Peter sped along the cable line, scanning the skies for any sign of the Magneto. "Nothing yet," he said aloud. "Come on, how hard can it be to spot a flying guy in a purple cape??" The bike skidded across the next rooftop and was set to launch another cable, when Peter's Spider-Sense went off.
A gray, whiplike object snapped through the air, nearly knocking the boy off the bike. "What the hell!?" He yelled out, swerving to avoid another strike, this time from a muscular body, crashing feet first into the rooftop and creating a cloud of dust.
The figure stood up, a devilish grin on his face. He had grayish/white skin, a black outfit with red trimming, red eyes, and platinum blond hair pulled back into a ponytail. A red omega symbol, matching the one on his chest, was etched on his forehead.
"Whooo! Now that's what I call an entrance!!" He roared gleefully, before pointing at the young hero in training. "I was just supposed to tear up the place and make it hard to find the boss, but it looks like I'm gonna have to play exterminator!"
The villain shot out a whiplike tendril from each wrist, "When I'm done here, I expect to hear all over how Omega Red is not to be messed with!!"
Arkady Rossovich, Alias: Omega Red. Quirk; Tentacle. He can launch and retract a single tentacle from each arm just above the wrist.
"Great," Peter groaned. "Just what I need, another loudmouth. Better not let Flash know you're stealing his shtick."
"Heh, how old are you kid? 12?" Omega Red sneered, lashing out a tentacle towards the boy, attempting to strike him.
"And how old are you?" Peter quipped, ducking the attack. "60? You're not the only one looking to build a rep! I'll never get one beating up an old man!"
"Old ma- I'm 36!!" The villain yelled angrily.
"Seriously?" One of the lenses of Peter's mask widened slightly as if to simulate a raised eyebrow, "Well that hairstyle's doing you no favors!"
"Aaaaaauuugghhh!!!" Omega Red charged forward, intending to land a punch. Thankfully, Peter's Spider Sense warned him of the coming attack as he revved up the cycle and rode towards the edge the roof. The villain's punch left a small crater in the roof as he rushed after his foe.
"Cable's awayyyyyy!" Peter called out as the bike sped off the roof, a cable shooting out and hitting the building wall behind him before impacting another. The slack line quickly went taunt as the cycle sped onwards as if on a tightrope.
But Omega Red wasn't finished. Leaping off the building, he launched a tentacle out at another one, taking hold of the roof as he swung after the bike.
Peter looked back and regarded the bizarre scene, "Seriously!? Now you're stealing my gimmick!!! But I guess I'm borrowing Ghost Rider's right now, so..."
"Don't you shut up!?" Omega Red continued on in hot pursuit as the bike finally approached ground level. "I can't stand stupid, corny joking!!"
"Corny!?" Peter's mask eyes widened before narrowing, "That, sir, was the last straw." Landing hard on the ground, the Cycle swerved in and around different streets and alleys, Omega Red in hot pursuit.
"You really think you can get away so easily!?" Laughed the villain, swinging his way through the urban jungle and towards a zone under construction. "Once Omega Red gets his target, he doesn't giv- ooooff!!!"
The blustering villain was suddenly cut off as he was clotheslined by a web line he swung into, knocking the wind out of him as he fell into the back of a dump truck filled with garbage.
"Little brat..." He groaned, shaking his head. "Who does he think he is?"
"Well lately, I've been going by the name 'Spider-Man'," said a voice, which the dazed Omega Red turned towards. There was Peter, standing over the wreckage, struggling to hold a forklift in the air. "Hopefully you'll remember it after you wake up," he finished.
"When I get my hands on yo-" But Omega Red was cut off as Peter dropped the forklift.
"Shush!" He exclaimed, as the awkwardly balanced machine landed with a crash on top of the villain. "It's nap-time!"
That done, Peter collapsed into a seated position atop the wreckage, catching his breath for a moment. "Woof, anyone got an Advil?" He asked, rubbing his head.
"Owwww..." The villain groaned before losing consciousness.
"...-ke up... Wanda... WANDA, wake up!!"
