Chapter 3: His Name Is Optimus Prime (Revised)
A colossal Metal Construct slowly took shape, growing from small to large under the terrified gazes of the onlookers. Heart-wrenching metallic sounds, exceptionally harsh in the night, drowned out all other noises. Only this unprecedented metal object remained on the land.
People in the distance stood dumbfounded, staring blankly, on the verge of losing their ability to think.
"His name is Optimus Prime. I specifically gave him that name. Unlike you two beasts, Optimus Prime is 'alive'; in my eyes, he has emotions."
Using the glowing flame in his brain, like an enlightening fire that ignites wisdom, Tony controlled Optimus Prime. Tony secretly called his mutant ability 'Allspark.' It was a very apt name, as the Allspark in his memory should look exactly like this.
In this moment, Optimus Prime truly came alive. Under his control, it rose from a dilapidated pickup truck and finally stood upright.
General Ross looked at Optimus Prime, utterly bewildered. "What the hell is this thing now?"
Some reporters spoke non-stop into their cameras, describing their shock. Those with keen insight stated directly that this must be a special ability, and another powerful mutant had been born in the crisis.
The live footage was broadcast to countless households, and countless people witnessed this scene, plunged into astonishment and silence.
Major institutions and organizations worldwide mobilized experts and scholars to watch the battle before screens, intensely analyzing and conducting various assessments.
Abomination and Hulk stopped, cautiously staring at the Metal Monster that had appeared defying all logic. The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive, and neither spoke.
Finally, Abomination spoke first: "What are you things? And what department's experimental toys are you?"
He had absolute confidence in himself; his formidable strength gave him the arrogance to face any enemy. Abomination was convinced that nothing in this world could be his opponent, not even Hulk.
Power gained too easily made Abomination arrogant and conceited.
Tony touched Optimus Prime with his relatively intact right arm. The cold metallic touch, surprisingly, made him feel incredibly warm and comforted. He felt that Optimus Prime was an extension of himself, his Crystallization of Dreams, and the Incarnation of Belief of his entire family.
"You destroyed everything. My family is gone. Even the fresh fruits loaded in the truck, which my family worked hard to procure and load this morning, are gone too. I have nothing left."
Tony's eyes were red. Were there tears? No, there were no tears in his eyes, only nonexistent blood. At this moment, he understood that humans truly could run out of tears.
In the ruins on both sides, the survivors knelt and prayed.
"I have nothing left," Tony said, his voice incredibly calm, carrying a deathly serenity.
As he controlled Optimus Prime, its right arm, formed by a large number of metal parts, combined into a sharp cone. Its metallic sheen constantly glinted under the helicopter's lights, exuding a chilling aura that made one's hair stand on end.
Hulk pounded his own head, let out a roar at Tony, and retreated slightly.
Abomination laughed loudly. Destroying the weak exhilarated him, and boundless strength made him even more confident; he feared no monsters or demons. Abomination sneered, "In pain? Just a few hours ago, I was in more pain than you. That was the helpless wail of the weak; that kind of feeling would break anyone."
Abomination spread his arms and roared to the sky. He had once been crippled by a single punch from Hulk, but now he savored the satisfaction in his chest. Now that he had power, he would eliminate the Military, eliminate all who resisted; he would be a God in this world, full of complacent ambition.
"Then die," Tony said. He didn't continue arguing with Abomination about the slaughter of innocents; it was meaningless to both sides.
Only battle, fighting to the death, with such deep hatred. The one who survived would naturally be Justice.
The Allspark in his mind pulsed constantly. The existence of Optimus Prime made his heart feel full and serene; this was his own power, an inheritance of his family's will.
Optimus Prime charged at Abomination. Optimus Prime's astonishing power impacted the ground, causing it to instantly crack. The ear-splitting screech of friction made ordinary people dizzy. Optimus Prime swung his right arm with astonishing speed, savagely and forcefully stabbing into Abomination's chest, splashing out large amounts of foul blood.
Abomination screamed in pain, exceedingly piercing. Caught off guard, such an injury was a heavy blow to him, forcing him to howl in agony. What pained him even more was that his formidable body, which he prided himself on possessing an Indestructible Body, was actually injured by this metal lump.
"This is impossible, I am invincible! You blasphemous worm, kneel!"
Abomination was enraged. He roared, grabbing Optimus Prime with his thick, powerful hands, trying to rip off Optimus Prime's right arm.
His hundred-ton strength made him extremely terrifying. Before this incredible immense force, Optimus Prime's right arm was instantly torn off almost entirely, and the cone weapon was completely destroyed.
Tony's expression was grim.
The cone weapon was almost entirely formed by him mobilizing Optimus Prime's hardest metals, repeatedly compressing them, and then mixing in some Allspark Energy.
Having pierced Abomination's chest, the cone weapon was already largely damaged, and now it was completely torn off.
"You, die!" Abomination charged over, intending to kill Optimus Prime.
Tony was cornered. The Allspark in his mind pulsed wildly, and countless streams of Allspark Energy were transmitted to Optimus Prime as if it were limitless. In the face of this energy, Optimus Prime's body was rapidly strengthened.
With a loud bang, Optimus Prime was sent flying a great distance, but the Allspark Energy had reinforced his metallic body. Although his chest was slightly damaged and caved in a bit, its hardness had significantly increased.
Allspark Energy could also affect Tony himself. He held onto Optimus Prime and was not injured again.
Tony controlled Optimus Prime and charged forward again, engaging Abomination in a frenzied battle. The two giants exchanged heavy blows, the road twisted and broke, and vehicles on the road were kicked around like toys, flying everywhere.
Abomination watched Tony, trying to smash him to death with a single punch several times. But Tony was very careful about this. He seized an opportunity to escape to a safe distance to protect himself, controlling Optimus Prime to fight it and keep it tightly entangled.
Abomination simply grabbed Optimus Prime and relentlessly pummeled it, attempting to first smash this metal lump to pieces.
Optimus Prime was currently only three meters tall. Fighting head-on with the over three-meter-tall Abomination was too disadvantageous. It was constantly taking damage, metal fragments shattered and flew everywhere, scattering across the ground.
Tony was helpless. He could only continuously transmit Allspark Energy from a distance to repair it, while also having to divide his attention to control Optimus Prime to clash with Abomination.
Optimus Prime's base form was currently a small pickup truck, so its tonnage and material were inherently limited.
Moreover, Tony discovered that his so-called "repairs" were actually a replacement of parts; metal that was completely destroyed could no longer be repaired, it could only be discarded, and intact parts from other areas of Optimus Prime's body had to be mobilized to fill the gaps.
For instance, the right arm that was just torn off, Tony couldn't create metal out of thin air. He could only temporarily replace parts without truly fixing the root problem, forming a new right arm. The more it fought, the more fragile its body became, and it would eventually collapse.
What was worse, his ability had only just awakened, and he was not yet skilled in using it. Yet, he was relentlessly outputting energy for reinforcement and repair, transmitting it across a distance, causing a massive amount of Allspark Energy to be wasted in the air. Although Tony's talent was incredibly formidable, shocking the world, at present, his actual Combat Power largely depended on Optimus Prime itself.
"Hulk!"
Hulk finally broke free from the after-effects of the drugs, roared and charged over, heading straight for Abomination, seemingly intending to team up with Tony.
"Hulk..." Tony gritted his teeth.
(end of chapter)