Marvel x Genshin: Mavuika, The Sun Goddess Rules Asgard — Chapter 173

Chapter 173: Public Provocation

Happy scrambled to his feet and hurried to the door. He pressed his eye to the peephole, and the vigilance etched on his face instantly melted away, replaced by a broad, relieved smile.

“It’s the boss! He’s here,” Happy announced, swinging the door open.

Standing on the threshold was Tony Stark, encased in the iconic crimson and gold of his Iron Man suit. He strode into the villa, each step heavy and deliberate. A fine layer of dust coated the armor’s surface, a clear sign that he had flown here at maximum speed, not wasting a single moment.

His expression was stone-serious, his eyes sharp and focused. A powerful, almost oppressive aura emanated from him—a stark contrast to his usual flamboyant and teasing demeanor. With a soft whir of mechanics, the armor retracted, folding away to reveal the immaculate black suit he wore underneath. He walked directly to Mavuika, his voice tight with a gratitude that felt heavier than his suit.

“Mavuika, thank you. If it weren’t for all of you, he would have been in real danger today.”

“You are welcome, Tony,” Mavuika replied with a gentle smile, her tone a soothing balm on the tense atmosphere.

Tony turned his head, his gaze falling upon Happy, and he gave his friend a thorough look-over, silently assessing him for any harm.

“Do you recognize the attacker?” Mavuika asked, her voice drawing his attention back.

Tony shook his head, a flicker of frustration crossing his features. “No. Happy sent me a photo, and I had Jarvis run it through every database we have. There’s no identity record, no fingerprint file, nothing that can be traced. It’s like the guy never existed.”

He turned to face Mavuika fully. “But there is one very strange thing: that man’s body could generate extreme heat and even self-destruct. That ability clearly isn’t innate; it feels like some kind of… technology. Or maybe a form of biotechnology.”

Thor, who had been listening intently from the sofa, stood and walked over to join them. “Are you saying someone used technology to create this kind of person?”

Tony nodded grimly. “Yes. And I doubt it’s just one or two. Judging by his physical characteristics, his abilities were remarkably stable, which means this technology is already mature. If someone is truly mass-producing these ‘super soldiers’…”

He didn’t need to finish the sentence. The chilling implication hung in the air.

Loki set his teacup down on its saucer with a faint click. A sharp, predatory light flashed in his emerald eyes. “Then this person’s goal is not just you alone.”

Tony shot him a sideways glance but said nothing.

The living room fell into a heavy silence for a few seconds.

Then, the large television screen on the wall suddenly blazed to life, hijacking the channel. An image flickered into view: a man seated on an ornate, throne-like chair. He was draped in a dark, flowing robe, and on his hands were ten massive rings, each one set with a different colored gemstone that seemed to drink the light. His face was adorned with strange tattoos, his beard was impeccably trimmed, and a cold, chilling smile was fixed on the corners of his mouth.

“The Mandarin,” the man announced, his voice a low, resonant baritone. That was how he referred to himself.

“People of the United States…” His voice was slow and deliberate, like a viper slithering through tall grass. “Greetings.”

Thor frowned, his eyes narrowed at the face on the screen. “Who is this guy?”

Tony didn’t answer. His gaze was locked on the television, his hands balling into fists at his sides so tightly his knuckles turned white.

The Mandarin continued, his tone dripping with condescension. “You live in a world full of lies and deception. Politicians tell you ‘all is well,’and the media tells you’there is no danger.’ But do you know the truth?”

He paused for dramatic effect, the smile on his lips deepening into a cruel sneer. “The truth is, you could die at any moment. In the supermarket, in the movie theater, in your own homes—whenever I wish it.”

He rose from his chair and stalked toward the camera, his face looming until it filled the entire screen. “Tony Stark. Iron Man.” He let out a soft, derisive chuckle. “You think you’re so great, don’t you? You think you can protect everyone?”

He laughed again, the sound cold and grating. “Then come and try. Let’s see if your armor can withstand my fire. Let’s see if your courage can save those who are about to die.”

He stepped back, spreading his arms wide in a grandiose gesture. “I am The Mandarin. I am the destroyer of this world. Tony Stark—if you have the guts, come and stop me.”

The image vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. The television returned to its normal programming, a local news anchor cheerfully reporting the weather, completely oblivious to the global threat that had just been broadcast.

Tony stood frozen, his eyes still glued to the now-innocuous screen. The expression on his face cycled rapidly from shock to white-hot anger, and finally settled into a mask of glacial coldness. A fire burned in his eyes, hotter than any repulsor blast.

“Jarvis,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, each word as sharp as a shard of glass.

“Sir, I am here.”

“Did you track that signal?”

Jarvis was silent for a beat. “The signal was routed through multiple encryptions and redirects, sir. The source cannot be located. However, based on signal characteristic analysis, this was a pre-recorded broadcast sent simultaneously via multiple satellites. Currently, at least three hundred television stations worldwide have received this video.”

Tony slammed his fist into the wall with a sharp crack.

Loki, still seated on the sofa, tapped his long fingers lightly on the armrest, his emerald eyes glinting with a thoughtful light. “Mr. Stark,” he began, his voice deceptively calm, “do you know this person?”

Tony took a deep, shuddering breath, visibly forcing himself to regain some measure of control. “No. I’ve never heard of any ‘Mandarin’.” He paused, his brow furrowing. “However… the pattern on his clothes, the symbol of his organization… it looks a bit familiar. Like something used by the people who kidnapped me…”

“Then his goal is very clear,” Loki stated, rising to his feet. He glided to the window, gazing out at the glittering nightscape of Malibu. “He is indeed your enemy, but this isn’t as simple as mere revenge. He wants to use you as a stepping stone to announce his existence to the entire world.”

He turned, a faint, knowing smile on his lips. “People like this do not fear failure. They fear being ignored.”

Tony’s brow furrowed deeper. “What are you trying to say?”

Loki’s smile widened, taking on the distinctly cunning edge of the God of Mischief. “He wants you to come find him, does he not? He hopes you will scour the globe, tracking his every move. He wants you to focus all of your considerable attention on him.” He let the words hang in the air. “So, why not reverse it?”

Tony stared at him, a spark of understanding igniting in his eyes.

“Let him come find you,” Loki finished.

The living room was silent for a second, the audaciousness of the idea sinking in.

Then, Tony’s eyes slowly lit up. “You mean…”

Loki nodded. “Make the address of this villa public. Stand right here and tell him—’I’m not going anywhere. If you have the guts, you come to me.'”

Thor slapped his thigh with a booming laugh. “A brilliant idea! Let them deliver themselves to our doorstep! It saves us the trouble of hunting them down!”

A slow smile spread across Tony’s face. It was a signature Tony Stark smile—a reckless, dangerous cocktail of adventure, madness, and a near-childlike excitement for the chaos to come.

“Your Highness Loki,” he said, his voice dripping with newfound admiration. “I’m starting to like you a little.”

Loki gave an elegant, theatrical bow. “The pleasure is all mine.”

Tony immediately spun to face the empty air of the living room. “Jarvis, did you hear that?”

“I heard, sir,” the AI’s voice replied, tinged with its programmed approximation of concern. “Are you certain you wish to make the villa’s address public? This could pose certain… security risks.”

Tony grinned. “Risks? Jarvis, you forgot one thing.”

“What is that, sir?”

“I’m never afraid of risks,” Tony declared, his voice ringing with defiance. “Only with risk comes reward.”