Unarmed Stark

"Someone's there!" 

Before Stark even saw them, a voice called out from up ahead. It echoed through the twisting temple corridor, sharp and alert. This time, it wasn't the universal Astral Common language, but instead a local alien dialect Stark's translator could only partially decode. 

Even though a wall separated them, Stark's advanced armor had already detected movement beyond it. Three lifeforms—distinct in shape and size—were waiting just around the corner. The first figure resembled a hulking, upright hippopotamus, its massive frame filling much of the narrow corridor. The second had a writhing, squid-like appearance, with tentacles moving constantly as though searching for something to latch onto. The third was humanoid, slim and agile, with sharp, piercing eyes that glinted faintly in the dim light. 

As the three figures emerged from behind the wall, their expressions instantly changed. Relief and joy spread across their faces as they caught sight of Stark, like a group of lost travelers finding an oasis in the middle of a desert. 

"It's been so long since we've seen anyone!" one of them exclaimed, their voice trembling with apparent relief. 

The three moved closer, their hurried steps betraying a desperation that seemed far too genuine to be feigned. 

"Do I know you?" Stark asked, his brow raised skeptically. 

"No, not yet," said the hippopotamus creature in a deep, rumbling voice. "But we urgently need your help. We're members of the Aval Alliance—here, look at this." 

The creature pointed to a badge affixed to its chest, a small, metallic plate engraved with strange symbols Stark didn't immediately recognize. Similar badges adorned the other two figures. It was clearly a form of identification, likely to signify their allegiance. 

"I've heard your Alliance sent a lot of people into this temple," Stark said, his tone calm but probing. "Why are there only three of you here?" 

[TL Note - I'm confused what does stark have to do with the alliance… did I miss something]

The trio exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier confidence replaced with awkward hesitation. Finally, the squid-like creature spoke, its tentacles curling and twitching as it did. 

"Well… it's a bit complicated," it admitted. "The Alliance did send several teams. Each one had a designated navigator to lead the way. But we… ran into trouble." 

The humanoid chimed in, its voice tinged with frustration. "We were ambushed by another group. Things got messy, and during the fight, the terrain shifted. You know how this temple works—everything moves around constantly. Before we knew it, we were separated from the rest of our team." 

Stark crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. This wasn't the first time he'd heard of groups getting lost or scattered in the temple. Even with navigation maps widely available, the unpredictable shifts in terrain, combined with the occasional violent clash between rival groups, often led to situations like this. 

"So," Stark said, his voice cool, "you don't know the way out." 

The three nodded in unison, looking like guilty children caught breaking a rule. 

The hippopotamus creature stepped forward, clasping its massive hands together in a pleading gesture. "We've been wandering for hours—maybe longer. We didn't see a single soul. We thought we were going to die here. And then, thank the stars, we found you!" 

Its voice cracked slightly, the desperation in its tone unmistakable. 

"You do know the way, right?" the humanoid asked, its sharp eyes fixed on Stark. 

"Of course," Stark said with a nonchalant shrug. "I know this place like the back of my hand." 

The trio's expressions lit up with hope. 

"Thank goodness!" the hippopotamus exclaimed. "Please, let us follow you! We'll owe you everything if you get us out of here." 

The humanoid added, "The Aval Alliance takes care of its own. If you help us, we'll make sure you're rewarded." 

Stark waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. Saving lives is just part of my professional ethics." 

The trio immediately began showering him with gratitude, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of thanks. Stark allowed a faint smirk to cross his face, though he kept his guard up. Something about their story didn't sit right with him, but he wasn't about to let them know that. 

The group started walking, Stark leading the way while the three trailed close behind. The corridor was dimly lit, the faint glow of symbols etched into the black stone walls providing just enough illumination to see a few feet ahead. 

Suddenly, the humanoid froze, its posture stiffening. 

"Wait—who's there!?" it hissed, pointing into the shadows ahead. 

Stark stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as he turned to look in the indicated direction. 

At that exact moment, the trio struck. 

The hippopotamus moved first, its massive hand lashing out toward Stark's throat with the force of a wrecking ball. Its intention was clear—to crush Stark's windpipe in a single, decisive blow. 

Simultaneously, the squid-like creature sprang into action. Its tentacles shot forward like snakes, wrapping around Stark's torso and limbs in an attempt to immobilize him completely. 

The humanoid was last but no less precise. It raised its hand in a knife-like strike, aiming directly for the back of Stark's head. The coordination between the three attackers was seamless, their timing honed through what must have been countless practice sessions. 

But they had underestimated their target. 

The hippopotamus's grin widened as its hand descended, certain that Stark was too distracted to defend himself. But just before its fingers made contact, they collided with an invisible barrier—a forcefield so solid it might as well have been steel. 

The creature's grin faltered. Its fingers scraped uselessly against the barrier, unable to penetrate it. 

The humanoid's attack met the same fate. Its knife-hand strike stopped inches from Stark's head, halted by the same invisible shield. The force of the blow rebounded, sending a jarring shock through its arm. 

"Crack!" 

The sound of bones breaking echoed through the corridor, followed by pained cries from the humanoid and the hippopotamus as they stumbled back, clutching their injured limbs. 

The squid-like creature, meanwhile, tightened its grip, unaware of what had just happened to its companions. From its perspective, its tentacles were securely wrapped around Stark's body. 

But then it noticed something strange. 

The texture was wrong. Instead of the warm, pliable feel of flesh, its tentacles encountered cold, unyielding metal. 

Before it could react, a surge of blue electricity coursed through its tentacles, traveling directly into its body. The creature convulsed violently, smoke rising from its charred form as it collapsed to the ground. 

The remaining two attackers, realizing their mistake, launched one final, desperate assault. The hippopotamus roared as it charged forward, swinging its massive fists, while the humanoid darted in from the side, its movements quick and frantic. 

Stark didn't even flinch. 

A burst of flame erupted from his left boot as he executed a powerful upward kick. The blow connected with the hippopotamus's forehead, sending the massive creature crashing to the ground with a resounding thud. 

At the same time, Stark raised his right hand. The translucent armor covering his palm shimmered as a pulse of energy shot forth, striking the humanoid square in the chest. The force of the blast hurled it backward, its body slamming into the wall with enough force to leave a dent. 

For a moment, the corridor was silent, save for the faint hum of Stark's armor and the groans of his defeated attackers. 

As the distortion field around him faded, the sleek red-and-gold gleam of Stark's armor became visible for a brief second. Then, just as quickly, it disappeared again, leaving him standing there, seemingly unarmed.