Liam reacted in an instant. He activated Psma Star, throwing a glowing projectile at Iron Monger's facepte. It pierced through the left side of his visor, partially blinding him.

  Tony didn't waste the opportunity. He soared up, summoning Living Fme, a burning sphere of fire that homed in on Iron Monger's exposed wound. The fireball smmed into his helmet, melting through.

  Iron Monger's screams turo static. His thrusters sputtered, and his massive frame crashed into the ground, creating a deep crater.

  "Time to finish this." Liam nded o Tony.

  Tony nodded. He raised a hand, summoning Ice Bst, eng Iron Monger's entire lower half in a thick yer of ice.

  Liam dashed forward at blinding speed, leaping onto Iron Monger's chest. His Wraith Strike activated, and a proje of himself delivered the final blow—his energy bdes sliced through the reactor core in Monger's chest, ripping it apart.

  A final, garbled scream echoed before Iron Monger's body slumped lifelessly.

  "I will kill you—" Whipsh, still rec, growled, his one free hand clutg a remaining whip.

  Liam didn't let him finish. He threw a Venom Bomb directly at Whipsh's face. The acidic explosion coated his suit, eating away at the metal.

  "How about a little shock therapy?" Tony smirked.

  He raised his hand o time, summoning a Lightning Strike. The bolt struck Whipsh square in the chest, sending thousands of volts c through him. His body vulsed violently before he colpsed, smoke rising from his burned-out circuits.

  "All down." Liam said as Tony slowly hovered in front of him. The Expo was damaged, his supposed legacy was now in tatters. But thankfully it was clear of civilians and there had only been wounds among the civilians. hs.

  This was not what Liam expected as he remembered that Whipsh wao blow everything up at the end. But then he remembered that they had e here to showcase their power and with the assumption that Tony wouldn't be able to put up a fight. They came here to do future business, and killing people around would be very bad for their portfolio.

  Thus civilians weren't that harmed, but another bad thing that came with it was the fact their heroics were now in multiple cameras and in no way they would be able to escape that. It would be on the front page for sure tomorrow.

  "Well," Tony said. "That was fun. Soooo, what are the ces I get to keep this suit?"

  "Zero."

  "Damn, had to try." Tony said.

  "I will give you somethier ter." Liam said.

  "Really? Now I am more excited." Tony had a smile.

  Soon sirens bred at the distand Liam recalled back the Storm and Interceptor. Tony's wasn't happy seeing multiple sirens but his bad mood was lifted when he saw Pepper and others e running in. Even Bonnie and Chris was with her. They both looked very scared but ohey saw Tony and Liam to be alive and well, they were more than relieved.

  Pepper came running and hugged Tony while Chris and Bonnie came to hug Liam together. It really showed the care that these two have for him, even though Liam had always been hands off in this friendship. Maybe he should allow them to have a glimpse into his life, iure.

  These three weren't the only ones. el Rhodes too showed up, and Liam met him for the first time. He had a very angry and ugly look on his face as he looked at the destru around. He didn't expect that US Military's greatest asset would be in such danger, but thankfully they were able to e out of it fine. SHIELD too showed up, and Colsohe charge here.

  He looked at the destru around and gave a knowing look to Liam before starting to clear the things around. Tony had also taken away the two arc reactors before everyone was here. Without the reactor, these were just tin s, and in no way he would allow ao get their hands on it.

  Though he was still unsure of how this Ivan Vanko guy got his hands on an arc reactor, it could be tackled ter. Reporters also showed up at the se a few mier, while Tony was being tended as he did have some bruises, but they were not allowed to take any interviews.

  "We should leave." Liam said.

  "Yeah, I 't wait to hit the bed tonight. My nightmares are much sweeter than what we faced today." Tony said.

  ------

  The day

  Tony was sitting sipping coffee. He looked particurly annoyed as he was brought to the HQ of Stark Industries and was forced to give a press ference. Pepper, Liam, Rhodey and Phil Colson were also present.

  "Okay, Tony, let's go over this one more time," Rhodey said. "You do not say anything about the armor. Don't mention a peep about it and do not go off-script."

  "We'd appreciate it if you'd cooperate. Your statement should be simple: 'The i at the Expo was a result of an unauthorized attack by rogue military forces. You were present but uninvolved in the bat. And have no idea of what was going on since many people had seen you and Liam get indoors."

  "Sigh. And you called me here to speak those rehearsed lines. I have better things to do, you know."

  "Funny you should mention that." Rhodey sighed and tossed a neer onto the table.

  Tony picked up the paper and sed the front page.

  "IRON MAGE SAVES STARK EXPO – NEW HERO OR JUST AARK STUNT?"

  "Iron Mage? Iron Mage! Oh, I love that." Tony said.

  "No you don't." Pepper rebutted in, while Liam just looked at the neer. So his involvement was so huge that even the name of Iron Man was in the dumpster and out came Iron Mage.

  "But you got to admit. The name does make me some kind of Gandalf in armor."

  "You are not Iron Mage." Pepper spoke again and this time with more vi.

  "Tony, focus." Rhodey said.

  "Oh, I'm focused. Laser-focused. But let's be real—nobody's buying this 'rogue teology' excuse. You think they're just gonna ighe fact that someone was throwing actual lightning?"