At the rest area near the stadium, many prominent figures had already gathered. Monaco, renowned for its racetrack, also attracted crowds with its luxurious casinos and tourism. People were placing bets on today's race drivers, much like a horse race, and in this environment, millionaires were mere "poor people" in the grand scheme of things.
While Merlin and Hammer were discussing business matters, Pepper took the opportunity to reveal Baymax. Stark Industries had the potential to make significant profits from clean energy alone, but having an additional artificial intelligence product like Baymax would open new doors. It was an ideal shift for Stark Industries, transitioning from an arms company to a more benevolent entity. Baymax's design and functions were perfectly suited to help shift the company's image, covering up the lingering negative association with weaponry.
As the game was about to begin, a live broadcast played in the background of the conference room where Baymax's demonstration was taking place.
"Pepper, look—is that Mr. Stark?" Someone tapped Pepper on the shoulder. She turned to the screen and gasped. There, wearing a racing suit and helmet, was Tony Stark sitting in a Formula 1 car.
"Oh my god! When did he get up there?" she exclaimed in shock. There was no way to stop him now.
At the same time, a black-and-gold drone hovered over the racetrack. After shifting focus from the Cybertron's fire, Stark had integrated energy into his Transformer suit, which could now adapt based on his designs. The Mark 3 Deformed Armor, incorporating the energy source, was currently flying above the track.
"Don't worry, the Mark 3 is watching from above," Merlin reassured Pepper.
"He's reckless..." Pepper sighed in frustration but felt slightly relieved seeing the drone hovering protectively over Stark.
The race began as the flag waved, and Formula 1 cars sped off the starting line like arrows, leaving behind trails of sound and smoke. Stark's red car shot forward, weaving through the track and keeping up with the competition.
However, just a short while into the race, the screen zoomed in on an unusual sight—a crew member had walked onto the track.
"Oh no! Why is someone on the track? The cars are speeding! Is he trying to kill himself?"
The cameras focused on a middle-aged man, toothpick in mouth, dressed in orange overalls. The audience was shocked to see him standing fearlessly on the track as cars sped by. Then, as the high heat melted his clothes, a simple exoskeleton and power grid were revealed beneath. Hammer's eyes gleamed at the sight of a circular energy source on the man's chest. It was the cold fusion reactor Hammer had dreamt of.
"Crackling!" High-voltage electricity crackled around the long electric whip the man wielded, making the audience gasp in both amazement and terror.
"Buzz!" A racing car zoomed past the man, narrowly missing him. But the next car wasn't as fortunate.
"Bang!" The plasma-laden whip lashed out, cutting the front of the car in half instantly. The vehicle lost balance and careened off the track, slamming into the barriers in a flaming wreck.
As more cars sped by, the track turned into a fiery battlefield. The man spit out his toothpick, his eyes locked ahead as Stark's car approached. Just as he was about to lash out at Stark's car, an energy blast soared across the track.
"Bang!" The man swung his whip, deflecting the blast, but it still managed to slice through Stark's tire, sending his car spinning out of control.
"Click! Click!" The drone swooped down under the car, transforming and wrapping Stark in armor just as the car hit the ground.
The man, Ivan, stared up at Stark, now floating above in the fully activated Mark 3 suit.
"Who are you?" Stark demanded, eyes narrowed at the exoskeleton-wearing Ivan, who now brandished his whips, glaring back at him with hatred.
"Stark, your family are all thieves! Robbers! Now, I will take back everything that's mine!" Ivan roared as he charged forward, whipping the air with deadly plasma currents.
Stark's expression hardened. He raised his arm and fired a bullet-like pulse from his shoulder.
"Buzz!" A powerful electromagnetic pulse wave exploded, disarming Ivan's plasma whips in a flash, leaving only a charred cable.
"Crack!" The whip snapped harmlessly against Stark's armor, with no effect.
Ivan blinked in disbelief.
Stark grabbed the loose wire, yanking Ivan toward him, and with a swift motion, delivered a heavy punch to his forehead.
"Bang!" Ivan's head jerked back, and he collapsed, unconscious.
A few days later, at Merlin's Tuning Shop...
"Okay, let's go check out the backyard," Merlin, wearing his work clothes, patted Optimus Prime's body.
After the Monaco incident, Ivan (aka "Whiplash") had been imprisoned, and Merlin returned to Apple City with Optimus Prime, whose repairs had been completed. Hammer had stayed behind to handle matters in Monaco, obviously to pursue his own agendas.
As the heavy truck backed into the backyard, its headlights flicked on and its engine roared to life.
"Leader, Merlin!" Bumblebee and the other Autobots transformed excitedly, greeting their leader as he returned.
"Don't worry. Optimus is fully recovered. You guys have all upgraded to Autobot form, so let the medic check him out," Merlin said, stepping back.
"Okay." Optimus, though a bit stiff, transformed into his Autobot form, the sound of gears and metal shifting filling the air.
Click! Kukukiki!
With sparks flying and the clash of metal, Optimus Prime's towering mechanical body rose from the ground. After extensive repairs, he was back to his original condition, but with a more substantial and durable feel thanks to the admantium upgrades.
In addition to the repairs, Merlin had installed an atomic engine and Hall thrusters, giving Optimus Prime a power output of over three million kilowatts, more than enough to support his massive frame for flight.
"To be honest, I wouldn't mind being seriously injured if it meant I'd get upgrades like that," Ratchet joked in awe after scanning Optimus Prime.
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