I Am Ironman (MHA)

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Mind Games



[Third Person's PoV] 

Tony and Melissa darted through the narrow corridor, their sleek suits humming with energy as they weaved around beams of hot plasma. Mercenaries fired relentlessly, their shouts drowned by the cacophony of battle. Melissa's repulsors glowed, cutting through the chaos as she systematically incapacitated their attackers. 

Tony's symbiote suit morphed around his hand, forming a gleaming, high-tech sphere. Its surface pulsated with red light as he pressed a button, activating its internal mechanism.

Tony stepped into a baseball pitcher's stance, his every movement calculated. With a powerful throw, the sphere sailed through the air, arcing gracefully before landing at the feet of a cluster of mercenaries. The moment it hit the ground, it detonated, unleashing a concussive shockwave. 

The mercenaries were hurled against the walls like ragdolls, their weapons clattering to the floor as the corridor filled with smoke and debris.

Meanwhile, everything around Pietro slowed to a crawl. The world seemed frozen as he zipped through the chaos, weaving between beams and bullets with uncanny precision. He skidded under Melissa's repulsor blast, the heat grazing his back as he popped upright and raced toward Captain America. Steve, caught mid-motion as he reached for his shield, appeared almost statue-like to Pietro.

In a blur of movement, Pietro struck. His fist found the unprotected part of Steve's face with a resounding crack, sending the Avenger staggering. Smirking, Pietro turned, already plotting his next move. But he failed to notice Melissa's hand subtly shifting, her repulsor beam adjusting with calculated precision. Jarvis, her AI, had predicted his path.

As Pietro moved, Melissa fired. The repulsor beam struck him squarely in the back, the force sending him tumbling across the floor. Time snapped back to normal. Steve stumbled, clutching his jaw, his gaze sharp.

"PIETRO!" Wanda's voice pierced the air, thick with worry. She saw her brother sprawled on the ground and turned her glare toward Melissa, fury igniting her Sokovian accent.

With a flick of her wrist, Wanda's powers surged. Melissa was yanked off her feet, red tendrils of energy coiling around her like a vice. Before Melissa could react, she was hurled through the walls, crashing into the open air outside. Dust and rubble surrounded her as she shook herself off, hovering mid-air.

"What the hell was that?" Melissa muttered, blasting back into the fray.

Above them, Stark and Ultron clashed, their beams of energy streaking across the sky like lightning. Each impact illuminated the skies, casting eerie shadows over the battlefield. Below, one of Ultron's damaged sentinels, barely functional, grabbed Wanda's leg. Its dimming eyes flickered as Ultron's voice rasped through its speakers. "Begin the mind games."

Wanda nodded, slipping away unnoticed. But Tony caught her movement. His suit locked onto her, and he raised his repulsors, firing a barrage of beams to intercept her escape.

Wanda spun, her hands glowing crimson as she deftly redirected the incoming blasts. Explosions erupted around her, but she carved a path through the chaos with precision. With a single motion, she ensnared Tony in her powers, his suit outlined in red.

"Uh-oh," Tony muttered as Wanda's telekinetic grip yanked him forward. Instead of resisting, he allowed the pull, a sly grin on his face. "I know you want me close, but sorry, I have a girlfriend."

"What?" Wanda paused, confused by his banter.

Taking advantage, Tony's symbiote sprang to life, tendrils snaking toward Wanda and binding her limbs. She struggled as the tendrils tightened, lifting her off the ground. "Here's some advice," Tony quipped. "Don't get distracted mid-fight due to some playful banter."

Wanda gritted her teeth, her crimson glow intensifying. "Here's some advice for you—don't rely on your suit too much." With a surge of power, she severed the tendrils, her magic overwhelming Tony's systems. His suit glowed red as Wanda hijacked its control.

"Friday?" Tony asked nervously.

"Bad news, boss," Friday replied. "She's overridden the symbiote's link. Total control is hers."

"Well, that's just great," Tony muttered as the symbiote wrapped itself around his neck. Wanda made a sharp motion, forcing his helmet to retract. She froze when she saw his face.

"You're... just a child," she said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "The Avengers send children to fight their battles? Cowards."

Tony blinked innocently. "So, you'll let me go, right? I mean, hurting a kid is bad PR."

