skin. With hurried fingers, he tore away the bandages, revealing a strange device embedded into him.]

[The man, still shaving, whistled nonchalantly before finally introducing himself.]

["What did you do to me?" Tony demanded, staring at the device in the mirror’s reflection.]

["What did I do?" The man let out a dry chuckle. "I saved your life. I did my best to remove all the shrapnel, but some of it is still dangerously close to your heart."]

["Here, take a look." He picked up a small glass vial, shook it, and tossed it to Tony. Inside, tiny metal fragments rattled against the glass.]

["Many in my village have suffered similar injuries," the man continued. "We call them the living dead. Because in about a week, those fragments will find their way into your heart."]

[Tony’s fingers tightened around the vial. "What is this?" he asked, eyeing the contraption on his chest.]

["A magnet," the man answered simply. "It’s powered by a car battery. It keeps the shrapnel from piercing your heart."]

[Processing this, Tony zipped up his shirt and finally took in his surroundings. His eyes landed on a security camera in the corner of the room.]

[Following his gaze, the man smirked. "That’s right. Smile! We’ve met before, you know. Bern, at a technical conference."]

["I don’t remember," Tony muttered, still disoriented.]

["Of course you don’t," the man chuckled. "If I had been as drunk as you, I wouldn’t have remembered anything either. Not to mention trying to teach a class on integrated circuits."]

[What Tony didn’t know was that another man, Aldrich Killian, had also been slighted by him at that same conference—an encounter that would later come back to haunt him.]

["Where is this place?" Tony asked warily.]

[Before the man could answer, loud noises erupted outside the iron gate.]

[Eyes narrowing, the man suddenly became serious. He leaned in close and whispered urgently: "Stand up. Now." Then, without waiting for a response, he yanked Tony upright.]

["Do as I do—quick! Hands up!"]

[Tony, confused but compliant, raised his hands just as several men entered. He immediately noticed the guns in their hands—Stark Industry weapons.]

["Those are my guns… How the hell did they get them?" Tony murmured in shock.]

[Eyes darting toward him, the man hissed, "Don’t talk! Just follow my lead!"]

[One of the armed men, the apparent leader, spoke in Arabic: "Welcome, Tony Stark. You are the most famous… and deadliest murderer of all!"]

[Through the mysterious viewing space, the audience could understand every word—but the Tony Stark on screen did not.]

[The man beside him translated helpfully: "He says it’s an honor to meet you. He wants you to build a missile—the Jericho Missile. A weapon of mass destruction."]

[The leader handed the blueprints to the man, who then showed them to Tony.]

[Understanding their intent, Tony’s expression hardened. "I won’t do it."]

[The next second, the leader grabbed Tony and shoved him headfirst into a nearby water trough. He thrashed desperately, coughing and choking as he struggled for air. But his captors were merciless. When they finally yanked him back up, gasping and dripping, Tony was barely able to stand before he was forcefully dragged away.]

Chapter 203: Beginning the Arc Reactor

"This is bad for Tony Stark," First-Gen Harry muttered, swirling the wine in his glass. It was obvious that Tony had no choice in this situation. If he refused, he’d likely be killed on the spot.

Of course, if he kept resisting, the kidnappers could resort to demanding a high ransom from his family. Whether he’d actually be released safely after the payment, however, was another story entirely.

Mary Jane, sitting nearby, shared the sentiment. Tony Stark had fallen into a trap, and escaping this predicament would be no easy feat.

First-Gen Harry pondered what he would do in Tony’s place. If he were captured, he’d probably feign compliance while waiting for the right moment—or for a rescue.

[Tony was led out of the cave, his head covered with a sack. When they removed it, the sudden, blinding sunlight made him squint, his eyes struggling to adjust.]

[As he took in his surroundings, he realized he was standing in the middle of a valley. Before he could react, a member of the Ten Rings shoved him forward, forcing him to stumble ahead.]

[With no choice, Tony clutched the car battery strapped to him and walked forward, scanning the area. His sharp eyes quickly spotted something alarming—Stark Industries weapons, stockpiled in large quantities.]

[The leader of the group deliberately let him see it all before turning to him and asking what he thought. Tony was stunned. How had they gotten so many of his company’s weapons?]

[With a smirk, the leader boasted that they had obtained them from his “American friends.” Then he pointed toward the supplies and told Tony that everything he needed to build the Jericho Missile was right there.]

[Yinsen, standing beside him, translated every word. "Once the missile is complete," he said, "you’ll be free."]

