Unexpectedly, even Alaric himself didn't expect that the gifts of the three Vishanti would possess such power. The strongest among them was the drop of water sent by Oshtur.
When he reorganized his body, Alaric immediately recognized the energy that made the liquid so unusual. It was a tear, a tear of Oshtur herself.
He knew how powerful those tears were. After all, from one such tear Agamotto was born.
And in the end, he also became an all-knowing and almighty being, and together with Oshtur and Hoggoth, formed the Vishanti Trinity and became an eternal entity.
"Is it possible… that I'm also Oshtur's child?"
The thought caught him off guard. Although his body was reborn and filled with new energy, he felt as if he had crossed the boundary between mortal and divine. Still, he shook his head.
"No! That's not true!"
"I only reconstructed my body with the help of that tear. That's all. I'm not her child."
He didn't need another "mother," even if she was the goddess of light.
"This turn of events was… just too surprising."
As his thoughts wandered, the new energy shaped a white outfit that covered his body, the same one he had worn before. Then he raised his hand and summoned his levitation cloak. The cloth, a wonder of magic and craftsmanship, fluttered through the air and wrapped around his shoulders.
Luckily, the cloak survived the cleansing by divine flame. Otherwise, he would've had to personally visit the Vishanti and demand compensation, which would have certainly ended in an awkward conversation.
"The flame that burned my body symbolized the renunciation of human nature. But, thanks to Oshtur's tear and her light power, I was able to restore my being, the body of the gods. In that sense, this is perhaps the greatest gain I've ever achieved."
Before this event, Alaric had already become the lord of the Eternal Night World dimension. His existence had evolved beyond the human level, but he still hadn't crossed into the divine. To achieve that, he would have had to completely abandon his physical form, like Dormammu.
He never expected that fate would bring him such a transformation, accidental, but perfect.
If it had been different, if it were some other Elder God, say, Chthon, the lord of dark magic and creator of the infamous Darkhold, the result would've been horrific. Alaric's new body might have been filled with corruption of darkness.
And if instead of Oshtur, Seth, the serpent god of chaos, had intervened, his being would have become distorted, full of poison and destructive impulses.
That's why he was grateful that Oshtur, the goddess of light, was the one who granted him a new form.
"Luckily… my body was preserved in its pure form."
Alaric couldn't even imagine looking distorted, with demonic shapes and tentacles instead of hands. The thought disgusted him.
"All right… the power has finally stabilized."
He raised his right hand. In it appeared a glowing orb of white energy, the pure power of the God of White Magic, which he drew from his new dimension, the Polar Day World.
In his left hand, however, a dense cloud of dark energy formed, the power of the God of Black Magic, from the Eternal Night World.
Both forces pulsed in perfect harmony, opposite yet united, like light and shadow.
At that moment, black-gold flames enveloped Alaric's body. The fire danced across his skin, creating a halo that looked both divine and terrifyingly powerful. The levitation cloak, frightened, slightly trembled, but quickly calmed once it sensed no danger.
"Don't be afraid," said Alaric calmly. "This fire won't harm you."
The black-gold flame was a fusion of dark dimensional fire and the holy golden flame of the Vishanti. When combined, they created a new form, the perfect balance of light and darkness.
"Maybe I should call it… Flame of the Gods."
That new flame symbolized his duality, a being between light and darkness, born from the tears of a goddess and the fire of demons.
His new body was more than just a physical weapon. It became a vessel of pure energy. His strength, speed, and endurance surpassed both human and divine standards. He was immune to poisons, viruses, radioactivity, and even extreme forms of magical attacks.
Now, even if all the mages of Kamar-Taj joined forces and attacked him simultaneously, Alaric would stand motionless, untouched.
Of course, the Ancient One was excluded here.
Such was the power of the body of gods.
And that power came from Oshtur, one of the four elder gods.
As for physical strength, not even Thor, the god of thunder, could rival him anymore.
But physical power was only part of the story. The greatest change was in his magical affinity.
The new body, from birth, was filled with unlimited magical potential. Alaric could now freely manipulate elements, shape energy, and create entire spells without a single hand gesture.
And without needing to rely on the power of the God of Magic.
Now, Alaric had become completely renewed a new, divine being in every sense.
As long as there are no accidents, Alaric's lowest level is at least the multiversal level of Agamotto.
And how far can he go beyond that?
Even Alaric himself didn't know.
The only thing that was certain was that the path ahead of him was open. A path of light had been paved, just waiting for him to walk it.
---
"Hm? This is the Eye of Agamotto… newly forged?"
Alaric then noticed that among the three gifts sent by the Vishanti, one came from Agamotto himself. At first glance, it looked identical to the Eye that was in the Ancient One's possession, except that it lacked the Time Stone.
Still, Alaric didn't consider the gem necessary. The reason was simple, he knew that the moment he held it in his hands again, he would feel tempted to use it and once more challenge Dormammu, just to test the limits of his power. And that would likely end in catastrophe.
Alaric gently placed the Eye of Agamotto on his chest. He felt the warmth of the artifact merge with his divine energy, but he didn't activate it. It wasn't an item to be used without need, it was a symbol and a sacred relic, worthy of respect.
...
After leaving the meditation room, Alaric rearranged the magical formations in the temple and opened the ancient back door that had been closed for centuries. Anyone who tried to enter outside the magical passage would face his personal protection seal. This was now his domain.
Somewhere in the dimensions, the Ancient One sensed that change and sighed.
"My name is still written on the deed," she murmured quietly.
Alaric laughed, unaware she could hear, and decided to move on. If he was going to finish the renovations, it was better to do it now.
First, he visited the London sanctum. Repairs went quickly and without resistance; the energy was stable. But when he reached the Hong Kong sanctum, the situation got complicated.
Kaecilius greeted him like an old friend or rather, like someone he had waited for his whole life. His gaze gleamed with a mix of excitement and obsession.
"Alaric! You've finally appeared!" he said, spreading his arms like a host. "You must come and try something special. Chinese cuisine! Authentic!"
Alaric was momentarily caught off guard but soon smiled. The smells of food coming from the nearby room were too tempting to ignore.
"All right," he replied with a half-smile. "But only for a short while."
They sat together, and while Alaric ate casually, Kaecilius watched him attentively. He tried to extract every bit of information from his words and gestures.
His gaze finally settled on Alaric's chest.
"Supreme Sorcerer," he asked, "does this mean that the title of Sorcerer Supreme has now passed to you?"
He paused, gesturing toward the Eye of Agamotto that shimmered on Alaric's chest. In Kamar-Taj, that artifact was more than a symbol, it was a mark of inheritance and authority.
"No," Alaric replied calmly. "Why do you ask?"
"Because…" Kaecilius pointed to the artifact. "That's the Eye of Agamotto. It has always been the mark of the Sorcerer Supreme."
Alaric shrugged. "It's a gift from the Vishanti themselves."
"Vishanti?" Kaecilius whispered in shock. "But… isn't there only one Eye of Agamotto?"
His eyes widened. The idea that entered his mind was insane, but he couldn't dismiss it. If Alaric really received a new Eye directly from the divine trinity, then it could mean only one thing.
Is it possible that he's connected to them on a deeper level?
Is it possible… that Alaric is actually the reincarnation of the Vishanti themselves?