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Chapter 123: Muscle Control, Strength Leaps!
🕑 Added 2025-03-16 17:53:29 +0000 UTC"I'm home!"
As soon as Aaron stepped inside, Jean, who had been cleaning, immediately greeted him with a gentle smile.
"How did it go? Nothing happened?"
Aaron's tone was casual, yet filled with concern—like a husband returning home after a long day.
"Everything is fine. I'm here, so don't worry."
It was Dark Phoenix who answered.
Although the essence of Dark Phoenix is death and destruction, she still possesses emotions.
No matter how blackened she may become, she cannot completely suppress her underlying nature.
Hearing her response, Aaron smiled and nodded in agreement.
For now, Dark Phoenix was undoubtedly one of the most powerful forces on Earth.
If something happened that even she couldn’t handle, then the situation would be truly dire—at least on the level of a god approaching the power of a Celestial Father.
Jean pointed upstairs. "While I have no problem, Amora and Gwen... well, I can't really explain what’s going on. You should go take a look."
What happened?
Noticing Jean’s odd expression, Aaron hurried upstairs—only to find Amora and Gwen facing each other.
Amora stood with her back to Aaron, surrounded by a swirling green magical aura. Her emerald eyes gleamed provocatively, and her green dress, infused with magic, accentuated her wild charm.
In contrast, Gwen looked uneasy, her voice trembling slightly.
"Teacher Amora... can I not learn this magic? It looks really strange, and I don’t think it suits me."
"Gwen, I’m teaching you this magic for Aaron’s sake. It’s my favorite spell—it can make any man lose himself in your gaze and obey your every command."
"Once you master this magic, no man will ever be your enemy."
"Imagine being able to make someone end their own life without even lifting a finger."
"But... killing is wrong. We should turn them over to the police instead." Gwen's hesitant voice sounded even weaker.
Amora's soothing voice followed. "It’s the same thing—you can simply make them surrender. Wouldn't that be even better?"
But Gwen clearly resisted the idea.
She couldn’t bring herself to learn a charm spell meant to seduce and manipulate men.
"Amora, you’re at it again."
Aaron sighed, pressing his fingers to his forehead before stepping in to interrupt Amora’s lesson.
Teaching innocent Gwen charm magic? What was Amora thinking?
Who was she even supposed to use this on?
And not everyone would fall for it, either.
As soon as Aaron spoke, Gwen seemed relieved, as if seeing her savior, and immediately ran behind him for protection.
Amora, however, did not dispel her magic. Instead, she intensified it.
She pursed her lips into a seductive smile, her watery eyes casting an enchanting glance at Aaron.
He ignored her and instead ruffled her hair, making her roll her eyes in exasperation.
Gwen chuckled from behind.
"Alright, alright! Can’t you see I was giving Gwen a hands-on lesson in charm magic? You never play along."
Amora pushed Aaron’s hand away in mock annoyance, hands on her hips as if scolding him.
"Who told you to teach charm magic?"
"It’s just a minor trick, useless against truly strong opponents."
"If you have time for that, you’d be better off learning other magic. Don’t be like you are now—with nothing but charm magic up your sleeve."
Aaron’s tone carried a hint of reprimand, but a smile played on his lips.
"Oh dear, how heartless! After eating and wiping away all traces of the teacher’s guidance, now you say I’m useless?" Amora huffed.
After all, she had taught Aaron teleportation, mind magic, energy shields, and other practical spells.
And now he dared to question her magical abilities?
Fine—maybe she wasn’t as powerful as Aaron, but she was still a master sorceress.
And Aaron? He was a magical anomaly, a once-in-ten-thousand-years prodigy. Compared to him, even the most talented magician seemed mediocre.
Amora mumbled to herself, "If I had taught you more mind magic back then, I bet I could charm you even now."
Aaron ignored her muttering and turned to Gwen.
"How’s your progress?"
"It’s okay, but I don’t have enough magic power."
Gwen looked troubled.
She had originally planned to study during the day and practice soul astral projection at night, but she quickly realized she lacked the magic reserves to sustain that routine.
Her absorption rate was just too low!
