Chapter 103: The Power of Arcanes

What Marcus had realized was the potential of Arcanes—special enhancements that, like Amplifier Crystals, could be used to strengthen Warframes and weapons.

Though similar to Amplifier Crystals, Arcanes required a different fabrication approach.

The distinction wasn't that Arcanes were less powerful than Amplifier Crystals, but rather that Arcane production involved two completely separate phases.

Creating an Arcane required first crafting the base component, then injecting energy to transform it into a finished product. With the Foundry at his disposal, manufacturing the base components wasn't difficult.

Though Marcus hadn't yet mastered the technology for creating finished Arcanes, he had the Phoenix Force residue at hand. By injecting this into a base Arcane, he could complete half the process.

While simply injecting energy wouldn't unlock an Arcane's full potential, it would at least allow the energy within to influence weapons or Warframes.

He could increase the Arcane's power by continuously improving his manufacturing techniques, eventually crafting a fully realized Arcane.

This possibility excited Marcus. In the future, he might encounter many different energy sources. If he could inject these various powers into Arcanes, he could harness a diverse array of abilities.

Following his commands, the Foundry began operation, producing one semicircular Arcane after another.

These were empty vessels, containing no power. By mastering Arcane technology, he could create various types—and potentially develop his own unique designs.

Picking up one of the base components, Marcus channeled Void energy, injecting the Phoenix Force residue into the Arcane.

The moment the energy entered, the previously plain white, dim Arcane lit up brilliantly, with flame-like light emanating from its surface.

"As expected of the Phoenix Force," Marcus murmured. "Even a trace amount carries such power."

He fused this Phoenix-infused Arcane into a dagger. With the addition of Void energy, flame-like power instantly enveloped the blade.

He gently waved the dagger at unused material on the workbench. The flame-wreathed blade cut through the high-density alloy instantly, leaving countless ash particles floating around the edge.

The dagger had been imbued with Phoenix qualities, gaining properties of this cosmic force.

Removing the Arcane from the dagger, Marcus transformed into Limbo and integrated it into the Warframe instead.

Upon fusion, he immediately felt the enhancement. Like the dagger before, Limbo now carried characteristics of the Phoenix Force.

A trace of Phoenix power now existed within the Rift Plane. When banishing targets into the Rift, he could use this power to devastate them.

This effect dramatically improved Limbo's capabilities, granting this normally defensive Warframe tremendous destructive potential.

"Fascinating," Marcus observed. "We should pay close attention to different energy sources in the future."

Various energies could not only extract Aya Stars but could also empower the Arcanes in his possession, providing entirely different abilities.

"This is just with basic energy injection. If I master finished Arcane technology, I might be able to harness the true power of the Phoenix."

Removing the Arcane, Marcus held the red-glowing enhancement in his hand, examining it carefully.

"I'll call this one 'Phoenix Breath,'" he decided.

He placed the Phoenix Breath into his spatial belt. This powerful Arcane couldn't remain integrated permanently—accidentally killing someone with its power would be disastrous.

After storing the Phoenix Breath, Marcus produced another energy mass.

This was a sample he had kept when extracting Aya Stars from the pyramid. Initially preserved for study, he now had a new idea.

He could inject the cyan pyramid energy into another Arcane base, mastering the unique power of the pyramid.

Moving quickly, he channeled the cyan energy into an Arcane, which immediately began emitting a matching cyan light.

"Now I have two Arcanes with different powers," he noted. "The first is Phoenix Breath, and this one will be 'Pharaoh's Light'—appropriate since it came from the pyramid."

Looking at the cyan-glowing Arcane in his hand, Marcus suddenly thought of something related to pharaohs—a powerful Warframe that controlled desert powers.

"Should I craft that Warframe next?" he wondered.

He possessed 21 Aya Stars, enough to create five different Warframes. Even if he kept four Stars as spares, he could still shape four complete frames.

This abundance meant he no longer needed to be so selective. Creating a desert-controlling Warframe wouldn't deplete his resources significantly.

"I've decided—Inaros, the Sandstorm!"

Four Aya Stars slowly floated upward, surrounding Marcus and forming an energy cocoon around him. Bright blue light illuminated the entire laboratory.

Time passed rapidly as the cocoon grew increasingly brilliant. With a sharp cracking sound, the energy structure shattered, dispersing countless energy particles in all directions.

Simultaneously, yellow sand materialized throughout the laboratory. From this sand emerged a desiccated figure with arms crossed over its chest.

Inaros, the lord of the desert, was a Warframe that could stir up sandstorms and devour all life.

Marcus raised his hand, examining the withered, sand-like arm. The shaping process had been completed successfully.

"This is the desert god and master of life energy, Inaros?" he marveled. "Truly formidable."

He could feel the floor beneath him transforming into sand, while insect-like organisms within this sand had their life force drained by the Warframe.

Without restraining this power, the entire laboratory would soon become a sea of sand, spreading toward other rooms in the school.

Containing Inaros's power, Marcus integrated the Pharaoh's Light Arcane into the Warframe.

Hummm~

A resonant humming filled the air as the energy throughout the Warframe shifted from sandy yellow to cyan. Scorching power radiated continuously from the frame, as if threatening to transform everything nearby into arid desert.

"This is incredible," Marcus exclaimed. "I didn't expect Pharaoh's Light to have such an effect, and—"

He touched the energy node on Inaros's forehead. Something seemed to be gathering there, wanting to burst forth.

Looking at materials on the ground, Marcus activated the forehead node. A cyan beam shot outward, gliding across the materials.

The scorching energy ray melted the alloy, cleanly splitting it in two.

This development stunned even Marcus. This attack ability wasn't native to Inaros.

The Arcane not only caused the Warframe to emit intense heat that dried its surroundings but had actually granted it an entirely new offensive capability.

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