"Supreme Sorcerer, can you come out?"
Hamir entered and addressed the Ancient One.
"What's wrong?"
"Magician Alaric, I don't know what to do. It's been quite some time since he flew into the sky."
At first, Hamir didn't want to disturb the Ancient One, but Alaric had been up there for far too long. Couldn't he meditate at home if that's what he wanted?
He said he was studying magic, but he wasn't using any form of it.
Was he demonstrating? Or trying to see if someone in Kamar-Taj was gossiping about him?
But seriously, who would dare do that while he was here?
Not only Hamir, but the other sorcerers also couldn't focus on their studies anymore.
"Alaric still hasn't come down?"
The Ancient One stood up in confusion, wondering what exactly Alaric was trying to achieve.
When she stepped outside, she looked up at the sky and saw a blurry figure.
"Supreme Sorcerer, what do you think Alaric is doing?"
"He… should be trying to understand magic, right?" the Ancient One said uncertainly.
Then she used voice transmission magic to contact Alaric.
"What are you doing?"
"Hm? What haven't I done?"
Hearing the Ancient One's voice, Alaric opened his eyes and looked down.
"When you're done, get lost from here!"
The Ancient One was speechless. It took her a while to calm down, but as soon as Alaric returned, she felt her blood pressure rise again.
"I can't stay here any longer. I'm going back to the sanctuary. This was pointless!"
Now that he had mastered many magic circles, there was no reason to stay. He simply teleported away.
"You little…"
The Ancient One was so angry she barely held back a curse.
At least he could've come down and said what he'd learned before leaving!
"Supreme Sorcerer, what should we do?"
"He's back. If nothing happens, just disperse."
The Ancient One shook her head and went back inside.
As long as Alaric didn't want to appear, she wouldn't waste any more nerves on him.
Alright, out of sight, out of mind.
---
The Sanctuary in New York.
When Alaric returned, he immediately began setting up a magic circle.
"First, establish the main formation to maintain operations."
Fortunately, he could directly use the power of the Vishanti without consuming his own energy.
Alaric muttered: "It's free as long as I don't overuse it."
Vishanti: ???
"Next, perception magic, in case someone tries to sneak in."
Thief: Who the hell would dare come here and risk their life?
"Finally, let's set up space-sealing magic. No one will be able to open a portal except me!"
Alaric carefully arranged the enhanced magic circle.
Three circles now completely covered the entire sanctuary.
"What else?"
He touched his chin, thinking.
"I wonder if I could use the elemental space as a trap…"
He walked around the room, trying to link the passages between several elemental worlds and the sanctuary itself.
"Stationary traps are too rigid… What if I link them to the magic circle?"
Suddenly, inspiration struck him. With everything he had learned about magic circles so far, he added one more, a teleportation circle that randomly transferred any intruder into one of the seven-element spaces.
He personally entered to inspect each one. Except for the stone world, which was relatively safe, all the others were extremely dangerous.
Especially the world of black holes, formed from dark energy, whoever entered would be devoured without a trace.
Alaric randomly placed the passages between those seven spaces throughout the entire sanctuary.
However, to prevent accidental harm to allies, he decided to keep the magic circle closed while he was still there.
After all, those spaces were far too dangerous.
Even if a sorcerer from Kamar-Taj accidentally wandered in, they would likely die. He had to be cautious.
"Then, only one thing remains."
Alaric said and took out the Eye of Agamotto.
"Let's have some fun with Dormammu. I haven't been there in a while; I wonder if he misses me."
With a smile, he opened a portal and stepped through it.
"A familiar dark force…"
Anyone else, upon entering the dark dimension, would immediately be corrupted by its thick dark energy.
But Alaric, as the ruler of the Eternal Night World, a realm formed from the very energy of the dark dimension, felt completely at home.
"So, Dormammu… where are you hiding?"
He first cast a temporal protection spell on himself to avoid a possible attack, then ascended and flew deeper into the heart of darkness.
He moved toward the area where he felt the strongest surge of dark power.
At that moment, Dormammu sensed his arrival.
The aura emanating from Alaric was powerful enough to be instantly recognized.
At first, Dormammu didn't care. He thought Alaric had wandered in again and would soon disappear as always.
But when he felt him approaching, he began to realize this time wasn't by accident.
What the hell does he want now?!
This time, it was obvious he came straight for him!
Dormammu could no longer pretend not to notice. If he didn't teach this child a lesson, he would lose the respect he was owed.
"Dormammu! Dormammu!"
From the darkness, Alaric's voice echoed. His tone was teasing, as if they were old acquaintances.
Dormammu clenched his jaw, his dark face twisting.
"Shut up, you little insect!"
Suddenly, he appeared before Alaric, his enormous flaming face illuminating the darkness.
"There you are! I thought you were asleep!" Alaric laughed, completely unafraid.
"What are you doing here again?!"
Dormammu had indeed been meditating, or rather, concentrating. He was transforming the gathered mysterious energy into his own power, increasing the strength of the dark dimension.
"I was bored at home, so I came to visit you."
Alaric replied completely honestly.
"What are you planning this time?"
Dormammu then noticed the green glow around Alaric's wrist, Agamotto's time loop.
That damn time magic again!
This reckless mortal was about to drive him insane again!
If you try to kill Dormammu, you'll end up trapped in an endless time loop.
But if you don't kill him, Dormammu himself will tear you apart out of rage.
And yet, Alaric's will was made of steel.
Even if he died countless times, he would always return, smiling and determined to continue.
Unlike those who sought power but trembled before death, this young man was different. Stubborn enough to make Dormammu take him seriously.
But that was all.
Without that time magic, Dormammu would have destroyed him with a single glance.
But there was no "if."
That's why Alaric had become his eternal headache.
"I told you, I came because I was bored."
Then he smiled and spread his arms.
"So, Dormammu, let's fight!"
"I refuse."