Half a month later, Tony Stark, having implemented numerous enhancements to the Mark VI armor schematics—an evolution of his prior designs post-Extremis and akin to his Bleeding Edge model from The Invincible Iron Man comics—received a mission prompt from the Main God Space. The next operation was scheduled to commence in three days.
Tony frowned upon reading the notification. Everything seemed to be happening at once. He had just arranged a short getaway with Pepper Potts—finally honoring a promise he'd postponed since the aftermath of his confrontation with the Phoenix Five in Avengers vs. X-Men.
For two weeks, there had been complete silence from the Main God Space, and now, just when he had decided to take a breather, duty called again. It was almost comical, in the worst possible way.
He sighed. There was no avoiding it—Pepper would have to postpone the trip. But before parting, Tony was determined to do something meaningful for her, a gesture that could communicate everything he wasn't sure he could say outright.
After surviving a harrowing abduction—similar to his origin in Tales of Suspense #39—and barely making it out of the Umbrella Corporation's world in the Resident Evil-type scenario, Tony had begun viewing his closest relationships with new perspective. The once-flamboyant billionaire playboy had grown, not unlike the transition seen in Civil War: The Confession, where Tony's internal reflections laid bare his vulnerability.
He now understood how fragile life was. Any mission could be his last. As Alfred once told Bruce Wayne in Batman: Hush, "Sometimes we fall so we can learn to pick ourselves up"—a truth that now rang clear to Tony.
But there was one thing he couldn't do: leave without seeing Pepper. It was time to be honest and give her something that might keep her safe.
The next afternoon, Pepper, who had been drowning in corporate responsibilities at Stark Industries—especially with recent S.H.I.E.L.D. oversight post-Dark Reign—forced herself to take a few hours off to see Tony.
"Pepper, you look amazing today," Tony said, clad in a sharp charcoal suit, a light pink gift box tucked in one hand—reminiscent of the quieter moments they had shared in Iron Man Vol. 5.
"Well, looks like the infamous playboy's learned new compliments. Missed me, huh?" Pepper's smile was bright, and for a moment, the weight of her CEO duties faded.
"I mean every word," Tony replied, taking her hand. "Come on, I've got something planned. Let's not stay here."
She laced her fingers through his, allowing herself to be swept away.
After a romantic rooftop candlelight dinner—Stark-style elegance infused with a soft jazzy AI-generated playlist—Tony took a deep breath. For the first time since the Armor Wars saga, he felt unsure of himself.
"Pepper, I got you something," he said as he placed the box on the table between them.
Pepper looked at the box, and her thoughts immediately spun—Is it a diamond? A proposal? A version of the synthetic engagement ring from Superior Iron Man?
Tony chuckled at her distracted gaze. "Pepper? Earth to Pepper!"
"Huh? Sorry," she said, snapping back to reality.
"Come here," he said, beckoning her.
She joined him, curiosity growing.
Taking her hand gently, he said, "This is something I've poured months into. I hope you like it."
As soon as her hand touched the box, it began unfolding, shifting with a nano-tech fluidity similar to the Model Prime Armor seen in Invincible Iron Man (2015). Microcomponents surged up her arm like liquid mercury, forming a sleek, silver-red exo-shell.
Pepper remained still, trusting Tony implicitly.
Seconds later, a synthetic voice rang out, "Welcome, Ms. Potts, to your custom Stark Armor interface."
Pepper blinked. This wasn't what she imagined. No ring, no flowers—just cutting-edge engineering.
"What is this, Tony?" she asked softly, a mix of surprise and mild disappointment in her tone.
"It's a one-of-a-kind armor I designed for you. It'll protect you—when I can't," Tony said with a warmth that came from somewhere beyond all his bravado.
Her heart skipped. But the phrasing lingered.
"Protect me for you? Where are you going?"
"I leave tomorrow... for a mission outside this world. But I'll return. I swear it. Because I know someone is waiting for me."
Pepper held back her rising emotion, nodded, and whispered, "I believe in you. I'll wait."
Tony embraced her without another word. J.A.R.V.I.S. understood the moment and discreetly retracted the armor.
Later, as they sat side by side, the suit converted into a streamlined bracelet, hidden under her jacket sleeve.
"I've granted you top-level clearance in J.A.R.V.I.S.' system," Tony added. "If something happens, he'll guide you. Don't hand over the armor—unless it's absolutely necessary. And if it's damaged, J.A.R.V.I.S. can handle repairs."
Tony's words, though reassuring, carried an undertone of finality that made Pepper uneasy. She leaned in, kissed him, and for a moment, the world stood still.
The next day, Tony was alone in his workshop. He wore the Mark III suit, gripped an anti-Ajay combat module in one hand—crafted to counter tech users like Ajay from the Legends team—and an anti-Alice module in the other, designed after their harrowing brush with the mutated bioweapons of the Resident Evil universe.
On his back, a compact black case—coded "Ajie"—rested quietly, holding contingency equipment.
As the timer hit zero, Qi Yun initiated the deployment through the Main God Space. In a flash of violet-blue light, Tony, Alice, and Ajie were pulled into a swirling dimensional gate.
This operation had zero margin for error. Its failure would mean the collapse of years of development in the Lord God Space initiative—an experiment similar in ambition to Reed Richards' Council of Reeds or Brainiac's multiversal probes in DC: Convergence.
Qi Yun monitored the mission intently. Qiqi, seated beside him, clenched her hands in quiet panic. One of her dearest companions was now on the front lines.
When Tony regained consciousness, he realized he hadn't materialized directly in a parallel world as before. Instead, he was in a blank, fluctuating dimension, like a waiting room between realities—reminiscent of the Bleed from The Authority and DC's Multiversity.
His enhanced cognitive implants—upgraded from his Extremis days—flashed with system alerts. His head throbbed violently.
[Mission alert: Danger level high. Monitor Main God Space feed continuously and assume role with caution…]
[Support active: Personal dimensional inventory unlocked…]
[Current mission mode: Co-op kill mission. Eliminate hostiles for rewards based on threat level…]
[Acquiring identity... Current alias: Mercenary. ← Tap to view profile.]
Mercenary Identity
Name: Tony Stark
Background: You are a freelance soldier tasked with escorting a high-value target through hostile terrain…
Tony absorbed the info in seconds. With a mental command, he transferred all armor units—including the stealth Ajie armor—into the ten-slot inventory grid, which bore a layout suspiciously similar to the loadout system in X-Men: Destiny or even Resident Evil 4.
Satisfied with the flexibility and freedom of his mercenary cover, Tony tightened his stance. It was time to blend in—and survive.