[Marvel : Spoiling Spider-man] Chapter 346 - 350

Chapter 346: Pepper Falls into the Sea of Fire

[At that moment, a steel pipe flew from nowhere and knocked the Mark 22 Hot Rod away, causing Tony to miss his connection and fall onto a bridge below.]

[While Tony was still trying desperately to save Pepper, Rhodes successfully made his way to President Ellis's location.]

[He yelled down from above: "Mr. President! Hold on, I'm coming!"]

[Ellis looked up, but two more Extremis soldiers appeared. Seeing this, Rhodes urgently repeated: "Hold on! Hold on!"]

[He grabbed a cable and slid down onto a shipping container. The two Extremis soldiers followed him down, and Rhodes immediately opened fire.]

[But the small-caliber bullets obviously had little effect on them, and their wounds healed almost instantly!]

[Seeing this, Rhodes had no choice but to mutter: "Okay, new plan."]

[The two men rushed toward him. Rhodes fired a few more shots and then ducked to avoid a punch from one of them. The blow missed Rhodes but shattered the cable securing the container.]

[The container lurched violently, and Rhodes nearly fell as he lost his balance. Fortunately, he grabbed the edge just in time.]

[The two Extremis soldiers approached him menacingly, staring at him with glowing eyes. At this point, Rhodes had made his decision and said to them: "Bye-bye!"]

[He fired a precise shot that severed another cable, and the container immediately tilted. The two soldiers on top tumbled off before they could react, while Rhodes used the momentum to swing toward Ellis and grab him.]

[The last two remaining cables on the opposite side couldn't support the container's weight. It plummeted downward and crashed heavily to the ground, causing the oil drums inside to explode violently.]

[Rhodes grasped the arm of the Iron Patriot suit still attached to Ellis and pointed it at another cable: "Get ready, Mr. President!"]

[He activated the repulsor to sever the cable, and they swung to safety before the explosion could reach them.]

[Rhodes landed first, rolled expertly, and sprang to his feet. With incredible accuracy, he shot through the ropes binding Ellis, allowing the President to land smoothly.]

[Rhodes looked at Ellis with approval: "Looking good, Mr. President! But I'm going to need my suit back."]

"Wow! What amazing marksmanship!" George exclaimed, his eyes narrowed in admiration of Rhodes' shooting skills. As police chief, George's aim was certainly above average, but he had to admit he couldn't match Rhodes' level of precision.

"Yeah! That's how you become a colonel!" Helen Stacy nodded in agreement with her husband.

She then turned to the 2nd Gen Spider-Man and asked curiously, "Peter, can you shoot that accurately?"

The 2nd Gen Spider-Man was caught off guard for a moment before nodding: "Yeah! Of course. Even though I've never really handled a gun, if I wanted to, I could hit the target every time because I... have excellent eyesight... and, well, strength!"

"Yes! We're not affected by recoil and can see incredibly far, though we generally don't need to use firearms," Gwen added supportively.

Only those with powers could truly understand that their abilities were incomparable to ordinary humans. Even George couldn't comprehend how powerful they'd become.

Thanks to his encounters with Spider-Man and Tony Stark, 2nd Gen Peter had researched and developed numerous enhancements for his suit. While its combat effectiveness hadn't improved dramatically, its functionality had increased exponentially.

Rhodes glanced smugly at Tony and asked, "Want me to teach you how to shoot properly?"

"Uh... NO! I have Jarvis to assist me, so I don't need to aim myself!" Tony hesitated momentarily but remained stubborn.

"Okay! Your loss!" Rhodes turned away with exaggerated disappointment.

What Rhodes didn't hear was Tony immediately whispering to Jarvis: "Jarvis, find out who has the best marksmanship around here... except for Rhodes!"

[Meanwhile, Tony continued running, as Pepper moved closer and closer to danger. Tony leaped across a gap, dropping down to land near her position.]

[At that moment, Rhodes' voice came through: "The President is safe, Tony! I'm getting him out of here!"]

[Tony gasped with relief: "Well done!"]

