The revelation about dimensional authority had opened up possibilities that Marcus had never considered before. As he stood in his workshop, still feeling the residual power of Ember Prime coursing through his consciousness like liquid fire, his mind raced with the implications of what he'd discovered.
Dimensional power wasn't just beneficial – it was transformative in ways that went far beyond simple strength enhancement. The process of upgrading Ember to its Sacred Suit grade had shown him a path to power that existed entirely outside the normal frameworks he'd been operating within. And if one dimensional conquest could yield such dramatic results, then logically, others could as well.
More importantly, the dimensional demons were already locked in eternal conflict with each other, tearing at the fabric of reality in their endless struggles for dominance and territory. For someone like Marcus, who possessed both the power and the ruthlessness to exploit such chaos, absorbing the Flame Dimension to complete Ember Prime's transformation wasn't just an opportunity – it was practically a moral imperative.
"The Flame King's dimension can provide the final piece Ember Prime needs," Marcus mused aloud, his voice carrying new harmonics that hadn't been there before the transformation. "Which means other dimensions can serve as upgrade materials for my other frames as well."
The thought made him laugh – a sound that contained genuine amusement mixed with anticipation that bordered on predatory. It was like discovering that what he'd thought was a closed system actually had infinite expansion potential, limited only by his willingness to reach out and take what he needed.
The void contained countless dimensional spaces, each one a potential source of power and authority. Beyond the parallel Earths that existed in endless variation, there were specialized realms like the Flame Dimension – pocket universes ruled by entities who had claimed dominion over specific aspects of reality. Fire, ice, shadow, blood, dreams, nightmares, time, space – the list was virtually endless, and each represented a potential upgrade path for his growing arsenal of Warframe technology.
He currently possessed dozens of different frame configurations, each one representing a different approach to warfare and problem-solving. While fifty-plus frames might seem like an overwhelming amount of variety to most people, Marcus had always been someone who believed in having the right tool for every conceivable job. And now, with the knowledge of how dimensional authority could enhance those tools, even his most exotic frames could potentially be elevated to Sacred Suit grade.
Of course, he would still need to shape new frames according to established patterns rather than creating entirely original designs from scratch. The underlying technology had certain fundamental requirements that couldn't be ignored, no matter how much raw power he could channel into the creation process. But within those constraints, the possibilities were staggering.
"Actually, now that I think about it," Marcus said, snapping his fingers as a particularly interesting idea occurred to him, "the Blood Dimension controlled by the Blood Monarch would be perfect for Garuda."
The memory of his first encounter with that particular dimensional lord brought a satisfied smile to his face. The Blood Monarch had been among the first entities to make the mistake of underestimating him, and the beating Marcus had delivered had sent the creature scurrying back to its home dimension with its metaphorical tail between its legs.
But more importantly, the Blood Monarch's dimensional authority over blood-based power would be an ideal match for Garuda's capabilities. That particular frame was designed around the manipulation and weaponization of vital fluids, turning the very essence of life into a tool of destruction. In the right circumstances, surrounded by sufficient quantities of blood, Garuda could tear through enemy forces like a chainsaw through paper.
Combined with the dimensional authority of a Blood Lord, the frame could potentially become something truly terrifying – a weapon that could drain the life from entire armies and use that stolen vitality to fuel increasingly devastating attacks. It would be like giving a vampire the power of a god, and the results would be spectacular to behold.
"The concept is sound," Marcus admitted to himself, "but there's one small problem."
He checked his internal inventory, already knowing what he would find but hoping against hope that his memory was faulty. Unfortunately, his recollection was perfectly accurate. After using four Aya Essences to facilitate Ember Prime's transformation, he was left with exactly one remaining essence in reserve.
Aya Essence was sufficient to create a basic Warframe, assuming he had the necessary materials and blueprints to work with. But creating new Sacred Suit grade frames would require Royal Grade Aya Essences, which meant combining multiple standard essences with captured dimensional authority. The math was simple but depressing – he was at least seven essences short of being able to attempt another upgrade.
