"I got you the info, don't forget to wire the cash. That's it, I'm off to work."
Johnny Blaze hung up, turning to wave at the roaring crowd at the racetrack.
"Hey, how's it going?" he grinned, greeting the audience.
But the cheers weren't for him.
"Stark!"
"Stark!"
"Iron Man, I love you!!"
The crowd roared, holding up Tony's signs, cheering for the star on the track.
Johnny Blaze glanced back at Tony, basking in the spotlight, and shrugged.
"Alright, I'm just a side character."
"Johnny, you're a glorified extra."
A colleague adjusted his helmet, warning Johnny, "This race is sponsored by Stark Industries. Don't outrun the main guy, or we're all out of a job."
Johnny nodded. "Got it."
He crouched to check his racing bike.
Meanwhile, Happy massaged Tony's shoulders, handing him a dark green drink.
"Didn't expect you to join a motorcycle race," Happy said casually.
Tony sipped the drink, scanning the other racers.
"Just messing around, plus it's good promo for our flying bikes. Worth the deal."
"Tony, your spokesperson is that Gwen Spider," Pepper said, approaching.
Tony shrugged. "I wanted the invincible Spider-Man, but he knows too much. Changed my mind."
"That's called hush money," Happy whispered. "I checked. Spider-Man's tight-lipped. Nobody knows about that."
"But you know," Tony shot Happy a look. "If needed, I'll silence you."
Happy's smile froze. "Haha, you're hilarious."
Pepper shook her head, chuckling.
"You just recovered. Save your breath and prep. You're taking first again."
"You rigged it?" Tony frowned. "Everything I've got is earned. No need for that."
"Right, all you," Pepper rolled her eyes. "It's a product launch. If you're not first, what will buyers think?"
"We're not short on cash."
"I knew you were just here to play."
"Alright, it's starting."
Tony put on his helmet, done arguing with Pepper.
Soon, as the racers lined up, the track glowed with energy. Tony's flying bike surged ahead, sparking wild screams from the crowd.
Among them, a scruffy long-haired man spat out his toothpick, smirking.
"Tony Stark, your good days end here. Time to shatter your hero halo!"
He pushed through the crowd toward the track.
"Stay back! No spectators during the race!"
Security stepped in, but the long-haired man floored one with a punch.
"I'm not a spectator. I'm the main character."
He strode onto the track, drawing curses from the crowd.
"Shit, what's that guy doing?"
"Trying to ruin this epic race?"
"Damn him!"
"Get lost, greasy long-hair!"
"Pick up your trash!"
Ignoring the outrage, the man calmly watched the flying bike approach, pulling a circular reactor from his coat.
"What?"
On the bike, Tony clearly saw the device, startled.
"What's going on?" he asked Jarvis.
"Sir, I can confirm no issues with your database."
"Then where'd that come from?"
"Perhaps you dropped it at the club last night."
"Buddy, you shouldn't be able to answer that."
"My apologies, I cannot answer that."
Ignoring Jarvis' humor protocol, Tony locked eyes on the man, flooring the throttle.
Let's see what this guy's up to.
Showing off?
Or…
"Tony, stop, it's dangerous!" Pepper and the others shouted.
The flying bike roared forward, kicking up winds that swirled into a mini-tornado.
Seeing Tony charge, the long-haired man smirked, his grin dripping with disdain.
"This just got more fun."
Click~
He twisted the reactor, and electric arcs surged over him. Blood-red mist poured from his spine, instantly cloaking the track.
"What?"
The moment the red mist appeared, Tony's face darkened.
"Hydra's power. Looks like we're not getting first."
"Sir, I understand. I've remotely summoned the Mark IV suit."
"Too late. There's a better option."
The bike screeched to a halt. Tony leaped off, the bike disintegrating into suit parts.
Clank clank clank
As he fell, leg armor snapped on, cushioning his landing.
Before the red mist could engulf him, hand armor locked in, and an arc pulse blasted from his palm.
Bang!!
The energy hit the mist, barely making a ripple.
"Heh, child's play. This is the genius?" the long-haired man sneered.
The reactor on his chest glowed as the mist surged. Arcs crackled like chains, channeling terrifying energy.
His skin writhed, blood-red tendrils sprouting, making him look like a grotesque, humanoid anemone.
"Eugh~"
Tony shuddered, suit parts covering him, his helmeted face full of disgust.
"Anemone Whip, I'm heating up your seawater."
Shoulder-mounted mini-missiles fired.
Boom boom boom!!
The track erupted in flames.
Debris flew, and spectators fled—but Marvel-world bystanders never miss a show. They retreated just far enough to watch.
The other racers hurried back to the starting line.
Except Johnny Blaze.
"What is that?"
He stared at the eerie figure in the red mist, frowning.
Whoosh~
The air seemed to freeze.
He found himself in a space filled with hellfire.
"A soul with Hydra's power," a mysterious voice said.
"Hydra?"
Johnny Blaze clicked. "The evil group Spider-Man took down, I heard."
"Johnny, bring me the soul with Hydra's power."
Hearing the demon's whisper, Johnny sighed.
"Sorry, that guy looks tough. I'm probably no match."
"No, you can do it. One Hydra soul for a year of your father's safety. Your choice."
