The battle resumed, but this time it was on a completely different scale.
If the earlier clashes had the semblance of a balanced fight, what followed was nothing short of a one-sided barrage. The change was immediate—a relentless show of overwhelming firepower that made the previous struggle seem like a mere warm-up.
More than forty Iron Man suits, fully recharged and equipped with the most advanced weapons Stark Industries could provide, swarmed the skies like a metallic swarm. Each suit, a fusion of cutting-edge technology and military-grade weaponry, hovered with a deadly precision. In that moment, they looked less like individual suits and more like an unstoppable iron legion, a sight that would strike fear into any adversary—human or otherwise.
Leila found herself at the center of this aerial nightmare. The once agile and confident combatant was now caught in a deadly net of firepower that offered no escape. Iron Man suits surrounded her from every conceivable direction—above, below, and all around. Each suit unleashed a barrage of recoil beams, missiles, and lasers, converging on her position with unerring accuracy. It felt like being in the center of a storm made entirely of explosions and light.
The recoil beams, potent streams of focused energy, struck her from all angles, circling around her to attack the weakest points of her defenses. The Teth shield that had once protected her was now being torn apart piece by piece, the shimmering barrier flickering and collapsing under the pressure. Before the shield could regenerate, another wave of beams would hammer into it, disrupting its stability. Each strike sent ripples through the air, creating shockwaves that crackled with a thunderous roar.
Missiles streaked through the sky like fiery comets, arcing toward Leila with pinpoint precision. As they struck, their explosions illuminated the dark skies, momentarily turning night into day. The blasts wrapped her in a cocoon of fire and shrapnel, and the concussive force sent ripples through the air, distorting the landscape below. Meanwhile, the high-intensity laser beams cut through the air with searing heat, their crimson light slashing across her form like a thousand burning knives. The lasers sliced through her flesh, leaving smoldering wounds that glowed with residual heat, while the armor-piercing rounds punctured deeper, testing the limits of her regenerative abilities.
Caught in this inferno, Leila could barely stay airborne. Her once smooth and graceful movements turned erratic as she struggled to dodge the endless barrage. Her ancient powers allowed her to heal rapidly, knitting flesh and bone back together with a speed that would seem miraculous to any human observer. But the Iron Legion's assault was relentless, giving her no time to catch her breath.
It felt as though she was being crushed inside a furnace, the heat and pressure rising with each passing second, turning her resilience into a slow, agonizing burn.
But the shock of this brutal spectacle wasn't confined to Leila.
Ophelia and her two ancient teammates, hiding in the shadows and watching from a safe distance, could hardly believe what they were witnessing. They had parted ways with Leila, each following their own cautious strategy. Ophelia, in particular, prided herself on her prudence. Her plan was simple: let Leila engage the humans first, test the waters, and assess their strength. She had believed that after witnessing Laitos' defeat, she understood what humans were capable of.
But as she watched the Iron Man army rain fire down on Leila, her mind reeled with disbelief. It was nothing like she had expected. The sight of the sky filled with metallic warriors, unleashing a symphony of destruction, made her question everything she thought she knew about modern humans.
For the first time in her long existence, Ophelia felt genuine fear—a fear she hadn't known since ancient times, back when humans were mere insects underfoot. Now, the roles seemed reversed. Seeing Leila—a being as powerful as herself—pummeled by a technological onslaught, Ophelia realized that staying hidden was the wisest decision she had ever made.
"Letos fell, but this… This is different," she muttered to herself, her eyes wide with a mix of terror and awe. She knew that if she and her remaining allies had joined Leila in this battle, they would be nothing more than smoldering corpses amidst the wreckage.
Ancient beings like Ophelia and her kin had once been feared, seen as unstoppable monsters. But now, watching the Iron Man suits operate with mechanical precision, even she couldn't help but wonder—who were the real monsters here?
It wasn't just the ancient beings who grappled with this realization. Across the globe, those representing the pinnacle of modern technology were just as stunned.
The Ninth Special Service Division had the first clear view of the battle through their satellite feeds. Watching the Iron Legion unleash a storm of firepower, the sky filled with explosions and blinding laser beams, they had a chilling realization:
"If they were targeting us instead of that ancient creature, how long would our aircraft carrier last?"
