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Here's the link: patreon.com/Hussain678 — all 30 advanced chapters are available there.
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For the first time, the world was in chaos.
Stark Tower.
Tony read the title.
His heart skipped a beat.
What? What?!
"The Stark family… wiped out!??"
"From Mark I to Mark 42… gone??"
"How is this possible?"
"Even if Mark 42 is useless, it shouldn't be completely obliterated."
Tony was stunned.
He couldn't help but imagine…
The enemies he would face in the future.
How powerful must they be!!!
…
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Director Nick Fury raised an eyebrow in surprise.
He hadn't expected this.
One day, it would happen…
All of Tony's armor models had vanished!
From his perspective…
Even though Tony's Mark 42 could be ruthless, it carried an unstoppable force, continuing until its master died.
But the previous Mark 1 through 41 suits…
What's more, if they maintained even 60–70% of their potential…
And combined with J.A.R.V.I.S.'s remote control…
Then Tony's Mark series suits would be S.H.I.E.L.D.'s nightmare!
And now… the title says it all: "The Stark family… wiped out!??"
Fury couldn't help but worry.
"What kind of enemy could do this?"
…
The video continued.
[Nighttime.]
"On a massive cruise ship…"
[Rescuing the President, tied up on the ship.]
Tony and Colonel Rhodes sneaked aboard.
Rhodes saw the President, wearing the Iron Patriot suit, hanging suspended on the ship.
He couldn't help but mutter: This is bad.
He had expected the enemy to be arrogant and crazy…
But he hadn't expected these terrorists to treat the President with such disdain.
Suspended like a trophy fish, naked in the air.
Ironically, the President was wearing Iron Patriot armor.
This was a blatant provocation against the U.S. government!
Rhodes: "My God… he's hanging from a barrel! They're going to burn him, Tony!"
Tony: "It's a Viking-style funeral… a public execution!"
Rhodes nodded.
Rhodes: "Yes. Time is short. Let's move!"
They used the cover of night and the guards' carelessness to close in on the President.
Tony gripped his gun, cautiously scanning the area.
Tony: "What now?"
Rhodes: "Watch your height. Don't fire recklessly! Follow me."
Compared to Rhodes' calm precision, Tony, inexperienced at infiltration, wandered like a rookie.
Whiz!
A bullet hit a pillar beside Tony.
Terrified, Tony ducked behind a crate, running out of bullets after firing at the guards above.
Tony: "See? I handled it."
Rhodes rolled his eyes.
Rhodes: "Yeah… you broke the lightbulb. Now it's harder to film."
Tony stubbornly replied:
Tony: "I was aiming for the lightbulb. The enemy was too far away."
Rhodes said nothing.
He stood, aimed at the lightbulb where the enemy had been, and fired.
Clang.
The bulb shattered.
Rhodes crouched, glaring at Tony, as if to say: If you're a rookie, practice more!
…
Stark Tower.
Tony had previously complained about Rhodes' "inferior armor."
Now… he finally had a chance to vent.
Rhodes turned to Tony, hands outstretched.
Birds chirped, flowers bloomed.
Tony,
If you're not good, practice more.
If you can't take a loss, don't play.
Tony felt anxious.
Tony: "Why am I so bad?"
"This… is called 'professional operation'!"
"When I wore the Mark armor before…"
Rhodes spread his hands again.
"The past is the past. This is now.
If you keep living in the past, you're a rookie! Rookie! Rookie!"
Watching Tony rendered speechless by his verbal onslaught, Rhodes felt invigorated.
It felt… good.
…
The video continued.
The enemies were closing in.
Tony rifled through his magazines.
"Because I was too excited earlier, I emptied my bullets."
Tony: "Do you have extras?"
Rhodes: "My magazines aren't compatible with yours, Tony."
Tony felt frustrated.
Tony: "I made this gun. You can doubt my aim, but not my craftsmanship."
Rhodes shrugged helplessly.
Rhodes: "Fine."
Tony: "Give me another one."
Rhodes remained firm.
Rhodes: "I don't have compatible parts for that gun."
Tony grew anxious.
Tony: "I saw you had five earlier! Never mind, I'll figure it out myself."
Startled, Tony stumbled to the ground.
Rhodes: "What did you see just now?"
Tony: "Too fast—I didn't catch anything. I'll try again."
This time, Tony saw clearly.
Three men and one woman—apparently injected with an extreme virus—jumped through the cabin like superhumans.
Rhodes: "I really miss that armor now."
Tony: "You're right. We need backup."
And backup had arrived.
Rhodes looked around in disbelief.
Rhodes: "That's it!"
Tony: "Yes, just as you thought."
Countless specialized Mark suits flew in, stopping before them.
From left to right:
Mark 33 – Silver Centurion!Mark 39 – Gemini!Mark 17 – Heartbreaker!Mark 40 – Shotgun!Mark 35 – Red Snapper!
…
More and more Mark suits appeared.
They assembled like soldiers, ready for Tony's orders.
Tony, to Rhodes: "Merry Christmas, buddy."