Tony Stark and Orochimaru

In the Malibu night sky, the sea breeze, carrying a damp, salty scent, lapped against the cliffside villas. Amidst the crashing waves, a chilling chuckle was also heard.

Hehehehe...

Tony frowned.

On the HUD interface, the villa's external security system was completely paralyzed, with red warnings flashing continuously.

"Sir, the external camera is malfunctioning; a high-energy reactive substance has been detected approaching." JARVIS's voice was calm, but his nervousness was undeniable.

"Who else could it be? The paparazzi with rocket launchers?" Tony sneered, flicking his wrist as the Iron Man armor module snapped shut from the experimental arm.

"Start Mk3".

"Beep--Beep--Lock complete."

The HUD lights up, and the blue arc light flashes suddenly.

Before the villa's gate, a snake-like shadow twisted, and a figure slowly walked into the light. A pale face, golden pupils, and a ferocious smile.

"Tony Stark."

The deep voice, like a venomous snake hissing in the night, said, "A body of steel, a heart of energy... Heh heh, so that's how it is. This is the power you rely on for survival?"

Tony raised an eyebrow and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Sorry, friend, this is proprietary technology. If you're a patent attorney, I have to tell you, you've come to the wrong set."

Orochimaru lightly licked his lips with the tip of his tongue.

"I'm just a researcher... I'm just particularly curious about what you'd look like if I peeled you out."

"Disgusting," Tony muttered subconsciously, his chest flashlight suddenly blazing. "JARVIS, lock onto this pervert!"

The HUD quickly scanned the target, but the signal instantly distorted. The screen flickered with static, as if the whole world was being disrupted by a strange force.

"Mental interference?" Tony's pupils contracted.

Orochimaru slowly raised his hand, his body surrounded by swirling snake shadows.

"Heh heh heh... Tony Stark, let's see which is stronger, your steel or my life magic."

Tony snorted and pushed his palms out.

"Fine, snake-faced monster. But you've picked the wrong person."

--boom!!!

The arc light cannon on his chest unleashed a torrent of energy, blue and white beams of energy piercing the night sky like thunder.

The shockwave ripped through the sand, sending it flying several meters away, and a wave of scorching heat swept across the villa's outer corridor.

"Hit!" the HUD displayed.

Tony's lips had just curled into a smile when he saw countless snake shadows surging in the smoke, their broken bodies writhing in the flames, before finally coalescing into human form.

Orochimaru was unharmed, and his smile widened.

"Hehehe... Not bad firepower, but is this all you've got?"

Tony was shocked. "Damn, this freak is way tougher than a terrorist!"

--Boom boom boom!

The missile bay on its back popped out, and several miniature guided rockets streaked across the sky, trailing flames.

Orochimaru Hand Seals, and a scarlet snake shadow shot into the sky in an instant.

Boom--

A massive serpentine barrier suddenly rose from the ground, and the rocket exploded upon impact, only creating a Kakkō and scattered scales.

Tony was shocked: This is not scientific!

Orochimaru's figure flashed, transforming into countless white snakes that soared into the sky, instantly appearing before Tony's armor.

Countless snake-like shadows coiled around the steel arms and legs, the force so great that the cabin emitted a piercing screeching sound.

"Your armor... hehehe, it really is a good experimental subject." Orochimaru's laughter was sinister.

Tony sneered, and arcs of electricity suddenly crackled across the armored arm.

"Electrosh mode activated!"

Sizzle--!

The high-voltage current was released instantly, and the snake shadow exploded with a mournful cry, the smell of burning filling the air.

Orochimaru, however, remained unconcerned, his eyes flashing with excitement. "Electromagnetic energy? Heh heh heh, it can even mimic a natural lightning strike... Not bad, not bad."

Tony felt a chill run down his spine. "Imitation? This guy is studying me?"

"JARVIS, full power!"

The arc light on his chest suddenly surged, releasing a burst of energy.

Orochimaru was hit and his figure was blasted directly into the sea, creating towering waves.

Tony gasped for breath, cold sweat trickling down his neck from behind his mask.

"It's over?"

The waves surged and suddenly, a giant white snake burst forth from the waves, its mouth revealing the upper body of Orochimaru, its tongue flicking out, its laughter maniacal.

"Hehehehe... What a delightful power! Mr. Stark, your steel is merely an outer shell, while my magic can endlessly regenerate!"

Tony's eye twitched violently, and he cursed under his breath.

"JARVIS, calculate the remaining energy."

"43% of core energy remains, sir."

Tony's lips twitched. He'd only been playing for a few minutes, and he was already more than half exhausted.

This isn't a fight, it's a brawl with cheaters!

Orochimaru's clones appeared one after another, and the black shadows emerged from the snake's mouth, transforming into one Orochimaru after another, completely surrounding the villa's outer corridor.

Tony looked up; the HUD screen was covered with a dense array of red warnings.

"... Fuck, what the hell is this?!"

Orochimaru chuckled, and dozens of identical faces opened their mouths simultaneously. "Mr. Stark, your armor is only for shooting and defense, while I possess endless means."

Tony sneered and raised his hand to activate the rocket pod on his shoulder.

"You think I only know how to shoot bullets? Try something more sophisticated."

Dozens of high-explosive shells were launched simultaneously, exploding in the night sky like fireworks.

Kakkō shot into the sky, and the clone was engulfed by a series of explosions.

However, in the aftermath of the explosion, even more snake shadows rose up again.

Tony gritted his teeth, a sense of unease rising within him for the first time.

"This guy... isn't human at all!"

Orochimaru licked his lips, his gaze playful. "Heh heh heh... You're quite good, Tony Stark. Like me, you're someone who 'breaks the mold'."

Tony paused, then sneered, "Don't disgust me. I don't associate with perverts."

Orochimaru's laughter was deep, his eyes flashed with golden light, and his voice carried a seductive whisper:

"Don't rush to refuse. You'll understand—science is ultimately just another form of forbidden art."

The next instant, he flicked his finger, and runic light suddenly appeared, rushing straight towards Tony's visor.

"Sir, your brain has been invaded by a substance!" JARVIS warned urgently.

Tony's heart skipped a beat, and his vision blurred instantly, as if the entire HUD had transformed into countless writhing snake shadows, enveloping him.

His body was tightly pressed down, and the steel armor seemed to deform, turning into pitch-black snake scales.

Tony was horrified—it was an illusion, yet it felt incredibly real.

"Hehehehe..." Orochimaru's laughter echoed in my mind. "Mr. Stark, you are now my experimental subject."

Tony gritted his teeth and clenched his fist.

"JARVIS - Emergency Countermeasures!"

--Sizzle!

A powerful electromagnetic pulse instantly spread from the armor, and the HUD was restored abruptly.

The illusion shattered, and Orochimaru's talisman was also shaken apart.

Tony gasped for breath, his heart sinking.

"Fuck... I almost got screwed."

He looked up and saw that the energy level on his armor's chest had dropped to 27%.

Orochimaru remained standing on the sea, his body surrounded by swirling snake shadows, his smile growing even wider.

"Hehehe... Very good, very good! As expected of a genius. Indeed, you and I are both worthy of study."