Destroyer Through The Multiverse Ch 15

Tatsuya stood beside Happy, scanning the crowd as they exited the private jet. The Monaco sun beat down on them, a stark contrast to the cool interior of the aircraft. He adjusted his sunglasses, taking in the bustling airport and the sleek cars waiting to whisk them away.

Tony strutted down the steps, Pepper close behind. Tatsuya couldn't help but admire Tony's ability to command attention, even in a place as glamorous as Monaco. As they approached the waiting vehicles, Tatsuya fell into step beside Happy, both of them alert for any potential threats.

The drive to Hotel de Paris was a blur of winding roads and stunning coastal views. Tatsuya kept his eyes moving, noting potential escape routes and vantage points out of habit. He'd been on enough missions to know that even the most picturesque locations could harbor danger.

As they pulled up to the hotel, Tatsuya's ears were assaulted by a cacophony of screams and cheers. He blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback by the sheer volume of people crowded around the entrance. Fans pressed against barriers, cameras flashed, and reporters jostled for position.

"Quite the welcome committee," Tatsuya muttered to Happy as they exited the car.

Happy nodded, his face set in a serious expression. "Stay sharp. It only takes one nut in a crowd like this."

Tatsuya didn't need the reminder. He moved swiftly, positioning himself between Tony and the crowd. Pepper emerged from the car, looking slightly overwhelmed by the noise and energy surrounding them.

Tony, on the other hand, seemed to thrive on it. He waved to the crowd, flashing his trademark grin and throwing out a few quips that Tatsuya couldn't quite catch over the din. Despite himself, Tatsuya felt a grudging admiration for Tony's ability to work the crowd while still moving towards the hotel entrance.

As they made their way through the throng, Tatsuya kept his senses on high alert. His eyes darted from face to face in the crowd, looking for any sign of hostility or suspicious behavior. His hand stayed close to his concealed weapon, ready to act at a moment's notice.

They reached the hotel entrance, where uniformed staff waited to greet them. Tatsuya allowed himself a small sigh of relief as they stepped into the relative quiet of the lobby. The opulent interior was a stark contrast to the frenzy outside, all marble floors and crystal chandeliers.

Tatsuya hung back as Tony and Pepper were welcomed by the hotel manager, his eyes still scanning their surroundings. He noticed Happy doing the same, both of them acutely aware that their job didn't end at the hotel doors.

As they moved towards the elevators, Tatsuya couldn't shake a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach. Something about this trip felt off, though he couldn't put his finger on why. He made a mental note to stay extra vigilant, even as Tony chatted animatedly about the upcoming race.

They arrived on a floor filled with people with successful businesses, rich families, and reporters. All of them were dinning and making connections with each other. Tatsuya even saw Elon Musk. Tatsuya saw Natalie, and he still had his guard up with her. Apparently, Tony brought her as his secretary. Pepper did not expect this and grumbles a bit at Tony. Like in the Iron Man 2 movie

Tatsuya stepped out of the elevator, immediately assessing the crowded room. The air buzzed with conversation and the clink of champagne glasses. He recognized faces from magazine covers and news reports, a veritable who's who of the business and social elite.

His eyes landed on Elon Musk, engaged in animated conversation with a group of admirers. Tatsuya allowed himself a moment of curiosity before refocusing on his job. He scanned the room, noting exits and potential security risks.

A flash of red caught his attention. Natalie Rushman stood near the bar, her posture perfect as she surveyed the room. Tatsuya's eyes narrowed. He still didn't trust her, couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her than met the eye.

Tony sauntered into the room, Pepper at his side. Tatsuya watched as Tony made a beeline for Natalie, calling her over with a wave of his hand. Pepper's expression tightened, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face.

"I didn't realize you'd be bringing your... secretary," Pepper said, her voice low but sharp.

Tony shrugged, seemingly oblivious to Pepper's displeasure. "Thought it might be useful to have her here. You know, for... secretarial things."

Tatsuya moved closer, ostensibly to provide security but also to keep an ear on the conversation. He watched as Natalie effortlessly inserted herself into the group, her smile practiced and perfect.

Pepper's jaw clenched, but she maintained her composure. "Of course. How thoughtful of you, Tony."

Tatsuya couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for Pepper. He'd seen enough of Tony's behavior to understand her frustration. Still, he kept his face neutral, his eyes constantly moving, always alert.

As Tony began to work the room, shaking hands and cracking jokes, Tatsuya fell into step behind him. He kept one eye on Tony and another on Natalie, who seemed to anticipate Tony's needs before he even voiced them.