The redhead's eyes slowly opened as her twin shook her awake. "P... Pietro?" She asked, groggily clutching her head. "Ahhh, my head..."
"Just take it easy," said Pietro, helping her sit up.
"Where are we?" Wanda glanced around an unfamiliar room. It appeared to be some sort of meeting room, or office. "The last thing I remember... was Shuri. She used something on me..."
"It wasn't her," Pietro replied. "One of the villains here can transform. She made me think I was talking to Roberto earlier, then knocked me out when I wasn't looking."
"I do apologize for that," said a voice. The twins turned to see an older looking man with white hair, wearing a red and purple outfit with a cloak. A helmet and gloves sat on the countertop, next to a trio of cups as he prepared tea.
"I asked dear Mystique to be gentle with you," the man went on. "But I needed you both docile to ensure a swift and cooperative exit." He nodded towards the blue skinned woman, arms folded, leaning against a wall.
Raven Darkholme, Alias: Mystique. Quirk; Shapeshift. She can molecularly shift the formation of her biological cells to change her appearance and assume the form of others.
"Yeah, real gentle," Pietro sassed, rubbing the side of his neck. "You might wanna check the meaning of the word, old man."
The white haired man chuckled, replacing the teapot and bringing two of the ceramic mugs to the table. "While I can appreciate the years have been unkind to me, I would prefer to be addressed by name."
"And that is?" Asked Pietro, raising an eyebrow.
The man paused a moment, as if mulling over his answer, "...For the moment, you may call me 'Erik'."
"What happened to my friends?" Asked Wanda, looking to Mystique. "Did you take them too?"
"They were left behind," Mystique replied dryly. "Those two would've just gotten in our way."
Wanda glared at the woman, her eyes briefly flickered red, but it went away just as quickly. Realizing something was wrong, she raised her hand, but no familiar red light shone around it. "W-What?" Her eyes widened with worry, "What did you do to me!?"
"The serum Mystique used contained a mild sedative that prevents you and your brother from using your gifts," the man replied. "Fortunately it only lasts a few hours, you'll likely regain full function before sunrise."
"So... you know who we are?" Pietro asked.
"Indeed," Erik replied. "Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, twin siblings enrolled at Marvel Academy, one whose power grants increased metabolism and improved homeostasis, while the other is capable of neuroelectric interfacing, telekinesis, and mental manipulation..."
"How do you know so much about us? Were you spying on my brother and I??" Demanded Wanda.
Erik picked up the last steaming mug and took a sip, his slight grimace informed him that the tea was of lesser quality. Regardless, he walked over to the table and sat down in a chair. "Come, have a seat," he said. "I shall answer any questions that you have, you deserve that much."
He gestured to the metal chairs against the table, two of which turned out as if on their own, waiting for someone to sit on them. The twins were slightly taken aback, both by the sudden movement and the older man's cordiality. They still eyed him suspiciously, of course.
"I promise no harm will come to either of you," Erik assured them. "If that was truly my intention, would we be having this discussion?"
Cautiously, the twins stood up and took the seats at the opposite side of the table, not touching their mugs. Mystique, seemingly uninterested, went over to the windows, keeping watch for potential intruders.
"Now then, what would you like to know?" He asked.
"First off, who are you really?" Demanded Pietro, "You're clearly powerful, so I know you could've just killed us and and went on your way to grab whatever you came to steal. Why did you take us with you??"
"Pietro..." Wanda said nervously, eyeing the older man. Fortunately, he didn't seem offended by the questions.
"I don't kill unnecessarily," the man replied. "Especially not children unaware of their true place in the world. As for who I am, that's a somewhat complicated answer." He took a sip of his tea, "Tell me, what do you know of the Brotherhood of Mutants?"
The twins were momentarily puzzled by the question, and turned to each other in confusion. "I barely paid attention in History," Pietro finally said. "You're more of a bookworm."
Wanda sighed, silently scolding her brother for his obliviousness. "The Brotherhood started out as a fringe group in the 60's," she began. "Back then, Quirk users were still a minority and seen as dangerous. As such, they given the derogatory label of 'Mutant'. It's a term still used today, but mostly to classify a specific type of Quirk."
