Chapter 66: The Fall of Obadiah

At Stark Headquarters in Los Angeles, a fierce battle was unfolding—one more intense and chaotic than anything seen in the movies. With his new, powerful micro-reactor as the energy source, Tony Stark faced his foe, Obadiah Stane, head-on, no longer relying on clever tricks or evasive maneuvers.

"Boom!"

A powerful punch sent Tony flying as Obadiah, with a ferocious grip, hurled a four-door SUV at him. The impact was brutal; Tony's armored body slammed against a container truck, metal screeching as he skidded across the pavement.

In the lounge of the seaside villa, James and Clarice gasped, their eyes glued to the massive TV screen, which displayed the harrowing footage from Tony's helmet cam. The scene was visceral; James winced at the sight of Tony getting hit.

"I must be out of my mind," Colonel Rhodes muttered, standing behind the sofa, shaking his head in disbelief. "Tony's out there fighting for his life, and we're just sitting here watching it unfold live."

"James," Clarice turned to him, her voice tinged with concern. "If you're as talented as you say, why don't you help him? That big guy looks like he's giving Tony a run for his money."

James turned, a silver metal mask covering his face. "Colonel Rhodes, for the record, you don't know me, and I'm not here to jump into the fray. Let's keep it that way, alright?"

Colonel Rhodes shrugged, clearly unconvinced, but returned his focus to the screen just in time to see Iron Man evade another charge from Obadiah. The Iron Monger, with its bulky armor and thrusters, was a sight to behold—less graceful than Tony, but just as formidable.

"Have faith in Mr. Stark," Rhodes said, trying to reassure himself. "He's been through worse than this. Jarvis, how's he holding up?"

"The arc reactor has sufficient energy, and the suit remains intact," Jarvis responded, his calm voice cutting through the tension. "Mr. Stark is capable of continuing the fight."

James couldn't help but admire the power of artificial intelligence; Jarvis was multitasking, aiding Tony in battle and managing the live feed for the guests. It was impressive, almost surreal.

Colonel Rhodes looked slightly more at ease, but his eyes remained glued to the screen as the battle raged on. James leaned back, munching on popcorn with Clarice, the absurdity of the moment not lost on him.

Obadiah's armor was a fortress, shrugging off Tony's punches as if they were mere annoyances. Each hit left no mark, and it was evident that brute force alone wouldn't win this fight. Tony needed a strategy.

"Looks like Mr. Stark could use a hand," James observed, glancing at the unpainted Ark II prototype beside him, a hint of envy in his voice. If only it had a reactor, he might have been tempted to jump in.

On-screen, Obadiah laughed, confident in his impending victory. "You think you can break my defenses, Stark? You're wasting your time!"

But Tony Stark was not to be underestimated. Realizing that brute strength wouldn't suffice, he began to analyze Obadiah's weaknesses. While Obadiah's armor was powerful, it lacked the agility that Tony's suit possessed.

With a daring leap, Tony climbed onto Iron Monger's back, his movements quick and precise. He reached for a critical component and yanked it free, causing Obadiah's sight system to fail. Suddenly, the Iron Monger was flying blind, careening wildly.

Seizing the opportunity, Tony pressed the attack, dismantling Obadiah's armor piece by piece until it was immobilized atop Stark's headquarters building.

The cockpit of the Iron Monger opened, revealing Obadiah, his face a mixture of fury and despair. "Tony, you don't understand! I built Stark Industries from the ground up! You can't just throw it away!"

Tony sighed as he removed his helmet, looking down at Obadiah. "I'm not here to destroy what you built. I want to make it better. You'll see."

Obadiah shook his head vehemently, "You still don't grasp the implications of what you're doing!"

In a moment of emotional instability, Obadiah lashed out, sweeping his foot and causing the broken glass roof to give way. Tony's heart raced as he lunged forward, reaching out to grab him, but he was too late. Obadiah plummeted toward the enormous Ark reactor below.

"NO!" Tony shouted, helplessly watching as Obadiah fell, the weight of their conflict crashing down with him.