[Rhodes, now back in his Iron Patriot armor, approached Ellis and asked, "Are you ready, sir?"]

[Ellis looked confused: "Ready for what?"]

[But he understood in the next second when Rhodes grabbed him securely and rocketed skyward. Ellis screamed in surprise as Rhodes flew directly away from the oil tanker.]

[Tony positioned himself beneath Pepper and prepared to catch her: "Pepper, I'm here! Relax, I'll catch you! Look at me!"]

[But Pepper was clutching the railing tightly, terrified to let go. They couldn't reach each other, so Tony could only try to persuade her: "Baby! I can't reach any further. You can't stay there, okay? You have to let go!"]

["You have to let go! I promise I can catch you!" But at that crucial moment, the platform shuddered violently, and Pepper lost her grip, plummeting downward. "NO!!!" Tony failed to catch her outstretched hand and could only watch in horror as she fell into the sea of fire below!]

[Tony watched this scene with tears in his eyes, his heart feeling as though it was being torn to pieces. He closed his eyes in anguish, memories of his time with Pepper flashing through his mind.]

"Oh! My God! Pepper!!!" 1st Gen Spider-Man stared in shock as Pepper disappeared into the flames. Falling from such a height into a blazing inferno, it seemed to him that she couldn't possibly have survived.

"Pepper!" The first generation Gwen also covered her mouth in disbelief. They hadn't yet understood the timeline and thought that Pepper had died shortly after she and Tony had gotten engaged.

1st Gen Spider-Man took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and felt a surge of rage toward Killian. The last time he'd felt such fury was when the second generation Harry had killed the second generation Gwen. Back then, he'd punched a wall and shattered it—fortunately, it had been just an ordinary wall.

In the universe of the first and second generation Spider-Man, many observers shared this distress. Like 1st Gen Spider-Man and his friends, they believed the tragedy had occurred not long after Tony and Pepper had gotten engaged and begun living together.

And when they considered that Tony Stark would eventually sacrifice himself to save the universe, the situation seemed even more heartbreaking.

After receiving approval, Tony immediately decided to hold a press conference to announce Killian's death.

At the same time, he clarified the mistaken reports about Pepper's demise, quickly ending the speculation that had begun to spread. However, AIM Technologies had now become a hot commodity in the corporate world.

These developments mattered little to Tony personally. Instead, Pepper took advantage of the situation to acquire a substantial number of AIM Technology shares, intending to gain controlling interest in the company. Such a maneuver might have been challenging for others, but for Pepper, with Tony's backing, it presented no significant obstacle.

Chapter 347: Tony and Killian's Battle

[Killian emerged from the bottom of the stairs. His arm, which had been severed by Tony, had fully regenerated. He approached and gazed in the direction where Pepper had fallen.]

[Tony returned to the bridge, looked up and saw Killian standing in the distance. His eyes hardened with cold fury.]

[Killian taunted Tony: "What a shame. I would have caught her!"]

[Hearing this, Tony charged toward him in rage, and Killian likewise rushed forward. He leaped up to deliver a punch, but Tony unexpectedly slid beneath him with a tactical maneuver.]

[Tony knew that even with his combat skills, he was no match for Killian's enhanced strength, so he prioritized getting into a suit. A suit of armor descended in front of Tony, and he immediately stepped inside as it assembled around him. This was the Mark 16, Nightclub!]

[As soon as Tony turned around, Killian was upon him, swinging a powerful elbow strike. Tony absorbed the hit and countered with a punch of his own.]

[Killian barely flinched. He swung his arm back and tore away a shoulder plate from the Nightclub armor. He followed with an uppercut, but Tony managed to dodge it.]

[Tony fired a repulsor blast, but Killian deflected it with a swipe of his hand, causing it to miss entirely. The two engaged in close combat, with Killian landing another powerful blow on the armor while Tony connected with Killian's face.]

[Taking advantage of a momentary opening, Tony grabbed Killian's neck and attempted to pin him down, but Killian ducked his head and broke free while Tony was distracted. In the process, part of the armor's outer shell was stripped away, exposing internal components.]

