Tony flew over the Canadian wilderness at high speed. The Mark Infinity Supreme armor cut through the air without resistance. His sensors tracked energy signatures ahead.
He had found his target.
"M.A.R.V.E.L., confirm Pestilence location," Tony said.
[Confirmed. Wolverine's Celestial energy signature detected 2.3 kilometers northwest. Multiple corrupted life signs in the area.]
Tony increased speed. Trees blurred beneath him. Mountains rose in the distance. This was remote territory far from any cities.
Which meant Wolverine had chosen this place deliberately. Away from witnesses. Where he could kill without restraint.
Tony's sensors picked up movement ahead. A clearing appeared between the trees. Bodies littered the ground. A resistance cell had made camp here. Now they were all dead or dying.
And in the center of the carnage stood Pestilence.
Wolverine's corrupted form looked monstrous. His body was covered in dark Celestial armor with green energy pulsing through cracks. His claws extended a full foot from each hand and dripped with glowing viral substance. His eyes burned with mindless rage.
Three infected berserker heroes attacked nearby survivors. Their movements were savage and uncontrolled. They had been heroes once. Now they were weapons of destruction.
Tony landed hard in the clearing. The impact created a small crater. All eyes turned toward him.
Pestilence smiled with too many teeth showing. "Fresh meat."
He launched himself at Tony with incredible speed. His claws aimed for Tony's throat.
Tony didn't move.
The claws struck the armor and passed right through without making contact. Tony had phased his quantum state. The molecular structure of his body existed between solid and energy. Physical attacks couldn't touch him.
Pestilence snarled in confusion and attacked again. Same result. His claws went through Tony like he was made of smoke.
"Logan," Tony said calmly. "I know you're in there. Fight it."
Pestilence laughed. "Logan is gone. Only the strong survive."
"Wrong answer."
Tony's armor shifted. Magnetic field generators activated. Powerful magnetic forces surrounded Wolverine's adamantium skeleton. He was lifted into the air unable to move.
"Let me go!" Pestilence roared and thrashed violently.
Tony flew closer until they were face to face. He could see traces of Logan beneath the corruption. Brief flickers in the eyes. Moments where the rage faded and confusion showed through.
"Logan. Fight it," Tony repeated. "You're stronger than this programming."
For just a second, Wolverine's eyes cleared.
The real Logan looked out. "Stark?" His voice was confused. Pained. "I... can't... control..."
Then the Celestial corruption reasserted itself. The eyes went blank with rage again.
Tony had seen enough. Logan was still in there. Still fighting. That meant he could be saved.
"M.A.R.V.E.L., prepare focused Starktonium beam. Target the Celestial programming nodes in his brain stem."
[Warning. This procedure is extremely dangerous. Success probability 34%. Subject may suffer permanent brain damage.]
"Do it anyway."
Tony's chest arc reactor glowed brighter. Energy channeled from his Starktonium core through specialized conduits in the armor. A beam of pure energy formed at his palm.
"This is going to hurt, Logan. Sorry."
He pressed his palm against Wolverine's forehead. The Starktonium beam fired directly into his skull. It bypassed bone and tissue. Targeted the specific Celestial programming nodes that controlled him.
Wolverine screamed. It was a horrible sound of pure agony. His body convulsed in the magnetic field. The Celestial armor began to crack. Green energy leaked out.
Tony increased the power. He had to burn out every trace of corruption or Logan would revert.
The beam intensified. Wolverine's screams grew louder. Blood dripped from his nose and ears.
Then the Celestial armor shattered completely. Dark pieces fell away like broken glass. The green energy dissipated into nothing.
Wolverine went limp.
Tony released the magnetic field and caught Logan before he hit the ground. He laid him down gently and scanned him with the armor's medical sensors.
[Subject's healing factor compromised. Cellular regeneration reduced by 67%. Aging process no longer fully suppressed. Brain activity stable. Celestial corruption: eliminated.]
Tony looked at Logan's face. For the first time, he could see age lines. Gray hair mixed with the black. The healing factor that had kept him young for over a century was damaged.
But he was free.
Logan's eyes opened slowly. They were clear now. Fully human. Fully himself.
"Stark?" His voice was weak and hoarse.
"What... happened?"
"You were corrupted. I freed you." Tony helped him sit up carefully. "Your healing factor is damaged. You're going to age normally now."
Logan looked at his hands. At the claws that had retracted. At the age spots visible on his skin.
"Better than being a puppet," he said quietly. Then he looked up at Tony. "Thanks, bub."
Tony nodded once. "Can you walk?"
"Give me a minute." Logan's healing factor was still working, just slower than before. His wounds were closing but not instantly like they used to.
Tony stood and looked around the clearing. The infected berserkers had fled when their controller was freed. The survivors were gathering cautiously.
First Horseman liberated. Three more to go.
Tony activated his communicator.
"M.A.R.V.E.L., inform the Avengers team. Pestilence is freed. Beginning search for next target."
[Acknowledged. New orders received from Director Fury. Famine has been spotted over India. Requesting immediate assistance.]
Tony looked at Logan. "Can you make it back to base?"
Logan stood on shaky legs but nodded. "I'll manage."
"Good. Because I have another Horseman to hunt."
Tony's armor sealed completely. Repulsors fired. He shot into the sky heading southeast toward India.
The war against Apocalypse had truly begun.
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