"The thing I'm most worried about right now is that damn bat coming to ruin our plans."
At the exact moment Batman entered North Brother Island, inside a standard American single-family home in Brooklyn, Shocker was carefully calibrating his new "Shock" gauntlets as he spoke.
The interior of this American house had completely transformed since Shocker's first visit. The apron-wearing maid had been dismissed by the homeowner, Toomes.
The sofas and dining table in the room had all been shoved into corners, replaced by various electronic instruments and workbenches.
Beside Shocker stood Adrian Toomes, dressed in emerald-green garb, a long cape trailing on the floor behind him.
This world-renowned electronics engineer stroked the emerald-green suit on his body, clearly reluctant to let it go.
Seeing that Toomes wasn't responding, Shocker continued analyzing on his own:
"There are only two recorded instances of Batman appearing in daylight. One was at dusk in Queens, making contact with Norman Osborn. The other was during the attack on Oscorp targeting Kingpin."
"Both times, he never exposed himself directly to the sun. The rumors that he's a vampire aren't without reason—he's likely extremely afraid of sunlight."
"Our operation should be scheduled for high noon."
With that, Shocker donned his gauntlets and slipped into a new iron-gray battlesuit he'd crafted, capable of absorbing impacts, then stepped out into the garden behind the house.
Buzzz!
A violent shockwave erupted. Shocker's Shock gauntlets rippled the air ahead, creating transparent waves.
The ripples spread rapidly, plowing a massive trench into the garden—two meters deep, three meters wide, and dozens of meters long.
"Looks like you're pretty pleased with your new toy."
Beside Shocker, Toomes—clad in his emerald-green battlesuit—spoke with a half-smile.
"But it's not enough," Shocker shook his head. "Toomes, the materials we have left should be enough for one more suit. We'd better find another partner."
Toomes continued staring at Shocker with that same half-smile:
"I helped you build the Shock gauntlets. You helped me build my flight suit. Our deal is done."
"You want revenge on Batman, but that guy has nothing to do with me. I'm not going to risk my neck for your personal grudge."
Shocker's face was completely hidden beneath his mask. The corners of his mouth curled slightly as he looked at Toomes:
"Sorry, Toomes. The moment you agreed to work with me, you were already tied to the same rope as me—like grasshoppers on a leash."
"If my plan fails, even if I don't talk, Batman will definitely follow the trail straight to you."
Toomes's features immediately twisted, making the hooked nose on his face stand out even more.
Whoosh!
Toomes grabbed both sides of the cape behind his emerald-green suit and flung them outward. A pair of massive wings unfolded, large enough to nearly envelop his entire body.
Drawing inspiration from Shocker's Shock gauntlets, using shockwaves and the flapping of his wings, Toomes soared into the air like a giant bird. He glared down at Shocker, his tone icy:
"You used me?"
Shocker chuckled and raised a fist toward Toomes:
"Not used—we just have to work together. Otherwise, Batman will sniff us out like a cat smelling fish."
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Toomes circled above the garden. The airflow from his wings and shockwaves pressed the soft grass flat against the ground.
His expression flickered with uncertainty, but he eventually folded his wings and landed. One hand pushed Shocker's fist aside; the other gripped his shoulder:
"Got anyone in mind for the new partner? Also, let me remind you—the remaining materials aren't enough for a full suit. Sleeveless at best."
"And I'm not some grasshopper tied to a rope like you. I am the master of the skies. I am…"
Toomes squeezed Shocker's shoulder. For a moment, he couldn't think of a suitably intimidating name for himself.
Shocker stared at Toomes's hooked nose. Beneath his mask, a single word slowly formed: "Vulture?"
"Yes—Vulture!" Toomes squeezed Shocker's shoulder again, hard.
Shocker had already lowered his fist. He knew his goal of using Batman as leverage had worked.
"I think my friend won't say no. In fact, he'll be more than happy to cooperate."
"Who?" Toomes asked.