"Shunned from society for their appearance and abilities, the Brotherhood supposedly offered refuge to Mutants and they quickly grew in number," Wanda went on. "After a while, they began to go public. At first they just engaged in civil disobedience, marching, and things like that. But as time went on, their methods became more radical. They'd show up at anti-Mutant rallies, attacking the very people calling for their imprisonment."
"Things were so bad, the government almost got involved," she went on. "Until a group from within the Brotherhood split away to oppose their methods. A team of Mutants with the power to match the Brotherhood's and protect the innocent: the X-Men. They called for the coexistence of Mutants with the public at large, and gained a ton of public support when their actions contributed to the arrest of several prominent Brotherhood figures."
"The only one they couldn't catch was their leader, Magneto," Pietro concluded. "That much I do know. Supposedly, he died in some epic battle against the X-Men. If the guy was still alive, he'd probably be around...your...age..."
As the realization dawned on the boy and his sister, Erik gave the slightest of smirks. Pietro gazed at the old man, "Y-You're Magneto?"
Erik raised his mug towards the duo. "At your service," he said.
"How is that possible?" Wanda asked, completely thrown off. "Nobody's heard from you in years, the works thinks you're dead!"
"I have my ways," Erik replied simply.
"So... Why are you here then?" Pietro tried to hide his nervousness, picking up his mug of tea and taking a sip. "Are you stealing some kind of super weapon? Planning to hold the President hostage again?"
"Nothing quite so mundane," said Erik. "I'm still rebuilding my Brotherhood, we aren't ready to strike against our enemies quite yet."
"Then why come here?" Asked Pietro. "With the guys your brought with you, a heist would be a no brainer!"
"Precisely" he said. "This is what is known as 'Diversionary Tactics'. I simply let the fools assume we had come to pilfer their wares. But you were my focus from the beginning."
"But why!?" Wanda asked angrily. "We don't come from money, and we barely have control over our Quirks. Yet apparently, you've been watching over us like some creepy spy satellite!! What reason could you possibly have to go through all this effort, just to kidnap my brother and I?!?"
Erik eyed the two over the top of his mug, "...Is it wrong for a father to want to know his children?"
A stunned silence filled the air upon the revelation. Mystique made a 'tsk' sound as she moved to the next window. Pietro's jaw had dropped, and Wanda's eyes widened in shock. Erik remained neutral faced, as if waiting for the inevitable stream of questions.
"We're your what!?" Pietro exclaimed, leaping up from his seat. He accidentally dropped his mug to the floor, where it shattered. "How is that possible?? Y-You're so old!!! That means when Mom met you, you were... still old!! Ugh!! Gross!!!"
Erik sighed, "Such is the impertinence of youth..."
"Y-You're really saying that you're our father?" Wanda asked haltingly, slowly turning to anger. "You're the one who left our mother alone, forcing her to raise two children in poverty??"
The old man seemed to shrink in his seat, as if somewhat remorseful of his actions, "...Yes. I was that man. No... I can hardly call myself a man, not after what I put her through."
"Then why did you??" Wanda's anger steadily grew, "How could you do that to the sweetest, most hardworking woman in the world!?"
"Because it was the only way to protect her," said Erik. "I cared deeply for your mother. She found me in the ruins of that terrible battle, and nursed me back to health. After the collapse of everything I'd spent decades building, Marya Maximoff became my lone source of happiness, and eventually, love; a sensation I thought I was incapable of experiencing again. We spent many years traveling the world together, and when she told me she'd become pregnant, I was overjoyed. But as time went on, for the first time in my life since childhood, I became afraid..."
"Of what?" Asked Pietro.
"I have many enemies, not merely amongst this so-called 'Hero Society," Erik replied. "Enemies within the government, enemies around the world, enemies whom would seek me out once rumors of my survival began to circulate. My only thought was to spare Marya and you children from their wrath. We went into hiding before your birth. And for a time, the four of us were happy worked. Until one night, when you were both very young, we were discovered..."