[Tony suddenly swung his right fist, and they exchanged powerful blows. Tony was forced back two steps, but Killian's arm was momentarily shattered, though it quickly began to regenerate.]

[The pain caused Killian to grit his teeth and let out a hiss.]

[He quickly overcame the discomfort and charged at Tony, who was still finding his footing. The impact sent Tony crashing through the floor to the level below.]

[Killian seized the advantage, leaping down and landing with his knee on Tony's chest. Even through the armor's protection, Tony felt the crushing pressure.]

[As Killian wound up for a killing blow, Tony shouted, "Eject!"]

[In the next second, he was propelled out of the Nightclub armor, sliding between Killian's legs. Killian's fist punched straight through the arc reactor in the armor's chest. If Tony hadn't reacted in time, he would have been killed instantly.]

[Killian finally realized what had happened and immediately pulled his hand out of the empty armor. Tony was falling through the air, but fortunately, the Mark 40 Shotgun arrived just in time to catch him.]

[Tony used the suit's thrusters to stabilize himself before hitting the ground, then rocketed upward, directly ramming into Killian who was watching from the edge of the platform.]

[Killian broke free from Tony's grip in mid-air, and they both landed on another platform. Killian executed a perfect backflip and landed firmly on his feet, while Tony also attempted a flip but landed awkwardly on his back and head.]

[Killian stood tall, his clothes having been completely burned away by his extreme body temperature, revealing his glowing chest.]

[Despite his less-than-graceful landing, Tony recovered quickly. He stood up and immediately fired a repulsor blast at Killian.]

[Killian nimbly evaded the energy attack, closed the distance rapidly, and struck Tony's midsection with two fiery fists.]

[Tony grabbed his attacker and threw him aside, then fired a repulsor blast at Killian's head, but Killian dodged at the critical moment.]

[As Tony attempted another repulsor attack, Killian unexpectedly grabbed his armored hand and redirected it toward Tony himself. Unable to deactivate the repulsor in time, Tony was hit by his own blast and sent flying backward.]

[He quickly increased power to his back thrusters and regained his footing. The battle continued as Tony blocked Killian's next attack with his right hand, then countered with a knee strike to the abdomen, followed by a thruster-boosted headbutt.]

[The impact momentarily stunned Killian. Tony seized the opportunity to unleash his fury, activating the thruster in his left gauntlet to deliver a powerful backhand strike across Killian's face.]

[The camera panned upward as Tony continued his assault while Killian struggled to defend himself. Tony delivered another kick to Killian's back, but Killian, now recovered, caught his leg mid-strike.]

[Jarvis calculated Killian's next move and immediately detached the leg armor, causing the armored boot to fall away. A split-second later, Killian's hand—transformed into a blade-like weapon—slashed through the air where Tony's leg had been, slicing the detached Shotgun armor piece in half.]

[His attack having failed, Killian grabbed the severed armor leg and swung it at Tony's head. Tony caught Killian and attempted to execute a throw, but Killian countered by jumping up and redirecting the momentum, slamming Tony hard into the ground.]

[Killian slowly approached Tony, who was half-kneeling on the ground. Tony suddenly raised his head and aimed a repulsor blast, but Killian reacted faster, grabbing Tony's arm and forcing it upward, causing the blast to miss entirely.]

[The intense heat from Killian's grip caused Tony visible pain. Killian looked at him with a triumphant smile: "We finally meet on the battlefield!"]

[He raised his other hand, increasing its temperature until it glowed white-hot, and prepared to deliver a fatal blow to Tony's head.]

[Tony immediately ejected from the armor, falling backward onto the ground as Killian loomed over him.]

[At that moment, Tony suddenly turned his head and looked into the distance. Killian followed his gaze. Jarvis' voice announced with perfect timing: "The Mark 42 has arrived, sir!"]

["Well! Hey! The prodigal son returns!" The Mark 42 could be seen flying toward Tony's position, though its flight path was erratic, indicating damage to its propulsion systems. It staggered mid-flight, struggling to maintain altitude, but continued its approach.]

