Chapter 483: Phase Exam

Whether it was Yog-Sothoth or Vishanti, both were deities that revered knowledge. Many of their devout followers pursued them solely for the sake of obtaining truth and wisdom. This was one of the main reasons why Solomon would never fall into Dormammu's trap. It wasn't just because of the protection of the Ancient One—it was also because he found Dormammu's so-called "forbidden knowledge" completely unimpressive. (In the world of magic, knowledge and power were synonymous.)

White magic was provided by the Book of the Vishanti, while black magic could be accessed through the Silver Key and Randolph Carter's notes. And that wasn't even mentioning the magical knowledge stored within his stigmata. In his entire life, Solomon had never lacked for magical inheritance.

He had grown up immersed in knowledge.

So when Solomon attempted to teach the Maximoff siblings at the speed he had once learned, their reaction was entirely predictable—they developed full-blown information anxiety syndrome.

This psychological disorder, triggered by overwhelming exposure to information pollution, was common among highly educated professionals in high-tech industries—particularly those who frequently handled large volumes of complex data.

For Solomon, however, this was completely incomprehensible.

He had spent his entire life reading with Scholar's Touch, a spell that bombarded the mind with raw knowledge. His brain had been saturated with information from the moment his stigmata awakened. He could even process uncompressed files sent directly from Yog-Sothoth. Compared to that, this level of knowledge was nothing.

But even a steaming cup of hot tea wasn't enough to soothe Pietro's dizziness.

Solomon didn't have superpowers, so he could only rely on scientific methods for teaching.

For instance, Lorna's magnetic abilities could be explained through the principles of electromagnetism—how conductors cutting magnetic field lines could generate currents, which in turn created magnetic forces. Her current project involved calculating how to use her powers to build a portable railgun.

Despite looking like a rebellious punk, Lorna was actually a top student. Athena had already planned to send her to a prestigious private girls' school once she reached high school.

Solomon had even suggested she build a giant combat mech to fight in her place, so she could become a Stand User.

Like Lorna, Pietro's primary area of study was physics.

Solomon had him analyze the mechanics of his speed—how his acceleration affected both his environment and his own body. Using medical reports from Hydra's research, Solomon easily calculated the Maximoff siblings' physical parameters and extrapolated some key data points.

Pietro progressed through science studies much faster than Wanda, thanks to his ability to read and process information at superhuman speeds—similar to a certain speedster from the neighboring universe. Though, of course, he wasn't that fast.

In terms of applied abilities, Solomon's tests confirmed that Pietro could easily break the sound barrier.

At that speed, even a mere sheet of paper could slice like a blade.

"Attention! There's an exam tomorrow!" Solomon's announcement nearly knocked the Maximoff siblings off their feet.

"Pietro, your subject is physics. Wanda, yours is combat training."

The two siblings looked utterly suffocated.

"The test will cover today's lessons. If you pass, you'll earn a one-day trip to London—all expenses paid by me." Solomon raised his hands as if celebrating their upcoming success.

"Especially you, young lady. Maybe you'd like to buy some nice clothes?" He gave Wanda a pointed look.

Solomon noticed that she needed new undergarments. He wasn't about to say it outright, but he could tell.

It was a matter of etiquette—an instinctive behavior for him.

Sure, he drank, fought, smoked, and swore—but he was still a proper gentleman. And a gentleman considered others' feelings.

Solomon had been quite displeased with Wanda's reckless approach to magic, mindlessly hurling raw energy around. But after his lessons, she had finally started using her power with precision. If she continued relying solely on instinct and talent, Chthon would eventually come knocking, demanding payment for the gifts she had taken for granted.

Every gift from fate comes with a hidden price tag.

Solomon knew this all too well—it applied to himself as well.

"I'll take Pietro back first," Solomon said, "then you can wake up that researcher outside. By the way, I'm very pleased with your progress."

The castle didn't just house the Maximoff siblings—Hydra's scientists were also here, desperately trying to replicate the twins' abilities in other test subjects.

Solomon had taken a casual tour of the facility.

Many of the people there had already been driven mad.

It seemed the Maximoff twins were among the very few who could withstand direct exposure to the Mind Stone.

The Avengers had every reason to raze this place to the ground.

But the uncomfortable truth was that not all of Hydra's actions could be blamed on them alone—because this facility was under direct U.S. government jurisdiction.

The reason Hydra had been granted access to the Mind Stone's scepter in the first place was that they were conducting experiments on behalf of the government.

Just like how American pharmaceutical companies, charities, and private organizations experimented with unapproved vaccines on third-world populations, Hydra used its location to bypass domestic legal restrictions.

In the past, the concerns had been tax evasion, human rights, and media scrutiny.

Now, they were up against the Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., and political rivals.

Ever since the Battle of New York, the superhuman craze of the 1970s had resurfaced.

The military and CIA's involvement in psychic experiments had also been dragged back into the public eye.

Tests on telepathy, remote viewing, levitation, and spoon-bending were once again being conducted. Some officials even dreamed of using superpowers to control foreign governments.

Most people didn't have such abilities.

But a small percentage could bend metal plates with their minds.

And those individuals were promptly hunted by the military—for research on communicating with the dead.

That was exactly why Athena's orphanage had been established—to protect children like them.

So, the next time people watched American films accusing other countries of atrocities, they should remember—many of those accusations were projection.

If I've done it, you must have done it too.

That was America's reality.

Reality was far stranger than fiction.

And in this chaotic universe, Solomon already had a file detailing a Congressional-backed experiment on superpowered children.

They had achieved nothing, but that didn't stop them from kidnapping so-called "gifted" kids and forcing them into military service.

Maybe the army needed telekinesis to straighten out their spoons. Who knew?

"What if they realize we're gone?" Pietro asked.

"Oh, that's not a problem," Solomon replied. "I'll just sculpt two snowmen outside. They won't notice."

"Can I do that too?" Wanda asked.

"That's alchemy." Solomon smirked. "You're not ready for that yet. That's an advanced subject. You'll need straight A's in spellcasting, mathematics, and somatic components before you can even think about it."

"Oh, and one more thing," he added. "If you pass tomorrow's exam, you'll both get a little gift—something you can't buy in London."

"Is it a surprise?"

"I promise."

Solomon nodded.

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