31. Another Breakthrough

"Knock, knock..."

Coulson gently tapped on the door of Fury's office.

"Come in," Fury's voice called from inside.

Opening the door, Coulson stepped in and quietly closed it behind him. Standing in front of the imposing figure of Director Fury, he greeted, "Good morning, sir."

Fury glanced up from his desk with a faint smile. "You're looking sharp today, Coulson."

"I always try to be, sir," Coulson replied with a hint of humor, placing a file on the desk.

Without another word, Fury picked up the file and began reading it silently. Once finished, he set it aside and fixed his gaze on Coulson.

"It's been a busy day for you," Fury remarked.

"You can say that again, sir," Coulson responded, his usual calm smile in place.

Fury leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful. "What's your take on this... Thor?"

Coulson answered promptly, "Honest, powerful, and carrying a compelling story. He lost his power for some reason, but a near-death experience brought it back, making him stronger. I think he could be a valuable ally."

Fury raised an eyebrow. "You're impressed. But what about Asgard? Do you think they could ally with us?"

"That, I can't be sure of, sir," Coulson replied honestly.

Fury's expression darkened slightly. "And this person in the Batman costume you mentioned?"

"He appeared out of nowhere and vanished just as quickly. There's no further intel on him yet, sir," Coulson admitted.

Fury fell into deep thought, then spoke again. "I want to meet Dr. Erik Selvig. Make it happen."

Coulson nodded and left the office. Fury, meanwhile, sat silently, his mind racing.

'First jhon Stark... and now this so-called Batman. Their powers are similar yet fundamentally different. Interesting.'

---

1 Year Later,

Inside a dimly lit mansion, John sat cross-legged at the center of his laboratory. The room was filled with strange vials and flickering shadows cast by the faint glow of an assortment of devices. His steady breathing created faint puffs of mist in the cool air as his face remained calm, focused on the currents of energy within him.

For the entire year, John had maintained a single-minded focus on his goal: to reach 10 points in mental power. His routine was unrelenting—meditation for nearly every waking hour, interrupted only by three small meals a day to sustain his body. He had sacrificed all distractions, isolating himself from the outside world to dive deeper into the mysteries of his mind.

The room began to hum softly, the sound resonating from John himself. Instruments on the shelves trembled as a golden glow enveloped his body, pulsating rhythmically.

Above him, the air rippled like waves of heat. The pressure in the room intensified, shattering fragile glass containers. Still, John remained unflinching, his focus unwavering.

Suddenly, his aura flared, beams of golden light radiating outward like solar flares. The ground beneath him cracked as if unable to bear the energy surging through him.

The energy crescendoed into a silent roar, and the glowing cocoon around him shattered into countless fragments, dissolving into a golden mist that swirled briefly before being absorbed back into his body.

John's eyes snapped open, glowing faintly with renewed power. The room stilled, the hum fading into silence.

Exhaling slowly, John murmured to himself, "Finally, another breakthrough."

For three years, John had been walking this path, and today marked another significant milestone. He stood and stretched, testing his newfound strength.

Tapping twice on the bracelet on his wrist, a holographic screen appeared, displaying:

Mental Power: 12.1 points

Physical Strength: 4.8 points

John's eyes lit up. "A two-point increase in mental power and over one point in physical strength."

To outsiders, one point might seem insignificant. But before this breakthrough, John could lift 130 kilograms. Now, he was certain he could surpass 200 kilograms.

Even so, John wasn't disappointed. Physical strength was not his primary path; it was merely a side benefit for him and Tony.

Looking inward, John observed his spiritual sea. Seven vibrant, colorful runes floated within, each pulsating with energy.

"Seven runes… not nine. The last three are special," he muttered.

The seventh rune he had inscribed was the Positioning Rune, followed by the Direction Rune, and finally the Space Node Rune. Individually, they were ordinary, but when fused, they created something extraordinary—a Teleportation Rune.

For now, John's spiritual sea held only seven runes, as the fused runes occupied the same space.

Smiling, John said, "Time to test this."

*****

Outside the Mansion

John stepped out into the open air, the crisp wind brushing against his face. The mansion stood on a cliff, overlooking a vast,sea. The horizon was painted in hues of orange.

Taking a deep breath, John stretched out his arms, feeling the energy surge through him.

"Let's see what I can really do now," he whispered.

He extended his right hand, summoning the first element: Fire. A brilliant orange flame sparked to life, swirling into a ball that hovered above his palm. He hurled it forward, and it exploded midair, sending a wave of heat that scorched the nearby rocks. The sheer intensity of the fireball left blackened marks on the cliffside, the air still shimmering with residual heat.

Next, John focused on Water. A torrent of liquid energy gathered at his fingertips, forming into a sleek, glistening arrow. With a flick of his hand, the arrow shot forward, piercing through a distant boulder with surgical precision. The water splashed down, carving a small groove into the ground as it flowed away.

He turned his attention to Wind. Closing his eyes, he summoned a powerful gust that swirled around him like a miniature cyclone. With a gesture, the wind condensed into a sharp blade of air that sliced through a nearby tree trunk cleanly, leaving the upper half to topple over with a resounding crash.

For Wood, he knelt and placed his palm on the ground. Tendrils of green energy shot forth, sprouting a thick, twisting vine that grew rapidly, wrapping around a large stone and lifting it effortlessly before releasing it with a thud.

John stood amidst the remnants of his testing, surveying the sheer power he now commanded. The cliffside bore marks of fire, water, wind,and more—testaments to his mastery over the elements.

A satisfied grin spread across his face. "I'm stronger than I ever imagined. This is only the beginning. Now.... It time to test teleportation rune."

Focusing on the Teleportation Rune, it began to glow brightly. With a simple tap in the air, the space before him rippled, turning into a circular, water-like portal.

John thought of Tony, instantly sensing his exact location and direction. Without hesitation, he stepped into the portal, the liquid-like surface swallowing him whole.