[Tony stood up, assuming a ready stance as he prepared to summon the Mark 42 to him. Killian also watched the approaching armor, but as dramatic music swelled, the suit clipped a railing and promptly fell apart, its components scattering across the platform.]

[Killian stared at the scene with a bewildered expression.]

[Looking at the Mark 42 scattered in pieces across the floor, Tony rolled his eyes in exasperation, lowered his hand and said, "Whatever!"]

Chapter 348: Pepper's Power

"I thought he was going to put on the Mark 42 and have another epic battle with Killian! Instead we get... that," Steve Rogers looked at the embarrassing scene with a mixture of disappointment and secondhand embarrassment.

"Hahaha, I didn't see that coming!" Everyone erupted in laughter at Tony's misfortune. Clearly, nothing brought them more joy than witnessing Tony Stark's moments of humiliation.

Tony himself was visibly upset. He didn't need to guess that countless people across the multiverse were laughing at his expense. Despite his numerous achievements, somehow he always managed to provide comic relief for the entire world.

Fortunately, in his reality, Killian's body had been completely destroyed, so he wouldn't have to relive this particular embarrassment again.

After yesterday's press conference, most people had accepted that Killian was dead, and Tony had announced his plans to help Maya Hansen perfect the Extremis virus.

After all, such technology couldn't be kept secret forever. Instead of allowing wild speculation, Tony preferred to address it openly. His status as the future savior of humanity shielded him from most potential threats.

Moreover, Banner was essentially inseparable from him these days. Even if something went wrong, the Hulk could intervene—provided that the Hulk didn't decide to attack Tony himself...

[Killian shook his head and sneered: "You really don't deserve her, Tony! It's such a waste. I'm going to make her... perfect!"]

[After delivering this threat, he leaped down and landed directly in front of Tony. Tony quickly backpedaled and said, "Okay! Okay! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! You're right! I don't deserve her!"]

[Seeing Tony admit his unworthiness, Killian's face lit up with satisfaction. In his mind, he had finally defeated Tony Stark.]

[But after taking a breath, Tony continued: "But you're wrong about one thing—she already is perfect!"]

[Before Killian could advance, Tony remotely activated the Mark 42. Killian, assuming Tony intended to don the armor himself, raised his fist to attack.]

[However, Tony had other plans. Instead of summoning the armor to himself, he directed the Mark 42 to assemble around Killian. The armor latched onto Killian at full power, its thrusters activating and pinning him against the wall, immobilizing him completely.]

[Killian struggled desperately, attempting to increase his body temperature and break free, but to no avail.]

[Tony looked at the trapped Killian and calmly instructed: "Jarvis, set the Mark 42 to self-destruct." Then he jumped onto a nearby pillar and slid down to safety.]

[Killian heard Tony's command and shouted in rage: "NO!!!" But before he could finish, the Mark 42's faceplate slammed into place, silencing his protest.]

[The armor exploded with tremendous force, destroying the entire platform. Tony leaped away a split second before the pillar collapsed beneath him.]

[Jarvis promptly directed the Mark 15 Sneaky to fly beneath Tony, successfully catching him mid-fall. However, due to the suit's damaged state, Tony couldn't stabilize himself with the thrusters and crashed to the ground, sliding across the platform.]

[He sliced through several railings along the way before managing to grab hold of one, narrowly avoiding plummeting into the sea below.]

[As the platform above had been destroyed, Tony's position began to tilt downward. He was forced to let go, using the remaining thruster on one foot to cushion his fall. The impact scattered the remaining pieces of the Sneaky armor.]

[The damaged upper platform continued to crumble, raining debris down around him. Tony lay on the ground, instinctively covering his head with his arms.]

[The Mark 42's faceplate also fell nearby. Tony stood up and looked at it, watching as it cracked open under the intense heat. He raised his head to survey the destruction.]

"Is it over? He should be dead, right?" The second generation Harry stood up anxiously and turned to the second generation Dr. Connors. He was deeply interested in the Extremis virus and wanted to know if Killian could possibly survive such a catastrophic explosion.

