Their earlier banter was a mutual ploy to buy time. Obadiah needed his Iron Monger’s systems, especially the super cluster cannon on his right shoulder, to cool down. Sebastian, meanwhile, was recovering from the magical strain of his Seraphim Shield Armor spell.

As Obadiah unleashed his barrage, Sebastian countered. He cast Protego, conjuring an invisible shield that blocked bullets and rockets, then propelled it toward Obadiah with a flick of his dragon heartstring wand.

The explosives detonated mid-air, halted by the shield, which advanced relentlessly. Obadiah’s sensors couldn’t detect it, but he deduced an invisible barrier was closing in. Without hesitation, the Iron Monger’s six thrusters roared, lifting him skyward just as the shield slammed into the ground, shattering earth and stone with immense force.

Sebastian prepared to pursue with Apparition, but a gold-and-red figure and a steel-gray one crashed beside him—Tony and Rhodes, their armors scarred with molten whip marks. Sebastian’s gaze shifted to Zack, limping but still functional, and Vanko, landing beside Obadiah. Beneath his black smoke cloak, Sebastian’s expression grew grim.

Unlike Zack’s electromagnetic attacks or Obadiah’s heavy weaponry, Vanko’s Whiplash armor, with its high-voltage electric whips, was built for close- and mid-range combat. This posed a unique threat. Sebastian’s magic, rooted in his past life’s Hogwarts spells, excelled against human targets but struggled against heavily armored foes like Vanko’s suit, designed to shrug off most magical assaults.

Hogwarts magic was versatile, even cosmic in scope, but lacked raw destructive power against advanced technology after reaching high levels. Conversely, his past-life magic was devastating but less adaptable. Sebastian had traded potions for Kamar-Taj spells, but avoided their core mysteries, wary of entanglements with the Vishanti Trinity. Such ties could bind him like a puppet, limiting his pursuit of magic’s ultimate truths.

Initially, Sebastian’s path was unclear. But his inherited spells, transformed in this world, showed promise. Fiendfyre, for instance, granted him a sliver of hellfire’s authority. This battle’s crisis fused his past-life Protego Maxima and Kamar-Taj’s Shield of the Seraphim into Seraphim Shield Armor—a spell uniquely his, with its own authority. This breakthrough widened his path from a narrow trail to a broad highway.

Sebastian saw a clear path ahead, but magic demanded patience. His journey required steady progress, not instant mastery.

His current arsenal balanced control and chaos. Confringo, his primary combat spell, offered precise destruction. Fiendfyre, however, was a wild force. In a city teeming with civilians, unlike the demon-forged voids of San Venganza, he couldn’t unleash it freely. Even if Fiendfyre defeated Vanko, its uncontrollable hellfire could spread, wreaking havoc. Sebastian refused to become the villain.

He restricted Fiendfyre to high-altitude use, as with Zack, where he could contain its flames post-battle. Facing Vanko now, Sebastian’s expression hardened, strategizing carefully.

“Tony, Rhodes,” he said, “Zack’s the weakest, but watch his electromagnetic fields. Obadiah’s super cluster cannon is devastating—one hit could cripple your armor.”

“That strong?” Rhodes asked. “How’d you survive it?”

“New spell,” Sebastian replied.

“Spell?” Rhodes said, incredulous. “You’re joking, right?”

Sebastian shrugged. Tony grinned. “Rhodes, it’s real magic. I’ve seen it.”

Rhodes eyed Sebastian’s dragon heartstring wand, hesitating. “Like Cinderella’s fairy godmother or Sleeping Beauty’s witch?”

“Good question,” Tony said, stifling a laugh. “I’m curious too.”

Sebastian sighed, the battle’s tension evaporating.

Vanko, fed up with their banter, struck. His high-voltage whip lashed out. Tony lunged in front of Sebastian, arms crossed, but the whip sent him crashing into a concrete wall.

As Tony struggled to rise, Obadiah’s rocket slammed into his chest, hurling him back. His Mark VI armor, now over 50% damaged, blared Jarvis’ warnings in his ears.

Tony moved to mute them when a new message interrupted: “Sir, the Mark Ω prototype is upgraded and assembled. Shall I deploy it?”

Tony’s eyes lit up. “Send it now! Coordinates: 150 meters behind me!”

“Understood! Deploying now!”