[Tony knew better. He was nothing more than a pawn in their hands—trapped, forced to cooperate. To survive, he had to play along. So, putting on a façade, he extended his hand and shook the leader’s, signaling his reluctant agreement.]

[Unbeknownst to him, watching from afar was the true leader of the operation, absently stroking the ornate ring on his finger as he observed Tony Stark.]

"When you live under someone else’s roof, you have no choice but to lower your head," Hill commented, watching Tony's silent reaction.

"Hah... It’s no big deal," Tony finally said, exhaling as he adjusted his emotions. "It’s not that hard. You do know I’m a super genius, right?" He smirked.

"So you just hammered out a mini Arc Reactor in a cave?" Rhodes shook his head in disbelief. "I really wonder what Dr. Otto would think if he saw this..."

Dr. Otto had spent years trying to develop stable reactor technology and had failed. Meanwhile, Tony had done it with scraps in captivity.

Second-Gen Harry, who had a knack for catching subtle details, sensed something was off. Those weapons shouldn’t have been there. The only logical explanation was that someone from the military or Stark Industries had supplied them.

There was only one person who fit that description—Obadiah Stane. The Ten Rings had mentioned him in their previous messages, and Tony had just spoken with him on the phone. It all lined up too perfectly.

He voiced his suspicions to Second-Gen Spider-Man and the others, and they all nodded in agreement.

[That night, Tony sat by a small fire, lost in thought. Yinsen, walking past him, suddenly spoke up. "I believe the military is looking for you. But even if they are... finding this place will be nearly impossible."]

[He crouched down beside Tony, locking eyes with him. "Look around. Everything you saw today—those are your creations. Your research. Your weapons… now in the hands of murderers."]

["Are you really just going to sit here and wait to die? Is this the arrogant Tony Stark I’ve heard so much about?"]

["Why should I do anything?" Tony muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. "Even if I try something, they’ll kill both me and you. And even if they don’t, I wouldn’t last long anyway."]

["So," Yinsen said quietly, "that means the next few days are very important to you."]

[Tony’s eyes flickered with realization. A plan began forming in his mind.]

[The next morning...]

["I need a proper workspace. Good lighting. Fully stocked equipment. Welding tools, a welding table, a helmet, protective goggles, a crucible—plus two precision instruments."]

[Tony’s voice was firm, commanding. Yinsen translated his requests swiftly. The gang members, not understanding the full scope of his plan, moved to accommodate his demands, constructing the workshop he needed.]

[The camera focused on a Stark Industries missile as a pair of hands carefully dismantled it. Tony worked with expert precision, extracting its internal components piece by piece.]

["How many languages do you speak?" he asked Yinsen while working.]

["A lot," Yinsen replied. "But even here, it’s not enough. They speak Arabic, Urdu, Dari, Pashto, Mongolian, Farsi, and Russian."]

[Tony kept his hands moving as he listened. "And who are they?"]

[Yinsen let out a dry chuckle. "Your loyal customers. They call themselves freedom fighters."]

[Through a hidden surveillance feed, the gang’s second-in-command watched Tony’s work. But, unfamiliar with engineering, he didn’t realize what was actually happening.]

[Later, Yinsen crouched beside Tony and whispered, "Let me help. If I’m part of your plan, we’ll move much faster."]

["Really?" Tony muttered absentmindedly, hammering at a missile’s warhead before pulling out its core components.]

[After extracting a key material, he casually tossed the missile aside.]

["What is that?" Yinsen frowned, confused as to why Tony had gone through so much trouble for something so small.]

[Tony held up a tiny fragment with tweezers. "Palladium. 0.15 grams. But we need at least 1.6 grams, which means… we have to dismantle all the missiles."]

["What’s he doing?" one of the kidnappers asked, peering through the surveillance feed.]

["Working," the guard monitoring Tony answered flatly.]

[In the workshop, Tony melted down all the palladium he had extracted. Yinsen, holding a container of molten metal, moved carefully.]

["Careful! We only have one shot at this," Tony warned, watching anxiously.]

["Relax," Yinsen chuckled. "My hands are steady. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have survived this long, would you?"]

[With precision, Yinsen poured the liquid metal into the mold. Moments later, a small, round palladium core was formed. As it cooled, Tony turned to Yinsen and, for the first time, asked his name.]

[Then, with meticulous care, Tony placed the cooled palladium disc onto a pre-prepared glass lens, fitting it into a coil assembly. Slowly, he turned a switch—]

[The miniature reactor came to life, glowing a bright blue-white.]

