Part III of IV: the Raging Battle

10 hours. 10 hours until it would be seen whether New York would surrender or not. The earthquake device was the ultimate destruction machine, more dangerous than an atomic bomb. The machine was originally supposed to be used for creating irrigation and canals, but miscalculations in its construction made it far more powerful. Soon New York would be at the Mandarin's feet.

III III III III III III III III

Iron Man and War Machine crashed out of the warehouse wall. They might as well come out now. They were bound to be found anyways. They were surprised to find five super-villains waiting for them.

"Alright," said Iron Man. "I'll take Constrictor, Porcupine, and Mr. Hyde. You take on Whirlwind and Scorpion. Got it?"

"You bet."

"Okay, let's go."

Jim Rhodes was too quick in his assault, and the Scorpion punched him back, making him go back through the hole in the wall. He got out again. Mounted on his right shoulder was a gatling gun, which he fired at the Scorpion. The arachnoid criminal deflected the bullets with his tail and then leapt forward, bashing his tail on War Machine's grey and white armor.

Iron Man had knocked into Mr. Hyde and the two went through the doorway into the main building. The two tumbled down a stairs, followed by Constrictor and the Porcupine. When they landed Mr. Hyde grabbed his ironclad foe by the throat.

"This is the end of the line, you metal meddler!" He applied more pressure, but got a knee in the stomach in return. The ugly man bowled over as Iron Man, now free, turned towards the Porcupine. Pressing a button on his belt, the round villain's quills pooped out. He then clicked some studs, firing several quills at the superhero. On stuck into his hand and Iron Man yelped in pain.

Pulling out the quill, he charged forward, grabbed the Porcupine before he could react, and, with some trouble, threw him over his head into Mr. Hyde. The Thor villain yelped in pain as the spiky mercenary smashed into him. Putting his hands close together, Iron Man combined his repulsor blasts, hitting the villainous couple very hard. The two slumped to their knees, their costumes and clothes torn.

Constrictor lashed out, throwing his left coils around Iron Man's neck. Using his transistorized strength, he threw his opponent down another flight of stairs, and the grip on his throat was loosened. He flew downwards, feet first, hitting Constrictor in the stomach.

"Alright, Mr. Schlichting, I'm going to put you back in jail. You might as well give up."

'No!" He lashed out with his coils squeezing the Avenger. Iron Man punched Constrictor in the jaw, knocking him onto his back. The villain jumped up and wrapped his coils. He made a bad move. Wrapping Iron Man in his coils, he electrified his metal weapons at full intensity. Iron Man was able to charge the electricity back, sending Constrictor flying into a wall. Three were now down.

III III III III III III III III

Meanwhile, up above, the Scorpion lashed his tail at War Machine, who flew out of the way. When the sharp-ended appendage got stuck in the ground, Jim Rhodes punched the monstrous man in the stomach. The Scorpion freed his tail digging its spike end in War Machine's shoulder. The armored hero punched his foe with both hands, knocking him back so that he twirled around. War Machine then barraged the back of his head with repulsor blasts, knocking out the super-villain.

He turned to confront Whirlwind. The mutant started whirling, causing many boxes and crates, still around din piles, to fly in all directions. One heavy crate knocked off War Machine's shoulder gun. And another one glanced off his chest.

Whirlwind twirled away and War Machine went into pursuit. He had difficulty in catching up to the costumed villain, who swerved veered in almost every direction. Then Whirlwind got too confident and started showing off, spinning in circles around War Machine. Jim Rhodes slashed out with his fists, one on each side. His transistorized strength did the rest. Whirlwind hit one of the fists and spun out of control landing on his rear end. War Machine blasted him out of consciousness. After tying him up he went to search for Tony Stark.

III III III III III III III III

Iron Man rushed into the main room, repulsors ready. The Mandarin face seethed with rage as he barked out his commands. "Blizzard! Kill him!" "With pleasure."

Blizzard unleashed a storm of sharp ice blades which Iron Man evaded by flying higher. His enemy used a trail of ice to get up to him, icing his feet and kicking him. The red and gold Avenger started falling when a bed of cold white stuff stopped him. He slid on the slippery bed like something going off a ramp. He landed on his side, within a few feet of the earthquake device.

Blizzard gave himself heavy ice armor and charged towards Iron Man, who was trying to turn off the device. The Mandarin used one of his rings to push him away and the superhero made an "oof" sound as Blizzard stepped on him. Holding his hands together, Iron Man fired a powerful repulsor blast that shattered his enemy's armor.

Making himself a spiked fist, Blizzard swung at the hero, who ducked. The criminal swung downwards, but Iron Man jetted out of the way, hitting Blizzard with a repulsor blast while he broke his ice fist on the floor. Iron Man was going in for the charge when suddenly he spiraled downwards, landing hard and loud. I forgot to reenergize my chest plate!

"Quickly, Blizzard. Dispel of the intruder," commanded the Mandarin. "For his interruption I will set off the earthquake device at high setting."

The Blizzard aimed his left hand at Iron Man. "This is the end of the line for you," he chuckled. Suddenly a red beam of light knocked the super-villain back. War Machine stood in the doorway. "Give yourselves up, you two!"

"No!" yelled the Blizzard as Icy darts hit War Machine. "ARRRGGHHHHH!" Blizzard rushed at his second victim when Iron Man put out his leg tripping him. War Machine made a powerful kick stopping the villain from falling and sending him flipping backwards and landing hard on the ground.

Jim Rhodes closed in on the Mandarin, who exclaimed, "You fool! Even as I speak, New York is getting destroyed by the earthquake device!"

"Oh, Lord," gasped War Machine he blasted through the upper levels, passed over the beaten villains and the security walls. New York was in big trouble.