Lu Wen: Homelander, I get you!

That same morning~

While Tony was tearing through Miami, Lu Wen had just woken up in Happy's hospital room.

After stretching to loosen up, Lu Wen glanced at the injured Happy and placed a hand on his big belly.

"Venom, heal this fatty! He's got plenty of fat. You can burn some of it to make his brain produce more phenethylamine. You'll get a feast and help him lose weight while you're at it."

"No problem, boss! I'd be happy to!" Venom's excited voice rang out in Lu Wen's mind.

Black slime sank into Happy's body. The injuries on his face rapidly healed, and his round belly visibly shrank.

Inside him, Venom frantically converted fat into energy, stimulating the production of phenethylamine to feed on.

"All right, you can come out now. Don't forget to let him sleep a little longer." Deciding that was enough, Lu Wen called Venom back.

Venom obediently separated from Happy's body and returned to Lu Wen.

Happy was still snoring away, but he had gone from a fat man back to a burly one.

Turning around, Lu Wen saw Baymax waving at him.

Once Lu Wen came closer, Baymax said quietly, "Mr. JARVIS contacted me. He and Tony need your help."

"Got it."

Now that JARVIS was back online, things would be easy. It was time to make his presence felt with Tony again.

After all, their relationship was more business than friendship at the moment.

After everyone in the hospital room woke up, Lu Wen took Pepper aside to talk, away from the commotion in the room.

There was no helping it. Happy had recovered overnight and even lost weight in the process, causing quite a stir at the hospital! The medical staff kept calling it a miracle from God.

"JARVIS has contacted Baymax. They're fine, and Tony's planning to go to Miami tonight for a final showdown with Killian."

Pepper's expression shifted as she quickly analyzed the information in Lu Wen's two simple statements.

"Is he alone right now?"

"No, Colonel Rhodes is with him! But you know Tony. He's used to shouldering everything alone, and his anxiety makes it hard not to worry..."

Pepper fell silent for a few seconds. "You want me to go?"

"Do you want to?"

Pepper looked up at him. "How would we get there? Is there still time to arrange a helicopter?"

"No need. My Glider can carry you. Once we get there, just find somewhere safe and stay airborne! Besides, seeing you there will do more for Tony than anything anyone could say."

Pepper lowered her head and thought for a while. When she looked up again, her expression was firm. "I'll go."

That afternoon, Lu Wen confirmed the coordinates of Tony's target, thanks in no small part to Baymax! Tony might complain, but the access he granted JARVIS was second only to Pepper Potts's! After interfacing with Baymax's system, JARVIS also had a particularly high level of trust in Baymax.

Happy had been transferred from intensive care to a private suite, where he was still admiring his physique...

Baymax stayed beside him to continue monitoring him. Maya was placed next door, under the watch of Stark Industries security personnel.

Lu Wen walked onto the rooftop and took out his largest Glider. "Let's go. Hold on tight and don't let go."

Pepper took a deep breath, stood behind Lu Wen, and gripped his belt with both hands.

Lu Wen handed her a wrist guard-not the Laser Wrist Blades, but one used to assist with controlling the Glider.

The Glider rose into the air. Lu Wen adjusted its altitude and heading, then flew toward Miami.

At Miami's oil terminal, searchlights swept continuously across the entire dock. Extremis Soldiers who had survived their injections of the Extremis Virus guarded every corner.

Killian sat in his office, carefully checking every step of the plan ahead.

For some reason, he kept feeling uneasy.

Tony and Rhodey sneaked into the terminal and saw the current president suspended in midair, wearing the Iron Patriot armor.

Just as gunmen forced them behind cover and they were preparing to work out their next attack, a hand landed on each of their shoulders.

"Aah!" × 2

Two screams pierced the night sky. Both men tried to turn around, but the large hands on their shoulders held them immobile.

"Don't scream like little girls. Neither of you is that young, you old geezers." Lu Wen leaned his head between theirs and whispered into their ears like a demon.

"Fuck! You think we wanted to fucking scream?"

"You asshole! Don't you know you could scare someone to death like that?"

Tony and Rhodey cursed indignantly. In their agitation, they nearly caught bullets with their scalps.

"Calm down. I was just giving you a surprise."

"I don't think a scare like that counts as a pleasant surprise." Lu Wen had turned Rhodey's frosted-black complexion matte black~ In the pitch-dark shadows, all that could be seen were two big eyeballs and a set of bright white teeth floating there.

Rhodey had met Lu Wen once after the Battle of New York. They weren't close, but he could at least recognize him.

Tony patted his chest and gave Lu Wen a massive eye roll.

"What are you doing here? I don't remember calling you."

"You didn't, but JARVIS told Baymax, and Baymax thought you needed help, so he came to get me."

"And I brought your girlfriend along, too. No need to thank me. It was on the way."

As he spoke, Lu Wen released them and stepped aside, revealing Pepper Potts standing on the Glider behind him.

Tony looked past Lu Wen and saw Pepper standing behind him. His mouth opened, then closed. He turned back to stare at Lu Wen and lowered his voice. "Why the fuck did you bring her here?"

"So you could see her, in case you suddenly lose it and have no one to comfort you."

"Fuck you!" Tony emphatically gave him the middle finger.

"Don't get worked up. You've still got me, haven't you? Just wait. Watch me show off." Lu Wen gave him a confident look.

Pepper walked up to Tony and straightened his slightly crooked collar. "Finish this fight first. We'll talk afterward."

Looking at Pepper's slightly haggard face, Tony swallowed everything he had wanted to say. He only nodded and said, "Make sure you stay safe."

Pepper nodded and stepped back onto the Glider. Flying silently, it slipped soundlessly into the night sky...

Tony watched her disappear into the sky before looking away and turning to Lu Wen, his expression far more serious than before. "How many can you take?"

Lu Wen poked his head out and scanned the terminal. More than thirty Extremis Soldiers, orange light glowing beneath their skin, were poised to attack, all looking in their direction.

"All those small fry are mine. You go find their boss."

Rhodey asked quietly from beside him, "This guy's that confident?"

Tony didn't answer, but his eyes said it all.

"Watch closely. Let me show you what overwhelming stats look like!"

With that, Lu Wen walked out as casually as if he were browsing a mall, paying no one any mind.

[Kill Extremis Soldiers-bounty points: 500 each]

Perfect. Under the system mission, these small fry could be exchanged for points, too! His meager points balance would finally get a boost!

Tony and Rhodey tried to stop him, but when they saw bullets coming from every direction strike Lu Wen and leave nothing but sparks, they relaxed.

What else could we say? Fine, you're a badass!

The nearest Extremis Soldier charged first, raising a blazing-hot fist and swinging it down at his head.

Lu Wen sidestepped and thrust a hand back! His hand punched straight through the man's chest. Searing heat scorched his arm, instantly burning his sleeve away.

Lu Wen grabbed the man's shoulder with his other hand and unleashed dozens of tons of force, ripping him in half down the middle!

The scalding blood burned small holes in the steel plating beneath his feet. Lu Wen casually tossed the two rapidly cooling halves of the corpse onto the ground.

Even the Extremis Virus couldn't repair injuries that severe.

Lu Wen slowly raised his head and looked at everyone stunned by his display, the corners of his mouth curling into the same smile Homelander wore.

Now he fully understood how Homelander felt!

More and more Extremis Soldiers surged forward, their combined heat making the air ripple.

Meanwhile, on the other side...

Tony: "Give me a magazine!"

Rhodey: "Wrong model. Can't."

Rhodey: "Give me a suit of armor, buddy~"

Tony: "Wrong size. Can't."