Marvel Riders

Chapter 24: Racing Iron Man Fang Leng continued practicing his use of super speed in the city. Since there were still some obstacles in the city, he found himself running and stopping from time to time. “This super speed is actually pretty useful,” Fang Leng thought to himself happily as he reflected on the ability he had just acquired. Earlier, Fang Leng had been practicing his newly acquired super speed, but since he’d only just obtained it, he was still using it cautiously. As a result, his running appeared erratic, alternating between fast and slow. What Fang Leng didn’t know was that a figure was approaching him from the sky... Iron Man watched Fang Leng running on the ground. At first, Tony found it hard to believe, but now, seeing Fang Leng sprinting at such a speed, he was convinced. “Alright, I think I should go say hello to him,” Tony said to JARVIS from inside his suit. Fang Leng, who was still practicing, heard the whoosh of air as a figure suddenly landed right in front of him. Under the glow of a nearby streetlight, he saw the figure ahead clad in a striking gold-and-red suit of armor. It was none other than Iron Man’s suit! Fang Leng stopped running and stared blankly at Iron Man, who had suddenly appeared before him. Why on earth would Iron Man come looking for him out of the blue? Tony, inside the suit, spoke into Jarvis’s internal intercom: “Jarvis, scan this person. See if he has any special equipment or anything else.” JARVIS activated the Iron Man suit’s various scanning systems and began scanning Fang Leng. Soon, the electronic screen in front of Tony displayed the body scan image of Fang Leng: “Sir, no suspicious devices detected.” Tony looked at Fang Leng through the camera in his helmet, thinking to himself that this man might just be a person with superpowers. There were quite a few superhumans in the world. And as a major metropolis, New York frequently saw reports about them. Although Tony focused his efforts on scientific research, he had heard a few legends about superhuman abilities. However, Tony was also someone who took an interest in the unusual, and given his cynical nature, encountering such a strange individual had piqued his curiosity. Fang Leng stared at Iron Man before him, momentarily at a loss for words. The other man walked right up to him. “Hey, buddy. I’m sure you know who I am, right?” Iron Man’s voice, processed by his suit’s systems, came through the armor. Fang Leng responded, “Yeah, Iron Man. It’s really great to see you up close like this. What brings you here?” There was a metallic screech as Iron Man’s facial armor slid open, revealing Tony Stark’s face—a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed beard. “Hey, you were running really fast just now. I was flying through the sky at Mach 1—though not at full power—but your running speed on the ground just now exceeded that several times over,” Tony said in his deep, magnetic voice. “Oh? Is that so...” Fang Leng suddenly perked up. He’d been practicing the super-speed he’d recently acquired from Quicksilver. Could it be that his running speed had been so fast it caught Iron Man’s attention? Tony, looking every bit the middle-aged man, added casually, “No big deal—I’m just a curious guy. Your speed on the ground could put any F1 race car to shame. You’re the first person I’ve ever seen run that fast. I wouldn’t bat an eye at a faster aircraft, but someone this fast on the ground really piques my curiosity.” “So I’m wondering, buddy, are you a superhuman?” Tony asked playfully. That question really stumped Fang Leng. To be precise, he possessed a pair of “superpower-converting eyes,” and since that ability itself involved converting others’ superpowers, by that logic, he could indeed be considered a superhuman. Fang Leng smiled faintly. “I suppose so.” “A superhuman with that kind of speed… It’s a shame my armor is designed for flight; it’s not exactly fast on the ground. Otherwise, I’d love to race you to see who’s faster,” Tony said, stroking his chin. Looking at Tony Stark before him, Fang Leng pondered inwardly. He had originally thought dealing with Iron Man would be quite difficult, but thanks to having transformed into Quicksilver’s super-speed at the expo earlier, he had inadvertently caught Iron Man’s attention. Now that he’d met Iron Man face-to-face, he couldn’t leave empty-handed; he had to do his best to make a good impression on him. “Well, Mr. Stark. I’m a fan of yours. So, could you sign an autograph for me?” Fang Leng said politely to Iron Man. “Oh, another autograph request,” Tony said, twirling his mustache, though he paused to think for a moment. “Hmm, you want an autograph, huh? But how about this—let’s have a contest. If you’re willing to compete against me, I’ll sign it for you,” Tony said jokingly. Fang Leng was taken aback: “Compete with you? What kind of competition?” Tony’s playful side came out. “A speed contest. I’m a fun-loving guy, you know. Let’s head down to the Long Island coastal highway later. There aren’t many cars or pedestrians there at night. You keep running, and I’ll fly low. That way, we’ll each play to our strengths and see who’s faster.” Fang Leng was also surprised; he hadn’t expected Tony to want to race him. But considering Iron Man’s carefree personality, it made sense. After a moment’s thought, Fang Leng replied, “Alright then, that sounds fine. I’d be more than happy to have a speed race with Iron Man.” “Well, it looks like my RK6 has finally found someone to race against—and a superhuman at that,” Iron Man remarked. Tony suddenly remembered something. “I don’t need to introduce myself, buddy. What’s your name?” “My name is Fang Leng. I’m very happy to race against you, Iron Man,” Fang Leng said politely. After a while, the two arrived at the Long Island coastal highway Iron Man had mentioned. As the slightly cool sea breeze blew, Fang Leng felt a wave of refreshment. Iron Man, standing beside him, said, “Alright, let’s start the match right here. I’ll sign an autograph for you after we’re done. No need for either of us to hold back.” “Don’t worry, Mr. Stark. I’ll give it my all,” Fang Leng said firmly. “3, 2, 1, go!” Fang Leng ran forward with intense focus. The coastal highway on Long Island was much wider than the streets in downtown Long Island, allowing him to move with greater freedom. Thanks to the super-speed ability he’d gained from Quicksilver, Fang Leng’s pace was comparable to that of a maglev train. Even speeds of over a hundred meters per second felt slow to him. Iron Man, flying low overhead, watched Fang Leng below and ordered JARVIS, “Alright, JARVIS. Go full throttle in a moment—as fast as you possibly can. I refuse to believe the RK6’s flight speed is slower than a pair of human legs. Even if he has superpowers...”