Pepper Potts' capture — Mo already had a rough idea of how it happened.
In the original story, she had taken it upon herself to investigate Obadiah. She was almost caught while downloading evidence and only barely escaped. However, Mo's arrival had altered the plot and timeline. Originally, Stark was supposed to stay in Afghanistan for over a month, but Mo had brought him back within just a few days — likely triggering a butterfly effect.
Although Stark didn't build the Mark I suit in the cave this time, the moment the miniature arc reactor was invented, it undoubtedly sparked some vague ideas in the genius's mind.
Mo figured that after Stark returned to New York, he immediately locked himself in the lab to start working on the Iron Man suit.
Maybe it was just to show off, or maybe he hadn't even considered that his uncle, Obadiah, would betray him. In any case, Stark accidentally leaked the design concept of the armor. Once Obadiah saw it, he was instantly tempted and secretly began building the Iron Monger armor.
However, when he reached the critical stage, he got stuck. The miniature arc reactor's production was far too complex for him to replicate.
Then came the coincidence of Pepper Potts investigating him. Obadiah, enraged, likely just captured her outright. Since his conspiracy was about to be exposed anyway, he decided to just make it an open threat — directly forcing Stark to hand over the arc reactor.
Obadiah said he'd trade Pepper for the arc reactor, but honestly, was that even a real deal?
Stark knew what Obadiah was really planning — most likely to kill both him and Pepper to eliminate all evidence and also seize the reactor in one move. Efficient, wasn't it?
Even knowing this, Stark still had to go — after all, he was a hero. Sarcastic on the outside, but extremely kind inside. However, going alone was basically suicide. That's why he suddenly thought of Mo, the mage. Science couldn't save him now, but maybe magic could.
Inside the seaside villa, Stark was pacing like an ant on a hot pan.
"What do we do now? Should I just take you there? You could use magic to deal with Obadiah directly..."
Mo pointed to Nick Fury beside him and said,
"You see this guy? This Motherf*ing Man here just explained to me: magic isn't omnipotent."**
"Huh?" Stark was stunned.
"Can you not hold grudges at a time like this?" Fury said. "Saving lives is more important right now."
"I'm serious though," Mo shrugged.
"People usually don't believe in magic, but considering how easily Tony escaped from the terrorists, don't you think Obadiah would be on guard? I don't really care — no matter how strong Obadiah is, is he stronger than the Abomination? Even that guy was smashed into meat paste by me. You think I'd fear Obadiah?"
He paused, then continued,
"What I mean is, I'm good at fighting, but not so great at protecting people. So I need to think about how to save Miss Potts — especially since it's rare for a playboy like Stark to genuinely care for someone..."
"Hold it right there," Stark quickly interrupted.
"Pepper is just my personal assistant, my employee! I just think she's very capable — we're not in that kind of relationship."
"Oh? A very capable relationship?" Mo smiled.
"I see, I see — so you mean, when you have something to do, you have her do it; when you don't, you have her do..."
"No! Can you stop making things difficult?" Stark was on the verge of breaking down.
"I'm not that playboy anymore! We need to focus on saving her! Can you understand how urgent this is?"
"I'm already thinking of a solution," Mo replied.
"This time's different. We can't just charge in headfirst — too risky. I'll open a loot box first... Oh, and do you have any food here?"
"Food? What for?" Stark asked, confused.
"Are you saying you need a full meal before saving someone?"
"Do you know how much electricity the Iron Man suit consumes?" Mo asked suddenly.
"Of course I do!" Stark replied.
"Otherwise, why would Obadiah threaten me for the reactor? The armor isn't too hard to build — the problem is the power supply..."
"The armor uses electricity. Now guess what magic consumes?" Mo countered.
Fury added,
"He just helped the military fix a massive experimental disaster. Trust me, it was extremely complicated."
"...Jarvis, get the cheeseburger from the fridge," Stark sighed.
"And a cola!" Mo chimed in.
Soon, a robotic arm brought over a tray.
"Your cheeseburger and ice-cold cola, sir."
"I like this AI," Mo said, grabbing the burger and eating heartily.
Meanwhile, Steve's hunger bar — his Stand — also quickly filled up.
Previously, when defeating the Abomination, Mo had loaded a new module — the Mutant Creatures mod — and obtained a Lucky Block. He hadn't had time to open it until now.
With a thought, Steve used the Lucky Block.
The next second, a pure white pouch appeared in the inventory.
"Emmm..." Mo recognized the item immediately.
It was from the Equivalent Exchange mod — an Alchemical Bag.
However, it wasn't particularly useful — just a portable storage space, like a fantasy spatial ring or magic pouch.
If he had drawn the Transmutation Table, he would've laughed himself to death on the spot. Sadly, that thing was like an SSR in a gacha game — extremely rare.
"What's wrong?" Stark saw Mo's expression and quickly asked.
"Minor issue," Mo facepalmed.
"Failed the card draw, but it's fine, I have a second plan."
"Bro — I'm calling you bro now," Stark pleaded.
"Time is running out! Obadiah gave me half an hour — now only three minutes left!"
"Since my luck is terrible today and the gacha plan failed," Mo stroked his chin,
"Let's move to Plan B: we'll go there, you confront Obadiah head-on, and I'll act when I get the chance..."
"After all this discussion, we're still going for a head-on clash?" Nick Fury muttered.
"Shut up, you shameless old thief!" Mo snapped.
"My bad luck today is clearly because of you. Your dark aura contaminated my luck. How dare you talk back!?"
"You—" Fury started to retort.
"Alright, alright, I don't care about your grudges," Stark interrupted, opening the skylight.
"Saving her is priority! There's almost no time left! I'm heading over first — catch up!"
"Wait—" Before Mo could stop him, Stark ignited his suit and shot off into the sky.
"Is he that desperate to get himself killed?" Mo muttered, turning to Fury.
Fury gave him a silent look.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Mo asked.
"I don't dare argue here," Fury replied dryly.
"..." Mo was speechless, but quickly pulled himself together.
"Alright, enough nonsense. Let's hurry and save her — oh, and grab the prototype reactor too."
"Prototype?" Fury asked.
"The one Tony built in that Afghan cave," Mo explained.
"It's probably just a crude prototype, and Tony must've built a better one after returning. Obadiah is threatening him for a reactor — if Tony gives him the good one, he's doomed. We need that prototype."
"But where is it?"
"No idea, but Jarvis should know." Mo turned and called,
"Jarvis, can you hear me?"
"It's in the cabinet to your left," Jarvis responded instantly.
"OJβK." Mo snapped his fingers, smashed the glass case, and grabbed the first-generation arc reactor — which looked like a commemorative plaque.
"Let's go," he said to Fury.
On the way, Fury contacted his agents to help locate Pepper, just in case she wasn't at the expected location.
Meanwhile, flying ahead, Stark had already reached the lab inside Stark Industries — the location Obadiah had specified.
Obadiah smiled when he saw him.
"Tony, you really came."
"Where's Pepper?" Tony ignored him, frantically looking around.
"Hehehe, she's fine — for now." Obadiah pressed a button.
"You're too weak, Tony. You and your armor are both pathetic."
He stepped forward with a smug grin.
"Now, let me show you what true power looks like."
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