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Chapter 47: Departure, Atlantic City
The Old Bartender went to dispose of the bodies. Tony, meanwhile, circled the two vehicles, touching the new weapons and alloys, feeling incredibly pleased. The weapons were decent; whether silver bullets or UV grenades, they were specifically designed to combat Vampires. However, their effectiveness would be diminished against other enemies.
Silver bullets, in particular, were ridiculously expensive. Using them against Vampires was, frankly, just throwing money away. Ammunition wasn't easily recoverable either, and an ordinary person would go bankrupt after firing just a few magazines.
Many Vampire Hunters would fight Vampires while simultaneously looting their wealth, collecting watches, necklaces, and other valuables to sell. After accumulating a batch of silver weapons, they would continue hunting Vampires.
Killing Vampires was truly impossible without money; it was a path of relentless spending from which there was no return. The more one spent, the higher their kill efficiency and rewards would be.
Even though humanity wasn't in open warfare with Vampires, a large number of active Vampire Hunters were fearless, dedicated to causing trouble for Vampires for various reasons: some held grudges, some sought to rid humanity of a menace, and some simply wanted to get rich... They were a ruthless bunch who lived with their lives on the line, and many Vampire Hunters also had close ties with The Authorities.
Tony was also about to embark on this path: killing Vampires, stealing money, and lots of it at that. He would seize as much as possible. He intended to recruit some reliable helpers, definitely not unreliable types like the Old Bartender.
The Old Bartender hugged a box of silver bullets, practically drooling. He mumbled, stubbornly refusing to let go: "Mine, all mine. I've never seen so much money. Every bullet is money! What a waste to use them as bullets; they'd be best used to buy good wine."
Tony kicked him. This old fox, saying one thing but thinking another, might very well hold onto this box of bullets and look for an opportunity to fight Vampires to the death. The old man was too sly; half a lifetime of running and hiding had made him suspicious and distrustful. He trusted no one. Even though Tony had saved him, he wouldn't completely trust Tony.
He had lived a bitter and miserable life for many years. He had trusted many, and been betrayed by many he trusted. Suspicious, he had decided to only trust himself.
Tony no longer paid attention to him. What he valued more was the batch of Titanium Alloy; it was far more important to him. This batch of Titanium Alloy was of excellent quality; its hardness rating of BT-22 was remarkably impressive.
In terms of hardness alone, Titanium Alloy wasn't the best choice, but its most outstanding feature was its high strength, which many other alloys struggled to achieve. It was far superior to alloys like tungsten steel or titanium steel.
Hardness refers to the property of resisting permanent deformation, while strength is the ability to resist permanent deformation and fracture under external force. Stark's Mark 1 and Mark 2 Armors used Titanium Alloy as their outer shells. It wasn't until the Mark 3 that the wealthy Stark abandoned Titanium Alloy, opting instead for the Gold-Titanium Alloy developed by Stark Industries, which offered a significant leap in both strength and hardness.
Even the highest quality sports cars, when colliding, would suffer damage or deformation to their metal parts. Yet, Stark's Gold-Titanium Alloy Armor could endure extensive smashing and bombing while maintaining its general form, showing just how formidable this Gold-Titanium Alloy was.
Tony summoned Optimus Prime. The Allspark pulsed continuously, pouring vast amounts of energy into the batch of Titanium Alloy. Optimus Prime picked up the box, and chunks of Titanium Alloy metal were poured onto him.
Tony closed his eyes. One Titanium Alloy piece after another was infused, each molecular structure enveloped and covered by the mysterious Allspark Energy. This was also why Tony could control Transformers to consume metal.
He could imbue a Transformer with high-level metal, but unfortunately, he couldn't directly transform a pile of metal into a Transformer. A fundamental prerequisite for successful transformation was possessing a relatively complete energy circuit. He could transform a mobile phone into a Transformer, but he couldn't transform a phone case.
After more than an hour, Tony finally opened his eyes, controlling Optimus Prime to pick up one Titanium Alloy block after another. Optimus Prime's arms combined and shifted with a *kaka* sound, continuously consuming the Titanium Alloy, making it part of his body.
The motorcycle Arcee was also controlled by Tony, beginning to consume Titanium Alloy.
Immediately after, once the two of them had consumed most of it, Tony began controlling other Transformers to consume the alloy. He prioritized enhancing Optimus Prime's and Arcee's combat power. He needed one or two trump cards in his hand, whether for eliminating enemies or preserving his life. Instead of distributing this batch of alloy evenly, it was better to use most of it to strengthen these two Transformers.
His Allspark pulsed continuously, flickering between bright and dim. After the Transformers had consumed the Titanium Alloy with the continuous Allspark Energy, Tony began to modify the two vehicles. Where the Allspark swept, several hidden cameras were found.
Tony scoffed. "Who installed them? Nick Fury? Hydra? Or some nation?" It was useless; before his Allspark, all electronic devices had nowhere to hide. Another hour passed, and two new Transformers rose from the ground, then were immediately consumed by other Transformers, growing continuously stronger.
