Destroyer Through The Multiverse Ch 16

Tatsuya watched as the attacker's eyes shifted from him to Tony, now fully encased in his Iron Man armor. The man's face twisted with rage, his focus entirely on the red and gold figure before him.

"You," the attacker snarled, his accent thick with hatred. "Stark."

Tatsuya took a step back, his muscles tense and ready. He knew this was Tony's fight now, but he stayed alert, prepared to jump in if needed.

The whips crackled with renewed energy as the man lashed out at Iron Man. Tony dodged the first strike, but the second caught him across the chest, leaving a deep gouge in the armor. Sparks flew as metal met electricity.

Tatsuya winced at the impact. He could see Tony was struggling to adapt to this new threat. The whips were unlike anything they had faced before, their reach and power making them formidable weapons.

Iron Man retaliated with a repulsor blast, but the attacker was quick. He rolled to the side, the energy beam scorching the track where he had stood moments before. The man came up swinging, his whips slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Tony managed to catch one of the whips with his armored hand, but the electricity coursed through his suit, causing him to stagger. Tatsuya could hear Tony's grunt of pain even from where he stood.

The attacker pressed his advantage, bringing his other whip down hard on Tony's shoulder. The armor cracked under the force of the blow, exposing vulnerable circuitry beneath.

Tatsuya knew he had to act. He sprinted forward, scooping up a piece of debris from the track. With practiced aim, he hurled it at the attacker's head.

The man ducked, but the distraction was enough. Tony broke free from the whip's grip and fired another repulsor blast. This time, it caught the attacker in the chest, sending him flying backward.

But the man was resilient. He rolled to his feet, his whips humming with energy once more. He advanced on Tony, who was still reeling from the electrical shock.

Tatsuya moved closer, his hand hovering near his Decadriver. He was ready to transform if necessary, but he held back, not wanting to reveal his secret unless absolutely necessary.

The battle raged on, with Tony and the attacker trading blows. Tatsuya could see the toll it was taking on Tony's armor. Pieces were falling away, exposing more and more of the inner workings. The whips had done their job well, systematically dismantling Iron Man's defenses.

Yet Tony fought on. Despite the damage, despite the pain Tatsuya knew he must be feeling, Iron Man refused to back down. He met each of the attacker's strikes with one of his own, his repulsors firing in rapid succession.

Tatsuya watched, his admiration for Tony growing. This was the man behind the armor, the true hero. Not the technology, but the determination and courage that drove him.

As the fight continued, Tatsuya noticed a pattern in the attacker's movements. There was a split second delay between his whip strikes, a moment of vulnerability. He caught Tony's eye and gestured subtly, hoping the genius would understand.

Tony nodded almost imperceptibly. The next time the attacker swung his whips, Tony was ready. He dodged the first strike and, in that brief moment of recovery, unleashed a powerful unibeam from his chest piece.

The energy beam caught the attacker square in the chest, overwhelming him. The man flew backward, his whips going slack as he crashed into a nearby car.

Tatsuya moved quickly, kicking the whips away from the fallen attacker. Tony approached, his armor sparking and smoking, but still functional.

"It's over," Tony said, his voice metallic through the suit's speakers. "Stand down."

The attacker glared up at them, his eyes full of hatred. But he made no move to get up. The fight had gone out of him.

As sirens wailed in the distance, Tatsuya let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. They had won, but it had been close. Too close. He looked at Tony, taking in the extent of the damage to the Iron Man suit.

"You alright?" Tatsuya asked, concern evident in his voice.

Tony's faceplate retracted, revealing a face covered in sweat and grime. But there was a glint of triumph in his eyes. "Never better," he quipped, though Tatsuya could hear the exhaustion in his voice.

Tatsuya watched as Tony approached the fallen attacker, his Iron Man suit whirring and sparking with each step. The man on the ground, despite his defeat, maintained a defiant glare. Tatsuya tensed, ready to intervene if necessary.

Tony reached down, his armored hand grasping at something on the man's chest. With a swift motion, he ripped out a small device. Tatsuya's eyes widened as he recognized the familiar blue glow of an Arc Reactor.

"Impossible," Tatsuya muttered under his breath. He'd studied Tony's technology extensively during his time at SHIELD, and he knew the Arc Reactor was Stark's unique creation. Yet here was another, in the hands of this mysterious attacker.

