The so-called price is always determined by the one who grants the power.
Alaric could decide not to charge it, but perhaps due to the very rules of the Marvel universe, even if he did not ask a price from the Ancient One, he felt that he had gained a part of control over her. He was certain that as long as he wished, he could pull his power back whenever he wanted, and even strip away most of the magical power that belonged to the Ancient One.
This was the consequence of the very fact that the Ancient One had just received his energy. It could be assumed that her main creditors, the Vishanti and Dormammu, could also settle her debts with her soul, using it as compensation.
As happened with Kaecilius: although he had gained power from Dormammu, since he did not have enough of his own strength to resist, in the end Dormammu himself devoured him and turned him into a fragment of himself. This could in some way be considered the fulfillment of Kaecilius's wish for eternal life, though in a twisted way.
"Since you gave me your power, does that mean that the other sorcerers of Kamar-Taj can also use your energy?" the Ancient One suddenly asked.
"Yes and no."
"Why not?"
"Have you forgotten about the Vishanti? The entire tradition of Kamar-Taj originates from them. If I were to take the faith that belongs to the Vishanti, what do you think would happen?" said Alaric without hesitation.
He wasn't nearly insane enough to provoke beings like the Vishanti.
"Yes… that was my mistake."
The Ancient One felt ashamed. As the Sorcerer Supreme, the representative of the very will of the Vishanti, she had spoken a sentence that in their eyes could appear as betrayal. The mere thought that the Vishanti could hear it sent shivers down her spine.
But her heart was still intoxicated by the sentence she had earlier heard from Alaric, that "she did not have to pay anything."
"You know," she continued in a calmer voice, "there is a reason why using magic has always had a price. It is precisely that price which forces sorcerers to be careful, not to abuse what they know and not to cause chaos on Earth."
"I agree," Alaric answered calmly.
Those words touched the Ancient One. In her long service as the protector of Earth, she had many times seen sorcerers who lost themselves in pursuit of power. In the end, their own greed would turn them into demons, or they would fall under the influence of forces beyond Earth.
The dimensional lords adored such people. They would tempt them, offer them power in exchange for obedience, turning them into weapons of the demonic gods and letting them rampage across the world.
Alaric was different. He had not lost his balance.
As she thought about it, the Ancient One realized it was becoming harder and harder for her to fully understand him.
He created strange and extremely powerful magic she had not seen before. He had a stubborn and daring personality, he dared to challenge even Odin, joking in his presence and bullying his son.
His deeds were bold, his means powerful. He dared to step alone into the Dark Dimension, and even face Dormammu directly, forcing him to compromise.
And yet, he was also humble. He had the potential to take the place of the Vishanti, but he never thought of crossing the line and taking what belonged to others.
The Ancient One was more and more satisfied.
"Do you really not want to become the Sorcerer Supreme?"
Although the Ancient One had tacitly assumed that Alaric would one day take that place, and even before Odin and Dormammu he acted as if he were already the Sorcerer Supreme, until now Alaric had shown no interest at all.
"I don't."
He shook his head immediately. Why would he need that? Strange was destined for that role, and Alaric had no desire to replace him.
Had he known that in just a few seconds the Ancient One had gathered all his advantages and elevated him to a level he had not even imagined for himself, he probably would have only laughed and waved his hand. He did not think about it, nor did he need someone to fill his head with flattering ideas.
"All right then… Let's go."
The Ancient One sighed, and then together with him left the small universe.
After returning to his room, Alaric immediately sat on the bed. He still had more important things to do. He closed his eyes, focused, and began constructing his own dimension.
As he had done earlier with the small universe, Alaric studied the very essence of the laws that shaped the dimensional planes. Now, with enough knowledge and power, he could create his own world, using the energy at his disposal.
[Through deep understanding of the power of the dimensional planes, you have analyzed the laws of their composition. You have merged them with the original force of the Dark Dimension and created your own dimension: The Eternal Night World.]
[Eternal Night World: A small dimension within the inner plane, composed of magical energy fused with matter from the Earth Dimension.]
In the Marvel cosmos, magical dimensions are divided into four main levels.
The Inner Plane: the original dimensions created by the four Elder Gods — Set, Lord of Serpents; Chthon, creator of the flickering realms; Oshtur and her Astral Empire; and Gaea and Avalon. The kingdoms of gods such as Asgard or Olympus also belong to this plane.
The Outer Plane: realms such as the Crimson Dimension, where the source of Juggernaut's power lies.
The Divided Realms: such as the Dark Dimension, or the border of Hell.
The Distant Realms: places made of pure ideas and concepts, which in the true sense do not exist and almost no one can reach.
Finally, there is the Source of the World, the legendary Earth that connects the core of magic itself.
The world that Alaric had now created, the Eternal Night World, in its essence resembled the Earth Dimension, for it was shaped in its image. Yet the greatest energy with which it was built came from the Dark Dimension. Because of this, its atmosphere resembled an endless twilight and was saturated with dark magic.
In size, the Eternal Night World did not differ from his previously created small universe. But soon Alaric noticed something strange. It seemed as if this world was directly connected with the Dark Dimension.
He felt the same mysterious energy circulating within it that he had earlier received from Dormammu, and he could use it at will.
"Is it possible… that I have now become a demon lord of the Dark Dimension?"
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