"Master, I won!"
Bast instinctively wrapped her arms around Leon's neck, her eyes shining as she declared her victory.
"Well done."
Leon affectionately tapped the tip of her nose and gently wiped away the faint soot smudged on her cheek.
"Damn it…"
"I can't believe I lost to a woman…"
Tony lay sprawled on the floor, pounding it in frustration, lamenting like a thoroughly defeated underdog.
He had believed that no matter how outrageous Bast's combat technique and speed were, he could kite her indefinitely—using portal traversal, armor durability, and long-range magnetic manipulation to wear her down.
Instead—
The hardest shield had met the sharpest spear.
The defensive integrity of Mark VII was shredded by Bast's claws as if it were tissue paper.
As for portal traversal—
Due to Tony's personal proficiency and mental strain, there was still an unavoidable casting delay.
Even after he reduced it to under 0.25 seconds—
Bast's speed exceeded his reaction time.
She chased him relentlessly.
Had she been more proficient at aerial combat—and not so straightforward in her attack vectors, lacking J.A.R.V.I.S.' tactical finesse—
Tony might not have lasted this long at all.
Thanks to Mark VII's self-repair function and the automatic return properties of Living Adamantium, he managed to hold out.
Thus—
What began as a blitz engagement devolved into a prolonged endurance battle.
From afternoon until nightfall.
And that was when the balance shifted.
Objectively speaking—
Bast was a genuine goddess.
Even if she served as Leon's maid and companion, drawing even with her was hardly shameful.
What Tony didn't know was that Bast had been elevated by the Mind Stone, making her even stronger than before.
Otherwise, he might have bragged about holding out this long.
He had assumed the outcome was inevitable—
Until night fell.
The darkness was Bast's domain.
The moment it descended—
Her attributes received an outright, unreasonable 100% amplification.
Like Leon activating The Fool at full output.
One relied on battlefield conditions.
The other sacrificed intellect for power.
The stalemate shattered instantly.
Uncertain how long Bast could sustain that state, Tony chose not to drag the fight further.
He made a decisive move.
He fabricated a nuclear-level explosive.
As Bast closed in for the finishing strike—
Tony detonated it without hesitation.
Mutual destruction.
"If I go down, we both go down."
Except—
Under the blessing of night, Bast's defensive resilience resembled Superman fully saturated under a yellow sun.
To her—
The nuclear blast was little more than harsh wind.
Tony, however—
Even with partial Living Adamantium coverage—
Was not yet capable of shrugging it off purely through physiology.
The blast rattled him thoroughly.
And so—
Bast delivered the final strike.
Tony conceded defeat.
"Looks like you've got more training to do, big bro~" Leon teased.
"Just wait!"
"I don't have limits!"
Tony shot back, fully intent on a rematch in the future.
"Where's Dr. Cho?" he suddenly asked, noticing her absence.
"Have you checked the time?" Leon replied. "She and Pepper already left for a spa."
With that, Leon lifted Bast in a bridal carry.
"Hold it."
Tony stood up, rolling his neck back into place.
"Leon. Give me more nano-material. Regular Adamantium is fine."
"What for?"
Even as he asked, Leon pulled a large quantity of raw liquid Adamantium from his System Storage Space and began refining it alongside Tony into nano-scale assemblies.
"I'm designing modular add-ons—external heavy armor frames and specialized weapons that can dock onto Mark VII."
The blueprint for a Hulkbuster-class unit was already forming in Tony's mind.
High-consumption modules could use standard Gold-Titanium alloy or battlefield-refined metals converted via magnetic manipulation.
In the future—
If his electromagnetic control improved further—
He could theoretically refine surrounding matter into precise metallic atomic structures and forge nano-material on the fly.
Hand-built mechs wouldn't be a dream.
"That pile should be enough, right?"
Leon gestured toward the massive floating mass of Adamantium nano-material filling Helen's office.
He estimated it was enough for at least ten Hulkbuster units.
"Should do for now."
"If I need more, I'll ask."
Tony's grin betrayed his satisfaction.
For once—
Instead of Leon living off Stark Industries—
Tony was tapping into Leon's near-bottomless reserves.
Why hammer metal when you have a walking treasury?
…
Back at Malibu Mansion—
Leon carried Bast through a portal directly into his bathroom.
"Master?"
With a flick of telekinesis and the Eternal Flame of Aionsega, the bathtub filled instantly with perfectly heated water.
Splash.
Leon dropped Bast in.
She resurfaced in a compact crouch, water streaming from her silver hair.
She instinctively shook her head—
Then froze.
Her cheeks flushed faintly.
"Sorry, Master… I didn't mean to splash you."
"It's fine. I was planning to join you anyway."
Leon disarmed instantly and stepped into the tub beside her.
He lathered his hands with soap, working thick foam across Bast's hair and shoulders, gently washing away soot and battle residue.
"So—have you decided on your reward?"
His tone was lighter now.
"A day…"
"Hmm?"
Her voice was barely audible over the sound of water.
"I want… one full day of Master's time."
Leon slowed his movements slightly.
"That's all? We're together every day."
Bast lowered her gaze.
"A day where you belong only to me."
"A day… as your wife."
It was a simple wish.
Among all of Leon's companions—
None yet bore that title.
Even for a single day—
She wished to be first.
Leon looked at her quietly.
Then smiled.
"If that's what Bast wants…"
The rest needed no words.
The warmth of the bath, the quiet intimacy, and the unspoken understanding filled the space between them.
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