Connors frowned thoughtfully. He knew that Killian, infused with the Extremis virus, was resistant to extreme temperatures, but whether the sheer force of the explosion could kill him was another question entirely.

Faced with Harry's question, he could only admit his uncertainty. He couldn't guarantee whether Killian's body could withstand the impact without disintegrating completely. If any part remained intact, the Extremis virus might still be able to regenerate him.

[At that moment, movement stirred within the flames ahead. Tony narrowed his eyes, focusing on the silhouette that rose from the inferno.]

[It was Killian. He had survived the Mark 42's self-destruction. The Extremis virus had tenaciously repaired most of his body.]

[Killian's charred outer skin continued to slough off, revealing glowing red tissue beneath as he staggered toward Tony.]

[Tony was shocked to see Killian still alive and began to back away in alarm, his movement hindered by the remnant of the Sneaky armor still attached to one foot.]

["You wanted the Mandarin? You wanted the Mandarin? I AM the Mandarin! It's always been me, Tony! From the very beginning! I AM THE MANDARIN!!!"]

[Killian stood before Tony, roaring in triumph, but the next second he was violently knocked aside.]

[The camera panned to reveal Pepper, her skin glowing with Extremis energy, wielding a steel pipe as she stood there breathing heavily.]

[Tony sat frozen in shock, staring at Pepper for several seconds before managing to say, "I got nothing."]

[At that moment, another armor flew in from above—the Mark 9! It quickly scanned and locked onto both Killian, who was struggling to his feet, and Pepper, who stood nearby.]

["Jarvis, the target at my 12 o'clock is not a hostile! Disengage!!!" Tony realized the danger and immediately shouted an override command.]

[But he discovered that his earpiece had fallen away in the chaos, and Jarvis couldn't hear his instructions.]

[Mark 9 fired a repulsor blast at Pepper, who nimbly dodged sideways. She watched as the armor circled overhead, preparing for another attack run.]

[She glanced at Tony, who was still sitting on the ground. When he noticed her looking at him, he froze momentarily and asked, "What? Oh! What? Are you mad at me?" Pepper suddenly rushed toward him, causing Tony to flinch back in alarm.]

[But she merely used his knee as a springboard, launching herself upward with incredible strength. With perfect precision, she drove her fist straight through the Mark 9's arc reactor and landed gracefully on the ground.]

[Without pausing, she extracted her arm from the suit, then grabbed the Mark 9's detached limb and swung it around, striking Killian with a powerful elbow as he charged toward her, sending him flying backward.]

[Tony couldn't help but exclaim in amazement. At that moment, one of Mark 9's micro-missiles dropped to the ground. Spotting it instantly, Pepper kicked it toward the recovering Killian.]

[As Killian rose and rushed toward her once more, Pepper fired a precise repulsor blast from the armor piece she held, detonating the missile directly in Killian's face. The resulting explosion was catastrophic, reducing Killian to ashes.]

Chapter 349: Merry Christmas

"Wow! She's so awesome!" The first generation Gwen exclaimed, looking at Pepper with immense admiration. Just days ago, Pepper could barely operate a suit, but now she was wielding repulsor technology with astonishing skill.

"Yeah!" 1st Gen Spider-Man nodded emphatically. He had to admit that Pepper was absolutely magnificent in that moment. She had effortlessly neutralized the Mark 9 armor and defeated Killian with stunning efficiency.

It was remarkable considering that Tony had struggled against Killian throughout their extended battle. Despite his combat expertise, Tony had nearly been killed multiple times, with several of his armors being dismantled in the process.

Watching from her office, Pepper gazed up at the sky with a mixture of shock and disbelief, then glanced around at her employees. They were all staring at her with awe and admiration. Feeling self-conscious, she quickly pulled the curtains closed and took a deep breath.

Tony raised his eyebrows as he watched the footage. He'd initially feared that Pepper had lost control after being injected with the Extremis virus and might attack him!

