"Tony, are we sure about this? The enemy this time's… just some cranky old man?"
Hulk squinted at the figure floating ahead. His frown deepened, more disappointed than wary.
"It should be him."
Tony's voice dropped low, sharp as steel. His sensors screamed danger. Every move that old bastard made set off red flags in his HUD.
He clenched his fists, armor plates shifting into combat mode. "Hulk, get ready. Don't let him take one step into New York."
"Got it."
Banner's grin vanished. His muscles tensed, veins bulging as the beast stirred beneath his skin.
The old man—Mandarin—didn't seem impressed. He brushed imaginary dust from his sleeve. "Which one of you is Ryuuto? You both look pathetic. Weaklings like you dare block my path?"
Tony's visor flared red. "Big talk for a relic. Mind telling us what you're really here for before I blast you off the map?"
Mandarin gave a dry chuckle. "If that's your power, I suggest you crawl back to your toys. Tell me where that boy Ryuuto is, and maybe I'll leave you with your bones unbroken."
That did it. Banner's roar split the air. "You dare say his name, you fossil? Let's see if you can still talk after this!"
He lunged forward, smashing the ground beneath his feet—
—and hit nothing but air.
Mandarin blurred out of sight. His voice came from behind. "Young man, brute strength is nothing without technique."
A fist, heavy and precise, slammed into Hulk's spine.
The impact cratered the street. Dust and concrete exploded outward as Banner hit the ground hard, buried in rubble.
"HULK!"
Tony's rage snapped. He fired up every repulsor he had, rockets flaring. "You're going to regret that!"
Mandarin's smirk didn't fade. "Regret? You think your metal shell frightens me?"
Tony struck fast, unloading missiles and lasers in a furious storm. The old man dodged each blast with graceful contempt, like he was dancing through fireworks.
"Your speed's decent," Mandarin taunted, "but there's no heart behind it. Just machines."
Tony clenched his jaw. "Then try this on for size!"
He gathered all his power into a focused laser, the energy beam lancing straight for Mandarin's head.
But Mandarin didn't move.
He raised two fingers—
—and the beam vanished, snuffed out like a candle flame. Only a faint spark lingered in the air.
Tony froze. His HUD glitched for half a second, registering the impossible.
Mandarin smiled faintly. "Impressive craftsmanship. Shame it's wasted on something so… pedestrian."
In the distance, two familiar pests were watching the whole thing unfold from the shadows.
Quicksilver whistled low. "Damn, didn't think the old man had that kind of juice! Thought he was just all bark."
Beside him, Gambit folded his arms, a grin curling under his breath. "Looks like this time, Red Mirage's luck finally runs out."
"Yeah," Pietro laughed, "bet that kid won't last three moves. Maybe we should text him, let him know where to come die."
"Do it," Ariel said coldly. "No running this time. Let's see what your 'hero' really amounts to."
Moments later, far from the battlefield, Ryuuto's phone buzzed.
He stopped mid-step, eyes narrowing. One glance at the message—and his lips curved upward.
"Well," he muttered, voice dripping with sarcasm, "guess it's showtime."