Several Years Ago
Magneto, wearing a red and black version of his costume, stood over the destroyed body of a robot in the now wrecked Maximoff living room. Bits of metal and green fabric were strewn about, and Magneto used his power to crush the metal head. A woman, Marya, held a pair of toddlers in her arms, as if terrified something would come and take them.
Present Day
"After that, Marya left. As to where I knew not," Erik went on. "But she left instructions to not seek her out, for the sake of my children, who deserved a chance to grow up without the prospect of death on their shoulders."
As he raised his arm to reach for the teapot, the sleeve of his shirt fell back slightly. On the exposed part of his skin was a tattoo; a set of numbers going up his arm.
Wanda gasped quietly, but did not speak of it. Neither did Pietro, who was apparently thinking similarly to his twin. Erik, however, noticed their expressions. He looked to his arm and almost shamefully rolled down his sleeve, "As someone who's had that sort of experience, I reluctantly agreed..."
"I used to have nightmares I had as a kid..." Pietro said quietly. "There was this monster. It was covered in metal, a-and wore a green hood. You remember, Wanda? That was when I asked you to start messing with my head."
His sister nodded, vividly recalling one of the first times she tried using that aspect of her Quirk.
"Repressed memories, I would imagine," the older man nodded. "It was an Android, sent to seek out those with the potential to have powerful 'Quirks', and bring them to its master."
"Who was the Master?" Asked Wanda, nervously.
"A tyrant. One who rules his kingdom with an iron fist," he replied bitterly. "The Mutants he captured would be raised there, later conscripted into his military, ensuring his continued grasp of power."
Erik rose from his chair, "Which is why I'm here. I've respected Marya's wishes and allowed you to grow up without my influence. But now, the time has come to fulfill your destinies."
The twins looked at each other with uncertainty as Erik gestures to Mystique, "My Brotherhood is slowly rebuilding, and we have a new purpose: to end the subjugation of our kind at the cruel hands of men clutching the chains. We're developing our own sanctuary for Mutantkind, and the time to strike back is nearly at hand."
He paused a moment, allowing his words to sink in. Finally, one of the teens spoke. "Look, I'm sympathetic to your cause," said Pietro. "But what do you expect us to do? We're just high school students, and you want us to what, fight human traffickers?"
"Exactly," added Wanda "Father or not, you're a known terrorist, and you're responsible for a lot of deaths. How are we supposed to trust you?"
"Any blood I've shed over the years has always been for the greater good..." Erik scowled slightly. "And those people were far from innocent."
"And who are you to decide the 'greater good'?" Wanda asked, "Who appointed you overlord of 'Mutantkind'?"
"I took the burden upon myself because someone needed to do it," Erik began to put his gloves on. "It's not a task I take lightly, nor do I shy away from the darker side of what that entails."
"I've gotta say, I'm starting to agree with my sister," said Pietro. "Do you really expect us to just blindly follow you after you drop a paternity bombshell and a few heartfelt revelations? Just look at all the people you've hurt tonight! Our friends! Our-"
"Hurt, yes. Not killed," Erik said dryly, using his Quirk to bring over his helmet. "It would have been easier to simply do that, but l did not. The narratives about me weaved over the years sought to vilify me in the more simplistic of ways. The populous at large can't handle the more complex truths of the world; nor can it gaze upon the bodies laid out to maintain their fragile peace."
Erik placed his helmet on his head, completing his appearance. "Quirks or no, Homo-Saipan's continually seek to place themselves above others," he went on. "Mutant-types are still looked down upon, simply for being different. I seek to raise our kind from the depths, and to the pinnacle of evolution. We are Homo-Superior, and finally the world will know it!"
"You're talking about starting an uprising," Pietro said. "On a global scale. Do you even realize how many innocent people could die if you try and pull this off??"
"Nobody is innocent, boy," replied Magneto bitterly. "And if you believe that, then you're more naive than I thought. I should have never allowed Marya to take you both. She's allowed you to grow up soft."