Aaron had no immediate solution.
He could link Gwen to the Limbo dimension, and with his ties to Magik, she wouldn’t have to pay a price for drawing power from there.
But even then, Gwen couldn’t use it recklessly.
Limbo’s magic had lingering side effects on humans.
Unlike pure magical dimensions, Limbo’s energy had been tainted for centuries, capable of slowly transforming users into demons.
For now, Gwen’s problem had no easy fix—Aaron would have to find a safer alternative later.
After offering her some words of encouragement, Aaron went looking for Sif.
At the time, Sif was training alone in the basement.
This basement was specially designed for magic practice and physical training.
Its walls were reinforced with Uru metal and Adamantium, with layered enchantments woven in.
The defenses were so impenetrable that even the Hulk, locked inside with nothing but his fists, wouldn’t be able to escape.
Even a missile strike wouldn’t put a dent in it.
Essentially, it was nuclear-proof.
Given that everyone in Aaron’s circle had extraordinary abilities, a regular training space simply wouldn’t suffice.
Aaron had used materialization magic, rune enchantments, and his own expertise to create a training area robust enough for them all.
But even this basement was too weak to handle Aaron’s full power—so he trained in a mirror dimension instead.
When Aaron entered, Sif immediately stopped her training, wiped away her sweat, and smiled.
"You’re back already? How was it?"
"Not bad. I met my initial expectations."
As he spoke, a sword appeared in Aaron’s hand out of thin air.
"Oh? Are we practicing swordsmanship today? That’s rare—I thought you’d be buried in magic training again."
Sif knew Aaron’s magic improved at a staggering pace.
Even those who lived with him daily couldn’t grasp the extent of his progress.
But she also understood that while Aaron was formidable in physical combat, magic was the key to his true power. That was the path he should focus on.
"There’s enough time. Want to spar?" Aaron asked with a smirk.
On one hand, he wanted to refine his sword skills.
On the other, he was deliberately strengthening Sif’s combat abilities.
After all, he had spent months training Magik in Limbo—he couldn’t neglect Sif.
If Sif were interested in magic, Aaron would have taught her too.
For now, she was stronger than Amora and Gwen, second only to Jean and Magik.
But once Aaron solved the issue of magic reserves, Amora and Gwen would skyrocket in power, leaving Sif behind.
So training her was necessary.
"Me? Spar with you?" Sif pointed at herself, then quickly nodded. "Of course! Let’s see if you’ve gotten rusty."
She raised her sword and charged.
Sif had once seen Aaron duel Fandral—and win.
Now, months later, even if he had grown rusty, he should still be stronger than her.
But Sif was wrong.
Aaron’s swordsmanship hadn’t declined—it had improved tremendously during his time teaching Magik.
Within a dozen exchanges, Sif was defeated.
"Shall we continue?" Aaron asked with a grin.
"Absolutely! I won’t give up!" Sif declared, fired up.
Sif is full of energy and remains unfazed despite being knocked down. She is eager to fight, especially against a master like Aaron. With every exchange, she can clearly feel her sword skills improving.
Time passes in sparring.
Meanwhile, in the Hell Dimension
Mephisto sits in his castle, awaiting updates from his subordinates. A significant shift has occurred in Limbo, and as a resourceful dimensional lord, he cannot afford to ignore it.
Dimensional Lords often set their sights on the real universe, but most of their attention is focused on other dimensions. Whenever a dimension weakens, they seize the opportunity to strike, devour, and assimilate—one of the primary ways dimensional lords grow stronger.
However, such opportunities are rare. Leaving their own dimension weakens them while strengthening other Dimensional Lords. Generally, unless a rival has glaring weaknesses, even a stronger Dimensional Lords cannot easily consume them. Only those with absolute power—like the beholder Shuma-Gorath—can do so effortlessly.
Soon, news arrives from his subordinates.
Upon learning that the former lord Velasco has been slain, Mephisto abruptly stands up. This is a golden opportunity! If Limbo is vulnerable after losing its ruler, absorbing it would significantly enhance his power.
