OGCrafter
patreon
Chapter 152: The Absolute Controller of the Magic World! Super Giant Ark Reactor
🕑 Added 2025-03-20 19:49:14 +0000 UTCThe loss of Kamar-Taj was immediately apparent to Aaron.
He sensed that more than a dozen channels had disappeared from the magic net.
Upon waking, he used backtracking magic to examine the events that had transpired.
This was one of the fundamental features of the magic net—so long as someone in a given location was connected to it, Aaron could observe what was happening there from a great distance.
It didn’t take long for him to learn that Kamar-Taj had been attacked by Kaecilius.
After confirming this, he withdrew his vision and resumed his studies.
After all, it was merely a dozen magicians who had lost low-level access to the magic net—hardly an unacceptable loss.
Meanwhile, the magicians of Asgard were en route.
Every day, magic flowed to Aaron through the magic net.
Moreover, after Asgard had successfully implemented the magic net within its own borders, it set its sights on other realms.
Odin specifically dispatched a team led by Irene, who traveled to Nidavellir, Alfheim, and Vanaheim in succession.
Their mission: to introduce the magic net and promote its benefits.
First on their list was Nidavellir, home to the dwarves, master blacksmiths renowned for forging magical weapons.
These craftsmen served the gods and were blessed by them in return.
Their skills were famous across the Milky Way, known to nearly all civilizations.
However, because of Asgard’s protection, no other force dared coerce the dwarves into forging weapons for them.
The dwarves were fiercely loyal to Asgard.
Whenever Asgard called, they always answered.
When Irene arrived in Nidavellir to meet the dwarf king, Eitri, she found him deeply engrossed in studying a blueprint.
The drawing depicted the shape of an axe—one still in the process of being designed.
Without looking up, Eitri said, “Guests from Asgard, tell the All-Father I am working diligently on the weapon he requested. I will complete his order soon.”
He had mistaken Irene for an envoy sent by Odin to check on the progress of Thor’s weapon.
After all, crafting a king-level weapon was no simple task.
Even for a blacksmith as skilled as Eitri, it required extensive time and research.
The first step had been naming the weapon.
It had already been decided that this future weapon, meant to commemorate Thor’s ascension, would be called Stormbreaker.
Next came drafting the blueprints, followed by mold creation, and then Odin’s enchantments.
Once the molten Uru metal was cast, the weapon would gain immense power.
Eitri also had to determine the best materials for each component of the axe.
Though much of the design was complete, the handle was still missing.
Once those final steps were done, Stormbreaker would become a perfect masterpiece.
Eitri eagerly anticipated the finished weapon, certain that it would surpass both Mjolnir and Gungnir as the mightiest king’s weapon in Asgard’s history.
Lost in thought, Eitri was startled when Irene spoke.
He frowned, irritated at the interruption—he despised being disturbed while working, as it disrupted the forging process.
Just as he was about to dismiss her, Irene relayed Odin’s orders.
When he heard that all the dwarves were required to connect to the magic net and use their free time to absorb magic, Eitri was stunned.
“We’re blacksmiths!” he exclaimed. “Not warriors. Not magicians.”
He found the idea absurd.
Could a race of burly, hammer-wielding craftsmen even learn magic?
“Irene, are you sure about this? This is Nidavellir, not Asgard...” Eitri asked uncertainly.
“I’m absolutely sure,” she replied firmly. “This is an order from the All-Father. You must all connect to the magic net and learn magic.
“With strength, you can better protect yourselves.”
Irene’s serious tone made Eitri sigh in frustration.
Asking a bunch of beer-drinking, metal-smashing dwarves to learn magic?
Was Odin losing his mind?
Eitri shook his head.
It seemed he had to finish Stormbreaker as soon as possible.
Clearly, Odin’s decision-making was becoming questionable.
“Understood. I’ll inform my people,” he said, accepting the magic net’s connection for study.
Seeing this, Irene refrained from further discussion and prepared to leave for Alfheim.
She knew that the dwarves of Nidavellir never deceived Asgard.
Eitri would honor his promise.
Alfheim: The Realm of the Light Elves
The journey to Alfheim went just as smoothly.
The light elves who inhabited this realm had always maintained a strong alliance with Asgard.
Unlike the dark elves, they held no ambitions of conquest.
