In Marvel With Unique Skill Great Sage (MCU)

"Great Sage," Lemu thought, addressing the voice in his mind, "is it possible to extract water molecules from the air?"

The calm, feminine voice of the Great Sage responded immediately. 'Affirmative. Through the skill Airflow Manipulation, magicules can be used to bind and condense water vapor within the air, resulting in the collection of water.'

A grin spread across Lemu's face. With an audible clap of his hands, he exclaimed, "Perfect!"

"Great Sage, I need two liters of water."

The moment the command left his thoughts, a wave of intense fatigue swept over him. It was as if a vital part of his energy had been drained all at once, leaving his body hollow and his legs unsteady. He stumbled, nearly collapsing under the strain.

Before him, however, the results of his efforts began to take shape. A shimmering orb of water slowly coalesced in the air, its surface rippling as it hovered midair, supported by an invisible current of magic-infused wind.

"What… what just happened?" Lemu asked, gasping for breath, his vision swimming slightly from the sudden energy drain.

The Great Sage's voice remained steady, unaffected by his distress. 'The creation of water through atmospheric condensation requires a significant expenditure of magicules. The depletion you experienced is a result of this energy transfer.'

Lemu stared at the floating water sphere, equal parts triumphant and alarmed. He had achieved his goal, but at a far steeper cost than he had anticipated.

'Extraction of water vapor complete. At the current temperature and atmospheric pressure, humidity is 8%, with 3.2 grams of water per cubic meter of air. A total of 625 cubic meters of air was processed, resulting in the collection of two liters of water.'

'Warning: Excessive instantaneous depletion of magicules has caused temporary weakness. Molecular-level skill usage requires significant energy.'

Six hundred cubic meters of air… and it drained that much magicules?

'Explanation: Magicules are equivalent to life energy. Depletion will trigger gradual absorption of external energy for recovery.'

Lemu sighed, his brow furrowing. Unlike certain overpowered protagonists with dragons or infinite energy sources tucked away in their bodies, he had no such luxuries. Limited reserves of magicules? Yeah, that tracked.

Still, he straightened himself and called out to Stark, who was trudging ahead. "Hey, genius! I've got water. You want some?"

Stark turned on his heel, eyes narrowing in suspicion—until they landed on the crystalline orb of water floating effortlessly in the air.

He froze, staring at it as if it were the Holy Grail itself. His parched throat tightened, and he swore under his breath, barely able to comprehend what he was seeing. "What the f*… How the hell did you—?"**

He cut himself off mid-sentence, taking a hesitant step forward. No, this wasn't a mirage. This was real, tangible water. Stark's pace quickened, the desperation in his eyes clear.

To him, that orb of water was more valuable than gold, sweeter than vodka, and smoother than the skin of a supermodel gracing the cover of Playboy.

But just as Stark reached out, Lemu raised a hand, stopping him in his tracks. "Hold it, Stark!" His voice carried the smugness of someone who held all the cards. "This isn't a freebie."

Stark's gaze snapped to Lemu, his expression darkening. The man's eyes were sharp, dangerous—like a cornered wolf, one step away from baring its teeth. In the desert, water wasn't just a resource. It was life itself. People had killed for far less.

Lemu, however, remained utterly unfazed. He met Stark's predatory stare with calm confidence. "A trade," he said, folding his arms. "You give me something, and I'll give you the water."

Grinding his teeth, Stark weighed his options. "What do you want? Money? Name your price. A thousand dollars per milliliter? Done."

Two liters of water… That was two million dollars. Cold, hard cash. Stark could easily afford it.

For a brief, fleeting moment, Lemu's chest—well, where his chest should be—fluttered with temptation. The thought of amassing that kind of wealth made his nonexistent heart beat faster.

But then he shook his head, pressing a hand to his chest as if to steady himself. No, slimes didn't have hearts, and besides… Money? That was replaceable. What he truly desired was something far more priceless. Something that had been his dream since the moment he first laid eyes on it.

Lemu grinned, a glimmer of boyish excitement sparking in his eyes. Raising a finger, he pointed directly at Stark's worn-out exoskeleton suit. "That armor of yours—the exoskeleton. I want one. And not just any version. I want an upgraded model."

Stark blinked, momentarily caught off guard. His jaw tightened as realization dawned.

Lemu's gaze burned with determination. The Mark series—the cutting-edge of technology, the masterpiece of human ingenuity—was the pinnacle of cool. For Lemu, there could be no greater treasure.

This was no ordinary barter. This was the pursuit of a lifelong dream.

Tony Stark scoffed, his face painted with disdain. "You? In that armor? Do aliens even care about such things?"

Lemu smirked, crossing his arms. "What do you know? Mecha is the ultimate romance for men! And customization is its very soul!"

Robots, exoskeletons, powered suits—they weren't just technology. They were art. A masterpiece of engineering and design. A shining symbol of humanity's ingenuity. For Lemu, it was nothing short of perfection.

Stark narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Lemu as though trying to make sense of him. Finally, after a moment of contemplation, he muttered, "Not happening."

His tone and expression were that of someone watching a penguin try to sell NFTs or a parrot proclaim itself the descendant of T. rex.

Lemu, unfazed, waved his hand dismissively. He hadn't expected Stark to agree so easily. Convincing this genius-billionaire-playboy-philanthropist would take time. After all, Stark was the one in need here, not him. Still, there was no harm in applying a little pressure.

With a sly grin, Lemu reached out, separating half of the floating water sphere and lifting it to his lips. He drank deeply, the cool liquid flowing down his throat. He let out an exaggerated sigh of satisfaction.

"Ahhh… Refreshing."