There weren't many traces left at the scene; this group of terrorists was highly professional, executing killing and kidnapping in one seamless operation.
When Steve arrived, a U.S. military team was already conducting a search.
"How's it going?"
Rhodes looked guilty. "No clues. The only information we have is that Tony might still be alive. There's no body at the scene."
"That's good news. First, let's determine which force did this. Then we send planes to survey their area of influence, focusing on houses and caves," Steve said seriously.
Such crises were inevitable. Perhaps only after facing this disaster could Tony grow from a carefree playboy into Iron Man.
"Understood. I'll follow your orders," Rhodes said, admiration clear in his voice.
Steve joined the search, still wondering why his system hadn't issued any new tasks this time.
Night – In a Cave
Tony awoke in confusion, staring at a dim yellow light bulb hanging overhead. He felt weak, almost powerless.
He noticed a cup beside him and tried to reach it, but his body refused. After several failed attempts, he even knocked it over.
Something felt wrong. He turned his head and saw a battery connected to his body.
Bandages wrapped around his chest further alarmed him. He tore them off—and saw a round magnet embedded in his chest!
"I wouldn't act rashly if I were you," said a voice.
Tony looked toward it. A middle-aged man with a bald Mediterranean-style haircut and glasses, probably in his fifties, was there.
"Who are you?" Tony croaked.
"You can call me Yinsen. I was at the Stark Industries party that year too, though you probably didn't notice me," the man laughed awkwardly, setting down a razor.
"Where… am I?" Tony asked, weakly. He remembered being blown away, then vaguely recalled someone performing surgery.
"I don't know either. I've been kidnapped just like you," Yinsen said helplessly.
Bang!
The iron gate slammed open, and a group of ragged terrorists entered, guns drawn.
The leader laughed when he saw Tony awake, speaking rapidly in a language Tony couldn't understand. He then gestured to Yinsen.
Yinsen interpreted reluctantly: "They're happy to meet the 'World Butcher.' They don't intend to harm you—at least not immediately. They want your help making weapons."
The leader displayed a poster of the Jericho missile Tony had demonstrated.
"If you make this missile for us, you'll go free. Otherwise, you die!"
Tony's face was stoic, but his mind raced. "Fine—but I'll need help, medicine, food, and water."
First, survival.
Two Days Later – Afghanistan
Obadiah Stane, Vice President of Stark Industries, had flown to Afghanistan to oversee the situation after taking over company affairs.
He was furious that Tony wasn't dead; variables in the plan could expose everything.
Meanwhile, Steve was on a mission with Sharon—helping the military track down Tony.
Through this, he also learned more about Stark Industries' operations: supplying weapons and equipment to the military, designing instruments for S.H.I.E.L.D., and even creating AI systems—the most advanced of their kind.
Tony's AI was unique and patented; no one else could replicate it.
Hill called to check on Steve. After confirming he was safe, she updated him: they were tracking vampires, and Fury planned to recruit the black hunter he'd met at the nightclub, temporarily codenamed Blade.
He was also a reserve member of the Avengers.
Only Level 9 agents could understand these details, and Hill and Coulson were the only two in S.H.I.E.L.D. with that rank—both serving as deputy directors.
Having such a powerful wife had its perks.
Steve and Sharon tracked the terrorists' movements for days until they found a clue: a convoy transporting materials with heavy security, both visible and hidden.
Inside were weapons manufactured by Stark Industries, legally purchased by the local government—how they ended up with terrorists was clearly a shady business deal.
"There's something off. We need to find a way in. I'll go inside and investigate; you stay outside," Steve whispered to Sharon, a hint of playful ambiguity in his voice.
Sharon felt a thrill. She didn't care what her aunt thought—meeting Steve like this was too exciting.
No matter a woman's feelings, sometimes you had to fight for a good man. Besides, Peggy was long past her prime. Sharon intended to seize her chance.
"I'll cover you outside," Sharon said confidently.
Her skills and sharp instincts were evident, and she had the kind of intelligence and daring seen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Men liked women who could take initiative, and Sharon knew exactly how to appeal to Steve.
The Super Soldier Serum didn't just enhance Steve's body—it boosted his intellect.
Within days, he had learned the local language and script. Without a language barrier, infiltration became manageable.
After observing for half a day, Steve noticed a delivery man entering the compound.
When the guards weren't paying attention, he knocked the man out, changed into his clothes, took the meal, and slipped into the cave undetected.
"Ding! Mission triggered: Iron Man is born."
The Birth of Iron Man: Help Tony build the Mark I armor. This will allow you to slack off more easily in the future.
Reward: Motocross upgrade.
...
Author's Note
Hello, readers! Welcome to my second Webnovel account.
My first Webnovel account is Shadow_demon_007, where I uploaded 20 fanfics. Due to Webnovel's upload limits and rules, I created this second account so I can continue uploading more fanfics for you all.
Please also check out my first account, where many of those 20 fanfics are available. Some of them are already fully completed, and I have uploaded those completed fanfics on my Patreon
👉 patreon.comShadow_demon_007
On Patreon, you can find
Fully completed fanfics
One free fanfic available for readers
Another free fanfic coming in a few days
I sincerely hope you enjoy my works, and I truly appreciate all your support.
Thank you for reading and supporting me!
— Shadow_demon_007