Six months had passed since the battle against Obadiah Stane and the birth of Iron Man. Stark Industries had undergone a complete transformation. The company no longer built weapons; it innovated solutions. Clean energy, advanced robotics, and medical breakthroughs were at the heart of its mission.
Tony Stark was a man changed by his experiences. He had fully embraced his role as Iron Man and pushed himself to the limits of human capability. With the guidance of Alexander, both Tony and Pepper had honed their physical and mental skills. They had mastered Soru, Geppo, and Tekkai, while their Observation Haki allowed them to sense subtle shifts in their surroundings.Armament Haki was harder, but they could now summon it on command.
Tony and Pepper's relationship had also grown closer. The walls they had built around themselves had come down, and they had embraced the feelings they'd spent years denying. Together, they had become a team, in both life and business.
But despite all this progress, one problem loomed large. The palladium core in Tony's Arc Reactor—the device keeping him alive—was slowly poisoning him.
Handing Over the Reins
The meeting was small and private, held in one of starks sleek conference rooms. Pepper, Tony, and a handful of Stark Industries board members were seated around a circular table.
Tony leaned back in his chair, looking unusually serious. "So, here's the deal. We've made some big changes in the last six months, and it's time for one more. Effective immediately, I'm stepping down as CEO of Stark Industries."
The room fell silent as the board members exchanged shocked glances.
"What?" one of them finally asked. "Mr. Stark, you can't be serious. Stark Industries is your company!"
Tony waved a hand dismissively. "It's not just my company. It's about time someone ran it who actually knows what they're doing."
He turned to Pepper, who sat beside him, her expression both surprised and touched.
"That's where you come in, Pep," Tony said, sliding a folder across the table. "Congratulations—you're the new CEO of Stark Industries."
Pepper stared at him, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to process his words. "Tony, I... are you sure?"
"Absolutely," Tony replied, his tone genuine. "You've been running this place behind the scenes for years anyway. You're the reason it hasn't burned to the ground."
The board members murmured among themselves, but none voiced an objection. Pepper Potts had long been the stabilizing force behind Stark Industries, and many of them had secretly suspected this day would come.
Pepper looked at the folder, then back at Tony. "You're serious about this."
"Completely," Tony said. "You've earned it, Pepper. And let's be honest—I'm much better at blowing things up and building cool toys than sitting in meetings."
Pepper let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I don't know what to say."
"Say yes," Tony replied, his tone light but sincere. "Because if you don't, I'll have to stay in charge, and nobody wants that."
Pepper smiled, her heart swelling with pride. "Alright, Stark. I'll do it."
Tony grinned. "That's my girl."
The Garage: A New Puzzle
The day began like many others in the Stark Industries garage. Holographic blueprints hovered in midair, displaying Arc Reactor designs, molecular structures, and theoretical elements. Tony sat amidst the glowing projections, his brow furrowed as he examined his reactor.
"Jarvis," Tony said, leaning back in his chair, "toxicity levels?"
"Blood toxicity at 19% and rising, sir," Jarvis replied.
Tony sighed, pulling his shirt open to glance at the glowing device embedded in his chest. "Well, that's fantastic. Really killing it here—literally."
The garage door opened, and Pepper walked in carrying a cup of coffee. She set it down beside Tony, her eyes scanning the holograms. "How bad is it?"
"Let's just say I'm not ready to join the Olympics," Tony muttered. "I've been through every element, every compound, every combination I can think of. Nothing works."
Pepper folded her arms, her expression concerned but determined. "You've solved impossible problems before. What's different this time?"
Tony ran a hand through his hair. "This time, the problem's sitting right here," he said, gesturing to his chest. "It's not just science, Pep. It's survival. I can't think clearly when the clock's ticking."
Before Pepper could respond, Alexander entered the room. His sharp eyes moved between the two of them, immediately sensing the tension.
"Trouble?" Alexander asked, though his tone was more observation than question.
Tony gestured to the holograms. "Just the usual: figuring out how to not die."
Life Return: A Lesson in Control
Alexander stepped forward, studying the projections. "You know, you've been treating this like it's a one-variable equation. Have you considered the possibility that the solution isn't just in the reactor but in your own body?"
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Care to elaborate, Sensei?"
Alexander leaned against the workbench. "There's a technique from my world called Life Return, or Seimei Kikan. It's an advanced form of body control. The user can regulate their metabolism, heartbeat, and even cellular functions by sheer willpower. It allows you to mitigate the effects of poison, heal faster, and enhance your natural abilities. It was perfected by a fighter named Rob Lucci in my world."
