The Ancient One stepped out of the magical gate with a dark expression and arrived at the temple.
At first, she tried to use portal magic, but it didn't work.
She tried again, this time using a more complex spell, and then it succeeded.
It became immediately clear to her.
Alaric had deliberately developed a spell that blocked specific kinds of teleportation, particularly to prevent others, even her, from appearing in the temple without his permission.
"So, he did this on purpose," murmured the Ancient One through clenched teeth.
"This kid… really does what he says!"
She could sense his presence but couldn't locate him.
Apparently, Alaric had already left again, likely using the Eye of Agamotto.
This time, however, the Ancient One didn't intend to go after him.
She wasn't worried about his safety; on the contrary, after everything she had seen, she was certain Alaric never acted without a plan.
But this time, as she tried to trace his residual energy, she felt something unusual.
Magical energy pulsed in the air, familiar, yet interwoven with new patterns.
"This magical array…" she whispered, narrowing her eyes.
"Why does it resemble the one from Kamar-Taj?"
She stepped closer and began studying the weave of the magic.
When she confirmed what she sensed, her eyes widened.
Alaric had transferred the entire Kamar-Taj magic system, directly into this temple.
"So that's why he went so high," she said quietly, surprised.
"He wanted to observe Kamar-Taj from above… to study the structure and formation of its protective circles."
She was astonished.
How long had he been preparing this?
How quickly had he mastered the knowledge of magical arrays and applied it in practice?
"Did he do it because he thinks the temple isn't safe enough?"
She felt a mix of mild frustration and admiration.
"Truly… typical of him."
Though she was irritated, she couldn't deny the truth.
Alaric not only understood the principles of protective formations, he had improved them.
"But fine," she murmured with a half-ironic smile, "if anyone tries to attack this temple, it won't be easy for them."
She paused for a moment, thinking.
"Maybe he could even prepare protection for the other three temples."
The Ancient One then headed toward the third floor of the temple.
Previously, the magical system of this place had never been complete. No one could fully stabilize it.
But now, now that Alaric had established a new structure, everything looked harmonious, precise, almost perfect.
When she reached the third floor, she walked up to one of the bookshelves.
She randomly pulled out a book, opened it, and immediately noticed signs of use.
The shelf was clean, neatly arranged.
Compared to how it used to look, everything was in perfect order.
When Daniel had been here, many books hadn't even been touched, layers of dust testified to neglect.
But now everything was different.
The Ancient One approached the window overlooking the boundless world of energy.
There, in a tidy corner, stood a sofa, a small table, and several open books on magic.
She looked at it all and smiled faintly.
"So, he hasn't been wasting time," she said softly.
It was clear that Alaric hadn't been idle in recent days, but had been diligently studying and expanding his knowledge.
He was a restless spirit, often prone to mischief, but when he focused, his determination was astonishing.
The Ancient One knew that better than anyone.
Since she didn't know when he would return, she simply sat down on the sofa, picked up one of the magical books, and began reading, waiting in silence.
---
The Dark Dimension.
Time had reversed.
Alaric was back at the beginning.
He didn't hesitate for a second.
He opened a portal as fast as he could and left the dark world.
Fortunately, Dormammu didn't try to stop him.
At the moment Alaric stepped through the portal, Dormammu sensed a disturbance in space.
Instinctively, he thought about freezing the space to stop him.
But he did nothing.
He let him go.
He was too drained and too irritated.
He didn't want to go through it all again.
If he tried to stop Alaric again, both of them would end up trapped once more in the endless time loop.
And every time that happened, the result was the same, Dormammu lost more, and Alaric gained more.
He thought bitterly: "I, the dark god of dimensions… the lord of infinity… defeated twice by a mortal."
That thought alone was painful enough to make him retreat.
He imagined what it would look like if other demons and higher-dimensional entities learned of this.
They would mock him endlessly. No one would spare his reputation.
They would probably expel him from every council of dimensional lords, just so they wouldn't have to witness his humiliation.
That's why he didn't bother checking where Alaric had gone. He assumed that when the time-loop magic dissipated, everything would return to its original state.
And that Alaric would once again be what he was, a man, without access to demonic power.
In his eyes, Alaric was still just a mortal.
When Alaric left the Dark Dimension, Dormammu decided to leave as well.
To abandon his realm for a while, to distance himself from everything, and to find a "new amusement."
Perhaps a world he could conquer.
Perhaps a new dimension whose energy he could devour.
In any case, even if he left, he would never lose his identity as the ruler of the Dark Dimension.
Because now, in the entire dark world, there was no existence stronger than him.
But he didn't expect that someone would begin thinking of returning to Earth the moment he was gone.
---
"Ugh!"
"Finally back!"
Alaric collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted and breathless. His body burned, every muscle in spasm.
"This is killing me… damn it!"
He closed his eyes and tried to catch his breath, feeling his energy slowly return.
If it hadn't been for that last-minute reversal, he would now be trapped, doomed to relive endlessly the torment Dormammu had inflicted.
Luckily, this time he had outwitted him.
But one thing was certain, he wouldn't take such risks again.
From now on, he would stay here, in the temple.
Alone.
Reading books, drinking coffee, and studying until he was ready to step into the darkness again.
Luck and coincidence wouldn't always protect him.
As he tried to steady his breathing, he looked up and saw the Ancient One sitting at the other end of the sofa, calmly observing him.
"You're back…" she began.
"Wait!" interrupted Alaric, raising his hand and frantically reaching toward the air.
A cup of water appeared in his grasp.
"Let me drink first!"
He lifted the cup and downed it in a single gulp, as if his life depended on it.
The Ancient One watched him silently, saying nothing.
But in her eyes, surprise was visible.
She had never seen him like this.
The last time he faced Dormammu, Alaric had been cold, calculating, even when negotiating with the Lord of Darkness himself, he looked utterly fearless.
But now…
There was a trace of pure fear on his face.
It made her wonder, what kind of dimension had he been in, who had he faced, for even someone like him, who feared nothing, to look this shaken?
"You came for the Eye of Agamotto, didn't you?" she asked calmly.
Alaric immediately stood up and handed her the artifact, as if it were burning in his hands.
"Here! Take it back! Get it as far away as possible! I don't ever want to see it again!"
The Ancient One raised an eyebrow but took it without a word.
"You don't want to use it anymore?"
"No, thank you, never again!" Alaric replied quickly, shaking his head."
"Actually, it'd be better if you took it with you. If you leave it here, it could easily end up in the wrong hands."
The Ancient One smiled, looking at him knowingly.
"Afraid you might be tempted, so you'd rather I take it away?"
Alaric coughed lightly and looked away.
"No, no, it's not that… I'm just saying… better safe than sorry."
Of course, he knew she had hit the mark, but he had no intention of admitting it.
"Well then," she said. "Tell me, where were you this time?"
"In the Dark Dimension," he answered, his tone a mix of pride and exhaustion. "Fighting Dormammu."
"Hm? You lost?" The Ancient One looked at Alaric in confusion.
The last time, she had clearly seen that even Dormammu couldn't undo the time magic, and in the end, in frustration, had agreed to Alaric's terms and banished him.
Wasn't it the same this time?
Surely Dormammu couldn't break the time magic, could he?
"Lose?"
He laughed softly, but a spark of defiance burned in his eyes.
"Dormammu and I… we're equals."