DC HERO AT MARVEL

That evening, at the Stark Industries Expo:

Located in New York, the expansive Stark Industrial Park sprawled across more than 5,000 acres, an impressive testament to Stark Industries' wealth and influence.

In the heart of the city, where land was a premium, this massive venue spoke volumes about the company stature.

Even though Stark Industries had publicly declared its exit from the weapons business under Tony Stark leadership, the company stock, which initially dipped, had rebounded significantly.

Tony transformation into Iron Man revitalized investor confidence, cementing the company position as a giant in tech innovation.

Everyone understood one thing: Stark Industries didn't need weapons to stay relevant. With a genius like Tony Stark at the helm, their potential was boundless.

Anton entered the expo grounds, taking in the bustling crowd. The sheer scale of the event caught him off guard.

"So many people?"

He glanced around, genuinely surprised.

"I heard the crowd could swell to tens of thousands tonight," said Eddie, standing next to him.

"The total foot traffic might even hit a staggering 400,000."

"All for Tony Stark?" Anton asked, perplexed.

Eddie nodded. "They're here for the man himself."

"What so great about Tony Stark? He not even as good-looking as I am," Anton remarked, shaking his head.

"They're mostly here for the R8," Phil, who had been quietly following the two, chimed in. "Eighty percent of the crowd tonight are men."

"A $54,000 R8 doesn't seem like that big of a deal," Anton muttered, glancing around at the eager faces of the crowd. He couldn't understand their fascination.

"What was that?" Eddie asked, not catching his words.

"Nothing," Anton replied, brushing it off.

Anton casually led Eddie and the others through the VIP entrance, stepping into the heart of the Stark Expo.

Technology companies from around the globe were gathered under one roof, each showcasing cutting-edge innovations.

One exhibit after another dazzled attendees, offering a glimpse into the future.

However, the central stage remained empty for the moment, reserved exclusively for a few elite companies.

These were the true heavyweights, such as Stark Industries, Oscorp, and Hammer Industries.

Even though Hammer Industries was often at odds with Stark Industries, Tony Stark hadn't barred them from participating.

To Tony, Hammer Industries wasn't a real competitor—it was a persistent nuisance at best.

In his mind, Hammer Industries was like a fly buzzing around an elephant. Giving it a chance to showcase its wares wouldn't hurt Stark Industries.

What Tony didn't realize was that the "fly" had been plotting to bring down the "elephant."

Suddenly, brilliant lights illuminated the central stage.

A figure Anton hadn't expected stepped into view—Harry Osborn.

"Harry himself? Looks like Oscorp is putting a lot of weight behind this expo," Anton remarked, his brow raised in mild surprise.

"Oscorp hasn't been doing well lately," Eddie explained.

"Since Norman Osborn disappearance, the company has been plagued by internal power struggles.

"Although Justin Hammer failed to seize control, the chaos revealed cracks within Oscorp."

On top of that, the emergence of Iron Man has kicked off an armor arms race, and Oscorp, which lacks expertise in power suits, has been steadily losing market share in the weapons industry.

"Even their long-anticipated limb regeneration technology has been outpaced by Wayne Enterprises, which has captured that market almost overnight.

"They desperately need this expo to regain public attention and boost their stock price."

Armor Craze!

Setbacks in Limb Regeneration Technology!

These two challenges had only added to Oscorp already declining fortunes.

Anton remained unperturbed.

Normal business competition didn't move him to pity, not even for Oscorp.

Even though he had a decent relationship with Harry, Oscorp struggles didn't mean Harry was anywhere near destitute.

Even if profits were down, Harry was still one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet. He could comfortably live off his fortune for several lifetimes.

Besides, Oscorp situation wasn't a total collapse. It had merely shifted from rapid growth to a more conservative stance.

While it might look grim, the company was still making plenty of money—it wasn't a situation that warranted Anton sympathy.

"It seems they're planning to unveil Oscorp latest weaponry at the expo," Eddie observed, noticing the peculiar arrangements around Oscorp exhibit.

Phil, however, stared in shock.

"Isn't that a Goblin Glider?"

He was utterly astonished. "How dare Oscorp showcase something like that? Aren't they afraid it'll lead to someone uncovering the Green Goblin true identity?"

"A glider isn't unique enough to give away any secrets," Anton said coolly. "This is likely just a side act. It not their main reveal."

"Huh?"

Phil was taken aback, his gaze returning to Harry Osborn on the stage as he began his presentation.

Harry, after demonstrating the Glider, stepped onto it himself, soaring into the air. He flew a graceful loop, eliciting gasps and cheers from the audience below.

After soaking in the crowd admiration, Harry returned to the stage, remaining on the floating glider as he continued speaking.

"Oscorp has a vision," he began, his voice steady and confident.

"If Tony Stark can turn over a new leaf, become Iron Man, and a symbol of justice, then Oscorp, too, can shoulder the responsibility of upholding justice."

With that, Harry lifted his wrist, pressing a button on the black watch he was wearing.

Whoosh!

In an instant, his entire body was enveloped in a sleek, black metallic suit.

The crowd erupted in gasps and applause as the black armor shimmered under the stage lights. It exuded an aura of menace and power, reminiscent of something alien.

Anton narrowed his eyes. Something was…off about this display.

"This is... nanotechnology?"

Anton squinted, carefully observing Harry on stage.

Others in the audience, including Tony Stark in a discreet corner and Justin Hammer impatiently awaiting his turn, turned their attention toward Harry with stunned expressions.

They tried to match the technology Harry was showcasing with their existing knowledge, arriving at a seemingly impossible conclusion.

Nano armor?

Oscorp, traditionally weak in armor development, appeared to have carved out a new path. It was an innovation that forced admiration.

"Interesting approach," Tony muttered, rubbing his chin.

For a brief moment, he glanced at his Mark 5 suitcase armor, suddenly finding it outdated.

"Guess I'll need to make some upgrades when I get back," he mused.

But then, his brow furrowed.

"Wait... no."

Tony stared intently at Harry on stage. Something felt... off.

"That not nanotechnology!"

Meanwhile, Anton reached the same conclusion.

"No, it not nanotechnology!"

The armor spreading across Harry body stirred something familiar in Anton memory, though he couldn't immediately place it.

Then, next to him, Eddie visibly tensed.

The symbiote within Eddie—Venom—reacted. Its sharp, instinctive warning rang through his mind, unmistakably sensing a threat.

Eddie face darkened as he spoke, his voice low and grave.

"It not nanotechnology. It... a symbiote!"