Chapter 90: Tony Stark Returns
〈Fourteen hours have passed since the Decepticons issued their ultimatum〉

New York is no longer as prosperous as it once was. Garbage and waste are scattered on the streets like tumbleweeds.
Broken glass stained with blood, and shops that were looted.

As time passed, like the silence before a storm, the ignorant crowd began to panic.
Even though the New York City government has issued multiple announcements and safety statements, using clichéd and stereotyped methods to try to calm the restless people,

But it is obvious that everything is in vain. The huge city of New York has almost become a crazy paradise for those who have never left.

Some of them are hoping for a lucky break, while others just want to enjoy a life they have never enjoyed before in the last moments before the end of the world.

Order began to gradually collapse, and the malice of human nature began to be magnified.

As for leaving New York?

Don't be ridiculous. The total population of New York City is over 8 million. Add in the illegal immigrants and the normal floating population, the total number is nearly 10 million. How can all of them be transferred within 24 hours?
Besides, I got away with it this time, but what about next time?

Unless we leave the earth and find a new home.

But not everyone can reach the moon and escape from the increasingly dangerous Earth.
Just like a little widow who also wanted to go to the moon, the ending will be sad and tragic.

Running away blindly is ultimately useless. In today's human society where information is highly circulated, pessimism and despair have already spread rapidly.
The widely publicized "doomsday theory" and the multiple heretical sects that sprang up based on its theory began to emerge one after another like mushrooms after a rain.

The large population movement also made the United States ignore the adverse effects that this move might cause and take the lead in blocking the main roads leading to the outside world in New York City.
If Link comes up with something like the T-virus or something else,
Perhaps there might be a defense force member named Kyle Crane who is struggling to survive in this completely blockaded area.

"Still can't contact Tony?"

At the Stark Industries building, Pepper Potts was rather helpless in answering the questions from Phil Coulson who came to visit her.

She was about to continue to respond when she heard a roar of tail flames in the sky.

Pepper turned around with some expectation and surprise, staring out the window with burning eyes.
A familiar red and gold figure drew a graceful and sharp arc in the air, and finally slowly descended and arrived at the open-air platform on the top floor of Stark Tower.

"Tony!"

Tears of excitement and joy flowed in Pepper Potts' eyes. She couldn't help but cover half of her face with her palm.
So as not to let the loved one see me in such a miserable state.

But during this period, she was overwhelmed by the mental pressure from all directions and the physical fatigue caused by running around to handle various affairs.
Finally, coupled with the mental stimulation brought by Tony Stark's sudden appearance, Pepper Potts finally couldn't hold on and her body was shaky.
Phil Coulson, who was standing by, hadn't reacted yet when he felt a gust of wind rising in front of him, making it almost impossible for him to open his eyes.

When Coulson and the agents around him saw what was happening, they saw Tony Stark, wearing a red and gold steel armor and looking a little angry.

I don't know when he appeared here, and he stretched out his hands in time to gently hug Pepper Potts who was about to fall.

But what puzzled Coulson was that when Tony Stark looked at Pepper in his arms, there seemed to be a certain blue light flashing in his pupils.

"Jarvis, check Ms. Pepper Potts's physical condition and begin receiving the latest data log files I uploaded."

〈Yes, sir.〉〈Unknown hardware device port detected, trying to connect...〉

With a light snap of his fingers in another direction, an ergonomic recliner began to slide on the rollers of its base and slowly moved to Tony Stark's side.

With some pity, he carefully placed Pepper Potts on the reclining chair with automatic adjustment.
Tony Stark stretched out his hand, and the metal armor attached to his arm began to shrink layer by layer, embedding and merging, revealing his palm.
He stretched out his fingers and gently stroked Pepper Potts's face, which was a little thin and a little rough due to lack of care for a long time.

But soon, Tony noticed Coulson and a group of SHIELD agents standing aside awkwardly and at a loss.

The gentleness on his face turned into indifference, and he spoke in a deep voice,
"You guys go to the office and wait for me. I'll come over after I finish some things."

Coulson then left, leaving Tony Stark alone with the unconscious Pepper Potts.
〈Sir, I must remind you that your project plan is indeed forward-looking and feasible, but I have not found the source of the core technology...〉

〈Is it too much to rashly use this immature technology from unknown sources?〉

"Okay, just Jarvis, I know what you want to say, but we don't have time."

Tony Stark's eyes flashed with complexity, but he still sighed.

"Relying solely on Moore's Law of natural growth, human technology will not experience explosive growth in the short term,"

"This means that we will be powerless to resist some enemies beyond our imagination."

"I've had enough!"

"I have learned one thing in my short life: the more I try to delve deeper, the more I find that people have their limits."

"Since it is impossible to achieve a breakthrough from within, we must rely on some external forces,"

“I know exactly what I’m doing now,”

"As long as the result is good, that's enough."

Tony Stark's tone became more determined, and then he changed the subject and spoke in a humorous tone.
"I think I might need some energy now."

With a thought, Tony Stark looked down at his armored chest.
The chest armor cracked layer by layer, and the metal components began to flip and fold, revealing Tony Stark's chest.
The second-generation Ark Energy Arc Reactor that was supposed to be in the center of the chest had undergone some changes.
Surrounding the reactor is a "ring" made up of obscure and complex strange runes.
These mysterious lines, which sparkle with light blue light and have a metallic luster, seem to connect Tony Stark to this armor.

〈Current synchronization rate: 14.7%〉

Looking at the row of cold numbers displayed in front of his retina, Tony Stark's eyes were dim.

(End of this chapter)