Celestial Forge in Marvel

Alex had to do many things in his previous life that he hated, but he had no choice in those matters. Now, as a new man, he finally has options. So when faced with the choice of either dealing with backstabbing, slimy capitalists himself or hiring someone to do it for him, he didn't hesitate he was willing to pay whatever it took to have an employee handle it.

Alex contacted an agency where professional secretaries and executives register, and hired a random candidate to avoid potential honeytraps or similar schemes. He has yet to learn the man's name, but it doesn't matter most of the instructions are relayed through text, email, or occasionally a phone call.

After hiring the secretary, Alex's first orders focused on reorganizing the company. Using his God's Eye system, he screened out individuals who contributed little or posed a risk to the business. It took two weeks to find suitable replacements. During that time, the Celestial Forge rolled twice, but unfortunately, both options were too expensive for him. Instead, he worked on another project, downgrading the Subnautica solar panel technology. The original design was too advanced for this market. After all, what kind of profit-seeking businessman would release his best model right away when he could create several generations of products for greater profit?

He planned to release the solar panel alongside the battery, making it seem as though a breakthrough in battery technology had solved a key issue with solar panel efficiency. He needed to tread carefully in this universe, while he possessed knowledge from both Marvel and DC, that didn't mean he knew everything. More importantly, he had yet to decide whether he should trust the information he remembered from the comics.

The Release

Alex had finally decided to release the advanced solar panel and battery to the public, so he sent an email with his instructions to his assistant. Within just two days, the company had already received its first business offers. As expected, most of these were blatant attempts to buy out the technology entirely. But what else could he expect? That's how capitalism worked. Needless to say, he rejected all offers outright. However, he was willing to license the technology to manufacturers, whether for automobiles, mobile devices, or household appliances.

It took exactly 1 hour and 13 minutes from the first company's offer for Alex and his company to be recorded in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files. Another 20 minutes later, an agent had already been assigned to monitor his company. Even after creating something that could shake the energy market back in his world, S.H.I.E.L.D. apparently still considered him unimportant just another businessman, only worth a low-level agent's attention.

He couldn't describe how relieved he was when he received this information. He didn't have to learn to swim in the deep end like the protagonists of other stories.

The first step of his plan was a success. Now for the second: finding a military general he could hide behind in exchange for advanced weaponry.

But it couldn't be just any general. First, he needed to gather intelligence someone trustworthy or, at the very least, controllable. However, meeting a general required political connections, and to be taken seriously, he needed more technologically advanced products as a form of a résumé as well.

Alex focused on developing new products in the lab while his assistant handled large donations to "friendly" politicians. By "friendly," he meant politicians without direct ties to Hydra or other secret societies. He didn't care if they had indirect connections, but they couldn't be active members. If they were ever exposed, he needed enough distance from them to ensure it wouldn't impact him or his company.

The Next Steps

In the next few weeks, Alex focused on upgrading ordinary technology into innovations that would have revolutionized the market back in his world. However, at this point, it was clear that such advancements didn't matter as much in this world.

Alex understood this thanks to his AI, Watcher, which allowed him to uncover corporate secrets. Most major companies already had their own products upgraded by at least two generations beyond what they released to the public. So, to them, his advancements weren't groundbreaking.

However, for small businesses, these seemingly cheap, licensed upgrades could provide a chance to compete with larger corporations, at least for a while.

During this period, his assistant, with the help of The Watcher, successfully bribed the necessary politicians, enabling Alex to contact the general he had chosen. It might be surprising, but Alex chose General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross. While Ross may be a villain in some comic storylines, he has a strong political background and is loyal to the country not some idealistic notion of justice. As long as his actions align with his principles and provide him benefits, Alex believes he can count on Ross's support.

Alex had already scheduled a meeting with the general. Time was of the essence, as his file had caught the attention of several high-ranking individuals. If Alex didn't want to live off the grid like a supervillain, he needed to align himself with a faction quickly. Partnering with Ross was a safer bet than being swept into some cult-like, secretive organization.

For the meeting, Alex prepared several pieces of advanced technology to showcase. These included a modified stasis rifle, affecting only one target at a time and capable of firing 30 shots before its rechargeable battery needed swapping. He also created a stasis grenade, based on the rifle, which had a wider area of effect but could only be used once. After activation, it either explodes or dissolves, preventing enemies from using it against the military or other purchasers and allowing him to sell more this way. Both weapons featured advanced fingerprint recognition and were constructed from non-magnetic materials to prevent interference from Magneto or others with similar abilities.

Additionally, Alex brought several flying scouting drones, based on his scanner room tech but downgraded so they couldn't penetrate his radar camouflage. He also packed some of his downgraded camouflage technology. All of these items were black-boxed at their core, making them impossible to copy or reverse-engineer.

The familiar hum of the Celestial Forge stirred once more, a pulse of energy resonating through Alex.

