American comic: Checking in, Gwen in black stockings rolls her eyes.

Tony's expression changed instantly:

"Pepper? What happened to her?"

Before the two could answer, Tony had already rushed into the building and headed straight for the lab. The big boss and Dr. Green followed closely behind.

Inside the laboratory, Pepper Potts lay on a makeshift bed, seemingly only unconscious.

Tony quickly put away his mask and knelt down beside her.

"Pepper? Pepper, wake up!"

Pepper slowly opened her eyes, but those eyes were no longer the warm brown Tony was familiar with; instead, they shone with an eerie blue light.

“Tony…”

She called out softly, but her voice was chillingly indifferent.

Tony was about to speak when Pepper suddenly lunged forward and grabbed him by the throat.

Even without the protection of her armor, her strength was astonishing, and Tony could barely breathe.

"Pepper! It's me!"

Tony struggled to speak, afraid to use the power of his armor to retaliate, lest he hurt her.

The leader quickly stepped forward and delivered a karate chop to Pepper's neck nerve, knocking her unconscious again.

Tony staggered back, staring at Pepper in disbelief.

"How is this going?"

His voice trembled with shock.

The leader explained seriously:

“Mind control. Loki’s scepter can control a person’s will, and she is now completely under Loki’s control.”

Anger flared in Tony's eyes:

"That bastard! I'm going to kill him!"

"The trouble should end it."

Dr. Green said calmly.

“Only Loki can break this control. But now, we have a more pressing problem—the portal can't be closed, and…”

His words were interrupted by Fury's urgent voice on the communicator:

"Attention everyone! The World Security Council has authorized a nuclear strike! The nuclear missile will arrive over New York in three minutes! Repeat, the nuclear missile is about to arrive!"

The laboratory was deathly silent.

"Are they crazy?"

Dr. Green broke the silence first, his voice filled with anger.

"Use nuclear weapons? They want to wipe out the entire city of New York?"

Tony's expression quickly shifted from shock to resolve:

"We must find Loki and force him to close the portal."

"Dr. Green just beat him up pretty badly."

"That's what the big boss said."

"He should still be on the top floor."

Tony looked at the unconscious Pepper, his eyes filled with pain:

"Jarvis, activate the highest security protocol in the lab to protect Pepper."

"Yes, sir."

The AI ​​assistant responded that the protective barriers around the laboratory were activated immediately.

Tony glanced at Pepper one last time before putting his faceplate back on.

"Let's go, let's find that bastard who calls himself a god. I'll catch him myself and make him pay for everything he's done!"

The group quickly emerged into the outside world. Tony Stark's armor streaked across the New York sky in a crimson arc.

His gaze was fixed on the top floor of Stark Tower.

Anger burned in his chest, and every breath felt like inhaling scorching lava.

The image of Pepper being controlled by Loki kept flashing back in his mind: those eyes replaced by an eerie blue light, that cold and unfamiliar voice.

"Jarvis, scan the entire building and find Loki."

Tony commanded, his voice filled with murderous intent.

"Scanning, sir."

Jarvis responded by quickly activating the entire building's security system.

But soon he spoke in a cold voice.

“I’m sorry, sir, I cannot locate Loki’s vital signs. According to the last record, he should still be on the top floor, but now he seems to have disappeared.”

"Damn it!"

Tony cursed as he sped toward the top floor of the building.

The big boss and Dr. Green were already waiting there, their expressions equally solemn.

"Have you found him?"

Tony asked immediately after landing.

The leader shook his head:

"We searched the entire top floor, but there was no trace of Loki. It's as if he vanished into thin air."

"impossible!"

Tony roared, gritting his teeth:

“He must be somewhere. Jarvis, expand the search area to cover the entire city of New York!”

“I’m afraid we don’t have that much time, Mr. Stark.”

Dr. Green said calmly, pointing to the communicator.

"You heard Fury's warning just now, the nuclear missile has been launched."

Just then, Fury's voice came through the communicator again:

"Attention everyone, the nuclear missile has been launched and is expected to arrive over New York in two minutes! Repeat, two minutes to go!"

The three of them turned pale instantly.

Two minutes, which means they have almost no time left.

Without Loki, the portal cannot be closed; without closing the portal, the nuclear bomb will destroy the entire city of New York.

"We must find a way to stop nuclear bombs."

"That's what the leader said, his voice filled with despair."

Tony was silent for a moment, then looked up, his eyes flashing with determination:

"No, we can't stop it, but we can change its target."

"What do you mean?"

Dr. Green frowned and asked.

"I can intercept a nuclear missile and guide it into the portal."

Tony said, his voice unusually calm.

"Let it explode on the Chitauri homeworld, not in New York."

The leader and Dr. Green stared at him in shock:

"And what about you? You'll be caught in the explosion!"

Tony gave a wry smile:

"Someone always has to make a sacrifice."

Pepper's face appeared in his mind.

It wasn't the stranger who was being controlled, but Pepper, who always smiled at him and always tolerated all his flaws.

He remembered her warm brown eyes and her laughter.

I remember the expression on her face when she said "I love you".

"For Pepper, for this city, it's worth it."

Tony said softly.

Fury's voice rang out again:

"One minute left! Repeat, the nuclear missile will arrive in one minute!"

.....

95: A mortal body, yet on par with gods!

Boom!

Without further hesitation, Tony activated his armor and soared into the sky.

His goal was clear—to intercept the nuclear missile, guide it into the portal, and end it all, even if the cost was his own life.

The boss and Dr. Green stood there, silently watching Tony's departing figure, their hearts filled with respect and sorrow.

"Fury, tell me the exact location of the nuclear bomb."

Tony said in the communications.

"Approaching from the southeast at an altitude of 30,000 feet at supersonic speed."

Fury answered, his voice tinged with helplessness.

"Stark, what are you planning to do?"

"Save the world, and incidentally prove you wrong."

Tony replied and sped off in the designated direction.

Soon, he saw the missile—a silver flash, carrying enough power to destroy the entire city of New York, approaching at an alarming speed.

"Jarvis, give it your all," Tony commanded.

"Yes, sir. All energy directed to the thrusters."

Tony's armor unleashed unprecedented speed, leaving a dazzling trail of light in the air.

He approached the missile, carefully grabbed it, then adjusted his direction and flew towards the portal.

"Thirty seconds left!"

Fury's voice came through the communicator, filled with tension.

Tony did not respond, focusing intently on controlling the missile's direction.

He could feel the nuclear bomb in his hand vibrating, as if it could explode at any moment.

But he couldn't let go, he couldn't hesitate for even a moment.

At this critical moment, the sky over New York suddenly became abnormal.

A darkness, as black as ink, spread out, enveloping more than a dozen blocks.

From this darkness, countless shadows surged forth, forming a massive army.

"What the hell?"

Tony exclaimed in alarm, nearly losing control of the missile.

Not only Tony, but everyone on the ground was shocked by this sudden sight.