Dimensional demons mixed in with Marvel

Chapter 20 Iron Man, The Death of Tony Stark

Night was falling.

The park was bathed in a hazy moonlight and dim streetlights, the air filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees, and the occasional chirping of unknown insects broke the stillness of the night.

"Happy, he's a little worried that I won't come home at night."

On a roadside bench, Tony and Rod sat side by side, the aroma of freshly baked double cheeseburgers wafting from the oven.

"The feedback from the focus group was very good, and the public's suggestion survey was also very positive, with a support rate as high as 97%."

Rod shrugged, took a sip of his cola, and then emphasized the importance of the data.

"I am a steel patriot."

Tony didn't care. He imitated Rhodes, deliberately lowering his deep voice, just like Rhodes had done on TV before.

"It sounds better than War Gear, no matter what. The original name was just too violent."

Rhodes rolled his eyes in annoyance and gritted his teeth in retort.

"So, that's what you mean by high approval ratings?"

Tony took a bite of his burger and pointed to the large public screen not far away, which was repeatedly playing the night's highest-rated show, "The Tonight Show."

The host, wearing a burgundy coat, was using exaggerated gestures to relentlessly criticize Rod.

"It's hard to imagine that the same suit, just painted red, white and blue, can be called Iron Patriot."

"Canned steel, I have to say, that's the best joke of the year."

Rod immediately recognized the woman as Joan Rivers, a famous American comedian and talk show host.

Her record is quite impressive; she has publicly criticized countless people.

The former governor of Alaska and the current vice-presidential candidate have both been criticized by her as looking like a disgusting creature who looks like he knocked a moose unconscious and then skinned it and wore the skin on his body.

Expecting such a sharp-tongued woman to tone it down is like hoping the sun will rise in the west.

"Tony, you didn't ask me out in the middle of the night just to embarrass me in front of everyone, did you?"

Of course not, Tony has important business to attend to.

"I wanted to ask you about the Ten Rings, that is, the Mandarin, what exactly is going on with him?!"

"Here he comes. This is Iron Man's real purpose," Rhodey said, glancing around instinctively before approaching Tony and whispering in a low voice.

"That's confidential, Tony."

Tony didn't speak, he just stared intently at Rhodes.

"Okay, in fact, there have been nine bombings recently, but the public only knows about three of them. The key issue is that no one can find the detonator, and there are no traces of bombs left at the scene."

It was indeed very dangerous.

And that's exactly what Iron Man should do, so Tony eagerly volunteered.

"So I can help. Just tell me, and I have a bunch of high-tech stuff. I also have an Entangler suit, and a new bomb disposal device that can contain explosions in mid-air."

Just as Tony was rambling on, Rhodes interrupted him.

"How long has it been since you had a proper night's sleep?"

"This question is completely irrelevant. Einstein only slept three hours a year, and look at what he got up to!"

Tony retorted.

"Everyone's worried about you, Tony, and I'm worried about you too. Maybe you should listen to Happy and go home to sleep."

"Hey, are you trying to lecture me?"

It's really troublesome. Looking at Rhodes' expression, coupled with his long-term insomnia, Tony's mood suddenly became a bit bad.

"No, no, no, Tony, I just wanted to let you know that I can handle the Ten Rings."

"Have you heard of Kingpin? He died a few days ago. What a lousy guy..."

"Daredevil!"

The first case of a superhuman crime, and he was imprisoned in a remote island prison.

Rod knew, of course, that the military had also assisted the New York Police Department.

"Tony, this is none of your business, you bastard from Hell's Kitchen... ugh!"

Before he could utter any of the unpleasant and offensive words, Rod swallowed them back.

A little fan suddenly ran up to me, holding up a signed sign with Iron Man drawn on it.

"Mr. Stark, could you please sign your name on my painting?"

"It's so late, what are you doing here?"

Tony took the pen from the girl and asked her a question that seemed rather odd.

New York has been so chaotic lately, will anyone even come to the park at this hour?!

Even in Midtown Manhattan, it's impossible.

"Huh? You guys don't know?"

The little fan looked somewhat surprised and tilted his head.

"Someone filmed Mr. Stark and uploaded the video online. It has been viewed and shared more than ten million times. My mother saw it and brought us here. We happen to live nearby, just a five-minute walk downstairs."

? !

Rod and Tony were both taken aback; it seemed like they'd become internet celebrities.

"He really is Iron Man."

"Wow, Mr. Stark, it's Tony Stark! Quick, quick, he's alive!"

Meanwhile, a noisy crowd surged forward, and Tony was surrounded in the blink of an eye.

"Don't rush, don't rush."

"After signing yours, you sign yours; after answering his, you answer hers; everyone gets one."

Now that things have come to this, there's no time to worry about Rod.

