Tony Stark controlled the Iron Man armor, relentlessly pursuing Aldrich. His mechanical eyes locked onto the target, constantly calculating the best angle and timing for an attack.
Aldrich sped through an abandoned industrial zone and finally stopped in an open plaza. He had deliberately chosen this place to lure Tony Stark into a trap. He knew that in this environment, he could fully unleash his abilities and increase his chances of winning.
"Tony Stark, looks like you finally caught up. But this is all you're capable of." Aldrich said coldly, a cunning gleam flashing in his eyes.
"You think you can get away? Put Pepper down—now!" Tony's voice came from within the steel armor, filled with anger and warning.
"Put her down? Haha, don't be ridiculous. I would never do that." Aldrich sneered, and then his body trembled—transforming into a streak of blazing fire.
Tony's mechanical eyes glowed brightly as he instantly heightened his defenses. Suddenly, a column of fire shot at him from behind. Tony quickly sidestepped to dodge it. The flames exploded next to him, sending hot air waves toward him.
"Your speed is good, but not good enough!" Tony muttered under his breath as he activated the thrusters on his suit. His body accelerated like lightning and charged straight toward Aldrich.
Aldrich smirked as flames once again enveloped his body, allowing him to dodge Tony's attack in an instant. This time, however, he didn't attack immediately. Instead, he turned and faced Tony, their eyes meeting as sparks seemed to fly in the air.
"Try the power of real technology," Tony Stark said as an energy beam formed in his palm, glowing brightly before shooting toward Aldrich.
Aldrich merely smirked. Flames gathered in his hand, swirling rapidly into a blazing vortex that blocked Tony's beam attack.
"Your strength isn't bad… but that's all." Aldrich mocked, waving his hand as the firestorm transformed into a flaming tornado rushing toward Tony.
Tony stood firm. He thrust forward, plunging into the fiery tornado. His armored hands turned into sharp blades, slicing the tornado cleanly in half.
As the flames dissipated, Tony burst forward and aimed another energy shot at Aldrich. But once again, Aldrich transformed into fire and dodged effortlessly.
Their battle intensified. Fire and energy lit up the battlefield. They stumbled, clashed, and moved at speeds too fast to follow.
"Is running all you can do? Come out and face me head-on if you dare!" Tony shouted, firing a barrage of energy beams that forced Aldrich back step by step.
"Face you head-on? Fine. If you want to die that badly, I'll grant your wish!" Aldrich roared as he transformed into fire again and charged.
Tony didn't retreat. He accelerated, his armor crashing into Aldrich's flames. Energy and fire collided in mid-air, exploding in a blinding light that consumed the entire plaza.
The two immediately exchanged blows—kicks, punches, energy blasts, and fire fists clashing at insane speed. Every impact released powerful shockwaves, warping the air itself.
"You really think you're going to win?" Tony's voice echoed from inside his armor. His fist transformed into a massive energy hammer that he swung down at Aldrich.
"Heh, to deal with you, I've trained day and night." Aldrich sneered, forming a giant fireball and hurling it at the energy hammer.
The fireball and hammer collided, generating a massive explosion that twisted the air and unleashed a violent shockwave.
"Now that's more like it." Tony said with a faint smile as he boosted his thrusters, pushing through the blast and slicing the fireball in two.
But just then—Aldrich vanished.
Tony's alert sensors scanned the area. He couldn't find Aldrich anywhere.
"He disappeared without a sound?" Tony's heart tightened as he scanned every direction, ready for an ambush.
Suddenly, flames roared behind him. Tony dodged immediately. Fire exploded beside him, scorching the ground.
"You're cunning, but that trick won't work on me again!" Tony smirked as he fired another energy beam at Aldrich.
Aldrich didn't flinch. A playful glint flashed in his eyes. He knew the real battle had only just begun. Flames engulfed him again as he charged toward Tony Stark.
Boom!
After the impact—
Aldrich stepped back, standing calmly in the plaza while staring at Tony's Iron Man armor. Under his feet, strange devices rose from the ground—glowing faint blue, clearly high-tech machinery.
"Looks like you prepared well. But don't think these toys can restrain me," Tony's voice said confidently inside the armor.
Aldrich didn't respond. His eyes turned cold. He swung his arms, unleashing a massive firestorm that swept across the plaza.
Inside the storm, the blue devices activated. They emitted a low hum before releasing powerful energy waves. These waves carried special frequencies—designed specifically to disrupt the Iron Man armor.
Tony immediately sensed something was wrong. His mechanical eyes widened as his armor's reaction time slowed down.
"What the hell is this?" Tony muttered, struggling to regain control.
"JARVIS? JARVIS?" Tony called out—But there was no response.
Aldrich sneered. He knew exactly what the devices could do. He had designed them specifically to cripple the Iron Man suit. Without hesitation, he lunged at the confined Tony.
"Let me show you real power." Aldrich's fist burst into flames as he punched the armor's chest.
Thump!
Tony staggered back several steps as the burning punch shook him violently. The interference weakened his armor's defense, making him vulnerable.
Aldrich didn't let up. He transformed into a fiery blur, circling the armor with flaming fists. He struck the helmet, the abdomen—every weak point he could exploit.
Cracks spread across the armor. The energy shield flickered weakly. Tony knew he had to break free from the interference or he would lose.
"Damn it… I need to shut down those devices!" Tony gritted his teeth, scanning for a solution.
Aldrich pressed harder, attacking with flame illusions—sometimes solid, sometimes intangible. Debris collapsed around them. Fire and energy tore apart buildings. Aldrich's flaming form darted across the battlefield, attacking from every direction.
Tony was on the defensive, desperately trying to withstand the storm of attacks while searching for a way to break the interference.
Then he found it—He realized the armor's energy frequency could be synchronized with the devices' special frequencies.
"Time to end this game, Aldrich." Tony growled as his arm lit up and fired a powerful beam at the blue devices.
Boom!
The devices exploded. The interference weakened instantly, and the Iron Man suit regained full control.
Aldrich hesitated for a moment—just long enough.
Tony fired a blast of energy at his back.
Aldrich cried out as a burn mark appeared across his back.
Tony smirked. "Now I'm getting serious."
He boosted forward like a rocket.
Aldrich's burn mark healed instantly.
"Tony Stark… your armor isn't worthy of your bragging."
Aldrich burst into flames and clashed with Tony again. Explosions shook the plaza. Air warped from the intensity of their blows.
Aldrich's fire attacks grew fiercer—fireballs, fire blades, fire walls. Tony countered with the agility of his suit and continuous long-range beams.
Then—
Bang!
Aldrich charged and slammed a flaming fist into Iron Man's helmet.
The faceplate shattered. Tony's bleeding mouth was exposed—And he was sent flying.
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