But devouring worlds wasn't as simple as it sounded, or every dimensional demon would have become a cosmic powerhouse long ago. The multiverse was vast and filled with countless inhabited planets, yet most dimensional entities remained relatively weak despite having access to infinite potential meals.
The problem lay in the fundamental nature of interdimensional predation. Every world worth consuming was also worth defending, and most civilizations didn't go quietly into the void. Some fought back with technology that could wound beings who existed partially outside reality. Others had mystical guardians who could match dimensional demons in raw power. And occasionally, a world would produce individuals so formidable that even cosmic entities thought twice before making them an enemy.
Earth fell firmly into the latter category.
The dimensional demons had been circling this particular world for centuries, drawn by its rich mystical heritage and rapidly evolving population. Earth's humans were developing at an unprecedented rate, creating new forms of technology and magic that made the planet increasingly valuable as a potential conquest. But every time they moved to claim their prize, they encountered the same immovable obstacle.
The Ancient One.
For over five centuries, the Sorcerer Supreme had stood as Earth's primary defender against dimensional incursion. Dormammu, ruler of the Dark Dimension and one of the most powerful entities in the known multiverse, had broken his metaphorical teeth trying to crack Earth's mystical defenses. Lesser demons didn't even warrant her full attention—they were dealt with by her apprentices or simply repelled by the automatic defenses she'd woven into reality itself around the planet.
It was infuriating, from the demons' perspective. Here was a world ripe for harvest, practically glowing with mystical energy and teeming with life, yet it remained as untouchable as if it were surrounded by cosmic razor wire.
Until now.
The Convergence had changed everything. As the Nine Realms aligned and dimensional barriers weakened across local space, Earth's mystical defenses were being strained to their absolute limits. For the first time in centuries, the dimensional demons could sense genuine vulnerability in their most coveted target.
"The Ancient One must be having quite the week," Marcus observed with dark amusement as he felt the pressure waves of multiple dimensional incursions washing over London. Reality itself was shimmering at the edges, warping in ways that would have been impossible under normal circumstances.
The dimensional attacks weren't random, either. These entities had been planning this assault for decades, carefully coordinating their efforts to strike at Earth's weakest moments. They were hitting multiple mystical nexus points simultaneously, forcing the Ancient One to divide her attention across a dozen different crisis zones.
It was a clever strategy, Marcus had to admit. Any one of these incursions would have been easily repelled under normal circumstances, but together they represented a genuine threat to Earth's mystical infrastructure.
Marcus held up the syringe containing the extracted Aether, watching as the Reality Stone's essence swirled in its crystalline prison. The red energy pulsed with barely contained power, occasionally flaring bright enough to cast shadows despite the daylight around them.
"So where are you two headed?" Marcus asked, turning to his companions. "I can provide transportation if you need it."
Tony looked surprised by the offer. "You're not coming back to New York with us? I was hoping we could compare notes on what we learned in Asgard."
"I have someone I need to visit first," Marcus replied. "A friend who's probably dealing with more than her fair share of problems right now."
He was referring to the Ancient One, of course. If his reading of the dimensional situation was accurate, she was currently fighting a war on multiple fronts while dealing with the cascade effects of the Convergence. Marcus didn't mind lending a hand, especially since it would give him an opportunity to field-test some of his newer capabilities.
The Fire and Frost essences he'd integrated in Asgard represented a significant upgrade to his combat capabilities, but he hadn't yet had a chance to test them against serious opposition. Dimensional demons made excellent targets for such experiments—they were durable enough to provide meaningful data, and the multiverse wouldn't miss a few of them if the tests proved more destructive than anticipated.
Jane looked curious about Marcus's mysterious friend, but she had learned not to pry too deeply into his affairs. The man operated on a level that made normal social conventions somewhat irrelevant.
"I think I'll stay in London for a few days," Tony decided. "The Convergence effects should be interesting to observe from a scientific perspective, and honestly, I'm not ready to face Pepper's wrath about extending this trip without notice."
Marcus chuckled at Tony's admission. "Avoiding angry girlfriends? That's not very heroic of you, Stark."
"Self-preservation is a perfectly heroic trait," Tony replied with dignity. "Besides, Jane could probably use some technical support while she analyzes whatever data she collected in Asgard."
Jane nodded gratefully. She did have several days' worth of observations to process, and Tony's insights would be invaluable in making sense of some of the more exotic phenomena she'd witnessed.
"Fair enough," Marcus said. "I'll be back in a few days. Try not to let London get conquered by interdimensional parasites while I'm gone."
With that casual farewell, Marcus's form began to dissolve into shadow and mist, dispersing into nothingness with the fluid grace of someone who had transcended purely physical existence.
"Does he always make dramatic exits like that?" Jane asked, staring at the space where Marcus had been standing moments before.
