The moment they heard Nolan's voice, Balthazar, David, Harry Potter, Dumbledore, and the others lit up with excitement.
The battle had only just begun, yet they had already been pushed onto the defensive.
Although Dormammu and Mephisto had yet to personally enter the fight, the endless armies pouring from the Dark Dimension and the Hell Dimension had already exhausted Earth's defenders.
If not for the advanced weaponry supplied by Lock Technology, they would have been completely overwhelmed by now.
Even then, they were only holding the line because the Sanctums' magical barriers greatly suppressed the invading demons' strength.
Without those enchantments, Earth would already have fallen.
Only now did they truly understand how incredible Nolan and Stephen Strange had been when they had fought Dormammu together.
Everyone noticed Nolan's arrival.
So did the two Dimension Lords.
Dormammu and Mephisto fixed their eyes on him.
"At last..."
Mephisto spoke first.
A faint smile rested on his lips.
There wasn't the slightest trace of fear on his face.
Dormammu looked even more relaxed.
In fact, there was obvious mockery in his eyes.
"Nolan."
"Master of Earth."
"The last time we fought, you had that annoying Sorcerer Supreme fighting beside you."
"But now you're here alone."
"Do you really believe you can stop our invasion this time?"
Nolan merely looked at him with disdain.
"I don't need anyone else's help to deal with the two of you."
The two Dimension Lords burst into laughter.
To them, Nolan's words were utterly ridiculous.
Although Mephisto hadn't personally taken part in the previous war, he had witnessed the outcome.
Back then, it had taken Earth's greatest heroes working together to force Dormammu into retreat.
Now Dormammu wasn't alone.
Mephisto stood beside him, and their strength was nearly identical.
Meanwhile, Earth had only Nolan.
Everyone else was insignificant in comparison.
Yet he claimed he could defeat both of them alone.
It sounded like nothing more than arrogance.
Even Balthazar couldn't hide his concern.
"Nolan... where's Stephen?"
"If you're the only one here, defeating both Dimension Lords is impossible."
His voice was filled with worry.
The last time, Nolan and Stephen had barely managed to repel Dormammu together.
Now Nolan stood alone against two enemies.
How could anyone possibly win under those circumstances?
Nolan calmly shook his head.
"Stephen is fighting another battle."
"Thanos is attacking Earth."
"The battle at Wakanda has already reached its most critical stage."
"He can't leave."
"I came here from Wakanda."
"If Stephen abandoned Earth to reinforce the dimensional rift, then even if we won here, Thanos would conquer Earth before we returned."
The atmosphere instantly became heavy.
No one doubted Nolan's words.
If that was truly the situation...
How were they supposed to defeat two Dimension Lords?
Among everyone present, only Dumbledore could barely be considered a legendary wizard.
Yet even he was far below a Dimension Lord.
Balthazar was even weaker than Dumbledore.
No one here possessed the strength necessary to restrain either enemy.
Suddenly, Balthazar's eyes brightened.
"Nolan..."
"You possess two Infinity Stones."
"The Infinity Stones contain unimaginable power."
"Perhaps... I can wield one and fight alongside you."
David's expression changed dramatically.
"No!"
"You can't withstand the power of an Infinity Stone!"
he shouted.
To everyone's surprise, Dumbledore laughed.
"Balthazar is right."
"It is worth trying."
"If Balthazar can wield one Infinity Stone, then perhaps I can as well."
"We may not survive for long..."
"But the two of us should be able to hold one Dimension Lord back."
"That would at least give you a chance to defeat the other."
Harry Potter's heart skipped a beat.
The others were equally shocked.
They didn't know much about the Infinity Stones.
Most of what they had learned came only after hearing about Thanos' invasion.
According to everything they knew...
Ordinary people couldn't survive using an Infinity Stone.
Anyone who tried would likely have their body torn apart by its power.
Even though Balthazar and Dumbledore were among the greatest wizards alive, wielding an Infinity Stone was practically a death sentence.
Everyone understood what they were doing.
They had already accepted death.
But no one wanted that.
Balthazar and Dumbledore were more than powerful wizards.
They were symbols of hope for the entire magical world.
Harry stepped forward immediately.
"Headmaster."
"Let me do it."
"I once carried Voldemort's soul within me."
"Maybe my body can withstand an Infinity Stone."
David refused to back down.
"No."
"I'm Merlin's successor."
"My magical power isn't much weaker than yours."
"My potential is greater."
"If anyone has a better chance of surviving the Stone's power..."
"It's me."
Soon, many accomplished wizards volunteered.
They feared death just like everyone else.
But if sacrificing themselves could save humanity...
They would gladly do it.
In their eyes, Balthazar and Dumbledore could not be allowed to die.
They were the pillars of the magical world.
Its greatest leaders.
Its brightest hope.
For a moment, everyone began arguing over who should inherit the Infinity Stone.
Nolan suddenly laughed.
"There is no need."
He slowly shook his head.
"If Dormammu and Mephisto were at their full strength..."
"I might not be able to defeat them together."
"But don't forget."