"Resource management was never my strong suit," Marcus muttered, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Always been more of a 'shoot first, figure out the logistics later' kind of person."
The scarcity of Aya Essences represented a significant bottleneck in his expansion plans. Without a reliable source of these fundamental crafting materials, he was limited to upgrading his existing frames one at a time, which would take far too long given the scope of his ambitions.
"Priorities," he told himself firmly. "Focus on completing one upgrade at a time instead of trying to do everything at once. Get Ember Prime to its full potential first, then worry about expanding the roster."
It was sensible advice, even if it went against his natural inclination to pursue multiple objectives simultaneously. Ember Prime in its current incomplete state was already incredibly powerful, but accessing its full potential would give him a trump card that could handle almost any conceivable threat. Having one overwhelming advantage was better than having multiple partial advantages that might not be sufficient when truly tested.
The immediate priority, then, was clear: he needed to conquer the Flame Dimension and claim the remaining dimensional authority that the Flame King had wielded. Only then could Ember Prime reach its complete Sacred Suit configuration and become the weapon it was meant to be.
But before he could embark on interdimensional conquest, Marcus needed to address a more practical concern – his current supply of Aya was completely inadequate for any future expansion plans. He needed to find sources of the raw energy required to create more essences, and he needed to find them quickly.
Fortunately, this particular universe seemed to be rich in the kinds of exotic energies that could be refined into Aya. Cosmic storms, stellar phenomena, advanced alien technology, dimensional rifts – the galaxy was full of power sources that most inhabitants either didn't recognize or lacked the ability to harvest safely. For someone with his capabilities and knowledge, it would be like having access to a cosmic treasure trove.
"I think it's time for a little space exploration," Marcus decided, his mood brightening as he contemplated the possibilities. "This universe has been very generous so far. Let's see what other gifts it has to offer."
The plan was starting to come together in his mind. Rather than immediately launching an assault on the Flame Dimension, he would spend some time traveling through normal space, collecting energy and resources while scouting for other opportunities. Orr's construction was nearly complete, which meant he would have a capable companion for extended operations away from Earth.
More importantly, copying stellar cartography data would give him the freedom to travel anywhere in the galaxy without having to rely on existing transportation networks or navigation beacons. Independence of movement was crucial for the kind of operations he had in mind.
"A space mercenary," Marcus said, testing the words and finding that they felt right. "That's perfect, actually."
The mercenary identity would provide excellent cover for his true activities while also giving him legitimate access to the kinds of conflicts and dangerous situations where rare energies were most likely to be found. Plus, his various Warframes were already perfectly suited for that kind of work – they had been designed as combat systems for independent operators, after all.
He was still contemplating the details of his upcoming cosmic adventure when the sound of repulsors announced Tony's arrival. Marcus looked up to see his friend descending through the workshop's skylight in what was obviously a brand-new suit of armor, the metal gleaming with fresh paint and recent modifications.
"Nice entrance," Marcus called out as Tony touched down with considerably more grace than his earlier designs would have allowed. "New suit?"
"Latest and greatest," Tony confirmed, the faceplate retracting to reveal a grin that was equal parts pride and excitement. "I was hoping to show off some of the new features, but it looks like you're..." He paused, taking in the sight of Marcus's packed belongings scattered around the workshop. "Going camping?"
"Not exactly," Marcus replied, gesturing toward the collection of supplies he'd been assembling. "I'm planning to take a little trip through the galaxy. You're welcome to come along if you're interested."
Tony's expression shifted from confusion to disbelief as he watched Marcus stuff an enormous bag of assorted spices and seasonings into an already overstuffed backpack. The container bulged ominously, threatening to burst at the seams under the weight of what appeared to be every condiment and flavoring agent available on Earth.
