#454 - Campus attack

Although the alarm was subtle, Howard was the central figure of the ball, so most people would pay attention to his movements intentionally or unintentionally, not to mention that he was already surrounded by many people.

"Is something the matter, Mr. Stark?" Peter, being the closest to Howard, naturally heard the alarm and was the first to ask his question.

Howard did not immediately answer Peter's question. Instead, he released Peter from his side and then announced loudly, "Sorry everyone, tonight's ball may have to end early. I hope you can leave in an orderly manner under my arrangement."

Before everyone could understand Howard's meaning, he called over a school staff member who was dedicated to serving him and instructed them.

"Please contact the staff at the student union hall immediately and have them organize the students to evacuate immediately. Remember to be quick."

Given Howard's status and credibility, the staff member didn't waste any words and immediately chose to believe Howard's judgment, took out his phone, and began contacting the person in charge on the student side, demonstrating the excellent qualities of a Midtown High School employee.

"May I ask what happened, Mr. Stark?"

There were many people at the ball, and of course, there would be some who couldn't see the situation clearly and began to ask questions with the idea of getting to the bottom of things.

Howard also knew that without a definite answer, these resourceful businessmen wouldn't all believe him, so he honestly replied.

"I don't know." Ignoring the astonished expressions of the businessmen, Howard took out his phone and tapped on it. Soon, he dialed a number.

"This is Howard. Midtown High School is in trouble. Please send a bunch of people over here."

"Received. Falcon is patrolling in your area. He'll be there soon."

After receiving the reply, Howard didn't waste any words and immediately hung up the phone, then dialed another number.

As the ringtone just started, Peter, standing aside, caught a glimpse of the礼堂's window. He saw a dark shadow like a snake outside the window. The position that looked like the snake's head was aimed at Howard, who was standing not far from the window, through the glass.

"Danger!"

Peter didn't know what it was, but after he moved, the thing seemed to be startled and launched a long-planned attack. The glass shattered in response, and Howard, hearing the sound, wanted to move, but it was too late.

"Chirp!"

After a sharp sound of air being torn, a long, silver-white object was inserted straight into the ground where Howard had been standing. The thick marble floor was like tofu in front of it, and Howard, who was not far away, was still in shock when Peter tackled him to the ground.

Howard did have some combat experience. After he came back to his senses, he immediately pulled Peter up and took him away from the dangerous window. This was like a fuse, and everyone else fled in panic.

"You saved my life, kid." Howard thanked Peter, but from beginning to end, his eyes never left the winding tentacle, to prevent the opponent's next attack.

"Y-You're welcome." Peter gasped for breath. His body had moved before his mind even registered what was happening, he didn't even understand what had happened before he tackled Howard.

"What on earth is going on?"

Before anyone could answer Peter's question, the tentacle on the opposite side made a new move. It began to retract rapidly, but it was not pulled back, but instead pulled something in from outside the window.

"Crash!"

A red figure crashed through the already broken window and was pulled in by the retracting tentacle. After the figure landed steadily, everyone could see the true face of this uninvited guest.

It was a tall white man, his long golden hair unbound and disheveled, some strands even hanging down to the man's pale face. Not just his face, but the skin all over the man's body was frighteningly white, like a wall painted with white paint, forming a sharp contrast with the scarlet armor he was wearing.

"Mo-Monster!"

Someone couldn't help but exclaim, simply because the man on the opposite side was too terrifying. The tentacle that attacked Howard stretched out from the man's right wrist. At this time, the tentacle was like a snake, wrapped around the man's arm and constantly wriggling. Not only that, but the man's left hand also had an identical tentacle.

The man looked ferocious, glaring at everyone present, but his gaze eventually returned to Howard. He shouted and lunged towards Howard.

"Crash!"

Seeing the distance between the man and Howard constantly shortening, just at this critical moment, there was another sound of glass shattering. A 'bird' with huge wings crashed straight into the man in the air.

The man didn't expect anyone to stop him, and being unable to exert force in the air, he was knocked away by the 'bird' that arrived later. During the backward flight, he knocked over many tables and chairs, and a series of crackling sounds followed.

"Long time no see, Mr. Howard. I like the new equipment you invented for me." The 'bird' retracted the wings on its back and stopped in front of Howard. It turned out to be a black man in a battle suit.

"I like it even more now, Falcon." Howard smiled, adjusting his tie, seeing that the crisis was temporarily resolved. "If it weren't for these new gadgets, I might not have heard your impressions of using them."

"Is that so, but no matter how much you like them, I won't return them." Falcon laughed. "Except for repairs, of course."

"Rumble!"

Taking advantage of the Falcon's banter with Howard, the man who had just been knocked away had now pushed aside the wreckage on his body and stood up. At this time, he was baring his teeth like a wild dog, glaring at the Falcon who had knocked him away.

"Oh, I still have some work to deal with. Excuse me, Mr. Howard." After Falcon finished speaking, he once again unfolded the wings on his back, touched the ground with his toes, and charged towards the man once again.

The man shouted, stretched out his arms, and two tentacles burst out from his wrists, constantly extending and attacking the Falcon who was flying towards him.

Falcon frowned slightly at this. Although the Midtown High School's auditorium was built tall, it was still restrictive for him, an aerial unit. He had to take the enemy in front of him outside the auditorium to let go.

Falcon made up his mind, retracted a section of his wings, and made the exaggerated wingspan only as long as his arms. Then, he pulled his body to dodge the incoming tentacles, and then retracted the remaining wings, adjusted his posture in the air, and kicked the man in the face.

The force generated by the huge acceleration kicked the man out of the window. Falcon rolled on the spot, dissipating a lot of force, and followed the man out through the shattered window.