Chapter Nineteen: Arthur's Battle with the Iron Overlord

Obadiah had long known that Tony Stark had built the Iron Man suit. He acquired the blueprints for Tony’s Mark I from a group of armed militants, then ordered the company’s weapons division to create an upgraded version: the Iron Monger. Yet the core energy source—the arc reactor—remained beyond the reach of the company’s scientists. That was when Obadiah set his sights on the device embedded in Tony’s chest. However, Tony’s ever-present bodyguard, Arthur, made it impossible to get close.

Today, fate delivered an opportunity when Obadiah unexpectedly encountered Arthur in the executive office atop the company’s skyscraper. Whatever Arthur’s purpose for visiting, Obadiah knew his chance had come.

Driving at breakneck speed to Tony’s mansion, Obadiah quietly entered and crept up on Tony, who was hard at work. Using a pulse device, he incapacitated Tony and extracted the arc reactor from his chest.

At last, it was his! Tony Stark, that fool, was finished without his arc reactor. Once Obadiah donned the suit at the weapons factory, he would deal with Tony’s meddlesome bodyguard and that female assistant as well. The thought filled Obadiah with savage satisfaction as he sped toward Stark Industries.

What Obadiah hadn’t counted on was that Tony possessed an old backup reactor. When Arthur and Pepper arrived at the mansion, they found Tony collapsed on the ground.

Arthur and Pepper rushed to help Tony up. “Tony, Tony, are you alright?” Pepper’s voice broke with tears as she called his name.

Tony slowly regained consciousness. Seeing Arthur and Pepper, he finally relaxed, reaching out to wipe away Pepper’s tears.

“I’m just glad you’re okay,” Pepper said, her worry plain.

Tony told Arthur that Obadiah had stolen his arc reactor, and Pepper revealed Obadiah’s secret project to build his own suit.

Upon hearing this, Tony said, “I should have listened to Arthur and taken him out when I had the chance. He must be activating the suit right now. I have to stop him!”

Tony hurried upstairs to don his armor. Arthur called after him, “Can your old reactor power the suit? Given your condition, you shouldn’t go—I’ll handle him. Leave it to me.”

“Leave it to you? Do you have any idea how powerful that suit is? Just stay here and protect Pepper,” Tony replied.

“No, Tony, you can’t risk it!” Pepper pleaded.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back after I deal with him. I’ll take care of myself. You just stay here, alright?” Arthur said to Pepper.

“Tony, at least let me—” But before Arthur could finish, Tony shot off in a hurry.

Arthur watched Tony vanish into the distance, speechless. Tony, you have no idea what true power is.

“You stay here. I’m going to help Tony. Don’t worry—I’ll bring him back in one piece,” Arthur promised Pepper.

“Please, just make sure you both come back safely!” Pepper pleaded, her eyes full of hope.

Arthur hailed a cab to Stark Industrial Park, frustrated that he hadn’t brought his trident—without it, he couldn’t fly. Worse, he couldn’t drive, so a taxi was his only option.

“Driver, please go faster. I’ll pay you double!” Arthur urged.

“You got it, buckle up!” the driver replied, delighted.

Arthur silently vowed that as soon as this was over, he would get his driver’s license—and a pilot’s license too. Didn’t S.H.I.E.L.D. offer fighter jet training? He’d make them give him a jet next time, he thought fiercely. (Nick Fury: In your dreams!)

Before they even reached the industrial park, Arthur saw the road up ahead blocked. In the distance, a massive gray mechanical giant was locked in fierce battle with a red-armored Iron Man.

“Oh my God! What is that?” the cab driver gaped at the spectacle before them.

Arthur paid the fare and jumped out, sprinting toward the battlefield.

Tony and Obadiah were locked in a desperate struggle. “This company only got where it is because of me. No one will stand in my way—least of all you!” Obadiah, encased in the massive suit, attacked Tony with reckless fury. Tony’s energy was running low, and his suit’s weapon systems were incomplete. All he could do was fire repulsor blasts from his palms, which barely fazed the Iron Monger. Obadiah had the upper hand.

Seizing Tony, Obadiah hurled him into a city bus. The suit’s shoulder compartments opened, launching a missile at the bus.

But just as the missile was about to strike, a figure leapt between it and the bus, taking the hit head-on.

Boom—a thunderous explosion sent flames shooting into the sky, visible from far off.

Yet from the inferno, a figure emerged.

“Need a hand, Tony?” It was Arthur.

Tony, crawling from the wreckage, stared up at Arthur’s imposing silhouette. “Arthur? What are you doing here?”

“How could I pass up seeing you take such a beating? Shame about my new suit,” Arthur joked, nonchalant even now. He tossed aside his smoldering jacket and blew out the flames on his trousers with a deep breath.

“Arthur, you’re just in time. I’ll take the both of you out right here!” Obadiah was stunned Arthur had survived a direct missile strike, but he didn’t take it too seriously.

“I’ve long wanted to deal with you,” Arthur replied coldly, fixing Obadiah with an icy stare.

Suddenly, Arthur sprang forward with explosive speed, landing a punch squarely on the Iron Monger’s chest. With a resounding crash, the enormous suit was sent flying dozens of meters, crashing heavily to the ground.

Tony watched in stunned silence. Was this man even human?

Obadiah struggled to his feet, shaken. “What are you?” he demanded.

“I’m someone you can’t afford to cross!” Arthur shot forward again, raining blows upon Obadiah, forcing him back step by step.

Obadiah tried to counter, but Arthur’s smaller frame made him nimble enough to evade every strike.

Seizing his moment, Arthur clashed fists with the Iron Monger—giant metal arm against slender human limb. Yet it was the Iron Monger that was sent flying, crashing to the ground with a mighty thud.

Tony, forced into the background as Arthur stole the spotlight, was none too pleased. He ran toward the Iron Monger, eager to join the fight.

Obadiah was dazed by Arthur’s assault, but quickly regrouped. The Iron Monger’s engines roared, lifting the massive suit into the air.

“You think I’m out of reach just because I can fly?” Arthur crouched, then leapt with all his might toward the airborne Iron Monger, landing a punch to its midsection and sending it tumbling again before falling back to earth himself.

Obadiah, regaining control after being flung far, ascended higher, knowing Arthur’s jumps must have a limit. He flew upward, intent on reaching a height Arthur couldn’t match.

Arthur leapt again after Obadiah, but the Iron Monger was already over fifty meters up—out of range. Arthur landed back on the ground, frustration plain.

Obadiah laughed triumphantly, raised his right arm, and extended a gun barrel. Bullets rained down in a stream of fire, peppering Arthur below. They did little harm, but irritated Arthur nonetheless.

Obadiah then raised his left arm, revealing a larger cannon. A missile streaked down, striking Arthur’s position with a deafening explosion.

When the smoke cleared, Arthur stood unscathed, though his clothes were now in tatters.

Arthur looked around—there were no tall buildings nearby, no way to gain extra height. If only he’d gone all out from the start. How he regretted not bringing his trident.

Obadiah cackled from above. Tony joined Arthur, concern in his voice. “You okay?”

“I’m fine. Do you have enough power left? Take me up there—I’ll bring him down,” Arthur replied.

“Alright!”