Perfect Counter

Charlie gave the command, and Friday activated the protocol in an instant. Up in orbit around Earth, the observation tower responded with precision, releasing a sleek black flight pod from its containment bay. The pod shot forward, descending like a missile through the atmosphere, leaving a fiery trail in its wake as it locked onto the Wendelani building below.

Within seconds, it had reached its destination. The flight pod smashed through the glass of the floor-to-ceiling windows with a deafening crash, sending shards scattering as it barreled into the scene.

To the fighters within the illusion, the palace hall still loomed around them in all its grandeur—a fabricated world of marble and gold. The pod seemed to tear through this virtual space, shattering their perception as it ripped into the hall, a black bolt from nowhere, its approach sending ripples through the environment.

Even as it entered, the pod was already shifting. Inspired by the Mark VII suit used by Iron Man, this version functioned as both a transport pod and a high-speed combat unit. As it moved, its sides unfolded, mechanical arms extending outward, thrusters rotating to form legs, and a black, bat-eared helmet snapping forward from the front. 

The Steel Bat Armor.

Custom-built for Charlie, it was a suit that could operate either manned or unmanned, allowing Charlie to join a battle without putting himself directly in harm's way.

The armor incorporated the same unmanned technology as Tony Stark's Iron Legion, complete with AI-driven movements. Friday could control it with precision, much like Jarvis had managed the Mark suits. The suit also utilized remote control technology inspired by the Mark 42 armor, which allowed Charlie to operate the suit with a headset that mimicked the suit's interface. This feature, used so skillfully by Stark in Iron Man 3, was so immersive that the audience hadn't realized Tony wasn't in the armor until it was revealed.

Charlie had, of course, opted to include this module in the Steel Bat suit's core functions, making this the first time he was experiencing combat firsthand through Stark's remote headset. Apart from the lack of direct physical feedback, it felt remarkably real, giving him the sensation of being fully present in the suit.

Both Batman and Deadpool were currently under AI control, but with the Steel Bat in action, Charlie doubted they'd be needed.

Dedalus, meanwhile, was still locked in combat with Deadpool when he felt the sudden, ominous presence in the room. He turned just as the Steel Bat completed its transformation, its armored fist already winding up. Before Dedalus could react, the sonic boom of the punch filled the air, and the fist connected squarely with his jaw, sending him flying back. Dedalus smashed through multiple floors, each impact tearing apart walls and ceilings.

The Steel Bat hovered for a second, thrusters stabilizing it as it leveled in mid-air. Felix and Shadow looked on in stunned silence, barely processing what had just happened.

The suit itself was jet black, accented with subtle shades of gray and hints of gold. The design was unmistakably a mix of Iron Man's tech and Batman's aesthetics. The bat-shaped arc reactor glowed ominously in the center of its chest, and the helmet's pointed ears gave it a distinctly menacing look.

To those still trapped within the illusion, the suit appeared to have emerged from the void, like a mythical beast stepping out of the shadows, carrying with it a thunderous presence.

Charlie was more than satisfied with the punch's effect. The impact had been powerful, though he knew the suit's full strength couldn't be fully realized remotely. The Steel Bat's power system was designed with Spider-Man's enhanced strength in mind, and used solo, it was slightly less powerful than a traditional Iron Man suit.

But even at this level, Dedalus's expression shifted, his overconfidence quickly replaced by shock and confusion.

"Iron Man…?" Dedalus muttered, looking to Usak, bewildered. "Didn't you say I'd be invincible with this power? What is that armor!?"

Though Dedalus had heard stories of Iron Man's tech, he hadn't understood the full extent of it until now. Usak had promised him near-omnipotence, and Dedalus, hungry for power, had quickly embraced his newfound strength. But, like so many before him, he'd become arrogant, confident that his abilities would make him untouchable.

Dedalus's shock was hardly unique. In a world filled with heroes, it wasn't uncommon for those who gained powers to assume they could conquer the world, only to find themselves humbled by seasoned heroes. Dedalus had succumbed to that same fallacy, only now realizing that his perception of invincibility was dangerously flawed.

"Use an illusion!" Usak snapped. "We'll deal with the rest later—just move, he's closing in!"

Dedalus's expression hardened, and without another word, he summoned the illusion.

But in mere seconds, the Steel Bat had already closed in, smashing through debris and walls to reach Dedalus's new location. Dedalus lay sprawled on the floor, dust settling around him as he scrambled to his feet. He summoned a spike from his shoulder, aiming it directly at the suit.

Remarkably, the fusion between Dedalus and Usak had created a chemical reaction that amplified Usak's natural strength. The Tis shield's spike might not be able to pierce the gold-titanium alloy shell, but it packed enough force to be a legitimate threat.

Yet Charlie barely acknowledged the spike. He didn't even flinch. Instead, he lifted the suit's right arm, aiming it at what appeared to be an empty spot across the room.

A low hum emanated from the suit as energy pulsed from the bat-shaped arc reactor, channeling into the palm. A blast of energy erupted, shattering through the air as it struck the seemingly vacant space.

The blast hit its target, revealing Dedalus's form as he was thrown backward, his illusion dissolving as he collided with the wall.

"Impossible!" Usak's voice echoed in Dedalus's mind, disbelief etched across his face. How had he been found so quickly?

Yes, his illusions had been seen through before, but never with this kind of immediacy. Typically, breaking an illusion required a perception system or detective mode scan, a brief moment to distinguish reality from the projection.

But this time, it hadn't even taken half a second.

Usak was reeling. Could it be that this armor somehow pierced his illusions instantly?

What Usak didn't realize was that the force he was facing wasn't a mere technological detection—it was a natural instinct, beyond anything he'd anticipated.

It wasn't a sensor, nor an advanced piece of equipment in the armor.

It was a perfect, built-in counter to his illusions, something that saw through his tricks before they could even take form.

It was something known as "Spider-Sense."