Let's Compete in Magic, Strange

Tony Stark was alone in his quarters, or so it seemed. Outside, the stillness of Kamar-Taj whispered of midnight silence as the students and sorcerers rested.

But Tony wasn't interested in sleep—he had the Infinity Chamber. Nestled within a quiet corner, the device hummed, shimmering faintly as Tony activated it.

In a flash, he vanished into its dimension, leaving behind a flawless replica, an advanced hologram he'd fashioned with nanobots, blending seamlessly with his surroundings.

Inside the Infinity Chamber, time stretched infinitely, giving him an hour for every 3 minutes in the real world.

Here, Tony practiced magic with relentless focus, fine-tuning his ability to sense and manipulate energy.

He wasn't just working harder but smarter, using his enhanced intellect to analyze and absorb the Ancient One's teachings in ways that felt intuitive.

With each practice session, his control and precision grew sharper, almost instinctive.

By dawn, Tony emerged from the chamber, fully rested thanks to his enhanced physiology, while the hologram dissolved into dust.

---

The following day, the Ancient One gathered her students. Tony leaned against the wall, watching as Wanda practiced energy manipulation.

His sharp eyes caught every move, every nuance the Ancient One shared. As Wanda worked, he mirrored her motions in his mind, silently rehearsing her techniques.

Just then, Stephen Strange entered the training hall. He glanced around before spotting the Ancient One, his face showing a mix of awe and determination.

Strange was here to train, and while he and Tony were acquaintances, a familiar spark of competition lit up their eyes.

Strange had found out about Tony's arrival yesterday so he wasn't fazed and so was Tony.

The Ancient One finished Wanda's lesson and turned to Tony and Stephen.

She held up two Sling Rings, offering one to each of them. "Today, you both will learn to open portals," she announced, her gaze flickering between them. "This task demands clarity of mind, precision, and an awareness of the energy that flows through all things."

Tony studied the Sling Ring, already familiar with its capabilities from his prior knowledge of the Marvel Comics.

He had to be cautious not to give too much away, but inside, he couldn't resist a smirk. This was a skill he'd read about countless times. Now, he was going to master it for real.

Stephen looked over, catching Tony's smirk. "What's so funny, Stark?"

"Oh, nothing," Tony replied casually, slipping the ring onto his hand. "Just wondering if a certain ex-surgeon can handle something a little out of his usual scope. You know, mystical arts don't usually come with instruction manuals."

"Please," Strange shot back, a wry grin tugging at his lips. "I'd think a guy who hides behind suits of armor wouldn't last five minutes in the real world, let alone the mystical one."

Tony chuckled, tilting his head. "Tell you what, Doctor: let's make it interesting. First one to open a portal wins. Unless you'd rather back down now?"

The Ancient One raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "I like this idea. It seems you both thrive on challenges. But rather than remain here… I believe a change of setting is in order." With a simple gesture, she transported them to a desolate, icy mountaintop.

Snow whirled around them, stinging their faces, the cold biting through their robes. Tony pulled his cloak tighter around himself, while Strange shivered visibly.

"Open a portal to return, and you may go back," the Ancient One's voice echoed. "Remember, control your breathing, center your mind, and let go of all distractions."

Tony wasted no time. He steadied his stance and focused, the frigid air reminding him of his time in the desert of Afghanistan.

He closed his eyes, feeling the energy hum beneath the surface, like circuitry waiting to be connected.

His enhanced senses allowed him to perceive the flow of magic around him, and his intellect mapped out the process rapidly. He visualized Kamar-Taj, drawing on his understanding of quantum physics and energy manipulation, aligning it with the Ancient One's teachings.

In less than five minutes, he conjured the outline of a portal, stabilizing it with a flick of his wrist. The portal shimmered, opening fully. He turned to Strange, a triumphant grin on his face.

"Guess I'll see you back there, Doc," he quipped, stepping through the portal and leaving Strange alone on the freezing mountain.

Back in Kamar-Taj, Tony shook off the last of the cold, barely fazed by the effort.

He looked at the Ancient One, who nodded approvingly. His enhanced abilities had accelerated his learning curve, giving him an edge over the other students.

Meanwhile, Strange gritted his teeth on the mountain, determined not to be outdone. His fingers trembled from the cold as he struggled to focus, forcing himself to ignore the harsh wind cutting into his skin.

In his mind, he replayed the Ancient One's words, forcing himself to stay calm and channel his energy. It took him nearly fifty minutes—one-tenth of the time Tony took—but finally, he opened a shaky portal and stumbled back to Kamar-Taj, teeth chattering and hands numb.

The Ancient One looked between them, her expression unreadable. "You both succeeded, but remember: magic is not a competition. It is a path that requires humility, discipline, and respect. Rushing can be as dangerous as hesitation."

Tony nodded, the lesson sinking in despite his pride. But he couldn't resist a final jab. "Not bad, Strange," he said, clapping him on the back. "Only about forty-five minutes behind. You'll catch up eventually."

Strange narrowed his eyes, though a begrudging smile crept onto his face. "Careful, Stark. The next challenge might not go your way."

The Ancient One smiled faintly, turning to leave. "Tomorrow, we'll continue. Remember, mastery lies not in speed, but in understanding. I trust you'll both keep this in mind."

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