Sebastian lightly waved his new wand, pointing at a nearby chair. The chair morphed as if molded from clay, expanding and reshaping into a sleek sports car.
Tony stared, jaw dropped. "Sebastian, is that a real sports car?"
Sebastian shook his head. "Not quite. It looks convincing, but it's just a shell with the chair's material. The Transfiguration Charm only altered its shape and size—basic metal at best. Stronger materials are tougher to change."
"Like my armor?" Tony asked.
"No chance," Sebastian replied. "Your suit's too complex for me to transform, at least for now."
Tony exhaled, relieved. "Good. I was wondering if I should keep building armor."
"If I could reshape your suit, I wouldn't have struggled so much against Obadiah's Iron Monger."
"Fair point," Tony said. "Let's switch gears. The Mark Ω anti-magic armor—I've been itching to start!"
"What about your new energy core?" Sebastian asked.
"Handled," Tony said. "JARVIS is crunching the data. Once it's done, we build. I'm free to focus on Omega now."
"Alright, then," Sebastian said, grinning. "I'm curious to see how magic and tech merge in the Mark Ω."
Pepper, accompanied by Happy, rode the elevator to Stark Tower's top floor.
Since Tony discovered Natasha was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, he and Natasha mutually ended her role as his assistant, leaving Pepper without a personal secretary.
"Pepper, Tony's fine," Happy said. "I saw him and Sebastian working on something earlier."
"I know he's okay, Happy," Pepper replied. "But Hammer Industries is showcasing their steel soldiers at the expo in three hours. I need to get Tony, and we have to head over."
As the elevator doors opened, Pepper and Happy spotted Tony and Sebastian, absent for nearly two weeks. Both looked disheveled, sprawled on a sofa and a recliner, fast asleep from exhaustion.
A holographic screen between them flashed a "Calculation Complete" prompt.
Pepper approached Tony quietly, tapping his shoulder. "Tony, wake up. Time to go."
Tony stirred, blinking groggily. "Pepper? What're you doing here?"
She sighed, exasperated. "Tony, it's the Hammer Industries expo today. You asked me to remind you about their steel soldiers."
Tony yawned, memory clicking. "Right, right. I'm up."
"Get moving," Pepper said. "I'll handle the rest. Happy's with me."
"Got it," Tony mumbled.
As Pepper and Happy left, Tony stretched, noticing the flashing prompt. He bolted to the hologram, swiping through the data. "Sebastian, wake up! The calculations are done, and they're spot-on. We can start building the Mark Ω test model!"
Sebastian opened his eyes—he'd woken when Pepper arrived but was too tired to move. Joining Tony at the screen, he grinned. "So, we'll see the finished armor soon?"
"Yep," Tony began, but his phone rang, cutting him off.
Frowning, he answered. A chillingly familiar voice spoke. "Oh, Tony, good to know you kept the same number. Saved me some hassle."
Tony's face darkened. He knew that voice—Obadiah.
"Obadiah," Tony said, his voice sharp, "it's been a while. You left so quickly last time, I didn't get to play host. Care to give me another shot?"
He nodded subtly to Sebastian, swiping across the holographic screen to trace Obadiah's call discreetly.
Obadiah's chuckle crackled through the phone. "Tony, still playing clever. You swear off weapons, yet build the world's deadliest. No need to hunt for me—I'm at your Stark Expo. Guess where? I've got a friend who wants to meet you. He says palladium poisoning's a nasty way to go, so he's kindly offering you an out. Oh, and enjoy Hammer Industries' gift."
Without waiting for a response, Obadiah hung up, cutting the signal.
Tony stared at the failed trace on the screen, his expression grim. He couldn't confirm if Obadiah was truly at the Expo. Even if he was, halting the event was impossible. Canceling a global showcase like the Stark Expo—tied to international stakes—wouldn't just tarnish Stark Industries; the government would never allow it. Tony, no longer the company's sole decision-maker, had only one option.
"JARVIS," he said, "start assembling Mark Ω now. How long?"
"Sir, Mark Ω is experimental. Its functionality isn't guaranteed," JARVIS replied.
"Just tell me the time!"
"Approximately four hours and eighteen minutes."
"Fine. Begin Mark Ω assembly and prep Mark VI."
"Mark VI assembly requires two hours and twenty minutes."
"I can wait," Tony said.
"Understood, sir."
JARVIS's voice faded, and the hidden factory on Stark Tower's top floor whirred to life, crafting two suits. The Mark VI, a modified Mark IV, needed minor tweaks, accelerated by Tony's new arc reactor. Without it, the upgrade wouldn't have been feasible.
Tony grabbed his phone, gesturing to Sebastian before stepping aside to call Pepper. Moments later, Sebastian noticed Tony's heated exchange with her. With a resigned sigh, Tony returned.
"Sebastian, can I ask a favor?" he said.
"Protect Pepper and Happy?" Sebastian guessed.
Tony paused, then gave a wry smile. "You know me too well."
"Why not keep them away from the Expo? It'd be safer."
"I tried," Tony said, exasperated. "Pepper insists that if the Stark Expo goes wrong, it'll tank Stark Industries. As CEO, she feels she has to be there. She's stubborn, but she's right—there are tons of innocent people, and she's responsible for the event."
"No problem," Sebastian said. "I'll ensure Pepper and Happy's safety. You can count on me."
"Thanks," Tony replied. "Pepper said they're leaving soon. I'm stuck waiting for the armor assembly, but I've looped in Rhodes. He's attending as a military rep, piloting War Machine. If anything goes down, find him."
"Colonel Rhodes?" Sebastian asked, a nagging unease stirring. His memories of the Iron Man films were fuzzy after years, and while he recalled the Expo's general chaos, specifics about Rhodes eluded him. Something felt off—maybe Rhodes faced trouble at the event—but he couldn't pin it down. Without a clear reason, he couldn't block Rhodes' attendance.
