“Hey, Baldy!
Over here!” Seeing Tony’s situation becoming critical, Rowan immediately cast Insect Swarm at Obadiah.
Originally, he only intended to summon enough bugs to distract Obadiah long enough for Tony to escape.
What he didn’t expect…
Was just how ridiculously overpowered the spell had become after the system’s modifications.
A horrifying tide of insects erupted into Iron Monger’s cockpit.
Spiders.
Beetles.
Centipedes.
Locusts.
Thousands upon thousands of crawling creatures instantly flooded every inch of the cramped space.
Anyone with trypophobia would have probably died on the spot.
Obadiah screamed.
In pure panic, he hurled Tony away and desperately clawed at the insects covering his face.
“HOLY CRAP!” Even Rowan was stunned.
“That’s a lot of bugs.” Looks like the combat spells definitely needed proper testing later.
The system might actually have upgraded them into something terrifying.
Not wasting the opportunity, Rowan transformed into his orange cat form.
Then launched himself directly at Obadiah.
“Cat Combo!” His paws became a blur.
SMACK!
SMACK!
SMACK!
A flurry of claws attacked Obadiah’s eyes.
The bald man let out another howl of pain.
Furious beyond reason, he abandoned all logic and unloaded a barrage of missiles.
He didn’t care anymore.
He was going to vaporize this stupid cat.
One missile locked onto Rowan.
The orange cat casually dodged.
Then Rowan noticed something.
The missile wasn’t stopping.
It continued flying.
Straight toward Stark Tower’s massive Arc Reactor.
“…Oh no.” Rowan’s eyes widened.
In midair, he performed a cat backflip and instantly transformed into a Roc.
Without hesitation, he shot toward the exit.
Just outside the building, Tony was preparing to rush back inside.
The giant bird grabbed him with one claw and accelerated away at top speed.
A second later— BOOOOOOM!!
An enormous explosion engulfed Stark Tower.
A blinding blue pillar of energy erupted into the sky.
The overloaded Arc Reactor detonated.
The explosion swallowed the entire building.
The resulting energy blast punched a massive hole through the clouds themselves.
Several moments later, Rowan landed with Tony atop a nearby skyscraper.
The two silently watched the colossal blue beam piercing the heavens.
Neither spoke.
In the distance, police sirens echoed as emergency vehicles rushed toward the disaster site.
Finally, Rowan broke the silence.
“Let’s go home, Tony.” He patted Tony’s shoulder.
“Pepper’s waiting for you.” A small smile appeared on Tony’s face.
“Yeah.” “Let’s go.” Malibu Mansion Pepper had been pacing anxiously through the living room.
Every few seconds she asked JARVIS for updates.
Then suddenly— “Ms.
Potts, Mr.
Stark has returned.
He is currently in the workshop.” Pepper’s eyes lit up.
She sprinted downstairs.
The moment she saw the battered Mark III armor, her eyes immediately turned red.
Tony had barely finished removing the mangled suit with the help of the robotic arms when a familiar scent reached him.
The next instant— Pepper threw herself into his arms.
She hugged him tightly.
Her hands moved frantically across his body.
Checking for injuries.
“You scared me to death, Tony.” Her voice trembled.
“Are you hurt?” “Where are you hurt?” Tony wrapped his arms around her.
Gently.
“I’m okay.” “Really.” “Don’t worry.” Their eyes met.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
The distance between their faces shrank.
Closer.
And closer.
And— Ahem.
A very deliberate cough interrupted the moment.
Rowan stood nearby.
“Brother.
Sister.” “Just a reminder.” “There’s still a minor present.” Pepper froze.
Only then remembering Rowan existed.
She immediately jumped away from Tony.
Her face turned bright red.
Tony, meanwhile, slowly turned toward Rowan.
A dangerous smile appeared.
Then he suddenly asked: “Rowan.” “How old are you again?” Rowan blinked.
“What kind of question is that?” “I’m sixteen.” “Ohhhh…” Tony’s smile somehow became even more sinister.
He turned toward Pepper.
“Pepper.” “Contact the best high schools tomorrow.” Pepper stared.
Then immediately understood.
