Shout out to; Thereader, Bi_Duwang, and Alrazi az for joining the P@treon (3 extra chapters)
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Just as Charlie planned.
He wasn't merely testing Iron Man's equipment; he was meticulously laying the groundwork for the next phase of his grand strategy.
Up until now, Charlie's focus had been on sending out heroes to combat various threats, earn experience, and gradually increase their powers. It was a time of development, of accumulating strength and resources while keeping his true intentions hidden. Like a master chess player, he moved pieces into place, knowing that every small gain would eventually add up to something monumental.
But Charlie knew that relying solely on his own efforts wasn't sustainable. The term "hands-on" felt odd to apply to someone who controlled his forces remotely, but it captured the spirit of his challenge—guiding heroes from the shadows, building an organization without ever stepping into the light himself.
Once he had enough heroes in his roster, enough resources gathered, and enough power amassed, the time would come to advance to the next stage. He could then shift from building quietly in the shadows to revealing the power he had amassed.
The world's perception of these newly emerging superheroes was filled with speculation. Many believed they came from some kind of shadowy organization—an entity that possessed advanced technology and resources beyond comprehension. They pictured a covert group operating from the darkness, manipulating events on a global scale.
When Charlie's team of heroes was mostly composed of C-level operatives, he played into this belief. He kept the organization's activities deliberately mysterious, making sure that the heroes under his control appeared and disappeared without leaving a trace. If anyone tried to investigate them, they would find nothing but shadows and rumors.
But now, with the arrival of B-level heroes, the game had changed. Charlie's fictional organization had grown stronger, its hidden armory deeper, and its roster of heroes more impressive. The time was nearing when he could bring this organization out of the shadows and establish it as a true power on the global stage.
Deploying Iron Man was a turning point—a moment that signified the start of this new chapter. Charlie had sent Iron Man out across the globe, creating a presence that was impossible to ignore. Experts in various fields had been left astounded by the advanced technology on display. Iron Man's appearances weren't just tests of equipment; they were strategic moves, designed to lay the foundation for the next phase of Charlie's plan.
Even if he intended to eventually manage this power openly, perhaps even announce the formation of something akin to the Avengers or Justice League, Charlie remained steadfast in his core principle: to ascend to godhood. No matter what path he took, he would never appear in person—only through remote-controlled suits and avatars.
In Charlie's mind, if his organization ever needed to interface directly with Earth's governments, Iron Man would be the perfect emissary.
Tony Stark, after all, was no stranger to the limelight. He famously ended his first movie by announcing to the world, "I am Iron Man." He thrived on attention, handling government agencies with the ease of a seasoned diplomat. In one timeline, he even took over as the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. after Nick Fury's departure, becoming the most powerful intelligence operative on the planet—although that chapter had a bitter end.
So, if a representative was needed to put a face to the mysterious organization, there was no better choice than Stark.
But the time for such a move hadn't yet come. Charlie knew that both Marvel's and DC's tech geniuses were valuable, but caution was his ally. He would take time to develop them further, making sure Iron Man became a well-known name, building a reputation that would command respect and awe.
After days of rigorous testing, Charlie finally gained a deep understanding of the entire series of Iron Man suits. He mastered the art of using each piece of equipment, learning how to operate the suits with the finesse and precision needed to control such advanced technology.
Iron Man's performance in battle was undeniably thrilling. His suits could achieve dizzying speeds, execute precision maneuvers, and perform feats of aerial acrobatics. Even the earlier Mark models could do things like brake in midair or perform a 180-degree turn to ram into pursuing alien ships—actions that would leave enemies stunned and scrambling.
However, as with any high-performance tool, mastery required skill. The better the suit, the more challenging it was to control. Iron Man's suits, capable of seamless operation across land, sea, and air, were not for the faint of heart. Even Charlie, a seasoned player, had to invest time and effort to fully unlock their potential.
After achieving the coveted title of full armor mastery, Charlie was ready for the final test—a trial that would showcase Iron Man's most powerful ability and prove that his organization had reached a new level.
The codename for this test: "Family Banquet."
There's an old saying—when someone has too much free time, they tend to get restless. For a regular person, that might mean spending late nights playing video games, binge-watching movies, or daydreaming about a perfect life. But for someone like Tony Stark, free time meant creating new technology. When he wasn't fighting alongside the Avengers, he was crafting new suits. Yet, as history had shown, those suits often ended up running amok or being hijacked, with Stark himself facing the consequences of his inventions turning against him.
In Avengers 2, Stark's own creations nearly turned on him, illustrating just how dangerous his tech could be. It was a recurring theme in many versions of his story—Stark's brilliance walking a fine line between genius and disaster.
Even with his flaws, it was clear that when Tony Stark's creations were fully operational, they were a force to be reckoned with.
The "Family Banquet" was Charlie's ace in the hole—a summoning of the Iron Legion. This wasn't just a few suits—it was an entire battalion of Iron Man armors, each one capable of independent action, directed by advanced AI.
