Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Who Are You?
A/N: Wish you guys you a merry christmas, have fun you all.
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Downey sent back a reply and waited patiently. This mysterious group had gone through the trouble of delivering a phone to him in the middle of a chaotic battle—clearly, there was some hidden agenda.
Why else would they choose such a dangerous moment to hand over a phone instead of assisting him in the fight?
It seemed like a deliberate distraction, a way to conceal their true intentions. They made their move while everyone else was watching, tossing him a phone in broad daylight before disappearing.
Any intelligent observer would have seen right through the act. No one who witnessed the scene would believe there was no ulterior motive.
Soon, another message came through: Someone wants to kill you.
Downey chuckled grimly, replying with, Stop playing games, and tossed the phone aside. It was almost laughable.
There were many people out there who wanted him dead; he didn't need a cryptic message to confirm that.
Both those looking to recruit him and those plotting his demise were ever-present dangers.
The only reason they hadn't struck yet was because of the precarious balance of power among the larger factions, all held in check by mutual distrust.
"I need to increase my combat power," Downey muttered to himself. Optimus Prime alone wouldn't be enough to protect him from everything coming his way.
His ability to control machines through the All Spark could allow him to transform multiple vehicles simultaneously, but that had its limitations.
Without access to materials like vibranium or adamantium for heavy armor, his reliance on a larger army of Transformers was inevitable.
Even so, building an army wasn't enough if his personal defense remained vulnerable.
Unlike the indestructible Wolverine, Downey's physical enhancements from the All Spark didn't make him immune to serious threats like nuclear radiation or powerful energy blasts. He wasn't invincible.
Despite his formidable abilities, Downey knew there were many mutants who would pale in comparison to his third-level combat prowess.
His All Spark powers gave him an edge, but he still faced severe limitations. If he could one day acquire something like the Mind Stone, his potential could skyrocket.
That stone would allow him to master control over both machines and minds, propelling him to the status of a creator—perhaps even to the point of resurrecting the planet Cybertron.
But for now, survival was his priority. He needed to focus on the immediate threat—building more Transformers and improving his defenses.
Downey drove to a nearby junkyard, hoping to find useful vehicles. He was disappointed to find most of the cars in poor condition.
Even the ones that could still run would require extensive repairs. After a long search, he settled on an old, nearly scrapped sports car.
Though it had clearly been luxurious in its prime, time had not been kind to it. The junkyard's administrator demanded $30,000, arguing that the car's original value had been in the millions.
Downey sighed, knowing he didn't have time to haggle, and reluctantly handed over the money.
"This place might be useful later," Downey thought to himself, imagining a day when he could use the junkyard to mass-produce Transformers. But for now, he needed quality over quantity.
Downey next approached the administrator about finding a high-performance motorcycle.
The man, puffing lazily on a cigarette, suggested a well-known refitting master who had a reputation for building powerful custom machines.
After a quick call, the administrator handed Downey a scribbled address. "Go here. You'll find the modification master. He's a well-known guy in racing circles."
With that, Downey tied the newly acquired sports car to Optimus Prime, using the larger robot to tow it back toward the city.
Once in the city, Downey stored the sports car in a garage and headed to the address provided by the administrator.
The location was a rundown, obscure bar in an abandoned part of town—a surprising sight in a bustling metropolis like New York. Despite the dilapidation, Downey couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to this place.
At the entrance, a group of shady gatekeepers gave him a once-over, their eyes gleaming with suspicion. "Are you looking for the mod master?" one of them asked, with a crooked smile.
"Yes," Downey replied, not missing the sarcastic tone in their voices.
"Sure, go right in. The 'master' you're looking for is inside," one of the guards mocked, waving him through with a laugh.
Something felt off, but Downey walked in anyway, determined to find out more. The bar itself was much larger than it seemed from the outside.
The underground space was packed with people, dancing wildly to deafening music under dim, flashing lights. It was a strange, almost hypnotic scene.
Approaching the bar, Downey asked the bartender, "Is the modification master here?"
The bartender, an older man with gray hair, looked at him for a long moment before replying, "Yeah, we've got a car mod expert here, but this isn't the place for you, kid. You should leave."
Downey's eyes narrowed as he scanned the room. Suddenly, a man at the bar turned to look at him. "Who are you? Are you new around here?" the stranger asked, his tone laced with suspicion.
Downey noticed a tattoo on the man's neck—a symbol that immediately made his blood run cold.
It was unmistakable. The man was part of the Ha Ga Clan, a group known for serving vampires.
In an instant, everything clicked. The strange glances from the gatekeepers, the odd location—it all made sense now. Downey had wandered into a nest of vampire servants.
"Great," Downey muttered under his breath. "Just what I needed—vampires."
His heart sank. One bite from these creatures and it would be all over. He'd always prided himself on his vigilance, but this time he had been led straight into a trap. Whoever had sent him here had known exactly what they were doing.
"I swear, when I find out who set me up like this, they'll pay." Downey's thoughts turned dark as he prepared for a fight.
The situation had just taken a dangerous turn.
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Let us watch as the mystery is revealed