His Allspark couldn't control Transformers limitlessly; he could only strive for perfection, ultimately keeping the number controlled at five.
The Old Bartender sat nearby, chin propped, watching silently. Only when Tony was finished did he ask, "You're going to kill Vampires? How confident are you? With all due respect, you claim to be Level Four, but you haven't really shown the true abilities of a Level Four Mutant. I don't know how powerful Magneto and his kind are, but I think they should be much stronger than you are now."
Tony said calmly, "In matters of war, who dares to claim absolute certainty? There are too many instances of unexpected setbacks. What's more, we also have allies. The Vampire Hunters and S.H.I.E.L.D., who are secretly watching, will also fuel the flames."
He selectively answered some questions, avoiding the issue of his strength. There was no need to answer, as he was already very strong.
It was true that he was born Level Four, but his level didn't represent his specific combat power. Jean Grey was Level Five, and unless it was a life-or-death situation, her usual strength was just average. Not to mention that the Allspark's wounds hadn't fully recovered; even at his current level, he couldn't say for sure about a young Professor X—after all, psychic power was hard to guard against—but he could absolutely crush a twenty- or thirty-year-old Magneto.
Magneto had his Magnetic Manipulation Awakening in a concentration camp when he was a teenager, discovered by the officer Shaw. So, Shaw killed Magneto's mother in front of him, just to further stimulate Magneto's abilities. But years later, when Magneto sought out Shaw, the terrorist leader at the time, to avenge his mother's murder, he struggled desperately just to barely turn a large radar dish half a circle.
The current Tony against Magneto at that time would simply be a crushing victory.
Not to mention that the Allspark was slowly but steadily enhancing his life essence. In terms of strength alone, he was already approaching the five-hundred-kilogram mark, which was astonishing for a control-type Mutant. The Allspark's enhancement to him was comprehensive; aside from the unknown aspects of his spirit and soul, this evolution was already terrifying enough.
Sometimes Tony would also think that it was a blessing that he wasn't as formidable as the current apex powerhouses. This gave him enough room to continuously familiarize himself with and control his abilities, lest he lose control and his sense of self, like Jean Grey.
"Let's go, old man. Bring up the silver bullets and grenades. I know you want to come." Tony sat in Optimus Prime's driver's seat. "We're going to New Jersey, to Atlantic City, to kick in that bastard Deacon's lair!"
(end of chapter)
The Old Bartender went to dispose of the bodies. Tony, meanwhile, circled the two vehicles, touching the new weapons and alloys, feeling incredibly pleased. The weapons were decent; whether silver bullets or UV grenades, they were specifically designed to combat Vampires. However, their effectiveness would be diminished against other enemies.
Silver bullets, in particular, were ridiculously expensive. Using them against Vampires was, frankly, just throwing money away. Ammunition wasn't easily recoverable either, and an ordinary person would go bankrupt after firing just a few magazines.
Many Vampire Hunters would fight Vampires while simultaneously looting their wealth, collecting watches, necklaces, and other valuables to sell. After accumulating a batch of silver weapons, they would continue hunting Vampires.
Killing Vampires was truly impossible without money; it was a path of relentless spending from which there was no return. The more one spent, the higher their kill efficiency and rewards would be.
Even though humanity wasn't in open warfare with Vampires, a large number of active Vampire Hunters were fearless, dedicated to causing trouble for Vampires for various reasons: some held grudges, some sought to rid humanity of a menace, and some simply wanted to get rich... They were a ruthless bunch who lived with their lives on the line, and many Vampire Hunters also had close ties with The Authorities.
Tony was also about to embark on this path: killing Vampires, stealing money, and lots of it at that. He would seize as much as possible. He intended to recruit some reliable helpers, definitely not unreliable types like the Old Bartender.
The Old Bartender hugged a box of silver bullets, practically drooling. He mumbled, stubbornly refusing to let go: "Mine, all mine. I've never seen so much money. Every bullet is money! What a waste to use them as bullets; they'd be best used to buy good wine."
Tony kicked him. This old fox, saying one thing but thinking another, might very well hold onto this box of bullets and look for an opportunity to fight Vampires to the death. The old man was too sly; half a lifetime of running and hiding had made him suspicious and distrustful. He trusted no one. Even though Tony had saved him, he wouldn't completely trust Tony.
He had lived a bitter and miserable life for many years. He had trusted many, and been betrayed by many he trusted. Suspicious, he had decided to only trust himself.
Tony no longer paid attention to him. What he valued more was the batch of Titanium Alloy; it was far more important to him. This batch of Titanium Alloy was of excellent quality; its hardness rating of BT-22 was remarkably impressive.
In terms of hardness alone, Titanium Alloy wasn't the best choice, but its most outstanding feature was its high strength, which many other alloys struggled to achieve. It was far superior to alloys like tungsten steel or titanium steel.