[Augmentation R&D (Deus Ex Human Revolution) (200CP)

You have an extensive understanding of the underlying mechanics of DE:HR's cybernetic augmentation architecture; How it works, how it could work, and what avenues to analyse to see if it can be improved - and with time, brand new augmentations. In addition to this, your intelligence is increased to handle such a workload, alongside all the attendant knowledge necessary to mess with the human body - trauma surgery and fixing up broken individuals is an old hat to you, now.]

Successfully purchased.

100 CP remaining.

Luck had truly shone upon him now. With this perk, even if he couldn't obtain a license or the necessary documentation for human experiments in the USA in time for his presentation, he could at least create external augmentations with his other perk, ARTIFICER. These could take the form of glasses that provided several different views or simple tools that could be controlled by thought. It wasn't difficult, as he already had the information on how to program them; he just needed to modify it slightly so that, when equipped on the body, they could still function properly.

This could serve as a great alternative to the super soldier program and could also help disabled veterans become combat-ready again, saving the cost of training new recruits while utilizing their experience. Alex realized the military couldn't fund augmentations for all disabled veterans. However, by offering them a chance to regain their lives, he could build a relatively loyal combat force. He quickly sent a message to his assistant, detailing the permits he needed to request so General Ross could approve them after the meeting, then returned to the laboratory to continue his experiments.

The meeting

Arriving at the military base was an interesting experience for Alex. In his previous life, he had been a nobody, but now he was being escorted in a military vehicle with a smaller squad both in front and behind him. They had picked him up directly from his company's office, bringing along all his inventions in a large chest that was secured in the back. Throughout the entire journey, not a single word was spoken. Truly, Ross knew how to train his men.

After passing through several security checks, he was finally escorted to the testing site, where General Ross was supposedly waiting for him. It was a good decision to bring some assistants to help with the equipment. Otherwise, the soldiers certainly would not have lifted a finger, and he would have been forced to drag the chest himself.

At last, he reached his destination. Seeing the legendary General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross in person was an intimidating experience. Even without saying a word, the sheer presence he emitted would have made Alex want to turn and run if not for the enhancements granted to him by the Celestial Forge. Still, the thought that someone had dared to date his daughter seemed like pure movie fantasy. Alex could not imagine any woman being beautiful enough to make having Ross as a father-in-law worth the trouble.

"Good day, General. I appreciate the opportunity to showcase my products. Even if you believe this is a waste of time and are only here as a favor, I am confident I can change your mind," Alex said, getting straight to the point. He knew soldiers had little patience for unnecessary pleasantries or small talk.

"Excellent. At least you know your place. Get started. If you fail to impress me, I am leaving," General Ross replied, his tone laced with arrogance.

"I am sure my tools will catch your interest."

"We will see."

Alex motioned for his assistants to set the chest down. He opened it, carefully removing the stasis rifle from its custom foam casing, then placed it on the table before closing the chest again.

"This is the first weapon I want to showcase. The stasis rifle has thirty shots and comes with a switchable, rechargeable battery. It can put anything weighing less than two thousand tons into stasis. The range exceeds one hundred fifty meters, and it is constructed from a non-magnetic alloy, making it effective against individuals like Magneto. It is also shielded against EMP blasts."

Ross scoffed. "That sounds like nothing more than a fancy taser. What use would the military have for it?"

"With enhanced individuals emerging like a virus and the military's growing need to capture and detain them, whether for security or research, this is the perfect non-lethal weapon. Its effects cannot be broken by sheer physical strength or unusual abilities, making it ideal for containment operations."

"It is still just talk until I see it in action."

"Of course. You two, lift the chest as high as you can," Alex instructed his assistants.

The two men, hired specifically to transport his equipment, complied, hoisting the heavy chest about one and a half meters above the ground.

"Let it go."

They hesitated briefly before releasing it. As the chest began to fall, Alex fired the stasis rifle. Instantly, the chest froze in mid-air, suspended as if caught in an invisible grip. It remained motionless for two minutes until Alex gave the order for his men to hold it again. At exactly the three-minute mark, the effect dissipated, allowing them to slowly lower the chest back to the ground.

"As you just witnessed, this rifle can stop anything within its parameters for exactly three minutes, which is long enough to subdue most targets. A second shot resets the timer. If all thirty shots are used on the same target, it can keep someone frozen for an hour and thirty minutes," Alex explained, his voice filled with quiet confidence.

Ross's eyes narrowed slightly, a brief flicker of surprise crossing his face before he quickly masked it.

"Impressive," he admitted, though his tone remained deliberately indifferent. "This will require further testing, but if everything you claim is true, the military may be interested in making a purchase."

Alex smirked inwardly. Ross was playing it down, trying to act unimpressed to gain leverage in negotiations. But that was fine. Alex had plenty more to show.

At that moment, the familiar hum of the Celestial Forge stirred once more, its pulse of energy resonating through Alex.

[Nth Metal Ingots (Injustice) (200CP)

Now this is valuable indeed some of the most valuable material on earth, in fact. This set of ingots, when cast into a proper form and utilized in machinery, can negate gravity, allowing for its user to fly if worn as a belt. Furthermore, it possesses extreme strength and power, making it highly suitable for use in weaponry or armor. You gain about ~1 ton of the material, which replenishes weekly if lost or destroyed (and under no other circumstances).

