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The two of them were both so busy that this was the only way they could finally meet.
On the screen,the video continued to play.
Seeing that Tony had completely lost control,Pepper immediately picked up the microphone to prevent things from getting even more embarrassing.
Pepper: "Oh, this guy is such a party animal!"
The crowd took it as praise and erupted into even louder cheers.
Tony put an arm around Pepper's shoulder.
Tony: "Pepper, I love you!"
Pepper smiled and smoothly changed the subject.
Pepper: "Wow… I can't believe it. Thank you.""Tony, thank you so much for giving us such a wonderful night.""It's time to say goodnight. Thank you all for coming!"
Disappointed groans rose from the crowd.
Tony pouted like a spoiled child.
Tony: "No, no, no—wait! I haven't eaten cake or blown out the candles yet!"
Pepper turned her back to the audience.The moment she faced Tony, her expression darkened.
Pepper: "Tony, you're out of control.Trust me, okay?"
Tony: "Beautiful, you're the one who's lost control.""Come on, kiss me."
Pepper recoiled, her neck stiffening.
Pepper: "You just peed in the suit. I don't want to kiss you."
Tony: "I know, but there's a filtration system inside.The water's even drinkable."
Pepper placed her hand gently on his chest.
Pepper: "Alright. Let's go back. It's time."
Tony nodded, lifted the microphone, and faced the crowd.
Tony: "She's right. The party's over.For me, it should've ended an hour and a half ago."
Then he abruptly switched topics.
Tony: "But the party starts in fifteen minutes!"
The crowd exploded with cheers.
Colonel Rhodes stared at the absurd scene in disbelief.
Tony continued.
Tony: "If anyone doesn't like it—like Pepper…"
He pointed toward the door.
Tony: "There it is!"
Boom!
A repulsor blast fired in the direction of his hand.
The six- or seven-meter-tall luxury glass wall shattered.
The crowd froze for a moment—then burst into even wilder cheers.
To them, this party was insanely thrilling.
Pepper and Rhodes exchanged a look.Something was very wrong.
At that moment,a blonde woman tossed a bottle into the air.
Tony ignored the danger of falling glass shards and fired another repulsor blast.
Rhodes grew furious.
He turned and headed into Tony's underground lab.
There, he took a combat suit—Mark II.
Meanwhile,the chaos continued.
Bottles, plates, watermelons—more and more objects were thrown into the air by excited girls.
Tony grew increasingly exhilarated.Repulsors were no longer enough—he fired chest energy directly at the targets.
The crowd didn't seem to care at all.
Tony was drowned in cheers.
Then—
Rhodes appeared, wearing the Mark II armor.
Rhodes: "I'll say this once! Everyone out!"
The metal faceplate dropped, making him look terrifying.
The cheering crowd finally sensed something was wrong and fled.
Tony looked at Rhodes in the Mark II with little surprise.
It was as if…Rhodes was always meant to arrive this way.
Rhodes stepped forward, regret heavy in his voice.
Rhodes: "You don't deserve to wear that suit.Cut the power and get out. Now!"
Tony expressionlessly picked up the microphone and spoke to the DJ.
Tony: "Play some music. I want to beat my little brother to the rhythm."
The DJ obeyed.
Upbeat jazz music filled the room.
Tony barely noticed Rhodes approaching from behind.
Rhodes grabbed him.
Rhodes: "I told you to take off the suit!"
Tony sneered.His mask snapped shut, thrusters ignited, and he slammed Rhodes to the ground.
Tony landed with a perfect backflip.Rhodes lay awkwardly on the floor.
Tony walked away without looking back.
Tony: "Alright. Put the suit back before you get hurt."
The moment his voice faded,a plate smashed into the back of his head.
Then came a dumbbell weighing dozens of kilograms.
Because Rhodes had just put on the suit, his aim was off.
The dumbbell hit the side of the glass instead of shattering it.
But the provocation was unmistakable.
Tony grabbed a barbell and hurled it at Rhodes with full force.
Rhodes was sent flying several meters, smashing a hole in the wall.
Tony activated his thrusters and flew in front of him.
Tony: "Sorry, buddy. Iron Man doesn't need a partner."
Rhodes ignored him and swung a metal rod at Tony.
Rhodes: "Try this!"
Boom!
Tony was blasted from the underground lab up into the main hall.
Seeing how intense the fight had become, Happy hurriedly told everyone to move away.
Even so, people only stepped back slightly.
Instead, they raised their phones to record the duel between the two Iron Men.
After all, scenes like this were rare.
Under countless gazes, the two traded punches.
Finally, under one of Tony's heavy blows,Rhodes crashed into a piano with a thunderous sound.
Nearby sprinklers burst, steam rising into the air.
Seeing Rhodes defeated, the crowd raised their phones—but the cheers died instantly.
Silence fell,as if they were witnessing a villain committing a terrible act.
Tony roared at the crowd.
They snapped out of it, realized how dangerous he was, and fled in panic.
At that moment—
Rhodes regained consciousness.He grabbed a nearby table and hurled Tony into the flames.
Now, Tony was truly furious.
He aimed his repulsor at Rhodes.
Rhodes aimed his repulsor back.
Rhodes: "Put your hand down!"
Tony: "You should know the consequences of wearing that suit!"
Rhodes: "Tony, we don't have to do this!"
Tony: "You want to be War Machine, right? Fine—fire!"
Rhodes: "Put your hand down!"
Tony: "Fire!"
Rhodes: "Put it down!"
Tony: "No!!!"
As his words fell,energy gathered in both of their palms.
Two beams collided.
At the point of impact,a massive energy sphere formed and rapidly expanded.
Then—it exploded.
Both men were blasted backward.
The entire mansion looked as if it had been split in half by a giant axe.
Tony lay in the ruins, eyes open.
He watched as Rhodes activated the Mark II and flew into the sky.
Tony remained seated in silence,making no move to stop him.