Seaside villa.
"Saitama, lunch is ready—should I bring it to your room?"
Pepper Potts's voice floated through the intercom.
The bald freeloa—uh, hero—was living the good life. Stark's place was ultra-smart, way more convenient than his old pad back in the One-Punch world. Streaming shows with a thought? Heavenly.
These days Saitama had evolved into a full-time shut-in. (He couldn't get fat if he tried; the "shut-in" part was the only constant.)
"Mr. Saitama, Mr. Stark has run into some trouble and is requesting your aid."
Saitama slid the door open. Pepper stood there with a tray. Stark Industries' CEO had, for the moment, become Saitama's personal housekeeper.
"I'm busy," he said—eyes lighting up for the first time in days. He snagged the bread and milk, and in the next instant a gust of wind marked his exit.
"Heading out!"
Pepper lifted a hand, calling after him, "Be careful!"
Ring-shaped starship, upper atmosphere.
Tony streaked after the vessel in a steep climb. Outside the hull, poor Spider-Man clung on for dear life. The higher they rose, the worse Peter felt.
"Peter, the air's thinning and pressure's dropping. You need to let go. I'll catch you," Tony said, closing fast.
"Aren't we… capturing that guy?" Peter's voice shook but stayed resolute. "I won't let you down, Mr. Stark."
He was already struggling to breathe.
"JARVIS, unlock 14-A."
"Affirmative."
A scarlet pod rocketed from Stark Tower, homing in on Peter Parker.
Spider-Man Nano Mark.
Tony had built this suit just for Peter. Vibranium came later courtesy of Saitama, so this iteration was advanced alloy nanomaterial—no Vibranium yet—but more than enough for the job.
The pod intercepted Peter mid-fall and blossomed around him. Armor flowed, sealed, and rebooted him on the spot.
"Whoa—this feels completely different, Mr. Stark!"
"Great. Now head home. I've got it from here."
Tony carved a glowing seam in the hull with a fingertip laser and slipped inside.
"Have you decided?"
Ebony Maw's voice carried through the ship.
Stephen Strange hung suspended, pinned by a bouquet of mechanical arms. Inside the craft, Maw was king; anyone dragged aboard by the tractor beam was at his mercy.
"Give up the Infinity Stone, and I might let you die quickly."
"You can forget it," Strange growled. "Guarding the Time Stone is the Sorcerer Supreme's duty. I won't hand it over."
"A pity. Then you die."
Maw's lips twisted. Earth had proved more annoying than expected—especially Stark. That Vibranium suit was nastier than anticipated, and the man's physique was anything but "baseline human."
Headache. No more delays—take the Eye of Agamotto now, let Thanos handle the wards later.
A titanic voice rumbled through the chamber.
"Corvus Glaive has failed. Cull Obsidian is dead as well, Ebony Maw."
A vast projection coalesced—Thanos. He stood upon a world already unmade by an Infinity Stone. In his palm, the Reality Stone burned.
Six stones.
To date, the only one in his grasp was the one he'd seized himself—from the Collector. The others had gone… inconveniently missing.
"Lord Thanos," Ebony Maw said, bowing his head. "There are… complications. But I swear, I will secure the Time Stone now."
"Hmph. Disappointing." Thanos's gaze swept like a planetary tide. "I'm already en route. Earth… very well."
The oppressive will of the Titan pressed down, drawing sweat to Strange's brow.
"You heard him," Maw said softly. "Had you given me the unlocking incantation earlier, I might have shown mercy. Now that my lord is displeased…"
His fingers twitched. Blades whirled toward Strange.
Clang-clang-clang-clang—!
Every needle deflected, sparks skittering off a red-and-gold blur.
"Stark?!" Strange stared.
"Hey, told you—warriors beat mages."
Tony flicked more beams, aiming to cut Strange free—
—and froze mid-gesture.
"Surprised?" Ebony Maw smiled. "My domain. Gravity field—amplify."
The ship itself obeyed him. A hundred Gs collapsed onto Tony's position.
"Sir," JARVIS said in Tony's ear, calm but strained, "analyzing and countering the field. I'll need minutes."
This wasn't pressure on the armor; the field targeted organs, cells—everything. Even with Saitama's enhancement, Tony couldn't "train" his viscera. Agony flared; he dropped to one knee.
"Ants who don't know home field from away," Maw murmured. "Since you're so eager to die, allow me."
A white crystal spike lifted from a rack at his command.
"Forgot to mention—this pierces Vibranium."
The spike flashed down like a shooting star.
Craaaack—
The sickening sound of something shattering. Tony had already squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for pain that never came.
He opened them—slowly.
A familiar silhouette stood before him—yellow jumpsuit, white cape, red gloves, black boots… and that unmistakable gleaming dome.
"I saw a hole over there and followed it in," Saitama said, thumb over his shoulder at the breach Tony made. "You guys okay?"
The white spike ground to dust in his hand.
Ebony Maw's face went corpse-gray. "Impossible… Your body hardness exceeds Vibranium? Don't be ridiculous!"
Saitama blinked. "Huh?"
(End of Chapter)
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