Marvel: Starting with Iron Man in the Apocalypse

Chapter 127 Magic Advancement

In the abandoned underground base of a chemical plant in Gotham City's East Side, Nick Fury stood in the center of the training field, his eyes closed, sensing the magical energy surging within him. This was the first time he had felt such a clear flow of power since gaining his magical aptitude.

"Focus your attention," Chen Haotian's voice came from the monitoring station, "Try to guide the energy to your fingertips."

Nick Fury slowly raised his right hand, a pale blue light gathering at his fingertips. Unlike the sluggish feeling he had experienced in the Marvel Universe, the magical energy flowed as naturally as breathing. With a gentle wave, the light traced a graceful arc in the air before dissipating into shimmering specks of light.

"Energy stability has increased by 300%," Tony recorded the data at the control panel, "and the consumption rate has decreased by nearly half. It seems the DC Universe is indeed more magic-friendly."

Nick Fury opened his single eye, sensing the magical energy flowing through his surroundings: "Here... there are energy nodes everywhere, like an invisible network spreading throughout the city."

Chen Haotian walked to the edge of the training field: "Describe the energy network you feel."

"There are several energy streams beneath Gotham City, the strongest of which flows toward Wayne Manor," Nick Fury pointed northwest, "and several weaker ones flow toward City Hall, Arkham Asylum, and several gang strongholds."

Tony pulled up a map of Gotham City: "This largely matches the distribution of ley line energy we detected before. However, his ability to sense the specific flow direction is a new discovery."

Nick Fury continued to sense: "The energy node beneath Wayne Manor is very special; it... absorbs the surrounding negative emotional energy and then transforms it into some kind of protective energy."

Chen Haotian and Tony exchanged a glance: "It seems that Bruce Wayne's Batcave is not just an ordinary basement."

Suddenly, Nick Fury's body stiffened: "I sense... someone is watching us."

The atmosphere in the training field instantly tensed. Tony immediately activated the base's defense system, while Chen Haotian quickly walked to Nick Fury's side: "Can you pinpoint the location?"

Nick Fury pointed to the ceiling: "Three hundred meters above, to the northeast, moving very fast... not an ordinary person."

Tony pulled up the ground surveillance footage: "It's Batman. He's watching us from the rooftop of the neighboring building."

Chen Haotian sneered, "Since the guest has arrived, we should at least greet him. Nick, try out your new ability."

Nick Fury nodded, his hands forming a complex symbol in front of his chest. An invisible energy wave emanated from him, quickly enveloping the entire base and surrounding area.

"The illusion barrier has been deployed," Nick Fury reported. "In his eyes, the base should already be a ruin."

In the surveillance footage, Batman visibly paused for a moment before beginning to scan the base using various detection devices. A few minutes later, clearly confused by the results, he ultimately chose to temporarily evacuate.

Tony whistled. "That was a good move. He didn't notice anything amiss at all?"

"The barrier distorted his perception," Nick Fury explained. "What he saw, heard, and even what the instruments detected were illusions we wanted him to see."

Chen Haotian nodded in satisfaction: "It seems your magical abilities in the DC Universe have indeed made a qualitative leap. Continue testing your other abilities."

Over the next few hours, Nick Fury tested a variety of magical abilities. In the DC Universe, he can not only easily create realistic illusions, but also sense the emotional fluctuations of others and even predict the short-term future to some extent.

"This predictive ability is limited," Nick Fury said after successfully predicting a lab equipment malfunction. "I can only see the most likely future a few minutes in advance, and the accuracy isn't 100%."

Tony recorded the data: "Even so, this is an extremely valuable ability. In battle, a few minutes of foresight can change the course of a fight."

Chen Haotian pondered for a moment: "Let's try energy manipulation. Let's see how much magical energy you can control in the DC universe."

Nick Fury took a deep breath and slowly raised his hands. The air in the training field began to vibrate, and countless points of light emerged from the void, converging into a shimmering river of energy. As his gestures changed, the energy river split into several tributaries, weaving into a complex three-dimensional network in the air.