Tony held the device up, his helmet retracting to reveal a face etched with anger and disbelief. He scanned it quickly, his eyes darting over its surface. Tatsuya could almost see the gears turning in Tony's mind, analyzing and comparing.

Without warning, Tony's fist clenched. The sound of crunching metal and shattering glass filled the air as he crushed the Arc Reactor in his armored grip. Sparks flew from between his fingers, the blue light flickering and dying.

Tatsuya's gaze shifted from Tony to the man on the ground. Despite his defeat, despite the destruction of his power source, the attacker wore a smile. It wasn't the grin of a madman or the relief of someone glad the fight was over. No, this smile was calculating, mocking. It was the smile of someone who knew something they shouldn't.

The realization hit Tatsuya like a punch to the gut. This man hadn't just stumbled upon Arc Reactor technology. He understood it, had replicated it. The implications were staggering.

Tatsuya's mind raced. Who was this man? How had he acquired this knowledge? And most importantly, what did his presence mean for Tony and the world at large?

As he pondered these questions, Tatsuya couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The smile on the attacker's face spoke volumes. This wasn't over, not by a long shot.

Tatsuya watched as the Monaco police swarmed the scene, their sirens piercing the air. The attacker, now subdued and powerless without his Arc Reactor, offered no resistance as they approached. His earlier defiance seemed to have melted away, replaced by a resigned calm that Tatsuya found unsettling.

The officers moved with practiced efficiency, securing the area and pushing back the crowd of onlookers that had gathered. Tatsuya noticed how their eyes widened as they took in the destruction around them - the torn-up racetrack, the smoking wreckage of cars, and the battered figure of Iron Man standing amidst it all.

As they handcuffed the attacker, Tatsuya caught a glimpse of the man's face. There was something in his eyes, a mix of anger and... was that satisfaction? It sent a chill down Tatsuya's spine. This man had come here with a purpose, and despite his defeat, he seemed to think he'd accomplished it.

The police began to lead the attacker away. Tatsuya watched closely, his mind racing. Who was this man? How had he gotten his hands on Arc Reactor technology? And most importantly, what was his connection to Tony Stark?

Tatsuya glanced at Tony, who stood nearby, his armor sparking and damaged. The billionaire's face was a mask of controlled anger, his eyes never leaving the attacker as he was escorted to a waiting police car. Tatsuya could almost see the wheels turning in Tony's head, no doubt grappling with the same questions that plagued him.

As the car door slammed shut and the attacker disappeared from view, Tatsuya felt a wave of unease wash over him. This incident was far from over. In fact, he suspected it was just the beginning of something much larger.

Tatsuya watched as Pepper Potts rushed over, her face a mix of relief and anger. She zeroed in on Tony, who was still standing in his battered Iron Man suit, looking worse for wear but somehow managing to maintain an air of nonchalance.

"Tony!" Pepper called out, her voice sharp with worry. She reached him, her eyes scanning the damaged armor. "What were you thinking? Driving in the race? And then this... this madman with electric whips? Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"

Tony opened his mouth to respond, but Pepper wasn't finished. Tatsuya took a step back, giving them space while remaining close enough to intervene if needed.

"You could have been killed!" Pepper continued, her voice rising. "Do you ever stop to consider the consequences of your actions? The company, the people who depend on you... me?" Her voice cracked slightly on the last word, betraying the depth of her concern.

Tony's facade of indifference crumbled a bit. "Pepper, I'm fine. It's all under control."

"Under control?" Pepper scoffed. "Look at your suit, Tony. Look at the destruction around us. This is not 'under control.'"

Tatsuya observed the exchange silently, noting the underlying current of care beneath Pepper's anger. It was clear she wasn't just worried about the company or public image - her concern was deeply personal.

Tony sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly within the damaged armor. "I'm sorry, Pepper. I didn't mean to worry you."

Pepper's expression softened slightly, but the worry remained etched in her features. She reached out, her hand hovering over a particularly nasty gash in the armor's chest plate. "Are you hurt?"

"Nothing a little bodywork won't fix," Tony quipped, but Tatsuya could hear the weariness in his voice.

Pepper shook her head, a mix of exasperation and fondness in her eyes. Then, as if suddenly remembering they weren't alone, she turned to Tatsuya.

"Tatsuya," she said, her tone shifting from scolding to grateful. "Thank you for your help. I saw what you did out there, distracting that man. It was very brave."

