Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 463 First Enhancement (Second Update)

"You think this thing is a plug and you're a cell phone? This isn't something you can just plug into your ass to charge!" Salomon couldn't help but sneer. His words were so vicious that little Lorna jumped up and punched him in the face. So he stopped joking and said in his usual serious tone, "This thing is powerful and dangerous; it's not something you can use carelessly. Besides, someone has tampered with it, so we have to be careful when we use it."

"How do you plan to use it?" Little Lorna glanced at the Maximov siblings behind her. Wanda and Pietro both shook their heads, indicating that they didn't remember anything. They only remembered that the researchers had asked them to touch the gem, and then they passed out, losing all memory of their contact with the gem. When they woke up, they discovered they possessed superpowers.

Wanda fared somewhat better, but Pietro's out-of-control abilities caused him to stumble around his cell, leaving him covered in bruises. Hydra had specially installed cushioning pads on the walls of Pietro's room and covered his bed with a thick layer of foam. The researchers also prescribed him a full month's supply of medication to promote bone healing, and Pietro had to endure the pain every day to train his abilities. This wasn't out of human compassion, but rather concern for experimental subjects, as the Maximov siblings were the only two successful test subjects in this program.

Not everyone can freely access the Infinity Stones.

"This scepter can enhance spiritual power, and then through spiritual power, tap into the potential of the body and soul. The intellect, soul, and body influence each other. It bestows spiritual power, taps into the soul, and then transcends the body—that is the function of this scepter." Since he was going to be a teacher, Salomon wouldn't miss any opportunity to teach. Especially for Wanda Maximov, such fundamental knowledge was crucial.

Wild mages don't get to learn many fundamental concepts, such as the theory of understanding that Salomon is currently teaching. Wild mages only go back to study these academic subjects after they've achieved a certain level of mastery. This theoretical knowledge may not be of much help in spellcasting, but it's crucial for a spellcaster's development.

Salomon picked up the scepter and recited an extremely long and indistinct incantation toward the head of the scepter.

Wanda craned her neck, trying to hear what Salomon was saying, but she couldn't make out anything, as the incantation was concealed by a deliberately altered tone. The novice spellcaster could only vaguely sense the invisible waves the incantation unleashed concentrated on the scepter; she could see energy flashing by, invisible to ordinary people. The blue crystal at the scepter's head shattered, and brilliant yellow light leaked out from the crack. Salomon had temporarily suppressed the arcane spell enveloping the Mind Stone, allowing it to unleash its true power.

The Infinity Stones possess their own consciousness, a fact documented in the books of Kamar-Taj, and recorded by the Venerable One during his research on the Time Stone and Space Stone. The Maximoff siblings were chosen by the Mind Stone, which is why their powers were awakened; Salomon merely facilitated this process, allowing the Mind Stone to also see Lorna's potential.

The sorcerer made a gesture toward Lorna, recited a tongue-twisting incantation, and then gently tapped the tip of his staff onto her forehead.

"That's it? How come I didn't... Shit! Salomon! My eyes..." From nonchalance to panic, it only took a second. Little Lorna nervously grabbed Salomon's sleeve. Her vision dimmed, but some flickering lights were radiating ripples. "I see... It must be electricity and magnetic fields, I think I can manipulate them..."

"Focus, Lorna." Salomon continued to press the scepter against little Lorna's forehead. "Remember what you've learned. You can do more than just bend a spoon now."

The Leviathan, suspended by numerous thick iron chains, lurched violently. The chains creaked, and tiny gaps appeared in the thick iron rings. The metallic shell covering its biomass began to liquefy, flowing down the Leviathan's body like hundreds of tiny waterfalls. Immediately afterward, the Leviathan's coagulated blood, filled with chemical agents, began to flow, its iron-rich, filthy, and greasy blood also cascading down with the metallic waterfalls.

Wanda felt that the scene was no different from the islands floating in the air that she had seen in fairy tales when she was a child.

Little Lorna loosened Salomon's sleeve and tried to control it herself.

None of the girls trained by Athena were weak, and little Lorna was a master spear wielder, her injuries nearly as numerous as Salomon's. It was precisely because of this that Salomon dared to confidently enhance and stabilize little Lorna's abilities. Soon, the girl, through sheer willpower, controlled the sudden surge of power; the thick iron chains stopped collapsing, and the damaged iron rings were repaired with Chitauri metal. Although it seemed extremely difficult and imperfect, she had done it.

"I did it!" she shouted happily. "I did it! You promised me you'd take me on an adventure!"

"The premise is that you can stabilize this power and prevent it from weakening. This is just a temporary result of the enhancement of mental power." Salomon nodded in satisfaction, then moved the Mind Stone scepter away. "And you don't seem to have noticed, you're the same height as me now."

"Ah!" Little Lorna, who had been floating in the air thanks to magnetism, fell down, and the liquefied metal on the Leviathan solidified again at that moment. The monster looked like a hot dog topped with cheese, and the metal hanging around it was stretched into sharp spikes by natural gravity, with foul-smelling blood full of engine oil slowly dripping down the spikes.

"Practice more; this is only the first strengthening. I'll bring you back once your power has stabilized." Salomon put the scepter back. He needed a legitimate reason to take it; now wasn't the time. "I promise to take you on an adventure," he said to little Lorna. "Remember what that dead god I mentioned was made of?"

"Metal!" Pietro looked at the others. "What's wrong? I was definitely listening."

“That’s right, metal. I believe you can handle that big guy,” Salomon said. “My Antarctic mining team is about to set off, so before then, you should practice your skills. I’ll take you to dig that big guy out.”

"And what about us?" Wanda asked hastily. "When will you start teaching me?"

“I’m already teaching you, Ms. Wanda Maximoff,” Salomon said. “Spellcasting isn’t so simple. You can use your magic like a hammer to smash things around, or you can use it to make delicate things. Remember the spell I used when I brought you out? It was a mind-altering spell. Try reciting the root of the key words in front of me, then implant a simple magical suggestion into this poor wretch in my hand, triggering it after he awakens. Once he’s conscious, he’ll act according to your will. Remember what I said…”

"Mind, soul, and body." Wanda extended her hand to the unconscious researcher.

"Spirit, soul, and body..."

"What are you doing, Wanda?" Pietro was confused, but Wanda did as Salomon told her to.

“Don’t lose control. I don’t want to see this poor thing grow four deformed hands. Very well, I can see your magic. Pay attention to the word roots. Magic is an art. Right now, you’re just a barbarian wielding a hammer, ready to be smashed in the head at any moment.” Salomon simultaneously cast a spell to erase parts of the Hydra researcher’s memory. “Let’s go back. This is just the first lesson, Ms. Wanda Maximoff. This is an inherent property of your magic; all you have to do is explore it. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and the same goes for your magic. But you must remember one word: equivalent exchange.”

"What does this mean?" Wanda stared, her eyes brimming with red energy, her face full of confusion.

"Magic comes at a price," Salomon said meaningfully, glancing at Pietro. "You'd better think carefully about what you're willing to give up and be prepared. There are many ways to pay the price, so you'd better choose carefully. If you don't pay, someone will come to collect it, and then you won't have a choice."

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(End of this chapter)