They possessed a solid foundation in magic, giving them a measure of self-protection.
This was one of the reasons Odin had never needed to take military action against them.
For centuries, peace had prevailed between Asgard and Alfheim.
However, Irene’s arrival stirred excitement throughout the kingdom, much like in Asgard.
The light elves, who cherished peace, were naturally drawn to magic.
They already practiced various forms of nature magic, an area where the Aesir were lacking.
So when they learned of the magic net’s existence, they eagerly signed the contract, joining the system without hesitation.
Once Alfheim had fully committed, Irene set off for her final destination: Vanaheim.
The order of these visits was strategic—based on the likelihood of resistance.
The dwarves, loyal to Asgard, were the easiest to convince.
The light elves also had a high acceptance rate.
Vanaheim, however, was another matter entirely.
Many forces in Vanaheim harbored resentment toward Asgard.
They would likely be the greatest obstacle to the magic net’s expansion.
However, the benefits of the magic net were simply too enticing.
As soon as Irene and her team presented the system, it immediately attracted both friendly and neutral factions within Vanaheim.
Only the factions that had been operating in secret—those opposed to Asgard—hesitated.
But their hesitation would be their downfall.
Once their rivals grew stronger through the magic net, the balance of power would shift.
By the time they finally decided to join, they would already be at a significant disadvantage.
At this point, the magic net had successfully spread throughout the Nine Realms.
Only Jotunheim and Muspelheim remained disconnected due to their open hostility toward Asgard.
All other realms had been integrated into an immense network of magical communication and knowledge.
Aaron now spent much of his time managing the overwhelming influx of information.
The rest of his time was devoted to learning and refining his magic.
Though the grandeur of Carnival Day could no longer be replicated, the sheer number of magicians working for him ensured that Aaron’s magical growth remained rapid.
Compared to training alone, his efficiency had skyrocketed.
As this thriving magical ecosystem flourished, events on Earth were also unfolding.
Tony Stark finally bid farewell to Kamar-Taj—for now.
Using the internet, he recorded vast amounts of knowledge about the magical world, including spells and techniques that piqued his interest.
Upon returning to Stark Tower, he immediately instructed J.A.R.V.I.S. to contact manufacturers worldwide to procure the resources needed to construct an Arc Reactor.
Yes, his plan was simple yet ambitious: to leverage his wealth, science, and technology to build a super-giant Arc Reactor.
According to the records within the magic net contract, any form of energy could be absorbed and converted into power fit for an "Energy Emperor."
So, could the Arc Reactor's energy be effectively utilized?
With this question in mind, Tony ran a few tests. When he realized he couldn't trick many demons, he put his focus back on learning magic.
His return didn't go unnoticed.
S.H.I.E.L.D. took an immediate interest, and Pepper, who had been worried sick, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sir, I have secured all the supplies per your instructions. They are being airlifted as quickly as possible," J.A.R.V.I.S. reported.
"Shall we proceed with the next phase of the Anti-Magic Armor design?"
Tony thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"No need for now. No matter how we design it, we still won’t be able to deal with him."
Beside him, Dr. Bruce Banner—who had been assisting him—looked over in surprise.
"Tony, that's not like you."
"In all the years I've known you, you've never been this defeated. There's never been anything that could break you."
"That was before," Tony muttered. "Things are different now."
His time at Kamar-Taj had only intensified the sense of urgency gnawing at him.
"You have no idea how quickly his power is growing."
"In the time it takes us to have this conversation, he could have already gained the power of a god—no, far more than that."
Banner furrowed his brow. "Maybe his growth rate is impressive, but with your intelligence, and the combined efforts of me and J.A.R.V.I.S., we can keep upgrading the armor.
"With our iteration speed, we’ll surpass him one day."
Tony let out a bitter chuckle.
"No, Banner. You haven't seen what I have."
"You think that way because you've never experienced his power firsthand. I get it—I thought the same way at first."
"But even if I upgrade my armor dozens of generations in just one year, I still won’t catch up."
"Because his growth rate will only accelerate."
"He’s not just one person—he's an aggregate of tens of thousands... millions... billions."
"And in the future, he may become an entity encompassing all intelligent life."
"We're not competing against him."
"We're competing against the entire magical world."
