Obadiah struggled furiously in the Iron Monger suit, trying to break free of Tony's grip.

Tony quickly realized that, in terms of raw power, the Iron Monger had the upper hand. Close-quarters combat wasn't going to win this fight.

"Tony, drag him into the ocean!" Rowan shouted as he saw the two grappling mid-air.

Tony paused for just a second before glancing at the damage on Obadiah's neck and helmet. He immediately understood Rowan's plan.

Without hesitation, Tony pushed his suit to full power and hurled himself and Obadiah toward the distant sea.

"No!" Obadiah roared, pummeling Tony in an effort to shake him off.

But Tony's armor was constructed with Tier-3 Kroluminum alloy, with critical areas reinforced by Tier-4 plates. The Iron Monger simply couldn't penetrate it.

Obadiah's face contorted in rage. His helmet had already been damaged once they hit the water, it would flood instantly.

Crash!

A massive splash erupted as the two plunged into the ocean, disappearing into the depths.

Watching from afar, Rowan exhaled in relief.

Though Tony's arc reactor was nearly depleted, his suit remained intact and functional underwater. Obadiah, on the other hand, had no such luck. His damaged armor would soon be his coffin.

"Tony!" Pepper called out anxiously as she watched him vanish beneath the waves.

Rowan circled back.

"He's fine. His suit is undamaged he'll make it out," Rowan reassured her.

Pepper eased slightly at his words.

"Rowan, are you okay?" Maria Hill rushed over, quickly checking him for injuries.

Only after confirming he was unharmed did she relax. But even then, she stared at him, puzzled.

It was clear she wanted to ask how had he suddenly become so strong?

Uncomfortable under her gaze, Rowan offered a quick excuse. "Tony's still not out of danger. How about we talk later?"

Hill remembered how Rowan had saved her just moments earlier. Her expression softened immediately.

"All right."

She turned to the two agents beside her. "Edward, Rosen come with me to check for casualties."

"Yes, ma'am."

The three quickly headed off to assess the status of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s agents.

Rowan and Pepper walked toward the coastline.

Roughly five minutes later, a gold-and-red streak burst from the sea in a spray of mist it was Tony.

His suit sputtered and staggered as he crash-landed. His energy reserves were almost gone.

"Tony!" Pepper rushed forward and caught him as he stumbled.

Seeing her safe, Tony smiled.

"Rowan… I owe you for this one," he said sincerely.

"You're fine, that's what matters. I'll leave you two to your moment." Rowan grinned and backed away, waving a hand dismissively.

No need to play the third wheel.

As for Obadiah he hadn't surfaced in all this time. He was definitely finished.

By the time Rowan returned to the Stark Industrial Complex, it was already swarming with black-suited agents.

S.H.I.E.L.D. had sealed off the area.

Rowan didn't bother going inside. If Nick Fury saw him, he'd probably start with the questions and Rowan had no interest in explaining himself to the one-eyed spymaster.

He figured Maria Hill would return home eventually.

So, he grabbed a cab and headed back to his apartment in the S.H.I.E.L.D. complex.

Around midnight, Hill finally returned.

She was surprised to find Rowan had cooked dinner and was waiting for her.

After such a long, chaotic night, she was both exhausted and starving. She didn't hesitate to dig in.

When she finished eating, Hill looked at him seriously. "What happened back there?"

Rowan knew exactly what she was asking.

He wiped his mouth. "You mean, how I got stronger?"

Hill nodded.

"I'm a martial artist now," he said simply.

"Martial artist?" Hill blinked. The concept meant little to her.

"You could say I've taken on a very powerful mentor someone who taught me abilities far beyond what ordinary people can learn."

Hill's brows knit together. The more he explained, the less it made sense.

"I've just started, actually. I'll only get stronger from here."

"What? Just started?" she echoed, clearly shocked.

Based on what she saw during his fight with Obadiah, Rowan's physical strength and combat ability already rivaled that of Hawkeye or Black Widow.

If this was just the beginning what kind of power would he gain later?

Rowan smiled. "Eventually, I'll be able to break the sound barrier, or destroy a building with one punch."

He deliberately kept things modest. The truth was, reaching just the early "War God" level would allow feats like that and War God was merely the beginning for a true martial artist.

"My god…" Hill covered her mouth, stunned.

She knew Rowan wasn't joking.

He was her brother, and she could always tell when he was being serious. His eyes left no room for doubt.

"But… what about Director Fury?"

Hill's expression grew tense.

She knew Fury's style well. Upon learning Rowan had extraordinary powers, the director would absolutely seek to study or control him.

And she knew Rowan too. He'd never agree to be someone's lab rat.

Rowan chuckled. "I know what kind of man Fury is. If he tries to force me, I'll fight back."

Hill hesitated for only a second before making her decision.

"If Fury tries to pressure you I'll quit," she said firmly. "I'll leave S.H.I.E.L.D. with you."

Rowan smiled at her words.

That would make things simpler. If Hill stepped in, Fury might back off. If not then he'd take her and walk away.

Either way, he wasn't worried. He'd be growing stronger by the day, and S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't be able to stop him.

…

The night passed quietly.

The next morning, Hill left early for work. From the urgency in her expression, it was clear she planned to speak with Fury.

Rowan, meanwhile, returned to the Devourer Starfield world, continuing his training with monster meat to toughen his body now with a greater emphasis on speed.

That evening, Hill told him she'd disclosed a bit about his martial artist training to Fury. Surprisingly, Fury agreed not to interfere.

In the days that followed, Rowan noticed the director kept his distance. No interrogations, no surveillance.

That caught him off guard was Nick Fury actually turning over a new leaf?

What Rowan didn't know was that Fury was already secretly planning the Avengers Initiative.

The moment he saw Rowan overpower Captain America, Fury had flagged him as a top candidate.

Now, knowing Rowan was still growing stronger, Fury was more convinced than ever.

He intended to recruit him, not restrain him and that meant giving Rowan space and respect.

Rowan, unaware of this, simply enjoyed the peace and quiet.

He spent the next week focused solely on his training.

He was determined to become stronger. If he couldn't even take down Obadiah instantly, what kind of protagonist was he supposed to be?

Finally, a week later…

Rowan traveled to the central district of Yang City, using the subway system of the Devourer Starfield world.

Today, he would take the Martial Apprentice Qualification Exam.

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