BOOOOOOM!
The world erupted.
The ground cracked open like a living thing, trembling under the fury of hundreds of simultaneous detonations.
Tony sprinted for his life, Mark III's thrusters screaming, as he shouted over the chaos, "How many bombs did you plant down there!?"
Darren, running beside him with infuriating calm, replied, "Not many. Maybe a hundred."
Tony nearly tripped midair. "WHAT!?"
It was déjà vu—the exact same feeling he'd had in that desert cave months ago, running for his life while everything exploded behind him.
Only difference was, now he could run in style.
Thankfully, the TNT blast was deep underground this time. After about a hundred meters of desperate sprinting, the shockwave finally faded.
When they turned back, the city street had vanished.
In its place was a crater—dozens of meters wide—smoking, boiling, still glowing faintly red at the edges.
Tony landed at the rim, panting, his armor scorched. "That… that has to have killed him. Right?"
Darren opened his system panel, frowned. "Nope."
THUD!
Before Tony could even process that, a mangled mass of metal burst from the crater below.
The Iron Monger.
It was barely recognizable now—plating shredded, joints exposed, wires dangling like veins. The chest armor had been torn open, revealing the man inside, his face smeared with soot and blood, but his eyes still burning with defiance.
"Surprise!" Stane wheezed through a cracked mic, laughter bubbling up into something between madness and triumph.
Tony's jaw dropped.
How is he still alive!?
Was this proof that bigger mechs really were stronger?
That sheer mass was the ultimate armor?
He lifted his right hand to fire—but his HUD flashed red.
Power depleted.
Stane saw it instantly and grinned. "Hahaha! What now, Tony? Out of tricks? It's over for you both! Now—"
BANG!
The gunshot cut through his sentence.
A small, perfect hole appeared in Stane's forehead. His grin froze mid-expression. A thin stream of blood trickled down his nose before his head slumped forward.
Darren blew a wisp of smoke from his golden Desert Eagle and muttered flatly, "Who the hell pilots a mech without wearing a helmet?"
Tony stood there, dumbfounded, unable to respond for a long time.
He'd expected an epic final clash—a desperate exchange of energy blasts, a heroic sacrifice, something cinematic.
Not… a single bullet to the head.
What a pathetic end.
Darren holstered his weapon, attention shifting as lines of text filled his vision.
[You have defeated Boss "Iron Monger" – Obadiah Stane]
[Calculating damage contribution…]
[Rewards: +10,000 EXP | +5 Attribute Points | Equipment: "Kill You 3000" | Item: "Universal Key" | Item: "Red Mushroom" | Item: "Blue Pill" | Equipment: "BT-7274 Vanguard-Class Titan"]
He skimmed through the loot list, blinking.
"Kill You 3000" — A legendary hybrid weapon combining ten murder tools in one.
"Universal Key" — Unlocks any door… or anyone's WiFi.
"Red Mushroom" — Makes you grow bigger.
"Blue Pill" — …Also makes you grow bigger.
"Uh," Darren muttered. "Not sure I like where this is going."
Then his eyes locked onto the last reward.
BT-7274 Vanguard-Class Titan.
Fourth-generation AI-integrated battle mech. Neural synchronization with pilot.
Equipped with rotary cannons, missile pods, energy rifles, adaptive shielding, auto-repair, and energy absorption.
System motto: Protocol Three – Protect the Pilot.
Darren's grin widened. "A Titan mech? Jackpot."
It took everything he had not to summon it right there. With Tony standing next to him, he decided it was best to wait—though the urge itched at his fingertips.
Behind them, the Iron Monger's colossal body finally gave out, collapsing with a heavy metallic groan.
Tony stared at the wreckage, his expression dark and complicated.
"I… really did think of him as family," he said softly. "Never imagined it would end like this."
Darren shrugged. "His daughter probably feels the same way."
Tony blinked. "…What?"
Before he could ask, the wail of sirens filled the night. A convoy of black SUVs screeched to a stop nearby, and Coulson stepped out, looking equal parts tired and impressed.
"I swear, every time we track you two, it's the same story," he sighed. "Explosions, chaos, and property damage in the millions. You're very consistent."
Tony crossed his arms. "Hey, not my fault. I'm the victim here."
Coulson ignored him, gesturing for his team to secure the area. But as his eyes landed on the ruined Iron Monger, something caught his attention.
"Wait," he said, crouching near the chest cavity. "The arc reactor—it's gone."
Tony's stomach dropped. "What?"
He rushed over. The circular reactor housing was empty. Gone. Stane's stolen core had vanished without a trace.
He turned slowly toward Darren, eyes narrowing.
Darren raised his hands defensively. "Don't look at me like that! I didn't steal it!"
He paused. "Okay, technically, I didn't mean to steal it. Auto-loot was still on."
…
The next morning, Stark Industries held a press conference.
"Truth is…" Tony paused for effect, gazing out at the sea of reporters. "I am Iron Man."
The crowd went wild. Cameras flashed like fireworks. Overnight, the phrase became a cultural detonation.
Meanwhile, back at S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ, Nick Fury hadn't slept in thirty-six hours. He rubbed his temples, voice hoarse as he called Darren.
"Agent Darren, your surveillance mission on Tony Stark is officially concluded. Black Widow will handle further contact and evaluation."
Darren heard the familiar ding of system notifications.
[Mission "Monitor Tony Stark" Complete]
[Rewards: +1,000 EXP | +30 S.H.I.E.L.D. Reputation | Item: "Hive-Tech Smoke Bomb" | Weapon: "Loitering Missile"]
Hive-Tech Smoke Bomb — Creates dense smoke for stealth and rapid escape.
Loitering Missile — A controllable drone missile that splits into four smaller bombs on detonation.
Darren's eyes gleamed. Time to test this baby at a launch site…
Before he could hang up, Fury's gravelly voice continued, "One more thing. We've got a situation."
"Bronx district. In the last month, over a hundred people have gone missing—locals and tourists alike. All without a trace. Preliminary reports suggest anomalous involvement. I'm assigning you to investigate."
[New Mission: "The Missing of the Bronx"]
[Objective: Discover the cause behind the disappearances.]
[Reward: +500 EXP | +10 S.H.I.E.L.D. Reputation | Random Equipment ×1]
Darren leaned back, cracking a grin.
"Missing persons, huh?"
He loaded his new weapons into his inventory. "Sounds like the perfect time to bring a Titan to the party."