Destroyer Through The Multiverse Ch 23

Tony Stark soared through the air above the Stark Expo, his red and gold armor glinting in the chaos of explosions and gunfire. The Air Force drones pursued him relentlessly, their weapons systems locked onto his heat signature. He barrel-rolled and banked sharply, narrowly avoiding a barrage of missiles that streaked past him, detonating against nearby buildings.

"Jarvis, I need options here!" Tony shouted, his voice strained as he pushed the suit to its limits.

"Sir, the drones' targeting systems are proving difficult to jam. Evasive maneuvers are currently our best option," Jarvis replied, his calm voice a stark contrast to the mayhem surrounding them.

Tony gritted his teeth, dodging another volley of gunfire. The drones were closing in, their formations tightening around him. He weaved between the expo's structures, hoping to lose them in the maze of pavilions and exhibits.

"Come on, come on," Tony muttered, his eyes darting between the HUD displays and the rapidly approaching ground. He pulled up at the last second, skimming the tops of fleeing crowds. The drones followed, their shots peppering the ground where civilians had stood moments before.

Suddenly, a series of explosions erupted behind him. Tony risked a glance back, his eyes widening as he saw the drones falling from the sky one by one, each hit with pinpoint accuracy.

"Jarvis, what's happening?" Tony asked, bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

"It appears we have assistance, sir," Jarvis responded. "The drones are being neutralized by an unknown party."

Tony spun in mid-air, hovering as he searched for the source of the unexpected aid. His gaze fell upon a figure on the ground, and recognition dawned on him.

There, amidst the smoke and debris, stood Decade. But this wasn't the Decade Tony had come to know. This version wore green armor with intricate gold patterns, its design reminiscent of a stag beetle. In his hands, he wielded a formidable bowgun, its energy arrows finding their mark with unerring precision.

"Well, I'll be damned," Tony muttered, watching as Decade - or rather, Kuuga in his Pegasus form - continued to pick off the remaining drones with ease. The Pegasus Bowgun glowed with an otherworldly energy as it fired, each shot bringing down another of Hammer's hijacked creations.

Tony descended, landing near Decade with a metallic thud. "Nice shooting, Tex," he quipped, his faceplate retracting to reveal a mix of relief and curiosity. "Though I gotta say, the new look is throwing me off a bit."

Decade turned to face Tony, the compound eyes of his helmet gleaming. "Thought you could use a hand," he said, his voice modulated but carrying a hint of amusement. "This form seemed appropriate for the situation."

As they spoke, the last of the Air Force drones crashed to the ground, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. Tony surveyed the destruction around them, his expression growing serious.

"We're not done yet," he said, his eyes scanning the skies. "Vanko's still out there, and I've got a feeling he's saved the best for last."

Tony's helmet crackled with an incoming transmission. He raised a hand, signaling Decade to hold position as he answered the call.

"Stark here," he said, his voice tight with tension.

Natasha's voice came through, clear and urgent. "Tony, I've got bad news. I went to Vanko's last known location, but he's gone. The place is empty."

Tony's jaw clenched. "Damn it. Any leads on where he might have gone?"

"Nothing concrete," Natasha replied. "But that's not all. I've been monitoring your vitals remotely. Your readings are off the charts, Tony. Whatever you did with that new arc reactor, it's working wonders."

A smirk played across Tony's face. "Well, what can I say? I'm not dying anymore. Turns out, that's great for your health."

There was a brief pause before Pepper's voice cut in, sharp and filled with shock. "What do you mean, 'not dying anymore'? Tony, were you really dying?"

Tony's eyes widened, realizing his mistake. He glanced at Decade, who tilted his head in a gesture that seemed to say, "You're on your own with this one."

"Pepper, I... uh..." Tony fumbled for words, caught off guard. "Look, it's complicated. I was planning to tell you, I swear. It's just that-"

"You were dying, and you didn't tell me?" Pepper's voice rose, a mix of anger and hurt. "How long has this been going on?"

Tony opened his mouth to respond, but Natasha's voice cut through the brewing argument. "I hate to interrupt, but we've got incoming. The remaining drones are converging on your position, Tony. You and Decade need to be ready."

Tony's faceplate snapped shut, his focus shifting back to the immediate threat. "Copy that, Romanoff. We'll deal with this now. Pepper, I promise we'll talk about this later."

