Tony Stark finally accepted the harsh truth: delaying the inevitable would not change his predicament. The terrorists holding him captive were not about to believe any of his stories or stall tactics. It was time to take matters into his own hands. If he couldn't alter his fate, he would craft his way out of it, creating a suit of armor to escape.
Zod's war machines had already proven their strength and combat value, evident from the number of people trying to replicate or steal the technology. Tony, of course, knew his makeshift version wouldn't be as advanced. In this crude environment, his version of the suit wouldn't rival Zod's war machines, but it would be more than enough to handle a group of terrorists.
Still, Zod was curious. In the original timeline, Tony's Mark 1 suit lacked a proper shock absorption system. Yet Tony managed to survive some extreme falls. How exactly had he managed to build something so resilient with nothing more than scraps?
"Too magical... no, too sci-fi," Zod mused to himself, watching the events unfold.
Ever since Tony discovered the new element for his arc reactor, Zod had kept a close eye on him. Tony Stark had a way of subverting expectations, and this felt like another moment that could turn the tide.
"Throw a few wrenches into his plan," Zod instructed his soldiers. "I don't want him escaping too quickly."
One of the soldiers, a bit unsure, asked, "How do we do that, boss?"
Zod smirked. "Think of it like a movie plot. Just when he's about to finish the suit, have another group of terrorists ambush him. Let Yin Sen die during the attack—intentionally or not. The suit could take some damage, forcing him to fight his way out. Then, you capture him, wipe out the other group, and act as if you've recognized him. Ask him to build a new suit."
The soldiers listened closely. Zod's 'script' was elaborate and reusable. Even if Yin Sen were to die, it would likely strengthen Tony's resolve to become a hero, which would only serve Zod's longer-term plans. If Tony Stark's spirit was rekindled by this loss, Zod had a few more surprises in store.
Meanwhile, terror attacks were becoming increasingly frequent across the globe. The group calling themselves the "Ten Rings" had claimed responsibility for several attacks. This was giving the U.S. government significant headaches. Strangely, they hadn't found any bomb fragments at the sites of the explosions. Normally, investigators could rely on parts of a bomb to identify its origin or maker, but this time, nothing remained.
Little did they know, these weren't traditional terrorist attacks at all. Killian and his Extremis-enhanced operatives weren't launching deliberate attacks. The explosions were merely accidents caused by unstable Extremis-enhanced individuals, but Killian cleverly shifted the blame onto the Mandarin, a figurehead he'd created to deflect attention from his experiments.
The U.S. authorities, however, believed the Mandarin to be a mastermind, perhaps the most dangerous terrorist since the infamous Al-Qaeda leader. Their intelligence efforts focused on stopping what they believed to be the work of a brilliant and ruthless strategist. However, none of the attacks had targeted the wealthy districts—Wall Street remained untouched. This left the U.S. wondering why the Mandarin hadn't struck at the financial heart of the nation, an attack that could bring the economy to its knees.
In response, the U.S. ramped up security across Wall Street and wealthy neighborhoods. Even Zod's Blade Tech Industries came under increased scrutiny, though Zod wasn't concerned. He knew exactly what was going on with Killian and the Extremis experiments. And while he wasn't a hero in the traditional sense, he wasn't going to let Killian continue with his reckless behavior.
With a wave of his hand, Zod used his psychic powers to subdue Killian. He captured him easily and tossed him into a containment cell. There, Killian would remain in stasis, frozen by Zod's freezing breath until Tony Stark returned to deal with him.
"Bronsky," Zod called, summoning his loyal lieutenant.
Bronsky, having experienced firsthand Zod's vast and growing power, approached cautiously. He knew Zod could defeat him without even lifting a finger. "Boss," Bronsky answered, trying to hide his anxiety.
"Relax," Zod said with a calm smile. "I'm not here to train with you."
Bronsky exhaled in relief. Sparring with Zod was more than just a test of strength—it was humbling.
"Bronsky, do you want to become stronger?" Zod asked suddenly.
Bronsky's eyes lit up with excitement. He had always craved power. It was his sole focus. While others might seek fame or relationships, Bronsky was single-minded in his pursuit of strength. His eyes burned with ambition as he replied, "Yes, of course I do, Boss."
Zod nodded. "Good. I have a task for you. I need you to go to Britain. Take on a role as a super-soldier there, and when the time is right, infiltrate General Ross's operations."
"General Ross?" Bronsky asked, intrigued.
"Yes. When the time comes, you will help Ross capture the Hulk. But more importantly, you'll bring me the Super Soldier Serum and the Hulk Serum. Understand?"
Bronsky grinned widely, eager for the challenge. "You can count on me, Boss."
Zod's plan was unfolding perfectly. Tony Stark would be molded into the hero he needed, and soon enough, the Hulk would play his part as well.