"Ryuuto, are you alright? You weren't hurt just now, were you?"
Just as Whiplash and Ryuuto were about to clash again, a figure dropped from above. Tony Stark landed with a serious, concerned expression, scanning Ryuuto for injuries. His alloy armor bore multiple cracks, evidence of the brutal battle moments ago.
"I'm fine! These two clowns couldn't touch me even if they tried!" Ryuuto raised a hand casually, smirking.
"Obadell? Already taken care of. He's lying face-down. Now it's just this half-dead old man to deal with!"
"Asshole! You're lying!"
Whiplash's eyes flared crimson, his long yellow hair snapping violently as he readied himself to strike.
But then he froze. Iron Man stood beside Ryuuto, fully alert and commanding, while every Ten Rings operative in the vicinity had already been neutralized. Whiplash's confidence sank.
"Whiplash, surrender. Today, you have no escape!" Tony's palm glowed, energy particles coalescing into a deadly beam.
Above them, fighter jets roared overhead, while commandos armed to the teeth trained their guns on Whiplash. The U.S. forces had surrounded him completely, turning sky and earth into a trap.
"Hmph! Iron Man, bullying the weak again, I see…" Whiplash sneered, twirling his twin thousand-pound whips proudly. Sensing the encirclement, he began a subtle retreat.
"Ha! You overvalue yourself, whip!" Ryuuto called out, fingers raised in playful disdain. "I could handle you with one hand. Admit it—you're scared!"
"Pooh!" Whiplash spat blood, fury and humiliation burning in his chest. "Ryuuto, I'll crush you this time!"
"Bring it on! Hehe!" Ryuuto twirled his decapitation knife with ease, stepping forward like a casual stroll through a courtyard. He tugged up his sleeves, preparing for the next move.
Tony, sensing the situation, stepped in firmly. "Ryuuto, you've done enough. Let me finish this."
"Alright!" Ryuuto nodded, trusting his ally. With a smooth flick, his decapitation knife returned to the summoning world.
"Whiplash… always a thief, always obsessed with extreme armor, huh?" Ryuuto quipped.
Tony smirked. "Don't talk, Ivan. You've worn your share of high-tech armor over the years. I'm sure you've hurt more people than you realize."
Whiplash scowled. "Hopeless, really."
Tony hovered mid-air, particle beams charging from his palms, eyes blazing like torches. "Then let's end this, once and for all."
"Ivan's armor is unbeatable! Today, in front of the world, I'll crush you myself!" Whiplash lunged like a madman, aiming to overwhelm Tony with close-quarters combat. Sparks flew as the two armors clashed violently. Commandos held their breath, guns at the ready, unable to intervene.
From the sidelines, Ryuuto watched confidently, arms crossed, utterly contemptuous. He didn't need to step in—he had faith in Tony.
"Out of energy, Stark? Keep firing beams!" Whiplash taunted, swinging his whips furiously.
Tony's gaze hardened. "The world doesn't bend to your whims, Ivan. Justice and peace prevail."
With a swift motion, Tony blocked the whips and channeled his remaining energy. A dazzling beam erupted from his palm, slamming directly into Whiplash's chest.
There was no escape. Whiplash, consumed by madness, had overextended. This was his fatal mistake.
"No!" he roared, but the beam tore through his armor, shattering it into fragments of twisted metal.
"I've long found you disgusting, Ivan!" Tony yelled, smashing his fist into Whiplash's chin. Blood sprayed as the villain collapsed, utterly humiliated. Iron Man had claimed victory.
Ryuuto clapped with amusement, watching Whiplash finally neutralized. Commandos unleashed a barrage of black bullets, finishing off any remnants of resistance.