The crowd gasped at Tony's resilience. His new armor had endured direct strikes from Mjolnir and even Thor's lightning, yet it showed almost no damage.
Shuri leaned closer to her brother.
"Is that made of vibranium?"
T'Challa shook his head.
"No. It's not vibranium. According to our intelligence, Tony refuses to deal with black-market arms dealers. He showed no interest in Ulysses' stolen stock of vibranium."
That answer only sharpened Shuri's curiosity. What kind of metal could defend so well? If it wasn't too costly to produce, its applications across the world could be limitless.
Even T'Chaka frowned. If this material spread widely, Wakanda's own weaponry would no longer hold the same advantage.
In another corner, Ivan Vanko stroked his chin. He knew exactly what Tony was using—secondary adamantium. The knowledge infuriated him. Because he wasn't American, the military refused to cooperate, refused to sell him the alloy. Even with Capsule Corporation backing him, he was treated as a threat. Unless he surrendered his android army program and the arc reactor, the doors stayed closed. Which was why he set his eyes on vibranium. If he could alloy it, like Captain America's shield, he'd overcome its weaknesses.
On the arena.
Tony unleashed everything, his suit blasting at full power. Thor countered with endless arcs of lightning. Yet every strike of lightning only charged Tony further, his chest reactor glowing brighter. What should have been a killing blow had turned Thor into a walking power bank.
Every time Thor's lightning slammed into him, Tony retaliated with a heavier chest beam. Step by step, he forced Thor back until the god stood at the arena's very edge.
Boom!
Another reactor blast surged forth. Thor summoned lightning once more, bolts lashing Tony's armor—but the energy poured into his chest, magnifying his attack. The beam grew thicker, whiter, hotter.
"This is impossible!" Thor roared, and hurled Mjolnir once more.
Clang!
Tony was flung across the stage. Cracks appeared along his armor at last, the secondary adamantium showing fatigue. Jarvis' voice echoed in his ears.
"Sir, structural damage detected. Integrity dropping."
Tony wasn't surprised. He had tested this alloy against Smith Dole before—it could break under relentless high-frequency assault. Thor was proving no less dangerous. Still, the god's constant lightning had supercharged his reactor beyond design limits.
Vanko, watching closely, narrowed his eyes. He knew Tony's usual power output. This was different—far beyond the specs. "How? There's no second reactor… it can't be… is it really the lightning?"
On the stage, Tony rose again, jets flaring. He swept low, reactor beam blazing, forcing Thor to brace behind his bracers. Sparks and heat licked across them, metal glowing red.
Each step Tony advanced, Thor retreated. Until finally, one of Thor's feet brushed the very edge of the ring.
"Jarvis, divert everything to the chest. Push it all. Now!"
Having absorbed so much charge, his reactor still held over 300% capacity. Jarvis complied, flooding all of it into a single shot.
The beam exploded in brilliance, searing white, overwhelming Thor's defenses.
Boom!
Thor was blasted off the stage, crashing onto the ground beyond the ring. He groaned, summoning Mjolnir back into his grip, ready to charge again.
But Smith Dole appeared in an instant, raising his hand to block him.
"Thor Odinson—you've fallen outside the arena. This match is over. You lose."
Thor froze. Looking down, he realized his feet stood firmly beyond the ring's boundary. He had overlooked the rule.
"Damn it!" he cursed. To lose like this felt dishonorable, almost a trick of fate. Yet he would not argue. Scowling, he returned to the stands, vowing not to be careless again.
Smith Dole lifted Tony's arm.
"The winner of this match—Tony Stark!"
Applause thundered through the arena. Many were stunned—Thor had seemed unhurt, yet rules were rules.
In the audience, Xu Wenwu's eyes narrowed. Tony's new suit… its defenses were formidable. A special upgrade. He wondered if other models existed—strength, speed, versatility.
Tony stepped off the ring as Eddie Brock called out,
"Next match! Tina versus Xu Wenwu!"
Both fighters soared toward the arena. At Smith Dole's signal, the match began without hesitation.
Tina readied herself with a shield in one hand and a spear in the other—clearly taking this opponent seriously.
Xu Wenwu, likewise cautious, unleashed all ten rings, whirling around him as he charged.
At mid-range, one of the rings shot forward first.
Clang!
Tina didn't block with her shield. Instead, her spear swept sideways, colliding with the flying ring. Sparks burst out like fireworks, the clash echoing like an explosion.
"Go!" Wenwu commanded.
The remaining nine rings shot forth in unison, all arcing toward Tina at once.
(End of Chapter)
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