—————————

Stark Tower, Engineering Workshop

A sleek red-and-black armor stood in the workshop’s center. Thinner than most models, only slightly bulkier than the portable Mark V, it didn’t boast obvious defensive strength, resembling other armors at a glance.

Under Jarvis’ control, the Mark Ω activated. Its chest’s circular energy core surged with high-power output. Tiny, ancient runes, glowing faint blue, encircled the core. A sparkling Kamar-Taj portal opened before the armor, locked onto Tony’s coordinates.

The Mark Ω stepped through, emerging 150 meters behind Tony.

Tony, buying time, signaled Sebastian and Rhodes and retreated swiftly.

The portal and armor caught Obadiah, Vanko, and Zack’s attention. Without hesitation, they charged toward Tony.

But Sebastian and Rhodes, now free from War Machine’s hijack, intervened. Rhodes laid down suppressive fire, while Sebastian raised his dragon heartstring wand. With a Transfiguration Charm, the ground roiled like a stormy sea, raising thick earthen walls around Obadiah’s trio. Though the walls crumbled under their firepower, they stalled the advance.

In sync, Sebastian and Rhodes split their targets. Sebastian waved his wand, conjuring more earthen barriers to slow Obadiah, while Rhodes pinned Zack with a barrage of bullets.

Vanko, undeterred, surged toward Tony.

Tony reached the Mark Ω. Facing it, his Mark VI’s back split open, and the Mark Ω’s front unfolded. Tony ejected from the Mark VI, sliding seamlessly into the Mark Ω.

Vanko eyed the idle Mark VI, lashing it with a high-voltage whip. The strike sent the empty suit crashing aside. He swung his second whip at Tony, now in the Mark Ω.

But the Mark Ω’s chest and palms flared red. As the whip struck, an invisible barrier—fueled by the rune-enhanced core—blocked it, repelling the high-voltage attack completely.

“How?” Vanko snarled. “What technology is this?”

“Technology?” Tony grinned. “It’s magic!”

Tony aimed at Vanko, his palm glowing with ancient runes. The Mark Ω’s chest core surged, converting energy into magical force. A blazing, lightning-charged beam erupted, slamming into Vanko’s chest and hurling him back.

Tony glanced at his HUD’s energy alert. Despite prior data, the Mark Ω’s consumption stunned him. The magic shield and beam attack drained 8% of the second-generation arc reactor’s power. A first-generation reactor would’ve lost nearly half its charge.

High consumption meant high output. Designed for short, explosive engagements against magical foes, the Mark Ω prioritized rapid, devastating strikes over endurance. Protracted battles weren’t its purpose—if an enemy wasn’t defeated in fifteen minutes, retreat was wiser. Magical opponents required quick, overwhelming force to prevent them from preparing countermeasures.

Vanko staggered to his feet, staring at his armor’s diagnostics. A gaping, charred hole marred his suit, previously unscathed by pulse cannons. As its creator, Vanko knew its resilience; Tony’s sleek Mark Ω was terrifyingly potent.

Obadiah might’ve considered retreat, but Vanko’s all-or-nothing mindset held firm. As a scientist, he understood the energy cost of such power. He believed he could outlast Tony, banking on a secret trump card unknown to Obadiah or Zack.

Tony glided to Sebastian and Rhodes, the Mark Ω’s magic-driven flight system—designed for stealth, dodging heat sensors—landing silently.

“How’s it feel?” Sebastian asked.

“Great, but the energy drain’s insane,” Tony replied.

“It’s not standard armor,” Sebastian said. “High consumption’s expected for a prototype. The final version needs refinement.”

Before Tony could respond, Sebastian dissolved into black smoke, dodging an attack via Apparition. Tony raised his hand, conjuring a Protego-like magic shield to block Obadiah’s incoming fire.

Hovering, wreathed in smoke, Sebastian called to Tony and Rhodes: “Go all out. No more delays.”

“You’re one to talk,” Tony quipped. “We’ve been serious, unlike someone slacking.”

Sebastian chuckled, eyeing Obadiah, Vanko, and Zack below. Tony was right—he’d held back. His past-life Hogwarts magic targeted humans, less effective against armor. Two fights with Obadiah exposed this weakness. Though time was short, Sebastian had prepared a spell for grouped enemies, unusable until now when the trio converged.

His dragon heartstring wand flicked, summoning a searing red current. Powerful magic gathered, poised to strike.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep