Drift Of The Multiverse: [Marvel] [Resident Evil] [DC] [Bleach] [DB]

The cleanup work didn't require Ethan's involvement, as S.H.I.E.L.D. arrived promptly to take over the scene.

Watching S.H.I.E.L.D. escort Ivan Vanko away, Ethan couldn't help but wonder if this man would still avoid falling into Justin Hammer's hands to develop steel armors or "Iron Soldiers." With S.H.I.E.L.D. keeping such a close watch on someone capable of replicating the Arc Reactor, it was far more likely he'd eventually be exploited by Hydra instead.

Even though Tony had successfully avoided the massive confrontation at the Stark Expo, in the long run, Ivan Vanko might still cause trouble in another form.

"It'd be better to just kill him outright," Ethan muttered to himself.

Unfortunately, now wasn't the time. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were everywhere, led by none other than Phil Coulson. Coulson was busy negotiating with Tony about how to handle the public announcement of the attack.

Ivan Vanko's identity and motives couldn't be revealed, so an alternative explanation had to be fabricated. Tony didn't care much about this matter, which made Coulson's job significantly easier, at least he wouldn't have to worry about Tony saying anything outlandish at a press conference.

"You're not attending the press conference?" Coulson asked.

"Nope. Everyone knows I just had major surgery and am 'recovering' at home."

Coulson was secretly relieved. If you're not showing up, that's a win for me! But he couldn't help but point out, "The world also knows you're flying around in that suit of armor. Claiming you're 'recovering' sounds a little far-fetched."

"Just tell them I'm testing a new kind of unmanned armor," Tony said nonchalantly.

Testing advanced technology at home wasn't exactly behavior befitting a recovering patient, but Coulson decided not to press the issue. With Tony out of the picture, the press conference went off smoothly. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s fabricated story was accepted without too much trouble, and things returned to normal.

Tony and Ethan returned to the lab and resumed their work on the magic armor.

Ethan made additional refinements to his equipment.

Designing magical items often felt perfect in theory, but real-world use revealed minor flaws. Drawing inspiration from Wilson's use of the Death Stone, Ethan had formed an energy shield around himself for protection during flight and when breaking through obstacles. While it worked flawlessly, it consumed far more energy than expected, creating potential supply issues when the magic stone was shared with his cloak.

Thankfully, Ethan had initially left his clothes unaltered, which gave him room to correct mistakes.

Magic circle inscriptions had extremely low tolerances for error. A single misstep could render an entire item unusable, with no chance of reworking it. Keeping this in mind, Ethan had designed his equipment with modular parts. He successfully transplanted the energy shield system from the cloak onto his clothes, creating a separate energy supply system for his garments. What had once been ordinary clothes were now a piece of magical gear.

Most of the gear's functions hadn't yet been fully tested, so he could only conduct preliminary trials.

Tony, intrigued by Ethan's creations, joined in, eager to see the functionality of the equipment firsthand.

"You already know most of the cloak's capabilities," Ethan began.

The cloak's primary function was flight, made possible by a combination of special fibers and a meticulously crafted magic circle. Ethan had achieved this level of precision with the assistance of Jarvis, who ensured the design was implemented perfectly.

The success of the flame cloak had given Ethan the confidence to craft similar intricate designs into smaller, more flexible objects.

"In addition to flight and concealing my face, the flame wings can also be used for attacks," Ethan continued.

When the cloak transformed into flame wings, Ethan could control their movements with his mind. While this control was still in its infancy, Ethan envisioned a future where, with improved mental strength and mastery over fire, the flame wings could morph into various shapes for both offense and defense.

"Not bad," Tony said, clearly impressed.

The combination of attack, defense, and flight reminded him of the palm repulsor on his Iron Man armor. Originally designed to stabilize the suit during flight, he had eventually repurposed it as a weapon.

"There's also a bit of magic embedded in the cloak's collar," Ethan added, gesturing to the neck area.

"Oh? What does it do?"

"It supplies oxygen."

This feature was designed for emergencies, such as falling into water or battling underwater. To prevent drowning, the cloak's collar provided a vital safety mechanism.

The underwater breathing spell wasn't particularly difficult, but it required preparation and props. The casting process was too cumbersome for sudden emergencies, so Ethan opted for a more practical solution.

The cloak's collar formed an invisible energy membrane over his face, isolating water and extracting oxygen from the surrounding environment. This feature wasn't limited to underwater use; it also allowed Ethan to breathe during high-speed flight and provided a degree of protection against airborne toxins.

This oxygen-supplying magic, combined with his energy shield, ensured that Ethan could fly without worrying about suffocation. He was grateful he had caught this oversight before it became a problem.

"I get that, and I can guess what your belt does. What about those boots?" Tony asked.

Ethan glanced at his leather boots. They were unassuming, with a simple, low-profile design that paired well with both modern and slightly retro outfits—exactly the versatility Ethan had wanted.

"The boots let me walk on water," Ethan said.

"Walk on water?" Tony repeated, skeptical.

"Yes, literally walk on water."

Tony didn't fully understand why this feature was necessary. In his eyes, the ability to fly rendered water-walking redundant.

Ethan explained that his flight method was fast and straightforward, but not particularly agile. While it was great for traveling long distances, it lacked the precision needed for close-quarters combat. Additionally, the flame cloak consumed significant amounts of magical energy. In contrast, walking on water required very little energy, allowing Ethan to conserve his resources.

"What about the bracers?" Tony asked.

"They allow me to control water elements," Ethan replied.

"What does that mean, exactly?"

"Simply put, they make it easier for me to manipulate water in all its forms."

The bracers were designed with the oceanic world of the Sea of Calm in mind. In a world dominated by water, the ability to control this abundant resource was invaluable. Casting water magic in such an environment consumed less energy and yielded stronger effects compared to other types of magic.

Ethan's frequent use of water-related spells, like water creation, had significantly improved his mastery over the element. With his growing knowledge and mental strength, he had devised a way to channel magical energy through objects rather than himself. This led to the creation of the water-controlling bracers.

"These items are just prototypes," Ethan added. "I'll keep improving and expanding my equipment as needed. For example, once I figure out space energy, I'll create a proper storage tool to carry more of my gear."

After listening to Ethan's detailed explanations, Tony scratched his head. The functionality of Ethan's gear seemed highly specialized.

"Are you planning to visit a world covered in water?" Tony asked.

Ethan hadn't gone out of his way to hide anything, so Tony's deduction wasn't surprising.

"I used to live in one," Ethan admitted.

"That makes sense," Tony said, dropping the subject. Sensing Ethan didn't want to elaborate, he focused back on the magic armor.

As time passed, Tony's magic armor underwent continuous improvements. Through repeated testing and experimentation, Ethan and Tony refined their understanding of how to integrate magic and technology.

The latest iteration of the armor no longer resembled the Mark series. Instead, it looked more like medieval full-plate armor, adorned with intricate, mystical patterns. Powered by the Arc Reactor, the suit emitted a faint, sky-blue glow.

"It's... a masterpiece," Tony marveled.

The helmet had abandoned the square shape of previous models, featuring a softer, more streamlined design. At Ethan's suggestion, decorative elements were added to the forehead and sides, giving the armor an almost ceremonial appearance. Despite its artistic elegance, the armor remained a highly functional weapon.

As they admired their creation and debated whether it looked too artistic to be intimidating, Coulson arrived unannounced.

"What now?" Tony groaned. "If I charged you every time you came to me for help, I'd still be a billionaire even without Stark Industries."

Coulson smiled politely and replied with a line that left Tony momentarily speechless. "Unfortunately, I'm here for Ethan this time."

***

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