Tony's proposal was exactly what Ethan had been hoping for. For a long time, Ethan had been curious about the arc reactor. He wanted to see if energy generated by this technology could be integrated into his own systems.
Apart from the arc reactor, Tony's practical skills were nothing short of remarkable. The man had managed to build a prototype of his Iron Man armor with only the most rudimentary tools at his disposal. That level of craftsmanship was far beyond Ethan's current abilities, and he was eager to learn from Tony to improve his own forging skills.
In the days that followed, Ethan continued to stay at Stark's villa. Both of them spent their time either in the laboratory or resting, dedicating every available moment to research and experimentation.
Fortunately, Ethan had come prepared for this visit. He had brought along all his most important resources, including a store of space energy.
The creation of the arc reactor had reportedly been inspired by Howard Stark's research into the Tesseract. Ethan wanted to see if the reactor would interact with space energy in any meaningful way.
Unfortunately, his experiments were disappointing. The space energy showed no reaction, and the arc reactor didn't display any unusual behavior. It seemed that even though the Tesseract had inspired the arc reactor's design, the reactor's internal structure and the energy it produced had no real connection to spatial attributes.
As for Ethan's forging skills, Tony didn't offer any advanced techniques or special training. Instead, his advice was simple: "Keep practicing."
Thus, the sound of hammering echoed through the laboratory daily. Ethan borrowed Tony's tools and materials to practice, constantly refining his skills.
As time passed, Ethan's efforts paid off. Not only did he build greater arm strength, but he also improved his ability to shape materials into precisely the forms he envisioned.
"Well, the durability still needs testing, but at least the appearance is finally up to standard," Ethan remarked with a hint of satisfaction as he examined one of his finished creations.
Tony had been observing Ethan's progress with interest. Watching Ethan improve so quickly sparked a bit of envy. "Do mages always learn things this fast?" Tony asked.
Ethan shook his head with a chuckle. "Not exactly. I'm only making such rapid progress because you're here to guide me. If I were working on my own, I'd be stumbling through trial and error for weeks."
Tony's guidance had been instrumental in helping Ethan correct his mistakes and adopt proper techniques. Learning the correct methods early on had accelerated Ethan's progress significantly.
"Still," Ethan continued, "mages do have certain advantages. As we train, our mental strength improves. That improvement enhances our memory and increases our control over our bodies, which naturally makes it easier to pick up new skills."
Unlike warriors like Arthur, who honed their physical capabilities from the outside in, mages cultivated their power internally. Over time, their heightened mental focus allowed them to synchronize their minds and bodies with greater precision.
"That said," Ethan added, "if I went up against Arthur in marksmanship right now, I'd lose without question."
Tony smirked. "You know, the more I hear about magic, the more interested I get."
In addition to working on their individual projects, Ethan and Tony spent a significant amount of time brainstorming ways to integrate magic with technology.
After numerous discussions, they concluded that the most practical approach would involve Ethan constructing magic circles powered by Tony's arc reactor. To activate the magic circles, Tony would install an independent on/off switch, allowing him to trigger magical effects without requiring mental power.
"Sounds like a solid plan," Tony remarked, nodding in approval.
In essence, this approach wasn't too different from how Ethan already used magic. In his current method, Ethan inscribed magic circles into his Book of Inheritance. The book's embedded magic stones served as the power source, and Ethan activated the circles as needed.
For Tony, the arc reactor would replace the magic stones as the power source, while his Iron Man armor would serve as the physical carrier for the magic circles.
The only major drawback was that Ethan was the only one who could design and construct the magic circles. The complex patterns of the circles were incomprehensible to Tony, no matter how closely he studied them.
Ethan attempted to explain, but he quickly realized it was futile. The intricacies of magic circles weren't easily translatable into scientific terms. Each circle was uniquely influenced by the caster's mental power and magical fluctuations, making it nearly impossible for someone without magical training to understand.
There were, of course, universal magic circles that anyone could use. However, creating them required special techniques and materials, and even then, they were far less versatile and effective than customized circles.
"The best I can do," Ethan finally said, "is to design a universal magic circle. You'll need to memorize it step by step and follow the procedure exactly as I teach you."
The universal design wouldn't be as flexible or efficient as a tailored circle, but it had the advantage of being reproducible by someone with no magical knowledge, provided they followed the instructions perfectly.
With J.A.R.V.I.S. assisting, the process became much easier. The AI could store Ethan's designs in its database and ensure that the circles were accurately replicated whenever Tony needed them inscribed on his armor.
Using this concept, Tony developed a new suit of armor unlike anything in his original plans.
The prototype didn't have a specific model number since it was still experimental. Its exterior remained unpainted and unpolished. In the lab, Tony donned the suit to test its features, including the newly integrated magic-based capabilities.
In addition to its standard arsenal of conventional weapons, the suit featured flame and frost magic circles engraved onto the arms. These enhancements allowed the suit's energy blasts to carry elemental properties.
Ethan also added a unique spell to the armor's design. It was a spell he'd learned from the Ancient One, a technique for shaping magic into tangible forms. Examples of this spell included Doctor Strange's magical whips and the transparent blades used by Kaecilius.
Now, Tony's suit could generate energy whips and blades on command. Powered by the arc reactor, the weapons glowed with a distinct blue hue.
"Do I look like a Jedi Knight?" Tony quipped, testing the energy whip with a grin.
Ethan shook his head with a laugh. "Not even close. This is how a Jedi Knight should look."
He picked up a handle-like object from the workbench. With a small burst of mental power, a translucent energy blade extended from one end of the handle. Adjusting its properties slightly, Ethan shifted its color to blue.
"See? That's how it's done."
The energy blade lacked the iconic buzzing sound of a lightsaber, and its design leaned more medieval than futuristic.
Tony smirked. "I could make you a set of armor to go with that, but why are you so hung up on this retro aesthetic?"
Tony had been nothing but generous throughout their collaboration. In addition to helping Ethan craft several magical tools, he even offered to build Ethan a full suit of magic-enhanced armor.
Ethan declined the offer, opting instead for a custom set of equipment that better suited his needs and style.
The final product included a hooded cloak, lightweight bracers, a utility belt for holding magical items, sturdy leather boots, and a unique staff designed specifically for Ethan.
At a glance, the gear looked simple, even unimpressive. But Ethan and Tony both knew the truth: each piece had been made using rare and expensive materials. Without Tony's resources, assembling such equipment would have been an impossible task for Ethan.
In addition, Tony created an unassuming set of reinforced underclothes. Although the garments had no magical properties, they were highly durable and offered excellent protection.
Ethan put on his new equipment piece by piece. With a swipe of his hand across his chest, a ripple of magic flowed through his body, and the gear disappeared, replaced by casual clothing. The only visible remnant was a small pendant hanging from his neck.
"Okay, that's impressive," Tony admitted, genuinely impressed.
Tony had been aware of Ethan's experiments with space energy, but seeing it applied so seamlessly gave him new ideas.
As Tony began brainstorming ways to make his armor more portable, Ethan smirked. "Why not build a space station and store your gear there? Then, when you need it, just yell, 'Invincible!'"
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