Tony stared at the wall, his memories gradually drifting back to two weeks ago, to the battle with Obadiah.
...
"Jarvis, channel all energy into the thrusters, ascend to the highest point."
"Sir, only fifteen percent of the energy remains. The probability of reaching—"
"I can do the math! Just do as I say!" Tony glanced back at Obadiah, who was slowly taking off below him, then turned and soared into the sky.
Obadiah decisively followed, relentlessly pursuing him. The two of them chased each other through the sky, one after the other.
"Thirteen percent energy remaining, sir," Jarvis reminded.
"Keep ascending!" Tony said without hesitation.
Tony intended to use the issue of the suit freezing at high altitudes to defeat Obadiah.
"Eleven percent."
"Keep going!"
"Seven percent."
"Display it on the screen, I'll see it myself. Shut up."
But before Tony could reach the highest point, Obadiah had already caught up. He grabbed Tony ankle and yanked him down. Tony and Obadiah tumbled through the air, grappling with each other.
"Stop, Tony!" Obadiah suddenly said.
But how could Tony stop? He and Obadiah were enemies now.
"Stop!" Obadiah tightened his grip on Tony hand, and Tony suit groaned under the strain.
"What do you want, Obadiah?" Tony said angrily.
"I just want to tell you the truth!"
"The truth? You betrayed me!"
Obadiah and Tony hovered in the high altitude, their suits slowly freezing as they spoke.
"Yes, I betrayed you, but I will fail. I will inevitably fail" Obadiah said.
"Of course you will fail!" Tony retorted without hesitation.
Obadiah fell silent for a moment.
"The reason for my failure isn't you, but because Akatosh is on your side. I can't kill him."
"Raiden? Enough talk, just die, Obadiah!" Tony activated the energy cannon in his palm, aiming it at Obadiah.
"Tony! Do you know Akatosh true nature? Have you seen his other side?" Obadiah roared.
Tony hesitated.
"Do you think the person you are now is truly yourself, Tony?" Obadiah said gravely.
"I've seen Akatosh other side. He has the power to freely alter others' wills. He has destroyed, he has killed. He's not what you think he is."
"What's the point of telling me this?" Tony demanded.
Obadiah smiled. "I just want you to understand—are you really yourself? Are you sure your thoughts are your own will? Tony, I've been controlled by him. My soul bears a mark that forever prevents me from harming him. He's a demon, a madman."
The reactor on Obadiah suit flickered, a sign that it was freezing.
"Tony, do you know how much you've changed? The person you are now is worlds apart from who you used to be. Look back... Is the person you are now truly yourself?" Obadiah said.
Tony fell silent. The changes in himself were indeed too great, and he couldn't help but feel a sliver of doubt about who he really was.
Looking at the silent Tony, Obadiah spoke again "Akathos is very weak now, extremely weak, but I can't kill him, and you can. He is a demon, and even if he isn't now, in the future, he will inevitably become one. I've seen it! Tony, we can kill him together and create a brand new future!"
Facing Obadiah persuasion, Tony, though skeptical, didn't fully believe him. After all, Obadiah had once ordered his death, while Raiden had saved him at that time.
"If he is to become a demon, I will surely pull him back, and my will can only be decided by me! Obadiah, you and I can only be enemies!"
Tony continued to ascend with Obadiah until their suits froze and they fell. However, Obadiah words during the fall made Tony doubt the future.
....
"Mr. Stark, Miss Pepper is here," Jarvis's voice interrupted Tony's reminiscence.
"Oh, is she? Let her come down!" Tony said, somewhat dazed.
After a while, Pepper entered the workshop.
"Pepper, what brings you here?" Tony stood up and greeted her.
Pepper glanced around the workshop and smiled at Tony.
"I just came to check on you. Are you okay?"
"Of course, oh, of course I'm fine" Tony said, pouring a cup of coffee for Pepper from the machine.
"Really? Raiden said you've been acting strange lately, as if you're avoiding him" Pepper took the coffee and said.
"Raiden... how did he... no, of course not" Tony gestured with his hands.
Pepper put down the coffee. Well, she hadn't believed it before, but now it seemed there really was an issue between Tony and Raiden. Having been with Tony for ten years, it was hard for him to hide anything from her.
"What happened?" Pepper stepped forward and took Tony's hand.
"I... oh, well, Pepper, do you think I've changed?" Tony, realizing he couldn't hide it from Pepper, decided to speak up.
"Changed?" Pepper was puzzled.
"Yes, have I changed much since I came back from the cave?" Tony spread his arms.
"Quite a bit, I almost don't recognize you" Pepper shook her head.
"Do you think I'm still me? Do you think these changes are really my own thoughts? Could it be that someone else has imposed their will on me?" Tony turned around, his back to Pepper, and spoke in a deep voice.
"Oh, Tony, how could that be," Pepper laughed, but looking at Tony's back, it didn't seem like he was joking...
"Tony, no, you're Tony Stark. Who could control you? Only you can change yourself."
"But what if there really is someone like that! Someone who can twist others' wills and change their thoughts!" Tony turned around and looked at Pepper.
Pepper fell silent. She stepped forward and rested her head on Tony chest.
"Then, you'll have to ask your heart" Pepper said, placing her hand over Tony heart, feeling its beat.
Tony was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked. "Were you ever captivated by me that night?"
"Which night?" Pepper lifted her head from Tony's chest.
"You know which one" Tony said, looking into Pepper's eyes.
"You mean... the night we danced, when we went out to the balcony, and then you went down to get me a drink... and then some jerk left me all alone that night?"
Tony chuckled awkwardly.
"Nothing else, Mr. Stark?"
"Nothing else, Miss Potts."
Pepper smiled and turned toward the door. Just as she was about to leave the workshop, she suddenly said.
"I thought about it."
Tony watched Pepper departing figure, placing his hand over his heart, feeling his heartbeat.
Yes, this is my will, Tony Stark will. No one has ever changed me.
This is who I am, this is my heart...
Tony turned and looked at the Iron Man suit hanging on the rack. Yes, it's time!
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