MCU : Wish System

Chapter 17: Whiplash's Revenge and a Shocking Finale

The Hammer Drones were scrap, but the main event was far from over. Ivan Vanko, now in his fully upgraded, more menacing Whiplash armor, descended onto the Expo grounds, a whirlwind of crackling energy whips and cold vengeance. Tony and Rhodey, their suits battered, braced for the final showdown.

"Alright, Vanko. You want a fight? You got one. But it's going to be a funny fight. Because that's how I roll."

[DAILY WISH DAYS ACCUMULATION: +1]

Vanko lunged, his whips snapping with lethal precision. Tony dodged, barely.

"Too close, Stark. Let's give you a little… edge."

[WISH GRANTED: TONY STARK GAINS MOMENTARY SUPER-HUMAN REFLEXES FOR DODGING. COST: 100 WISH DAYS.]

Tony suddenly moved with impossible grace, a blur of red and gold, evading Vanko's whips by mere millimeters. He looked almost surprised by his own agility. Vanko roared in frustration, his whips lashing out wildly.

"Wildly, you say? Let's make that literal."

[WISH GRANTED: WHIPLASH'S WEAPONIZED WHIPS TEMPORARILY BECOME TANGLED LIKE A BUNDLE OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. COST: 150 WISH DAYS.]

Vanko's whips, mid-air, suddenly twisted and wrapped around each other, forming a glowing, crackling, utterly useless knot. He stared at them, bewildered, then shook them violently, like a frustrated child trying to untangle a slinky. "What is this?! They're… they're knotted!"

Adam snickered, earning a strange look from a nearby security guard who was trying to herd panicking civilians. "Just a little holiday cheer, Ivan. You're welcome."

The battle raged, Tony and Rhodey finally gaining the upper hand against the increasingly frustrated Vanko. Meanwhile, Pepper Potts, who had been trying to escape the chaos, found herself in a precarious position, a collapsing piece of the stage threatening to crush her. Happy Hogan, ever loyal, was frantically trying to reach her.

"Not on my watch, Pepper. You've got a CEO position to fill. And a billionaire to exasperate."

Adam focused, a powerful wish forming in his mind. He needed to ensure her safety, and Happy's success.

[DANGER DETECTED FOR HOST! INITIATING RANDOMIZED LIFE-SAVING PROTOCOL.]

Suddenly, a massive explosion rocked the ground near Adam. He felt himself flying through the air. "Oh, come on! Again with the 'funny saves' during the climax?!" He landed with a soft thud. He was surrounded by fluffy, colorful stuffed animals. He looked around. He was in the middle of a giant, overturned carnival game booth. He looked like a particularly disheveled prize.

[HOST SAVED! CURRENT STATUS: SAFELY NESTLED INSIDE A GIANT PILE OF FLUFFY STUFFED ANIMALS, LOOKING LIKE A CHILD'S DREAM. COST: 50 WISH DAYS.]

Adam pushed a giant, plush unicorn off his face. "Right. A child's dream. My nightmare. But I'm alive. So, thanks, I guess, System. You're a real pal."

He refocused. Happy, with an inexplicable burst of agility, managed to clear the debris and pull Pepper to safety. The final blow was delivered. Vanko, defeated, was captured. The Expo was over.

Later, Tony and Rhodey, battered but triumphant, were patching things up. Tony, ever the drama queen, was complaining about his suit. Rhodey, ever the pragmatist, was just glad they were alive.

"A little nudge for the bromance, I think."

Adam subtly influenced the conversation. Tony, instead of just grumbling, suddenly found himself saying, "You know, Rhodey, for a guy who just got his butt kicked by a Russian dude with electric whips, you actually looked pretty good out there. Like, really good. Almost as good as me."

Rhodey stared at him, then burst out laughing. "You are such a narcissist, Stark." But he clapped Tony on the shoulder, a genuine smile on his face.

Adam grinned. Mission accomplished. The world was safe. Tony and Rhodey were friends again. And he was covered in cotton candy and stuffed animal fluff. Just another day in the life.