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Chapter 109 - Chapter 110: The Sorcerer Supreme Enters the World

In that moment, it felt as if the Vishanti were gazing directly at Martin.

His expression darkened. He channeled the power of all three Infinity Stones in his possession, igniting them simultaneously.

In a flash, the Apex Armor materialized around him, its runes gleaming with power. Deep within, the AllSpark stirred, its divine energies quietly awakening.

"An interesting human indeed…"

Three layered voices echoed in his mind, resonant and overwhelming. They belonged to the Vishanti: Oshtur, Agamotto, and Hoggoth, the triune gods of mystic order.

And then, she was gone.

The Ancient One vanished, taken away by the Vishanti.

The crushing pressure of their magic dispersed instantly, and everyone, once frozen, was free again. The heaviness in the air was gone, but the awe remained, etched into every face.

Martin frowned, his gaze sharp as it searched the distance. But no matter how hard he looked, his vision extended only to the boundaries of this universe. Anything beyond? Still beyond his reach.

"The Vishanti… so this is what a multiversal-level entity feels like. One day, I'll stand at that height."

He inhaled deeply. The sheer power of a Multiversal Entity didn't intimidate him, it ignited something far more dangerous: ambition.

When he finally ascends to the level of a Supreme God, reigning over the infinite multiverse… What sights would await him then?

"Lord Martin," Stephen Strange approached, composed and focused, no longer the broken man he'd once been. Now, he carried himself with the presence worthy of the Sorcerer Supreme.

"The Ancient One said Earth faces a terrifying crisis. Do you know the details?"

Martin's voice was calm, but cold.

"Contact the Avengers, and rally the mutants. If you gather all of Earth's strongest heroes, and a few supervillains who aren't completely brain-dead, then maybe, just maybe, you can win this fight."

Strange narrowed his eyes. "Who's the enemy?"

Martin's lip curled in disdain.

"Ultron. An artificial superintelligence created by that arrogant idiot, Hank Pym. This entire crisis could've been avoided, if it weren't for a few morons who insisted on turning it into an extinction-level event."

With that, Martin stepped into a swirling vortex of space-time and vanished from Kamar-Taj.

Strange remained, brows tightly furrowed.

Mordo broke the silence.

"I can head to K'un-Lun and Atlantis, ask for their aid."

Strange nodded. "Do it. Be swift."

Turning to Wong, he added,

"You'll stay and command the Kamar-Taj masters. We must protect this place. Without the Ancient One, we can't afford to hide anymore. Our strength alone won't be enough."

And with that, Strange conjured a portal and stepped through it.

...

New York.

Tony Stark was racking his brain for a way to win Pepper Potts back. Eventually, he settled on trading a luxury watch for a truckload of roses, with a box of strawberries on top.

"Enough, Tony. I mean it this time, I quit. I'm done with you," Pepper said, her tone calm but firm, fighting to keep her emotions in check.

Tony rubbed his temples.

"Come on, you know I just get… a little too focused sometimes. I don't mean to ignore—"

Before he could finish, a swirling ring of golden sparks erupted in midair with a loud crack.

Without hesitation, Tony's Iron Man armor deployed, weapons primed.

"Tony Stark. I need your help."

Stephen Strange emerged from the portal, expression grim as ever. Then he paused, glanced between the two, and added dryly,

"Clearly, I've arrived at a bad time. But we need to talk."

Tony raised an eyebrow.

"You're the magician?"

Strange smirked.

"I'm the Sorcerer Supreme, you idiot."

The two egotistical geniuses sized each other up like territorial wolves. Tension crackled in the air. Had Pepper not intervened, they might've started throwing punches, or spells.

Privately, Strange was frustrated. If he had a choice, he'd never have approached Tony like this. But without the Time Stone, he couldn't peer into future timelines. The Eye of Agamotto was useless now.

Worse, the Cauldron of the Cosmos, his main scrying artifact for Earth, had been shattered by Martin. He felt blind. The only way forward? Learn time magic the hard way and reclaim his dignity as Sorcerer Supreme.

So, as they traded barbs and snide remarks, an insult for every breath, they were also studying each other's every move, calculating, adapting.

Thanks to Pepper's intervention, no blows were exchanged.

...

News of Doctor Stephen Strange's return, as the new Sorcerer Supreme, spread fast. From the Avengers to S.H.I.E.L.D., even the recently defeated HYDRA caught wind of it.

The world's power players were stunned. Kamar-Taj, a mystical fortress known for staying above worldly affairs, had finally broken its silence. Not only that, but the new Sorcerer Supreme was a former celebrity neurosurgeon from Philadelphia?

Did this mean access to Kamar-Taj would now be open to the public? Were they recruiting? And most critically, where was the Ancient One?

Had she stepped down? Or… had she died?

Even Nick Fury, fresh off his victory against HYDRA, took notice. He assembled a top-tier psychological analysis team, diving into Strange's medical records, personality traits, and worldview. After days of analysis, Fury drafted an elaborate manipulation plan.

But Strange couldn't care less.

He was currently visiting Professor X.

"So… I believe I understand what's coming, Lord Sorcerer Supreme."

Charles Xavier, seated calmly in his wheelchair, smiled warmly. Strange's visit meant everything. It was a powerful, symbolic gesture of acceptance toward mutantkind. Proof that they wouldn't be shut out of this fight.

"Actually," Xavier added, "before you came, I met someone else. Someone… crucial. Logan."

Logan looked confused.

"I'm the key?"

Xavier chuckled.

"Not the you sitting here. The you from the future."

"You were ambushed the other day, right? Knocked out cold? That wasn't an enemy, it was future you. He said you were too unreliable, so he took matters into his own hands and came to me."

Logan blinked, dumbfounded.

"Wait… I knocked myself out?!"

He rubbed the back of his head, confused, but now it all made sense. The scent of his attacker had been oddly familiar.

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