Hardness refers to the property of resisting permanent deformation, while strength is the ability to resist permanent deformation and fracture under external force. Stark's Mark 1 and Mark 2 Armors used Titanium Alloy as their outer shells. It wasn't until the Mark 3 that the wealthy Stark abandoned Titanium Alloy, opting instead for the Gold-Titanium Alloy developed by Stark Industries, which offered a significant leap in both strength and hardness.
Even the highest quality sports cars, when colliding, would suffer damage or deformation to their metal parts. Yet, Stark's Gold-Titanium Alloy Armor could endure extensive smashing and bombing while maintaining its general form, showing just how formidable this Gold-Titanium Alloy was.
Tony summoned Optimus Prime. The Allspark pulsed continuously, pouring vast amounts of energy into the batch of Titanium Alloy. Optimus Prime picked up the box, and chunks of Titanium Alloy metal were poured onto him.
Tony closed his eyes. One Titanium Alloy piece after another was infused, each molecular structure enveloped and covered by the mysterious Allspark Energy. This was also why Tony could control Transformers to consume metal.
He could imbue a Transformer with high-level metal, but unfortunately, he couldn't directly transform a pile of metal into a Transformer. A fundamental prerequisite for successful transformation was possessing a relatively complete energy circuit. He could transform a mobile phone into a Transformer, but he couldn't transform a phone case.
After more than an hour, Tony finally opened his eyes, controlling Optimus Prime to pick up one Titanium Alloy block after another. Optimus Prime's arms combined and shifted with a *kaka* sound, continuously consuming the Titanium Alloy, making it part of his body.
The motorcycle Arcee was also controlled by Tony, beginning to consume Titanium Alloy.
Immediately after, once the two of them had consumed most of it, Tony began controlling other Transformers to consume the alloy. He prioritized enhancing Optimus Prime's and Arcee's combat power. He needed one or two trump cards in his hand, whether for eliminating enemies or preserving his life. Instead of distributing this batch of alloy evenly, it was better to use most of it to strengthen these two Transformers.
His Allspark pulsed continuously, flickering between bright and dim. After the Transformers had consumed the Titanium Alloy with the continuous Allspark Energy, Tony began to modify the two vehicles. Where the Allspark swept, several hidden cameras were found.
Tony scoffed. "Who installed them? Nick Fury? Hydra? Or some nation?" It was useless; before his Allspark, all electronic devices had nowhere to hide. Another hour passed, and two new Transformers rose from the ground, then were immediately consumed by other Transformers, growing continuously stronger.
His Allspark couldn't control Transformers limitlessly; he could only strive for perfection, ultimately keeping the number controlled at five.
The Old Bartender sat nearby, chin propped, watching silently. Only when Tony was finished did he ask, "You're going to kill Vampires? How confident are you? With all due respect, you claim to be Level Four, but you haven't really shown the true abilities of a Level Four Mutant. I don't know how powerful Magneto and his kind are, but I think they should be much stronger than you are now."
Tony said calmly, "In matters of war, who dares to claim absolute certainty? There are too many instances of unexpected setbacks. What's more, we also have allies. The Vampire Hunters and S.H.I.E.L.D., who are secretly watching, will also fuel the flames."
He selectively answered some questions, avoiding the issue of his strength. There was no need to answer, as he was already very strong.
It was true that he was born Level Four, but his level didn't represent his specific combat power. Jean Grey was Level Five, and unless it was a life-or-death situation, her usual strength was just average. Not to mention that the Allspark's wounds hadn't fully recovered; even at his current level, he couldn't say for sure about a young Professor X—after all, psychic power was hard to guard against—but he could absolutely crush a twenty- or thirty-year-old Magneto.
Magneto had his Magnetic Manipulation Awakening in a concentration camp when he was a teenager, discovered by the officer Shaw. So, Shaw killed Magneto's mother in front of him, just to further stimulate Magneto's abilities. But years later, when Magneto sought out Shaw, the terrorist leader at the time, to avenge his mother's murder, he struggled desperately just to barely turn a large radar dish half a circle.
The current Tony against Magneto at that time would simply be a crushing victory.
Not to mention that the Allspark was slowly but steadily enhancing his life essence. In terms of strength alone, he was already approaching the five-hundred-kilogram mark, which was astonishing for a control-type Mutant. The Allspark's enhancement to him was comprehensive; aside from the unknown aspects of his spirit and soul, this evolution was already terrifying enough.
Sometimes Tony would also think that it was a blessing that he wasn't as formidable as the current apex powerhouses. This gave him enough room to continuously familiarize himself with and control his abilities, lest he lose control and his sense of self, like Jean Grey.
"Let's go, old man. Bring up the silver bullets and grenades. I know you want to come." Tony sat in Optimus Prime's driver's seat. "We're going to New Jersey, to Atlantic City, to kick in that bastard Deacon's lair!"
(end of chapter)