[Yinsen leaned in, inspecting it. "This… doesn’t look like a Jericho Missile."]

["Because it’s not," Tony replied with a smirk. "It’s a miniaturized Arc Reactor. I have a big one back home that powers my factory. This one should be enough… to keep the shrapnel out of my heart."]

[Yinsen raised an eyebrow. "How much power does it generate?"]

["If I did it right… about three billion joules per second," Tony said, admiring his work.]

[Yinsen’s eyes widened. "Enough to keep your heart running for thousands of years!"]

[Tony chuckled. "Yeah… or power something big for about fifteen minutes."]

Chapter 204: The Blueprint with a Secret

At first, Otto was confused about why Tony needed so much palladium. As an expert in nuclear physics, he had a basic understanding of missile structures, and from his perspective, the amount of palladium Tony was using was completely unnecessary for building a Jericho missile.

The kidnappers, being mostly uneducated, had no clue what Tony was actually doing. But Otto, watching closely, started to feel that something was off. The shape of the components Tony was crafting didn’t resemble anything a missile required.

Then, Tony revealed the true purpose of the project, and Otto’s eyes widened in shock.

It was just like the artificial sun he had been researching.

The key difference? Otto’s method relied on thermonuclear reactions, while Tony’s used cold nuclear fusion. But the principle was the same.

Decades of Otto’s hard work—his dream of creating a stable energy source—had been replicated by Tony in a cave, using scraps.

He stared at the screen, dumbfounded.

When The Sky Screen had called Tony a genius inventor, Otto hadn’t thought much of it. But now, the words felt almost insulting. If Tony Stark was just a genius, then what did that make Otto?

A complete idiot?

The realization hit him hard.

First-Gen Harry quickly picked up on Otto’s distress. Thinking it might help, he called Otto directly and confirmed his suspicions. He could hear the frustration in Otto’s voice—an emotion Otto rarely displayed. So, he decided to tell First-Gen Spider-Man, believing that only he could help lift Otto’s spirits.

[Tony spread out a collection of blueprints on the table. "This is our way out of here."]

[Yinsen leaned in and examined the scattered pieces. From an initial glance, he couldn’t make sense of it. "What is this?"]

["Look at it this way," Tony said, stacking the blueprints layer by layer. Under the light, a hidden image appeared—a full schematic of a mechanical suit.]

["Oh… Wow!" Yinsen gasped in admiration.]

[Meanwhile, the kidnappers continued their surveillance. The glowing reactor in Tony’s chest was clearly visible on their monitors, but to them, it was nothing more than a crude magnet keeping him alive.]

[With the first stage of their plan complete, Tony felt a little more at ease. He even had time to sit back and talk with Yinsen, asking about his past.]

["Where are you from?"]

["A small town called Gulmira. It’s a beautiful place," Yinsen answered.]

["Do you have a family?"]

["Yes. After I escape, I’ll return to them. What about you?" Yinsen asked in return.]

[Tony hesitated, then replied, "No."]

["No…" Yinsen smiled, then sighed. "So, you have everything—and yet, you have nothing."]

“Having everything, but nothing…” Uncle Ben murmured, deep in thought.

“Honestly, it’s a miracle Tony managed to fool the kidnappers for this long,” First-Gen Connors said with a chuckle. "If that fool hadn’t explained the reactor away as a magnet, Tony might’ve been caught already."

He then turned to his students, launching into an impromptu lesson on the possible scientific principles behind the Arc Reactor. Though he wasn’t entirely certain, his ability to extrapolate theories was solid—especially after his recent conversation with Otto and First-Gen Spider-Man.

First-Gen Spider-Man had learned a lot from Otto’s knowledge, though First-Gen Gwen had found the discussion a bit too complex to follow.

Rhodes, meanwhile, clapped Tony on the back with a grin. "You have us now. You’re not alone anymore."

Tony smirked. "Yeah." But his tone was indifferent.

While they were all part of the Avengers, Tony still saw himself as separate—on a different level.

[In the shadows, Raza was watching surveillance footage of Tony testing the armor. He noticed how Tony’s leg movements corresponded with the mechanical parts beside him. Something seemed… off.]

[Moments later, Raza stormed into Tony’s workspace, flanked by members of the Ten Rings. The sound of their arrival made Tony pause his work. He and Yinsen instinctively raised their hands in surrender.]

[Raza grinned. "Relax."]

[Hearing this, both Tony and Yinsen cautiously lowered their hands. Raza stepped forward, studying the reactor in Tony’s chest. He touched it curiously but didn’t dwell on it. Clearly, he didn’t understand its significance.]