"Pretty much," Tony confirmed. "Though I have to admit, it never gets old."
Marcus reformed at the gates of Kamar-Taj, the ancient sanctuary materializing around him as he shifted back to physical form. The mystic stronghold looked much the same as he remembered, though he could sense the increased activity within its walls. The dimensional pressure bearing down on Earth had forced the Ancient One to mobilize every available sorcerer, and even the newest apprentices were being pressed into service.
"The place is certainly livelier than usual," Marcus observed, watching as groups of robed figures hurried between buildings, their arms full of mystical implements and reference texts.
Among the bustle of activity, Marcus spotted a familiar figure directing a group of apprentices through what appeared to be basic defensive exercises. The students were arranged in a loose circle, attempting to generate protective barriers while one particularly stubborn individual stood off to the side, apparently trying to master the simple act of opening a portal.
"Mordo," Marcus called out, recognizing the stern-faced sorcerer. "Who's the guy having trouble with basic ring magic?"
Mordo's head snapped up at the sound of his name, and his expression immediately shifted from mild irritation to something approaching alarm when he saw who had addressed him.
"You," he said, his voice carrying a mixture of recognition and unease. "Why are you here?"
The reaction puzzled Marcus. The last time he'd visited Kamar-Taj, Mordo had been respectful but hardly fearful. Something had clearly changed in the interim, though Marcus couldn't immediately identify what.
"Is there some reason I shouldn't be here?" Marcus asked, genuinely curious about Mordo's apparent nervousness. "Last I checked, Kamar-Taj doesn't have a guest list."
"No, it's not that," Mordo said quickly, though he still looked distinctly uncomfortable. "The Supreme Sorcerer told me to expect a visitor today. I just... didn't realize she meant you."
"The Ancient One knew I was coming?" That was interesting. Marcus had made his decision to visit Kamar-Taj relatively spontaneously, yet somehow the Sorcerer Supreme had anticipated his arrival. It suggested either remarkable foresight or access to information sources Marcus wasn't aware of.
A faint aura of energy began to emanate from Marcus as his curiosity deepened, the power of his Protea frame automatically activating to scan for mystical traces. The sudden display of cosmic-level energy made every sorcerer in the courtyard freeze, their magical senses screaming warnings about the entity that had just revealed itself in their midst.
The apprentice who had been struggling with portal magic stopped his futile gestures entirely, staring at Marcus with the wide-eyed expression of someone who had just realized they were in the presence of something far beyond their understanding.
"Relax," Marcus said, noting the general alarm his energy display had caused. "I'm not here to start trouble."
Before Mordo could respond, Marcus's enhanced perception detected something that made his expression grow serious. There was a mystical signature approaching—one he recognized immediately as belonging to the Ancient One herself. But something was wrong with it. The normally stable, controlled energy pattern was fluctuating wildly, showing signs of contamination that shouldn't have been possible for someone of her skill level.
Marcus's eyes flared with golden light as he reached out with his mystical senses, projecting his consciousness forward to meet the approaching presence. The Ancient One's astral form materialized before him, but her condition was far worse than he had anticipated.
"What the hell have you done to yourself?" Marcus demanded, taking in the chaotic energy patterns surrounding the Sorcerer Supreme's spiritual form.
The Ancient One's astral projection was being actively corroded by two distinct but equally dangerous forces. Dark Dimension energy writhed through her spiritual matrix like a cancer, while traces of void power—somehow different from his own, more corrosive and uncontrolled—ate away at her mystical defenses.
She was literally being consumed from within by the very powers she was using to defend Earth.
"You're back," the Ancient One said simply, as if the fact that she was slowly disintegrating wasn't worth mentioning.
"I'm back just in time, apparently," Marcus replied grimly. "If I hadn't shown up, you'd be dead within hours. Possibly less."
Without waiting for permission, Marcus reached out and placed his hand on the Ancient One's shoulder. The moment his power made contact with hers, the corrosive energies began to retreat, recognizing something in his void energy that marked it as fundamentally different from the chaotic forces that had been devouring her.
The process was swift but intense. Marcus's controlled void power acted like an antibody, systematically identifying and neutralizing the contamination while carefully avoiding damage to the Ancient One's core mystical matrix. The Dark Dimension energy was easier to deal with—it fled from his touch like darkness before a flame. The other void energy was more stubborn, requiring active engagement to fully purge.
Within moments, the Ancient One's condition had stabilized. The chaotic fluctuations in her energy pattern smoothed out, and the signs of active corruption disappeared entirely. She would still need time to fully recover from the damage, but she was no longer in immediate danger of mystical dissolution.
"Much better," Marcus said with satisfaction. "Now, do you want to explain how you managed to get yourself into that condition? Because what I just saw shouldn't have been possible for someone with your level of control."
The Ancient One's expression grew troubled as she prepared to explain the circumstances that had led to her near-destruction.