Whiplash

Just as Tony and Rimuru were celebrating together, Ivan Vanko called to taunt them.

Hearing that Ivan Vanko had taken Tony's advice and improved his reactor, Rimuru felt nothing, and even wanted to laugh. The one Tony had cobbled together by hand in a cave had already produced three billion joules, while Vanko's had only produced a hundred million. Even after taking Tony's advice and improving it, Vanko's reactor was probably only on par with Tony's first one. Tony was already on his third generation, yet Vanko had the nerve to get in his face and mock him. It was pure clown behavior.

A half-baked hack like that had still managed to run circles around Justin Hammer. Justin Hammer really was the clown of all clowns.

"Are we heading out to fight Ivan Vanko now? Or are you going to pick up an award first?"

Tony said, "Put on your Knight. Let's have another race."

Race, my ass. Yours is already the Mark VI, isn't it? Mine's still first generation.

Rimuru followed Tony to the City of Tomorrow, but somehow ended up a little slower than him. Now he had even lost his one advantage in speed, and Tony was mocking him, calling him an antique that was behind in every way.

Damn it, just you wait. Once I turn Galactron's technology into armor, I'll show you what the strictest father is like.

At the Stark Expo, Justin Hammer was twisting and turning onstage, looking as smug as could be. Tony flew straight down without even acknowledging him. Tony really didn't treat him like a person.

Watching from above, Rimuru clicked his tongue in wonder. In a little while, this place would be smashed to pieces. What a nice place, too. He owned shares in Stark Industries, so this should count as his property too, right?

"Pepper, you all need to get out of here. This place is going to blow up soon."

"Rimuru, why are you here too? What's going to blow up?"

"Those robots have a problem. Hurry up and run. Natasha, get to the Hammer factory in Queens. Ivan Vanko is there, and he's going to hack the robots' systems."

Gunfire rang out, and chaos broke out at the venue. A huge shower of broken glass came crashing down, but Rimuru released Sticky Steel Thread and held it suspended in midair. Did that count as stealing Spider-Man's skill?

Tony soared into the sky with a swarm of armored suits, and chaos broke out at the venue. Rhodey led the charge, the first to pursue Tony, shouting that he had a lock. Why did he seem a little excited?

Rhodey said, "Tony, I've got a lock on the target!"

Tony said, "What target?"

Rhodey said, "You! ԅ( ͒ ۝ ͒ )ᕤ"

Rhodey chased Tony, spraying gunfire wildly, while Rimuru stayed below to keep the other robots from wrecking the expo. But what happened next made Rimuru's face turn green. These high-tech combat drones were spraying indiscriminate gunfire at close range, and he fucking couldn't stop them. Worse, they were closing in on Pepper. Fuck, was this in the plot?

He was out of options. Protecting Pepper while stopping the robots from destroying the place was more than he could manage, however much he wanted to. The weaknesses of his light armor were also showing. He had planned to keep his distance and kite them, but they had instead attacked what he needed to protect. He really couldn't handle close combat, and some of the robots were even throwing punches and kicks. What the fuck is wrong with them? Using the highest technology to fight in the most primitive way.

Listening to the commotion outside, Rimuru could hear Tony leading that swarm of robots on a rampage through his own property. That was all money, making Rimuru's heart ache even more.

He fought as he retreated and found a secluded corner to hide Pepper in. Fuck it. If that's how it is, I'll pull something too. Gillvalis, teleport some Vallis Knights over. Start with a company.

White portals lit up, and squads of Vallis Knights marched out. Their combat power wasn't much, but they were good enough as cannon fodder. He had them all take Pepper's form and sent them scattering.

At Hammer Industries, Ivan Vanko was dumbfounded by the crowd of Peppers that had suddenly appeared. His display identified every one of them as Pepper. Furious, Ivan Vanko smashed his keyboard. He believed Hammer Industries' products were just too crappy.

"You really dropped a massive turd," Ivan Vanko said, before deciding to put on the Whiplash Armor and take the field himself.

Amid the chaos, Tony also took a moment to save a child wearing an Iron Man helmet. Rimuru wondered whether that really was Spider-Man as a kid.

Black Widow had already charged into Hammer Industries. Although Rimuru had warned her in advance, Whiplash had also left early because of Rimuru.

After confirming that Pepper was safe, Rimuru stopped holding back and shattered the darkness with lightning. Thunder immediately rumbled without cease.

He soon dealt with the controlled unmanned suits. He dusted off his hands and was about to find Tony to see how things were going on his end when he suddenly heard what sounded like chanting coming from somewhere. He turned and saw a reporter holding a microphone and giving an impassioned report in front of a camera.

Looking at the two people before him, Rimuru genuinely admired them a little. That's the way to do it. You can make money; I'm really not jealous.

When the reporter saw Rimuru looking over, he shouted, "Hello, I'm a reporter for the Daily Bugle. May I interview you?"

Hearing the name, Rimuru felt as if something filthy had latched onto him. The Daily Bugle? What Daily Bugle? Which Daily Bugle? It can't be the one Spider-Man works for, can it?

Damn it, what rotten luck. He brushed off his arm, ignored them, and turned to leave. Come to think of it, they had probably been filming him just now, hadn't they? Could he sue them for violating his image rights?

Rimuru found the huge semicircular glass dome. As soon as he entered, he saw Chang Wei beating Lai Fu-oh, it was Rhodey, firing wildly at Tony beneath him. Rimuru had been about to pull them apart, but the two stopped on their own. He didn't know whether JARVIS had hacked in or Black Widow had rebooted Rhodey.

After Rhodey finished rebooting, the two of them started showing off their brotherly bond again, as if that whole chase had never happened. Rimuru felt that Pepper probably ought to be at least a little wary of Rhodey.

