American Comics: Heaven's Reward

No wonder Amora had suddenly considered giving in.

The magical abilities Aaron displayed were far too terrifying.

What would normally take others years of effort to master, Aaron seemed to grasp with little difficulty. What others struggled to learn, for Aaron, was nothing more than an illusion.

After just one teaching session, he had absorbed the magic and was already improving at an astonishing speed.

Had she not witnessed it firsthand, Amora would never have believed such a thing was possible.

But now, as Aaron's face took on an indistinct pallor, she saw the toll the magic was taking.

Realizing the immense mana drain, Aaron halted his progress.

There was no way around it—the portal magic consumed far too much energy. The difference between space storage and portal creation was like night and day.

With his current mana reserves, Aaron knew he wouldn't be able to make substantial improvements in such a short time.

Additionally, the energy shield, required to sustain a large phantom space, added to the burden. As a result, his portal magic had only reached Level 2.

Further improvements would take time.

Energy shield magic faced a similar challenge.

In simple terms, energy shields were formed by releasing magical energy into a protective barrier. They were highly effective against energy-based attacks, but far less effective against physical blows.

If Aaron continued to improve, perhaps the shield could be enhanced to better defend against physical damage.

This was vital—many of the powerful heroes and villains of the Marvel world relied on physical strength in combat. Even a magic user like Thor rarely relied on his thunder after awakening.

The defensive strength of an energy shield was also tied to the amount of energy it was supplied with. The more magic one could draw on, the more powerful the shield could become.

For Aaron, this meant that he needed an immense reserve of magical energy.

As for mind charm magic, Aaron hadn't begun practicing it yet.

Looking over at Amora, he got an idea.

[You have performed mind charm magic seriously, and you have gained some proficiency. Mind charm magic proficiency +1]

As Amora's terrified gaze met Aaron's, he used her to advance his own psychic abilities.

This time, Amora truly understood how terrifyingly fast Aaron was improving.

At first, she could brush off the mental pressure he exerted on her, but soon, the pressure became too much. She had to dedicate part of her mind to resisting the waves of mental force.

The speed at which Aaron was progressing was unlike anything she had ever witnessed.

Even when she saw him learn other magic, nothing was as shocking as this direct attack on her mind.

Amora tried to hold on, fighting wave after wave of psychic pressure, her mental barriers and strength pushed to their limits. Yet, as time went on, she could no longer maintain her focus.

The mental assault grew more powerful by the second, until it felt like she was being swept away by a raging river.

Desperate to hold on, Amora fought to resist. But her efforts grew weaker, and she found herself sinking deeper into the storm of psychic energy.

Finally, realizing that if this continued, she would be nothing but a puppet to Aaron, Amora cried out in defeat.

"Wait! I surrender! Please! Don't torment me anymore! I will serve you, be loyal to you forever. No matter what you ask, I will obey it unconditionally!"

Amora's voice quivered with desperation as she realized the severity of the situation. She had once controlled others with this very magic, but to be in the position of being controlled was another matter entirely.

She knew what it was like to strip someone of their free will, to reduce them to a mere instrument of her desires. She didn't want to become that person.

Especially not with Aaron— a master of illusions. If he truly controlled her, even Odin might not notice.

When that day came, she would rather die.

"Are you being honest?" Aaron asked, his tone calm yet piercing.

"Yes! I swear it!" Amora answered quickly. "Everything I say is the truth!"

Seeing Aaron hesitate, Amora rushed to assure him further.

"I swear by the gods, as long as I ever defy your will, or harbor any ill thoughts toward you, my magic will be forever blocked, and I will be condemned by the gods!"

With a final glance at Aaron to ensure he was listening, she added, "And after I die, I will never enter Valhalla. My soul will be condemned to endless torment in Hades!"

Valhalla was the realm where the souls of fallen Asgardians resided. It was the place where warriors who died in battle were honored, continuing to live in spirit, with the possibility of resurrection. It was sacred, revered by all in Asgard.

For Amora to swear an oath like that was no small thing.

Such oaths were powerful in the Marvel universe. Breaking a divine oath could bring consequences beyond imagination. Even Odin himself was cautious about making such vows.

And here was Amora, pledging her eternal loyalty to Aaron.

Once she swore the oath, Aaron stopped his mental assault.

Amora breathed a sigh of relief, though she knew the battle wasn't truly over.

Though Aaron didn't immediately respond, Amora understood that she had saved herself from becoming his puppet. But now, she had bound herself to him in a way that left her no room to refuse his commands.

She had sealed her fate.

Why did I get involved with him? she thought bitterly. I should have known better. This is what I deserve.