Iron Man: Ultimate Upgrade

On the fifth day, Tony Stark's plans had progressed further than anyone could have imagined. By now, the Ten Rings had almost delivered all of the materials he requested, though he suspected they were a bit too eager. They thought they had him under control.

What they didn't know was that Tony had control of the situation. He had only played along for as long as he needed to. The missile was just a distraction. What Tony was about to create would change everything.

As the door to his makeshift prison opened, a small team of guards entered, carrying crates filled with steel, titanium, circuits, and wires—everything Tony needed for his next creation.

"Here are the materials you requested," one of the guards grunted, tossing the crates onto the floor. "Don't take too long. The missile better be ready soon."

Tony didn't respond. His focus was already on the materials, scanning them with his enhanced senses. His mind raced through the possibilities, calculating how he would combine the materials to create something far more powerful than the missile.

Yinsen, who had been quietly observing from a corner of the cave, frowned as he watched Tony. The man had become more than just a prisoner to him. Something was different—something about the way Tony moved, the way his body reacted to the energy in the room. Yinsen's eyes narrowed as Tony's hand shifted into liquid form, merging with the steel to form a new device.

"Tony," Yinsen whispered, approaching cautiously. "What… what are you doing?"

Tony glanced at him, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Just building a better future, Yinsen. And I need your help."

The older man stepped back, confusion growing. He had heard rumors of mutants, of people with strange powers—but this was different. This wasn't like anything he'd ever seen before. Yinsen couldn't help but think Tony was one of them, one of those mutants with extraordinary abilities.

But still, Yinsen hesitated. He had come to trust Tony, and if he was going to help him escape, he needed to assist in whatever Tony was doing. He nodded slowly. "What do you need from me?"

"Materials," Tony said simply, not looking up. "I need everything you can find—no questions."

Yinsen hesitated, then nodded. "I will help. I don't know what you're planning, but if you're not building a weapon, I'll do what I can."

---

Tony's mind was already working in overdrive. His body hummed with energy as he began the process of crafting his armor. The reactor inside him pulsed, feeding him the power he needed to accelerate the process. The Ten Rings might have underestimated him, but Tony had something they didn't: Upgrade.

His hand shifted, the liquid-like substance forming into a solid metal appendage. The steel and titanium began to merge seamlessly, forming a skeleton of armor that was far superior to the original Mark I suit. With the help of his Upgrade ability, he could manipulate the materials at the molecular level, blending them together as if they were nothing more than liquid. His body didn't just shape the material—it became the material.

Using his hands, which had now transformed into an intricate, metallic structure, Tony fused the steel into the core of the suit. The reactor inside his body fed more power into his system, amplifying his abilities. He could feel the energy flowing through him, his mind linking with the suit as it began to take form. His body was constantly adjusting, tweaking the system in real time.

In one fluid motion, the pieces clicked together—almost instantly. The suit's armor plates fit perfectly, and the jets for flight were seamlessly integrated.

Tony looked at the finished product. It wasn't the Mark I he had originally planned—it was the Mark II. He didn't have the materials for a higher version than this—otherwise, he might have built a Mark IV or V. But the Mark II was a formidable first step, an improvement over the initial design.

The armor had the classic features, but it was sleeker, more refined. The chest had the glowing arc reactor, but this time, it wasn't just a power source—it was his life source, his heart, and his weapon. The suit was light enough to allow for flight, and its energy efficiency had been optimized for longer-duration combat. The energy output, powered by the reactor inside him, was virtually limitless, but Tony had learned from the past that even the best technology had its limits.

---

Within five hours, the Mark II armor was fully operational. Tony moved in it with ease, testing the joint movements, the flight stabilization, and even the offensive capabilities. His body, merged with the armor, felt invincible.

Tony didn't just have the ability to fly. He had unlimited energy in his body, which allowed him to shoot high-powered lasers from his hands. The arc reactor now not only powered his regenerative abilities but also gave him the energy needed to sustain the suit. He didn't need to eat, sleep, or recharge the reactor. His body was the power source.

But Tony didn't just have the ability to fire lasers from the palms of his hands. He could also shoot lasers from his eyes without wearing any armor, which came from Upgrade's racial ability. It was a secret weapon, a trump card that he intended to keep hidden for now.

Yinsen watched in stunned silence as Tony tested the suit, his body transforming fluidly, merging with the armor. It was a sight that defied logic—something beyond human capability.

"Tony... What is this?" Yinsen finally asked, his voice filled with awe and fear.

Tony turned to him, his expression serious but calm. "This, Yinsen, is the future. This is my escape."

Yinsen stepped forward, cautiously. "You can't be serious. You can't just walk out of here like that. They won't let you."

"They don't need to know what I can do," Tony replied. "They never will. I'm not just building a suit. I'm building my freedom."

---

The leader of the Ten Rings, the one who had previously forced Tony into building the missile, entered the cave, flanked by guards. They stood still, staring at Tony, confused by the sudden silence.

"What is this, Stark?" the leader asked, his voice hard. "Where's the missile?"

Tony stood up, casually adjusting the gauntlets of his armor, the Mark II suit now fully functional. "Oh, it's almost ready... and so are your coffins."

The leader frowned, his eyes narrowing as he pointed toward Tony. "You think you can escape, Stark?"

Tony smiled, the full weight of the suit's power enhancing his confidence. "You really don't get it, do you? You have no idea what you're dealing with."

The leader raised an eyebrow. "Don't get cocky."

Tony leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "No, I think you don't get it. I'm not going anywhere until I'm ready. And when I am, I'm taking everything you've got with me."