Tony felt that his two hands weren't enough; if he could hold five pens at once, that would be perfect.

"Well, Rhodes, I'm just that popular, hahaha."

"You can only be envious. Iron Man's fans are so enthusiastic, their sincere eyes shine even in the night. I just can't resist."

Of course, you don't need to pay attention to reporters who are boring.

Tony completely ignored the man holding the microphone. Who would want to sign an autograph for that jerk?!

"Next..."

The first thing you see is a childlike drawing by a young fan: a little girl kidnapped by a kite monster stretches out her hands, her eyes full of hope: "Iron Man is here to save me!"

"Let me see, did you draw this? It's really good!"

Tony instinctively complimented her, but it quickly went wrong.

Click.

Tony's fingers tightened uncontrollably, breaking the pen. He felt his brain buzzing, and all the sounds around him gradually faded away.

In a daze, he seemed to hear a strange question.

"How did you escape from the wormhole?"

Tony's expression changed. He felt like he couldn't breathe. He staggered and pushed through the crowd, walking towards the Iron Man suit.

"Excuse me, I need to check my suit to make sure..."

Just two steps...

Tony had even reached out and instinctively called out to Jarvis.

click!

Time seemed to freeze for a moment.

"!!"

……

"Tony, you're really in the spotlight now, there's no escaping you."

Rod ate his hamburger, acting as if it were none of his business.

"Hey buddy, watch out!"

Rod was so engrossed in his hamburger that a pink-haired girl brushed past him, nearly sending his unfinished beef patty flying.

Luckily, I'm quick and agile enough to catch it... Wait, what?!

"How could this be...?"

Rod's hand, which instinctively reached out to grab something, found it empty.

Click...

It was only a blink of an eye, by the time he lowered his head...

The beef patty has fallen to the ground.

and……

It was trampled over one after another by the surging crowd and completely crushed.

That is, at the same time.

"Ahhhhh!"

A burst of screams erupted from the crowd, and the people who had been surging forward just moments before were now retreating like a receding tide.

"Tony, Tony!"

Rod forgot about his hamburger; a bad feeling crept into his heart.

Tony's in trouble!

Rod practically shoved his way through the crowd; he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Tony lay on the ground, his chest pierced through, the Iron Man suit within reach, but he could never put it on again.

"Tony!"

For the first time, Rhode hated himself so much. Why hadn't he come to eat hamburgers with Tony, dressed in that flashy Steel Patriot outfit?

"Who did this?! Who did this?!"

"Tony, it's okay. We'll get you to the emergency room right away. You'll be alright, you'll be alright!"

Rhode pulled Tony into his arms, futilely trying to heal his wound.

But this was impossible; blood gushed out like a fountain, and the terrifying amount of bleeding had soaked the ground.

The fans who were just moments ago so enthusiastically chasing their idols are now screaming and fleeing.

Just then, Rhodes heard the sound of bells ringing.

He looked up with a look of despair, standing out from the retreating crowd.

Under a streetlamp not far away stood a girl in a pure black kimono, with long, jet-black hair cascading down to her waist, gently shaking a Buddhist bell with her right hand.

"A pitiful shadow bewildered by darkness, a soul drowning in sin."

"How about I die once?!"

Rhodes heard it.

The moment he picked Tony up, he was absolutely certain he had heard clearly.

The girl is saying... Is she the murderer?!

"It's gone!"

In the blink of an eye, Rhodes seemed to see the girl pause for a moment before disappearing.

"Lolo, Rod..."

Tony's voice was barely audible, and he was speaking intermittently.

"It's alright, it's alright, I'm here, I'll take you away right away."

Rod didn't care about anything else; he did his best to lift Tony up and run forward with all his might.

"Get out of my way!"

For the first time, Rod hated the reporters; their flashing lights were so annoying.

He ran as fast as he could along the park's main road, but...

That's too late.

Tony was well aware of his situation, and he felt some regret, fearing he might not be able to go back to see Pepper.

Ah, Happy will definitely blame me when he finds out.

but……

Now that things have come to this, there's one thing he absolutely must make clear to Rod.

"Jarvis... his record... wrong, wrong!"

There's so much to say.

Tony's voice, as faint as a candle flickering in the wind, finally vanished completely.

"What's wrong? What's wrong, Tony? Tell me, tell me!"

Rhodes cried. He stopped and yelled at Tony at the top of his lungs.

"No, no, no, I beg you!"

"You can do whatever you want, Mandarin, Kingpin, anything, I'll do it with you, Tony!"

But it's no use.

This stubborn jerk who used to argue with me seems like he'll never wake up again.

This moment.

Rhodes was acutely aware of a cruel truth that contained immense sorrow.

Tony is dead!

The hero who saved New York, Iron Man, Tony Stark, is dead.

"No, no, no!!!"