The appearance of the Reality Stone had profound implications that the Ancient One understood immediately. This wasn't just another mystical artifact surfacing randomly—it was a harbinger of cosmic events that would reshape the very nature of reality itself.
The Infinity Stones were legendary throughout the universe, six cosmic artifacts that governed the fundamental forces of existence. Most beings treated them as myths, stories told to explain the inexplicable workings of reality. But those with true cosmic awareness knew better.
"Let me see," the Ancient One murmured, her fingers tracing mystical patterns in the air as she catalogued the current status of each Stone. "The Time Stone remains here in Kamar-Taj. The Reality Stone has emerged from its ancient prison and now rests in your possession. The Space Stone lies hidden within the remains of the Cosmic Cube on Earth. The Power Stone waits on a dead world called Morag. The Mind Stone powers Loki's scepter, currently in SHIELD custody. And the Soul Stone..."
She paused, her expression growing troubled. "The Soul Stone remains lost, buried somewhere in the cosmic depths where even my sight cannot reach it."
Five of the six Infinity Stones could be located, their positions known to those with the knowledge and power to sense them. Under normal circumstances, this knowledge would be academic—the Stones were either heavily guarded or hidden in places so remote that retrieval would be virtually impossible.
But these weren't normal circumstances.
"The Convergence isn't just weakening dimensional barriers," Marcus observed. "It's affecting the cosmic infrastructure that keeps artifacts like the Infinity Stones stable and hidden. Ancient seals are failing, mystical locks are opening, and things that have been buried for millennia are clawing their way back to relevance."
The Ancient One nodded gravely. "Which means we can expect other parties to take an interest in collecting them. The emergence of the Reality Stone will not go unnoticed by those who understand its significance."
"Speaking of interested parties," Marcus continued, "the situation in Asgard was more serious than it initially appeared. The Dark Elves didn't just wake up randomly—they were awakened by the Reality Stone's emergence. And they're not planning to give up their claim to it quietly."
Marcus recounted the events in Asgard: the Cursed Warrior's infiltration, the coordinated assault on the palace defenses, the near-success of their plan to breach Asgard's mystical barriers. If he hadn't been there to intervene, the consequences would have been catastrophic.
"I remember Odin expressing concerns about your presence in Asgard," the Ancient One said carefully. "He was worried about void contamination, wasn't he?"
"He was right to be worried," Marcus admitted with a slight smile. "Void energy is incredibly contagious. Most beings can't use it without being fundamentally transformed by the experience. You've experienced that yourself, haven't you?"
The Ancient One's expression grew thoughtful. "The Dark Dimension energy tries to corrupt through temptation, offering power in exchange for gradually surrendering one's will. Void energy is more direct—it simply begins rewriting the user's essential nature the moment contact is made."
"Exactly. And once that transformation begins, it's almost impossible to reverse," Marcus confirmed. "You're fortunate that you had my Aya essence to help counteract the process. Anyone else attempting to channel void power would be converted completely within minutes."
The difference between them was fundamental. The Ancient One was borrowing power that was alien to her nature, fighting a constant battle to maintain her essential self against forces that sought to remake her. Marcus, on the other hand, was void incarnate—the power didn't corrupt him because he was already its living embodiment.
Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden change in the Ancient One's expression. Her relaxed posture vanished, replaced by the focused intensity of someone detecting an imminent threat. She set down her tea cup with deliberate care and began weaving complex mystical patterns with her hands.
"What's happening?" Marcus asked, though he could sense the dimensional fluctuations beginning to intensify around them.
"The Convergence is about to begin," the Ancient One replied, her voice tight with concentration. The Eye of Agamotto opened on her chest, flooding her hands with temporal energy as she prepared defensive spells. "The Nine Realms are starting to align, and when they do..."
Marcus felt it too—the sudden shift in cosmic pressure as dimensional barriers began their final weakening phase. Reality itself was becoming malleable, preparing for the moment when nine different worlds would occupy the same physical space simultaneously.
