The night sky was a dark canvas, intermittently illuminated by fiery explosions that cast flickering shadows across the Stark Industries complex. Amidst the debris and chaos, Tony Stark stood ready, clad in his red and gold Mark III Iron Man armor. The glowing eyes of his helmet narrowed as he faced his adversary. Across from him loomed the monstrous figure of Obadiah Stane, encased in the bulky, fearsome Iron Monger suit. The Iron Monger's armor was a cold, industrial grey, adorned with rivets and powerful hydraulic limbs.
"You had your chance, Tony!" Obadiah's voice boomed through the suit's speakers, dripping with a mix of anger and betrayal.
With a ground-shaking charge, Obadiah lunged forward. Each step echoed with the sound of metal striking concrete, the sheer weight of the suit causing the ground to tremble. Tony reacted quickly, engaging his repulsors and launching himself sideways. He narrowly avoided a devastating punch that left a crater in the rooftop where he had stood moments before.
"JARVIS, I need options!" Tony's voice was urgent, tinged with the strain of battle.
"Power reserves at 19%, sir," JARVIS responded, his tone calm and precise despite the chaos.
Tony's HUD was a flurry of red alerts and warnings. His breathing was heavy, each breath fogging the inside of his helmet momentarily. He took a quick glance around, assessing his surroundings and the rapidly dwindling options.
"Alright, let's see if he can keep up," Tony muttered to himself, determination hardening his voice.
Blasting off into the sky, Tony's repulsors flared brightly against the dark night. Obadiah watched for a moment, his expression a mixture of surprise and anger. With a roar, he activated his own thrusters, the Iron Monger's bulk lifting off the ground with an almost unnatural grace.
"You can't hide from me, Tony!" Obadiah's voice was filled with rage and the thrill of the hunt.
"Who said anything about hiding?" Tony retorted, a smirk audible in his tone.
The two armored figures ascended rapidly, piercing through the clouds. The temperature dropped sharply, and the roar of the wind was deafening. Tony's suit adjusted for altitude, the HUD displaying complex readouts. He glanced over his shoulder, seeing the Iron Monger in close pursuit, its metal surface beginning to glisten with frost.
"You ever solve the icing problem?" Tony asked, a hint of a smirk in his voice, masking his concern.
"Icing problem? What—" Obadiah's confusion turned to alarm as his suit began to shudder violently. Ice crystals formed rapidly, covering the Iron Monger's exterior. The suit's joints creaked and seized up, sensors flickered, and internal systems began to fail under the frigid temperatures.
"No... NO!" Obadiah's thrusters sputtered and died, and the massive suit plummeted towards the ground like a falling star. Tony watched for a split second, ensuring his plan had worked, before diving after him. The wind whipped around him as he stabilized his descent, his suit compensating for the high-speed drop.
"Gotcha," Tony whispered to himself, a mix of relief and determination in his voice.
As Obadiah crashed into the ground below, the impact created a massive shockwave, sending debris flying in all directions. Tony landed nearby, his suit battered and scorched, but still operational. He approached the wreckage of the Iron Monger, seeing Obadiah trapped inside, the ice-covered armor cracked and smoking.
"JARVIS, status report," Tony commanded, his voice steady but urgent.
"Iron Monger suit systems have failed, sir. He is no longer a threat," JARVIS confirmed.
Tony took a deep breath, the tension in his muscles slowly easing. He reached up and removed his helmet, revealing a face covered in sweat and grime, but with a look of determined resolve.
"Pepper, it's over," Tony said into his comm, his voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and relief.
"Tony, thank God. Are you okay?" Pepper's voice was filled with relief and worry.
"I'm almost out of power. I've got to get out of this thing. I'll be right there." Tony began to disengage his suit when a loud crash behind him made him turn. Obadiah, now free of the ice but visibly damaged, stood up, a menacing grin on his face.
"Nice try," Obadiah sneered, his voice dripping with venom.