Pepper's eyes widened. "You mean... Tony could slow the poisoning?"
Alexander nodded. "It wouldn't be a cure, but it would buy him time. Time to think clearly, time to find the real solution."
Tony leaned back, intrigued but skeptical. "Sounds amazing. What's the catch?"
"It's not easy to learn," Alexander replied. "It requires absolute discipline over both mind and body. I've spent years mastering it, and I'm nearly ready to teach you both. But it won't happen overnight."
Pepper's determination hardened. "Then we need to start. The sooner, the better."
Tony considered this for a moment before nodding. "Fine. Teach me. But I'm not putting all my chips on this. I'm still finding a permanent fix."
A Father's Legacy
As the conversation shifted, Alexander gestured toward the reactor hologram. "Speaking of permanent fixes, have you considered that this might not be a problem your father missed? Maybe he couldn't create the solution, but he saw the flaw."
Tony's jaw tightened at the mention of Howard Stark. "My dad wasn't exactly a 'sharing is caring' kind of guy. If he knew something, he didn't tell me."
Alexander smirked faintly. "Howard Stark was a genius. He might not have had the tools to solve this in his time, but he would have left clues for the right mind to find them. He was building for the future."
Pepper nodded. "Alexander's right, Tony. Your dad always thought long-term. What if he left the answer for you?"
Tony sighed, glancing at an old model of the Stark Expo sitting on a shelf. It was a detailed miniature of New York, with Stark Tower at its center. "I've gone through his work a hundred times. If there's a clue, I haven't found it yet."
Pepper stepped closer, her eyes lighting up. "Wait... is that the model from your office? The one that's been sitting there forever?"
Tony frowned. "Yeah. Why?"
"I remember seeing it when I first started working here," Pepper said. "Your dad loved that Expo. Maybe it's more than just a model."
Tony stared at the model, something clicking in his mind. "He did love that Expo... and he was all about vision. Jarvis, pull up everything we have on Howard's designs for the Expo."
"Yes, sir," Jarvis replied.
The holograms shifted, displaying old blueprints, sketches, and notes. Tony's eyes narrowed as he scanned the information.
"If Dad left clues, they're here," Tony murmured.
The Sparring Match
The conversation was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. The garage door opened, and a tall red-haired woman walked in, her posture confident and composed.
"Sorry to interrupt," she said with a polite smile. "I'm Natalie Rushman. Pepper requested an assistant, and I've been assigned to the position."
Tony raised an eyebrow, glancing at Pepper. "You hired her?"
Pepper shook her head. "Not yet. She's here for an interview."
Alexander, standing off to the side, stiffened slightly as his sharp eyes flicked toward Natalie. For a brief moment, something unspoken passed between them, but he said nothing.
Tony smirked. "Well, Natalie, how do you feel about hands-on experience? Because I've got just the thing."
Natalie vs. Alexander
Alexander and Natalie circled each other in the ring, their movements calculated and deliberate. Natalie struck first, her speed impressive, but Alexander sidestepped easily, his Observation Haki giving him the edge.
"You're holding back," Alexander said, his tone sharp. "Show me what you can really do."
Natalie hesitated, her calm demeanor slipping for a moment before she adjusted her stance. She moved faster this time, her strikes more precise, but Alexander still countered effortlessly.
After a few more exchanges, Alexander landed a clean blow that sent her stumbling back. He stepped forward, lowering his guard slightly.
"You're good," he said, his voice low. "Too good to be just an assistant. Stark, hire her—for Pepper."
Tony, watching from outside the ring, raised an eyebrow. "You think so?"
Alexander smirked. "Trust me."
The Flight to Monaco
Later that evening, Tony, Pepper, and Alexander boarded the Stark Industries private jet, bound for the Monaco Grand Prix.
Tony leaned back in his seat, sipping a glass of scotch. "So, Pep, how does it feel to be CEO?"
Pepper smiled, her expression wry. "Exhausting. I don't know how you made it look so easy."
"Charm," Tony replied, grinning.
Alexander sat nearby, watching the exchange with mild amusement. "Try not to crash anything, Stark."
Tony raised his glass. "No promises."
As the jet roared into the night sky, the trio prepared for the next chapter of their journey—a chapter filled with new challenges and old enemies.