A smile appeared on her face too.
“Of course, boss.” Rowan froze.
Completely.
Then he pointed at Tony.
In disbelief.
“Are you serious?!” “I treat you like my real brother!” “And your response is sending me to school?!” Tony looked entirely unapologetic.
“Children belong in school.” He folded his arms.
“Maybe then they won’t run around the world watching things they shouldn’t.” With that, he walked out with Pepper.
Leaving Rowan alone in the workshop.
Questioning every life choice that had led him to this moment.
Over the next several days, the internet exploded.
A giant robot battle.
A giant panda fighting said robot.
Iron Man versus Iron Monger.
The destruction of Stark Tower.
Every media outlet on the planet went insane.
To calm public panic, Stark Industries announced a press conference.
Tony Stark himself would address the public.
At the press conference, Colonel Rhodes stood at the podium.
He confidently explained that everything had been a tragic accident.
Just a malfunctioning prototype robot.
Nothing more.
Definitely not a giant armored supervillain.
Backstage, Agent Coulson repeatedly reminded Tony what he was supposed to say.
Rowan listened from the side.
Then finally raised a hand.
“Quick question.” Coulson sighed.
“What?” “I’m curious.” “How exactly are you explaining the giant robot fighting a panda?” Coulson’s eye twitched.
“There was no panda.” “That was an escaped circus bear.” “A painted black bear.” Then he adjusted his suit.
“And for the record, you can call us S.H.I.E.L.D.” Before Rowan could answer, Coulson walked away.
Rowan stared after him.
“A painted black bear?” “Yeah, sure.” “Because everybody totally believes that.” Then a wicked grin appeared.
“Coulson…” “I hope you enjoy your current hairline.” “Ehehehehe…” A few moments later, Tony stepped onto the stage.
After several minutes of meaningless corporate statements…
He finally delivered the line that changed the world.
“I am Iron Man.” Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then chaos erupted.
Backstage, Rowan laughed so hard he nearly fell over.
“That’s it!” “That’s exactly how it should be!” “Now that’s my Tony!” Meanwhile— Rhodey stared at Tony in disbelief.
“You just made everything I said completely pointless.” Across the room, Coulson covered his face.
“There goes my hairline…” When Tony returned backstage, Rowan immediately gave him a thumbs-up.
“Tony.” “That was awesome.” Tony smiled.
Then casually replied: “By the way.” “School starts in a few weeks.” “Pepper already made the arrangements.” Rowan’s smile vanished.
Instantly.
“If you stop talking about school…” “We can still be brothers.” That evening, the two returned to the mansion.
The moment they opened the front door— They saw a figure standing silently before the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The room was dark.
The silhouette looked oddly familiar.
Without hesitation, Rowan raised a hand.
“Moonfire.” A brilliant beam of moonlight descended from above.
The entire room lit up like a miniature sun.
The bald figure screamed.
“MOTHERFU—” “My eyes!” “My titanium eyes!” Rowan blinked.
Then nodded approvingly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
He already knew who it was.
There was only one person on Earth who liked dramatically standing in dark rooms that much.
But he hadn’t expected Moonfire to work like a flashbang grenade.
The upgraded spell continued exceeding expectations.
“Nice.” “Another useful ability.” Maybe the system wasn’t completely useless after all.
Several minutes later, after his vision returned, the bald man glared at Rowan.
“You know…” “Do you have any idea how annoying it is when someone interrupts your dramatic entrance?” Rowan ignored him completely.
Tony simply asked: “Who are you?” The bald man straightened his coat.
“I am Nick Fury.” “Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.” “I’m here to invite you to join the Avengers Initiative.” Then he looked toward Rowan.
“And you as well.” Before Rowan could answer— “No.” Tony immediately shut it down.
Nick blinked.
“Why?” Without hesitation, Tony pointed at Rowan.
“He’s a minor.” “He has school.” Nick Fury stared.
For several seconds.
Then nodded slowly.
“…Honestly.” “That’s hard to argue with.” Rowan looked like he had just been sentenced to death.
“Brother…” He turned toward Tony with tears in his eyes.
“I really don’t want to go to school!”