Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 656 The Kamar-Taj High Deacon and the Hostage Incident (First Update)

The muzzle of the gun on the Iron Man suit's shoulder armor rose, aimed, and spewed white smoke in the blink of an eye. The bullet, intended to impede movement, should have pierced flesh with AI-assisted aiming, but after firing, the man with short, gray-haired hair still stood there with an unbearable smile. Stark's bullet had vanished, leaving only a few bullet holes like cracks in glass. Then, hundreds of Kasirius figures appeared in all directions, spreading throughout the space like a maze of mirrors in an amusement park, cracking the mirrors. Tony Stark couldn't distinguish which were not reflections—until a hand parted the mirrors like a curtain, and the real Kasirius walked in. Tony Stark had unknowingly fallen into the mirror dimension. Only then did he realize he had lost contact with the outside world.

Stark possesses S.H.I.E.L.D.'s magical spectrum data, and in his detector, Kasirius's entire body is radiating an extremely dazzling special light.

"Your technology may be extremely advanced for humanity today, but on the scale of the galaxy or even the universe, it's insignificant. Even alien mechanical prostitutes are far more technologically advanced than you." Perhaps due to spending so much time together, Kasirius had picked up Salomon's infuriating way of speaking. Feeling insulted, Tony Stark launched several micro-missiles, then activated his thrusters and lunged at Kasirius. The smoke and dust from the explosion dissipated with the roar of the thrusters, and the massive shield, sparking with fire, slammed Stark, who had leaped out of the smoke, to the ground. Stark immediately activated the thrusters on his legs, propelling himself out of the attack range. He adjusted the angle of his thrusters, leaping dozens of feet above the shield, his pulse cannon aimed at Kasirius behind it.

Several tentacles emitting a bluish-green glow rose from the ground, their seemingly weak curls grabbing the legs of the Iron Man armor and pulling him off balance. The pulse cannon's aim completely failed him, and as Stark frantically tried to break free of the tentacles' grasp, he discovered that these energy-based structures were extremely difficult to destroy. The curls continued to tighten, the tiny tendrils inching their way into the gaps in his armor. The screen began to flicker, and the armor's circuitry was being disrupted. Even with Stark increasing the thruster power, he couldn't escape the magic cast by Kasirius.

"Sir, I cannot analyze this... sir..."

Kasirius seized the opportunity, leaping into the air from the overturned shield and striking Stark with a warhammer made of sparks. The mirror of the sky shattered, spewing forth crimson flames as a burning meteorite, the size of a man, hurtled down. His beard gleamed, tightening the joints of his steel armor, holding him firmly in place like a target. The meteorite whistled past, crashing straight into Stark before he could react—no, he crashed into the meteorite, which was hurtling upwards. The ground shattered, and the meteorite, carrying the steel armor, flew further and further away. The intense heat scorched the user inside the armor, while cold white mist billowed from the gaps in the steel armor, attempting to lower the temperature. This was the fire suppression system, one of the emergency rescue systems designed by Stark. However, this effort was ineffective; the temperature inside the steel armor rose higher and higher, and the alarms grew louder and louder.

Kasirius moved slowly through the mirrored space, the folded, mirrored terrain delivering a disheveled Tony Stark before him. The sparks flashing in the arcane mage's hand transformed into a white longsword. He stepped on Stark's arm and plunged the sword straight into the tattered breastplate, prying open the armor like a can. However, Kasirius made no further move; only a seemingly flimsy shield positioned itself between his boots and the lying Stark.

The emergency injection administered to the armor brought Stark back to consciousness.

He opened his eyes to find his oxygen supply system compromised and the reactor's main output line severed. He was dehydrated, sweat clinging stickily to his back. He had bruised joints and perhaps a mild concussion.

“Actually, I didn’t come to you about this, you know?” Tony Stark lay on the ground, listening to the piercing alarm of his Iron Man suit. He looked at Kasirius through the geometric shield. “I recently learned that an old friend has come back from the dead… not exactly an old friend, but he gave his life for us.” Stark sighed. “From him, I learned what Salomon has been doing lately. Human experimentation, illegal detention, illegal interrogation, murder—do you think this is the necessary path to protecting the world? This isn’t saving the world, this is evil… Kasirius, isn’t it? I found you on the missing persons list, I know about your life before you joined Kamar-Taj…”

Stark didn't hear what Kasirius said; he only saw the mage step back a few paces.

It seems that not everyone supports Salomon's actions!

Stark sat up, a smile playing on his lips hidden beneath his helmet, intending to continue his accusations against Salomon's illegal activities. But before he could speak again, a massive fist made of clay grabbed his lower body from behind, slamming him to the ground several times. Before the dazed Stark could react, another clay hand emerged from the ground, gripping his upper body tightly. The colossal clay giant rose from the earth, and Stark, clad in his Iron Man suit, was like a small twig in the monster's grasp.

"I'm summoning a clay giant. Did you think I was listening to your nonsense? Defeating you doesn't even require my most powerful spells." Kasirius reached out and yanked the reactor from Stark's chest. Then, the clay giant, like breaking a cookie, attempted to snap Tony Stark in two. The alloy armor and exoskeleton creaked, and alarms blared. "I only need to preserve your head, Tony Stark. I'm sure Salomon would agree," he said calmly. "Your spine will only cause trouble."

"We've lost Tony Stark's signal," Captain Rogers said gravely. "Where is he now?"

"He's getting an education," the Hand agent said dryly. "There's a reason the monarch doesn't like your world peace gimmicks, Steve Rogers. So foolish, so naive, so short-sighted. The Ultron incident that nearly destroyed Europe wasn't enough to break Stark's arrogance; he must pay the price for his actions."

"Speaking of costs, madam, let's talk about the Inhumans."

"I knew the Coulson Guild was seeking outside help." Agent Hand wasn't surprised at all. "I happen to be in charge of this matter. If you're going to make a judgment based on the limited information Coulson has, I can only laugh at the Avengers' naivety once again. We're facing a magical crisis that could destroy the world, and we'll be detaining Tony Stark temporarily until things are over."

"Are you planning to take him hostage?"

"Yes, if he's still alive." Agent Hand's tone rose uncontrollably. "I'm sure Salomon's colleagues have their own ways of dealing with him."

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(End of this chapter)