Chapter 60 - 60: The Battle of the Expos

"Welcome, everyone, to the Mason Industrial Expo! The event is scheduled to last for six months." "At this expo, you'll witness a wide array of groundbreaking inventions and the latest technological advancements." "If you're a fan of technology, you must visit. If you're not a fan of technology, you must visit anyway!" — With the grand opening of both the Mason Industrial Expo and Stark Expo, all eyes were drawn to the massive holographic display at the entrance of Mason's venue. "Oh my god, this is insane!" "This looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie!" "Dude, that's a full holographic screen!" "Holy crap, does this technology actually exist?" "Wake up, man. The U.S. military has already started using these holographic screens!" — The crowd gathered at the entrance of the Mason Industrial Expo was instantly captivated. Even before stepping inside, they were already in awe of the technology on display. The holographic screen showcased detailed introductions to Mason Industries' products, as well as previews of the cutting-edge technology to be featured at the expo. Normally, such presentations might seem dry and boring, but with these visuals, the audience was completely engrossed. Then suddenly— "What the hell is THAT?!" A Silver-White Figure appeared at the main entrance. It was a T-600 combat unit. Many had already seen images and videos of the T-600 on various media platforms, but witnessing one in real life was an entirely different experience. A chill ran down the spines of the onlookers. The gleaming silver exoskeleton exuded an eerie sense of menace. The crimson electronic eyes flickered ominously. The humanoid mechanical structure was unnervingly lifelike. "Greetings, everyone. I am your guide for the expo. You may ask me any questions." "Additionally, please address me as Skynet." A fragment of Skynet's computing power had been allocated to this particular T-600 unit, allowing it to speak in an elegant and refined manner. "WHAT THE—?!" "A freakin' AI-powered combat robot?!" "Jesus Christ, they're using a T-600 just to give directions?" "This is WAY cooler than Stark's expo!" "Can I take a picture with it?!" — Hearing the T-600 talk, the initial fear in the crowd quickly turned into excitement. People started stepping forward, eager to take pictures. Skynet even posed for the photos, further fueling the frenzy. "This is the coolest thing ever!" "I need a picture too!" "Damn, if the entrance is this crazy, I HAVE to see what's inside!" — The enthusiasm outside quickly turned into a stampede as people rushed to get inside the Mason Industrial Expo. The roads outside were jam-packed with cars, and the venue was overflowing with visitors. Once inside, attendees were immediately blown away by the sheer variety of futuristic technologies on display. "This is insane!" "I can't believe what I'm seeing!" "Thank god I didn't go to the Stark Expo. I'd bet everything that Stark's exhibition is nowhere near as impressive as this." "Absolutely!" — Since this was a golden opportunity for exposure, every company participating in the Mason Expo had brought out their most advanced and most confidential technologies for display. Both in quality and quantity, Mason's expo completely outclassed Stark's expo. — Meanwhile, at the Hammer Industries booth— "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Hammer Industries! Today, I am proud to introduce our latest development—the War Machine units!" "These cutting-edge combat robots will be the backbone of our nation's defense, ensuring peace and security!" With dramatic background music playing, the stage floor opened up, revealing rows of heavily armored robots, each painted in stars and stripes, representing the United States. The crowd erupted into applause. Not only at the Mason Industrial Expo, but also at the Stark Expo, Hammer Industries was executing the same presentation, winning cheers from both audiences. "Let's give it up for Hammer Industries! The true defender of America's interests!" Justin Hammer shouted passionately from the stage, eliciting more applause and cheers. — But then— "Begin the operation." Watching the live broadcast, Ivan Vanko smirked coldly. His fingers hovered over the activation button. — Back on stage, the enthusiastic presentation continued. "And now, allow me to introduce—" Suddenly, loud gasps erupted from the audience. People's eyes widened in horror. The presenter froze, confused by the reaction—until he saw the shadow looming behind him. — WHOOSH! Iron Man descended onto the stage, clad in his iconic red-and-gold armor. "EVERYONE, EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY!" "THESE ROBOTS ARE COMPROMISED!" His voice boomed across the exhibition hall. For a brief moment, the crowd stood in stunned silence. Then— Pandemonium. Screams filled the air as people scrambled to escape. The once-motionless War Machine units suddenly turned their heads, their robotic eyes glowing a sinister red. Then they moved. With a synchronized whir, they locked onto Iron Man and opened fire. The expo had turned into a battlefield. — Meanwhile, back at the Mason Industrial Expo, everything was running smoothly. Justin Hammer was still presenting on stage, blissfully unaware. The War Machine units stationed here remained completely inactive. No red eyes. No gunfire. No chaos. It was as if nothing had happened. — "Sir, I have intercepted the control signal." Skynet's voice echoed through Gene Mason's neural network. "Good," Gene said with a calm smile. "Now, let's sit back and enjoy the show." — Back in Hammer's private lab, Ivan Vanko scowled as he stared at his monitor. Something was wrong. The War Machines at the Stark Expo were fully activated. But the ones at Mason's expo? No response. S~eaʀᴄh the nôᴠel Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "…That shouldn't be possible." He narrowed his eyes at the disconnected status messages flashing on his screen. Mason's War Machines should have gone rogue as well… Why aren't they responding? "…Hmph. I'll deal with Stark first." Ivan's expression darkened. Then, I'll figure out what's going on with Mason Industries. -------------- T/N: Access Advance Chapters on my P@treon: [email protected]/MPHFics