Watching the two start arguing again after only a few words, Rimuru felt like a third wheel. Before they could finish bickering, the remaining drones caught up. The relatively relaxed atmosphere instantly turned tense, and Rimuru sensed that something was wrong and placed the two in front of him for protection. There was no other reason: the previous fight had left his armor low on power.

The battle was about to break out. The two men fought with ease in their armor, while Rimuru was chased and beaten. Surrounded as they were, he had no room to kite the enemy, and with his already light armor, he was left in a sorry state.

"Damn it, am I really the protagonist? I can't take this anymore. Tony, use a skill already! My Knight can't hold out much longer. Is this fucking right? Are they targeting me? Why do they only outline your bodies with bullets, but hit me so accurately?"

"Get down!" Tony shouted, unleashing his ultimate on the spot! He spun and leaped with his eyes closed, like Marco Polo reborn, wiping out the mobs in one move.

Tony couldn't help laughing at Rimuru's sorry state. "I told you, the design concept behind your Knight wouldn't work. Look at yourself now. You're as much of a mess as I was when I'd just escaped the terrorists' cave."

Rimuru protested indignantly. "Today was purely an accident. I didn't have any room to maneuver at all. What normal person wears high-tech armor to fight hand-to-hand? How is that any different from people in ancient times putting on armor and hacking at each other with swords?"

Just as Tony and Rimuru were arguing over their armor designs, Black Widow suddenly warned them, "Watch out, another drone is flying in. This one looks a little different. Its energy readings are much higher."

Ivan Vanko descended from the sky, his bearing unbelievably arrogant. With a flick of his twin whips, he looked like Master Ma reborn, the same toothpick still clenched between his teeth.

Rimuru saw that something was wrong and placed the two in front of him for protection.

Rimuru said, "Rhodey, are you going to blow him up with your early game?"

Tony said, "What? Blow him up with what?"

Rhodey said, "That's right. I'm going to blow his fortress open with the Ex-Wife."

Tony: ? Wait, are you speaking English?

Rhodey stood still as a small cigar-sized missile extended from his shoulder.

Activation.

Aiming.

Launch.

And then, there was no then. Justin Hammer had dropped another turd that night.

Seeing what the thing had accomplished, Tony could guess who had made it. A launcher popped up on his shoulder, and he followed with a shot of his own, but unfortunately, it was blocked.

The final battle was about to begin. Like Tony, Rhodey opened fire on the spot, only for the machine gun on his shoulder to be knocked off.

The three of them plunged into a fight.

Rhodey, fly up! Kite him! Tony, what happened to your palm cannons? Shoot him already! What good are your fists? Isn't this just street thugs beating each other up?

Ivan Waike heard Rimuru running his mouth and couldn't stand it anymore. "You-you little demon raised by a butcher and an executioner."

He lashed out with a whip.

Rimuru reacted quickly, but failed to dodge when he tried to dart aside and was held in place. "You fucking insulted me again, and now you've hit me too! What does any of this have to do with me?"

Hearing Rimuru still yelling, Ivan Vanko said nothing and simply kept increasing the current.

"Ahh~ Fuck~ Stop shocking me, stop! I admit I'm a lolicon!"

The system said, "See? I told you, you're definitely a loli, but you wouldn't admit it."

System! You ¥##, I ¥*＃¥, ma ¥**＃...

While Rimuru was cordially greeting the system's relatives, Great Sage spoke up.

[Lightning Resistance acquired]

Huh? That's a nice surprise. Then don't stop. Keep going.

Rimuru stopped resisting and waited to acquire Lightning Immunity. But to Tony and Rhodey, it looked different. He was about to be electrocuted to death! Tony and Rhodey were instantly enraged. No matter what, he was still just a child!

The two exchanged a glance and seized the chance to use a combination attack, blasting Ivan Vanko away. Rimuru was still waiting for Lightning Immunity and didn't dodge, so he was blasted away as well. His armor was even more battered.

The battle ended, and the three approached Ivan Vanko. He was now at death's door and wouldn't survive.

"You lost."

Rimuru sneered. "Don't bother. I already disabled your remote-controlled bombs. Did you really think I was stupid enough to let you blow up Stark Industries' property?"

Hmm? Why are you still beeping?

Rhodey shouted, "He might be using a physical detonator! Run, this thing's going to blow!"

Tony reacted incredibly quickly, shooting into the sky to find Pepper. Rhodey was just as quick to follow, leaving Rimuru there alone.

Damn it, my armor was just trashed! One of you could at least give me a lift!

Tony found Pepper and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw she was unharmed. The two then began getting lovey-dovey. Watching from the side, Rhodey was as reliably snarky as ever, saying they looked like seals fighting over grapes.

With a thud, Rimuru crashed down too, clutching his armor. Rhodey immediately reacted defensively, because Rimuru now had a pair of bat wings.

"Damn it, Rhodey, it's me! Don't point that thing at me. What decent person points a Gatling gun at someone? And why didn't you take me with you? I was almost blown sky-high."

Pepper's heart ached at the sight of Rimuru's sorry state. His armor was in pieces, and so were his clothes.

"What were you two doing, letting Rimuru get beaten up like this?"

The two exchanged a look and began shifting the blame.

Rhodey said, "Tony, what's wrong with you? I thought you'd bring him."

Tony said, "I left before you did. I thought you'd bring him."

Rhodey said, "Aren't you his guardian? You completely failed to carry out your duties as one."

Tony said, "What are you talking about? You're a colonel in America, and you didn't protect an American citizen."

Rhodey said, "Tony, don't think I don't know his identity is fake. He isn't even a legal citizen of America."