Finney couldn't do anything about choking on food, but he didn't want to be controlled by power either. Living a life where he couldn't even daydream without consequences—that was far too terrifying. After all, some things are best left in the imagination. If they were to actually come true, he'd be horrified. For example… imagining himself in women's clothing? No thanks.
In his new home, the television was flooded with programs reporting on Tony Stark's attack and disappearance. It had already been a week, and most people were starting to speculate that Stark was dead. The situation had caused Stark Industries' stock to plummet. Finney thought about taking the opportunity to buy some shares but found he couldn't—someone had already begun snapping them up behind the scenes.
Thinking it through, this attack was orchestrated by Obadiah Stane. As someone capable of pulling off such a plan, Stane must've anticipated the aftermath of Tony's death, including the fall in stock prices. It wouldn't be so easy for outsiders to swoop in and take advantage of it.
Actually, the best time to buy would be after Tony's unexpected return, especially when he announces the closure of the weapons division. That would shake up the market. Still, with the funds Finney had on hand, he wouldn't be able to buy much—certainly not enough to become a director or hold sway over the company. So his best bet was to hold on to the shares and sell them at a higher price later.
Finney sat watching the TV, lost in thought.
As for the idea of saving Tony Stark to earn his gratitude—he didn't think much of that either. Even if he wanted to, he doubted he could pull it off with just the 'Jack Pyro Compass.' And more importantly, there was no real need. Tony would still become Iron Man even without his intervention. He'd still grow into a righteous hero. Maybe arrogant, maybe self-absorbed—but still someone with a fundamentally good heart.
Finney had no intention of interfering with that. The world could always use another good person, and besides, he had already aligned himself with the greatest "backer" of all—the Ancient One. There was no reason to go out of his way to curry favor with Tony Stark.
In his mind, science and magic stood on opposite ends of the spectrum anyway.
That said, Finney wasn't about to sit around and do nothing. At the very least, Obadiah—soon to become the Iron Monger—would make a perfect "experience dummy." The only thing was figuring out how to take him down with 100% certainty.
The 'Haunted by Demons' ability was powerful, but compared to Iron Man, it had two major shortcomings. First: lack of offensive capability. His spells were still immature. Second: poor air combat ability. While 'Haunted by Demons' could evolve, Finney currently didn't have the attribute required to trigger spatial evolution. He couldn't even open a portal yet, and that was frustrating.
Thinking about all this made Finney feel weak—and he let out a long, depressed sigh.
Still, in reality, things weren't so dire. He didn't know exactly how tough Iron Man's metal armor was, but unless it was full-body vibranium, it probably wasn't stronger than the enchanted 'Haunted by Demons' gear. Plus, 'Haunted by Demons' gave Finney boosts in strength, agility, and other attributes—probably more than what Tony's suit provided at this stage.
Ignoring air combat for now, in close quarters, Finney's nearly year-long combat experience—and Tony's lack of training—should give him a strong edge.
Also, the hardest part of opening a portal was the energy guidance. After his last breakthrough, he could at least produce sparks. That meant he was close. With the boost from 'Haunted by Demons,' he should be able to open one soon. Once he managed that, he'd have some level of aerial mobility.
Thinking it over again, Finney regained a bit of confidence.
In the living room, Skye stepped out of her room and was surprised to see Finney on the sofa, watching TV so intently—especially the news about Tony Stark.
"I've noticed you've been following this guy's news a lot lately," she said curiously.
"Of course. My wallet might depend on him in the future," Finney replied, standing and stretching. For the past few days, he'd been keeping an eye on Tony not out of admiration, but because he was concerned whether his presence might trigger a butterfly effect. So far, things seemed normal.
"What do you mean?" Skye asked. "Didn't they say Tony Stark was attacked by terrorists? Most people think he's already dead."
"How could that be!" Finney scoffed, glancing at the TV host who was listing Stark's accomplishments in a somber tone. "This guy is incredible. Right now, he's probably sweating it out doing the most important thing of his life—with the most important man of his life."
Skye blinked. "What?"
"I mean Ethan," Finney said, rolling his eyes. "He sacrificed himself to save Tony. That makes him the most important man in Tony's life. They're building the Mark I suit together, forging metal—hot and dangerous. If they fail, they die. So yes, it's the most important thing."
"???"
Skye had a dozen question marks in her head, but Finney—never one to spoil the future—ignored her puzzled look. Straightening his clothes, he said, "I'm heading back. Things might get a little hectic in the coming days. Stay home with my parents, keep them company."
After following Finney's advice, his parents had retired from their law firm. But adjusting to having nothing to do was difficult for them. Kama Taj, being a sacred training ground for mages, wasn't suitable for non-magical folks to hang around. And as for getting them to practice magic…
Well, if it were that easy to become a mage, the streets would be full of them.
Finney had been considering options, like sending them on a trip. As long as they weren't in New York, their safety would be far easier to manage.
Right now, his top priority was mastering the portal spell and unlocking the fourth extraction. Without the third extraction—'Haunted by Demons'—his progress wouldn't have been this fast.
After thinking it over, Finney arranged a long vacation for his parents in London and Hong Kong. Both cities housed Sanctums. If anything happened, they'd be protected.
Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, over two months had gone by. The world had gradually stopped talking about Tony Stark. Almost everyone believed he was dead, and there was even talk of recovering his body.
Except for Obadiah, who was busy covering his tracks and dealing with terrorists, and maybe that one-eyed director in the shadows.
Kama Taj. Nighttime. In the stillness of the training grounds.
Wearing his sling ring and the 'Haunted by Demons' armor, Finney trained alone. In the darkness, sparks of energy erupted, briefly lighting up the void.
"Portal!" he called out from within the armor, focusing deeply. With precise movements, a fiery ring of energy began to form—a teleportation circle. Slowly, it expanded, revealing the familiar sight of his rented home in New York on the other side.
Finney quickly stepped through.
Looking around at the familiar furniture and surroundings, his heart raced with excitement.
He had done it. Finally.
With the combined help of the 'Golden Great Technique' and 'Haunted by Demons,' and after a year of training, he had finally mastered the portal spell. The range was limited, and the casting speed wasn't the best, but he had done it.
Next on his list: learning the Mirror Dimension.
If he could pull that off, he'd finally have no regrets—at least for now—on his path as a mage.