High Above
James Holden's figure shot skyward, piercing the clouds in a blink. New York's skyline shrank rapidly, its lights fading into pinpricks swallowed by the deep blue night. Altitude climbed, air thinning, but his bio-force field adjusted seamlessly, shielding him from the void.
His skin tingled under cosmic rays, a mere breeze to his steel body.
"Not fast enough," he muttered, streamlining his posture, arms pinned to his sides. His bio-force field formed a sleek barrier around him.
"Accelerate."
BOOM!
His speed surged past 100 Mach, then 130, reaching the atmosphere's edge. Earth's curve emerged in his vision, a breathtaking blend of blue oceans and white clouds.
The final wisps of atmosphere tore apart as James entered space.
In the boundless dark, he streaked like a rogue meteor toward the sun. Free of air resistance, his velocity climbed—0.1c, 0.2c… After his last solar absorption, his max speed hit 0.5c.
"At this rate, I'll reach the sun in minutes."
He relaxed, letting inertia carry him. His super senses caught cosmic whispers: astronauts on the ISS gazing at Earth, satellites orbiting silently, and, on Earth's far side, a cloaked alien scout ship lurking.
His super vision locked onto the craft, its optical camouflage useless against his penetrating gaze. "Not Earth tech… nor Asgardian."
The ship sensed danger, engines flaring to flee. James hovered, eyes glinting gold.
"Since you're here, stay."
His eyes blazed, twin crimson heat beams slicing the void. No explosion, no debris—just a silent collapse as the beams pierced the engine core, vaporizing the ship.
Fragments grazed his cheek, evaporating on contact. "Someone's curious about Earth," he noted, memorizing the coordinates.
After incinerating the wreckage, James resumed his ascent. The universe unfurled before him.
Here, he felt true freedom—no gravity, no resistance, only eternal starlight. The sun's glow enveloped him, warm and maternal, filling him with power.
"This is home!"
He surrendered to the sun's pull, golden energy coursing through his veins, every cell singing with joy.
As he neared, the corona's plasma flames danced vividly. James spread his arms, diving into the sun's embrace.
Flames kissed his skin, not burning but flooding him with fullness. He inhaled deeply—though space lacked air, solar radiation was his nourishment.
Slowing, he adjusted his posture. Golden plasma surged like waves, occasional solar flares unleashing planet-killing energy. To James, it was pure sustenance.
"Now…"
He sat cross-legged amid the corona, golden energy swirling around him. Flames cocooned him, power flooding every cell.
"Time to experiment."
If my power comes from the sun, can magic use solar energy as its medium?
The idea had simmered since Kamar-Taj. The Ancient One had said, "Magic is energy flow; mediums are just tools."
If his body was an energy vessel, could he cast spells directly?
He closed his eyes, recalling Kamar-Taj's teachings. Mages used sling rings or artifacts to borrow dimensional energy, guided by chants and gestures. The Ancient One drew from the Dark Dimension, but her strength lay in mastering rules.
James's solar energy was internalized, needing no borrowing.
"If I can use my own energy instead of dimensional power, I won't need external mediums."
My rules are the rules.
Ditching Kamar-Taj's methods, he guided energy his way. First, he imagined sparks flowing from his fingertips. Only faint glimmers appeared, fading quickly.
Next, he wrapped energy around his palm like his bio-force field. Sparks lasted longer but didn't form.
On the third try, he let energy flow naturally, like breathing. "Maybe magic doesn't need force but follows energy's nature."
Relaxing, he merged with the solar energy. "I don't borrow power—I am power."
He raised a hand, no circles or chants, just willing energy to release.
HUM!
Golden sparks erupted, expanding into a full portal. Earth's clouds shimmered on the other side.
"Success!"
Each spell consumed minimal energy, instantly replenished by the sun. "As long as I'm in solar range or don't drain my reserves, I can cast endlessly."
This meant unlimited portals without sling rings, stronger spells with purer solar energy, and a unique solar magic system.
Hovering in the sun's flames, James's eyes gleamed. "There's huge potential here."
He envisioned compressing solar energy into magic projectiles or weapons, stabilizing or disrupting dimensions, or fusing magic with superpowers—like soul-searing heat vision, trapping foes in mirror dimensions, or galaxy-spanning teleports with super speed.
Calming his excitement, he knew his physical prowess meant he rarely needed advanced magic. He glanced at Earth, smirking.
"It's early. Before I head back, let's try a tougher spell."
He raised a hand, golden energy pooling, aiming to open a portal to another dimension—like Hell, to glimpse its horrors, or the Dark Dimension, to taunt Dormammu.
Like a kid with a smartphone, he wanted to poke everything.