This story's 30 advanced chapters have been uploaded on my Patreon.
Here's the link: patreon.com/Hussain678 — all 30 advanced chapters are available there.
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For the first time—and the last time—
Tony was speechless.
He watched the video.
He had thought the first three suits were just showpieces.
But the final product, Mark 42, would change the world!
The hero had returned!
Who could have predicted this?
Indeed… this Mark 42 was the real highlight!
Damn it.
Tony:"Why on earth did I name it the 'Prodigal Armor'? It looks awful. Why not just call it the 'Rebel Son Armor'? This is anti-Tony armor!"
He sighed.
Tony:"Ugh… how am I supposed to deal with Kilian?"
Kilian looked at Tony—so thin he seemed like paper—and at the chaotic scene before him.
He couldn't help but sigh.
Kilian: "Tony, you truly don't deserve Pepper. What a pity… I'll make her perfect."
Tony: "No, you're wrong. She's already perfect!"
With that, Tony waved his hand.
[Parts of Mark 42 flew toward Kilian.]
Propelled by boosters and thrust, Kilian was lifted onto a suspended iron crate.
He struggled—but at full speed, all resistance was useless.
Tony: "J.A.R.V.I.S., blow up Mark 42!"
Kilian tried to scream in pain—but pieces of Mark 42's faceplate smashed onto him.
He couldn't even shout.
Tony turned and ran.
Behind him…
Kilian's explosions rocked the entire ship.
The structure trembled from the chain reaction.
Tony barely made it back to the deck with Skull Armor's help.
Stark Tower.
Tony witnessed Mark 42's final, powerful attack.
His mood lightened slightly.
Tony: "Hmm… looks like Mark 42 finally came in handy. Not completely useless… but…"
Tony: "Why isn't this screen off yet? Didn't I just blow Kilian up?"
Tony: "He's still alive? No way!!!"
Tony: "If so, this Desperation Virus is truly extraordinary!"
He stared at the screen, silently praying such a scene wouldn't unfold in reality.
Even with Skull Armor's protection, Tony fell from nearly 20 meters.
Pain shot through him as he struggled to sit up.
Suddenly…
Tony was shocked to see Kilian was still alive!
[Under the influence of the Desperation Virus…]
Kilian rose from the flames, reborn!
Stark Tower.
Tony took the tiny sip of alcohol he had, coughing violently.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Tony: "Impossible! It exploded like that… and Kilian is still alive???"
Tony: "Is this Desperation Virus really that powerful? How are we supposed to play this game?!"
He felt utterly exhausted.
This was cheating!
He had nowhere to run.
He had no idea how to defeat someone with such extreme regenerative abilities.
Kilian, burned to a crisp, limped toward Tony.
Kilian: "Stop hiding behind your mask, Tony! Don't you want to meet the Mandarin? I'll tell you! I am the Mandarin. Always have been! From the start!"
Kilian spread his arms arrogantly, truly confident.
Suddenly…
A steel bar slammed him aside.
Tony looked carefully—Pepper, glowing red, appeared before him!
Previously, in the dungeon, Kilian had tried to transform Pepper into someone like him.
Every day, Pepper had been injected with different doses of the Desperation Virus.
So even after falling into the fire, Pepper could rise from the ashes.
Even under the extreme virus, her power had surged dramatically—she could now knock Kilian back with a steel beam.
Tony watched in astonishment.
Mark 9, under J.A.R.V.I.S.'s command, flew forward.
It scanned the remaining two Desperation Virus carriers on the ground, almost ready to kill them.
Tony: "J.A.R.V.I.S.! Pepper is not the target! Disarm immediately!"
But Tony's earpiece had fallen during the previous battle.
J.A.R.V.I.S. hadn't heard him.
Mark IX continued executing the original command, about to strike Pepper!
But Pepper remained calm.
She leapt, activating the Desperation Virus within her, her body engulfed in flames.
With one punch, she knocked Mark IX to the ground.
Even better…
She seized a small shell from Mark IX, activated her Desperation Virus, and launched it at Kilian.
The shell erupted into fire and an explosion!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Kilian died under the immense force of the blast.
Stark Tower.
Colonel Rhodes watched Pepper's performance on the screen, amazed.
Rhodes: "Pepper, your combat awareness is incredible. You managed multiple enemies, judged primary and secondary threats, and timed everything perfectly. And you had just been infected with the Desperation Virus, with no prior training!"
"You could absolutely surpass Tony in combat."
Rhodes raised his thumb to Pepper in admiration.
Pepper smiled.
Pepper: "Really? Looks like I need some training—maybe I could be the next Iron Man."
Tony chimed in:
Tony: "Little Pepper, you should get injected with the Desperation Virus. You saw what it did—your sensitivity, regenerative ability, and strength all skyrocket. You can even breathe fire!"
Pepper felt warmth in her heart, knowing Tony cared for her.
Pepper: "No, Tony. I want to wear this armor. The Desperation Virus still has flaws. The armor is better for me. Rhodes has one—you won't give me yours."
She winked playfully at Tony.
The room echoed with laughter.
Tony: "Alright, alright. I'll build you one. Everyone deserves a suit!"
But he wondered: what kind of armor should Pepper wear? What functions should it have?
Tony pondered deeply.
Pepper had just done something violent that startled Tony, yet he approached her.
Tony: "Honey, are you okay?"
Pepper stared in disbelief at her own actions.
Pepper: "Oh my… did I really do all that?"
Tony: "You scared me! I thought you—"
Pepper: "Was I dead? No, I fell 200 feet. But I now understand why you made all these armors at home—they're treasures."
Tony: "To me, you are my treasure."
He stepped forward to hug her, but Pepper quickly stepped back.
Pepper: "No, no, I'll burn you!"
Tony moved closer, confident.
Tony: "It's okay, see? My hands are fine. Not hot."
Pepper hesitated—after all, Kilian, the final step in the Desperation Virus, was right in front of her.
Pepper: "Will I be okay?"
Tony: "You're on a date with me—I'll make sure you're okay. Don't worry. I can handle it. Back in 1999, I nearly figured this out while drunk—I can solve anything."
Pepper felt reassured.
Pepper: "Where are your toys?"
Tony: "Uh, I'll take care of them. Hey, J.A.R.V.I.S."
J.A.R.V.I.S.: "All done, sir. Anything else?"
Tony: "You know what to do."
J.A.R.V.I.S.: "Sir… spring cleaning?"
Tony: "No, today's Christmas!"
He hugged Pepper.
She looked up at the sky.
The multi-billion-dollar Mark armors exploded above them.
A hundreds-of-billions-dollar fireworks display appeared before them.
They kissed passionately.
Pepper knew—Tony's anxiety was completely gone.
He would never lose sleep over missing Mark armors again.
Tony: "These fireworks are beautiful… do you like them?"