The dust has settled.
The First National Bank's counter area has been completely reduced to ruins.
Tony Stark did not lower his guard.
The shoulder-mounted missile pods of the Mark 3 Heavy Armor Type remain in a ready-to-fire state.
" JARVIS, confirm target's vital signs."
Tony coldly gave the order.
"Target's heart rate is stable, bone density is abnormal, and they are trying to stand up." Sir, your heart rate is also too high, we suggest...
"Ha," Tony chuckled coldly, "A stubborn antique."
"Splash--!"
A concrete slab about half a person's height was forcibly overturned.
Steve Rogers emerged from the dust.
He looked extremely disheveled.
The blue scale armor that symbolized freedom and justice was covered in dust and scratches, his once neat blond hair was now disheveled, and there was blood at the corner of his mouth.
But the round shield in his hand was still dazzlingly bright.
Despite having just taken a direct hit from a pulse cannon, this World War II veteran's spine remained ramrod straight, just as it had been years earlier when facing Hydra's tank divisions.
That stubbornness that emanated from his very bones made Tony feel inexplicably irritated.
Stark.
Steve's voice was slightly breathless, but the authority in his tone remained undiminished.
"Is this the legacy Howard left you? To vent your personal grievances with these tin toys?"
Don't mention that name to me!
Tony became the cat whose tail had been stepped on.
With a roar of hydraulic power, the Mark 3 took a step forward.
"Besides, I call this 'firepower coverage,' old man. This isn't the era of you playing house with Slingshot anymore. Monsters lurk in there, and you don't need to be merciful to monsters."
There are civilians inside!
Steve raised his shield in front of him, his blue eyes filled with confusion and anger. "Is your scanner broken? As long as there's hope, we can't..."
"There's no hope!" Tony roared. "As long as that bastard is dead, it's worth it even if this city is bombed to the ground! You have no idea what he did!"
"I know! But I know even more clearly that if Howard were standing here, he would never allow you to do this!"
"Shut up!!"
Tensions were high between the two sides.
A deep blue energy gathered in the steel palm, and the Vibranium Shield was slightly lowered to adjust its angle.
One is a vengeful son clad in futuristic technology.
One is a living fossil carrying the beliefs of the old era.
These two men, who should have been allies in this era, became two lions vying for territory, ready to tear each other's throats.
Click.
Footsteps echoed from the dark depths of the bank vault.
Tony and Steve turned their heads at the same time.
A figure in dark green slowly walked out.
The red scarf moved on its own even without wind.
His compound eyes swept across the entire area, neither lingering on the Iron Giant nor focusing on Captain America.
It was as if a passing human glanced at two ants fighting over food at their feet.
Bucky Barnes, Shocker Rider No. 1.
He was carrying a black alloy briefcase with a prominent biohazard symbol printed on it.
" Bucky..."
Steve's voice softened, and his indomitable fighting spirit suddenly turned into an overwhelming sadness.
He instinctively took a step forward.
" Bucky, it's me, Steve! Look at me!"
There was no response.
"Found you..."
Tony's voice, however, was completely different; it was filled with hatred from the bottom of his heart.
" JARVIS, channel all your energy into the chest cluster cannon. I'm going to burn him to ashes, leaving not even his DNA."
"Sir, that would cause reactor overload..."
Do as I say!
The reactor on the Mark 3's chest glowed brighter and brighter, even seeping through the gaps in the armor.
Rider No. 1 finally came to a stop.
He turned his head slightly, looking at the two figures, one in red and one in blue, blocking his way, and seemed to find them a bit noisy.
He raised his left hand, the one that wasn't carrying the suitcase, and waved it gently.
"Babble--!!!"
Suddenly, more than a dozen dark figures darted out from the Shadow behind Rider No. 1.
Shocker Combatant.
"Babble--!!"
These strange figures split into two groups and rushed towards Tony and Steve after they appeared.
Damn it!
Steve reacted extremely quickly, swinging his round shield to the side.
"Clang!"
A combatant who was in mid-air was struck hard in the face by the edge of a shield and sent flying.
The remaining fighters became even more frenzied, attacking Steve haphazardly while uttering those mentally disturbing "ee-ee" sounds.
On the other side.
"A swarm of flies!"
Tony didn't bother with close combat; he simply opened fire with the miniature machine gun on his shoulder.
"Da da da da da--"
Flames spewed out.
The two combatants at the forefront were instantly riddled with bullets, black blood splattering everywhere.
But after they fell, even more shadowy figures pounced on their fallen comrades, stepping over their corpses.
One combatant even used his incredible jumping ability to leap directly onto the back of the Mark 3, frantically slashing at the mech's joints with a high-frequency vibrating dagger, sparks flying everywhere.
"Get out of here!"
Tony swung his hand back, his massive steel hand gripping the guy's head with a slight pull.
"Pfft."
But these lunatics felt no fear whatsoever.
" Bucky! Make them stop!"
Steve was in deep trouble.
He didn't want to kill, especially since these people looked like brainwashed wretches, which made him hesitant.
He executed a beautiful over-the-shoulder throw, slamming a combatant to the ground, and was just about to look up to find Bucky.
But they discovered that the dark green figure was walking unhurriedly toward the gap on the side of the bank.
Rider No. 1 had no intention of participating in this chaotic battle.
"Don't go!!"
In a panic, Steve kicked away the enemy who was entangled with him and threw his shield.
The Vibranium Shield hurtled straight toward Rider No. 1's back.
" Bucky! You can't leave!!"
Just as the shield was about to strike.
Rider No. 1 veered slightly to the left, the round shield grazing his shoulder before crashing into the wall with a "clang" and bouncing back.
As the shield bounced back, Rider No. 1 extended his right hand, covered in dark green armor.
"Snap."
He caught Captain America's shield.
Rider No. 1 turned around.
He held the shield, a symbol of the United States spirit, in his hand, weighing it as if it were a piece of scrap metal.
Then.
He tossed it aside casually.
The shield rolled into a pile of rubble nearby, covered in dust.
There was no anger, no nostalgia, not even the slightest emotional fluctuation.
Only utter indifference.
At that moment, Steve Rogers felt something shatter.
"No!!!"
Steve screamed desperately, trying to rush over, but three combatants held him off.
"That's my prey!!"
Tony finally broke free from the pursuers behind him. His thrusters spewed blinding blue flames, and he transformed into a steel meteor, smashing through the wall in his path and hurtling towards the gap.