With a swift motion, Obadiah punched Tony, sending him sprawling across the rooftop. Tony tried to retaliate with a punch of his own, but his blow barely dented the Iron Monger's armor. Obadiah grabbed Tony in a bear hug, the immense pressure causing Tony's armor to groan and buckle.
"Weapon status!?" Tony gasped, his voice strained.
"Repulsors offline. Missiles offline," JARVIS reported.
"Flares!" Tony ordered.
A dazzling burst of light forced Obadiah to release him. Tony dropped to the ground, his suit damaged and power levels critically low.
"Very clever, Tony," Obadiah mocked, his tone filled with dark amusement.
Obadiah kicked Tony away, sending him tumbling across the ground. Tony struggled to stand, his suit barely functional.
"I never had a taste for this sort of thing, but I must say I'm deeply enjoying the suit! You finally outdid yourself, Tony. You'd make your father proud," Obadiah taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm and malice.
Tony glared at Obadiah, rage and determination in his eyes. Obadiah punched him hard, knocking his helmet off. Tony, now exposed and vulnerable, struggled to breathe as his suit's power dropped to 1%.
"You're ironic, Tony! Trying to rid the world of weapons, you gave it its best weapon ever! And now I'm going to kill you with it!" Obadiah raised his arm for the final blow.
A series of energy blasts hit Obadiah from the side, sending him tumbling to the ground.
[ATTACK RIDE: BLAST] A distorted voice announced the attack.
Tony looked up, bewildered. Obadiah groaned as he struggled to stand. Emerging from the shadows was a figure clad in magenta armor with barcode lines running across it. His green eyes pierced through the darkness, catching the moonlight and holding both Tony's and Obadiah's attention. He walked with a purposeful stride, exuding an aura of authority and power.
Tony and Obadiah stared in shock as the figure stopped before them. His presence was commanding, almost otherworldly, making both men momentarily forget their own battle.
…
The city of New York was bustling as ever, its streets filled with the usual rush of people and the cacophony of urban life. In a secluded corner, a curtain of aurora lights shimmered into existence, though it was tinged with an unusual shade of grey. From within the curtain stepped a young-looking teen with brown hair, his eyes wide with curiosity as he took in his surroundings.
"I'm in a city? Is this America?" he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible over the city's din. His gaze wandered, marveling at the towering skyscrapers and the eclectic mix of people passing by.
He emerged from the corner and was greeted by the dazzling sight of Times Square, its towering billboards flashing a myriad of advertisements. The vibrant chaos of lights and sounds was overwhelming.
"It's rare that I'm not in Japan. What an interesting world," he mused, a hint of wonder in his voice as he took in the spectacle before him, the neon lights reflecting in his eyes.
From his pocket, he produced a belt buckle with a white body and a circular glass center, adorned with numerous engraved symbols. His brow furrowed in confusion as he examined it, the glow from the billboards casting shifting shadows across his face.
"Hmm? That is strange," he remarked aloud, his tone reflecting both curiosity and a touch of concern.
Next, he took out a white book and opened it. Inside were cards, each depicting men in various forms of armor. Most of the cards were white and blank, with only a few—marked from Kuuga to Kiva—remaining intact and detailed.
"Most of the Rider Cards are blank. Only Kuuga to Kiva are usable. Is it this world's effect? Never mind, let's gather info first," he decided, his voice carrying a note of determination amidst the uncertainty of his situation.
He glanced down at his attire, realizing he was dressed in a sharp blue formal suit that stood out against the backdrop of casual New Yorkers. He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out an ID card, featuring a symbol of an eagle. The text read: Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division.
"What is this? An organization? They have an unnecessarily long name. So, this is the role given to me in this world. Well, it is a great place to start gathering information. Let's go," he concluded, a wry smile quirking his lips as he embarked on his journey through the bustling streets, his steps purposeful and his mind racing with questions about this new and unfamiliar world.