NOVEL NEXT Chapter 33: TS X
Tony groaned, rubbing his aching muscles as he glared at Dave. "You could've at least warned me how painful it would be," Tony said, still catching his breath.
"I thought you were smart enough to figure it out," Dave replied with a smirk, casually sipping his drink.
Rhodes, still tense, signaled his men to lower their weapons, though they kept a wary eye on Dave. "Tony, are you sure you're okay?" Rhodes asked again, not fully convinced by Tony's earlier hand signal.
Tony nodded slowly, still wincing from the lingering pain. "Yeah, yeah... I'll live. But this 'enhancement' better be worth it."
Pepper, who had been quietly watching the whole exchange, finally holstered her gun and crossed her arms. "Is it over? Are you two done?"
"Yes, n—"
"Great, now tell me what this enhancement thingy is all about," Rhodes said, cutting off Dave mid-sentence. His tone was sharp, impatient, and filled with suspicion.
Dave's eyes flashed briefly with irritation, but he controlled his temper and simply shrugged. "Just as the name suggests—enhancement. Tony's body is now more robust," Dave said casually, waving his hand like it was no big deal.
"Robust how?" Rhodes pressed, narrowing his eyes.
"Stronger, faster, tougher—his body will regenerate quicker and adapt to hostile environments more efficiently. Essentially, it's making him better suited for... well, anything you throw at him," Dave explained.
Tony, still recovering, shot Dave a wary glance. "And the catch?"
"No catch," Dave said with a smirk. "Well, except the whole 'demonic energy' thing. You'll need to keep your mind sharp, or the suit could overwhelm you during extreme circumstances. But I'm sure you'll manage."
Tony waved his hand dismissively, even though he was still catching his breath. "Relax, Rhodes. I've dealt with worse. Besides, this could be the upgrade we need."
"Upgrade or not, you better know what you're doing, Stark," Rhodes replied, still on edge but willing to let it go for now.
Pepper, observing the entire exchange, sighed and crossed her arms. "As long as no one else ends up screaming in pain today, I'm fine with it," she muttered.
Dave chuckled. "No promises, but Tony's done with his trial run for now."
"Yeah, thanks for that," Tony said sarcastically, rubbing his temples. "Next time, less 'demonic energy' and more warning."
"Noted," Dave said with a grin, leaning back as if this were all part of the plan.
'Though, even I got surprised after seeing the Mark II attributes' Dave inwardly thoughts,
Tony Stark's Mark II Armor (Fused with Ifrit) - Status Screen
Name: Mark II Armor - Ifrit Fusion
Class: Tech-Demon Hybrid
Rank: Unique
Attributes:
Strength: 900 (+300 from Ifrit)
Endurance: 850 (+350 from Ifrit)
Agility: 650 (+150 from Ifrit)
Intelligence: 1000
Demonic Energy: 500 / 500
Core Systems:
Power Source: Arc Reactor / Infernal Core Fusion
Hellfire Blast
Description: Fires concentrated blasts of demonic flames, capable of melting through high-grade metals.
Infernal Overdrive
Description: Temporarily boosts all armor stats by 50% for 30 seconds, enveloping the user in intense flames.
Flame Charge
Description: The armor channels Ifrit's energy into the propulsion systems, increasing flight speed by 200%.
Demonic Armor Regeneration
Description: The armor passively regenerates using demonic energy, repairing damage over time.
Rate: 50 HP per second
Fused Weaponry - Ifrit Blades
Description: Summons twin blades made of pure demonic energy.
Damage: High slashing and searing damage, amplified by flames.
Weaknesses:
Demonic Energy Dependence:
If demonic energy is depleted, certain abilities will be inaccessible, and armor regeneration will halt.
Special Features:
Evolving Armor: This suit can evolve further based on new technology or demonic energy absorbed from enemies.
Flame Form: When demonic energy reaches 100%, Tony can activate Ifrit's full power, transforming into a flame-wreathed warrior for a limited time, gaining massive stat boosts and fire-related abilities.
Self-Repair: The armor has the ability to regenerate itself using ambient heat or absorbed demonic energy.
***
Dave stood back, observing Tony as he conversed with Rhodes and Pepper, who both looked concerned. He couldn't help but let his thoughts wander, reflecting on the fusion of Ifrit with Tony's armor.
"Can other Devil Arms also fuse with armors, or was Ifrit something special?" Dave mused quietly to himself, recalling the process.
Ifrit was a unique entity, with its fiery nature and raw demonic energy blending seamlessly with the Mark II. The thought of fusing other Devil Arms like Rebellion or even Yamato with technology intrigued him. Could these legendary weapons, forged from demonic power, integrate in similar ways, amplifying both the wielder's physical capabilities and enhancing their gear?
Tony, still catching his breath, reassured Pepper and Rhodes he was fine, though he couldn't help but feel the changes in his body. He glanced at Dave, silently wondering what other secrets the man held.
Dave, meanwhile, kept thinking. "If Ifrit can work... what about a fusion with Rebellion or Sparda? The possibilities might be endless..."
'I should ask for more, to see if it works or not,' Dave thought as he stood up and approached them.
"Now that your melodrama is over, can I ask something?" he asked Tony.
"It wasn't me, so what do you want?" Tony replied, pouring two drinks for both of them.
"I would like some of this armor of yours," Dave said.
"I can't," Tony responded.
"Why?" Dave asked.
"It's not like I don't want to or can't give it to you, but they work on this baby here," Tony said, tapping on the arc reactor on his chest.
"Hmm, can't you make another arc reactor?" Dave asked.
"I can," Tony nodded.
Dave crossed his arms, staring intently at Tony. "Then what's the holdup?"
Rhodes stepped in, his expression serious. "Because if word gets out that the armor can be used by anyone, the whole world will come running for it," he said, looking at both Dave and Tony. "It's not just about making another arc reactor or another suit. You make one for someone else, and it opens a floodgate."
Tony nodded in agreement. "Exactly. If people think it's not unique to me, that anyone can have this kind of power, it won't be long before every government, every mercenary, every lunatic with money starts fighting for it. Wars could break out, and they'd all be aiming to get their hands on one of my suits."
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'My Charity System Made me Too OP'
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