At the airbase, officers and soldiers were in chaos, like ants on a hot pan. The President of the United States had just been kidnapped—surely the greatest humiliation in recent history.
"Sir! Air Force One… it's coming toward us!"
The command center, which had been in a panic, suddenly froze when the satellite feed lit up.
Every general and soldier gasped, eyes wide, staring in disbelief.
A bald man in a yellow-and-purple suit, white cape, and red gloves… carrying Air Force One down from the sky.
The once-pristine white fuselage was scarred with black burns, until it shimmered and shrank back into a simple black ring on Saitama's finger.
The President and senior officials stumbled out of the hatch, legs trembling as they faced the stunned military.
General: "..."
Soldiers: "..."
President: "..."
It was like a dream. They had survived a plane crash, saved by a monster who carried an aircraft in his bare hands.
"Mr. Saitama…" the President stammered, finally regaining himself, eager to bestow honors on the hero who had saved their nation's leadership.
But the bald man didn't even glance at him. With a flash of blue arcs, Saitama vanished.
Where was he going? To chase the monster that had fled, of course.
…
In a hidden hotel basement, bodies of terrorists littered the ground.
Two figures stood tall. One was shirt torn to shreds, muscles bulging like a predator—Super Soldier Stark.
Beside him, a battered Mark suit stood ready, though barely functional.
"Sir, I recommend you enter the armor. Yes, you can now dodge bullets, but heavy artillery will still do serious damage," JARVIS urged.
"Adaaahhh!"
With a savage uppercut, Stark sent the last guard smashing into the ceiling, roaring with exhilaration.
"JARVIS, what's my title now?!"
"As a genius scientist, I suggest—"
"Say it!"
"…Fine. Close-quarters genius, Super Soldier Stark."
Stark grinned, satisfied. Ever since drinking Saitama's serum, he had become a beast. Regular Extremis soldiers weren't even a challenge.
All of his stats had skyrocketed. Stark's potential was far greater than he had imagined.
"Sir, let me open the door—"
"No need!"
With a bellow, Stark slammed into the iron door. Pain shot up his arms, his face turning red. But he refused to back down. Muscles bulged, and with another punch, the reinforced steel door ripped off its hinges.
Freedom never felt so good. From today on, Stark vowed, he would no longer be just a man in a can. He was a melee barbarian!
Inside, Colonel Rhodey had been lecturing the guards about morality and redemption. The moment the wall burst open, he froze.
Through the smoke strode Stark, shirt in tatters, golden muscles glistening. He struck a bodybuilding pose as the battered Mark armor behind him lit him up like a spotlight.
"Old pal Rhodey! How've you been?" Stark said smoothly, sliding on sunglasses he'd swiped from a terrorist.
The terrorists blinked in confusion.
"Tony Stark? Wasn't he captured?"
"Damn, who was guarding him?"
"Is he insane? Though… those muscles…"
"Shut up. Grab him."
They raised their guns.
"Tony… maybe put the armor back on?" Rhodey groaned.
But Stark blurred like lightning, weaving through them. Four terrorists froze mid-motion before collapsing, groaning in pain.
Stark struck a dramatic pose, snapping his fingers.
"Rhodey, you mentioned the Mark armor? That old junk belongs in a museum. From now on, I'm the weapon."
"..." Rhodey stared. "You're insane, Tony."
"Fine, then I'll take the armor," he muttered. Even as a seasoned soldier, Rhodey was reeling. Since when had Stark become a muscle-bound barbarian?
Magic and machines, both? How was anyone supposed to compete?
"Man needs hobbies," Stark smirked. "Of course, I'll still upgrade the suits later. They were designed for normal people. But me? I'm beyond that."
He snapped a steel bar in his hands—wincing in pain but grinning through it, because pride mattered more. Rhodey's disgusted expression made it all worth it.
"Sir, trouble incoming!" JARVIS warned suddenly.
Before Stark could respond, the wall exploded.
A massive leg, thick as a pillar of molten iron, crashed into his abs, launching him through the wall in a thunderous crash.
…
(End of Chapter)
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