"Remember, you just need to hold him off as much as possible, then leave the rest to me after we go through the portal."
On the way, Finney explained the plan to Tony. If the enemy was equipped with armor, Tony would go first, while he would open the portal from the rear. Once they were teleported to the battlefield, the real battle would begin.
"You have so little confidence in me!?" Tony was somewhat dissatisfied with Finney's arrangement. He didn't think he was no match for Obadiah, but considering safety, he ultimately agreed to the plan. However, he still stubbornly insisted, "The creator of the Iron Man armor is on your side."
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Finney responded perfunctorily. In fact, in Tony's current state, he could indeed fight the Iron Monger. Although his Arc Reactor was a first-generation one, it was still full of energy during the time he was at home.
With the Mark II's agility and technological advantages, he could at least put up a 50/50 fight, if not completely crush the Iron Monger.
The two of them charged in recklessly. Using their identification cards to open doors was not much different from Tony breaking down doors directly, so there was no need to hide.
As they expected, Obadiah's first action upon receiving the Arc Reactor wasn't to have people research and replicate it, but rather to test its suitability for the Iron Monger.
After all, the Arc Reactor technology had always existed; it was simply scaled down, but its applicability to the Iron Man suit was paramount.
Therefore, upon entering the factory, the two immediately saw the Iron Monger, several times larger and somewhat bulky than the Mark II.
"It's ugly!"
Tony complained, like a child whose toy had been snatched away, "It's an insult to my technology. My Mark I is several times better looking than this."
"Don't be silly, he modified it based on the Mark I's blueprints, okay?" Finney bluntly retorted.
"That means he changed all the good parts."
When it comes to arguing, Tony rarely loses.
Having finally found their target, both men breathed a sigh of relief, even having the leisure to joke around.
Their banter caught Obadiah's attention as he tested his armor. From within the massive suit came Obadiah's arrogant voice: "Tony, I can't believe you're still alive! Did Pepper save you? You should have just quietly ended it there. Look at this, it's way better than your little thing."
"No, aside from being far uglier than me, you're definitely inferior in everything else!" Tony's personality meant he wouldn't be so conventional, and he actually started arguing with Obadiah.
Fortunately, Obadiah wasn't completely unreliable; facing Finney and Tony, he clearly knew they weren't there for a chat.
"Tony, you shouldn't have shown up. Is this the helper you brought?" Obadiah glanced at the silent Finney and continued, "Tony, let me show you today that you can't be the best at everything."
"You improved your technique, and I improved mine. I'm stronger and more powerful than you."
With that, he strode forward, leaving Tony to complain to Finney, "He improved my technique too, okay? And it was a complete weakening."
"Stop talking nonsense, he's coming."
Although 'Possessed by Evil' is primarily defensive, Finney has no interest in taking a beating. Seeing Obadiah approach, he immediately used his Aerial Ability to ascend and retreat, preparing to open a portal.
"It's past closing time now, there won't be anyone here. Let me spar with him first, then I'll open your little fire portal."
Tony was still the same Tony Stark, his arrogant personality causing him to change Finney's battle plan. He insisted on sparring with Obadiah, perhaps to prove that he was the best.
Finney gritted his teeth and glared at Tony, who was also charging forward, before reluctantly withdrawing his hand.
He wasn't proficient enough with the teleportation portal and couldn't control its position at will. Given the size of the Iron Monger, opening a large door would already be a bit troublesome. Without Tony's restraint, getting the Iron Monger to jump in on its own wouldn't be so easy.
Watching the two Iron Man fighters battle below, Finney felt a bit bored and considered joining in, but after hesitating for a long time, he gave up the idea.
At the same time, he secretly resolved never to fight alongside Tony again.
If it weren't for gaining more experience and acquiring all 85 Mark series suits later, why would he bother to be available at a moment's notice, Finney thought to himself.
As time passed, the battle escalated, becoming increasingly intense. After all, they were using modern weapons—bombs, machine guns, and energy cannons—none of which were insignificant.
This was also why Finney didn't want to join in; it was easier to dodge alone, but with two people, they were more likely to be accidentally hit.
"Tony!"
Seeing the battle growing increasingly fierce, Finney frowned and called out to Tony, reminding him that things couldn't continue like this.
Hearing Finney's call, and realizing that he hadn't yet defeated the Iron Monger, Tony stopped being stubborn and turned to go to Finney's side to begin their plan.
Obadiah misunderstood Tony's behavior, thinking Tony wanted to escape. After the battle, he had to admit that his meticulously modified Iron Monger wasn't much stronger than Tony's, at least not in terms of agility.
This greatly displeased Obadiah, and he regretted not killing Tony earlier, further solidifying his resolve not to let Tony escape.
"Tony, I built this company from scratch, and I absolutely cannot watch you destroy it. Today you must die here!"
Obadiah unleashed all his weapons, bombs raining down on Tony. Seeing this, Tony felt a chill run down his spine and, without a word, quickly took to the air, fleeing the scene.
Faced with so many attacks, Tony was clearly startled. Seeing Tony's unwavering betrayal of his teammate, he cursed inwardly, his eyes darting frantically towards cover.
"Boom!"
A burst of flames shot into the sky, the explosion nearly shaking the entire city of New York, let alone the bustling Manhattan district.
The world is never short of people who court death, especially when it involves Stark, a company with a huge storyline. Reporters stationed nearby noticed the commotion early on and rushed over without hesitation. The
already damaged protective zone couldn't stop the all-knowing reporters, who then discovered the fierce battle between Tony and Obadiah.
Seeing the battlefield engulfed in gunfire, most people would instinctively run away, but reporters aren't so sensible. Their first reaction was excitement—they'd found a juicy story.
Because they were wearing armor, the two weren't recognized, but that didn't stop the reporters from recognizing them as Stark. They believed this would bring Stark Industries back into the headlines, a topic that had been fading from the spotlight.
For money and news, these reporters actually started a live broadcast right there, leaving Finney, who had returned to the battlefield, speechless.
"Really…"
Finney didn't know how to describe them. Should he call them dedicated, or just reckless?
Before Finney arrived, he thought that with his involvement, Tony's identity might not be exposed. But plans never keep up with changes, and who knew things would turn out this way?
Or perhaps, given Tony's flamboyant personality, becoming the widely known Iron Man was just a matter of time! ?
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(End of Chapter)