["Bows and arrows were once the pinnacle of military technology," Raza mused. "Genghis Khan used them to sweep across Eurasia and conquer the world."]

[He paced around the workshop, inspecting the various components Tony had made. "His empire was five times the size of Alexander the Great’s. Four times the size of the Roman Empire."]

[Then, looking at Tony’s blueprints, he smirked. "But today, only those who possess Tony Stark’s most advanced weapons can rule the world."]

[Tony tensed slightly, fearing that Raza might discover the suit’s true purpose. Across from him, Yinsen discreetly raised his palm—a signal to stay calm and not reveal anything.]

[As expected, Raza failed to decipher the hidden design. He nodded to himself. "And that person… will be me."]

[Then, he turned sharply to Tony, his expression darkening. "Why have you disappointed me?"]

[Yinsen quickly stepped in. "We are working. Very hard."]

[Raza narrowed his eyes at him before stepping closer. "I let you live. And this is how you repay me?"]

["This process is complicated," Yinsen said firmly. "He’s doing his best!"]

[Tony didn’t understand their conversation, but he could tell the situation was escalating.]

["Make him kneel," Raza ordered. Without hesitation, two of his men forced Yinsen onto his knees. Raza let out a dry chuckle. "Do you take me for a fool? I’ll be the judge of that."]

[Despite the danger, Yinsen remained defiant. "We are working!" he repeated, but Raza ignored him. Instead, he picked up a pair of pliers and grabbed a glowing-hot piece of coal.]

[Raza exhaled slowly, blowing gently on the burning ember. He turned to Yinsen with a menacing grin. "Open your mouth," he said coldly. "Do you really think I’m that easy to fool?"]

[Tony, watching closely, felt a sense of dread creeping in. "What is he doing?" he whispered.]

[Raza suddenly grabbed Yinsen’s head, forcing it down onto the table. "Tell me the truth!" he snarled.]

["He’s building a Jericho Missile for you!" Yinsen insisted, his voice unwavering. Even with a direct threat to his life, he refused to betray Tony’s real plan.]

["Tell me the truth!" Raza barked again, this time switching to English.]

["He’s building the Jericho Missile you wanted!"]

["Tell me the truth!" Raza roared.]

[Tony could see Yinsen was in real danger now. He took a step forward, speaking quickly, "What timeline are you expecting? I can—"]

[Before he could finish, Raza’s men immediately raised their guns at him. Tony stopped and raised his hands in surrender.]

Chapter 205: Mark I

[Tony’s sudden movement caught Raza’s attention. Turning to him, Tony pleaded, "I need him! He’s useful!"]

[For a moment, Raza narrowed his eyes. Then, with a smirk, he let the burning coal slip from his fingers, letting it fall dangerously close to Yinsen’s face. Yinsen flinched, fear flashing in his eyes.]

["Complete the missile assembly by tomorrow at the latest," Raza ordered. Then, tossing the pliers aside, he signaled his men to keep a very close watch on them.]

"This is bad… really bad," George muttered, exhaling heavily. "Plans can never keep up with change. I wonder if Tony’s armor will be ready in time?"

"He’ll be fine," Second-Gen Spider-Man reassured him. "Tony Stark isn’t dying here."

"Yeah, The Sky Screen said he’d sacrifice himself to save the universe, which means nothing will happen to him now," Second-Gen Gwen added. "But Yinsen… he’s not guaranteed to make it out."

"Exactly. We all know Tony Stark is going to survive this, but Yinsen…" Aunt May sighed. "I really hope he escapes with Tony safely."

George scoffed, shaking his head as he watched Raza. "These maniacs seriously think they can become another Genghis Khan? They don’t understand modern warfare at all."

Even if they somehow did get their hands on the Jericho Missile, what would it change? How many could they realistically produce? How many times could they even use it?

If they pushed things too far, the world’s superpowers wouldn’t hesitate to bomb them out of existence. No matter what, they were playing a losing game.

[Ding! Ding! Ding!]

[The camera cut to Tony, hammering away at the final pieces of his armor. The glow of the Arc Reactor on his chest cast an eerie blue-white light in the dim cave.]

[After shaping the mask, he plunged it into water to cool. Then, he placed it in front of Yinsen, who was busy working on the wiring.]

[Tony wrapped his arms in thick tape while Yinsen hoisted the armor’s main body, prepping it for assembly. Then, Yinsen handed Tony protective gloves and a neck guard.]

[Mark I had no shock absorbers—meaning every movement would rattle Tony’s insides. The padding would at least help soften the impact.]