The crowd pressed in, eager to get close to the famous Tony Stark. Tatsuya tensed, hyper-aware of every movement around them. He noticed Happy doing the same on the other side of the room.

Tatsuya was relaxing, drinking a bit of alcohol. A little bit of a drink won't hurt him while he is on the job. He saw Tony going to the bathroom. Most likely to escape talking to Justin Hammer. Tatsuya let Tony be. He was watching for the race to start on the TV. When he suddenly saw Tony getting into a Formula 1 car to join the race. Pepper asked Natalie if she knew this, but she also did not know.

Tatsuya leaned against the bar, nursing a glass of whiskey. The amber liquid swirled as he lifted it to his lips, savoring the burn. He knew he shouldn't drink on the job, but one wouldn't hurt. His eyes scanned the room, ever vigilant despite the relaxed atmosphere.

He watched as Tony made his way to the bathroom, no doubt escaping another tedious conversation with Justin Hammer. Tatsuya smirked. He couldn't blame Tony for wanting a break from Hammer's incessant chatter.

The TV above the bar flickered with pre-race coverage. Tatsuya's attention drifted to the screen, curious about the upcoming event. The commentators' voices blended with the hum of conversation around him.

Suddenly, something on the screen caught his eye. Tatsuya blinked, sure he must be seeing things. But no, there was Tony Stark, climbing into a Formula 1 car. Tatsuya straightened, his drink forgotten.

"What the hell?" he muttered, moving closer to the TV.

Across the room, he saw Pepper's face contort with shock and anger. She turned to Natalie, gesticulating wildly. Tatsuya couldn't hear their words, but Natalie's surprised expression told him all he needed to know. This wasn't part of the plan.

Tatsuya set his glass down, all thoughts of relaxation evaporating. He moved swiftly through the crowd, making his way towards Pepper and Natalie. As he approached, he caught the tail end of their conversation.

"—you didn't know about this?" Pepper was saying, her voice tight with barely contained fury.

Natalie shook her head, looking genuinely taken aback. "No, Ms. Potts. I had no idea Mr. Stark was planning this."

Tatsuya reached them, his face set in a grim expression. "What's going on?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

Pepper turned to him, her eyes blazing. "Tony's decided to drive in the race. Without telling anyone."

Tatsuya nodded, his mind already racing through potential scenarios. This was exactly the kind of impulsive behavior he'd come to expect from Tony, but it didn't make it any less dangerous.

"What do we do?" Natalie asked, looking between Pepper and Tatsuya.

Pepper looked confused and did not know what to do. They continue to watch the race on TV. Pepper is worried about Tony risking his life like this. A lap passed, and a man wearing one of the pit stoppers clothes walked down the track (Whiplash). He had a device strapped to his chest, and it connected to his arms like an exoskeleton. He had metallic whips covered with electricity, and he started attacking the Formula 1 cars, splitting them in half. Pepper told Tatsuya to get Tony's briefcase, and they both rushed to the car, where Happy was waiting for them. They drove to the track to get Tony.

Tatsuya's mind raced, assessing the situation. He watched Pepper's face contort with worry and indecision. The TV screen flickered with images of the race, Tony's car zipping around the track. Tatsuya felt a knot forming in his stomach. This was exactly the kind of reckless behavior he'd come to expect from Tony, but it didn't make it any less dangerous.

"We need to get down there," Tatsuya said, his voice low and urgent. But before they could move, the atmosphere in the room shifted. A collective gasp rose from the crowd gathered around the TV.

Tatsuya's eyes snapped back to the screen. His blood ran cold at what he saw. A man, dressed in pit crew attire, had appeared on the track. But this was no ordinary crew member. Strapped to his chest was a device that looked like a crude version of Tony's arc reactor. Metallic whips, crackling with electricity, extended from his arms.

Time seemed to slow as Tatsuya watched the man lash out at the oncoming cars. The whips sliced through metal like it was paper, splitting Formula 1 cars in half. Chaos erupted on the track, cars swerving and crashing as they tried to avoid the attacker.

Pepper's gasp snapped Tatsuya back to reality. "Oh my God," she whispered, her face pale. "Tony..."

Tatsuya's training kicked in. He grabbed Pepper's arm, pulling her attention away from the horrifying scene on the TV. "Ms. Potts," he said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. "We need to move. Now."

Pepper blinked, then nodded, her eyes clearing as she focused. "The briefcase," she said suddenly. "We need to get Tony's briefcase."

Tatsuya didn't need to ask what was in the briefcase. He'd seen Tony working on it, knew it contained some kind of portable suit. He nodded sharply. "Where is it?"