"Please tell me you're not seriously planning to haul a spice rack into outer space," Tony said, his voice carrying the tone of someone who was desperately hoping he'd misunderstood the situation.
"Why wouldn't I?" Marcus asked, genuinely puzzled by Tony's reaction. "Do you have any idea how long we might be traveling out there? The last thing I want is to be stuck eating bland rations for months on end because I didn't plan ahead."
"Have you completely forgotten about your teleportation abilities?" Tony asked, pressing his palm against his forehead in exasperation. "You can literally open a portal back to Earth anytime you want. You could have fresh pizza delivered to the other side of the galaxy if you felt like it."
Marcus froze mid-pack, a jar of imported saffron halfway to his backpack. The expression on his face was the perfect picture of someone who had just realized they'd been overthinking a problem that had an obvious solution.
"That's..." he began, then stopped, set down the spice jar, and stared at the massive pile of supplies he'd been accumulating. "That's actually a really good point."
Whether it was the spark portal techniques he'd learned from the Ancient One or the space-warping abilities granted by his connection to the Space Stone, Marcus possessed multiple methods of instantaneous transportation that operated regardless of distance or dimensional barriers. He could establish a forward operating base anywhere in the universe and still maintain all the comforts of home with minimal effort.
"I may have been overthinking this a bit," Marcus admitted, tossing the overstuffed backpack aside with a sheepish grin. "Occupational hazard of spending too much time in self-contained environments, I suppose."
The realization completely changed his operational parameters. Instead of needing a large, well-equipped vessel capable of supporting extended missions, he could use something much smaller and more maneuverable. A fast scout ship would be perfectly adequate for his needs, especially since he could simply teleport back to it whenever combat or exploration required his physical presence.
"Actually, this works out much better," Marcus continued, his tactical mind already adapting to the new possibilities. "I can let Orr handle the routine travel and navigation while I focus on more interesting activities. When something requires personal attention, I'll just portal over and handle it."
"You've been making fun of my planning skills for years," Tony observed, settling into a nearby chair with obvious amusement. "Turns out you're not much better when it comes to logistics."
"The difference," Marcus replied with a smirk, "is that my mistakes are recoverable. I can make camp in the vacuum of space if I have to. Can you?"
It was a fair point, and they both knew it. Marcus's enhanced physiology and void-based abilities made him effectively immune to most environmental hazards, including the complete absence of atmosphere. He could survive and fight in conditions that would instantly kill most other beings, which gave him operational flexibility that few others could match.
Tony, for all his technological sophistication, was still fundamentally dependent on his armor's life support systems when operating in hostile environments. It was a limitation that could prove critical in certain situations, no matter how advanced his equipment became.
"You're such an insufferable show-off," Tony grumbled, but there was no real irritation in his voice. "Fine, you win this round."
After a moment of comfortable silence, Tony's expression shifted to something more thoughtful, and Marcus could practically see the gears turning in his friend's head. When Tony got that particular look, it usually meant he was about to propose something ambitious, complicated, or both.
"Actually," Tony said, his eyes lighting up with sudden inspiration, "if you do end up visiting other planets during this space road trip of yours, would you mind letting me know? I've been wanting to get a firsthand look at alien technology for years."
Marcus considered the request, weighing the potential benefits against the obvious complications. Tony's scientific expertise could be invaluable when it came to analyzing unfamiliar technologies, and his engineering skills might prove useful in unexpected ways. On the other hand, bringing along someone who lacked the ability to survive in truly hostile environments would add a significant protective responsibility to Marcus's mission parameters.
"I'd be willing to arrange some cultural exchanges," Marcus said finally, "but only if you can handle the risks involved. I'm not interested in playing babysitter for the duration of this trip."
The condition was non-negotiable. Marcus's planned activities would inevitably involve situations where split-second decisions and unrestricted movement could mean the difference between success and catastrophe. Having to constantly monitor Tony's safety would compromise his effectiveness and potentially endanger both of them.