Doesn't matter, Sebastian thought. I'll be there with my new wand. Time to test its power.
Tony smirked, eyeing him. "You've got time, Sebastian. I've got a suit for you to wear. Also, you look rough. Shower, maybe?"
"We're both a mess," Sebastian shot back. "As for a shower, no need."
"No shower?" Tony teased. "You're worse than I thought—"
Before he finished, Sebastian flicked his wand, casting a Scourgify-like charm. A soft white glow enveloped him, leaving his clothes crisp and his appearance pristine.
Grinning at Tony, Sebastian said, "Who's the messy one now?"
"You can skip showers with magic?" Tony asked, wide-eyed. "Hit me with it. Let me feel the difference."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"
"Absolutely!" Tony nodded eagerly.
"Nope!" Sebastian said, smirking.
"Come on, don't be petty," Tony groaned. "What, mad I called you rough?"
"I'm seventeen, not even an adult," Sebastian quipped, feigning innocence despite being older than he looked. "Being petty's my right."
Half an hour later, Sebastian, cleaned by magic and dressed in a sharp suit, climbed into a car with Pepper and Happy, driven by Happy toward the Stark Expo.
Pepper fidgeted nervously in the backseat.
Noticing, Sebastian cracked a window and smiled. "Pepper, relax. I've got you and Happy covered. You'll be safe."
Pepper took a deep breath, nodding. "Thank you, Sebastian. I'm just worried. If Obadiah causes trouble, can you and Tony stay safe? Maybe we should call the police now—or I know someone at S.H.I.E.L.D. They could help."
"Do what feels right," Sebastian said, "but I'd suggest S.H.I.E.L.D. over the police. Obadiah's plans are way beyond what regular cops can handle. They might not even believe you, which could cause more problems."
Sebastian wasn't fond of S.H.I.E.L.D., but they were better equipped for this. If a fight broke out at the Stark Expo, S.H.I.E.L.D. could evacuate civilians and manage the aftermath. Without them, the U.S. government's heavy-handed response would likely bury Tony in red tape.
Pepper nodded, dialing S.H.I.E.L.D. Sebastian overheard her call with Coulson, who was tied up in New Mexico and couldn't assist. He hung up, but soon after, Natasha Romanov called back.
Natasha, who'd bonded with Pepper during her time as her assistant, was dispatched by Nick Fury after Coulson's report. Given Pepper's connection to Tony, the matter was high-priority. Natasha assured Pepper that S.H.I.E.L.D. was ready to mobilize if the threat was real.
Happy pulled the car up to the Expo's main stage entrance, where Natasha leaned against a vehicle, waiting. Her cover as Tony's assistant was blown, so she didn't bother hiding her S.H.I.E.L.D. affiliation.
She stepped forward, hugging Pepper warmly, then shook Happy's hand, ignoring his slightly disappointed look. Turning to Sebastian, she extended her hand. "Mr. Sebastian, pleasure to meet you."
Sebastian shook her hand, smirking. "I figured you'd already know me."
Natasha's smile was unflinching. "Files and photos aren't the same as meeting someone in person. That's when you really know them."
Sebastian released her hand, nodding without reply. Their brief exchange carried an unspoken understanding—both were wary, sizing each other up.
The group entered the bustling Stark Expo venue, filled with high-profile guests, government officials, and military representatives seated in their designated areas.
As an organizer, Sebastian followed Pepper to the center of the third row, just behind the first two rows reserved for government, military, and international buyers. Their seats were prime.
Sebastian tuned out much of what followed. Justin Hammer's opening act—a cringe-worthy attempt to mimic Tony's charisma—was like watching a toddler stumble through a comedy routine. It was painfully awkward.
After over thirty minutes of rambling, Justin finally wrapped up his one-man show and got to the point. The stage parted, and a squad of steel soldiers—designed for army, navy, air, and marine use—rose from below. They saluted crisply, like real troops, sparking enthusiastic applause from the crowd. Many saw them as a controllable Iron Man army, a force to reshape global power.
But a few, including Sebastian, knew better. These steel soldiers paled compared to Tony's armor. Even Obadiah, with his stolen tech, and Ivan Vanko, with his arc reactor expertise, couldn't match Tony's ingenuity. At best, they were close. Worse, the soldiers were a scam, cooked up by Obadiah and Vanko to dupe Justin Hammer.
Justin began an awkward dance on stage, gearing up for another speech, when a whoosh cut through the air. A gold-and-red figure streaked in, trailing an orange-red flame. With a flashy spin, it landed center-stage, stealing the spotlight and igniting wild cheers. Justin's moment was gone.
Tony's knack for show-stealing was unmatched.
"Justin," Tony said, stepping forward in his Mark VI armor, its triangular chest reactor glowing blue-white, "where's Obadiah?"
Justin backed up, forcing a smile. "Sorry, man, no clue what you mean. Welcome to my product launch. Mind stepping off?"
"Justin, you're playing with fire," Tony pressed, his voice cold. "Think Obadiah's your ally? How do I know he's tied to you? Want me to play his call recording for you?"
Tony's three rapid-fire questions cracked Justin's facade, but he clenched his jaw, denying everything.
Before Tony could push further, shouts and gasps erupted outside. A car hurtled through the air, shattering the venue's glass entrance and barreling toward Tony.
Tony jetted upward, dodging. Justin dove off the stage, barely escaping.
Boom! The car crashed onto the stage.
Tony traced its trajectory. A figure in armor floated in, arcs of electricity crackling around him. Five vehicles orbited him like satellites, held aloft by unseen forces.
"High-energy electromagnetic control," Tony said, narrowing his eyes. "Who are you?"