Thanos's "son" grunted—and was sent flying by a single blast.
"What…?"
Ebony Maw stared, momentarily stunned. The strength of Thanos's offspring was easily at the level of a top general, yet on his very first step onto Earth he was being suppressed by a mere "ant"?
"Raaagh—!"
The brute roared. His defense was monstrous; instead of retreating he swung his chain-axe with both hands and smashed it down at Tony Stark.
Thud!
The axe struck Stark's chest—then glanced off as if it had hit slick fish scales, skidding aside on contact. Blue ripples flickered across the impact point.
Vibranium. Energy absorption.
"Oh! This feels way better than the last Mark series."
Tony grinned.
"Indeed, sir," JARVIS reported. "Only about seven percent of that force reached your body. And after Saitama's enhancement, your physiology now rates at 'Captain America' class."
The Vibranium-grade Mark armor outperformed the prior nano suit by a mile. Paired with Tony's now-Steve-level physique, Iron Man was no longer a turtle hiding in a tin can.
Ebony Maw watched impassively, then shifted his gaze to Stephen Strange. "Your friend performs decently, guardian of the stone."
His tone was mild, as though everything was already in his grasp. Compared to worlds Thanos had razed, Earth was a middling civilization at best. Ebony Maw's name carried weight even among higher civilizations—coming here was like bringing a max-level account to a newbie zone.
He lifted a hand.
The pavement around them rose into the air. With a flex of his will, the floating slabs crushed into needle-sharp spikes and howled toward the Sorcerer Supreme.
Strange didn't bother to respond. His hands traced circles; sparks filled the air.
A perfect ring opened before him, swallowing every incoming spike—
—and a twin ring bloomed beside Wong. The same spikes burst from that portal and screamed back the way they'd come.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Caught off guard, Ebony Maw jerked aside. Several lines of blood scored his ashen face.
"Ants—you've angered me."
He flicked his wrist. Wong had no time to brace before a wave of debris smashed him off his feet and sent him skidding through rubble.
Telekinesis—dominion over matter. Anything within Ebony Maw's sphere of intent was his to command.
Strange seized the opening, casting a glowing whip that snapped around Ebony Maw and yanked. He stepped in to strike—
—but the brick wall behind him came alive, folding and clamping shut. In a breath, masonry had cocooned Strange in a stone vise.
"Charming tricks," Ebony Maw sneered. "I'm sure the children adore your little circus."
He reached for the Eye of Agamotto at Strange's throat. The instant his fingers touched the relic, smoke hissed from his skin. Ebony Maw recoiled with a hiss.
"The warding spell is simple," Strange said coolly, "not simple to break."
"Then I'll start by taking your life."
He tore Strange free of the bricks and slammed him into the ground. Strange tried to activate the Eye—but his hands wouldn't move. Twisted rebar slithered like steel serpents, binding his arms, coiling up to lock his neck. He was wrapped head to toe by Ebony Maw's iron grip.
Not far away, the city block convulsed—buildings buckled and collapsed, bestial roars echoing between the crashes.
"Come on, big guy! You bragged about your strength—hit me here." Tony thumped his own abdomen and smirked. "Harder. Didn't you eat breakfast? Try looking like a man for once!"
The hulking "Thanos's son" looked nothing like the tyrant he'd been moments ago. His chain-axe was chipped to ruin, the cable snapped, armor in tatters. Fear crept into his eyes.
Too weird.
He'd been slamming this Earthling over and over—yet it barely did anything.
"If that's all you've got, I'm disappointed."
Tony's thrusters flared. He sprang like a leopard.
Crouch. Coil. Lightning-quick release.
Crack!
His fist buried itself in the brute's abdomen. Armor shattered; bone groaned and gave with a teeth-aching crunch.
With Tony's present strength—and the amplifying feedback of the Mark—the punch alone could have pulverized a building. Worse for the enemy, the Vibranium had drunk in the brute's earlier blows and now repaid them with interest. This wasn't one plus one—it was one times ten.
"Gah—!"
The thick-skinned monster couldn't hold it in. Blood sprayed as he arced backward, chest caved into a warped sinkhole.
Tony didn't let up. Flames kicked from his boots as he chased, his cadence like running on midair steps.
He cut ahead—
Arrived behind his target first—
Knee strike.
Elbow smash.
Whip kick.
Axe kick.
Hook.
A full home-run combo.
It was almost too brutal to watch. Minutes ago the "son of Thanos" was all swagger; now he was a mangled meatball—ligaments torn, bones shattered, flesh a ruin—batted around the sky like a sandbag.
"I am Thane, son of Thanos! Kill me and Earth will be annihilated!"
The nearly unrecognizable (movie-version) Thane howled.
"Mm? Then I really should think about whether to kill you."
Tony rubbed his chin, smiling.
"If you let me go, I can—"
Boom—
Six emitters unfolded from Tony's back. The energy rails brimmed and, in the next instant, a lance of light erased the threat. When the radiance faded, a charred headless corpse tumbled from the clouds.
"Sorry—didn't catch that. I don't have time to chat. Bye."
Tony's voice was flat. He'd never believed the promises of tyrants. If they don't submit, you put them down—that's the cleanest solution.
"Unfortunate," Ebony Maw murmured. "If you won't recite the unlocking incantation, I will make you envy the dead."
He hoisted the steel-bound Strange behind him like luggage. There was no hurry—he could always return to the ship and take his time. He had so many exquisite methods; one of them would open the Sorcerer Supreme's mouth.
"Hey, buddy," a voice drawled behind him, "you're a lot softer than I expected. Mages in this world—thin skin. Warriors take a beating better."
Ebony Maw's grip suddenly felt light.
A lattice of cutting beams rained down. The metal strangling Strange fell away in glowing slices—
—and Tony Stark, king of panache, touched down in front of them, repulsors whining.
"Round two?"
(End of Chapter)
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