Pepper watched through the Mark Sanctuary's sensors. Her hands were pressed against her stomach. Against the child growing there.
'Tony...'
M.A.R.V.E.L.'s voice was quiet. "The Anti-Apocalypse armor. Master Stark designed it specifically for god-tier threats, this one in particular has been optimized to face Apocalypse. It required three years of research inside the Infinity Chamber. It's his ultimate weapon."
"Will it be enough?" Pepper asked.
"Unknown. But it gives him a chance. A real chance."
Back in the battle, Tony faced Apocalypse. The ancient mutant's expression had shifted from satisfaction to concern.
"You planned even this. Even your apparent defeat was part of the strategy."
"Not planned. Prepared for." Tony's voice came through the armor's speakers. "I didn't know if I'd need this suit. But I built it just in case. Because that's what being smart means. Always having a backup plan."
"Clever." Apocalypse's energy gathering intensified. "But ultimately futile. Infinity Stone echoes are temporary. Limited. They will burn out. And when they do, you die."
"Then I better make them count."
Tony moved. Faster than before. The armor enhanced his already superhuman speed to levels that approached light. He crossed the distance in a microsecond.
His fist connected with Apocalypse's face.
BOOM!
The shockwave was visible. A sphere of compressed air that expanded outward at supersonic speed. Buildings for miles around collapsed from the force.
Apocalypse was thrown backward. Actually hurt. The punch had carried power amplified by the Power Echo. Raw force beyond anything physical.
He crashed through six buildings before stopping. When he stood, blood ran from his mouth.
"Impressive. You can actually hurt me now."
Tony didn't respond with words. He activated the Reality Echo. Red energy flowed from the chest core through the armor's systems.
Reality warped around Apocalypse. Gravity inverted. Time slowed. Space folded. All at once. The fundamental laws of physics became suggestions.
Apocalypse fought against it. His Celestial enhancements allowed him to resist reality manipulation to a degree. But the Reality Echo was powerful. Persistent.
"You're warping reality itself." Apocalypse forced himself to stand straighter. "But I've faced reality warpers before. Survived them. Outlasted them."
"They weren't me."
Tony struck again. This time using the Time Echo. Green energy pulsed. Time around Apocalypse stuttered. Moments repeated. Actions rewound. He was trapped in a temporal loop lasting three seconds.
During those three seconds, Tony attacked from every angle. Fists. Energy beams. Magic spells. All of it amplified by the armor's systems.
When the loop ended, Apocalypse was covered in new wounds. His Celestial armor was cracking in multiple places.
"You're combining the echoes. Using them together instead of separately." Apocalypse's voice carried grudging respect. "Tactically sound. But it's draining your reserves faster."
Tony knew he was right. The four echoes were burning through energy at an incredible rate. He could feel it. Minutes. Maybe less. Then they'd be gone.
'Have to end this fast. Can't afford a drawn-out fight.'
Across Cairo, the other teams felt the shift in battle. The tide was turning.
Captain America's quantum resonators were still active. The feedback loop maintained. Draining Apocalypse's power continuously.
"He's winning," Steve said quietly. "Tony's actually winning."
The Young Avengers watched from their position. Spider-Man's mask hid his expression but his voice was awed.
"That armor is insane. It's like watching a god fight."
Miles Morales nodded. "He really is on another level. He prepared for everything."
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