Witnessing this scene, Tony Stark subconsciously swallowed hard.
The images in the news reports were actually not AI-generated, nor were they fictional accounts. The information recorded there was real! In fact, compared to reality, the reports had actually downplayed him.
At the very least, the news hadn't mentioned that the White Demon's strength was so staggering that he could send the Iron Monger flying with a single punch!
As the designer of the armored suits, Tony could naturally estimate the Iron Monger's weight based on its volume. To launch it with one blow was something even the Mark III couldn't achieve; this simply wasn't a level of strength a human should possess.
Staring at the White Demon's seemingly slender arm, Tony Stark felt the weight of his own ignorance for the first time.
After sending the Iron Monger flying, Aurelius Viremont flexed his palm. He hadn't expected to successfully trigger Black Flash on his very first strike.
This confirmed his theory: possessing Energy Absorption in addition to the abilities of Satoru Gojo gave him superior control over energy. In the future, it was highly probable he could release Black Flash with 100% consistency. This meant his attacks would permanently be amplified to the power of $2.5$. It was an undeniably terrifying prospect for growth.
Ignoring the dazed Tony Stark, Aurelius Viremont walked slowly toward the road. He stepped through the gap in the wall and followed the path plowed by the Iron Monger's massive body, eventually reaching the open street.
As he approached, the Iron Monger noticed him. A dense hail of bullets and missiles shrieked toward him, only to be halted by the Limitless barrier, unable to advance a single inch.
By the time he reached the roadside, the onlookers had realized the danger and cleared a wide berth. The road was empty save for the slowly advancing Aurelius Viremont and the frantically firing Iron Monger. Those brave—or foolish—enough to stay watched from a distance, some even pulling out their phones to record.
Seeing Aurelius Viremont emerge, someone immediately recognized him.
"The White Demon! Why is he here?"
"Is he fighting that steel giant?"
"He just sent that monster flying! How did he even do that?"
The crowd erupted into a flurry of questions and hushed chatter.
Coincidentally, in a Chevrolet parked in the distance, a middle-aged man's face was flush with excitement. He immediately produced professional camera equipment and aimed it at Aurelius Viremont. This man was indeed the future Venom, Eddie Brock.
He was ecstatic, silently praising the Goddess of Luck for allowing him to stumble upon the White Demon in action yet again. His previous scoop had made him a rising star at the Daily Globe; if he could capture another battle, he would likely be promoted, heading straight for the peak of his career.
Through his lens, the White Demon walked calmly toward the steel giant. The show was finally beginning.
Obadiah stared in shock at the screens inside his suit. System alerts were blaring incessantly:
"Warning! Warning! Hull integrity at 36%... Hull integrity at 36%!"
That single punch had almost completely destroyed the Iron Monger's chest plate. How is this possible?! The metal used for the suit was ten-centimeter-thick titanium alloy—thick enough to withstand high-yield missiles without being breached. Yet, it had nearly been demolished by a single human fist. Is he really human?
Obadiah was filled with immediate regret. The Daily Globe reports were all true! Had he known, he never would have provoked the White Demon; he would have paid ten or twenty billion dollars if that's what it took to keep the peace.
But it was too late. Now, he had to kill the White Demon at any cost. That strange defense couldn't possibly be maintained forever. If he kept his distance and used ammunition to wear him down, he could win!
Just as Obadiah prepared to act, he realized the White Demon had vanished from his screen.
By the time the system alerted him again, the White Demon was right in front of him, staring with cold, indifferent eyes. His right fist was clenched, leaking azure energy. It was the same attack that had launched him before!
Obadiah tried desperately to dodge, but the distance was too short and the Iron Monger was too cumbersome. He couldn't evade the next strike. If this hit connected, the chest armor would shatter, and he, sitting in the cockpit, wouldn't survive.
No! No! Please!
He watched in despair as the fist approached, certain he was seeing his own death. Under his wide-eyed gaze, the glowing fist struck the Iron Monger, sending it flying once more.
However, unlike the first time, there was no eruption of black lightning. The Iron Monger only flew a few meters before skidding to a halt. Obadiah scrambled to right the suit and checked the damage report.
"Warning! Warning! Hull integrity at 38%... Hull integrity at 38%!"
That punch had only caused an additional 2% damage. Obadiah froze, then burst into a manic laugh.
"Hahaha! That terrifying black lightning... you can't just release it whenever you want, can you? Did that first attack drain your strength? You can't do it a second time!"
Realizing the White Demon wasn't as invincible as he thought, the fear in Obadiah's heart vanished instantly. He resumed firing wildly at Aurelius Viremont. "Come on! Let's see how long you can last in this storm of lead!"
On the sidelines, Tony Stark had walked over to the gap in the wall. He had also seen exactly what happened.
"Not good. The black lightning can't be released consecutively. If Obadiah just keeps wearing him down, he might actually win!" Tony felt a wave of dread. His Arc Reactor was down to 2% power, barely enough to keep the Mark III standing, let alone fighting. If Obadiah won, Tony would be a sitting duck. "Damn it!"
The distant onlookers saw the scene as well. Seeing the White Demon's punch merely push the giant back without causing significant damage while the giant resumed its frantic assault, they began to speculate.
"The White Demon can fight humans, but he's no match for the power of technology!"
"Exactly. That steel giant must be the military's work. They've turned on the White Demon, and he's about to be killed!"
Among the crowd, a small number of hidden mutants watched with expressions of despair. Is it true that mutants are no match for the government? Are we doomed to be oppressed forever, never able to stand up?
Everyone believed the White Demon was about to fall. But then, the unexpected happened...