Tatsuya nodded, feeling a bit uncomfortable under her earnest gaze. "Just doing my job, Ms. Potts."

"No," Pepper insisted, stepping closer to him. "You went above and beyond. You put yourself in danger to help Tony. I can't thank you enough for that."

Tatsuya felt a warmth spread through his chest at her words. It was a strange feeling - being thanked for his actions when he knew he was capable of so much more. If only they knew about Decade...

"It was nothing," Tatsuya said, trying to downplay his actions. "Mr. Stark did most of the work."

Pepper smiled, a knowing look in her eyes. "Don't sell yourself short, Tatsuya. We're lucky to have you on our team."

Tatsuya nodded, unsure how to respond. He was saved from having to say anything more as Happy Hogan approached, looking frazzled but relieved.

"Boss, we need to get you out of here," Happy said, eyeing the growing crowd of onlookers and press. "The police want a statement, but I think we should get you checked out first."

Tony nodded, his usual bravado seeming to return. "Right. Let's blow this popsicle stand. Pepper, can you handle the press?"

Pepper sighed but nodded. "I'll do damage control. But this conversation isn't over, Tony."

As they began to move away from the scene, Pepper turned to Tatsuya once more. "Thank you again, Tatsuya. Truly."

Tatsuya watched as Pepper moved towards the waiting reporters, her posture straightening as she prepared to face the media storm. He couldn't help but admire her resilience and dedication.

...

Tatsuya stood in the corner of the hotel suite, his eyes fixed on the large flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. The news footage played on repeat, showing the chaos that had unfolded at the Monaco Grand Prix. He watched as the attacker, now identified as Ivan Vanko, lashed out with his electrified whips, cutting cars in half and sending sparks flying across the track.

The camera zoomed in on Tony Stark, suited up as Iron Man, battling against Vanko. Tatsuya couldn't help but wince as he saw the whips slice through Tony's armor, leaving deep gouges in the red and gold metal. He remembered the intensity of the fight, the raw power of Vanko's weapons, and the determination in Tony's eyes as he refused to back down.

As the footage looped back to the beginning, Tatsuya's mind wandered to the implications of this attack. Vanko's technology was advanced, too advanced to be a coincidence. The Arc Reactor powering his whips was a clear sign that someone out there had access to Stark's closely guarded secrets.

Tatsuya's hand unconsciously moved to his pocket, where he kept his Decadriver. He had been tempted to transform during the fight, to unleash the full power of Kamen Rider Decade. But he had held back, knowing that revealing his true identity would complicate matters even further.

The sound of a door opening snapped Tatsuya out of his thoughts. He turned to see Tony entering the room, his face drawn and tired. The usual spark of mischief in his eyes was dimmed, replaced by a look of concern and something else... was it guilt?

Tony's gaze met Tatsuya's briefly before flicking to the TV screen. He watched the footage for a moment, his jaw clenching as he saw himself being thrown across the track by Vanko's whips.

"Turn it off," Tony said, his voice low and strained.

Tatsuya complied, grabbing the remote and switching off the TV. The room fell into an uneasy silence.

"How did it go?" Tatsuya asked, breaking the tension. "With Vanko, I mean."

Tony sank into a nearby armchair, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Not great," he admitted. "The guy's... he's not just some random nutjob. He knows things, Tatsuya. Things he shouldn't know."

Tatsuya nodded, his suspicions confirmed. "The Arc Reactor technology?"

"Yeah," Tony sighed. "He claims his father helped develop it. Says Howard Stark - my father - stole the idea and left his family with nothing."

Tatsuya processed this information, his mind racing with the implications. "Do you believe him?"

Tony shrugged, a gesture that looked more defeated than nonchalant. "I don't know what to believe anymore. But the fact is, he built a working Arc Reactor. That's not something just anyone can do."

Tatsuya watched as Tony leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. The weight of the situation seemed to be pressing down on him, making him look older and more vulnerable than Tatsuya had ever seen him.

"What's our next move?" Tatsuya asked, hoping to pull Tony out of his brooding.

Tony looked up, a flicker of his usual determination returning to his eyes. "We need to figure out how Vanko got his hands on this technology. And we need to make sure no one else can do the same."

Tatsuya nodded, ready to help in any way he could. But as he looked at Tony, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more going on here than met the eye. The sullen look on Tony's face spoke of a burden he wasn't sharing, a secret he was keeping close to his chest.