"Energy output is five times higher than before," Tony said, looking at the readings, "and control precision has improved by more than three times."

Suddenly, Nick Fury's hand gesture changed, and all the energy instantly contracted, condensing into a dazzling sphere of light in his palm. Complex runes flowed across the surface of the sphere, radiating a chilling energy fluctuation.

"What is this?" Chen Haotian asked.

Nick Fury stared at the orb of light: "I don't know... it formed on its own. It feels like... the beginnings of some kind of magical contract."

Tony immediately took a few steps back: "A magical contract? You'd better be careful, this thing doesn't sound safe."

Nick Fury attempted to probe the sphere of light with a wisp of his consciousness, and immediately felt a massive influx of information flooding his mind. It was detailed information about Gotham City's magical network, including the locations of several important magical nodes, as well as vague information about several potential magical users.

"I saw... a woman in a black robe, she was around Gotham University; and an old man, he was studying some kind of magical artifact in an antique shop..." Nick Fury murmured.

Chen Haotian's eyes sharpened: "Can you identify them?"

Nick Fury shook his head: "The information is vague, as if it's being shielded by some force. But that woman's energy signature... is very ancient, extremely ancient."

The orb of light remained in Nick Fury's hand for a few minutes before suddenly dissipating, as if it had never existed.

Tony checked all the recording devices: "Strange, the instruments didn't record any energy signal from that orb of light. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it existed."

Nick Fury rubbed his temples: "That orb of light... it seems to exist only in magical perception; ordinary instruments can't detect it."

Chen Haotian fell into deep thought: "This means that in the DC Universe, magic exists in another dimension, and only those with magical aptitude can perceive and interact with it."

In the next test, Nick Fury discovered that he could resonate with certain magical objects in the DC Universe. When Tony took out the Amazonian artifact he had previously obtained from Wayne Enterprises, its surface immediately emitted a soft glow, resonating with the magical energy emanating from Nick Fury.

"It's...singing," Nick Fury listened with his eyes closed, "an ancient song, telling the history of the Amazons."

Tony asked curiously, "Can you understand the lyrics?"

"Fragments...snippets," Nick Fury struggled to discern, "mentioning an ancient war, several gods, and...a sealed evil being."

The testing continued late into the night, and Nick Fury's magical abilities continued to grow stronger within the DC Universe environment. Eventually, he was able to maintain three different illusionary barriers simultaneously, sense magical fluctuations within a five-kilometer radius, and even briefly become invisible.

"This rate of progress is astonishing," Tony said, comparing the test data. "At this rate, his magical abilities will reach the peak level we previously predicted in less than a week."

Chen Haotian looked at Nick Fury practicing his invisibility skills in the training ground and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips: "The improvement in magical abilities means that our ability to fight Batman and deal with other threats in Gotham has also been enhanced."

Nick Fury deactivated his invisibility and walked up to the two men: "I sense something big is about to happen in Gotham City... a powerful dark energy is gathering beneath the city."

"Can you pinpoint the exact location and time?" Chen Haotian asked.

Nick Fury shook his head: "The information is vague, but it should be related to Arkham Asylum. The timeframe... is within the next few days."

Tony immediately pulled up the Arkham Asylum database: "Should we remind Batman?"

Chen Haotian sneered: "No need. Let our Dark Knight friends discover it for themselves. We just need to be prepared and lend a helping hand at the appropriate time."

Nick Fury nodded, a glint of magic flashing in his single eye: "At that time, I will sense more detailed information."

After training, Nick Fury remained at the training ground to further adapt to his newly acquired abilities. In the DC Universe, magic was no longer an external force that required deliberate manipulation, but rather a natural extension of his own limbs. As his understanding of Gotham City's magical fabric deepened, he felt a mysterious connection forming between himself and the city.

This connection was both reassuring and unsettling. While sensing the city's magic, Nick Fury also vaguely sensed that some ancient, powerful entity slumbered deep within Gotham City, and that their activities might have already attracted that entity's attention.