The demon's voice faded, the hellfire cleared, and Johnny was back at the track.
"One soul for a year of Dad's safety…"
His face darkened. "That bastard never planned to let Dad go. Damn demon!!"
He glanced at the red mist, forced to comply.
He slipped out of the race, planning to switch to his other persona.
Meanwhile, the track was a warzone. The red mist gave off a noxious stench under the flames. Tendrils exploded in size, stabbing into the ground.
Just before they could envelop the suit, Tony barely dodged by taking flight.
"Shit, I played this game as a kid."
"Sir, our weapons can't harm him effectively. Take this fight seriously."
"I get it."
Tony's chest reactor flared.
Boom!!
Zzzzt~~
A crimson beam swept down, slicing the long-haired man in half with searing heat, leaving a hundred-meter charred scar on the track.
"It's over."
Pepper sighed in relief.
Happy tapped his tablet, frowning.
"No, S.H.I.E.L.D. data says you need to destroy his spine."
"What?"
Pepper gasped. The "corpse" was in pieces, but the black spine was intact.
"Trouble!"
Amid gasps, red mist surged, flesh writhing. The long-haired man rose, smirking.
"You had your fun. My turn."
He whipped his arm, red mist and arcs forming a long whip that lashed at the sky.
Boom!!
Zzzzt~~
As the electric whip struck, the Mark suit dodged, but the whip tracked Tony like it had eyes, snaring his ankle.
"No~"
Tony blinked, a bad feeling rising.
Sure enough, the man's arm muscles bulged, slamming the Mark suit into the ground.
Boom!!
Sparks flew as the suit crashed.
Beep beep~ Suit damaged~ Evacuate immediately.
Jarvis warned repeatedly. Tony gritted his teeth, blood trickling from his mouth after hitting the mask.
"Kinda hurts. Gimme a painkiller shot."
"Sir, I suggest contacting the invincible Spider-Man."
"No, that's too embarrassing."
"Sir, you're rich."
"True, that's my real superpower."
…
Meanwhile, at S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Since you recommended her, you're in charge of the rookie assessment."
In the office, Carter was pleased with Gwen's resume.
Charlie nodded. Before he could speak, Helen Cho walked in.
"Your nano-suit—I'm impressed with its structure."
She handed Charlie the spider emblem.
Charlie slipped into the nano-suit. "How's the research going?" he asked.
Helen smiled. "It's similar to my work. Using your nano-suit's tech, I should perfect my nano-medical tech soon. I also got ideas for nano-metal production.
If we share this with Tony, he could build a nano-suit fast.
Of course, the nano-metal patent's yours. Tony'd have to pay you a big licensing fee."
Charlie's eyes lit up.
"Dr. Cho, you're amazing! I'm so excited, I gotta hug you—"
"No need."
Helen stopped him. "Calm down. Wait till the Captain leaves."
Charlie: "."
Carter: "???"
"Am I in the way?" she asked Gwen.
Gwen turned, pretending not to see.
Spider-Man's personal life is a mess.
Helen continued, "Spider-Man, don't sell the nano-tech to Tony outright. He's loaded—charge him annual licensing fees."
Charlie shook his head. "Nah, he's my friend. Can't do that."
He grinned. "But I think he should pay me every time he uses a nano-suit."
Helen: "."
"Your definition of friendship is… unique," she said.
Beep beep~
A message came through the nano-device. Charlie chuckled.
"My unique friend's calling."
"Hey, how's it going? Swelling gone down?"
"Cute bug, you got paid, so don't mention that. I need your help."
"No way! You're asking me for help? That doesn't happen in a hero's solo movie."
"I don't know what you're on about. There's a whip guy causing trouble. Hurry, I can't handle him."
"Whiplash Ivan Vanko?"
Charlie raised an eyebrow. "Hold on, I'll be there."
"Three minutes."
He told Carter and the others, then drew a circle.
Stepping through the portal.
Buzz~
Magical sparks burst, and the crowd went wild.
"It's Spider-Man! Jonah talked about his new powers."
"It's magic—he learned magic!"
"Awesome, Spider-Man's here!"
"Spider-Man, I love you!!"
"Wait, you were all about Iron Man earlier."
"I changed my mind."
"Ugh, fickle woman."
Amid the cheers, Charlie arrived to see Tony bound by electric whips, dangling in mid-air.
"Spider-kid, you kept your word. You said 'right away,' and you meant it," Tony panted, still joking.
Charlie scanned the crowd, sighing.
"If I'd known there'd be this many people, I'd have showered, brushed my teeth, used my favorite gel, shined my shoes, and dressed like a grown-up."
"Talkative!"
Before Charlie could finish, Ivan Vanko snorted, flinging Tony toward the chatty bug.
"Oh~ Catch me!"
"Got you."
Charlie leaped, shooting a spatial web to catch Tony.
As he passed the Mark suit, he flipped into a mid-air kick.
"Good Neighbor Lethal Scissor Kick!"
"Hydra Big Bang!"
"Whoa, you're the first villain to banter back. I like it."
"Before that damn Howard kicked out my father, I was a funny boy too!!"
Ivan Vanko roared, his tendrils morphing into urchin-like spikes, attacking everything nearby.