Chapter 312: Wilson Fisk
Like the palm repulsors, Tony's chest-mounted unibeam had three output power settings and three firing modes.
When Batman contacted Tony, Tony was still attempting to verbally stop Hulk.
But facing the green giant whose rage had overwhelmed his brain, Tony was firing in sustained output mode at anti-materiel power, bombarding Hulk relentlessly—doing everything possible to prevent him from entering the Empire State Building.
"I never knew one minute could feel this long, Jarvis." Tony watched Hulk use his palm to block the unibeam while charging forward with massive strides.
Tony didn't dare hesitate. Before Hulk reached him, he flew backward to maintain distance.
Tony didn't even dare fly upward. He feared Hulk would leap from ground level, run up building walls to reach the sky, or plunge both hands into pavement and hurl four- or five-square-meter chunks of asphalt skyward.
Not that Tony couldn't dodge. He worried this would massively expand the already tremendous destruction Hulk was causing.
He'd worked so hard bribing NYPD to coordinate armed helicopter spotting from above.
If Hulk's destruction grew too severe, the police chief—under political pressure and other factors—might be forced to order attacks on Hulk. Tony believed that would bring nothing but additional headaches.
"Sir, Mark IV can support operations for three more hours maximum. Leg thrusters have experienced metal fatigue from extended operation."
"After three hours, reactor energy conversion efficiency will drop to sixty percent of current levels."
"If you maintain current output power, Mark IV cabin internal temperature will continue rising—"
Jarvis AI's voice continued reporting. But facing Hulk charging directly at him, Tony couldn't spare attention for conversion efficiency issues.
"Jarvis, consolidate all that information for one minute from now."
But after several seconds of silence, Jarvis spoke again.
"Sir, I must remind you—your physical condition is half-sustained by Mark IV's built-in medical systems and that adrenaline injection."
Jarvis mentioning the adrenaline shot made Tony suddenly aware his entire body ached unbearably. Every patch of skin felt needle-pricked where it contacted the suit's inner lining.
But external physical pain remained a minor issue. Tony's heart problem was most serious.
His heart rate had long since exceeded normal parameters. His heart pounded frantically with irregular rhythm. His vision periodically blurred. Despite being completely enclosed in Mark IV armor, his brain created the sensation of his soul continuously separating, "floating" outward.
Jarvis was right. From reaching Baxter Building until now, Tony had long since passed the adrenaline's effective period.
His continued combat capability relied entirely on Tony not recognizing his body's failing condition—and the suit's medical systems desperately maintaining him.
"Jarvis, don't say anymore." Tony's mouth twisted slightly. Sweat streaked down his cheeks, making his skin burn painfully. "One minute. Just hold on one more minute."
His words finished as shadow engulfed Tony.
Hulk had charged straight through Tony's unibeam fire to reach him. That massive green palm rose high, then slammed down.
WHAM!
Tony's body immediately flew backward.
He hadn't been struck hard enough to vomit blood. His body remained uncomfortable but hadn't sustained lethal injuries. Even flying backward, Tony's landing point somehow already held a massive pitch-black web stretched wide.
Batman appeared at Tony's most critical moment. First, webbing grabbed Tony and yanked him aside. Next, another web pulled a car upright to Tony's original position, taking Hulk's full-force palm strike in his place.
---
CHOP CHOP CHOP.
Armed helicopter rotors spun rapidly, generating noise and strong winds that whipped George Stacy's suit and tie wildly as he sat in the cabin.
"I'm George Stacy! Manhattan Police Chief!"
George Stacy wore no noise-canceling headphones. Half his body leaned from the cabin. He gripped a radio transmitter, shouting desperately.
"Whether you're Pentagon reinforcements, Air Force, or any other support—I need to speak with you immediately!"
Rotor-generated winds kept slapping his tie against his face. Chief Stacy finally just tore it off and threw it out, waiting anxiously for radio response.
Through static, the radio quickly responded:
"Chief George Stacy, please switch to the following satellite communications channel: The Pentagon will communicate with you directly."
The Pentagon?
George Stacy didn't overthink it. He rapidly switched to the provided satellite signal frequency.
"This is George Stacy, Manhattan Police Chief."
The Pentagon responded quickly.
"Chief, I hope you initiated contact with the Pentagon to report important intelligence, not to waste communications resources."
"I need all reinforcement aircraft you've deployed to cease operations immediately." Chief George Stacy went straight to the point.
"Excuse me?" Several laughs came through the Pentagon satellite channel. "Do you understand what you're saying, Chief Stacy?"
"I do." George Stacy said. "I need you to stop operations immediately."
"Why?"
Chief Stacy looked down from his helicopter at the area below and spoke.
"Because... Reed Richards, whom you're protecting, is currently hanging upside down from Baxter Building's roof by someone else. This person promises not to harm Reed—on condition that you terminate operations."
CRASH!
George Stacy knew his words had just made every official in the Pentagon jump to their feet simultaneously.
Through chaotic sounds, Chief Stacy soon heard the Pentagon channel transmit again. This time not laughing—roaring.
"Who is it?! Who's responsible?! Is he declaring war on the United States government?!"
"He identifies himself as Wilson Fisk. He wants to make a deal with the US government." George Stacy said. He reminded the Pentagon: "He's the Kingpin defeated by Batman two months ago at Oscorp Tower."