Yet, upon hearing that Velasco was defeated in a lord challenge initiated by his own apprentice, Liana, Mephisto hesitates. If Liana could kill Velasco, it means she possesses formidable strength.
Most importantly, Velasco had powerful backing. Though he never spoke of it, the other demons of Shendu are not fools. A demon capable of wielding the magic of the Old Gods and drawing upon their power must have had their favor. Out of fear and respect for these ancient beings, no one dared challenge Velasco.
One does not attack a dog without considering its master.
However, since Liana slew Velasco without facing retribution from the Old Gods, the implications are intriguing. Perhaps the Old Gods are too distant to intervene, or perhaps they have abandoned Velasco in favor of Liana.
Mephisto, unwilling to enter Limbo personally, gathers further intelligence. Reports indicate that during her ascent to power, Liana relied on her Soul Blade—an Excalibur-like weapon capable of severing a dimension’s connection to its lord and effortlessly tearing through magic.
This revelation makes Mephisto pause.
Though he cannot confirm its full power, the fact that Liana overcame Velasco, who had the Old Gods’ favor, means she is a force to be reckoned with. He begins to regard her as an equal, a potentially powerful and enigmatic new Queen of Limbo.
As he contemplates his next move, another piece of information leaves him stunned—Limbo has lost half of its energy.
This is alarming. The loss of half a dimension’s power is unheard of. Who could have absorbed such an immense force?
Wait!
Could it be him?
Mephisto's thoughts turn to a figure he despises, someone he longs to destroy. If that man is involved, then such an event is indeed possible.
Could Velasco have been deceived?
Could it be that Velasco was first weakened by this individual’s schemes before being struck down by Liana?
It seems highly plausible.
Mephisto increasingly believes his theory is correct. No matter how strong Liana was, she couldn’t have succeeded if Velasco had been fully prepared. Unless his power had already been significantly diminished.
And that man—he must be the source of this upheaval!
Relieved, Mephisto silently thanks his own caution. Though he had once fallen into this individual’s trap, he reacted swiftly, avoiding a fate similar to Velasco’s. Otherwise, he too might have been outmaneuvered and lost control of his domain to the Blackheart Demon.
"What a fool!" he sneers, mocking Velasco.
Yet even as he scoffs, he begins plotting against Limbo.
If his suspicions are correct, the new ruler may lack the strength to maintain the dimension’s stability. However, being experienced and cunning, Mephisto has no intention of confronting this head-on.
"There is another way…"
Back in Asgard
During training, Sif occasionally exhausts herself, leaving Aaron to practice alone. He becomes a tireless machine, refining his sword skills over and over again.
Finally, his swordsmanship reaches level 7, enhancing his combat prowess.
Surprisingly, he notices no grand transformation, no magical evolution like sword aura or divine techniques. Instead, his gains are deeply ingrained in muscle memory, allowing him to perceive weaknesses with ease and exploit them using the simplest, most effective moves.
What astonishes Aaron the most is his newfound control over his own body. Even in his magical Superman form, he can now distribute power precisely, managing his strength through sheer muscle control.
For Aaron, this is the most valuable gain.
Unlike the real Superman, he lacks a biological safeguard to prevent his immense strength from becoming uncontrollable. He once considered using magic to simulate this effect, but magic alone could not achieve such fine-tuned regulation.
Now, thanks to his improved swordsmanship, he no longer has to worry about losing control.
This is an incredible advantage!
As Aaron’s skills sharpen, Sif improves even faster.
Training with a master accelerates progress, and with Aaron deliberately pushing her limits, her swordsmanship advances at an astonishing rate. Even Fandral, once Asgard’s premier swordsman, can no longer compete. He now ranks third, with Sif surpassing him.
After completing Sif’s training, Aaron gathers the others before retreating into seclusion.
Inside the Mirror Dimension, he tirelessly expends his magic, refining his mastery over materialization and atomic reconfiguration.
Six Months Later
When Aaron emerges from his training, both spells have reached level 8.
This means he can now disassemble and reassemble almost any material at an atomic level, whether he understands its composition or not. His ability to shape reality itself has taken a massive leap.
Moreover, his mastery of materialization magic brings several other enhancements to his overall strength.