He never expected she had such untapped potential. The Extremis enhancement had allowed her to fully manifest her capabilities in remarkable ways.

Rhodes walked over to Maya and said with a grin, "If those two ever get into an argument now, Tony's definitely going to be the one who gets beaten."

Tony overheard this and shouted indignantly, "Hey!!! What's that supposed to mean?"

Rhodes simply shrugged and walked away.

[After witnessing Killian's disintegration, Tony called out, "Baby!"]

[Pepper seemed to come back to her senses, looking slightly stunned by her own actions: "Oh my God! That was really violent!"]

[Tony finally allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief, shaking his head slightly as he said, "You scared me to death. I thought you were..."]

["Dead? Why? Because I fell 200 feet?" Pepper completed his thought.]

[Tony opened his mouth but found himself speechless.]

[Pepper touched her hair self-consciously and looked around at the destruction: "Who's the hot mess now?"]

[Tony, ever stubborn, couldn't help but quip: "That's debatable! Probably still you. Why don't you dress like this at home? Or maybe in a sports bra or something?"]

[While rambling, he picked up his fallen earpiece and inserted it back in place.]

[Pepper ignored his comments and lowered her head, musing aloud: "I understand now why you don't want to give up the suits. What am I supposed to complain about anymore?"]

[Hearing this, Tony stood up, looked at her earnestly and said: "Well! You'll think of something. Come here, baby!"]

[Tony moved to embrace her, but Pepper quickly backed away, warning, "NO! Don't touch me! I'll burn you!"]

["NO! It's fine!" Tony reassured her, gently placing his hand on her shoulder. "See? Not hot!"]

[Pepper exhaled with relief when she realized she wouldn't harm him, but her worries persisted: "Am I going to be okay?"]

["No! You're in a relationship with me—something crazy's bound to happen!" Tony joked initially.]

[Then his tone grew more serious as he comforted her: "But I think I can fix this. I almost figured it out twenty years ago when I was drunk! I'm pretty sure I can make you better!"]

["That's what I do—I fix things!"]

[Pepper gazed at Tony with a skeptical expression and asked, "And all your 'distractions'?"]

["Uh... I'm going to shave them down a bit," Tony hesitated momentarily before addressing his AI: "Jarvis! Hey!" When Jarvis didn't respond immediately, Tony tapped the earpiece.]

["It's all over, Sir! What would you like me to do next?" Jarvis inquired.]

[Tony glanced at Pepper and said with quiet determination: "You know what to do."]

["The Clean Slate Protocol, Sir?"]

[Tony blinked and confirmed decisively: "Screw it, it's Christmas! Yes, yes!"] [Then he embraced Pepper.]

[At that moment, Pepper looked up in surprise as numerous Iron Man armors flew overhead, and then one of them suddenly exploded in a brilliant display!]

[Pepper watched with an expression of wonder as more and more suits began to detonate above them, creating a spectacular fireworks show across the night sky.]

[The couple held each other tightly, Tony kissed Pepper's cheek and asked softly: "How about that? You like it?"]

[Pepper was so moved that tears welled in her eyes. She closed them momentarily before responding, "It's perfect."]

[She understood that Tony valued his armors above almost everything else. Now, to create this extraordinary moment for her, he was willing to destroy every suit he had painstakingly built. The gesture spoke volumes about his love.]

[She embraced Tony even more tightly as they both closed their eyes, silently feeling the warmth of each other's presence amid the dazzling display overhead.]

"How romantic!" The second generation Gwen was captivated by Tony's grand gesture of destroying his Iron Legion for Pepper. She understood Pepper's emotional response perfectly—any woman would be deeply moved by such a demonstration.

2nd Gen Spider-Man had to acknowledge that Tony Stark truly excelled at romantic gestures! What woman could possibly resist such a spectacle? It had to be the most expensive fireworks display in human history.

Tony himself was somewhat amazed watching the scene. Each of his armors was priceless, not to mention that many were more advanced than his current Mark 7. The sacrifice clearly demonstrated Pepper's importance in his life.

