Audience stands.
Seeing the methods Steel Killer displayed, Pepper Potts's heart instantly clenched.
Without his armor, Tony was just an ordinary person.
How could he defeat Steel Killer?
It wasn't that Tony wasn't strong enough; it was simply a severe attribute counter!
Seeing Pepper's anxious expression, Rimuru felt a bit sorry for her.
Will Tony be okay?
Tan90°!
He is the famous Iron Man, one of the three giants of the MCU Universe. Before encountering Thanos, it was impossible for him to be in trouble.
Rimuru comforted her, "Pepper, don't worry, Tony will definitely be fine. This is a legitimate competition after all—friendship first, competition second, right!"
Hearing Rimuru's words, Pepper's tense emotions eased slightly.
Rimuru was right; this was a competition, and a competition had rules.
It was still different from a real fight to the death.
"Rimuru, thank you for worrying about me!"
Pepper smiled at Rimuru, feeling very ashamed. She was even less composed than Rimuru, a child.
This wouldn't do. As the woman behind Iron Man, she couldn't drag Tony down!
Arena.
The gleaming Silver Armored War God glared at Iron Man. "Tony Stark, do you still remember me?"
Tony Stark scrutinized the Steel Killer wearing a silver "bodysuit" and asked in confusion, "Have we met before?"
Have we met before?
These words were too hurtful!
Steel Killer instantly suffered ten thousand points of critical damage!
In prison, all he thought about day and night was taking revenge on Tony Stark after his release.
And yet Tony Stark didn't even know who he was.
What the heck!
Steel Killer gasped, his murderous aura boiling. "Stark, I am Dr. Gorden Cutton from the California Institute of Technology. Do you remember now?"
"Gorden Cutton? Who? Sorry, any more hints?"
Tony Stark naturally noticed the Steel Killer's killing intent toward him, but Tony was truly wronged; he really didn't remember a guy named Gordon.
He was so busy, making millions every minute, and there were so many beautiful models and cover girls waiting for him to save. How could he remember a rough guy named Gordon?
He didn't have any special hobbies!
Ah ah ah ah ah!
Steel Killer Gorden Cutton was going crazy, but he still managed to suppress the urge to attack directly.
"My girlfriend Keisha and I were engaged in metal material research. We buried ourselves in research for eight full years. Eight full years! We were just one step away from achieving a breakthrough."
"But that last step was like an uncrossable chasm. We couldn't get past it no matter what. Then, Keisha accidentally learned that you, Tony Stark, were a super genius and quite accomplished in metal materials. So she specifically went to seek your guidance. And she was gone for three days—"
Hearing this, Tony Stark's eyes suddenly lit up. "Keisha, I remember her. She was truly a brilliant woman, quick to grasp things, and I think she even had a few star-shaped birthmarks on her chest—"
How dare he even mention the star-shaped birthmarks on Keisha's chest! This was unbearable!
"Enough! Tony Stark, today it's either you die or I die. Go to hell!"
Steel Killer extended his hand, and the liquid metal on his body rapidly flowed, quickly forming several cannonballs similar to rocket launchers.
Boom!
Several cannonballs instantly shot toward Iron Man, splattering Tony Stark's face.
Mark IV was immediately engulfed by the thick smoke after the explosion!
"Tony!"
Pepper was startled and cried out, standing up from her seat.
Rimuru was also startled by the sudden change. What the hell?
It was clearly just a "Friendship First, Competition Second" martial arts competition, so why did the atmosphere suddenly change and turn into a vendetta?
"Pepper, don't worry. According to the 'No Damage with Smoke' law, Tony will definitely be fine!"
Hearing Rimuru's words, Pepper's little heart trembled, and she was on the verge of tears.
"Rimuru, please, I beg you, can you stop commentating?"
Rimuru: "…"
What's wrong?
Did they really take her for a jinx?
Wasn't this Tony's own doing?
The 'No Damage with Smoke' law—that's a law! Could a law be ineffective against Tony?
As the smoke dissipated, Mark IV's appearance was finally revealed.
On Mark IV's outer shell, silver-white, spiderweb-like liquid metal had spread.
And this liquid metal was continuously spreading, eroding toward Mark IV's head.
Steel Killer laughed arrogantly. "Stark, the famous Iron Man, you're finished! My liquid metal will slowly erode your armor, penetrate your mouth, nose, and throat, suffocating you little by little, and lead you to death under the watchful eyes of everyone!"
"Tony!"
"Oh my God!"
"It was just a competition—how did it turn into a murder scene?"
"God!"
"What to do? What to do?"
The scene instantly became chaotic. No one expected that a competition would turn into a globally televised murder scene.
And the target of the murder was none other than the richest man in the world, Iron Man Tony Stark!
"The entrances are sealed by metal—the security team can't get in? How could this happen? How could this happen?"
Hanging up the phone, Pepper Potts was burning with anxiety, like someone drowning and about to die.
Even if there was only a straw in front of her, she would grasp it without hesitation.
"Rimuru, I beg you, please save Tony. Please save Tony, okay?"
Pepper tightly gripped Rimuru's hands. She knew her request was very rude.
Steel Killer's ability specialized in countering metal, so if Rimuru were to save Tony, Rimuru couldn't wear the Wind God.
In other words, Rimuru would have to be exposed to the world media.
Undoubtedly, her request was very, very selfish, but she truly had no other choice.
"Pepper, don't worry. Tony is also my friend; I will never let anything happen to him!"
"Thank you, truly, thank you so much!"
Rimuru looked at Mark IV in the center of the arena, almost completely covered in liquid metal, doubting her life.
Was her mouth really blessed?
Jinxing everyone she spoke of?
Feeling wronged!
Devastated! ＿|￣|○
Could even a protagonist like Iron Man be jinxed to death with a single word?
This isn't scientific!
Nor is it magic!
However, now was not the time to think about these things. If Iron Man really died, it would be troublesome.
Rimuru's mind stirred, and she prepared to cast instant transmission magic.
But just then, Tony Stark's voice echoed throughout the entire arena.
"I really didn't want to use this. I specifically prepared it for the Wind God. I always thought that among all the heroes in the world, only I and the Silver Armored War God were worthy. I underestimated everyone!"
Tony Stark still had a trump card?
And this trump card was previously prepared specifically for the Wind God?
Instantly, the entire arena erupted in a clamor, exciting everyone.
They had thought it was just a competition, but they never expected it to be a premeditated assassination.
They had thought Tony Stark was doomed, but they never expected that he had never used his full strength.
Boom!
A sky-blue light flashed, and in an instant, the liquid metal that enveloped Mark IV, like maggots on a bone, was stripped away drop by drop.
In a flash, the metal man, who had just been so arrogant, was directly flung away.
And Iron Man became the sole presence in the arena!