"I've seen some things in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secret warehouses." Tony's voice dropped, his teasing tone giving way to something more measured.
"The way you transform—the tentacles, the eye on your forehead—doesn't match anything recorded in Earth's magical systems. You're clearly no ordinary magic user."
"You could say that." Dark Strange spoke as if stating a simple fact.
"I don't mind telling you: I devoured enough demons from Hell to reach this point. Your armor may be based on Celestial technology, but it's still a damaged version.
"And your body can't control that mechanical armor perfectly."
Tony's fingers froze on the control panel. He reviewed all the data from their clash, reassessing the jump in Dark Strange's energy readings after the transformation.
Then he checked the armor's actual output limit at its current level of completion. Every calculation pointed to the same conclusion: he couldn't beat Dark Strange.
He leaned back in the cockpit seat and studied the mage who had stepped in for Russell. Reality had cooled his voice.
"You're saying if I can't beat you, there's no point going to Russell just to humiliate myself. How much stronger is he than you?"
Dark Strange didn't answer immediately.
His six tentacles slowly drew back and dissolved into magical particles. The third eye on his forehead closed and sank beneath his skin as the transformation faded.
"You mean Russell? The gap between him and me is roughly the gap between you and me, multiplied by a number you can't imagine."
It was a matter-of-fact assessment. "I've never fought Russell myself, but I've seen him in action. I know something of his strength.
"So take my advice. If you truly want to challenge him, that Celestial armor won't be enough. At the very least, you'll need the power to command space and time."