Chapter Summaries

Li Si discussed Pandora’s appearance and emotional simulation module, learning why she preferred not to activate it. The conversation ended when Miss Gwen arrived, and Li Si quickly dismissed Pandora’s projection before opening the door.

• Pandora explained that one projected woman was designed around general male preferences, while the other was based on Li Si’s personal data.
• Li Si rejected the blonde projection and told Pandora to keep the black-haired appearance.
• Li Si noticed Pandora was not using her emotional simulation module, and she said it felt unnecessary and affected.
• Li Si accepted Pandora’s choice not to activate the module and asked her to continue studying.
• Pandora reported that Miss Gwen was outside, so Li Si dismissed the projection and hurried to the door.

Li Si received invitations to the Stark Expo, a Senate Armed Services Committee meeting, and the Monaco race, then learned Tony Stark had invited him to race. After Li Si warned Tony about the Senate meeting, an unknown hacker took control of Tony’s Mark Armor and embarrassed him.

• Gwen brought Li Si invitations to the Stark Expo, a Senate Armed Services Committee meeting, and the Monaco race, and urged him to leave his workshop.
• Li Si agreed to attend the Senate meeting in three days and learned that Tony Stark had invited him to the Monaco race to mock his car.
• Li Si warned Tony that he was in trouble after revealing the Senate invitation, then ended the exchange without explaining further.
• Tony asked Jarvis to replay the invitation footage and recognized that Li Si had been called to meet the Senate Armed Services Committee as a weapons expert.
• An unknown hacker malfunctioned Tony’s Mark Armor, making its cooling system and thrusters activate and sending him sprawling in front of the women nearby.
• Jarvis told Tony the hacker had breached his system and could not be traced, and Tony angrily demanded an upgrade.

Li Si and Gwen discussed Pandora’s upgrade into a strong AI, then Li Si explained why he wanted to recruit Ivan Vanko as a mechanical engineer. Unable to find Ivan or his father, Li Si considered using unconventional measures if Ivan refused to cooperate.

• Li Si laughed at Tony Stark’s embarrassment and told Gwen that Pandora had just finished upgrading into a strong AI.
• Gwen told Li Si that their search had failed to find Anton Vanko and Ivan Vanko in Moscow.
• Li Si explained that the Stein Group needed a skilled engineer like Ivan to build complete weapons and equipment.
• Li Si recalled Ivan’s bitterness over his father’s death and the Arc Reactor, which made conventional recruitment difficult.
• Li Si decided to try again later and hinted that he had a less conventional way to deal with Ivan.

Li Si, Max, and Otto Gunther completed Pandora’s Box, a modular integrated combat platform controlled by Pandora. Li Si began testing its systems and ordered the Project Origin armor and remote fire support deployed.

• Li Si visited the testing room and found Max and Otto Gunther assembling a giant black metal chest.
• Li Si ordered Pandora to take control of the platform and ignite its auxiliary reactor, and Pandora confirmed that its systems were operating normally.
• Max and Otto Gunther urged Li Si to test Pandora’s Box, and he agreed while declining to go fight crime.
• Li Si reviewed Pandora’s Box’s modular design, twelve Arc Reactors, defenses, and three forms: Magic Box Form, Guardian Spirit Form, and an assault armor form.
• Li Si ordered Pandora to deploy the Project Origin armor and all remote fire support.

Li Si equipped the newly assembled Project Armor and tested its appearance, systems, and agility. He then disabled the floating units’ automated control to examine their weapons and defensive capabilities.

• Li Si opened Pandora’s Box and assembled its metal components into a black Iron Man Armor with crimson lights.
• Li Si activated the armor’s interface and neural systems, then adjusted its life support after complaining about the smell and stuffiness.
• Li Si inspected a holographic projection of the armor and ordered Pandora to give the cosmetic designer a bonus.
• Li Si disabled the floating units’ automated control after testing the armor’s movements.
• Pandora’s floating units formed ion pulse cannons, electromagnetic cannons, and electromagnetic jammers.

