Instantly!
The bodyguards and drivers in the car all reacted.
"There is an attack, the back road is blocked, everyone get off now and escort the young master back to the hotel!!!"
After relaying this through the intercom, the driver Jolson hurriedly took out a wand from the side compartment, then said to Tony Stark in the back seat, "Young master, get off the car, we will escort you back to the hotel!"
At the moment, they had just come out of the hotel and were not far from it, so the best choice was certainly to return.
The hotel they stayed in boasted robust security, and at least there, the security staff could help them resist the assailants for a while.
"Okay!"
Tony, being only a dozen years old, lacked the maturity and experience he would have in the future. Facing such an emergency, he showed a nervous face and could only heed Jolson's words.
They exited the vehicle quickly.
As soon as they disembarked, the two bodyguards from the car behind them circled around to protect Tony.
However, the two bodyguards in the front car were unable to exit at all.
The stone man, transformed by Hanniton, smashed the front windshield with his fist, dragged the two bodyguards out of the car, and then struck them.
"Puff!"
The two collided, blood spurting from their mouths.
But it wasn't over yet.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Hanniton, seeing that the two were still alive, grabbed and slapped them repeatedly.
In a moment,
The two were bloody.
Witnessing this, Jolson's face turned grim.
But he couldn't attend to the two men now.
Their priority was to get Tony to safety.
Thinking quickly,
He signaled to the other two bodyguards, then took Tony away while Hanniton was distracted.
But just as they were about to make their escape,
"Da Da Da!"
More than a dozen assailants burst out of a nearby alley, wands drawn, casting spells wildly.
The intensity of their spells forced the two bodyguards and the driver to shield Tony behind the car once again.
"No, the spells are too strong, we can't get back to the hotel!"
Jolson gritted his teeth as spells zipped past.
They were not far from the hotel, at most a hundred meters away, and normally, they could run it in ten seconds.
But under such heavy magical fire, it was impossible.
With no cover on the road to the hotel, they would be hit before they got halfway.
Quickly!
Jolson scanned the surroundings, searching for another way out.
Luckily, he spotted a small alley not far off.
This alley was right next to the road, just ten meters from them, and they could make it in two or three seconds.
Importantly, the alley was narrow, just wide enough for one person. Hanniton, in his enlarged form, definitely couldn't follow. It wouldn't guarantee an escape, but it could buy them some distance.
"Look over there, do you see that alley? Let's take the young master there!" Jolson directed the other two bodyguards.
Upon spotting the alley, the bodyguard nodded decisively.
"Quick, charge!"
Seeing they understood, Jolson didn't hesitate and pulled Tony toward the alley.
But their movement was spotted by Hanniton.
"Want to run? No way!!!"
Hanniton's voice boomed, dropping the incapacitated bodyguards and charging toward them.
Seeing this,
"You take the young master away, I'll hold him off!" Jolson gritted his teeth and declared.
Hanniton's enormous strides meant he could cover the distance quickly. Despite being only ten meters from the alley, he could reach them in three or four steps.
And if Hanniton reached them, they would all be in peril.
Heeding Jolson's command, the two bodyguards hastily pulled Tony towards the alley.
Their professional instincts told them that hesitation could be fatal.
Jolson, meanwhile,
Took his stance and fired a barrage of spells at Hanniton.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Spells struck Hanniton, but they merely chipped the stone off his body without causing any real damage.
"Are you tickling me?" Hanniton sneered.
As he stepped forward, closing the gap to Jolson, he reached out with his massive stone arm to seize him.
"It seems I have no other choice!"
Jolson realized escape was impossible, and with a look of resolve, he dropped his wand.
Just as Hanniton grabbed him,
"Ding Dong!"
A distinct metallic sound echoed.
"What's that sound!?"
Hanniton instinctively looked toward the noise.
He saw a grenade with the pin pulled in Jolson's hand—the sound was the pin hitting the ground.
"Not good!!!"
Hanniton's face twisted in horror, ready to throw Jolson away.
But it was too late.
"Boom!!!"
An immense explosion erupted, engulfing both him and Jolson in flames.
Simultaneously,
As Tony fled, he heard the explosion behind him and instinctively looked back.
"No!!!"
Seeing the blast, his eyes bloodshot, he screamed.
Jolson had been a loyal servant to the Stark family for over ten years, driving Tony since he was a child. The bond they shared was not trivial.
But before he could react further, he was pulled into the alley by the bodyguards.
Tony might grieve for Jolson, but the bodyguards knew they couldn't afford that luxury right now.
However, their adversaries weren't just Hanniton; others were involved.
"Da Da Da!"
As they entered the alley, a flurry of spells followed them.
"Ah!"
"Ah!"
Two cries of pain—the bodyguards were hit, falling almost simultaneously.
The attackers, aiming to kidnap Tony, spared him but showed no mercy to his protectors. For them, the fewer bodyguards, the better.
"Master, hurry up!!!" one of the bodyguards gasped, using his last breath.
Seeing this, Tony's eyes reddened further. Knowing he couldn't delay, he dashed into the alley.
"Chase!"
Fothy, observing from a distance, put away his wand and commanded in a deep voice, "Tony Stark is alone now, capture him alive, do you understand!?"
"Understood!"
His accomplices acknowledged and pursued.
Fothy then turned towards the explosion site.
The smoke hadn't cleared yet, but he could make out Hanniton's huge form within.
"How are you?" Fothy called out.
"Hiss~ I'm not going to die!"
Hanniton inhaled sharply in pain but reassured him.
As the smoke cleared, Hanniton's figure, slightly scorched but largely unharmed, was revealed.
"That's good, follow me, and don't let the kid escape!"
After a quick assessment, Fothy rushed to the alley where Tony had disappeared.
"Wait for me!"
Hanniton followed, but on reaching the alley's entrance, he realized his transformed size wouldn't fit.
Reluctantly, he shrank down to pursue.
Soon,
Tony burst out of the alley onto a busy street.
But he didn't dare stop; he kept moving forward, hearing the close pursuit behind him.
Suddenly,
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
He heard another set of heavy footsteps.
Turning his head, he saw the huge stone man emerging from the alley and gaining on him.
"Not good!"
His heart raced, his face paled, and he ran as fast as he could.
At that moment,
"Blimey, don't come over here!"
Tony heard the shout ahead but, focused on escape, he ignored it and kept running, with the stone man closing in fast.