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California's Sierra Nevada Mountains. Three people, fully armed, made their way through a dried-up riverbed. Towering mountains loomed on either side, jagged rocks scattered everywhere.
"Hey, tell me again why we couldn't just fly in? Why are we hiking?"
After a while, Stark was gasping for breath. Erik and Dan, on the other hand, looked totally fine. Erik, being a vampire hunter with a vampire's body, had superhuman stamina. Dan had also trained for years—he was far beyond any normal human physically.
But Tony? Tony was different. A playboy and a scientist, his usual activities involved either wild parties or tinkering in the lab. Naturally, he wasn't exactly in peak physical shape, especially compared to two guys who hunted vampires in New York City's back alleys.
Erik didn't even look back—he just slowed his pace and said flatly:
"If you think you're gonna pass out, turn back now."
Tony wasn't having it.
"Dude, seriously? You can't just say something like that. A man should never say he's 'not up to it'. I'm fine! Even if a hundred vamps show up right now, I can take them all myself—don't need either of you."
He flopped down onto a boulder, still bragging about his… ahem… endurance, and how many models and actresses he'd conquered.
Erik ignored him and quietly pulled out the Ixa Belt.
"They're here."
Dan frowned.
"Damn it, Stark, you jinxed us. Show time."
Tony blinked. "Huh?"
He followed Dan and Erik's gaze—sure enough, a massive horde of vampires was charging at them down the mountain pass.
Suddenly—BOOM! Boulders tumbled down from both sides of the valley, sealing off their escape.
Erik looked up. The sky was now covered in thick clouds, blocking out the sun completely. The air was heavy and damp—rain was definitely coming.
"This was part of their plan… Looks like we walked right into a trap."
Dan tightened the Krim belt around his waist, calm as ever.
"So what? We're already here."
The two exchanged determined looks. A bloody battle was inevitable.
"Jeez, you guys sound like you're marching off to your deaths or something."
Tony, uncomfortable with the dramatic vibe, quickly cut in.
"Didn't I say it already? You guys handle the big ones. The small fry are mine."
Grinning, he popped open the suitcase. After a few mechanical shifts and clicks, the little case unfolded into a full-sized weapon station.
"Time for a fireworks show!"
He hit a button. A missile launched straight into the approaching swarm of vampires.
Right before impact, the missile split into dozens of mini-bombs.
BOOM!
The entire valley shook.
Dan recognized it instantly—it was the same missile Tony sold to the military in Iron Man 1. The one that led to him getting captured in Afghanistan.
"This is my latest model," Stark said proudly. "I added silver powder to the warhead—how's that for vampire-killing tech?"
He raised an eyebrow at Dan with a smug grin.
Dan just nodded. If Stark already had this kind of weapon… did that mean Iron Man 1 was about to happen?
His fists clenched. If Iron Man was starting, then the Marvel Universe was officially kicking off. Crisis after crisis was coming, and the only things he could rely on were Mr. Belt… and what his mentor had taught him.
"…Thanos…"
Dan muttered under his breath, dazed.
"Huh? What was that?" Stark asked.
Oops. Dan had slipped up. Luckily, he'd spoken in his native language, so Stark didn't catch it.
"It's something we say back home. It means 'awesome'."
Stark didn't question it—people often muttered in their mother tongue when shocked.
His grin widened.
"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet."
He started fiddling with the weapons again, launching all kinds of gadgets. The whole valley was quickly turning into his personal weapons testing ground.
Watching him go full DJ-booth mode behind his arsenal, Dan couldn't help but shake his head. Those vampires didn't stand a chance against Tony Stark's version of an airstrike.
"Tony," Dan called out, "won't all this noise attract the military?"
Tony turned around, grinning confidently.
"Relax. Stark Industries is in bed with the military. I already told them I'd be testing a new weapon out here. New weapons get them more excited than I do."
Dan sighed. Yep, that was the U.S. military, all right.
"They're here," Erik suddenly said quietly.
A crimson laser burst through the smoke and hit Stark's weapon platform.
BOOM!
Half of it was blown to pieces.
A terrifying roar followed, and a monstrous, starfish-like humanoid vampire charged at them, moving almost as fast as a speeding car.
Erik didn't hesitate. He gripped his fist gun, pressing it to the palm of his left hand.
[R-e-a-d-y]"Henshin!"[Fist On][Ixa Burst Mode]
A golden armor silhouette formed, merging with Erik's body.
He grabbed his cross-shaped blade and charged straight at the starfish vampire.
Dan squinted at the battlefield. Without Stark's cover fire, the vampires had started rushing in again.
Leading the charge was a massive rhino-like vampire.
"Tony, can you still use your weapons?"
Tony looked at what was left of his gear.
"Of course I can! Who do you think I am? I'm Tony Stark, super genius!"
"Great. Then don't let up—keep the pressure on."
As he spoke, a small black car dropped into Dan's hand. He slotted it into his wristband.
"Start your engines!"[Henshin!]"Drive! Type Wild!"
A pillar of light shot down. Dan transformed into his Wild Form. The Drill Crusher tire clicked into place on his left arm.
Through Drive's visor, combat data streamed in. Dan could feel a surge of fighting spirit like never before.
"Time to party!"
In an instant, everything around him seemed to slow down.
Tony's eyes widened in surprise. For a split second, it felt like time itself had slowed.
"…Is that what your new armor can do?"
"....."