Stark was perplexed.
He looked Luo Bai up and down, trying to understand how such imnse power could exist within him—power that could devour the entire universe. And yet, Luo Bai appeared unaffected by it, as if it weren't a problem at all.
From all appearances, nothing had changed about Luo Bai. His expression was calm, and there wasn't even the slightest hint of trouble.
Stark sighed. "If you hadn't told , I wouldn't have had a clue. You look completely normal."
Luo Bai smiled. "A mage requires strong willpower and ntal fortitude. The universe is full of temptations."
Stark raised an eyebrow. "Well, you're still able to talk calmly, so I assu you've learned how to control it?"
Luo Bai chuckled. "Of course. I was just ssing with you earlier. You know —I've always been incredibly lucky, so I manage it well enough."
Stark let out a relieved breath. "Thank goodness. For a second there, I thought I was going to be eaten."
He laughed nervously. Luo Bai really does have extraordinary willpower... worthy of the title Supre Sorcerer.
But then again, Luo Bai had always been lucky. Traveling through the multiverse and stumbling upon such powerful forces? That was sothing Stark could relate to, even if he didn't fully grasp the scale of it.
It reminded Stark of soone casually walking down the street, finding a winning lottery ticket, and realizing they'd hit a hundred million dollars. Sure, there would be taxes, but the rest? Free and clear.
"You know," Stark mused, "it's not just your strength that impresses . You've always had incredible luck too. But because you're so powerful, I've probably overlooked that fact."
Luo Bai smiled. "Luck is a part of strength."
Just then, the doorbell rang throughout the villa.
"Were you expecting anyone?" Luo Bai asked.
Stark shook his head. "No, but a few days ago, during an interview, I may have accidentally given out my ho address to the entire world. So... it's not surprising soone's here."
Luo Bai laughed. "Oh, that explains it. I rember seeing that on the news before I ca."
Stark looked embarrassed. "Yeah, I admit it wasn't my finest mont. But at the ti, the Mandarin was causing chaos—nine bombings in New York in just one week. He even appeared on TV, making threats. People were scared, and the reporters were asking why Iron Man wasn't doing anything. So, I... reacted impulsively."
Luo Bai nodded, understanding. He didn't press the issue.
The two of them made their way to the first floor. As they reached the door, they saw a blonde woman standing outside.
She had a simple, almost academic appearance.
After Stark invited her in, he asked, "You're not the Mandarin, are you?"
The woman looked surprised. "You don't rember ?"
Stark blinked, taken aback. "I have a terrible mory. Honestly, I can't even rember what I had for breakfast."
The woman ignored his self-deprecating humor and got straight to the point. "Tony, I need to talk to you. It's important. Alone."
Stark glanced at Luo Bai and shook his head. "I trust Luo Bai. With him here, I'm safe."
The woman looked puzzled. "Don't you want to know more about the Mandarin?"
"I do," Stark said, "but first, I want to know who you are."
Luo Bai chid in. "She's Maya Hansen, Tony. Your ex-girlfriend."
Stark blinked in surprise. "Ex-girlfriend? That rings a bell... but why do you know about the Mandarin?"
"She's involved," Luo Bai answered before Maya could speak.
In a flash, Stark grabbed Maya's arm, subduing her. "I suggest you co clean, Maya. I don't want to hurt you, but I will if necessary."
Maya glared at him. "Stark! I'm your ex-girlfriend! We had a relationship, rember? You're really going to trust this guy over ?"
Stark shrugged. "Uh, yeah. Is that so hard to believe?"
"Of course!" Maya retorted. "Don't I deserve a chance to explain myself?"
"If Luo Bai says you're involved, I believe him. So, let's cut to the chase. What's your connection to the Mandarin?" Stark asked firmly.
Maya hesitated, then sighed in frustration. "Fine. Yes, I was involved. But I was forced, Tony!"
Luo Bai shook his head. "She wasn't forced. She joined willingly."
Maya scowled. "You think you know everything?"
Before Luo Bai could reply, Stark spoke up. "He's a mage, Maya. He does know everything. You should show so respect."
Maya laughed bitterly. "Unbelievable. You're defending him over ?"
Her frustration mounted as she realized where she stood in Stark's mind. She had thought she still ant sothing to him. Clearly, she was wrong.
"Fine," she muttered. "Yes, I joined voluntarily."
Stark frowned. "You actually joined a terrorist group? How did I end up with an ex-girlfriend like you?"
Maya snapped, "He's not a terrorist! The Mandarin is just an actor—a puppet. The real mastermind is Aldrich Killian."
Stark's face darkened. Killian... the sa man who had been hanging around Pepper recently.
Luo Bai had ntioned before that Killian would beco an enemy, but Stark hadn't understood until now.
"And what does Killian want?" Stark asked.
"He's developing the Extremis virus," Maya said gravely.
Stark's eyes widened. "Extremis virus?"
Maya nodded. "It's a biological enhancer. It boosts strength, speed, reaction ti, even regenerates cells. It turns ordinary people into superhumans. But... it has a flaw. Most subjects who use it end up... self-destructing."
"Self-destructing?" Stark repeated, realizing the gravity of the situation.
Killian had been conducting secret human experints. And to cover up the explosions, he'd created the Mandarin persona to make people believe the blasts were the work of terrorists.
"Maya, how could you help with sothing like this? Do you know how many people have died in those explosions?" Stark demanded.
Maya shot back, "It's a research issue! We're trying to perfect the Extremis virus. It's more powerful than the super-soldier serum! We can fix it!"
Stark shook his head. "I don't care about that. Why are you here?"
Maya's expression darkened. "Killian wants to take Boz and inject him with Extremis. And then... he wants to kill you."
Stark's stomach sank. "So, you're here to warn ?"
"No," Maya sneered. "I'm here to confirm if you're really at this address."
Luo Bai suddenly spoke up. "Stark, your ho is surrounded."
Stark's eyes widened in shock as he realized the villa was surrounded by enemies. They were closing in from every direction, prepared to launch a missile attack.
Maya smirked. "Goodbye, Stark. You deserve this."
But her confidence was misplaced.
"I wouldn't get too excited just yet," Stark said, his voice steady. "With Luo Bai here, nothing will happen to my ho."
Just as he spoke, a deafening explosion rocked the air.
But it wasn't Stark's ho that exploded. It was the helicopters hovering above, the ones prepared to launch missiles at his villa. They burst into flas, one after another, as if by magic.
Maya stared, speechless. Of the eight helicopters, only four remained.
Her plan had failed.
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