Nth metal has a bunch of other crazy properties like magic negation, cronopowers etc.]

Successfully purchased.

0 CP remaining.

Alex would have laughed out loud in happiness if not for the time and place. Just when he had begun to worry that someone might try to harm him, the Forge had provided the perfect material for armor. The remaining resources could be used to develop a magic-negation shield for his base, ensuring that beings like Heimdall or other troublesome entities would be unable to detect it. However, for now, his focus needed to remain on the presentation.

"We also created a grenade version. It affects everything within a 20-meter radius, freezing all targets within its range. It is a one-time-use device, but once activated, anything that enters the area afterward remains unaffected. Imagine storming a terrorist hideout where every enemy is immobilized for three minutes."

"It could have its uses, but without proper field testing, I cannot make any guarantees," Ross replied.

"Oh, I understand. That's why I prepared ten units for you to test. The same applies to all the other products I brought today."

"What's next? I have a tight schedule, so I would appreciate it if you got to the point."

Ross was playing the uninterested buyer, but his act was far from convincing. Alex had already caught the brief look of surprise on his face when he demonstrated the stasis rifle.

"Understood. The next items are still in development, but I assure you they perform exactly as you'd expect."

Alex retrieved the smart headgear and body armor from the chest, presenting them to General Ross.

"Our new equipment for soldiers. The helmet is equipped with multiple smart chips and sensors, allowing it to map out the location of all living beings within a 200-meter radius. Since it utilizes a variety of detectors, standard stealth techniques will not work on it, and it can even reveal invisible enemies. Additionally, it features a smart targeting system to assist with aiming. The helmet is also bulletproof against sniper rounds, meaning that unless you face something stronger than a sniper rifle, you are protected. It can also function as a gas mask."

As he spoke, Alex approached General Ross and handed him the helmet. Ross gestured for a soldier to step forward and passed it to him.

"Try it on and report whether it's useful or not."

"Yes, sir."

"The helmet operates through thought control. Its functions can be activated simply by thinking about them. Here's the full list," Alex said, handing over an instruction manual.

It took about ten minutes for the soldier to adapt to the helmet and test its various functions. Meanwhile, Alex handed the body armor to another soldier, who left to change into it.

"Soldier, your assessment?"

"General, I confirm that the helmet functions exactly as described in the manual. Based on my experience, it would provide a significant advantage to the average soldier, and even elite units would find it highly beneficial."

"Good."

"As I mentioned, this is a semi-finished product not because of the helmet itself, but because we have achieved a breakthrough in thought-controlled machinery. Using this technology, we can develop several implants. I have prepared a full list, along with prototype samples. These implants could assist soldiers who were discharged due to injuries, restoring lost functionality with enhancements beyond standard prosthetics. In essence, they could serve as an alternative to super soldiers. However, we need the necessary approvals to proceed with further development and testing."

"I will see what I can do," Ross replied.

"That's all I ask, General."

At that moment, the soldier returned, now wearing the armor.

"Perfect timing. We can begin the next test. This armor incorporates the same thought-controlled system as the helmet. It enhances the wearer's strength, allowing selective reinforcement of individual body parts or full-body augmentation. Like the helmet, it is bulletproof, lightweight compared to similar armors, temperature-resistant, and liquid-proof, providing complete protection against gas attacks when worn as a full set."

"If it performs as promised, we may be able to reach an agreement for military procurement."

"Excellent. I have also brought small drones and stealth equipment. These require extended testing, so I will leave them in your care. Let me know if any of them interest you."

"I will."

"Much appreciated, General. My assistant will follow up with you on business matters."

With that, Alex departed. General Ross watched him leave, a small, satisfied smile crossing his face subtle but unmistakable proof of his interest.

As he headed back to his base, the familiar hum of the Celestial Forge suddenly stirred once more, its pulse of energy resonating through Alex.

[Material Limitations (World Seed) (100CP)

Even with the advanced technology commonplace on Earth nowadays, material limitations haven't changed. Or rather, you could say that they've gotten even worse. After all, how are you going to store antimatter if you have only steel at hand? Luckily, you won't ever have problems finding the materials you need. Whether you'll stumble upon them while searching through a scrapyard, or find just the right people who can get you that obscure alloy you need, nothing will stop you from building whatever you want besides your own skill. Well, if you're keeping it reasonable, at least.

The chance of you finding what you're searching for decreases exponentially with the material's strength and rarity, and increases by how much you know about said material, scientifically, and how good your technology skills are. So while a regular schmuck would probably never find Adamantium, someone who could reproduce it themselves in only a few years would have much, much better chances. So if you're in a situation where it is impossible to get what you want with what you know and where you are right now? Then you'll have to get to work yourself. Good riddance then that you can eventually reproduce any material or alloy that you have seen, though for extremely advanced ones it might take an unreasonable amount of time and skill.]