On a bridge over Manhattan, a car executed a stylish drift and came to a halt by the roadside.
Four people stepped out, Rhodey, Raiden, Yinsen, and Pepper, whom they had met along the way.
The four stood on the bridge, gazing down at the road below. Unlike usual, the lanes were not filled with a continuous flow of vehicles. Instead, there were only people frantically fleeing.
Looking further down the road, they saw a sea of flames. There, two of this era most remarkable creations were locked in a fierce confrontation.
"Raiden, we need to help Tony. He might not be able to handle it alone" Yinsen said to Raiden.
Raiden leaned on the bridge's railing, observing the people on the road, and nodded.
"Rhodey, you stay here and help evacuate the crowd. I'll go assist Tony."
"You? No, I'm a soldier. I should go" Rhodey said, waving his hand. He had no idea what kind of abilities Raiden possessed.
"No, Rhodey..." Raiden was about to explain when a sudden cry from below the bridge interrupted him.
In the distance, a massive figure came barreling down the road, and in front of it was something—or rather, someone.
Oh, it was Tony!
"Boom!"
Obadiah, with Tony in his grip, smashed through countless walls and bridges before finally coming to a stop. Obadiah grabbed Tony by the ankle, swinging him around and slamming him into the ground.
"Oh, save him!" Pepper covered her face with her hands, her heart aching. Tears welled up in her eyes as she tugged at Raiden's arm.
"No matter what, you need to go and save him!"
"Pepper, calm down. We'll figure something out. There has to be a way" Rhodey said, pulling out his pistol and firing at Obadiah, though it was clearly ineffective.
However, Rhodey actions caught the attention of both Obadiah and Tony. Through the suit's interface, Obadiah quickly detected and locked onto Raiden presence.
Seeing Raiden, Obadiah heart trembled. The power he now possessed was immense, so much so that it had almost caused him to lose himself. But whenever he saw Raiden, he was reminded of something—a memory that made him feel small and insignificant.
Tony, of course, also noticed Raiden and Yinsen. He shouted at them.
"Come and help..."
Seeing Tony being utterly dominated by Obadiah, Raiden took a step forward. Regardless of Obadiah reasons, perhaps it was time for him to step in and put an end to this.
Yinsen, following behind Raiden, quickly moved forward as well.
Raiden turned his head and whispered to Yinsen.
"Stay back. No matter what happens, keep yourself hidden. It's not the right time yet."
With that, Raiden turned his gaze back to Obadiah.
In that moment, Raiden felt his blood boiling and burning within him—the blood of the ancient Nord, the blood of battle, was calling to him.
A fight, a true fight.
Every cell in Raiden body was cheering, craving for battle.
"Finally, I can unleash my power" Raiden murmured softly. During his time away from the cave, Raiden had regained a portion of his strength.
Even if it was just a small fraction, it was enough!
Under the stunned gazes of Pepper and Rhodey, Raiden leaped off the bridge!
...
On the road ravaged by Obadiah and Tony, people trembled and fled in panic.
Obadiah indiscriminate attacks had left many injured, and some had even lost their lives.
Yet, amidst the chaos, there were always those who chose not to run, those who would stand up, those willing to sacrifice themselves to save others.
Five hundred meters behind Obadiah, a truck driver stared intently at the towering figure of Obadiah. The massive armor was wreaking havoc on the city, doing as it pleased in his homeland.
"Oh, great God, protect me," the truck driver prayed with his eyes closed, his hands clasped in front of his chest. As he prayed, he couldn't help but think of his wife and children, thoughts that softened his heart.
But when he opened his eyes and saw Tony small figure repeatedly falling and rising under Obadiah relentless assault, the man knew Tony needed help—even if that help came from just a humble truck driver.
"Charge!" the man roared, slamming his foot on the accelerator. The truck roared like a beast as it sped toward Obadiah.
Obadiah heard the roar of the truck's engine and turned to see it barreling toward him. Watching the speeding truck, Obadiah raised his right hand, the energy cannon on his arm beginning to charge.
As the distance between the truck and Obadiah closed, the truck driver executed a sharp turn at the last moment, sending the cargo container flying off the back. It struck Obadiah with perfect precision.
The truck cab, carried by momentum, crashed into a nearby wall, just as Raiden, who had jumped from the bridge, landed right in front of it.
"I'm alive? I'm okay!" the truck driver slowly opened his eyes, realizing he was completely unharmed, not a scratch on him.
Could it really be that God had protected him? The truck driver couldn't help but feel grateful.
In his original plan, after launching the cargo container, he was certain to crash into the wall. But now... it was a miracle. It had to be.
As the truck driver was lost in his thoughts, suddenly, his door was ripped off.
A man in strange armor stood before him, a dreamlike suit that shimmered with an otherworldly glow.
"Buddy, this place isn't safe. Get out of here!" Raiden said to the truck driver.
"Th-thank you," the truck driver stammered, staring at Raiden in shock before quickly fleeing the scene.
Obadiah, too, had been hit hard by the cargo container, slamming into the wall. However, it didn't cause any significant damage. Slowly, he pushed the container aside and stood up.
Raiden walked over to Tony, standing shoulder to shoulder with him. The dragon-shaped armor on Raiden flickered faintly, and as he approached Tony, the armor finally dissipated into a phantom shadow.
Both of them looked on high alert as Obadiah struggled to free himself from the wall.
Tony turned to Raiden and said.
"Impressive! Can you take down Obadiah?"
After witnessing Raiden earlier move, Tony had a taste of what true power was. With the impact force of that truck earlier, even Obadiah suit would have been sent flying. Yet, Raiden had caught it bare-handed, and so steadily at that... His strength was undeniable.
"Difficult" Raiden replied.
"But you were... in such great form just now," Tony said.
"Just now?" Raiden let out a bitter laugh. Earlier, to save the truck driver, he had no choice but to unleash his full power, using the Dragon Roar 'Dragon Aspect'.
But now... the power of the Dragon Roar had completely faded.
As for the Heroic Spirit energy within him... Raiden had long realized that this power no longer obeyed his commands. Only the residual soul energy of the Heroic Spirits within his body could still be summoned by Raiden, but he hadn't yet learned how to use it.
For now, he could only rely on magic to confront Obadiah. And Raiden current magic, pitted against Obadiah armor—a suit forged from the finest metal on Earth—whether it could even penetrate the defense was still a question.
"You go, I'll cover you" Raiden said, turning to Tony.
"What? Me? You want me to go?" Tony said in disbelief.
"Are you kidding me? Didn't you see I'm already half-beaten to a pulp?"
"Go!" Raiden roared at Tony, glaring at Obadiah.
Tony shook his head, took a deep breath, and then charged toward Obadiah.
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