Lee Stein tested his Project Armor and floating devices, handing their control to Pandora before taking flight from Stein Tower. Pandora assembled the devices into metallic wings, and Lee Stein soared through the sky at even greater speed.

• Lee Stein disengaged the floating devices’ automatic control and struggled to control them with neural signals, while Otto Gunther and Max took cover.
• Lee Stein handed control of the floating devices to Pandora and activated his Project Armor’s thrusters.
• Pandora opened the testing room’s skylight as Lee Stein and the floating devices flew up from Stein Tower, drawing attention from people below.
• Lee Stein ordered Pandora to activate Wing Deployment Mode, and the floating devices assembled into enormous wings that boosted his speed.

Lee visited Gwen in his Project Armor and took her flying around Stein Tower, then returned to the laboratory to work on terrain data for Pandora's Box. He planned to prepare ways to persuade Ivan Vanko over the next few days.

• Lee arrived outside Gwen's office in his Project Armor and revealed himself when she opened the window.
• Lee invited Gwen to dance in the sky, used the armor's wings to hold her safely, and flew her around Stein Tower.
• Gwen grew comfortable in the air and danced as Lee carried her through the sky.
• Lee brought Gwen back to Stein Tower after performing his secret dance technique.
• Pandora reported that the general terrain scan was complete, and Lee ordered her to model the available data.
• Lee returned to his workspace, planning to prepare methods to persuade Ivan Vanko now that Pandora's Box was complete.

Li Si attended the Senate hearing where Tony Stark defeated the effort to seize the Iron Man Armor, then argued with Tony over the favors they owed each other. The chapter ended with Tony reminding Li Si to bring his car to Monaco.

• After spending three days in his lab, Li Si flew to Washington for the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing about the Iron Man Armor.
• Tony Stark told the committee that no one could build a miniaturized reactor or armor for five to ten years, declared that he alone could maintain world peace, and won the hearing.
• Li Si held back from revealing that he had already reverse-engineered the Mini Arc Reactor and built armor, deciding to let Ivan Vanko challenge Tony first.
• Outside the Senate building, Tony Stark offered Li Si a drink and teased him, while Li Si reminded Tony of the favors he owed.
• Tony Stark called Li Si a Merchant, and Li Si accepted the label before walking away.
• Tony Stark told Li Si not to forget to bring his little junk car to Monaco, and Li Si waved in acknowledgment.

Li Si and Tony Stark traveled to Monaco aboard Stark’s jet and agreed to compete in both vehicle performance and autonomous driving. During the flight, Stark asked Li Si for cooking advice, and Li Si recommended Chinese hot pot as an easy dish Pepper might enjoy.

• Li Si hitched a ride on Tony Stark’s private jet to Monaco, bringing Gwen along while Pepper Potts traveled with Stark.
• Tony Stark proposed a vehicle competition and then added an on-the-spot contest to write autonomous driving programs for an unmanned race.
• Li Si agreed to compete without letting Pandora help, and he and Stark worked on their programs during the flight.
• Tony Stark asked Li Si about cooking, and Li Si claimed his dishes had impressed Spider-Man.
• Li Si suggested Chinese hot pot as a tasty, easy meal and said Gwen liked it, while Stark denied that his questions had anything to do with Pepper.

Lee and Tony Stark arrived in Monaco for the racing event, where Lee met Tony’s new assistant, Natalie, and recognized her as the undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Natasha Romanoff. Tony tried to hurry Lee away, but Lee challenged his claim that the event schedule had changed.

• Lee and Tony Stark landed in France, then drove to Monaco after their cars arrived.
• At the Monaco Racing Club, Lee teased Happy about leaving Tony’s service, and Tony objected to Lee poaching his employee.
• Gwen went to greet Stein Group business contacts while Lee followed Tony and Pepper Potts around the reception.
• Tony introduced his new assistant Natalie to Lee, who recognized her as Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow working undercover for S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Tony tried to pull Lee out of the reception early, but Lee pointed out that the schedule still gave them time and questioned Tony’s claim that the event had been moved up.

Lee Stein and Tony Stark began their Monaco race with a contest of style, then launched into a close first lap. Tony’s rocket boosters gave his car the lead, but Lee hinted that Bumblebee had received an upgrade as well.

