51. Shocked Tony

Stark Tower, New York – 15 Minutes Before John's Breakthrough

After six months of non-stop reconstruction, most of the destroyed buildings had regained their former grandeur.

Except for one.

The former Stark Tower now bore a bold "A" atop its structure, proudly marking its transformation into the Avengers Tower. It wasn't just a base—it was a symbol of Earth's mightiest heroes, a beacon for those who would stand against any threat.

Inside the tower, Bruce Banner sat in a dimly lit lounge, surrounded by research notes. Over the past six months, he had been residing here, training under John's guidance, and delving into the mysteries of wizardry.

Yet, despite all his efforts, his progress remained at a frustrating standstill.

Bruce had successfully inscribed a meditation rune into his spiritual sea, a feat that had stabilized his emotions and granted him remarkable control over his transformations. Even Hulk, once a raging beast, had undergone an astonishing change. He no longer fought against Bruce—he worked with him.

But there was a problem.

Unlike the other in John's group, Bruce couldn't inscribe any ability runes or elemental runes. Even John, with all his experience, had no explanation for this.

And yet, Bruce's spiritual energy continued to grow at an alarming rate, far exceeding that of an ordinary star wizard. It was as if his body and mind were undergoing a completely unique evolution.

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Maybe I should ask John again…"

---

Not far away, in one of the luxurious lounges of Avengers Tower, Tony Stark and Pepper sat together on a plush couch, enjoying a quiet moment.

Tony swirled the wine in his glass, watching as Pepper played with a floating fireball in her palm, her eyes shimmering with excitement.

"Seriously, are you not tired of playing?" Tony sighed, shaking his head in amusement.

Pepper chuckled, making the flames dance and shift into different shapes. "Come on, just a little more. Even now, I still can't believe I have these powers—like some mage from the movies."

Tony raised an eyebrow. "You really love this, don't you?"

Pepper smirked. "Maybe a little."

Before Tony could reply, he suddenly froze, his playful expression vanishing in an instant. His gaze turned sharp as he stared into the distance, sensing something powerful and unnatural.

Pepper noticed his shift in demeanor and frowned. "Tony? What's wrong?"

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he activated his teleportation rune, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone.

Pepper sighed but didn't seem surprised. "Typical Tony…" she muttered, swirling the fireball once more.

---

Tony reappeared in front of the Stark Mansion, but the sight before him caught him off guard.

The entire structure was trembling, as if caught in an invisible force. Walls, furniture, and even chunks of the ground were floating in mid-air, spinning in slow, chaotic motions.

Before he could take another step forward, a calm voice spoke from behind him.

"Don't disturb John. He is attempting a breakthrough."

Tony spun around, his gaze landing on a bald woman in golden robes. His eyes narrowed.

"Weird dressing style… do I know you?"

The woman simply smiled. "Wait for John. Then, you will understand."

Tony frowned but didn't press further. Instead, he turned his attention back to the mansion. He could feel it now—waves of energy surging outward, growing more intense by the second.

Then, without warning—

A shockwave burst from the mansion, sending debris flying in all directions. The very air crackled with raw power as a force field formed around John's location. The walls of the mansion broke apart, but instead of collapsing, they levitated, swirling in a mesmerizing display of destruction.

And yet, despite all this—John was still inside, pushing forward.

Tony clenched his fists, a mix of worry and awe washing over him.

---

For thirty minutes, the chaos continued.

Then—it stopped.

The floating debris dropped to the ground with a deafening crash, leaving a massive pile of rubble where the mansion once stood.

At the center of it all, John stood, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.

The moment he opened his eyes, the Ancient One's gaze sharpened.

'He's grown stronger. Maybe i Should ask him?' she pondered. But after a brief moment, she shook her head. 'Let's wait a little longer.'

With a single step, John vanished from his spot—and reappeared in front of them in an instant.

He turned to the Ancient One first, giving a respectful nod. "Thank you, Ancient One, for looking out for me during my breakthrough."

Then, he turned to Tony and grinned. "Oh, by the way, let me introduce you two." He gestured between them. "Tony, this is the Ancient One, the Sorcerer Supreme. And Ancient One, this is Tony Stark, the genius billionaire playboy philanthropist."

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Sorcerer Supreme? Sounds like a fancy title."

The Ancient One smiled. "And you, Mr. Stark, are as amusing as I expected."

After exchanging a few more words, the Ancient One took her leave.

Tony then turned back to John and let out a deep sigh. His eyes moved from John to the destroyed mansion and back to John again. His face was full of heartache.

"You know, when people say 'breakthrough,' they don't mean breaking the whole damn house, right?"

John scratched his cheek, looking a little embarrassed. "Well… surprise?"

Tony pinched the bridge of his nose. "You owe me a new house."

"Sure, sure," John said quickly. "But let's go back to New York first. I'll deal with this later."

Tony sighed again, clearly not convinced. "You better."

With that, the two of them activated their teleportation runes, vanishing in a flash of light.