Invincible: Science is magic

To everyone who had high hopes for this fanfic before I dropped it prematurely, I sincerely apologize. I gave up when I hit a creative block, but with the latest seasons of Invincible reigniting my passion, I'm excited to continue.

Also check out my Patreon I'll be uploading advance chapters there soon.

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Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. During this time, Rex dedicated himself to studying magic and delving deeper into science. Initially, he encountered difficulties learning the basics of magic, but soon he found everything easy to comprehend and develop, particularly focusing on learning the Magik language, which had the primary purpose of amplifying spells and runes.

As he delved deeply into magic, he learned it would be necessary to choose a few magic classes to focus on. These were mainly divided into Enchantment Magic, Alchemy (aka Transmutation Magic), Elemental Magic, Arcane Magic, Illusion Magic, Conjuration Magic, Abjuration Magic, and Evocation.

There were also other extreme-tier magics like Time Magic, Space Magic, Nature Magic, Blood Magic, and Psychic Magic, but he knew he wasn't touching any of the high teirs anytime soon, especially with his minuscule mana quantity.

In the end, he selected Enchantment Magic, Transmutation Magic, and Arcane Magic because of their great adaptability and possible fusion with scientific studies. Over time, he began attempting to sense his mana, following the instructions in the book. As it said perfect focus was needed; distractions would only hinder progress.

In the beginning, he tried to force it, attempting to find the energy by all means, but in the end, after receiving advice from his mom, he gave up his attempts to instincts. These instincts kicked in after a week of trying, and with that, he began trying to control it. According to the instructions in the book, achieving basic telekinesis was the best way to determine and increase control.

Though arduous, he began to break everything down systematically, and when he was finally able to use telekinesis, though limited and needing focus to a certain extent, he began focusing on Enchantment Magic.

This required learning the Magik language for supplementary purposes, in addition to learning the 10 main and 36 sub-enhancement figures and signs. This was then followed by learning existing enchantment runes.

The more he delved into it, the more he saw why it was required to to choose specific magic classes. Even with his superb intellect and the significant progress he was making, the amount of time needed to fully grasp each aspect would be nerve-wracking.

Perhaps without his boastful intellect and perfect memory, he would have had to ignore school and anything else that warranted attention. Any ordinary person would suffer to learn anything from the text. Rex, utilizing his schedule tightly, made sure to delve into and study accumulated research thoroughly.

Additionally, he began his superhero career, which started very roughly at first. However, he soon got the hang of it. He mainly focused on stopping small-scale crimes like robberies and similar incidents. Soon, he became somewhat recognized, but his name still remained mostly unknown to the media. After some decision-making, he finally decided to go with the name Xentry, proceeding to carve an X logo onto the chest of his suit.

Not long after his appearance, Eve's appearance became more distinct, gaining the title of Atom Eve. She wasn't part of the Teen Team yet, probably because they hadn't been invited by 'Robot' yet.

Naturally, Rex planned on taking advantage of this to create his own team, which would include the original Teen Team members except for some exceptions, since he would establish a general power ranking requirement to join.

Originally, this idea was repulsive and was on the verge of being discarded, but with persuasion and statistics from Helix, he decided to give it a try.

"I am so grateful to have been reborn into this world," Rex chuckled slightly, before his gaze took on a touch of melancholy as the memories of the past came rushing in.

Over time, he found himself becoming more jovial and less cold and silent, which was further highlighted after his acceptance that he wasn't just his past self; he was the fusion of both. It might seem one part was insignificant, but it granted him the personality he had never developed early on.

"How the hell am I supposed to get my hands on those Kaiju blood samples?"

Rex exhaled sharply, his fingers tapping against his temple as he scowled in frustration. Just thinking about it made his head ache. Every possible approach led to the same conclusion—either outright rejection or rejection laced with suspicion.

