"Stark, this doesn't look like what you said it would be…"
Above the vineyard, Rhodey's face twisted bitterly inside his Iron Man suit. Stark, beside him, didn't look any better.
Just ten seconds earlier, they'd been preparing to storm the villa—only to be ambushed.
"What the hell is that thing?"
Stark's genetic scanner displayed terrifying readings. Two of the Mark suits had rushed forward, their power more than enough to flatten the entire estate.
And yet—out of thin air—one downed drone turned into a monster.
A colossal bloodthirsty bat perched on the hilltop, glowing red eyes gleaming.
It spat web-like threads—superheated, razor-sharp wires—that cut through Stark's suits like butter.
Chills ran down Stark's spine. He never imagined what Extremis virus fused with animals and insects could create.
Ferocious apes, savage tigers, charging rhinos, and ambushing gorillas.
Then came the mantis—blades that shredded titanium alloy like paper.
Half the suits were already destroyed.
Even with JARVIS adapting tactics, fewer than ten drones remained.
"At this rate, we won't last long, Stark. Look—when I go for the spider, I'll cut us an opening and jump from range," Rhodey said grimly, back to back with Stark.
"Not yet. It's not that desperate…" Stark's face darkened.
His scan had barely begun before he was caged in like a turtle.
But no—worse than a turtle. A paper-thin turtle.
Even titanium couldn't hold. These Extremis beasts were leagues beyond soldiers.
He ordered JARVIS to push the remaining ten suits forward.
The massive bat roared. Sonic waves blasted like a tsunami, shaking the armor.
In an instant, gorillas, panthers, and mantises swarmed and tore them down.
"It's over…" Rhodey muttered bitterly.
"Mr. Stark," JARVIS's calm voice cut in, "Extremis beasts absorb heat. Long-range firepower is limited. Their only weakness… is melee."
Melee.
But Stark grimaced at the wreckage around him. These monsters would shred him before he even got close.
His awakened reflexes outpaced his armor. The suits were too clumsy. Too fragile.
If he'd had stronger alloys—metals he once avoided because his body couldn't endure the strain—this wouldn't be happening.
"If I had more time, these things would never stand against my suits…" Stark growled.
A red flash.
He jerked his arm up instinctively to block.
Too late.
The panther's claws—fast enough to tear titanium and wreck his engines—swung for him.
"Damn it!"
But instead of being ripped apart…
BOOM!
A shockwave thundered out. Stark blinked in disbelief.
He'd stopped it.
His hand had caught the beast's claws.
And then—his armor began to change.
"Saturday Sale, ma'am? It is an honor to share systems with you. This is my master, Mr. Stark. I thank you on his behalf," JARVIS's voice came, uncharacteristically moved.
"What the hell?!" Stark shouted. JARVIS—handing over permissions? Impossible.
But a black ring clicked onto his gauntlet, spreading like a virus.
Dark metal consumed the suit.
Red, gold, white—all swallowed into matte black.
Jagged edges jutted from elbows, knees, shoulders. Reverse blades extended from the arms. A sleek, lethal helmet snapped into place.
The Iron Man suit had transformed into something new.
Like a knight born of shadows, beautiful and terrifying.
"From now on, I will assume JARVIS's functions. Mr. Stark, I am Saturday Sale—Master Saitama's super-intelligence. You may rest easy," came the calm voice.
Stark: "…"
Rhodey: "…"
Both men were dumbstruck.
"Mark III Optimized—Killing Form: Blade Armor. Slaughter begins. Estimated completion time: 37 seconds."
The voice was merciless.
Then the black armor vanished, replaced by a streak of shadow too fast to follow.
Inside, Stark felt like his brain would burst from the sheer speed—if not for his serum-enhanced body, he'd already be dead.
The Killing Form had begun.
…
(End of Chapter)
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