Stark Industries Underground
Rumble!
A deafening roar shook the Stark Industrial Underground.
"Pepper! Are you playing hide-and-seek with me? Pepper, Tony's here."
The rough, low voice echoed nearby. S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Coulson, who was crouched in a corner, shivered and asked Pepper, who had taken cover with him, "Why does Obadiah have a small nuclear reactor?"
Coulson had been feeling particularly unlucky lately. The aftermath of the blue-eyed white dragon incident was still unresolved, and now Tony Stark's place was in chaos. It seemed that shareholder Obadiah had somehow acquired a massive nuclear reactor, a fact that only added to Coulson's dismay.
Pepper, panicked and guilt-ridden after witnessing several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents fall to Obadiah's attack, said, "It's impossible. I saw Tony reject him with my own eyes."
"Let's get out of here first. We'll have support soon."
Coulson shook his head, glanced around, and suddenly froze. He pulled Pepper to the side as a nearly four-meter-tall robot stomped on their hiding place. The bunker was then blasted to pieces by small missiles on the robot's shoulders.
The colossal robot, known as the "Iron Overlord," was piloted by Obadiah. It was armed with heavy weaponry, including multiple cannons and missiles, making it look incredibly menacing.
Obadiah's muffled voice came through the robot's speakers, "You may not know why I have this. Tony is really foolish. The battle armor he developed after leaving Afghanistan was left behind, along with a design blueprint. It's ridiculous."
Coulson and Pepper had no interest in Obadiah's explanation and scrambled to escape. Coulson believed that Obadiah's primary goal was to capture or eliminate him, but Obadiah seemed focused on Pepper instead.
Obadiah aimed to control the situation covertly, intending to make Pepper suffer for his plans. His aggression was relentless.
Pepper, in high heels, hurried through narrow spaces, her heart racing as she heard the robot's clanking footsteps behind her. She managed to reach the ground level.
However, Iron Overlord broke through the floor, smashing through reinforced concrete. As Obadiah's huge head emerged, he grinned and began to speak, "Everything..."
Boom!
A crashing sound interrupted Obadiah's words. A blue light streaked from the sky, quickly silencing the Iron Overlord.
A powerful explosion rocked the underground area, causing cracks to spread and the ground to shake violently.
"What!"
As Pepper struggled to stay on her feet, someone grabbed her. She looked back to see a heroic woman in futuristic attire.
"You are?"
"My name is Jie Luosi. The master asked me to protect you until Tony Stark arrives."
Jie Luosi spoke calmly, guiding Pepper away from the danger zone and keeping a vigilant eye on the surroundings.
Suddenly, metal storm attacks rained down on Jie Luosi as Iron Overlord, with flames shooting from its feet, descended.
Obadiah was visibly distressed. After taking a hit from a plasma cannon, his right shoulder was partially melted. Fortunately, the massive robot remained operational.
Jie Luosi nimbly evaded the incoming fire, tossing bullets behind her as she maneuvered back to her original position.
"Who are you? Tony's ally?" Obadiah demanded, hiding behind his robot's heavy casing. "This is none of your business. Let me go."
Unlike ordinary criminals, Obadiah was wary of Jie Luosi's formidable equipment, which had nearly destroyed his machine.
"You'd better stay put, or else..." Jie Luosi warned, her cold voice resonating through Obadiah's speakers.
Obadiah was enraged and terrified by the threat. He fired his cannon, spewing flames, but Jie Luosi effortlessly dodged the attack.
The sounds of metal clashing against Jie Luosi's shield filled the area, but none of the attacks penetrated.
"What is this??"
Spectators, including Obadiah, were astonished by the night metal's power. Even a commercial arms tycoon like Obadiah recognized its strength.
Despite his alarm, he decided to retreat. He knew his machine could deliver significant force in a direct confrontation.
However, before he could act, Jie Luosi evaded the missiles he fired, expertly dodging them with gymnastic precision.
Obadiah sneered, thinking the missiles were ineffective, but he was quickly stunned.
As Jie Luosi straightened up, she swung her arm back, launching a missile that struck Obadiah's head. The missile was immediately destroyed, while the other two failed to detonate and fell harmlessly.
Obadiah, horrified, exclaimed, "Electromagnetic interference?!"
Jie Luosi continued her assault without pause. In the blink of an eye, she closed in on the Iron Overlord.
"Fire the burn cannon!"
Jie Luosi executed a powerful lunge, thrusting her right arm forward. A massive energy beam erupted from her arm, its golden-red light surging toward Iron Overlord.
The beam struck with tremendous force, obliterating everything in its path and burning the asphalt into molten metal.
When the dust cleared, Obadiah and the Iron Overlord were completely gone.
The battle had been one-sided from the start. Jie Luosi's overwhelming power had crushed Obadiah and his robot with ease.