• Lee Stein and Tony Stark arrived at the packed racetrack, where the first round was announced as an autonomous-driving contest.
• Tony Stark called in his car with Jarvis, but Lee Stein used neural interaction to summon Bumblebee in a dramatic drift and won the style showdown.
• Lee Stein mocked Tony Stark’s reliance on voice control, and Tony sulked before the cars took their places at the starting line.
• Lee Stein and Tony Stark raced nearly neck and neck as the crowd cheered for them and their cars.
• Tony Stark activated rocket boosters on his red sports car and pulled ahead, but Lee Stein revealed that Bumblebee had also been upgraded.

Lee Stein and Tony Stark raced their autonomous cars around the Monte Carlo Circuit, where both vehicles revealed Ion Thrusters and Lee claimed Bumblebee had a miniaturized Arc Reactor. Tony’s zigzagging tactic kept him in the lead as the race continued, while Lee hinted at a way to cause trouble without breaking their agreement.

• Tony Stark assumed his car’s early acceleration would keep Bumblebee from overtaking, but Lee Stein revealed Bumblebee’s Ion Thrusters and the crowd cheered as it caught up.
• Tony Stark recognized Bumblebee’s plasma exhaust and asked whether Lee had built a miniature reactor; Lee confirmed it was a miniaturized Arc Reactor and teased him about his earlier claim at the hearing.
• Tony Stark insisted that Bumblebee would still lose, while Lee pointed out that the seventy-eight-lap race had barely begun.
• Tony Stark’s car used a zigzagging tactic to hold the lead as the two autonomous cars raced through dozens of laps and the crowd urged Bumblebee to overtake.
• Tony Stark warned Lee not to fire missiles or break their agreement, and Lee claimed he had no way to interfere with Bumblebee’s autonomous driving.

Gwen told Pepper Potts that Lee Stein still had a hidden advantage, even as Tony Stark led the race and Bumblebee appeared unstable. Bumblebee transformed and launched himself past Tony to win, leaving Lee and Bumblebee celebrated by the crowd.

• Gwen told Pepper Potts that Lee's confident smile suggested he had a last-minute trick prepared.
• Bumblebee began shaking behind Tony Stark's red car, prompting spectators to assume Lee would lose and lament their bets.
• Lee told Tony that Tony was the one losing and pointed toward the track.
• Bumblebee transformed at high speed, launched into the air with plasma streams, landed ahead of Tony, and transformed back into a car.
• Bumblebee crossed the finish line first as the crowd cheered for him and Lee Stein.

Lee Stein defeated Tony Stark in their first race by letting Bumblebee transform, then provoked him with custom music before their driving-skill rematch began. Bumblebee sped ahead as Tony set off in pursuit.

• Tony Stark accused Lee Stein of breaking his word, but Lee argued that Bumblebee had raced within the rules.
• Tony Stark agreed to a rematch focused on driving skill, and the crowd cheered for Lee and Bumblebee.
• Lee played the Pacific Rim soundtrack through Bumblebee’s speakers and told Tony it was his privately commissioned entrance music.
• Tony Stark mocked Lee’s music, so Lee sang a teasing song about Tony before Pandora played it loudly for the crowd.
• The countdown ended, and Bumblebee sped ahead while Tony Stark started his car and chased after it.

Lee Stein activated Bumblebee’s rocket boosters, prompting Tony Stark to prepare a rescue and try to take control of the car. After Lee reassured him over the comms, Tony got distracted and nearly crashed, so Lee stopped and waited for him to catch up.

• Tony Stark saw Lee Stein activate Bumblebee’s rocket boosters and ordered Jarvis to alert the rescue team and take over Bumblebee.
• Jarvis failed to hack Bumblebee, and Lee contacted Tony through the car’s display to ask why he was trying to interfere.
• Lee told Tony that Pandora could take over if the car was about to crash, easing Tony’s concern.
• Tony became distracted by Lee’s explanation and nearly swerved into the guardrails before regaining control.
• Lee slowed Bumblebee to a stop and waited for Tony to catch up so he could not accuse him of cheating.