"Fair enough," Tony agreed readily, though Marcus could see him already starting to plan countermeasures for the various threats he might encounter. "I'll work on upgrading my armor's defensive capabilities before we go anywhere particularly dangerous."
The enthusiasm in Tony's voice was infectious, and Marcus found himself looking forward to sharing some of his cosmic discoveries with someone who would appreciate their significance. Tony had encountered aliens before, of course, but those experiences had primarily involved hostile invaders or the relatively familiar Asgardians. The broader galactic community contained wonders and horrors in equal measure, and Tony's scientific curiosity would probably find both fascinating.
"Besides," Tony continued, warming to the subject, "Earth's going to face more alien threats eventually. It's practically inevitable given our location and the attention we've been attracting lately. The more we know about potential enemies and their capabilities, the better prepared we'll be when they finally decide to make their move."
It was a pragmatic argument that Marcus couldn't fault. Earth's defensive capabilities had improved dramatically over the past few years, but they were still primarily designed around terrestrial threats and the occasional interdimensional incursion. A comprehensive survey of galactic civilizations and their military capabilities would provide invaluable intelligence for future defensive planning.
"We'll start with some of the safer civilizations," Marcus decided. "Get you acclimated to the broader galactic community before we venture into more dangerous territory. There are trading worlds and diplomatic stations that should be relatively low-risk for initial exposure."
The plan was beginning to take shape in his mind. A graduated introduction to alien civilizations would give Tony the broad perspective he needed while minimizing the risk of culture shock or diplomatic incidents. Once Tony had adapted to the basic realities of galactic civilization, they could explore more exotic locations and potentially hostile territories.
"This is going to be incredible," Tony said, his excitement now barely contained. "Do you realize how much human technology could advance with access to even basic alien engineering principles? We could revolutionize everything from energy production to materials science."
Marcus smiled at his friend's enthusiasm, remembering his own first experiences with truly advanced alien technologies. The sense of wonder and possibility was intoxicating, even for someone who had already seen far more than most beings ever would. Tony's scientific background would let him appreciate subtleties that most people would miss entirely.
"Just remember," Marcus cautioned, "we're going as observers and traders, not conquerors. The galaxy has enough violence without us adding to it unnecessarily."
It was advice he should probably take to heart himself, given his plans for dimensional conquest. But that was different – the dimensional lords were already at war with each other and with reality itself. Taking their power wasn't conquest so much as cosmic pest control.
Tony nodded his understanding, though Marcus could see him already envisioning the technological marvels they might encounter. For a mind like Tony's, the promise of new knowledge and innovative solutions was more compelling than any conventional treasure.
"I've seen aliens before," Tony continued, his expression growing more serious, "but they've mostly been invaders trying to destroy or conquer Earth. The only relatively peaceful civilization I've had real contact with is Asgard, and even that relationship is complicated thanks to Thor and Loki's family drama."
He leaned forward in his chair, his engineering mind already working through the implications of what Marcus was offering. "I want to see more than just the civilizations that happen to be at war with us. I want to understand the broader galactic community – their technologies, their cultures, their capabilities."
"And their potential threats," Marcus added, knowing where Tony's thoughts were heading.
"Exactly," Tony confirmed. "I want to evaluate these civilizations properly, get a real sense of what we might be up against if they ever decide Earth looks like an attractive target. Right now, we're flying blind when it comes to galactic politics and military capabilities. That kind of ignorance could be fatal if we face another invasion."
Marcus nodded approvingly. Tony's motivations went beyond simple scientific curiosity – he was thinking strategically about Earth's long-term security. It was exactly the kind of forward planning that could mean the difference between survival and extinction when the next cosmic threat inevitably appeared.
"We'll make sure you get a comprehensive education," Marcus promised. "The galaxy is full of wonders and horrors in equal measure. By the time we're done, you'll have enough knowledge to help Earth prepare for whatever comes next."
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