Steel Bone Blocks the Blast

The wind howled softly as it passed through the broken window frame.

Ye Mo leaned against the support pillar, his chest heaving violently. The series of Wall Phasing and displacements he had just experienced had exhausted his stamina to the limit. Deep in his mind, the gray "Gene Spiral Tower" emitted a dull tremor, a feedback signal that his abilities were cooling down, as if reminding him not to push himself too hard.

He adjusted his breathing, and his eyes sharpened.

The scanning beams outside continued to sweep across the area. The reactor on Tony Stark's chest armor flickered with a high-frequency signal, gradually peeling away the building's camouflage. If they continued to hide, they would not only be discovered, but their location might also be pinpointed due to the energy fluctuations.

Rather than passively taking a beating, it's better to take the initiative.

Ye Mo took a deep breath, his consciousness sinking into the "Gene Spiral Tower." He quickly searched for defensive combinations among the fragments of abilities that were not yet fully activated. Finally, his gaze locked onto a gene sequence that resembled metal enhancement.

"Steel Bone."

As the thought settled, a chilling power spread from the spine to every part of the body.

Beneath the originally soft black hoodie, muscle fibers began to taut and harden. A cold metallic sheen shone on the surface of his skin, not real steel, but an extremely rigid defensive layer formed after the body's potential was unleashed. In this state, Ye Mo was like a walking human tank, every inch of his bones brimming with explosive power.

He no longer concealed his senses, but instead actively cut off most of his mental output, retaining only the most basic physical perception.

The next second, Ye Mo strode out from behind the load-bearing pillar.

This step shattered the glass shards on the ground with a crisp, piercing sound.

Tony Stark's armor radar instantly detected the black figure.

On the holographic projection screen, a clear thermal image outline appeared in the center of the field of view.

Without hesitation, Tony's superhero fighting instincts kicked in and he reacted instantly. He raised his right hand, and his palm cannon rapidly charged, blue light gathering in his palm as it buzzed with power.

"Mr. X, now that you've shown yourself, don't expect to leave so easily."

Tony's calm, slightly mocking voice came through the loudspeaker.

Before he could finish speaking, a high-energy laser beam shot out.

The red light pierced the darkness like a sharp sword, heading straight for Ye Mo's face. This attack was unrestrained and powerful enough to melt thick armor plates.

Ye Mo did not dodge.

He even took a step forward, crossing his arms to protect his vitals, and forcefully took the hit.

Boom!

The enormous impact slammed into Ye Mo, as if the air itself was being torn apart.

Mars flew, and a dazzling light illuminated the entire corner of the ruins. A piercing metallic scraping sound rang out, like two giant rocks colliding violently.

Ye Mo's feet dug two deep furrows in the ground, cracking the cement and sending dust flying. But he didn't take a single step back; instead, he used the momentum to stand firmly in place.

That laser beam, powerful enough to destroy a tank, was actually blocked by his "Steel Bone" defensive layer.

Sparks exploded on his arms and chest, but failed to penetrate even a fraction of the way.

Tony's armor hovered in mid-air, the light from the reactor on his chest momentarily dimming.

JARVIS's voice echoed in his mind, "Sir, the target's defense is stronger than expected. Ordinary kinetic weapons cannot inflict effective damage. Switching to high-power mode is recommended."

Tony frowned.

Through data analysis of the armor, he was shocked to discover that the young man in front of him, wearing a hoodie, had a body density and hardness that even exceeded some of the heavy armor he had designed.

How is that possible?

How could an ordinary person, without any technological assistance, possess such terrifying physical defense?

The contempt in Tony's eyes vanished, replaced by deep confusion and a hint of unease. He stared at Ye Mo, recharging the laser cannon in his hand, but did not fire it immediately.

"Who exactly are you?" Tony asked through the megaphone, his voice filled with disbelief. "With this kind of defense, why are you staying out of it? Is the Superhuman Registration Act meaningless to you?"

Ye Mo stared coldly at Tony.

There was no hostility or loyalty in his eyes, only a distant indifference.

He didn't answer, but simply stood there quietly, letting the scanning beams of his armor scan his body. This silence itself was the strongest response.

I don't need to explain my choice to anyone.

Taking advantage of Tony's hesitation and reassessment of the situation, Ye Mo made his move.

Instead of using his ability to Wall Phasing, he relied on his enhanced leg muscles to unleash astonishing speed. His figure swept backward like a ghost, leaving deep footprints on the ground with each step.

At the same time, he deliberately kicked up the surrounding gravel and dust, creating a chaotic airflow to interfere with the armor's visual tracking.

Tony's suit's steering system quickly caught up, and the laser cannons spun accordingly.

But in the instant the dust rose, Ye Mo's figure had already disappeared into the shadow of the shattered building.

His actions were silent yet resolute, declaring his stance: I will not participate in your struggle, but I have the ability to protect myself.

Tony looked at the empty ruins, his brows furrowing even more.

He waved his hand, signaling the armor to continue its original mission.

"Record the data, increase vigilance. This person is dangerous, and... unpredictable."

Tony said in a low voice, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

On the other side of the battlefield, Ye Mo leaned against an abandoned bunker, panting heavily.

That last strike, while blocking the artillery fire, had pushed him to his physical limits. A throbbing pain shot through his arm, a reaction to overstretched muscles.

He looked down at his hands; the metallic sheen was gradually fading, returning to their normal skin color.

The "Gene Spiral Tower" cooling-off warning sounded again, reminding him that he could no longer use the ability for the time being.

Ye Mo wiped the dust off his face, his eyes regaining their calm.

He glanced at the figures still locked in fierce combat in the distance, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

This Civil War has only just begun.

He was merely an observer.

As for what will happen next, that's not something he needs to consider right now.

As long as he can still stand, he won't be caught in the vortex.

Ye Mo closed his eyes, sensing the chaotic sounds of the battlefield around him, silently calculating the timing of the next operation.