Banner stared, unable to fully grasp Tony’s words.
Having never encountered magic, nor the magic net, he simply found Tony’s statements profound and unsettling.
A scientific super-genius, unraveling at the seams after stepping outside his domain.
But Tony didn't care whether Banner understood or not.
He was still lost in thought, gripped by the overwhelming realization of Aaron’s existence.
Tony had always believed in his technological genius.
On Earth, he was the smartest mind in existence.
But Aaron was a genius in the magical world. No—worse than that. He was a monster.
That alone would have been manageable.
But Aaron wasn’t just talented—he was a schemer.
His own cultivation speed was already terrifyingly fast.
And now? He had enslaved countless magicians, forcing them to work for him.
He alone controlled the Nine Worlds of Magic.
Soon, he would control the entire magical universe.
And maybe... he’d even extend the magic net into other dimensions and parallel universes.
That was the most terrifying part.
How could anyone defeat him?
Either he had to be crushed immediately—forced into submission before it was too late.
Or someone had to destroy the magic net, preventing him from growing any stronger.
But...
Both were impossible.
The magic net’s existence had far surpassed the understanding of ordinary magicians.
Even the Ancient One and her disciples couldn’t unravel its structure or replicate its function.
So, could Tony reverse-engineer it?
At first, he tried applying technology to analyze the magic net.
Failure.
Magic was a mystery that defied every technological principle he had mastered.
His next option?
Study it using magic.
But the scope of magical knowledge was endless.
Even if he devoted every waking moment to study, it would take centuries.
Unless…
He used the magic net itself.
By channeling energy into it, he could rapidly absorb magical knowledge.
That was why he was racing against time to build a giant Arc Reactor.
He needed to learn magic faster.
The magic net was the only shortcut.
And through it, he could finally uncover its secrets.
But for now, his materials hadn’t arrived yet.
Instead, an uninvited guest appeared at his doorstep.
Nick Fury.
One look at Tony’s entirely different demeanor was enough for Fury to figure out what had happened.
"Mr. Stark," Fury began, "I assume you have something to tell me?"
Tony didn’t hesitate.
"As you can see, I found Kamar-Taj, saw the magical world, and learned a lot about the God of Magic."
His new robes—the signature attire of Kamar-Taj magicians—were proof of that.
Tony hated the design.
The colors and traditional style weren’t his taste.
But he still wore them.
To remind himself to be humble before magic.
Fury leaned forward slightly. "And what’s your insight?"
Tony exhaled.
"My advice? Back off."
"Put your research on hold. And abandon any unwise plans you’re cooking up."
"Because the more you dig into him, the more hopeless you’ll feel."
This was exactly what the Ancient One had told him.
And she was right.
The more someone knew about Aaron, the more they despaired.
Sometimes, ignorance was a blessing.
If his enemies believed they still had a chance, they wouldn't lose hope.
Tony wasn't completely hopeless—yet.
But he was already closer to despair than ever before.
Even after learning magic himself, he had no clue whether he could ever dismantle the magic net or counter its power.
If the Ancient One and her vast order of magicians hadn’t figured it out, how could he?
And even if he did, by the time he did, who knew what Aaron would have become?
Based on his intel…
Aaron had only been practicing magic for less than two years.
Just two years.
And he was already like this.
That thought alone was enough to crush anyone’s spirit.
Fury frowned and exchanged glances with Banner, who simply shrugged.
"Alright," Fury said, exhaling. "I can see you don’t want to talk about it. So let’s move on."
"What’s with the insane amount of orders you’ve placed?"
"Building a nuclear power plant?"
Tony smirked.
"No, just an Arc Reactor with a hundred million times the usual energy output."
"And it's a one-time-use thing."
Fury stared at him, dumbfounded.
"...What?"
A one-time-use nuclear power plant?
There was only one use for that.
An explosion.
But Tony Stark wasn’t the type to build a nuke without a reason.
So, what was he planning?
He still had to ask.
Tony didn't hide it.
"Would you believe me if I said it's for learning magic?"
Fury rubbed his temples.
"Look at my face, Stark. Does it look like I believe you?"
Tony grinned.
"Fury, with all due respect, your face is unreadable. It’s a natural disguise."
"But don’t worry. You’ll understand soon enough."
