When Loki approached Frigg and asked her how to combine energy explosions with duplication, her response was blunt: "Impossible."
"Loki, Aaron's abilities are beyond what you or I can replicate," she explained. "Both duplication and energy explosion require incredibly high magical skill."
"Even I can't create a duplication that could cast high-difficulty magic. His duplications are no mere illusions. They're like living beings imbued with magical energy."
Frigg sighed, understanding Loki's frustration. "Except for the fact that the consciousness remains under Aaron's control, his duplications are no different from real people. You should know how advanced this kind of illusion magic is."
She paused, then continued, "The energy explosion magic is a huge burden on the caster's mana. Combining it with duplication... that's an unrealistic expectation."
Frigg had watched Aaron's rise with a mixture of admiration and concern. She could understand Loki's feelings—being outdone by a newcomer was not easy to accept, especially someone so talented in magic that they could master it in mere days.
But Aaron wasn't just a prodigy; he was a rare magical entity. His illusions weren't the beginner spells she and Loki had learned. Aaron had transformed them into something more advanced, far beyond what anyone had imagined.
In just a week, he'd mastered phantom magic and enhanced it into something far stronger. His energy explosion magic had also been taken to new heights. His accomplishments were beyond the reach of anyone in the Nine Realms—perhaps even beyond Frigg herself.
"Mother," Loki persisted, his voice tinged with frustration. "I saw with my own eyes how Aaron used multiple duplications to perform energy explosions, causing massive damage. The Stone Titans in the middle of the battlefield were shattered in an instant."
Loki's brow furrowed. "And yet, he didn't seem to be drained of magic at all. It's as if he was simply casting a shapeshifting spell."
Frigg could see the doubt in Loki's eyes. "I understand what you're saying, Loki, but what you're describing is something that no one could casually replicate. Aaron's use of duplications to perform such feats... it's not something I've seen before. His magical power reserves are extraordinary, even for someone like him."
Loki had always been known as a magical genius. He was considered one of the strongest magicians, his mana reserves surpassing even Frigg's. His magical energy was immense, and he was famous for being nearly unbeatable in terms of magical prowess.
But Aaron was different. Loki couldn't understand why he had so much success with magic when he hadn't been practicing it for as long as the rest of them.
"Do you truly think Aaron uses the same meditation technique as we do?" Frigg asked quietly. "What Irene taught him may have been the same, but Aaron's improvements are far beyond what any of us could achieve."
Loki's heart sank as he realized the implications of her words. Aaron had somehow accelerated his magical growth, far beyond what even Loki, with all his power and knowledge, had managed.
"Aaron's magical accumulation speed is off the charts," Frigg continued. "He's not just a powerful magician—he's something else entirely."
Loki's mind raced as Frigg's words sank in. The thought that Aaron had surpassed him in such a short time was difficult to accept. He had always prided himself on his magical superiority, but now, there was someone who had come out of nowhere and overtaken him.
Loki wasn't used to losing, especially not to someone so new to magic. He had worked his whole life to earn the title of "the strongest magician in the Nine Realms." And now, it seemed like that title might slip from his grasp.
Frigg looked at him, concern in her eyes. "Loki, don't compare yourself to Aaron. He's not just a prodigy—he's a monster. If you let go of this competition and accept that he's on a different level, you'll still be a powerful magician. There's no shame in that."
Loki stayed silent, his thoughts swirling. Was it true? Could he really never catch up with Aaron?
Meanwhile, Aaron had fully recovered his magical energy. His mana flowed freely through his body, and he was aware of the growing fame surrounding him in Asgard. His accomplishments had outshone even Thor, making him the most admired figure of the year.
The fame had become overwhelming, and Aaron found himself constantly pursued by fans. It was becoming difficult to go anywhere without attracting attention. In an effort to avoid them, he had to use a materialized duplication to divert the crowd's attention while he slipped away to find Amora.
At that very moment, Amora was hard at work in her own quest for power. She had been studying mind control magic relentlessly, and her hard work had finally paid off—she had made a breakthrough.
It was a small breakthrough, but to Amora, it was everything. She believed that with this newfound power, she could finally get her revenge on Aaron.
"I've got it," Amora murmured to herself. "It's time for revenge. Aaron, are you ready? Sister, I'm coming again!"