The answer was obvious. Under such a barrage, their fleet would have been reduced to twisted metal and fire long before they could retaliate.
The sheer scale of the battle and the sight of super-advanced technology clashing with an ancient being quickly drew the attention of more than just the special forces. Military leaders, politicians, and the world's top minds were glued to their screens, unable to look away from this unprecedented conflict.
Just days earlier, they had first learned of the existence of "Iron Man." Some thought he was a robot, others believed he was some kind of advanced suit of armor. The robotic explanation seemed more plausible to many—after all, how could a human survive the intense impacts, the sonic-speed maneuvers, the constant barrage of explosions?
Yet, despite their assumptions, one fact was undeniable—this technology had the potential to change the balance of power on a global scale.
Experts analyzed Iron Man's appearances, calculating his flight capabilities, combat strength, and defensive features. Their conclusions were dire:
"This single suit could potentially take down an entire aircraft carrier formation."
When one expert made this claim, military officials were quick to challenge him. A particular general called him in, demanding, "Do you realize you must stand by every claim you make?"
The expert replied, his tone steady, "I do. That's why this is the most conservative estimate I can offer. But if you want my honest opinion about Iron Man technology..."
"...I don't know how many troops it would take to stop it."
The statement sent shockwaves through military circles, causing alarm among the world's most powerful nations. Iron Man and the organization behind him became the focus of intense scrutiny, casting a long shadow over global security.
Up until tonight, they were still trying to grasp the reality of such a powerful figure as Iron Man.
And then, suddenly, more than forty of these suits appeared above Pine City.
Charlie, controlling the Batwing, knew exactly what kind of impact this display would have. He understood how much attention the sight of forty Iron Man suits would draw, how many beliefs would be shattered, and how many sleepless nights would follow. It was a demonstration of overwhelming strength, a message to the world.
Many believed that superheroes were part of a powerful, secret organization. In their minds, this group was quietly developing, preparing for something bigger. But Charlie knew this alliance wouldn't remain hidden forever.
As he fought, he also laid the groundwork for the future. The details of the next step were still uncertain, but one thing was clear—showing overwhelming power was the first step.
Meanwhile, the battle was not as mindless as it appeared.
At the start, Friday, the AI, scanned the battlefield using Iron Man's advanced sensors. Drawing from previous encounters with the Teth shield, Friday quickly identified structural weaknesses in Leila's defenses.
"The analysis shows structural weak points in the Teth shield," Friday reported.
Charlie raised an eyebrow. "You can pinpoint those?"
It was a reminder of just how effective Friday was when paired with the Iron Man suit. Beyond the physical power and advanced weaponry, the real advantage lay in its analytical capabilities—using science to break down even the toughest opponents.
Friday, designed specifically for the Iron Man suit, made full use of its sensors to pinpoint weaknesses. Even the seemingly invincible Teth shield had its flaws—weak points that shifted as the material moved.
"But the Teth shield's structure is constantly changing, so the weak spots move," Friday continued. "I'm marking them in real-time, but each spot won't stay exposed for long."
Charlie smirked. "No problem. Let me show you what a fast shot looks like."
Friday's interface displayed Leila's form, now covered in glowing red circles that highlighted her weak spots. Each mark flickered briefly before vanishing, only to be replaced by another.
It was like playing a high-stakes game of whack-a-mole.
Charlie's reflexes kicked into overdrive as he directed the Iron Man suits. They darted through the sky, weaving between explosions, with every recoil beam and missile hitting a marked weak point. His fingers flew across the controls, the sound of rapid tapping echoing like rhythmic drumming. Anyone else trying to follow his lightning-fast movements would likely have been overwhelmed.
The relentless barrage soon brought Leila to her breaking point. Her wings were nearly shredded, her body faltering as she struggled to stay airborne. The Iron Legion's coordinated assault left her with no room to escape.
Finally, the perspective shifted back to the Batwing.
A concealed cannon emerged from beneath the Batwing's sleek body, its barrel glowing with an intense, fiery red light, charging up for the final strike.
Leila hovered in the air, her energy spent, unable to muster the strength to dodge. The heat cannon's red-hot beam roared out, a deadly surge of energy aimed to end the battle, threatening to consume everything in its path.