"Don't talk about our mother that way!!" Wanda glared, leaping to her feet. Her eyes briefly flashed red again, but to no avail.
"Child, you will learn the world is not so black and white," Magneto turned to his daughter. "You must both choose now; either you're with me, or you're against me."
"Magneto," Mystique spoke up. "I hate to interrupt your little 'family reunion', but we have incoming." And she gestured out the window.
Magneto followed her gaze, something crimson was rocketing toward their location. The villain's eyes narrowed, "It would seem we have an uninvited guest..."
Raising his hands, he tore the wall open with his Quirk, revealing the open night sky. Magneto began to levitate out, the metal soles of his boots carrying him upwards. "Mystique, bring the children to the aircraft," he ordered. "I shall be along in due time."
"Move," the blue skinned woman ordered, holding a pistol in her hand as she gestured towards the door. As the twins left the room down a fire escape, they looked over their immediate surroundings.
"Pietro, are we where I think we are?" Wanda asked. Her brother gazed out, seeing the full spread of the compound's amusement park: Tech Mechanica.
Magneto floated high into the air, ready to intercept the approaching hero. Iron Man slowed his speed however, coming to a complete halt in midair just before him.
"Hey there, Maggie! It's been a while!" Iron Man quipped cheerfully.
"Stark..." Magneto replied dryly. "You're looking well." The villain took in the Number One Hero's appearance. He was wearing a different armor than the one used in recent years.
"Well, there's a big shindig tonight, I've gotta keep up appearances. You know how it is," Iron Man shrugged. "Anyway, I'd love to catch up and all, but the thing is, you've got a few of my students over there. I want 'em back."
"Your arrogance is just as grating as the first time I heard you speak," he replied. "To think, you're foolish enough to challenge me in your tin suit." Magneto raised a hand, as if trying to take hold of the armor with his powers. But to his surprise, nothing happened. "How curious," he muttered.
"Oh yeah, thought I'd dress for the occasion. I'd been planning for the day you came back," Stark rapped a hand against his chest. "This little beauty's a bit older, but it's made from Carbon Nanotubes, which last I checked, your Quirk doesn't work against."
And thankfully uses a lot less power than my regular suit! Tony thought gratefully. Only downside is less onboard weaponry. But if I can hold out for 5 minutes, I'll be ok.
"Indeed..." The villain's eyes narrowed dangerously, "But it will only prolong the inevitable." Magneto spread his hands apart wide, a purple aura surrounding them. Bits of metal from the theme park rides shot up from all sides and surrounded his body like the rings of an atom.
"Here we go," Tony muttered, lowering his visor and bringing up his arms to try and shield himself. Magneto fired a volley of metal pieces, the force of which forced Iron Man back momentarily.
Zipping around through the air, Iron Man dodged another volley as wound back for a punch. Only for his fist to be blocked by a metal shield made of debris, mere feet from Magneto's face. Making a grabbing motion with his hand, the metal separated and wrapped around Tony's armor, keeping him in place even as he tried to add more power to his thrusters.
Iron Man turned his palm and fired a repulser blast at the villain. It made impact on the older man's helmet, and he was momentarily stunned. It wasn't much, but it was enough for Tony to break free from Magneto's hold and shoot something from his wrist.
"Anti-Magnetism arsenal activated," said Friday. "Firing super magnet swarm."
A plethora of tiny disks surrounded the villain like a whirlwind, lashing out and striking him at random.
"Nnngh!!" He grunted, taking the impact of another blow. With sheer grit and determination, Magneto raised his hands and activated his powers. It was faint, but the disks had just enough metal he could latch onto. And a moment later, the disks had ceased moving through the air, merely floating in place.
"I count... 2 million neodymium high grade magnets," said the villain, his hands starting to glow purple again. "These must have cost you quite a pretty penny. I couldn't possibly accept such an extravagant gift." With that remark and a gesture of his fingers, the disks hurtled towards Iron Man at high speed.
"Ack! Wait, I didn't keep the receipt!!" Tony fired a repulser blast to try and destroy most of them, but hundreds still struck different parts of his armor and began to dent it.
