Tony returns

Authors Note-

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The tornado Mandarin conjured couldn't sustain itself for long. Despite its impressive size, it was ultimately powered by the ring and wasn't strong enough to lift the colossal Skull Crawler. As the vortex fizzled out, the monstrous beast roared and smashed through the fading winds with brute force. With its sights set on Mandarin, it lunged forward, a gaping maw aimed at devouring him whole.

Mandarin, in a desperate escape bid, turned and fled. He displayed impressive agility, leaping over ten meters with each jump, narrowly avoiding the snapping jaws of the Skull Crawler. However, his reprieve was short-lived.

The relentless beast twisted its body and lashed out with its thick tail, forcing Mandarin to leap once more to avoid a fatal blow. Gasping for air, Mandarin activated another ring. This time, a shroud of darkness engulfed the area surrounding the Skull Crawler.

This darkness, controlled by Mandarin, could restrict movement. The monstrous beast thrashed unthinkingly within the dark zone, its frustration echoing in enraged roars.

While the darkness temporarily trapped the Skull Crawler, Mandarin knew it wouldn't last. The power fueling the spell resided within the ring itself and once depleted, the darkness would dissipate, leaving him exposed to the colossal beast again. Desperation gnawed at Mandarin as he turned his gaze towards the other side of the battlefield, where the Feilong was locked in its fierce struggle.

The battle between the dragon and the two other Skull Crawlers was brutal and chaotic. Their massive bodies were entwined in a vicious brawl. The Feilong had one gigantic jaw clamped onto the neck of the larger Skull Crawler while its tail constricted the smaller one.

But the Skull Crawlers were about to go down slowly. The larger one retaliated by shoving a claw deep into the Feilong's belly, targeting a vulnerable area near its heart. The dragon's once pristine scales littered the ground, marking the numerous wounds inflicted by its opponents.

The smaller Skull Crawler, enduring the crushing grip of the tail, managed to climb onto the Feilong's back. It tore at the dragon's flesh with its sharp claws and teeth, landing a few blows on its head with its tail.

The tide of the battle was turning against the Feilong. Its initial aerial advantage and fiery attacks were nullified by being forced into close combat. Now, it was being battered by two behemoths of equal strength. Recognizing the dire situation, Mandarin knew he couldn't drag this out. He had to retreat and devise a plan for revenge. As a cunning strategist, Mandarin understood the value of a strategic withdrawal.

With a sharp whistle that pierced through the chaos, Mandarin signaled the Feilong. The whistle seemed to ignite a fierce resolve within the dragon. It released the smaller Skull Crawler with a forceful throw and used its powerful claws to rake across the larger one's neck, leaving deep gashes. With a final burst of energy, the Feilong disengaged from the fight and fled towards Mandarin.

Simultaneously, Mandarin relinquished control of the dark zone, a tactical move that allowed him to escape. Before the three Skull Crawlers could react, Mandarin and the Feilong had already converged. Within seconds, they were within ten meters of each other, and the Feilong, with Mandarin perched on its head, soared into the sky.

As they departed, Mandarin issued a final taunt, his voice echoing across the battlefield, "Consider this a stroke of luck for you today. But don't grow complacent! I will return, and you'll face my wrath!" Listening to Mandarin's melodramatic farewell, Kyle couldn't help but chuckle. It seemed his father's words about villains held – they always had to leave with a parting threat: "I'll be back!"

Seeing their escape, the three Skull Crawlers didn't pursue. They understood the futility of chasing after creatures with superior aerial mobility. Utterly bewildered by the events that unfolded, Tony turned towards the three figures of Arnold and his companions, now reverting to their human forms. He couldn't contain his curiosity.

"Hold on a minute," he stammered, "what just happened? It defies all scientific principles! Where did their armor go? It looks completely undamaged, so how did it disappear?"

There was one more loose thread – Tony felt a growing disconnect between their worlds. After Arnold and the others transformed back, Kyle suggested wrapping things up quickly. Unfortunately, for the magic-based power wielded by Arnold and his companions, even they didn't understand the why behind it.

They knew how to activate it, but the underlying principles remained a mystery – a consequence of Ivan's forceful transformation. They had no idea where their clothes went during transformation, nor did they understand how they reappeared when they shifted back to human form.