Lee Stein won the race against Tony Stark, then confirmed he had built a Mini Arc Reactor and discussed the risks of selling its technology. The chapter ended when Lee spotted a disheveled middle-aged man among the track staff.

• Tony Stark restarted his car and followed Lee Stein, but Lee finished the race far ahead of him.
• Tony asked Lee whether the device reported flying out of Stein Tower was an Arc Reactor, and Lee confirmed it.
• Tony warned Lee that powerful interests would target Stein Group for the reactor technology, while Lee said he could sell a weakened version to the Department of Defense.
• Tony suggested Lee charge customers for electricity generated by the reactors, and the two resumed joking with each other.
• Lee noticed a disheveled middle-aged man among the maintenance workers who came to inspect the cars.

Lee Stein confronted Ivan Vanko, who had arrived in Monaco disguised as a maintenance worker to attack Tony Stark. When Ivan’s hidden reactor ignited and he prepared to strike, Lee used Project Armor to stop him, leaving Tony’s fate in Lee’s hands.

• Lee recognized Ivan Vanko among the maintenance crew and offered him a job at the Stein Group, but Ivan refused and continued toward Tony Stark.
• Tony mocked Lee for failing to recruit Ivan, unaware that Ivan was about to attack him.
• Lee saw Ivan’s uniform catch fire and summoned Pandora, who assembled Project Armor around him.
• Lee flew behind Ivan and restrained him by the shoulder just as Ivan activated his reactor and prepared to draw his energy whips.
• Ivan asked whether Lee knew who he was, and Lee confirmed that he knew about Ivan’s plans.

Li Si defeated Ivan Vanko and took the Mini Arc Reactor from him, keeping Ivan alive. As the audience applauded, Tony Stark began putting on his Mark V armor behind Bumblebee.

• Ivan Vanko tried to attack Li Si with his energy whips, but Li Si caught both of them with Project Armor.
• Li Si yanked Ivan Vanko forward, kicked him, dragged him back, and punched him three times in the chest.
• Li Si tore the Mini Arc Reactor from Ivan Vanko and threw the nearly unconscious man to the ground.
• The spectators applauded as Tony Stark began putting on his Mark V armor behind Bumblebee.

Li Si mocked Tony Stark’s Mark Armor and demonstrated that his Project Armor’s greatest advantage was its wearer, attacking Tony in front of the gathered spectators. After Tony got back to his feet, Li Si challenged him to continue fighting.

• Tony Stark finished putting on his suitcase armor and questioned Li Si about his secondary Adamantium armor.
• Li Si criticized Tony’s armor and showed off how his Project Armor could detach into pieces and quickly cover him again.
• Tony mocked Li Si for copying the Mark Armor, so Li Si invited the spectators and reporters closer to explain their difference.
• Li Si declared that the wearer was the difference, then struck Tony with three rapid blows that sent him crashing into the track wall.
• Tony stood back up, called Li Si’s opening attack a sneak attack, and demanded another round.
• Li Si took a fighting stance and challenged Tony to face a beating while wearing his thick armor.

Lee Stein and Tony Stark sparred in their armors above the Monaco racetrack, with Lee overwhelming Tony through theatrical aerial attacks and rapid kicks. Tony and Jarvis struggled to counter him, and the chapter ended with Lee teasing Jarvis while Tony admitted its firewall needed an upgrade.

• Tony Stark charged Lee, but Lee launched him with a knee strike and followed with a series of named aerial attacks.
• Lee attempted a high-speed Buddha's Palm strike, but Tony dodged it and Lee admitted the move was difficult to aim and dangerous to use.
• Tony mocked Lee's failed attack and rushed at him, but Lee sidestepped and kicked him into a rapid barrage of blows.
• Tony asked Jarvis for combat assistance, but Jarvis said Lee's unpredictable attacks and faster reactions prevented it from keeping up.
• Lee denied using an intelligent system and told Tony that Jarvis's algorithms and platform were inadequate, while Tony said he would upgrade its firewall.