That was precisely why Tony Stark kept pulling ahead, only for the Fire Dragon to steadily catch up time and again!
Watching the Fire Dragon draw ever closer behind him, Tony Stark wanted to accelerate further, but J.A.R.V.I.S. poured cold water on the idea.
"Sir, the thrusters are already operating at their maximum load. If you increase the output any further, they will soon be damaged!"
Tony Stark wrestled with the decision for quite a while after hearing that. Even when the Fire Dragon had flown right up behind him, he still said nothing.
He had designed and built the Iron Man suit himself, so he naturally knew J.A.R.V.I.S. was right. Even if he took the risk and increased the power again, shaking off the Fire Dragon for a short while, the thrusters simply could not sustain such an extreme load for long. Either they would fail outright, leaving him completely unable to fly, or he would have to return to his current speed and be overtaken by the Fire Dragon again before long!
In the end, Tony Stark rationally chose to give up. He turned to watch the Fire Dragon overtake him, sending Chen Mo—standing proudly atop its head—a resentful look as he swiftly vanished into the distance.
The cloaking device that had been practically within his grasp had just flown away!
Tony Stark was both furious and frustrated. If he had known this would happen, he should have installed a few more thrusters on Mark XLII. Aside from the soles of his feet, palms, and back, he could have put thrusters on his chest, beneath his ribs, buttocks, knees, even his crotch. With full thrust, he could have left that Fire Dragon in the dust in seconds!
But it was too late to say any of that now.