Fang Bie gently held the weightless Lightsaber in his hand, a hint of emotion in his voice, "I never imagined I'd get to use something so sci-fi in my lifetime!"
"The things from your world are far more sci-fi than anything I create!" Tony chuckled, having settled Pepper in the deepest Laboratory level. This was now a battle led by the four men.
Upstairs, a group of mercenaries continued their aggressive advance from the Doorway. However, they were well aware of the sheer number of unpredictable Weapons this Genius inventor, who made his fortune in military arms, possessed within the Villa, so they proceeded with extreme caution.
Obadiah continued his lengthy monologue, "Tony, when I ordered your pursuit, I thought I was merely eliminating a golden goose. But it seems you've brought me back another one as well!"
"You shut down Stark Industries' Weapon trade, ushered in a new age of Energy, and even unleashed this... Smartphone! I must admit, I'm somewhat reluctant to kill you!"
Obadiah continued his rambling, producing a voice-activated paralysis Device which he gently placed on the Table. In his mind, they were still cowering behind the Sofa, just a few meters away.
He was practically assured of victory, hence the time for his final pronouncements, "Having laid such golden eggs, you two can now be on your way! Rest assured, I will ensure your deaths are remembered by the World!"
"Remember this Sound Paralysis Device you invented? Regrettably, it didn't pass the review, preventing mass production. However, it's more than sufficient to deal with you!"
Obadiah wasn't merely indulging in bravado while holding the advantage; he was actually stalling for time to activate his Device.
Everyone present was intelligent; they wouldn't allow him to activate the Device so carelessly. Besides, this was Tony's Home, a Place renowned worldwide for its top-tier security measures.
"Buzz!" A piercing, high-pitched electronic whine filled the air. The mercenaries quickly donned earmuffs, blocking out the Sound.
Obadiah, already wearing smart voice-recognition earplugs, easily shielded himself from the Sound. He then waved to the mercenaries, signaling them to advance.
"Haha! Let's see Tony and his Genius little protégé, and our charming Miss Potts, and of course, the ever-persistent Agent..." Obadiah declared triumphantly, brandishing the Sound Paralysis Device.
"Report, Mr. Stan, they're gone!" A mercenary reported promptly. Several men violently overturned the Sofa, only to find that those who had been hiding behind it had vanished.
Only a standing steel plate remained, behind which was a Hole Entrance just large enough for a person to pass through.
The atmosphere instantly turned awkward. An unnatural flush crept across Obadiah's rough face. All Sound abruptly ceased, and the Air became unnervingly still.
In this tense atmosphere, they failed to notice that the Hole Entrance showed no signs of industrial finishing. It looked as if it had been freshly punched out, the smooth edges still bearing the marks of recent friction.
"Find them! Find them now! I want the true Core Content of that Smartphone, and the Reactor in his chest! Dead or alive!" Obadiah roared, his composure shattering like a startled hedgehog, violently shoving the Soldiers around him.
The microphone in his hand crackled to life. "Seal off all routes in the Surroundings! Don't let a fly in or out, even if the sky falls, you hold the line!"
His facade completely shattered, the usual amiable Smile vanished from his Face, replaced by a red-eyed, hideous visage.
"Put on these Earplugs. This sonic wave will completely disrupt your nervous systems, causing paralysis for at least fifteen minutes. If he controls you, we'll be like Sheep to the slaughter!" Tony retrieved several mechanical Earplugs from a nearby Cabinet and handed them out. "Now, it's our turn to fight back!"
"I'll go give them a little surprise!" Fang Bie declared over his shoulder, not pausing in his stride. The Hole Entrance above remained, though he had hastily blocked it with several Stones. "Time to spice things up a bit!"
"The mercenaries are my problem. Just give me a Gun and enough Bullets." Coulson's usual amiable demeanor vanished, replaced by a chilling intensity.
Regardless of how outwardly calm and affable Coulson appeared, his true identity was that of a Level 8 Agent of the Shield Bureau. Only a handful within Shield Bureau reached his rank.
In fact, he was one of the direct successors to the Director of Shield Bureau. His Agent skills weren't honed through negotiation; they were forged in the fires of real combat, earned through actual kills!
"Jarvis, relay their positions!" Tony spoke casually to the air, brandishing his Lightsaber as he headed towards the Laboratory below.
"Tony? Where are you going now?" Fang Bie asked, a hint of confusion in his voice. He had just sealed the Hole Entrance and was preparing to join Coulson in taking out the mercenaries upstairs.
"The entire Mountain is surrounded. We need reinforcements!" Tony gestured to a screen that materialized on the Wall, displaying footage from strategically placed Cameras, revealing the formidable ring of Guards encircling the Mountain.
"Don't worry, just stay put here. If I don't send word within ten minutes, someone will come looking for me!" Coulson chuckled softly. "Just ensure your own safety; someone will deal with those outside on our behalf!"
"Alright!" Fang Bie ignited the Lightsaber in his hand, the silver-blue Radiance illuminating the Air. "It's been a while since I last got my hands dirty. Hope I'm not too rusty!"
His physique was fundamentally different from that of an Ordinary Person. In his World, he could effortlessly leap from Stones several meters high and face Zombies of immense Strength head-on. He didn't even know his own limits.
Having spent so long in this World, if Fang Bie hadn't been keen on experiencing genuine high-tech and witnessing the birth of Iron Man firsthand, he would likely have found a reason to return long ago.
Now that the Threat was upon them, instead of passively awaiting their doom, it was better to nip that Threat in the bud!
"We can't let Obadiah get his hands on these Things! He's already been funneling Military Arms to Terrorist Organizations. If he truly gets these Things, he'll plunge the entire World into panic!"
Tony, a man of true understanding, clearly grasped the immense Strength a new Energy source could unleash upon the World if weaponized.
End of Chapter