"They're fighting under Earth's suppression."
"The Sanctums have already weakened them."
"They're only shadows of their true selves."
"If I can't even defeat weakened Dimension Lords..."
"Then how could I ever hope to face Thanos after he gathers three Infinity Stones?"
His voice wasn't loud.
But every word carried absolute confidence.
Dormammu and Mephisto naturally heard him.
Their expressions darkened instantly.
"What arrogance."
Dormammu's voice turned icy.
"We'll make sure you regret those words."
Mephisto remained silent.
But his eyes burned with anger.
They were among the strongest rulers of all dimensions.
Yet a mere human from Earth dared to look down on them.
Not just one of them.
Both of them together.
Even weakened by Earth's barriers, their combined power exceeded what either could accomplish alone.
To be underestimated like this...
It was unbearable.
Their fury erupted.
Without another word, Dormammu charged.
The moment Nolan appeared, there was no longer any reason to wait.
Originally, the two Dimension Lords had been gathering their strength, preparing for the arrival of Earth's strongest heroes.
Instead...
Only Nolan had appeared.
This was the perfect opportunity.
Kill Nolan.
Then no one would remain capable of stopping them.
Even if Earth's heroes arrived afterward, they would be powerless against two united Dimension Lords.
The Real Dimension would belong to them.
Together, they would claim it all.
Even Shuma-Gorath would find it difficult to steal much of their prize.
They would become the unquestioned rulers of reality itself.
Facing the charging Dormammu, Nolan didn't hesitate.
Energy exploded beneath his feet.
He shot forward like a meteor.
At the same time...
A blazing sword appeared in his hand.
The Flaming Sword.
Like Nolan's Third Generation Super Soldier body, it originated from the world of Super Seminary.
It was also one of his greatest trump cards.
Without it, his enhanced body alone would only allow him to contend with the Dimension Lords.
With the Flaming Sword...
Everything changed.
Not only could he match or even surpass them in speed and strength...
Its destructive power had reached an entirely different level.
Even Dormammu and Mephisto couldn't ignore it.
After all...
The Flaming Sword was a genuine god-slaying weapon.
One of the signature weapons of the Angel Civilization.
The instant Dormammu sensed its presence...
A powerful feeling of danger surged through him.
Dark energy erupted from his body.
Rather than clash head-on, he immediately twisted aside.
The two figures crossed past one another without their weapons meeting.
When Dormammu came to a stop...
Cold sweat had appeared across his forehead.
"What... is that weapon?"
He had never seen anything capable of making even him feel genuine fear.
Mephisto frowned.
Dormammu was every bit as powerful as he was.
How could a single sword frighten him?
He couldn't understand it.
Dormammu offered no explanation.
Instead, he summoned his own weapon.
A black-and-crimson greatsword materialized in his grasp.
He had never imagined he would need to use it during this battle.
Then he turned toward Mephisto.
"It's time."
"Nolan is far stronger than either of us expected."
"If we don't fight together..."
"We may actually lose."
Mephisto stepped forward with a solemn expression.
He didn't know what Dormammu had sensed.
But he trusted Dormammu's judgment.
Compared to the chance of conquering Earth...
Joining forces meant nothing.
Neither of them realized...
Far beyond another dimensional rift...
A massive eye slowly opened.
Shuma-Gorath had been watching the entire time.
Dormammu and Mephisto were never the only Dimension Lords with their eyes on Earth.
Especially after such a monumental event.
How could Shuma-Gorath ignore it?
Since the two had already formed an alliance, he chose to remain hidden.
Better to let them exhaust themselves first.
Then...
He could decide whether to intervene.
Still...
One thing surprised him.
Nolan had actually forced the two Dimension Lords to unite.
Just what kind of power did this human possess?
Curiosity filled the giant eye.
Nolan paid no attention to any hidden observers.
He attacked without hesitation.
He had no intention of wasting time.
The sooner he defeated Dormammu and Mephisto...
The sooner he could return to Earth.
If Thanos destroyed the planet...
Then everything Nolan had fought for would become meaningless.
Flaming Sword in hand...
Nolan charged once more.
The three supreme beings collided.
Hellfire.
Darkness.
And blazing divine flames exploded throughout the dimensional rift.
Violent waves of energy swept across the battlefield.
Anyone unfortunate enough to be touched by those stray shockwaves was instantly reduced to ash.
Yet those were merely the aftereffects of their clash.
The true power of their battle shook the entire dimensional rift.
Unlike the overwhelming torrents of dark and hellish energy surrounding his opponents...
The energy around Nolan appeared calm.
But it was infinitely more concentrated.
Every ounce of his power was compressed into pure destructive force.
As the battle continued...
Dormammu and Mephisto's expressions gradually changed.
How...
How had Nolan become this powerful?
They had already unleashed everything they possessed.
Even under the suppression of Earth's magic, they should never have struggled against a single human.
Yet reality stood before them.
Neither of them could gain the upper hand.
Still...
They weren't worried.
Because they knew something Nolan understood better than anyone.
He wasn't fighting only this battle.
Time...
Was on their side.
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