Shocker removed his mask and locked eyes with "Vulture" Toomes, speaking slowly:
"The guy Batman sent to the precinct—now locked up with Kingpin on Rikers Island… Scorpion Mac!"
In a cave in the Middle East.
Tony Stark donned the Mark I armor he'd built. Relying on its heavy plating and the power of missiles scavenged from the terrorists' arsenal, he eliminated nearly every Ten Rings member he could see.
"Yinsen! Yinsen!"
Tony Stark shouted, hoping Yinsen—who had recklessly drawn fire earlier—could hear him.
After a long pause, Tony spotted Yinsen around a corner, riddled with bullets.
"Stark…" Yinsen's voice was faint.
Tony knelt, lifted his faceplate with one hand, and looked at Yinsen. Then he gripped Yinsen's shoulders with both hands:
"Come on, we have to go."
Yinsen managed a weak smile.
Tony's emotions churned. He looked at Yinsen's pained expression:
"We agreed on the plan—I'd lead the way, you'd follow."
"That was my plan, Stark." Yinsen's glasses were shattered; he could barely make out Tony's face.
"Come on, I'll carry you out. Your family's waiting for you outside."
Tony urged him, remembering Yinsen mentioning his wife and children. He'd hoped it would lift Yinsen's spirits, but Yinsen lay motionless on the ground:
"They're already dead, Stark. I'm going to see them."
Tony stared at Yinsen, speechless. Outside the cave, sporadic gunfire echoed—the remaining Ten Rings members firing aimlessly.
"Thank you for saving me," Tony said, his eyes reddening.
Yinsen mustered his last strength for a smile:
"It wasn't just me who saved you. It was you—and your friend you've never met."
"Don't waste your life, Stark."
With those words, Yinsen stopped breathing.
Clang!
Tony gently closed Yinsen's eyes with his hand, then slammed his faceplate shut. He clenched his fists and strode toward the cave entrance.
Under the sun outside, the remaining Ten Rings members swallowed hard, occasionally firing into the dark cave.
They didn't know what had happened inside. They didn't know how furious Tony Stark was.
But soon, heavy footsteps and the clanging of metal echoed. A silver-gray figure over two meters tall emerged at the cave mouth.
The Ten Rings members waiting there opened fire without hesitation. Bullets poured out, but every one bounced off the steel armor Tony now wore.
As their magazines emptied and they fumbled for new ones, Tony pressed a button on his suit. Flames roared from his arms, incinerating the terrorists.
Tony unleashed all his fuel—not just to kill them, but to destroy the Stark Industries weapons they'd hoarded.
Soon, despite stray bullets, the area was engulfed in flames.
As the gunpowder in the weapons neared ignition, Tony pressed another button.
Flames erupted from his back and legs, leaving a trail of thick smoke in the air as the armor carried him skyward.
But after just ten seconds of flight, the suit lost power and plummeted.
Boom!
A dull crash. The armor shattered into pieces. Tony's lower body sank into the sand.
"Phew…"
Tony exhaled, extracting himself from the wreckage. In his mind, he recalled the escape route Peter Parker had sent him.
But then, the sound of helicopter rotors grew closer. Three helicopters slowly descended near Tony.
His heart tightened. He stared in disbelief at the clearly non-military choppers and scrambled to run.
The Ten Rings had Stark weapons. They'd hijacked him from an armored convoy.
Tony had no doubt they could get their hands on helicopters.
But he didn't get far before burly men from the choppers grabbed him, hoisting him aboard like a chick.
"You…"
Tony wanted to ask if they were really terrorists, but footsteps approached. A silver-gray combat suit gleamed as Silver Sable strode up and shook his hand:
"Your friend Peter Parker asked me to pick you up, Mr. Stark."
"Peter…"
Hearing the name, Tony's face twisted between tears and laughter.
After Yinsen's death, the joy of escape, and the scare from these men—learning it was his friend Peter Parker who'd sent help—Tony's frayed nerves finally gave out.
His vision darkened. He passed out.
--