Dave walked up to him, inspecting his creation. "You feel that power, don't you?" he asked, eyes glinting with curiosity.
Obadiah's crimson eyes flickered as he clenched his fists, feeling the energy coursing through him. "Yes... but it's... different," Obadiah said, his voice gravelly, distorted, almost inhuman. "What have you done to me?"
Dave smirked. "I made you into something better. You're no longer just a man in a suit. You're something far more powerful—both machine and demon. Fully loyal to Tony, of course. You'll protect him, won't you?" Dave's words dripped with irony, knowing full well the history between Obadiah and Tony.
Obadiah looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers. He didn't answer, but the conflict in his eyes was evident. Whatever feelings he had before were now buried under layers of demonic influence and forced loyalty. Still, somewhere deep down, the man who had once sought to destroy Tony Stark was struggling to break free.
Dave shrugged. "Well, I'll leave you to it. When Tony calls, follow his orders. For now... you should get used to your new form."
With a final glance, Dave turned to leave, but not before whispering, "You'll serve him well, I'm sure." He walked away from the wreckage, leaving Obadiah standing alone in the darkness.
Meanwhile, at Stark Tower...
Tony landed on the balcony, setting Pepper down gently. She looked at him, her face pale and eyes wide with concern.
"Tony, what was that?" she asked, the tremor in her voice betraying her fear. "That wasn't just about Obadiah, was it? What did Dave do to him?"
Tony hesitated for a moment, glancing back toward where they had left Obadiah. "He... turned him into something else," Tony admitted. "Some kind of demon hybrid. I don't know what exactly, but he's loyal to me now. Dave said I could use him."
Pepper crossed her arms, staring at him. "And you're okay with that? With what Dave did?"
Tony ran a hand through his hair, frustration building. "No, I'm not okay with it, but what choice did I have? Obadiah was trying to kill me—again. And this time, Dave saved me. If he hadn't, I'd probably be dead right now. And so would you."
Pepper shook her head. "But turning Obadiah into that? What kind of solution is that?"
Tony sighed, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on him. "I don't know, Pepper. I really don't. But we need to deal with it, and fast. I can't afford to let something like this get out of control."
Back at the wreckage...
Obadiah, now fully aware of his new form, stared down at his hands. The demonic power coursed through him, giving him strength beyond what he'd ever imagined. Yet, he felt like a puppet, strings pulled by a master he didn't choose.
The ground trembled beneath him as he took a step forward, his metallic feet leaving cracks in the pavement. The arc reactor pulsed, the demonic energy surging. He didn't understand it—this power felt raw, uncontrollable, like it would tear him apart if he let it.
And then there was the loyalty—an unnatural, magical bond tying him to Tony. He hated it. But he couldn't resist. No matter how hard he tried to will himself to walk away, to escape, the compulsion always pulled him back.
As he stood there, seething with rage and confusion, a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Enjoying the gift?"
Obadiah turned to see a figure emerge from the shadows. It was none other than Trish, in her devilish form, her wings casting ominous shadows in the moonlight.
"Who are you?" Obadiah growled, his demonic instincts flaring up.
Trish smirked. "I'm someone who knows a lot about what you're going through. After all, Dave and I have been in this business for a while."
She circled him slowly, her tail swaying lazily behind her. "You've got power now, but it's not yours, is it? You're bound to Tony, like a good little soldier." She leaned in close, her breath hot against his ear. "Doesn't that piss you off?"
Obadiah clenched his fists, the metal groaning under the strain. "What do you want?" he snarled.
Trish's smile widened. "Nothing much. Just thought you might want to know that Dave isn't exactly the loyal type. Sure, he says you're Tony's now, but how long do you think that'll last? Demons don't stay bound forever. Eventually, you'll be free." She stepped back, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "And when that happens, you'll have choices to make."
Obadiah's red eyes flickered with confusion and suspicion. "Choices?"
Trish shrugged. "Just something to think about. You've got a second chance now. But it's up to you how you use it."
With that, she turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving Obadiah alone once again. But now, her words lingered in his mind, planting seeds of doubt.
At Stark Tower...
Tony sat at his workbench, staring at a holographic display of the arc reactor. His mind was racing. What had Dave really done? Could he trust this newfound power in Obadiah? And more importantly, could he trust Dave?
He glanced at the suit of armor standing in the corner, wondering if even that would be enough to protect him from the kind of power Dave wielded. He'd always relied on his tech, but this was something beyond his control. Something supernatural.
Pepper approached him quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We need to figure this out, Tony," she said softly. "Before it's too late."
Tony nodded, knowing she was right. But how?
Back at Dave's Hideout...
Dave returned to his base, where Trish and Emma were waiting. Trish smirked as she saw him, folding her arms across her chest. "Well, that was fun. How's Tony holding up?"
Dave chuckled. "He'll figure it out soon enough. Obadiah's his problem now."
Emma, still slightly apprehensive about everything that had happened, looked at Dave with concern. "Do you think Tony will be okay with all of this? You've essentially given him a demon as a bodyguard."
Dave shrugged, nonchalant. "Tony's smart. He'll use Obadiah's new form to his advantage. And if not, well... he knows where to find me."
Trish grinned. "You always know how to make things interesting."
Dave leaned back, his eyes glowing faintly with demonic energy. "This is just the beginning. There are bigger things coming."
****
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'My Charity System Made me Too OP'
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