Of course, the Mark Destroyer One was an exception. Its materials differed substantially from the other armors and couldn't be compared directly to the rest of the Iron Legion.

It was worth noting that ever since Thor had nearly been struck by the Destroyer beam during their earlier encounters, he had developed a particular interest in the Mark Destroyer One, which Tony had fashioned from the original Asgardian Destroyer armor.

Thor had even proposed a friendly match with Tony wearing it, but Tony had rejected the idea without hesitation.

There was only one Destroyer armor. After disassembly, half of it had been repurposed to create the Mark Destroyer One. Tony planned to utilize the remaining components in the future when technology had advanced sufficiently.

His current technological capabilities made it impossible to replicate another Destroyer, nor could he substantially improve upon the Mark Destroyer One, so he couldn't afford to waste it.

Thor had offered to request his father's assistance. While Uru was indeed a rare metal in Asgard, Thor believed Odin would have some in his vaults.

Previously, Thor hadn't been particularly impressed by the Destroyer since he'd managed to defeat it with Mjolnir. It wasn't until Tony repurposed it that Thor realized the Destroyer's true potential—Loki simply hadn't unleashed its full power.

The current Thor was significantly different from his former self. After his awakening by Sky, Thor had even begun training to fight without relying on Mjolnir, engaging in high-intensity battles with Captain Marvel until he could match her prowess.

That's why when confronting threats like Killian, Thor would unhesitatingly pass Mjolnir to Natasha—he no longer depended on it as much as before, while Natasha could benefit greatly from wielding it.

In many ways, Thor's current abilities, even without Stormbreaker, surpassed his strength from the events of Avengers 3. The rigorous training sessions with Captain Marvel had yielded remarkable results.

Even Carol had to admire Thor's progress. Initially, she had swiftly overpowered him, but now he could engage her in combat for an entire day without either gaining a decisive advantage. His growth had been extraordinary.

Chapter 350: Doctor Wu

["As Christmas morning arrives, my journey has come to an end!"]

[Maya's face appears on the black screen, and Tony's narration continues: "You start with pure intentions..."]

[Then Killian, shivering in the cold wind, says: "Exciting idea!"]

["Mistakes follow! Compromise!"]

[The Vice President is escorted out of the White House by two federal agents. Rhodes stands nearby, witnessing the scene.]

["We have sown the seeds of disaster for ourselves!"]

[Trevor is also arrested and brought to justice. Two special agents escort him through crowds of people and reporters constantly taking pictures.]

[Trevor doesn't appear frightened, but instead shouts excitedly to the cameras: "I'm Trevor Slattery, and I'm an ACTOR!!!"]

After successfully stabilizing the Extremis virus in Pepper's body, Tony began searching for a doctor who could remove the shrapnel from his heart. This momentous news immediately spread around the world, and everyone realized that Tony Stark would soon face a life-or-death challenge.

[Meanwhile, Dr. Wu sits in his office watching a news report on television: "Outside a hospital in Los Angeles, California, Tony Stark has been meeting with reporters."]

[From the photos and video clips displayed on the wall, it's evident that Tony had previously visited Dr. Wu in Switzerland while wearing his armor. There's a commemorative photo of him with Dr. Wu and a group of medical students.]

["According to our sources, Stark will face unprecedented challenges with this procedure! It could potentially result in irreparable damage!"]

[After viewing the report, Dr. Wu takes the initiative to call Tony while watching footage of their previous meeting. In the video, students count down excitedly as Tony launches into the air, causing them to cheer enthusiastically.]

[The call connects, and Jarvis' voice responds: "Good morning, Dr. Wu!"]

[Hearing this, Dr. Wu stands up and says in Chinese with a smile: "Please, Jarvis, there's no need to be so formal."]

["How may I assist you?"]

[Dr. Wu asks directly: "Where is Tony?"]

["He's currently attending to business matters. May I take a message?"]

[Dr. Wu doesn't mince words: "Tell him that for this particular procedure, he must come to me!"]

["I will convey your proposal and goodwill to him at the earliest opportunity, sir," Jarvis promptly replies.]