[Once suited up, Tony flexed his fingers. The armor responded immediately, moving as he willed it to. Yinsen, still adjusting some wires, looked up. "Repeat the plan."]

["Forty-one steps forward. Sixteen to the door. Thirty-three steps to the right," Tony recited quickly.]

[This was the fastest escape route they had calculated over the past few days. It was their best shot.]

[Meanwhile, in the control room, Raza scowled at the monitors. Something was wrong. He scanned the screens—Tony was gone.]

[His expression darkened. "Find him. Now!"]

[Two men rushed toward Tony’s workshop. Raza, narrowing his eyes, focused on the display. Yinsen was standing behind a large metal plate, moving his hands over something.]

[Outside the workshop, the two guards banged on the door, shouting at Tony and Yinsen in a language Tony didn’t understand.]

["Answer them!" Tony hissed urgently.]

["He’s speaking Hungarian—I don’t speak Hungarian!" Yinsen whispered back, panicking.]

["It doesn’t matter! Say something! Stall them!"]

["Just—just wait a moment!" Yinsen called out, his voice shaky.]

[The guards weren’t satisfied. They barked another order, this time demanding to see what was going on inside.]

[The camera shifted, revealing a bomb rigged to the back of the door. The moment someone opened it—boom.]

[The two guards, growing impatient, exchanged glances. Then, without waiting for an answer, they pushed the door open.]

[BOOM!]

[The explosion obliterated the door, instantly knocking the two men unconscious.]

[The blast echoed through the caves, alerting everyone. In the control room, Raza’s eyes widened as one of the monitors cut to static.]

["He’s escaping!" Raza bellowed. "Go after him! Now!"]

[At his command, armed men swarmed toward the workshop.]

[Tony couldn’t see what was happening outside. "How did it go?" he asked quickly.]

["Oh my god! It worked! Let me just finish this!" Yinsen replied, his hands moving fast to screw in the last components.]

["Forget the details—start the power-up sequence now!"]

[Following Tony’s command, Yinsen spun around and activated the system. The screen flickered to life, the boot-up sequence commencing.]

[Yinsen immediately resumed screwing in the final bolts. But his hands were shaking.]

["Don’t overthink it," Tony reassured him. "This thing’s a one-time use—just tighten them enough to hold."]

["Make sure all the test points are connected, then follow me out. Got it?"]

[Yinsen glanced at the progress bar—only halfway done. His face fell.]

[He exhaled deeply, murmured something under his breath, then turned back to Tony. "We need time."]

[Then, without hesitation, he grabbed a rifle from one of the fallen guards.]

["What are you doing?!" Tony demanded.]

["Buying you time!"] Yinsen yelled.

["Follow the plan, Yinsen!" Tony shouted after him, but Yinsen didn’t look back. He ran forward, firing rounds into the air as he charged down the hall.]

[The gunshots sent the approaching militants into a panic, causing them to scatter. Yinsen kept running, firing wildly to make himself seem like a bigger threat than he actually was.]

[But then—he turned a corner.]

[And came face to face with Raza and a squad of heavily armed men.]

[Meanwhile, back in the workshop, thanks to Yinsen’s distraction, the boot-up sequence finally completed. The machinery hummed to life, the dim lights flickering under the sudden energy surge.]

[The gang members reached the doorway, peering into the darkened room. The unconscious guards still lay motionless inside.]

[The ones in front hesitated. Those in the back, impatient, pushed them forward.]

[Inside, Tony waited. The reactor’s glow reflected in his visor.]

[One of the intruders stepped in. Tony moved.]

[BAM!]

[His metal fist sent the man flying across the room. Midair, the guard instinctively pulled the trigger, firing blindly as he crashed against the wall.]

[Chaos erupted. The other fired wildly into the room, bullets ricocheting off the armored suit. When their magazines emptied, they relaxed slightly.]

["See? What’s there to be afraid of?" one of them scoffed.]

[Then, in the dim light—something moved.]

[Mark I emerged from the shadows, its bulky frame now fully visible. The man faces drained of color.]

[Before they could react, Tony swung his armored hand—one man was sent flying against the cave wall. Another was smashed to the ground.]

[The last one standing raised his rifle in desperation. The bullets pinged off Mark I’s chestplate like pebbles against metal.]

[Tony took a step forward. The man kept firing. It was useless.]

[With one swift punch, Tony knocked him unconscious.]

[Now fully illuminated by the Arc Reactor’s glow, Mark I stood tall, fully operational, and ready for war.]