But the suits had limitations. They couldn't act entirely on their own; they were still part of the game's mechanics. Charlie suspected this was because, within the game's logic, these suits were considered extensions of the hero character, and only player characters could have full control.
Friday, the AI companion, could remotely manage the suits Charlie summoned, directing them like weapons. However, she couldn't control them as if they were independent beings. The summoned Iron Legion was more akin to a controlled formation—Charlie piloting one suit directly while issuing commands to the others.
Unlike other game modes, he couldn't switch between suits mid-battle. He was locked into the one that Tony Stark wore directly, making his leadership crucial.
The testing grounds were carefully chosen—a barren, remote area, far from any sign of civilization. Stark, clad in his iconic armor, descended into a clearing amidst rugged, uninhabited terrain. Every precaution was taken—no people for miles, no signals, and every form of surveillance disabled, creating a perfect blind spot.
"Family Banquet, Iron Legion, deploy!"
The laboratory's dome slid open with a mechanical hum, revealing rows of Iron Man suits lined up like an army at attention. Their eyes glowed to life one by one, casting a cold blue light that illuminated the underground chamber.
One by one, the thrusters roared to life, and the armored figures shot into the sky, leaving trails of flame in their wake. The sound of their engines was like distant thunder, growing louder with each passing moment as they ascended.
From Charlie's perspective, it was like watching a thunderstorm in reverse—a great roar rising from below as the suits punched through the clouds and emerged above.
The first shadows broke through the stormy sky.
Flames streaked through the dark clouds like meteors, the clouds glowing red and orange from the heat. The Iron Legion descended in formation, surrounding Tony Stark in a protective ring, each suit aligning perfectly with military precision.
It was a breathtaking sight—a legion of Iron Man suits, ready to unleash their combined power. Fully deployed, this force could overwhelm entire military divisions, taking on any threat the world could muster.
For Charlie, this moment represented a turning point in his game. It was the culmination of countless hours of preparation, a symbol of his newfound strength. While his earlier heroes worked in the shadows, shaping events behind the scenes, this Iron Legion could stand against any challenge, head-on.
The game's graphics brought every detail to life, making it feel as though Charlie was standing there himself, directing the army of steel. He guided them with precision, issuing commands for strikes and maneuvers, turning the empty desert into a battlefield of light and motion.
Although he couldn't directly control every suit, he found he could issue strategic commands. He could select individual suits, mark targets, and direct the AI to attack. It was like a tactical war game, with Charlie as the general, coordinating the movements of his iron soldiers.
The Iron Legion—an entire army of advanced suits—was the most powerful force Charlie had ever controlled in this game.
But after a time, as he marveled at the sight, Charlie's expression shifted, his excitement giving way to fatigue.
"Sir, I detect signs of physical exhaustion," Friday's voice interrupted, calm but insistent. "I recommend immediate rest."
Charlie sighed deeply.
He had hoped that after all the upgrades and hours spent playing, his physical endurance would have improved significantly. But it seemed like he was still tied to the limits of his physical form—stuck in the realm of "virtual" strength, unable to break through entirely.
…
Elsewhere.
"You won't believe what I saw!"
A young man stood before a TV camera, soaking wet, excitement radiating from him as he spoke into the microphone at a crowded port.
"Seriously, it was like an Iron Man! Yeah, I'm not kidding! He was covered in this metallic suit, flying through the sky with flames blasting out, and he pushed that giant ship back together with his bare hands!
It's the craziest thing I've ever seen! And he spoke! He said he was 'Iron Man'—but there's no way that thing was actually made of real steel...
… What's that? My opinion? Look, I think he's an alien. There's no way something like that exists on Earth."
In a nearby room, a striking woman with a commanding presence watched the news broadcast, her legs crossed elegantly. Her fingers tapped rhythmically against the arm of the chair, and even that small motion radiated power.
A muscular man standing nearby couldn't keep his eyes off her, enraptured by her presence.
"Does the human world really have such power now?" she murmured, her voice soft but carrying a note of curiosity. "It seems that time changes everything. Even humans can transform."
Outside the window, something crashed to the ground, shattering against the pavement.
"How much longer do we have to hide like this!?" a rough, agitated voice called out, his frustration boiling over.
"Why are we being so cautious around humans?"
"Calm yourself," the woman replied smoothly. "I told you, times have changed, and humans with them. Or would you prefer to end up like Laitos?"
The angry voice fell silent, muttering in frustration but saying no more.
The woman glanced sideways at the muscular man, catching him staring. He quickly averted his gaze when he realized she'd noticed, but couldn't resist sneaking another look.
She rolled her eyes, exasperated. "Where's Leila? I told her not to wander off alone right now."
The man shrugged, still stealing glances at her figure.
"Go and find her," she ordered, waving him away.
The man nodded, hurrying out of the room.
Meanwhile, a few streets away, a petite blonde girl in a black dress, barely five feet tall, strolled down the street, a popsicle clutched in her small hand. She licked it slowly, her blue eyes wide with curiosity as she took in the bustling city around her, completely absorbed in the sights and sounds.