He turned to Decade, who had already readied his weapon. "You heard the lady. Looks like we've got more company coming our way."

Decade nodded, his stance shifting as he prepared for battle. "I'm ready when you are, Stark. Let's finish this."

As they stood side by side, the sound of approaching drones filled the air. Tony's repulsors hummed to life, and Decade's armor glowed with energy.

The drones landed one by one, their mechanical forms casting long shadows in the fading light of the Stark Expo. Their eyes glowed an ominous red as they surrounded Iron Man and Decade, weapons primed and ready. The air crackled with tension as the two heroes stood back-to-back, assessing the situation.

Tony's voice came through his suit's speakers, a hint of sarcasm masking his concern. "Well, this is cozy. Any ideas, partner?"

Decade didn't respond verbally. Instead, his form began to shimmer and change.

[Form Ride: Kuuga Dragon]

The green armor of Kuuga's Pegasus form melted away, replaced by the sleek blue of Dragon form. In his hands, the Pegasus Bowgun transformed into the Dragon Rod, its staff-like shape perfect for close-quarter combat.

"Switching things up, I see," Tony quipped, his repulsors humming to life. "I like your style."

The drones, seemingly triggered by the transformation, opened fire. A hail of bullets and energy blasts filled the air, forcing Iron Man and Decade into action.

Tony rocketed upwards, his suit's targeting system locking onto multiple drones at once. "Jarvis, let's thin the herd a bit," he commanded, unleashing a barrage of micro-missiles that streaked towards their targets.

On the ground, Decade moved with fluid grace. The Dragon Rod became a blur as he deflected incoming fire, each movement precise and calculated. He spun and struck, the rod's energy-charged tip smashing through drone armor with ease.

Iron Man dove back into the fray, his repulsors blasting drones out of the sky. "These things just keep coming," he grunted, narrowly avoiding a rocket that screamed past his head.

Decade leapt high, using a fallen drone as a springboard. In mid-air, he brought the Dragon Rod down hard on a drone's head, crushing its central processor. As he landed, he swept the rod in a wide arc, knocking back three more drones that had tried to flank him.

The battle raged on, Iron Man and Decade moving in perfect sync. They covered each other's blind spots, anticipated each other's moves, and slowly but surely began to turn the tide against the drone army.

Tony's voice crackled over the comms again. "Hey, Decade, I've got an idea. How about we play a little game of catch?"

Without waiting for a response, Iron Man swooped low, grabbing Decade by the arm and lifting him high into the air. Decade, understanding the plan instantly, readied his Dragon Rod.

"Now!" Tony shouted, spinning in mid-air and hurling Decade towards a cluster of drones.

Decade tucked into a ball, his armor glowing with energy as he rocketed towards his targets. At the last second, he extended the Dragon Rod, channeling all his power into the weapon. He struck the ground in the center of the drone formation, releasing a shockwave that sent the machines flying in all directions.

As the dust settled, Decade stood tall amidst a circle of destroyed drones. Iron Man landed beside him, his armor scratched and dented but still functional.

"Not bad," Tony said, his faceplate retracting to reveal a grin. "Though I think I still have the higher score."

Both heroes turned to see more drones approaching, their weapons already charging.

"Round two?" Tony asked, his faceplate snapping back into place.

Tatsuya nodded, his Decade armor materializing once more. "Let's finish this," he said, readying himself for another transformation.

As the next wave of drones approached, Tatsuya's form began to shimmer once more. The blue armor of Kuuga's Dragon form dissolved, replaced by the sleek, navy-blue and silver design of Kamen Rider Blade. The transformation complete, Decade now stood as the Ace of Spades, his hand reaching for the Blay Rouzer at his side.

[Kamen Ride: Blade]

Tony's eyebrows raised behind his faceplate. "Another costume change? You're full of surprises, aren't you?"

Decade didn't respond, instead drawing the Blay Rouzer from its sheath. The blade gleamed in the fading light, its edge humming with barely contained energy. He reached for his Rouze Card holder, selecting a card with practiced ease.

[Slash]

The card disappeared into the Blay Rouzer, its power infusing the blade with a brilliant blue glow. Decade charged forward, meeting the oncoming drones head-on. The Blay Rouzer sliced through the air, leaving trails of energy in its wake as it cleaved through drone after drone.

