Marvel: Incursio

After waking up the next morning, Liam began formulating a new training plan.

'I need to improve my control over the white energy,' he thought, writing down his first priority. 'Next, I should work on my domain skills through active combat.'

'While controlling white energy can't really be practiced effectively in combat, training with the domain is different,' he reasoned.

'I should ask the Ancient One to send me the locations of multiple dimensional tears. That way, I can get my armor to adapt more and improve my proficiency with my domain as well.'

He also made a note to study more advanced notes from other masters on the Eldritchs construct spell.

Liam had already achieved a high level of skill with the spell, but to go beyond his current limits, research and learning extensions developed by past masters were much needed.

'Some people spend their entire lives training spells and creating custom extensions,' he reflected. 'I've seen some of their scrolls before, but I wasn't ready to learn them at the time.'

'Now, though, I'm ready.' He thought, getting excited. 'Especially the extensions for making constructs float and designing mechanisms to create animal forms.'

The floating construct extension was developed roughly two hundred years ago, but barely anyone had ever reached the mastery required to use it. The creator had created a method for integrating floating and accelerating enhancements directly into the construct creation process.

As for the animal-form extension, it was even older and far more complex. The challenge wasn't shaping the construct into an animal—it was engineering mechanisms to make it move on orders.

For example, the master who created this extension had created two bull-shaped constructs that could temporarily lock onto a target and charge at them with extremely sharp horns that could pierce straight through walls.

'Essentially, the master crafted the animal shape and used energy to add a targeting system,' Liam thought.

'I'll need to learn how to combine enhancements into constructs during the creation proces and the specific enhancements themselves. It'll take a while but it'll be worth it,' he concluded. 'If I had rat constructs programmed to search for enemies, I could've cleaned up the Hydra agents much faster.'

Although such constructs wouldn't be effective against powerful opponents or even while they are present, they would be extremely useful for dealing with large groups of enemies while alone.

'And as I grow stronger and gain more access to energy…' Liam smiled at the thought.

'Imagine thousands of rats that can bite through steel doors swarming towards you.'

His mind set, Liam decided to visit the Ancient One. After all, the scrolls he wanted weren't easily accessible—they were the life's work of legendary master magicians from different times. The Ancient One wouldn't want just any rookie to try and learn these extensions.

'I can also ask for locations of dimensional tears,' he mused as he walked down the corridors.

'I really need a way to locate them myself. While my eldritch sight has improved to cover about two miles, tracking tears across the globe is a completely different matter.'

He searched for the Ancient One in the usual places where she spend her time but found no sign of her.

'That's unusual,' Liam thought, frowning. 'Where could she have gone?'

Since he couldn't locate her, he decided to wait in her study. While seated, he continued thinking over his plan to establish an organization.

'The easiest way to gather resources is by seizing them from Hydra bases that are still standing,' he reasoned. 'I doubt Strucker destroyed all of the bases Alexander knew about.'

'I also need to recruit normal people and scientists.' He thought.

He'd need scientists for his organization—not just for research, but to design facilities like Charles Xavier's Danger Room for example.

'They might also be able to create hybrid tools by combining science and magic,' he mused.

As for regular people, he'd need those capable in politics- the thought of politics filled him with pain.

'I don't want to be bothered with a giant target on my back as some kind of rogue organization while I try to keep other dimensions from invading.'

On the scientific side, he already had a destination in mind.

'Wakanda would be ideal,' Liam concluded. 'Their beliefs and connection to Bast make them more likely to accept magic.'

'With their open-mindedness, there will likely be many people talented in both science and magic,' he thought. 'It'll be like killing two birds with one stone.'

As these thoughts continued, a ripple distorted the room before him. The Ancient One appeared, carrying an unconscious Illyana.

"What happened to her?" Liam asked.

"Worry not," the Ancient One replied calmly. "This is a result of meditating and confronting her trauma. Embracing her other personality will be a long process."

Liam nodded, understanding. He knew Illyana had an incredibly deep trauma, and facing it needed time and patience. Besides, Liam trusted the Ancient One and knew she wouldn't hurt her.

'Training Illyana in the Mirror Dimension,' Liam thought, remembering that he had yet to learn the Mirror Dimension himself. 'Makes sense—it's the best way to ensure her dark powers don't hurt anyone while she confronts her traumas.'

"Now, young Liam," the Ancient One said. "What brings you here?"

"I came to borrow some extensions on the Eldritch Construct spell," he replied.

"Extensions?" she repeated, raising a brow. "You've come far in such a short time. What extensions do you seek?"

"The teachings of Master Morgwyn and Master Veyren," Liam said.

The Ancient One smiled, reaching into her pocket dimension. She retrieved three spellbooks and placed them before him. Gesturing towards the tomes, she invited him to take them.

Liam read the titles. The third book covered the Mirror Dimension.

"Thank you," he said sincerely.

"Thank yourself," the Ancient One responded. "You've truly grown and become a master of the mystical arts."

'Time has indeed gone fast.' He thought, nodding his head in acknowledgment. 

"Is there anything else you need?" she asked.

"Yes," Liam said. "Do you have a map or list of open dimensional tears—regardless of their level?"

"Follow me," the Ancient One instructed.

He trailed her as they approached a wall right outside her study. Without hesitation, she passed through it. Liam followed closely, his eldritch sights detected large energy sources as he noticed the spells covering into the hidden passage.

They walked in silence until they arrived at a vast, open room.

"This is it." the Ancient One said, gesturing for the middle of the room.