And, of course, the main obstacle was Cecil Stedman, the ever-watchful director of the GDA. If there was one man who could sniff out ulterior motives from a mile away, it was him. In a way, Rex could understand why. The guy was essentially Nick Fury on steroids, but far more ruthless.

Earth—at least in this universe—was one of the most dangerous planets in existence, especially for regular humans. The sheer unpredictability of life here was absurd. One moment, you're enjoying a peaceful stroll down the street; the next, you're dead. Sitting at the breakfast table? Boom—an alien portal opens, and suddenly, you're gone. There was no real safety, no true security. The only thing guaranteed was chaos.

Danger lurked around every corner, and if you weren't smart or cautious enough to adapt, you'd be swallowed whole by this unforgiving world.

Cecil understood that better than anyone. His paranoia had been forged in the fires of countless crises, shaping him from an idealist into a man who made the hard choices. He had once believed in doing the right thing, but experience had taught him a brutal truth: you could either be the good guy, or you could be the one who saved the world.

And Cecil? He chose the world every time. As long as something didn't pose an immediate threat to Earth's survival, he was willing to turn a blind eye.

But asking Cecil directly for Kaiju blood samples? That would only invite scrutiny. He would demand answers—why did Rex need them? What was he planning? And, of course, Rex couldn't tell him the truth. That conversation would go nowhere fast.

For a brief moment, the idea of breaking into GDA headquarters crossed his mind. He quickly dismissed it. The security around Kaiju-related assets was on an entirely different level. Given enough time and preparation, he could probably find a way in—but time was something he didn't have. He was already juggling too many projects, too many moving parts.

No, a direct approach was out of the question. He needed another way.

Rex pondered for a while, and only one real solution came to mind—it was direct, but effective. He simply needed to propose a deal good enough to completely quell Cecil's worries and suspicions.

And that deal? Compound X.

The hybrid compound, created from a mix of his AP-01 blood cells and Viltrumite blood, had been in development for some time. Viltrumite blood naturally adapted over time, but its evolution was crude—limited to raw strength, speed, and durability.

The AP-01 serum, on the other hand, granted adaptability in all aspects, though some traits developed faster than others. When combined, the two didn't just enhance each other—they unlocked hidden traits within Viltrumite DNA.

However, there was a trade-off. Compound X significantly limited further long-term growth. Once taken, it became nearly impossible to achieve massive increases in strength over a short period. A Viltrumite would reach a near-permanent plateau, sacrificing unlimited potential for immediate, controlled power.

That said, there was one minor breakthrough. Previously, creating Compound X required the crude process of mixing his altered blood with Viltrumite blood, meaning the result was attuned to him alone. But now? He had cracked the formula. By refining the process using his knowledge of AP-01 synthesis, he could create a version that anyone could use.

The only lingering issue was the randomization of energy manipulation abilities after injection. But even that was close to being solved—it just required better conditioning and proper guidance during the fusion process.

With a product like this on the table, convincing Cecil should be possible. But first he needed to modify the Compound X serum to his own liking.

First, he had already integrated a small amount of smart atoms into his body, and so far, there hadn't been any noticeable reduction in his adaptive abilities—at least, none that he had detected. In fact, his strength had increased to around three tons, and his speed had improved slightly.

The real issue lay in the interaction between Compound X and his already-developed AP-01 cells. Unlike others who would be taking the serum for the first time, his body had already established a complex biological template. That made predicting the exact results of Compound X infusion far more complicated.

According to his simulations—run with Helix's assistance—there was a high probability that he would develop immense strength, speed, and durability, likely surpassing those who took the standard Compound X serum. This was because he already possessed the preliminary components within his system. However, energy manipulation remained an unknown variable.

The risk factor? Around ten percent. Not an unmanageable number, but still too high for him to consider taking the serum himself—at least, not yet.

But even that wasn't his primary concern. What truly mattered was adaptability. He wasn't just looking to get stronger; he wanted to enhance his body's ability to evolve.