["China can help in many ways! Just tell me what you need! And remember, his body hasn't fully recovered yet!"]

[At Capital Zhongshan Hospital, an elegant nurse walks toward Dr. Wu's office while reviewing medical documents.]

[Dr. Wu is pouring himself a cup of Pu-erh tea. Just as he takes a sip, there's a knock at the door. His assistant, Mr. Fan, enters and announces, "Dr. Wu, he'll be arriving soon!"]

[Hearing this, Dr. Wu rises and walks toward the door: "Understood. Let's prepare."]

[They begin preparations for the operation. Dr. Wu meticulously scrubs his hands, cleaning between his fingers as he explains, "If everything proceeds as planned, the operation should take approximately three and a half hours."]

["Time will pass quickly. If you feel tired, dizzy, or drowsy, please inform me immediately."]

[His female assistant nods distractedly: "Yes, of course."]

["I also need you to remain calm during all critical phases of the procedure. Keep your hands steady. If necessary, we can pause for a minute."]

[The assistant acknowledges the importance of this operation and nods again, "I understand."]

[Dr. Wu encourages her: "I believe in your abilities." Then, noticing her troubled expression in the mirror, he looks at her with concern: "Is something wrong?"]

[She purses her lips before hesitantly responding, "We... we all just want to be careful."]

[Dr. Wu repeats with surprise: "We?" Then he can't help but chuckle, asking: "What do you mean?"]

[The assistant finally expresses her inner concerns: "What if something goes wrong? The entire world would lose a great hero!"]

[Dr. Wu nods thoughtfully and says, "Yes. And the entire world would know who was responsible. Correct?" He clearly understands the consequences of failure, but this isn't reason enough to retreat.]

["I mean, we've never actually performed this specific procedure before, and during every simulation, all the patients... died!"]

[Dr. Wu narrows his eyes and whispers in her ear: "Perhaps you should upgrade your simulation software." Then he walks away.]

[The assistant raises her eyebrows, turns to watch Dr. Wu's departing figure, and sighs involuntarily.]

"It seems they're not entirely confident. This is an extremely risky operation! If it fails, the consequences would be devastating!"

Dr. Strange, who was originally studying mystical arts under the Ancient One, paused his training to observe Dr. Wu and his assistant on the sky screen.

He understood precisely how difficult this procedure would be. Tony had previously sent representatives to consult with him, but Strange wasn't as skilled then as he would later become, so he naturally declined.

Christine was aware of this situation as well. She had been the one who persuaded Strange to refuse performing surgery on Tony. However, she never anticipated that Dr. Wu would courageously accept this challenge—and ultimately succeed.

Without that success, Tony wouldn't have lived to witness the coming conflict and make his ultimate sacrifice to save the universe!

["I stabilized the Extremis virus in Pepper's body as promised. It required considerable effort."]

["Then I thought, why stop there? Some might say moving forward is risky, but I'd wager those people don't have to live with a chest full of shrapnel. Now, neither do I!"]

[Dr. Wu dons his surgical mask as Tony lies shirtless on the operating table. The assistant carefully places a respirator over Tony's face.]

[Tony gives a thumbs-up to Rhodes and Pepper who are watching anxiously from outside the operating room. With precise movements, Dr. Wu delicately extracts a piece of shrapnel from Tony's chest. As soon as the tweezers release it, the metal fragment is immediately drawn to the magnetic tray.]

["Let me tell you, this is the best sleep I've had in years!"]

[After the operation concludes successfully, Dr. Wu leans against the window in his office, speaking with Jarvis on the phone: "How is he recovering?"]

["I have reminded Mr. Stark that following the post-operative treatment you prescribed is crucial to his complete recovery."]

[Dr. Wu laughs and asks, "Does he actually listen to you?"]

[Jarvis responds calmly: "Occasionally."]

["Who else would he listen to? He has such grand ambitions! He is my friend—how could I ignore his needs? He takes care of so many others, but who considers his well-being? This was my responsibility." After saying this, he ends the call and sighs softly.]