The Dark Dimension returned to its eerie tranquility.
Only the massive white core pulsed quietly, as if reminding the world that this was its true, original state.
Until a voice echoed in Russell's mind:
[Looting complete.]
[Supreme Technology – Gold]
Possess all the scientific knowledge of time-traveler Nathaniel Richards, along with unmatched creativity. Gain a profound understanding of time itself.
Russell remembered obtaining the Supreme Technology entry from Kang the Conqueror, but back then, it lacked the deeper mastery of time. Now, it had upgraded from purple tier to gold — a massive leap in power.
Once he activated it, countless fragments of knowledge flowed into him. He now understood the mysteries of time completely — even the method of extracting that rare golden energy from it.
He could now accelerate time, reverse it, and even return to his own past.
In short, it was the same personal time-jump ability Loki had once wielded.
The hidden force of time itself was also derived from this power.
One of the main reasons the Kang variants had painstakingly pruned countless timelines was to obtain this golden energy.
Unlike Kang the Conqueror, who merely possessed a mortal body, Russell — like Loki — could contain this energy within himself without being destroyed.
The bad news was that once the timeline was freed, he would no longer slaughter entire worlds just to harvest this power.
The good news was that the Dark Dimension's core was now overflowing with it — enough to make him unimaginably wealthy in power.
Moreover, with his deepened understanding of time, wielding the Time Stone would become second nature, without the risk of dangerous side effects like paradoxes.
Russell couldn't help but grin. This single upgrade was worth the trouble of being hunted by that lunatic for so long.
And it wasn't the only prize.
[Dark Dimension Authority: 0.2% – Gold]
Control 0.2% of the Dark Dimension's authority. Gain a constant feedback of dark energy.
Note: This authority is a qualification, allowing you to devour more of the Dark Dimension's remaining power.
Russell raised an eyebrow in surprise.
He had assumed the energy core could simply be swallowed whole — no wonder Kang had to convert it before absorbing it.
But that only worked in his favor.
His eyes burned as he gazed at the blazing, sun-like core. If he wished, he could ascend to a true multiversal being and become a full-fledged dimensional ruler — a Mephisto-level entity.
But he hesitated.
Dimensional ascension, in his view, was flawed. Beings who relied on their dimensions for strength were ultimately weaker multiversal entities.
Dormammu was a perfect example — all bluster within his own realm, but hesitant to set foot in reality in his true form.
Even Mephisto, for all his cunning, never dared to walk the mortal world without a puppet body.
The only one doing well was Cytorrak, but even he followed the same principle.
Beyond Kamar-Taj's dimensional wards, there was the crushing suppression of the real world. Stripped of their realm's blessing, most would fall from multiversal status to the power of a mere single-universe being.
That was not the fate Russell wanted.
Cytorrak was different — the Crimson Lord was still a top-tier multiversal powerhouse even outside his dimension. The dimension was strong because of him, not the other way around.
That was true power.
Still, giving up control of the Dark Dimension entirely was out of the question.
Russell looked once more at the massive, burning core.
In the next instant, a dazzling green light erupted from his body, twisting and expanding into the colossal form of Jörmungandr, the World Serpent.
The next second, he opened the massive, abyssal jaws of Jörmungandr and swallowed the Dark Dimension's core in a single gulp.
He wasn't seeking to simply gain authority — he intended to devour the entire Dark Dimension, as the legends foretold.
This core was the ultimate form of dark energy.
Normally, it would be impossible for even Jörmungandr's body to accomplish such a feat.
But Russell possessed the full power of Galactus — and with it, he could.
The energy quality of the Dark Dimension was no less potent than the lifeforce of an entire planet.
World Core Devouring Progress: 10%... 30%... 70%...
Compared to the slow, calculated method of Kang the Conqueror's variant, Russell's approach was brutally simple.
He didn't care about authority.
Within seconds, the entire core was consumed.
BOOM!!!
The Dark Dimension itself quaked violently.
Far away, on a desolate, withered planet outside the dimensional cage, the real-world Ancient One was relentlessly bombarding magical wards, trying to free the soul of her counterpart — the Spiritual Ancient One — who was bound inside a dark prison and tortured by mystical flames.
The imprisoned soul floated weakly within the fire, her face etched with pain.
She had never imagined that Kang the Conqueror — who had always claimed to protect the Sacred Timeline — would ally with Dormammu. Together, they had torn open the dimensional barrier with a massive space-time gate, dragging Earth itself into the Dark Dimension.
She had been captured before she could resist, sealed away by Dormammu's magic.
Now, her only hope was for Russell to defeat Kang before he could claim the Dark Dimension's core authority. Otherwise, Kang's strength would spiral out of control — and beings like Mephisto and other dark lords would seize a once-in-a-lifetime chance. The destruction of countless worlds would be inevitable.
As both Ancient Ones wrestled with these fears, the universe suddenly shook with even greater force.
The magic of the Sacred Timeline Ancient One faltered and collapsed. Both women froze in shock.
All around them, swirling, prismatic dark energy surged violently toward a single point — accelerating until it surpassed the speed of light.
"What's happening!?"
The Sacred Timeline Ancient One's eyes widened in horror. She could feel it — the Dark Dimension itself was trembling. Something terrible was unfolding.
Her gaze darted to her imprisoned counterpart.
"Leader… is someone about to become the new lord of the dimension?"
She feared that Kang might succeed. But she also feared that Russell might become a Mephisto-level entity. Almost every being who reached such power was eventually tempted to consume Earth — and then the entire universe.
The Spiritual Ancient One's expression darkened.
"I… don't know," she admitted, her voice heavy with defeat.
This was never the plan.
Originally, after anchoring five key timelines, she and Russell — now a full "single-body" powerhouse — would attack the TVA together. Even if Kang possessed the golden temporal energy, he couldn't have withstood the combined might of two beings of that level.
But the plan had collapsed, and Kang had turned the tables.
Now, she could only hope that neither of them would succeed. The Dark Dimension's core wasn't meant to be absorbed so easily.
After a pause, she spoke again:
"Leave me, Ancient One. Stop trying to free me. I'll tell you how to reach the TVA and bypass their anti-magic wards. Without Kang, you'll be able to defeat their guards easily and shut down all temporal portal transmissions.
"If you can do that, no one — not even him — will be able to return to the End of Time. That way, the Sorcerer Supremes can still protect the barrier of reality, and the Dark Dimension will never invade."
As leader of the Supreme Alliance, her mind was quick — her strategy sound.
But something even faster was arriving.
A wave of green light appeared on the horizon — boundless, endless.
From afar, it spread across all worlds, expanding ceaselessly.
The Sacred Timeline Ancient One's eyes widened as she turned to leave, following her leader's instructions.
But the next moment, the hoarse, astonished voice of her counterpart stopped her.
"No need, Ancient One.
"My vision was too narrow… I didn't expect his choice to be like this."
Seeing her confusion, the Spiritual Ancient One gave a bitter smile.
"Russell didn't choose to become the master of the dimension… he chose to stand above it."
In that moment, she realized how foolish her earlier thoughts had been.
It wasn't just his power — his entire realm of understanding was beyond hers.
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