Tony watched for a moment, impressed by the display of swordsmanship. "Well, can't let you have all the fun," he quipped, before launching himself back into the fray.

Iron Man weaved between the drones, his repulsors firing in rapid succession. Each blast found its mark, disabling drones with pinpoint accuracy. He spun in mid-air, using his suit's enhanced strength to grab a drone and hurl it into a group of its companions, creating a satisfying explosion.

On the ground, Decade continued his assault. The Blay Rouzer sang as it cut through the air, each strike precise and devastating. Drones fell left and right, unable to withstand the combined power of the Rouze cards and Decade's skill.

[Thunder]

Another card vanished into the Blay Rouzer, and suddenly the blade crackled with electricity. Decade swung the electrified sword in a wide arc, sending a wave of lightning that chained between multiple drones, short-circuiting their systems and sending them crashing to the ground.

Tony whistled, impressed. "Now that's what I call a light show," he called out, before diving low to avoid a barrage of missiles. He retaliated with a burst from his shoulder-mounted gun, taking out the offending drones in a hail of bullets.

The two heroes moved in perfect sync, covering each other's blind spots and creating openings for devastating attacks. Iron Man would draw groups of drones together with his aerial maneuvers, setting them up for Decade's wide-reaching sword techniques. In turn, Decade would use his Rouze cards to create distractions or momentary shields, allowing Tony to line up perfect shots with his repulsors.

As the battle wore on, the number of functional drones began to dwindle. Decade and Iron Man stood back to back, surrounded by a circle of the remaining machines. The drones' weapons hummed ominously, preparing for one final assault.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Tony asked, his repulsors charging up.

Decade nodded, reaching for another Rouze card. "Let's end this," he replied, his voice filled with determination.

[Mach]

The card disappeared into the Blay Rouzer, and suddenly Decade's movements became a blur. He dashed forward at incredible speed, his sword a streak of light as it cut through drone after drone. At the same time, Tony engaged his suit's full power, spinning in place as he unleashed a devastating 360-degree repulsor blast.

The combined assault was too much for the remaining drones. They fell in droves, overwhelmed by the speed and power of the two heroes. In a matter of seconds, the last drone crashed to the ground, its systems fried and smoking.

As the dust settled, Decade and Iron Man stood amidst the wreckage of their fallen foes. The Stark Expo, once a bustling showcase of technology, now lay in ruins around them, a testament to the ferocity of the battle they had just won.

Tony's faceplate retracted, revealing a grin despite the exhaustion evident in his eyes. "Not bad, partner," he said, extending a hand towards Decade. "We make a pretty good team."

Decade's armor shimmered once more, returning to its default magenta form. He grasped Tony's hand, shaking it firmly. "Agreed," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of respect.

As Iron Man and Decade caught their breath, a sudden crackle from Tony's comm system broke the momentary calm. Natasha's voice came through, urgent and clear.

"Tony, we've got one more incoming. It's different from the others. The repulsor signature is off the charts."

Tony's face hardened as he exchanged a glance with Decade. "Copy that. We're on it."

They scanned the sky, tension building as they waited for this new threat to appear. A distant roar grew louder, and soon a figure came into view, descending rapidly towards their position.

The drone landed with a thunderous impact, kicking up dust and debris. As the cloud settled, Tony and Decade found themselves face to face not with another mindless machine, but with a man encased in formidable armor. Vanko had arrived.

Vanko's suit hummed with power, its design a twisted mirror of Tony's own creation. But what drew their attention were his hands. With a flick of his wrists, two whips materialized, crackling with lethal electricity.

Tony's faceplate snapped shut, his voice now carrying a metallic edge. "Vanko. I should've known you'd want to deliver the final performance yourself."

Vanko's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Stark," he growled, his thick Russian accent cutting through the air. "You and your father, you think you can rewrite history. But today, I show the world the truth."

The whips lashed out suddenly, cutting through the air with deadly precision. Tony barely managed to dodge, the electricity singing the edge of his armor.

Decade moved swiftly, interposing himself between Tony and Vanko. His hand reached for his Ride Booker, ready to summon a new form to counter this unexpected threat.

The standoff was tense, with Vanko's whips humming ominously as they coiled around him. Iron Man and Decade stood their ground, acutely aware that this battle would be unlike any they had faced before.