"Ok, Plan B," he muttered. Iron Man fired a series of projectiles from his shoulders toward his foe. Magneto lashed out with his arms, the metal moving on command, meeting and destroying them. There was no explosion however, only black smoke.
Clever, Magneto thought, trying prepare for his opponent's next move. It came quickly, as Iron Man flew through the smoke, delivering a punch that nearly made contact. Magneto managed to barely block it with his debris shield, but Tony fired a repulser blast that went through the metal and made contact with the villain's chest. He was knocked backwards, towards the rollercoaster.
"It's over, old timer!!" Iron Man yelled, surging forward to deliver the final blow. "You should give up now, before you break a hip!!!"
Glaring angrily, Magneto raised his hands high, bringing the surrounding metal rings close and covering his body.
"You're not the only one who can make a suit of armor!" He declared, flying out to meet the surprised former Avenger, punching him in the helmet and knocking him to the ground.
"Ok..." Iron Man rubbed his jaw plate, "That one hurt a little-"
He froze, for at a close distance, he could see Pietro and Wanda, being forced out of the area at gunpoint. "I'm coming!" He yelled, attempting to rocket towards them. But a sudden impact pinned Iron Man to the ground. He became trapped underneath a series of roller coaster track as they imbedded into the earth.
"My children will be leaving with me..." Magneto glared at the hero, and with a clench of his fists, the rails surround the hero, wrapping around his arms, torso and legs like a python before taking him up into the sky.
Tony was taken aback, "Wait, your children??"
"Yes, they are my progeny, the future of the Brotherhood," he declared. "They need only to bear witness to all I've built, and they will join willingly."
"Yeah? Well right now, it's kidnapping," the hero quipped. "And I'm not letting you take them."
"Your compliance is no factor here, Stark," Magneto sneered, and he began to tighten his grip. The metal holding Iron Man began to constrict, and spark began to shoot out from the armor.
"Hnnngg!!!" Tony grunted, as various flashing lights lit up on his visor. "Friday, update!"
"Flight systems offline," the Irish A.I. said. "Repulsers at 50% sustainability. Time to satellite uplink, 3 minutes."
This was not what Tony wanted to hear, he was in a real pickle at that point. "Ok, divert power to the Reactor, now!" He ordered.
"Rerouting," she replied, as Iron Man's chest piece began to glow.
"I wouldn't try that," said Magneto. "Less you miss, and further deplete your limited power."
Tony's eyes shot wide open at this remark. He was grateful the villain couldn't see his face, but that didn't seem to matter to the villain.
"I'll assume by your silence that I'm not far off the mark," he added. "If you're wondering how, I have eyes and ears everywhere. One such place is the 'Raft', where a mutual acquaintance is currently imprisoned..."
Tony glared beneath his visor, Killian...
"He's been spreading a nasty little rumor that you're not quite the hero you once were," the villain went on. "Of course, not everyone takes stock in the ramblings of a madman. But for every great lie, it begins with a grain or truth. And tonight, I've found that grain."
Tony gritted his teeth. This isn't good, he thought. The satellite isn't linked, and my last big gun's more of a double edged sword. Still, not like I've got much of a choice...
"Friday, get ready to engage the Iron Might protocol," he said.
"Boss, activating Iron Might will cause tremendous pain and given your condition, drastically reduce-"
"Does it look like I have another option right now??" The hero asked rhetorically. "The uplink's not finished, I'm running on fumes and I have no backup!!!"
Suddenly, the sound of a roaring engine caught his attention. And in the distance, one could make out a high tech motorcycle zeroing in on their location. A familiar figure in red and blue was crouched forward as if riding a racehorse.
"Kid..." Tony's eyes widened with fear. This was no fight his student could win, yet here he was, barreling headlong towards the enemy. Magneto quickly noticed his presence.
"What's this?" He scoffed, "Like you, he's not subtle with his approach-" But before he could say more, the bike veered off in another direction, straight towards the twins and their captor. The villain quickly realized his intention, "No..."