"I know where the convergence point will be," Marcus said suddenly, realizing the implications of his knowledge. "Greenwich, London. That's where the dimensional alignment will reach its peak."
The Ancient One paused in her spell-weaving, surprised by his certainty. "The Convergence location is supposed to be random, unpredictable. How could you possibly know—"
"Trust me on this one," Marcus interrupted, opening a portal with casual efficiency. The familiar blue energy swirled to reveal the London skyline, already showing signs of dimensional instability. "The center point is definitely there."
The Ancient One studied him for a moment, then nodded. Her mystical senses confirmed that dimensional energy was indeed concentrating in that direction, building toward something unprecedented in scale.
"Very well. London it is," she agreed. "The London Sanctum will provide a good base of operations, and if you're correct about the convergence point, we'll need to be there to coordinate Earth's mystical defenses."
They stepped through the portal together, emerging into a London that was already beginning to experience the effects of dimensional overlap. The signs were subtle but unmistakable to those who knew what to look for: shadows falling in the wrong directions, buildings reflecting sunlight that wasn't shining on them, birds flying through what appeared to be solid walls only to emerge from completely different surfaces.
"The barriers are definitely failing," the Ancient One confirmed, watching a flock of pigeons disappear into thin air mid-flight, only to emerge from a nearby building's facade as if it were empty space. "The Nine Realms are beginning to phase into each other."
"You should get to the London Sanctum," Marcus advised. "Coordinate with your people, set up whatever defenses you can before things get really chaotic. I'll handle any immediate threats that surface."
The Ancient One nodded, already moving toward the mystical sanctuary that would serve as her command center for the coming crisis. "If the situation becomes too much for conventional defenses to handle—"
"I'll let you know," Marcus assured her. "But I suspect this is going to be more interesting than dangerous. At least initially."
After the Ancient One departed, Marcus allowed his physical form to dissolve into shadow and mist, dispersing across the city to locate Tony and Jane. The Reality Stone in his possession would make him a target for every faction that understood its significance, and he wanted to ensure his allies were safely out of the way before the real fighting began.
The Dark Elves would come for their ancient artifact, of that he was certain. They had awakened specifically because they sensed the Reality Stone's emergence, and they wouldn't be deterred by a single defeat in Asgard. If anything, their desperation would make them more dangerous, more willing to take risks that might endanger innocent civilians.
But Marcus found himself looking forward to the confrontation. His new Fire and Frost capabilities needed proper field testing, and Dark Elf technology would provide an excellent benchmark for measuring his enhanced combat effectiveness.
Meanwhile, in a hotel near Greenwich, Tony Stark and Jane Foster were struggling to comprehend the increasingly bizarre phenomena erupting around London. What had started as minor gravitational anomalies had escalated into full-scale reality distortions that defied every scientific principle they understood.
"Okay, explain to me again how a delivery truck just drove through a solid brick wall and came out the other side completely unharmed?" Tony demanded, reviewing footage from his suit's external cameras.
Jane, hunched over a laptop displaying readings from hastily assembled sensor equipment, looked equally baffled. "According to these gravitational measurements, that wall simultaneously existed and didn't exist. The dimensional overlap is creating pockets where multiple realities are occupying the same physical space."
"That's not scientifically possible," Tony protested, though his tone suggested he was beginning to accept that 'scientifically possible' might need significant redefinition.
"Tell that to the laws of physics," Jane replied dryly. "Because they're apparently taking a vacation."
Both scientists were experiencing the disorienting sensation of having their fundamental understanding of reality challenged by direct observation. They had dealt with alien technology, mystical artifacts, and interdimensional travel, but the Convergence represented something beyond even their expanded worldview.
"How long were we gone?" Tony asked plaintively. "Because I'm pretty sure London wasn't experiencing localized reality storms when we left for Asgard."