Iron Man?
19: Chapter 19: Supergirl vs.
Iron Man?
The Malibu coastline appeared as a cold blue-gray in the twilight.
Waves crashed against the reefs below the cliffs, making a rhythmic and eternal sound, starkly different from the artificial tension of Washington.
Tony Stark’s Villa was like a glowing geometric shape embedded in the cliff wall, full of modernity yet tinged with a hint of loneliness.
Kara drove along the winding private road.
The security system controlled by Jarvis silently identified the license plate, and the gate slid open quietly.
She parked the car in the designated area and walked toward the iconic panoramic glass doors.
The doors opened automatically, and warm light and soft jazz flowed out, mixed with the saltiness of the sea breeze.
Tony and Pepper were already waiting in the workshop.
The two were holding champagne glasses, seemingly celebrating something.
Seeing Kara, Pepper spoke joyfully: “Hey, Kara!
Long time no see.” Indeed, since the last great battle, the two had not seen each other.
Pepper was busy dealing with the various “messes” Tony left behind, while Kara was busy at news scenes.
Kara walked in and handed her coat to a small service robot that slid up silently.
That robot seemed very afraid of Tony, even hiding behind Kara.
“Dum-E!
Don’t think hiding behind Kara will let you escape the mess you made of the juicer just now!
Go clean up the table!” Tony shouted at the robot.
The little robot was so scared that it retracted its head, made of mechanical arms, even lower, pressing tightly behind Kara’s leg.
Kara smiled and patted it.
Only then did it reluctantly move to the table and begin cleaning.
Pepper handed over a cup of tea at just the right temperature.
Kara took it but didn’t respond immediately, instead looking around first.
“So—why did you call me here, exactly?” She took a sip of tea.
Tony looked toward Pepper, his gaze gentle: “I’m giving you a big scoop, Kara.
I’ve appointed Pepper as the CEO of Stark Industries.” Kara was surprised.
As Stark Industries was a top-tier global enterprise, Tony had actually handed it directly to Pepper.
While holding up her camera to capture the moment Tony and Pepper toasted, she said slowly: “Congratulations, Ms.
Potts, on becoming the CEO of the World’s largest company.” Pepper raised her glass in acknowledgement.
“Pepper, go prepare the handover documents first,” Tony urged, “I need to have a few words with Kara.” Pepper put down her wine glass and smiled at Kara: “Kara, make yourself at home.
I’ll head up first.” Tony watched Pepper leave, then turned to gaze at Kara, speaking calmly: “Kara, I’m dying.” Kara wasn’t surprised and asked just as calmly: “Is it because of the toxins in your body?
What is the blood toxicity level now?” “How did you know?
The Expo opening?
Or the hearing?” Tony wasn’t surprised either.
“You must have seen it when I was testing.” Kara only raised an eyebrow slightly.
Tony lifted his shirt, showing the area around the chest reactor covered in spider-web-like black corrosive marks.
“It’s been a while,” he said in a low tone, “it’s at 24% now.
I’m almost at my limit.” “Because of what?
What dangerous experiment did you do to yourself this time?” “Palladium Poisoning.
The reactor core is Palladium.
If I keep using it, I die; if I don’t, I die faster.” Tony looked exceptionally haggard.
Kara fell silent.
She hadn’t expected the situation to be so severe.
“Is there no alternative?” she asked softly.
“No…
I’ve tried every known element.” Tony ran a hand through his hair.
Kara activated her Super Vision.
The Palladium toxins were constantly spreading from the reactor, eroding his entire body.
“It is indeed very bad.” Her expression was serious.
“So what do you plan to do?
You’re giving the company to Pepper, but what about the suits?
After you die, the armor will likely fall into the hands of those with ill intentions.” “I’ve thought it through,” Tony mused, “I’ll give the MK2 to Rhodes and lock down the core technology.
The Military will only be able to make limited modifications and won’t be able to obtain the key technology through reverse engineering.” “What about the rest?
And your most central reactor technology, how do you plan to handle that?” Kara put down her teacup, the bottom clinking sharply against the glass tabletop.
Tony looked into her deep blue eyes and said slowly: “That’s the real reason I asked you here today.
Pepper and Rhodes won’t be able to protect these.
After I’m gone, they’ll be taken sooner or later.
These new armors and technologies…
I can only entrust them to your safekeeping, Kara.” “Me?