Magneto thrust a hand forward, sending a steel beam flying toward the boy. But before it could strike, it was blasted away by something big and green. Amadeus Cho in his Brawn form punched it off of its trajectory, keeping Peter safe. The boy looked up in surprise, "Cho!!"
"Most of us stayed behind to help the hostages," Amadeus called. "But we should be still enough to keep this guy busy! So keep going!!"
Peter looked back, seeing his other classmates leaping into action. Reyes launched hellfire to melt a stream of metal debris into molten slag. Azari and Ava served as a distraction by leaping up along the floating metal towards the villain, as if seeking to attack directly. And Flash, riding on Amadeus's shoulder, used his tendrils to grab and repel larger debris chunks, sending back to their sender with a loud, "Go to hell!!"
Finally, the villain focused his attention on the attacking members of Class 1-A. "This does not concern you," he declared bitterly. "And I refuse to engage in a fight with children so below my power set." And with a swipe of his hand, sent a wave a metal debris towards the students, knocking them away towards the ground.
They were caught, however, by a series of horse sized insects flying through the air.
"Ha-ha!!! The radiant Scragg has once again come to the rescue!!" One of the insectoid creatures exclaimed triumphantly.
"Alright Scragg, good job!" Said Kei, climbing up its shoulder. "Let's get them down safely. Second wave incoming!!!"
A swarm of smaller, cat sized Scraggs surged forward, trying to avoid the flying debris and directly attack Magneto. This was easier said than done, of course, as the villain began to make the flying metal spin through the air even fast and hit several of Scragg's clones. Still, enough got through and they began to keep Magneto busy. And that was all the students needed.
Amadeus hurled a charged up Danny Rand towards Iron Man, his glowing palm striking the metal over the hero's chest. "Hhyyyaaaahhhhh!!!" It cracked apart, creating a weakness in the metal to exploit. The boy fell to the ground and was caught by Luke.
"Yes!!" Tony wasted no time, "Friday, it's all of nothing now. Engage the Iron Might!!"
"Confirmed," Friday replied. With this, Tony's reactor glowed brightly and light began to emit from different parts of the armor, signifying the sudden increase in power. The hero strained slightly, before bursting free from his restraint with a strength not present before.
He fell towards the ground and managed to slow his descent with a few well timed repulser bursts.
"Thanks for the assist, you guys did great!" Tony raised his visor, briefly acknowledging his students. "But you'd better get back now, this fight's gonna be intense and I don't want you caught up in it any more than you already are!"
As if to illustrate his point, Magneto, fed up with the bug swarm, lashed out his hands and a field of purple energy erupted from his body, spreading out and destroying the Scragg clones.
"Noooo!!" The main Scragg wailed, "While still an offshoot of the fearsome Scragg, they should not have been laid to waste as if they were nothing! This is why the passive Scragg refrains from violence!"
"Ugh, not now..." Kei groaned, unable to deal with his creature's overdramatic nature.
"Alright, you heard the man!" Ava called, "Let's move!!" At their Vice-President's urging, the students ran off as Tony stared down Magneto, who was now seething with rage.
"Boss," the A.I continued. "In your current condition, you'll only have approximately 3 minutes with this boost before you permanently damage your body."
"That's more than I'll need," Tony grinned determinedly as his visor lowered. "Let's go!!!" And Iron Man launched into the air at maximum speed, hurtling into Magneto. The battle was back on!
Barber's Chair
• The version of Omega Red I put in was based off the Ultimate version, who frequently had run-ins with the Webhead.
• Magneto's red and black costume from the flashback is the Ultimate Comics version. Whereas now, he wears the classic look from the 616 Universe.
• Iron Man's Carbon Nanotube suit has appeared in comics before, most notably in the April 2012 issue of Avengers vs X-Men, when he wore this variant of the Bleeding Edge Armor (Mk 37 in the comics) to fight Magneto himself.
• The name "Iron Might" comes from several other fanfic amalgamations of Iron Man and All Might that I've seen. So having it as a power boost setting here is my own little nod to them.