One of the militants cocked his rifle, stepping forward to finish the job.
Liam didn't hesitate. He darted beside Yinsen, his hand shooting to his belt. With a flick of his wrist, the A-Wall disk flew across the room, skittering to a halt between Yinsen and the gunmen.
A burst of blue light erupted as the A-Wall activated, the shimmering particle shield splitting the room. The militants shouted in confusion, their bullets ricocheting harmlessly off the barrier. Liam, now fully visible, stepped into the room, his weapon raised.
"Get down!" Liam barked at Yinsen.
Yinsen didn't need to be told twice. He hit the ground as Liam opened fire, each shot amplified by the A-Wall's energy field. The militants had no chance—their return fire was futile, their bodies falling one by one under Liam's precise aim.
The last man standing dropped his weapon and turned to run, but Liam was faster. He Phase Shifted, his body disappearing into another dimension for a split second, only to reappear directly in front of the fleeing militant. A quick strike with the Pulse Blade ended the threat.
Breathing heavily, Liam turned to Yinsen, who was staring at him in a mix of shock and awe.
But Liam's small respite was short-lived as he felt a wave of heat strike his face, forcing him to dodge and sidestep. Liam spun around, furious, only to see a huge armored man standing to the side, pointing a metal-covered hand at him. Under the arm was a nozzle that had just tried to incinerate him.
"Tony, no! This person saved my life. Don't attack him!"
Yes, it was the famous Tony Stark—the Tony Stark who had just built a suit while in a cave.
"Eh... I'm sorry. I noticed colors and thought it was some Mario Party, so I took action. Hope you're not hurt," Tony said, his voice laced with a bit of guilt and hoarseness.
"Use better visors next time, Stark," Liam snapped, annoyed that he had almost been scorched. Thanks to his training, his senses were honed; otherwise, it would've been a different story altogether.
"Did the military send you? They're a bit late. Tell them I don't owe them any money for saving me since I'm saving myself here." Tony tried to steer the awkward conversation away. Now in better light, he could see Liam's suit more clearly.
He also noticed the shield shimmering on the side.
"I'm not here for you, Stark. But since you've got quite an armor, why don't you lead the way while we follow behind you? You're bulletproof, aren't you?" Liam asked.
"Yes, that'll be my pleasure," Tony replied, seeing they couldn't linger here. Not until they were in a safe place. Tony didn't disappoint. He took the lead while Liam followed behind, with Yinsen at the rear. Now that Yinsen had been saved, he didn't need to give his life away.
As Tony led the way, stray militants occasionally attacked. Liam dealt with them, staying in Tony's shadow for cover. Tony noticed the corpses littering the ground, amazed by the man who had appeared out of nowhere.
Liam's suit looked futuristic, but Tony was certain Stark Industries had never created such a thing. He knew the military's capabilities and research, and exosuits were definitely not their forte.
And then there was that shield Liam had used. Tony had caught a glimpse of its effectiveness and knew it was high-tech. Questions swirled in his mind, but answers would have to wait. He led them to the cave's exit, only to be met with a barrage of gunfire. Machine guns rattled, and bullets ricocheted wildly.
Of course, Liam had already warned Tony about this, staying much farther back. Yinsen shook as the gunfire echoed, flinching every time a bullet struck Tony's suit.
"Don't you think we should help him?" Yinsen asked, seeing Liam remain calm.
"Believe in Tony. Weren't you ready to give your life in your belief in him?" Liam replied.
"I didn't mean to... I..." Yinsen stammered.
"You don't have to explain anything, Yinsen. We all choose our own path," Liam said.
"You know me?" Yinsen asked, confused.
Before Liam could answer, Tony returned, his strides loud and confident.
"I've sent them their New Year's gift. We can leave this hellhole now," Tony announced.
As they emerged, the aftermath was clear. Tony had torched the entire place with his flamethrower. Guns and missile heads burned under rubble.
There were supposed to be more people, but Liam had killed many in the tunnels. Bodies lay charred beyond recognition, and the fire still raged, but the three of them made it out alive.
"After this, I need to find a cold place to rest my body," Yinsen muttered, trying to break the silence. Though these militants deserved death, they were still people. Living beings. It was the first time for both Tony and Liam.
Yinsen's words brought them back to reality. They found a shaded area and sat down to rest.
"Can we know who you are? If it conflicts with military protocol, forget I asked. But thank you for saving me, regardless," Tony asked, his curiosity evident.
"I never said I'm with the military, Stark," Liam replied, removing his suit. Yinsen and even Tony stared in awe as Liam's suit disengaged in a second, revealing a teenager clad in a sleek bodysuit that accentuated his well-built figure.
"And I never said I came here to save you. My name is Liam Woodworth, from NY. You can look up my credentials once you're back, but I'd like to keep my identity secret. I hope you both will honor that."
"Didn't come to save me? Then why are you here? And are you a teenager? Did I get saved by a teenager?" Stark asked.
"Yes I am a teenager but that didn't stop you from passing MIT, did it? So stop being on the high horse. The military will be here soon as we have just blasted their hideout." Liam said. This shut Tony up.