Are you serious?
I don’t know the first thing about power armor.” Kara was very confused.
“Only you, Kara.
After I die, if this technology is in your hands, even if the Military deploys the entire Army, they might not be able to take it away.” Tony toyed with the holographic projection of the reactor in his hand.
Kara thought for a moment and agreed to Tony’s request.
Since it was just safekeeping, she could simply find a Planet outside of Earth to bury them.
Seeing her agree, a hint of relief crossed Tony’s haggard face.
He slowly stepped onto the armor assembly platform, and the MK4 armor smoothly covered his body.
Through the faceplate, he said to Kara: “Kara, can we have a fight?
I know you’re strong, but exactly how strong, even Jarvis can’t scan your vital signs—there seems to be a force field on the surface of your body interfering with the scan.” Kara looked at him with a strange expression for a moment, then finally sighed helplessly.
“Fine, I’ll fight you.
But don’t be heartbroken if I break your armor.” She slowly floated into the air, her Kryptonian Suit covering her body like flowing water, her red cape fluttering lightly in the airflow.
“I just developed the fifth generation; this one is old.” Tony’s tone was quite confident.
The corners of Kara’s mouth curled up: “Is that so?
Then come on, let’s take it outside.” With a movement, she crashed through the window and streaked toward the sea like a meteor.
“I was waiting for you to say that.” Inside the armor, Tony felt as if his blood was boiling again.
The thrusters ignited, and he followed close behind.
Upstairs, Pepper, who was focusing on drafting documents, suddenly heard the sound of shattering from below.
She rushed down, and what met her eyes was Supergirl and Iron Man facing off above the sea.
Pepper gasped in shock: “What the hell are those two doing??” Above the sea level, Tony took the initiative.
Knowing Kara’s strength, he turned his Repulsor Blast to maximum power, and a brilliant white beam of light shot out.
Kara didn’t dodge, meeting it head-on.
The beam hit her body but failed to cause the slightest damage, not even making the full curves of her chest tremble slightly.
Tony was shocked by her defense.
That strike just now was enough to penetrate the latest main battle tank, yet it was ineffective against her.
He opened the armor’s micro-missile pods, and dozens of micro-missiles swarmed toward Kara like a hive of bees.
Kara looked at the sky full of exhaust trails, and her eyes suddenly turned red.
Her burning Heat Vision cut through the night sky like a sharp sword; most of the missiles exploded in mid-air, with only a few detonating at her side.
Flames instantly swallowed her.
At the window, Pepper shouted anxiously: “Enough, Tony!
You guys come down now!” The fire dissipated, and Kara appeared unharmed.
While Tony was dazed, she moved— Activating her Super Speed State, she instantly flashed to Iron Man’s side, grabbed the armor’s arm with one hand, and forcefully hurled him high into the sky.
Following that, she surpassed the rising armor at an even faster speed, hovering above it, grabbed Tony again, and slammed him toward the sea with all her might.
“Boom—!” A massive wave exploded on the sea surface, water splashing everywhere.
Kara hovered in the air, her Super Vision piercing through the seawater, but she found no sign of Tony.
The next second, Tony actually burst out of the water from another area of the sea, and his long-charging chest repulsor fired with a roar.
Kara failed to dodge completely and raised her arm to block.
The massive energy Impact sent her reeling back several meters in the air before she stabilized herself.
Tony didn’t care about energy consumption, his chest repulsor continuously pouring out beams of light.
Kara’s eyes turned red again, and burning energy surged from her pupils.
She moved forward against the beam, her Heat Vision slowly pushing back the energy of the chest repulsor.
The clash of the two high-energy forces illuminated the gloomy sea as if it were daylight.
The wind whipped up by the Impact sent Pepper’s long hair flying wildly and her clothes fluttering loudly below.
Seeing the Heat Vision gradually approaching, Tony glanced at the energy readings—they were terrifyingly high.
He quickly spoke: “Kara, I surrender!
You are the champion of this match!” Hearing this, Kara closed her eyes, and the Heat Vision stopped abruptly.
She smiled and said: “I haven’t even used my full strength yet, Tony.” “If I can develop a stronger armor, I will definitely be able to fight you with everything I’ve got.” Tony was still unwilling.
“An ‘Anti-Supergirl Armor’?” Kara chuckled, “Honestly, I’m actually looking forward to it.”