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*****
Time in this area was flowing backward; everything here was retreating.
Screaming, fleeing people returned to their original positions; explosive flames receded and vanished; gushing water flowed back into ruptured pipes which then sealed themselves whole; collapsing buildings rose as if pulled by invisible hands, returning to their original states. Even those who had died were restored to life amidst the reversing time...
This was more breathtaking than any magic trick in the world because this was true magic—Time Magic.
In this world where time flowed in reverse, Strange and Mordo were fighting against Kaecilius and his two dark zealots.
While dodging enemy attacks, they also had to evade erratic objects to avoid being accidentally struck by restoring buildings or flying debris.
High above, Mike watched the mages below clumsily using energy weapons for close-quarters combat and shook his head speechlessly.
Could they not show a bit of a mage's capability and blast the enemy to smithereens with dazzling spells?
In the end, Mike dropped a handful of sunflower seed shells in disappointment.
He watched as Mordo used the restoring buildings and objects to temporarily trap the enemies. Mike and his companions watched calmly, knowing the battle wouldn't end that easily, especially since Kaecilius could manipulate matter.
Sure enough, when the Sanctum was half-restored, Kaecilius and the dark zealots easily broke free from their restraints. Under the despairing gazes of Strange and Mordo, they blasted out destructive energy once more, shattering the Sanctum that was on the verge of restoration.
Instantly, the rapidly vanishing Dark Dimension reappeared.
Snap!
With a crisp sound, the time magic runes wrapped around Strange's wrist shattered. The reversing time seemed to hit a pause button. Aside from Strange and his group, everyone and everything froze in that moment.
Seeing this, the Ancient One's gaze narrowed, while Mike and Odin looked down at the opposing sides with interest.
"You cannot stop the inevitable."
Kaecilius looked at the invading Dark Dimension with intoxicated eyes and said slowly, "It's truly beautiful. A world beyond time, beyond death."
Beyond time?
Strange seemed to think of something. He slapped his hands on the ground, flew up, and headed straight for the Dark Dimension.
Seeing this scene, Mordo's expression changed, while Kaecilius smiled faintly. "It seems he is also throwing himself into the embrace of the Dark Dimension. A truly smart choice."
Hearing these words, Mordo's face became incredibly ugly.
On the other side, the three observers watched Strange's actions with varying expressions.
The Ancient One looked thoughtful. She didn't believe Strange would defect to Dormammu because he was a kind person; she was wondering what he intended to do.
After all, judging by his current actions, flying into the Dark Dimension was tantamount to suicide.
"That bastard betrayed you," Odin said coldly. "Let's make our move."
"Wait a moment."
The Ancient One stopped Odin. "I trust my judgment. Let's wait and see."
Odin said coldly, "But if we wait any longer and the Dark Dimension encroaches further, stopping Dormammu will be much harder than it is now."
"What do you think, Mike?"
Seeing that Mike kept staring in the direction Strange left, the Ancient One asked in a low voice.
"Haha!" Mike laughed happily. "This is going to be interesting."
Interesting?
The Ancient One and Odin looked at Mike in confusion.
Mike didn't explain; he just smiled and watched the direction Strange had gone.
If they entered the Dark Dimension, Dormammu would detect them immediately, so they could only watch from here to see how Strange handled the crisis.
Although they couldn't witness Strange bargaining with Dormammu firsthand, they could see Strange flying into the Dark Dimension again and again.
Once the Ancient One and Odin saw it happen a few times, they would likely guess Strange's plan.
The next second, the three of them froze slightly, their brows knitting together.
This conversation felt familiar.
Mike slapped his own forehead.
Good heavens, he hadn't taken any preventive measures and had been affected too.
"What's happening?"
Odin looked at the Ancient One.
The Ancient One's eyes flashed, magical runes seemingly glimmering within them. Then she chuckled softly. "A Time Loop."
As she spoke, her hands formed several seals and she chanted a spell. Beams of light emerged from her hands and wrapped around the three of them, detaching them from the effects of the Time Loop.
"Time Loop?"
Odin looked at Strange flying in. "He established a Time Loop to defeat Dormammu? With his power, no matter how many times he tries, he'll fail."
The Ancient One seemed to guess something. She smiled faintly. "We'll know if we keep watching."
Odin pursed his lips and held out his hand to Mike.
Mike: "?"
"Do you have any more of those sunflower seeds?"
"No sunflower seeds, but I still have peanuts. Want some?"
Mike took out two bags of peanuts and shook them.
"Hand them over!"
Odin took them, and the Ancient One accepted some without hesitation. The three shifted their postures and continued to watch the show.
However, as time ticked by, and as Strange failed and the time reset again and again, the expressions of the three became increasingly grave.
Because they knew that the battle between Strange and Dormammu had only one outcome: death.
How many times had Strange appeared before them during this period?
Once, twice... ten times?
More!
Every appearance meant he had died once.
Facing death required courage from anyone.
But knowing that you are about to die, seeing absolutely no hope of victory, and still marching to your death again and again—that required immense courage.
Not everyone could endure the pain of being killed over and over again.
But clearly, Strange had done it.
Seeing this, the Ancient One revealed a smile.
She really hadn't chosen the wrong person.
"Good eye," Mike said to the Ancient One. Odin nodded in agreement.
The Ancient One nodded slightly, clearly very satisfied with Strange as well.
"What do we do now? Just watch this unlucky guy get killed repeatedly? Will this solve the problem?" Odin said speechlessly.
Admiration was one thing, but in his eyes, this behavior clearly wasn't helping the current situation.
"Just watch," the Ancient One smiled faintly. "It shouldn't take much longer."
"What do you mean?" Odin looked at her, puzzled.
