Chapter 24 - 24: You’re Too Weak, Mandarin

"Yinsen, hit the button on the computer and initialize the program." Inside the dark cave, Tony Stark was encased in a massive iron suit, speaking urgently. "Oh, alright!" Yinsen rushed toward the computer and started frantically typing on the keyboard as Tony instructed. "No, this isn't fast enough. There's no time! I'll hold them off!" After initializing the program, Yinsen fell silent for a moment before making up his mind. He had to buy Stark some time. Gripping an AK-47, Yinsen let out a determined yell and charged forward. But before he could even fire, his expression froze in pure terror. What he saw defied all logic—he didn't even know how to describe it. A figure, clad in pitch-black armor with a metallic sheen, stood before him. Faint blue energy pulsed along its surface, and its V-shaped visor glowed an eerie crimson. Behind this figure, the battlefield was littered with bodies. Some lay in pools of blood, while others were bound by glowing golden restraints, groaning helplessly on the ground. "My God..." Yinsen unconsciously muttered as his eyes widened. Then, to his horror, he saw something else—someone had just launched a rocket in their direction! CLANG! A golden circular shield materialized behind the black-armored figure, glowing with ancient and intricate patterns. The incoming missile struck it head-on—only to vanish into thin air. Yinsen had never seen anything like this before. His entire body trembled involuntarily. "Yinsen, I'm here to save you!" Inside his makeshift iron suit, Tony Stark's system had finally finished initializing. With heavy, clanking footsteps, he strode toward the entrance of the cave—only to freeze in his tracks when he saw the black-armored figure. Even as a genius in electronic engineering, Stark had no idea what kind of technology powered this mysterious being. Then, he glanced down at his own crude, bulky metal suit. Compared to what stood before him, it felt... laughable. The gap between them was overwhelming. "Who... are you?" Stark asked cautiously. The figure didn't respond. Instead, its V-shaped visor flickered with a red glow. A split second later, silver-white arcs of electricity surged from its body, striking both Stark and Yinsen. "Well, I suppose this counts as doing a good deed, doesn't it?" Gene smirked as he looked at the unconscious Tony Stark and Yinsen. With a flash of golden light, their bodies disappeared—teleported to a distant stretch of desert. Then, Gene turned his gaze toward the horizon. "I know you're out there. Come out," he called out. The real reason he had come here today was to deal with the hidden mastermind—the Mandarin. "I've wiped out the warlords you were backing," Gene continued, his voice laced with mocking amusement. "If you're still going to cower in the shadows, then I've got nothing else to say." "I suppose you'll just spend the rest of your days hiding like a turtle, waiting for all your enemies to die of old age." The desert air trembled. The sky darkened. Suddenly, a raging sandstorm erupted, swirling around Gene like an unnatural force. Amidst the storm, a silhouette slowly emerged. "You're bold," a cold, aged voice echoed through the storm. "And for that, you will die!" A streak of crimson energy shot toward Gene at blinding speed. Gene stood still, watching the attack approach with an impassive expression. The energy beam struck his armor—leaving only a faint scorch mark. Within seconds, the nanobots swarming across his body repaired the damage entirely. "If that's all you've got, I might have overestimated you." His words were like a blade, slicing through the howling winds. The Mandarin's expression remained unreadable, but his voice turned icier. "You will regret saying that." Darkness suddenly enveloped Gene. Within this unnatural void, Gene's sensors picked up fluctuations in gravity and disturbances in the surrounding electric fields. "...Is that it?" Gene sneered. A golden glow radiated from his body, instantly dispelling the encroaching darkness. Sёarch* The NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The thrusters on his ribs and back ignited, releasing a fiery red propulsion that propelled him toward the Mandarin at terrifying speed. The Mandarin's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't expected Gene to break free from his domain so effortlessly! "Matter Reconstruction!" The ten rings on the Mandarin's fingers lit up, unleashing their full power as he braced for combat. But the longer they fought, the more his heart filled with dread. Gene was simply too strong. The Mandarin felt like prey caught in a hunter's trap, struggling helplessly while his opponent watched in amusement. His ten rings—objects of immense power—felt utterly useless against this foe. Worse yet, Gene seemed highly proficient in magic. His abilities bore an unsettling resemblance to those of the Sorcerer Supreme, making the battle even more nightmarish. Not only did the Mandarin have to counter Gene's endless technological attacks, but he also had to guard against unpredictable magical assaults. He was rapidly being overwhelmed. "You're far too weak," Gene said in disappointment. "I haven't even used twenty percent of my power." "And if you're that weak—" "You have no reason to exist." The Mandarin's eyes widened in rage. "ARGH!!" With a furious roar, he activated his rings, channeling all his energy into a desperate escape attempt. The ten rings flared with a brilliant, blinding light, aiming to break free from Gene's grasp. -------------- T/N: Access 30 Chapters in Advance on my P@treon: [email protected]/MPHFics