Tony's rallying his will when the pressure increases, and he sinks to one knee, struggling to maintain control over his own mind and body. At least the psychic shielding he'd added seems to be helping - it's only taken seconds, rather than minutes, for him to recognize and start fighting the ring's influence.

But it's still hard, so hard. And it would be so easy to let go, to stop struggling, to let someone else take control - and would that really be so bad? The foreigners are a disorganized rabble; they don't know what they're doing and they're bound to fail. Why not just get it over with? All he has to do is stop fighting, and— Tony shakes his head again, baring his teeth behind the faceplate.

"Gene. Listen to me." He can't deny that Malicant-through-Gene's taunt stings, but he ignores it. He knows it isn't really Gene. "You can still fight it. Fight it, Gene. Don't let it win. Don't let it do this."