Despite the close call, they managed to escape. The six boarded the plane together, piloted by Baymax, and returned to New York. Arnold produced a non-disclosure agreement out of thin air during the flight, requesting Tony, Ethan, and Kyle to sign it. Tony meticulously reviewed the agreement. While the penalties for violation were severe, they fell within an acceptable range. They seemed well-prepared, likely due to having encountered similar situations before. Tony understood this and signed without hesitation. Naturally, Ethan and Kyle followed suit.

With the Cipher Mercenary Group matter settled Tony returned to Kyle.

"Alright, Kyle, my friend," he began, "let's talk about your magic. What else can it do besides conjuring fireballs and transforming sand into protective elephants?"

Kyle's private jet boasted various advanced amenities, offering a luxurious environment with food and drinks. He sipped his red wine before replying, "There's more than you can imagine. For instance, I can allow your soul to leave your body, take control remotely, and let you do some indescribable things without realizing it.

Additionally, I can erase certain memories, alter your size, manipulate your senses – sight, hearing, speech – even render you blind, deaf, or mute. Teleportation across vast distances is also within the realm of possibility. The only limitation is your imagination."

Tony's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's miraculous! So you're a god!"

Kyle rolled his eyes. "There's no such thing as a free lunch. Every power comes with a price. Magic is no different. It all boils down to having enough magic power. Remember the giant fireball I used earlier? It only reached a dozen meters in diameter but could be more prominent. However, creating a 30-meter fireball would completely drain my magic reserves. Magic attacks can also be countered or dodged.

No matter the attack's strength, it's useless if it misses the target. Take steel armor, for example; most of my magic would be ineffective against it. Technology is constantly advancing, with sophisticated equipment emerging all the time. Invest some more resources into your steel armor, and you might be able to develop a more powerful weapon yourself."

"That's a relief!"

Tony exhaled, comforted by Kyle's words. The idea of facing an omnipotent friend was daunting.

"Do any of your spells include resurrection?"

Tony inquired, a flicker of hope and trepidation in his eyes.

"Resurrection magic does exist, but it's strictly forbidden territory. The cost is.

"I understand you want to return your parents, but I strongly advise against it. Resurrection is subject to several conditions. First, the time of death can't be too long ago. The body must be intact, and the soul needs to be retrieved. Unfortunately, your parents don't meet these criteria. So, you should abandon that idea."

A shadow of disappointment crossed Tony's face. It had been years since his parents' passing, and their bodies had long since decomposed. Resurrection was clearly out of the question. Tony was unaware that Howard and Maria were alive and well on Skull Island. Howard, in particular, enjoyed a comfortable life surrounded by advanced technology. The only one kept in the dark was their clueless son.

Pushing thoughts of his parents aside for the moment, Tony recalled something else. "You mentioned teleportation earlier. Can you teleport me directly back to Stark Industries?"

"Yes, but I won't do it for your safety."

Tony's brow furrowed in confusion. "For my safety? What's wrong? Is there a flaw in your teleportation magic?"

"It's not the magic itself, but the situation. While you were missing, I conducted some discreet investigations. The attack you encountered with the terrorists wasn't as simple as it seemed. Someone within the company leaked your whereabouts. There's someone after your life. You'll walk right into a trap if I teleport you directly back. However, making a high-profile return would be troublesome. That's why we've prepared a press conference for you. We'll expose everything publicly, forcing your enemy to show their hand."

Tony's face contorted, a mask of fear and fury etched with glistening water. "Someone's trying to kill me! Someone inside the company! Who is it? Do you have any leads?"

"That's the problem, Tony," you admitted. "I have no idea. Logically, terrorists wouldn't target you if they knew you were in the car. A live Stark is worth more than a dead one. You are far more valuable, and your injuries suggest they weren't after a prisoner."

Tony fell silent, the weight of your words settling in. Now that he thought about it, the terrorists' behavior did seem odd. A large portion of the weapons bore the Stark Industries logo.

Who sold those weapons to terrorists? And then there were those cryptic words from the Mandarin... Everything pointed towards a traitor lurking within Stark Industries.