Wanda scoffed. "I'm not stupid. Let you go so you can turn the tide? No." She waved her hand, and Tony's eyes rolled back as he slumped unconscious.

Nearby, Captain America's shield flew back into Wanda's grasp. She caught it effortlessly, spinning it once before hurling it with enhanced force. It sliced through the air, a weapon of precision and power. 

Five minutes later, Tony was jolted awake by Friday and Symbiote.

"Sir, wake up! We have a situation." Friday said calmly

Rubbing his eyes, Tony groggily sat up. "What happened? Give me a brief rundown."

"Captain America has been incapacitated by Wanda Maximoff's mental manipulation, alongside Thor and Natasha. Miss Melissa intervened and managed to send Wanda flying, but her brother, Pietro, appeared and took her to safety. Currently, they've unleashed the Hulk," Friday explained.

"Shit…" Tony muttered, his heart sinking. Without hesitation, large thrusters emerged from his suit, glowing with intensity. In an instant, they roared to life, propelling him forward with a deafening boom that shattered the sound barrier.

The walls of the facility blurred as Tony burst through them, sending debris scattering like confetti.

"Miss Melissa and Barton are working to shock the others awake from Wanda's mind control," Friday informed him as Tony ascended.

Emerging into the chaos outside, Tony spotted Wanda with her hand pressed over Bruce's head, her scarlet energy swirling ominously. Before Tony could act, Pietro dashed in a blur, whisking his sister away to a safer distance.

Hovering midair, Tony's voice rang out, cold and commanding. "You only managed to get to me last time because I didn't want to hurt you. I know neither of you are truly bad people. But if your actions cause casualties, the kid gloves come off." His eyes glowed menacingly behind his helmet, his resolve steeling.

As if in response, a guttural roar ripped through the air. The Hulk emerged, his massive frame trembling with raw fury. With an earth-shaking leap, he launched himself into the distance.

Tony surging after the green giant. Accelerating at breakneck speed, he intercepted the Hulk midair, slamming into him with enough force to cause a shockwave.

Wrapping his arms around the Hulk's torso, Tony gritted his teeth as the Hulk roared and thrashed violently. Massive fists pounded against Tony's armor, but the suit held firm. 'He's screaming right in my ear!' 

"Friday, where's the nearest isolated location?" Tony asked through gritted teeth, his thrusters struggling to keep their trajectory steady.

"The Namib Desert is the closest safe zone, sir," Friday replied.

"Plot the course," Tony barked. His thrusters roared louder, propelling them both into the stratosphere. Rings of compressed air trailed behind them as they tore through the sky.

The Hulk's anger only grew. He gripped Tony's arm, attempting to crush it, but Tony's armor held strong. Frustrated, the Hulk grabbed at Tony's head, only to find the symbiote had shifted into adamantium-like durability. With every escape attempt thwarted, the Hulk's fury burned hotter.

"Sir, we've arrived," Friday announced.

Tony angled downward sharply, slamming into the sand dunes of the Namib Desert. The impact sent waves of sand cascading into the air, creating a dust storm around them.

Tony released the Hulk and took several measured steps back, his eyes fixed on the green behemoth. The Hulk clawed at the ground, his massive fingers sinking into the sand. With a roar so powerful it sent a shockwave through the dunes, he straightened to his full height, chest heaving with rage.

"Alright, big guy," Tony said, his voice calm yet challenging. "You're not the only one who can go big."

The symbiote around Tony began to shift, drawing power from his Stark reactor. Biomass accumulated, rapidly increasing his size until he stood eye-to-eye with the Hulk's towering eight-foot frame. His enhanced form gleamed under the desert sun, radiating raw power.

Taking a martial arts stance, Tony raised his hand and motioned for the Hulk to come at him. "Let's dance."

The Hulk responded with an earth-shaking roar, charging forward with massive strides that tore through the sand. Tony didn't hesitate, launching himself forward with equal determination.

Their fists collided in the center, creating a thunderous shockwave that sent sand exploding outward in rippling waves. The force of the impact reverberated across the desert, a testament to the raw power of two titans locked in battle.

********************************************

+31 advance Chapters on: patreon.com/Shadow_D_Monarch3

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.