From the very beginning, the Eye of Agamotto left behind by the first Sorcerer Supreme, Agamotto himself, was able to unleash the full might of the Time Stone solely through the power of magical incantations. In theory, Gene could also harness the Infinite Stones by using spellcraft—and he even possessed the Eye of Agamotto itself, along with its corresponding set of reference spells. That should, at least, lower the difficulty a little.
But even so, this was a venture steeped in danger. The incantations capable of commanding the Infinite Stones would, without a doubt, be among the highest-tier spells—creations reserved for the Sorcerer Supreme, or someone whose strength rivaled such a figure. Moreover, each Stone contained an incomprehensible, destructive potential. Gene's work with them, so far, had been more a matter of cautious sampling than deep experimentation. A single slip in the process could turn the planet into cosmic dust, obliterated by those deceptively small gemstones.
Gene shook his head and decided to shelve the headache-inducing matter for now. With a slight, graceful motion in the air, he summoned a holographic screen before him. Complex, heavily encrypted sequences activated, and the two containment cubes—one holding the Aether Particles, the other the Planet Devouring Device—slowly descended from above. The floor beneath them opened up, revealing the remaining Infinite Stones stored within. Once the cubes were secured inside, the ground closed seamlessly, not leaving the faintest trace of a gap.
"New armor, Creator," came Skynet's voice. "Do you require any further improvements?"
"For now, no. I'm very satisfied," Gene replied with a small shrug. "Though, the minor battle scuffs will need fixing."
The combat performance of his armor—now fused with Uru metal—was more than satisfactory. It had endured blows from Loki wielding the Odinforce (though Loki was, admittedly, a half-baked wielder of it) and even gone toe-to-toe with Ego, one of the Celestials. The most crucial upgrade, however, was that the combination of Uru, Vibranium, and Kree alloy finally allowed the armor to channel the Space Stone's power on a massive scale without tearing itself apart. For that, Gene was deeply grateful.
"Let's give it a fresh paint job," Gene continued, "and start researching the alloy composition. I want to see if we can replicate its performance."
"Before that," Skynet interjected, "allow me to remind you—the new year is almost upon us. I recommend you make an appearance at Mason Industries' annual gala. You're aware that… the company is now hiring regular human staff to maintain operations. Too long without showing your face might spark unpleasant rumors. While our current power renders such concerns trivial, I believe your presence would still be beneficial."
"The new year? That soon?" Gene's voice held a note of surprise. "Fine. I'll attend the company's gala."
"So that means Christmas and the Lunar New Year are coming up?" Gene asked.
"Exactly, Creator," Skynet confirmed. "Might I suggest… a short vacation could serve you well?"
Christmas arrived. Snowflakes drifted lazily down onto rooftops, while warm fires burned in the hearths of homes. Families gathered around, sharing stories of the year's successes, or simply enjoying each other's company. At Mason Industries' tower, colorful lights danced across the structure, illuminating the winter night sky.
The festive air wasn't limited to Earth. Even aboard the S.W.O.R.D. mothership, Christmas spirit was in full swing. Hallways and the central hall were decked out with shimmering strings of lights, and a towering fir tree stood proudly in the main hall, draped with tinsel and adorned with bulbs in every imaginable hue. Once lit, the green of the fir transformed into a kaleidoscope of colors.
At the entrance, someone had even installed a classic disco ball. Every time a door swung open, it cast bursts of multicolored light across the room. And, fittingly, the speakers played the ever-familiar tune of Jingle Bells.
The idea for a Christmas party had been Daisy's. With no missions from the boss in sight, and with Gene's appearances becoming increasingly rare, she figured it was the perfect moment to throw a celebration before he decided to hand out assignments. Everyone quickly agreed. Curiously enough, no one mentioned the plan to Gene—either by coincidence or mutual instinct—knowing full well that if the boss found out, there was a good chance the festivities would be canceled.
When it came time to decorate, the team's superpowers came in handy. Spider-Man's webbing was used to affix ornaments to the high ceilings. Pietro, with his super speed, decorated the entire Christmas tree in under three seconds. And finally, amid much playful egging-on, Wanda used her Chaos Magic to craft an entirely magical Christmas tree, glowing with a deep crimson light. The tree shimmered as if it were made of pure crystal, every branch and needle perfectly sculpted—a masterpiece of magical artistry. When she finished, the group erupted into applause, making the Scarlet Witch blush ever so slightly.
On one side, Wanda, Pietro, Daisy, and Spider-Man were engaged in an energetic pillow fight. On the other, Jessica—as always—sat at the bar, downing whiskey glass after whiskey glass. She was joined by three "veterans" well past their nineties: the Umbrella Captain, the Winter Soldier, and the Mandarin.
The trio were in high spirits, enjoying drinks from the mysterious East—particularly the Mandarin's favorite: baijiu.
Eddie, with a sly grin and a drink in hand, made his way into their circle…
--------------
T/N:
Access Advance Chapters on my
P@treon: [email protected]/MPHFics