Marvel : Super Soldier at the Start

Blake's challenge was childish, like a kindergartener sticking out his bottom and saying, "Come hit me! Come on!" 

But it worked like a charm on Killian. Perhaps it was because the cold winds he endured alone on the rooftop over a decade ago had blown away his composure, or maybe the Extremis virus's heat had left him with a fiery temper. 

Watching Blake and Tony's challenge on TV nearly caused Killian to lose control of his body temperature. In a fit of rage, he melted one table and three chairs before finally regaining some calm. 

Not far from him, Eric Savin, the man who had taken Natasha and Pepper from the Grand Theater in China, casually chewed gum. 

"You don't need to get so worked up. If you're upset about those clowns' boasts, I can teach them a lesson for you. I'd also like to see if that so-called Blake, whose body can withstand bullets, can handle my hands." 

Eric Savin's hands turned into molten lava as he licked his lips and spoke. 

Since acquiring the Space Stone, Blake had rarely used his flame powers in public. Initially, it was due to their limited strength, and later, there simply hadn't been an opportunity. 

As a result, Killian and his team's assessment of Blake's combat abilities remained stuck at the Battle of Wakanda. 

"You can't go. Our plan has just started, and we must secure the Iron Patriot. Everything is for the ultimate goal. Send someone else for now," Killian said expressionlessly, staring at the monitor on the wall. 

The screen showed Natasha and Pepper tied to a chair designed for experiments. 

Meanwhile, Happy could barely move, with only his eyes and two fingers functional. Despite this, he struggled to write "Killian" on a piece of paper. 

"Investigate everything about this person!" Blake handed the paper with Killian's name to Agent Hill. 

"Tony, I think you can take off the armor now. It feels awkward talking to you like this. I swear, Natasha and Pepper will be fine. Trust me!" 

"I know! They'll be fine, but right now… if I take off the armor, I feel like I can't breathe!" 

Blake glanced at Tony, who was completely encased in his armor. 

"Although I know your air circulation system is excellent, if you feel breathing is easier inside the armor, I'll drop the argument…" 

Just as Blake was about to console Tony, J.A.R.V.I.S.'s voice interrupted. 

"Mr. Stark, someone has come to the company to see you. As you know, Happy and Miss Potts are not here, so the executives have triggered the emergency button. I checked—it's a young woman, and according to your taste, she's quite attractive." 

"I'm not in the mood to meet any women right now. J.A.R.V.I.S., send her away. If she refuses, have security escort her out and arrange a car for her." 

Due to Tony's infamous past, it wasn't uncommon for women who had once had flings with him to show up at Stark Industries. 

Some claimed to be his girlfriend, while others even asserted they were carrying his child. 

Normally, Pepper and Happy handled these situations, but with both absent, the company executives, unable to reach Tony and afraid to act on their own, triggered the emergency protocol and contacted J.A.R.V.I.S. 

Two minutes later, J.A.R.V.I.S. spoke again. 

"Mr. Stark, I'm afraid you need to meet this young woman. She says she has information about Miss Potts." 

Blake and Tony exchanged glances. 

Ten seconds later, in one of Stark Industries' meeting rooms...

"Maya Hansen? I hope what you told J.A.R.V.I.S. is true. Don't tell me there's a twelve-year-old boy waiting for me in the car outside." 

In the movie, Tony initially feigned ignorance, but with Pepper absent, he directly called out the woman's name. 

Unlike his other one-night stands, Tony was impressed by this woman's dedication to science and her creativity. 

"I'm surprised you remember me. I'm not joking, Tony. Do you remember Killian?" 

Killian—a name Tony had been hearing more than once recently. 

Maya Hansen began recounting events from over a decade ago: Killian, the fake terrorist "Mandarin," the human experiments Killian conducted, and everything in between. 

"Our project was initially funded by the military, but the results were so unstable, often leading to explosions, that the military cut the funding. Killian even approached Miss Potts for investment, but she turned him down!" 

"So this is revenge because Pepper rejected his investment proposal?" 

Tony sounded incredulous. 

"No. It's actually because the Extremis virus was incredibly unstable. Remember that exploding plant? From plants to humans... because of the formula you casually scribbled for me back then..." 

Maya pointed to Tony's head and made a helpless expression. 

"So they think I can solve the instability issue, and that's why they kidnapped Pepper?" 

Tony suddenly felt like he'd been played for a fool. It turned out the entire chain of events was his doing. 

The so-called terrorist was a poor scientist he had forgotten on a rooftop years ago, and their core technology and weapons stemmed from a formula he had casually jotted down. 

"Exactly. But what happened at the Grand Theater in China was an accident. A retired soldier who had undergone our experiments exploded there. Your girlfriends just happened to be in the vicinity, so they were taken along as a convenient afterthought." 

Maya Hansen's speech became faster, her urgency evident. 

"One last question. Why should I trust you? You worked with Killian for over a decade on this project. Why are you choosing to tell me all of this now?" 

Tony's skepticism was apparent. 

"Because my original goal was to use this for limb regeneration in humans, not to create terrifying biochemical weapons that turn people into indestructible monsters who can become molten lava or explode. Killian wants to use this to build an army. That's not what I signed up for!" 

Maya Hansen shook her head emphatically. 

"You have to believe me. We don't have much time. I'm not sure if anyone followed me here. We need to find a safe place and figure out our next steps." 

Her urgency increased. 

"You have no idea how terrifying those who've succeeded are. They're completely impervious to damage. Even if you cut off their limbs, they regenerate instantly. And they can emit heat of up to 3,000 degrees!" 

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

You can get access to early chapters on patr*on.

If you like my work and you want to support me then you can become my patron on patre*n.

My patr*on account is S_Pandey_0170