The Ancient One smiled mysteriously, so Odin looked at Mike.
Mike looked at Odin—his potential future in-law—and spoke slowly, "We can sense something is wrong, and Dormammu can detect it too. But he cannot escape the Time Loop. It's equivalent to being trapped here by Strange..."
Odin realized what was happening and couldn't help but chuckle.
"So, this guy wants to use this as leverage to negotiate with Dormammu?"
"That should be the case," Mike smiled and shrugged.
"Hahaha! Truly a rogue!" Odin laughed heartily. "To think Dormammu would have such a day."
"In a desperate situation, he found the only way, the only hope."
The Ancient One closed her fan. Watching Strange, who had just 'died' out of the loop, rush into the Dark Dimension again without hesitation, she murmured, "His current performance actually makes me feel a bit ashamed."
"You have already sacrificed yourself for this battle," Odin said, looking at the Dark Dimension. "Don't worry, we'll give Dormammu a surprise in a moment."
A cold light flashed in the Ancient One's eyes as she hummed a low agreement.
A while later, just as they were becoming numb to Strange's deaths, this time Strange didn't die his way out; he flew out from the Dark Dimension alive.
Seeing this, Mike and the others' eyes flashed.
It looked like Strange succeeded?
Meanwhile, Kaecilius and Mordo, who had been stuck in the Time Loop and were completely unaware of what had transpired, looked at the emerging Strange with confusion.
"What happened? Didn't you throw yourself into the embrace of the Dark Dimension? Why are you...?"
Kaecilius looked at Strange in disbelief.
Strange smiled faintly, then suddenly raised his middle finger at him.
"Bitch! I wish you a happy eternal life!"
"?"
Just as Kaecilius and his zealots were bewildered, an irresistible force emerged from the Dark Dimension. It pulled them off the ground and sucked them into the Dark Dimension.
Mordo's mouth gaped open. Seeing Strange's beaming face, he exclaimed, "What is going on?"
Strange said幽ly, "I made a bargain with Dormammu."
"You... made a bargain... with Dormammu!?"
Mordo looked at Strange in shock, speechless for a moment.
How did he do that?
Strange patted Mordo's shoulder. Watching the Sanctum rapidly restoring itself in the reversing time, the two walked toward it as Strange said, "Fighting isn't the only way to solve problems. We have to try negotiating terms..."
High in the sky.
"Hahaha! This kid is interesting!" Odin laughed happily.
The Ancient One smiled faintly. Looking at the Dark Dimension, which had completely vanished from view, a coldness flickered in her eyes. "Now, it's our turn."
Through this event, she was very satisfied with the successor to the Sorcerer Supreme.
Dormammu had helped her test her heir, so naturally, she had to send Dormammu a grand gift in return.
"Let's go then."
Mike said calmly, dropping the peanut shells in his hand. After the Ancient One opened a portal, he stepped through and arrived in the Dark Dimension.
This was Mike's first time in the Dark Dimension.
At first glance, the dark space was filled with floating, shard-like celestial bodies. It looked as if the Dark Dimension had devoured other spaces, leaving behind fragments of shattered planets.
Under the long-term erosion of dark energy, these fragments had long lost their original shapes and colors. It looked as if someone had smeared them randomly with various pigments, making them mottled and colorful. It was like...
"It looks like a discarded paint bucket filled with trash," Mike said with a frown.
Odin grinned upon hearing this, while the Ancient One used magic to locate Dormammu before opening another portal.
After the three stepped through the portal again, they immediately felt terrifying fluctuations of energy.
"Dormammu!" The Ancient One shouted coldly.
"Ancient One? You bitch! You actually sent such a person to disgust me!"
Accompanied by a roar of utter exasperation, waves of energy crashed down in the distance, sending ripples sweeping through the surroundings.
Then, under the gaze of Mike and his companions, a giant face made entirely of energy appeared before them.
The face was composed of pure energy, with two purple eyes acting like burning suns, radiating astonishing power and wantonly destroying the surrounding debris.
"Hmm? You are... Odin!"
Seeing the King of Asgard beside the Ancient One, a trace of astonishment flashed across the giant energy face. His gaze then shifted to Mike.
Although he didn't know who Mike was, anyone standing with the Ancient One and Odin was definitely not to be trifled with.
So, with these three powerful enemies appearing before him...
A trace of gravity flashed in Dormammu's purple eyes. The giant face of energy rippled like a lake disturbed by the wind, and then a deep, domineering voice resonated.
"Ancient One, I think we can have a nice talk."
The Ancient One shook her head. "Three against one. There's nothing to talk about."
"Shameless!"
Dormammu roared in rage. sharp blades formed of dark energy rained down on Mike and the others like a storm.
The Ancient One spread her hands. Golden magical energy formed a shield flowing with runes under her control, protecting the three of them.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of crisp sounds rang out as the energy blades struck the Ancient One's shield, annihilating each other upon contact.
As the energy blades continued to fall, the Ancient One defended while saying, "This is Dormammu's domain. His energy is endless."
Odin flipped his hand, and Gungnir, the Eternal Spear, quietly appeared.
In the next instant, Odin threw the spear with force.
Whoosh!
The moment Gungnir left his hand, it vanished from before them, piercing directly through space to slam into Dormammu.
Boom!
Terrifying energy exploded from the spear, blasting a massive hole in Dormammu's gigantic body.
Odin made a grasping motion at the empty air, and Gungnir reappeared in his hand.
Watching Dormammu's body rapidly regenerating, Odin's eyes narrowed. He turned to Mike and said, "Don't just watch, do something!"
"Oh!"
Mike nodded. A light flashed in his hand, and a deck of cards appeared.
(End of Chapter)