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*****
Fini wouldn't let fear of consequence stop him from acting, but he also didn't want to be controlled by his power; otherwise, a life where he couldn't even allow himself to fantasize would be too terrifying.
After all, some things are only suited for imagination. If they actually became reality, he wouldn't be too happy about it—for instance, wondering what he'd look like in a dress.
In his new home, the television was broadcasting news across many programs about Tony Stark's disappearance after being attacked. A week had passed, and most people were speculating that Stark was dead.
This situation led to a sharp plummet in Stark Industries' stock. Fini had initially wanted to take the opportunity to buy some shares, but he found they were unavailable; it seemed someone was already acquiring them in the shadows.
It made sense. The attack was orchestrated by Obadiah Stane, who surely would have anticipated the consequences of Tony's death before acting. Therefore, the drop in stock price was within his expectations, and picking up the "scraps" wouldn't be that easy.
He would have to wait until Tony's unexpected return, and then, when he shocked everyone by announcing the closure of the weapons division—that would be the golden opportunity to buy stock.
However, with his current funds, he probably couldn't buy much—certainly not enough to become a board member. Holding onto them to sell later when the price surged was a good option.
Fini thought silently to himself while watching the TV.
As for going to rescue Tony Stark right now to make him owe a favor, he hadn't given it much thought. If he really wanted to do it, he might be able to pull it off using Jack Sparrow's compass.
But there was no point. Without his interference, Tony Stark would become Iron Man, a righteous hero. He might be arrogant, haughty, and self-important, but his heart was undoubtedly righteous.
Fini didn't want to change that. There's nothing wrong with having one more good person in the world. Besides, he had already latched onto the thickest thigh—the Ancient One—so there was no need to go out of his way to curry favor with Tony Stark.
In his impression, the Science side and the Magic side were polar opposites anyway!
While he didn't want to change Tony's growth trajectory, it didn't mean Fini would do nothing. At the very least, Obadiah's Iron Monger should be an excellent experience farm.
What he needed to consider now was how to ensure a hundred percent chance of defeating him.
'Incursio' was powerful, but compared to Iron Man, it currently had two serious drawbacks. First, the offensive capability wasn't quite enough, and his spells weren't mature yet.
Second, his anti-air capability was weak. Although 'Incursio' was evolutionary, Fini currently lacked the ability to make it evolve anti-air attributes, and since he couldn't open a portal, it was quite distressing.
Thinking this way, Fini suddenly realized he was actually quite weak, and he couldn't help but let out a frustrated sigh.
But in reality, that wasn't exactly the case. Although he didn't know how high the metal defense of the Iron Man suit was, as long as it wasn't full Vibranium, it shouldn't be better than 'Incursio.'
Furthermore, the physical buff 'Incursio' gave Fini's body—his strength, agility, and other stats—definitely exceeded what the suit gave Tony.
In a close-quarters fight without considering aerial combat, with Fini's nearly a year of combat experience combined with the current level of "artificial retardation" and Tony's own skill level, it should be enough to beat him senseless.
Moreover, the hardest part of opening a portal was actually the guidance of energy. After the stimulation from last time, he could already produce sparks, which meant he wasn't far from successfully opening a door.
With the comprehensive buff of 'Incursio,' he should be able to open one before long. At that point, he'd at least have some means of aerial maneuverability.
Thinking about it this way, Fini regained some confidence.
In the living room, Skye emerged from her room and saw Fini sitting on the sofa, intently watching the TV—specifically the news about Tony Stark. She couldn't help but be surprised: "I've noticed you've been paying a lot of attention to this guy lately?"
"Of course. My future wallet depends on him."
Fini stood up and stretched. His attention on Tony Stark these past few days was mainly to see if his presence had caused any butterfly effects, but so far, there seemed to be nothing abnormal.
Hearing Fini's words, Skye was instantly curious: "What do you mean? And aren't they saying Tony Stark was attacked by terrorists and is already dead?"
"How is that possible!"
Fini looked at the TV host who was listing Tony's various achievements with a mournful expression. He curled his lip and said, "This guy is tough. Right now, he's probably with the most important man in his life, both of them dripping with sweat while doing the most important thing!"
Yinsen sacrificed himself to save Tony, so he should count as the most important man in his life. Building the Mark I involved smithing, which was definitely hot, and if they didn't build it, they would die, so it was definitely the most important thing.
"???"
Little Skye had many question marks.
But Fini, who never gave spoilers, ignored Skye's questioning gaze. Straightening his clothes, he said, "I'm heading back. I might be busy for a few days; stay home and keep Mom and Dad company."
Because they had followed Fini's advice, the two elders had retired from the law firm and were finding it very difficult to adjust to having nothing to do.
Kamar-Taj was a sacred land for sorcerers' cultivation; it wasn't suitable for bringing ordinary people for long stays or sightseeing. As for letting the two of them practice magic...
If magic were really that easy to learn, the streets would have been full of sorcerers long ago.
So Fini had been thinking about arranging a trip for them. As long as they weren't in New York, the safety coefficient in other places seemed fairly high.
Fini's current priority was to master the portal and then trigger the fourth draw as soon as possible. If it weren't for 'Incursio' from the third draw, his progress wouldn't have been nearly this fast.
Subsequently, after much consideration, Fini first sent his parents to London and Hong Kong for a long vacation. There were Sanctums there, and if anything happened, he could rush there instantly.
The days passed, and more than two months vanished in the blink of an eye. The news about Tony Stark gradually died down. Almost everyone believed he was dead; they were just waiting to find a body to make the official announcement.
Except for Obadiah, who was being blackmailed by terrorists, and Tony's friend in the military—and perhaps a certain one-eyed, bald Director.
Kamar-Taj, night, in the training grounds.
Wearing a Sling Ring and clad in 'Incursio,' Fini practiced alone with great effort. In the darkness, sparks of energy flickered and glowed in the void.
"Portal!"
Inside the armor, Fini concentrated and spoke in a low voice. Following his hand gestures, a ring of sparks like a circle of fire finally appeared slowly in front of him. On the other side of the ring was the house he had rented in New York.
Immediately, Fini stepped quickly through the portal. Looking at the familiar surroundings, he was incredibly excited. He had finally succeeded.
With the dual help of 'Ars Magna' and 'Incursio,' he had finally mastered this dream spell during a year of cultivation. Although the range of transmission was currently limited and the opening speed wasn't fast, he had succeeded regardless.
Next, as long as he also mastered the Mirror Dimension, he would temporarily have no regrets on this path of the sorcerer.
(End of Chapter)