After two days spent moving his things, Rimuru finally settled into his large Chinese-style manor. There hadn't actually been much to move, just some clothes Pepper and Tony had bought him. The underground laboratory still needed to be built, and there was no way that would be finished anytime soon. As soon as the living quarters were renovated, Rimuru hurriedly moved in. Ever since last time, Tony had been coming to him every day to discuss armor, and Rimuru had no idea what had gotten into him. He was nearly annoyed to death.
Just as Rimuru was indulging in the pleasures and decadence of a wealthy life in his grand manor, a ringing phone interrupted it all. The caller ID showed Pepper Potts.
"Hi, big sis Pepper!"
"Rimuru, do you know what's going on with Tony? I've called him several times, but he hasn't picked up. I'm worried he might have run into trouble, but I can't get away right now. Could you go check on him?"
The call snapped Rimuru right out of his happy life. The story is getting close to the end, isn't it? Is it happening this fast? But the timeline isn't right. It isn't even dark yet. Isn't it still the afternoon?
System: "Listen to yourself. If the story stayed the same after you arrived as it was before, wouldn't you have come here for nothing? It's perfectly normal for your presence to cause changes in the plot."
Damn it, you lousy system, why didn't you say so earlier? You only think to turn after the car hits the wall, and wipe your nose after the snot reaches your mouth.
Rimuru hurriedly asked, "Big sis Pepper, where are you now? You're not on your way to see Obadiah, are you?"
"Rimuru, how did you know? Did Tony tell you?" Now it was Pepper's turn to be surprised.
Rimuru panicked a little. "Don't ask anything now. I'll explain later. Run, quickly! Is there someone named Phil Coulson among the people with you? Put him on the phone."
"Hello, Mr. Rimuru. This is Phil Coulson. I was wondering when you might have time. I'd like to meet with you."
Rimuru ignored the reproach in Coulson's voice and got straight to the point. "Coulson, get Pepper out of there, quickly. Obadiah built a suit of armor too. You can't beat him with those little handguns of yours."
Coulson immediately realized how serious the situation was and hurriedly ordered his men to get Pepper out.
Only a few seconds later, a series of dull metallic impacts came over the phone. Obadiah had probably made his move. Fortunately, Rimuru had warned them a little ahead of time. Though it was only a few seconds, things should be fine. Originally, Pepper had managed to escape thanks to her top-notch movement skills, and with his warning this time, there was no reason she should fail.
Wearing his armor, Rimuru soon arrived at Tony's lab, only to find it deserted.
Damn it! Tony was fine, but he couldn't even make a phone call, making me come all this way for nothing. Where are you guys fighting? I don't know!
"JARVIS, locate Tony."
After receiving the warning, Pepper ran outside as fast as she could. The agents inside were genuinely brave, daring to intercept Iron Monger with handguns. Their bullets struck his steel armor with nothing more than a clatter, having no effect at all.
Iron Monger, meanwhile, took down several agents with one punch apiece. Their sacrifices felt utterly meaningless. Was this all S.H.I.E.L.D. agents amounted to?
Pepper took out her phone and called Tony. They had barely exchanged a few words when a huge head pushed up through the ground before her.
Iron Monger's fearsome armor burst straight out of the ground. One arm alone looked bigger than Pepper. Those two really were uncle and nephew, both fond of taking unusual routes. If they could go through a wall, they would never use a door.
Just as Obadiah was about to shoot Pepper, Tony descended from the sky like a savior.
"Stane!"
With a boom, he slammed into Obadiah, sending him rolling all the way into the street.
When Rimuru arrived, he saw Tony being used as a speed bump. This family really didn't treat Tony like a person. They screamed and shouted, but didn't let up on the gas for a second.
Too bad I didn't record it.
"Big sis Pepper, how are you? Are you all right?" Seeing that Pepper was unharmed, Rimuru breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the plot hadn't gone off the rails.
"I'm fine, Rimuru. Could you help Tony? It looks like he's almost done for."
Tony was immediately displeased when he heard that. "Who says I'm done for? I'm doing just fine. It's only because the armor is low on power."
Seeing that the two of them still had the leisure to chat, Obadiah grew even angrier. He picked up a motorcycle and swung it at Tony, embedding him in a bus.
"For thirty years, I've been helping you. I built this company from nothing, and no one is going to stand in my way."
Unbelievable. Why do these villains always love saying such pointless things?
"How about it, Tony? Want me to help?"
"No, I've got one more move."
With that, Tony began flying up into the sky, and Iron Monger followed.
"Oh, I know what you're going to do. You're copying me."
JARVIS: "Power is down to thirteen percent, sir."
Tony: "Keep climbing."
JARVIS: "Eleven percent, sir."
Tony: "Keep going!"
Then Iron Monger caught Tony in his hand like an action figure.
"Great idea, Tony, but my armor is more advanced in every respect."
"Then how did you solve the high-altitude icing problem?"
"What high-altitude icing problem?"
Tony punched the frozen Iron Monger, who began to fall.
Rimuru watched with great interest from below, even pulling Pepper to a different spot to keep them from getting caught in the crossfire.
Iron Monger crashed down with a boom, kicking up a cloud of dust. Tony didn't fare much better, wobbling as he fell.
Thinking he had dealt with Iron Monger, Tony started taking off his equipment. As it turned out, Iron Monger was completely fine.
"Pepper, this isn't working. We have to overload the reactor and blow this place up..."
"All right, all right, knock it off." Rimuru couldn't stand watching anymore. How much money would it cost to blow up a reactor like that? He had shares in it too.
"Stand back, Tony. Watch closely and learn how I do it."
"Oh, really? What are you planning to do? Smash him with that lightweight armor of yours?"
"Stand back. It's time for me to show off."
"You bastard Tony adopted, what are you going to do? Take me down with that little suit of armor?"
Still running your mouth? I'm here to take you down.
He fired a blast of ultrasound.
Iron Monger's armor couldn't block the ultrasound, and a bloodcurdling scream came from inside it.
It was enough to make anyone who heard it grieve and weep. Even the agents watching nearby frowned, and Coulson was especially glad Rimuru hadn't used that move on him.
Iron Monger slowly opened, and Obadiah tumbled out, twitching and having lost control of his bladder and bowels. At his age, he would probably spend the rest of his life in a hospital.
Tony watched in silence. "That's it? It's over just like that? Then what was all that beating I took for?"
"Tough luck. Big sis Pepper asked me to help you, but you said no."
"But when you showed me your ability before, it wasn't nearly that powerful."
"You said it yourself: that was a demonstration. A demonstration is a demonstration, and a real fight is a real fight. How could they be the same?"
"Good point. JARVIS, remind me to add soundproofing to the armor in the next upgrade."
Damn! He's already guarding against me? Is he going to build anti-Rimuru armor next?
"All right, forget it. Since it's over, I'll head back first. They're still rushing to finish the renovations at my place."
Rimuru left. Coulson had hoped to use this opportunity to improve his relationship with Rimuru, but he had failed. It was also possible that Rimuru didn't want to deal with them yet.