Once And For All

"Looks like we hit the jackpot, Captain," Stark's voice crackled from inside his armor, sounding almost amused.

"This one's different—it can actually take a hit."

The other Cantel fighters had fallen with a single blast from even an unmanned mech. But this guy, standing a few yards away, was still up after two powerful blasts from Stark's genuine Iron Man Mark 43 suit. He looked different too, with unique armor colors that marked him as someone important, maybe even a boss.

Suddenly, a Cantel soldier crept in from Stark's blind spot, ready to launch a sneak attack. But Captain America noticed and blocked him with ease, bringing his shield up in a perfect arc. Without even looking, Cap punched the attacker, making him stumble back, just as Stark fired a quick, precise shot that blasted through the soldier's chest.

"Don't get cocky, Tony," Captain America warned, shifting his stance.

The legion commander, their main target, observed them in silence. Gone was the arrogance he had when he first entered the battlefield. Now, his eyes moved over the two Avengers with a focused gaze, as if he understood that these opponents would not be easy to beat.

With a loud, intimidating cry, the commander charged forward, his right arm extending as a long, sharp thorn grew out of it. He aimed the thorn at Iron Man, but at the last second, his arm jerked sideways, sending the strike toward Captain America.

The quick exchange revealed what the commander had figured out in mere seconds. He'd decided Captain America was the weaker link. To him, a guy with just a shield was much easier to take down than someone in a high-tech suit.

But Captain America wasn't about to go down easily. Even though he didn't have the sheer power of Stark's armor, when he chose to play defense, Steve Rogers was nearly impossible to move. And while Iron Man's suit was mostly AI-controlled, the program was smart enough to cover for Cap when needed.

The legion commander launched a fierce assault, firing bursts of energy from his thorn in quick, deadly blasts aimed straight at Captain America. With expert timing, Cap spun his shield, deflecting each strike with near-perfect accuracy. A loud clanging and crackling filled the air as Cap's shield met the blasts, over and over again. Sparks flew around them, and shockwaves exploded outward. Cap's shield, though small, held firm like a rock in a hurricane.

Meanwhile, Iron Man kept his own attacks steady from the side, each blast striking at just the right time. As the commander's focus shifted for a moment, Captain America slammed the shield back in defense, forcing the commander to stagger. Stark saw his chance and fired a hard recoil blast that knocked the commander back several steps.

The legion commander barely had time to recover, his reflexes kicking in despite the pain. This time, he aimed directly for Stark's chest, clearly guessing that the glowing arc reactor in the center was a weak spot. Stark deflected the shot without hesitation, his suit moving fluidly as it blocked the commander's strikes.

Though Stark wasn't a martial arts master, he'd trained with the best, including Captain America. He might not have the smooth moves of a fighter, but his suit was now programmed with some of the most useful defensive skills. He'd made sure to upgrade his AI's battle abilities after previous fights had taught him he'd need more than armor to survive.

As the legion commander tried another hit, Stark's shoulder compartment opened, revealing a hidden cannon. Without warning, it fired a shotgun blast at close range. The commander stumbled back in surprise. Seizing the moment, Captain America sprang forward, pushing off Stark's shoulder and jumping into the air with his shield raised high, ready for a powerful strike.

The legion commander, desperate, raised his thorn in one last effort to counter. But Captain America was ready for him. As he sailed through the air, he raised his hand, and in a flash of lightning, a warhammer appeared in his grip, crackling with energy. He brought it down, hammer and shield aimed straight at the commander, ready to end the fight once and for all.