"In the car," Pepper said, already moving towards the exit. Tatsuya fell into step beside her, his eyes scanning the room for any potential threats. The crowd around them was in an uproar, people shouting and pointing at the TV screens.

They burst out of the hotel into the bright Monaco sun. Happy was already there, standing by the car, his face a mask of concern. "What's going on?" he asked as they approached.

"No time to explain," Tatsuya said, yanking open the car door. "We need to get to the track. Now."

Happy didn't hesitate. He jumped into the driver's seat as Tatsuya and Pepper piled into the back. The engine roared to life, and they peeled away from the curb, tires screeching.

As they sped through the streets of Monaco, Tatsuya's mind was working overtime. Who was this attacker? How had he gotten onto the track? And most importantly, how were they going to stop him?

He glanced at Pepper, who was clutching Tony's briefcase to her chest like a lifeline. Her face was set in determination, but Tatsuya could see the fear in her eyes. He understood. Tony might be Iron Man, but right now, he was just a man in a very fast, very fragile car.

The car swerved around a corner, and suddenly the racetrack was in view. Even from a distance, Tatsuya could see the destruction. Smoke rose from wrecked cars, and he could hear the screams of panicked spectators.

As they drew closer, Tatsuya's hand moved to his side, where his Decadriver was hidden. He might need to become Decade soon, but for now, his priority was getting Tony that briefcase.

Happy slammed on the brakes as they reached the edge of the track. Tatsuya was out of the car before it had fully stopped, his eyes scanning the chaos for any sign of Tony or the attacker.

"There!" Pepper shouted, pointing down the track.

Tatsuya saw him then. Tony, on foot, dodging the electrified whips as the attacker advanced. Without a second thought, Tatsuya grabbed the briefcase from Pepper and started running.

The man (Ivan) was about to lash at Tony again, but Tatsuya kicked the man from behind, getting his attention. Tatsuya passed the briefcase to Tony. The man attacks Tatsuya but he manages to dodge the whips in style. Tony put on the Iron Man armor in the briefcase.

Tatsuya's heart pounded as he sprinted down the track, the briefcase clutched tightly in his hand. The acrid smell of burning rubber and fuel filled his nostrils, and the screams of panicked spectators echoed in his ears. But his focus remained laser-sharp on Tony and the attacker ahead.

As he closed the distance, Tatsuya saw the man raise his electrified whips once more, ready to strike Tony down. Without hesitation, Tatsuya lunged forward, using his momentum to deliver a powerful kick to the attacker's back.

The man stumbled forward, caught off guard by the sudden assault. His whips crackled harmlessly through the air, missing Tony by mere inches. Tatsuya used the moment of confusion to his advantage, quickly tossing the briefcase to Tony.

"Stark! Catch!" he shouted, watching with relief as Tony's hands closed around the case.

The attacker, now aware of Tatsuya's presence, spun around with a snarl. His eyes, wild with rage, locked onto Tatsuya. The whips hummed with deadly energy as he lashed out.

Tatsuya's body moved instinctively, years of training kicking in. He ducked under the first whip, feeling the heat of the electricity as it passed over his head. The second whip came in low, aiming for his legs. With a graceful leap, Tatsuya avoided it, landing in a crouch a few feet away.

The man growled in frustration, his attacks becoming more frenzied. Tatsuya weaved and dodged, his movements fluid and precise. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, sharpening his senses and quickening his reflexes.

As he evaded another strike, Tatsuya caught a glimpse of Tony out of the corner of his eye. The briefcase had unfolded, revealing the compact Iron Man suit within. Pieces of red and silver armor were already attaching themselves to Tony's body, forming a protective shell around him.

Tatsuya allowed himself a small smirk. His part of the plan had worked. Now, he just needed to keep the attacker distracted long enough for Tony to fully suit up.

The man seemed to realize what was happening. With a roar of anger, he turned back towards Tony, his whips raised for a devastating blow. But Tatsuya was faster. He darted forward, placing himself between the attacker and Tony.

"Hey!" Tatsuya shouted, drawing the man's attention back to him. "I'm not done with you yet."

The attacker's eyes narrowed, focusing once more on Tatsuya. He lashed out again, his whips cutting through the air with lethal precision. Tatsuya dodged once more, but this time he could feel the heat of the electricity singeing the sleeve of his jacket.

Behind him, Tatsuya heard the familiar whir of Tony's suit powering up. He risked a quick glance over his shoulder and saw Iron Man standing there, fully armored and ready for battle.