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Chapter 162 - Chapter 162: Stark family's ancestral precepts

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"You saw the future." The Ancient One stared at Henry, her tone still calm.

"No, not with the Time Stone. You don't belong here."

"That's not important," Henry waved his hand, his expression remaining calm.

"The important thing is that I offered a better solution, didn't I?"

"A system that will free Earth from having to depend on any extraterrestrial civilization."

"One that freed my brother from having to be some kind of savior."

"A plan that will allow us all to survive."

"And you." He looked at Ancient One, his tone sincere.

"Sorcerer Supreme, I simply want to know if my plan is better than your 'let nature take its course' approach?"

Is it more likely that a better future will be achieved?

Ancient One fell silent.

She looked at Henry, her heart filled with turmoil.

As the Sorcerer Supreme, she used the Time Stone to see countless futures.

She knew that in the vast majority of the future, Earth would face devastating catastrophes.

In the only timeline where Thanos could be defeated, Tony Stark's sacrifice was an unavoidable price to pay.

This is the truth she has guarded for hundreds of years.

She also tried to look for other possibilities, but each time the result was worse.

But now, a variable has emerged.

A variable she couldn't see through.

The plan he came up with was crazy.

The blurry fragments she had seen with the Time Stone resurfaced in the Ancient One's mind.

Those were strange scenes.

A torrent of steel, blotting out the sky and the sun.

The blue planet has become the most dazzling star in the universe.

Countless powerful cosmic civilizations bowed down in submission before Earth's fleet.

Thanos didn't even have a chance to set foot on Earth.

Is this future really possible?

"Your plan will bring war." After a long silence, the Ancient One spoke slowly, her voice weary.

"A war that sweeps across the entire universe."

"War is always better than destruction," Henry replied calmly.

"Rather than passively waiting for others to bring the war to our doorstep, I prefer to take the initiative and take control of our home."

"It'll become a no-go zone for everyone."

"The Stark family's ancestral precepts, Tony, tell her what they are?" Henry shouted without turning his head.

Tony instinctively replied, "The coolest one?"

"No, it's the previous sentence!"

"Uh, never let others decide your fate?"

"One more sentence!"

"Fuck! How was I supposed to know that old man had said so much nonsense!" Tony said irritably.

"The best defense is offense," Henry said for him, looking at the Ancient One with a determined gaze.

"I, and Stark Industries behind me, will forge a suit of armor for the Earth."

"And you, Venerable Sorcerer, now have two choices."

"First, go back to your Kamar-Taj, continue drinking your tea, guard your Time Stone, and turn a blind eye to everything we're about to do. Let's all keep to ourselves and continue being neighbors."

"Second," he paused.

"You could try to guide us."

The four of them were stunned.

Guide? Not prevent?

"However, I must remind you," Henry said with a slight smile.

"I have a bad temper. I understand the price you paid to protect this timeline, even at the cost of touching the power of the Dark Dimension. What I'm suggesting is simply another path that might free you from the burden of this secret."

"Yeah?"

Ancient One's expression remained unchanged, but he was inwardly shocked.

Dark Dimension.

These four words are the biggest secret in Ancient One's heart.

But her mental state, cultivated over hundreds of years, allowed her to calm her breathing.

Her expression remained unchanged, and her eyes remained calm.

She draws power from Dormammu to sustain her life and protect the Earth.

This is her biggest secret, and also her greatest sin.

There's absolutely no way anyone else could know about this except her!

But this young man not only knew, he also said it in front of everyone.

How did he know?!

The atmosphere inside the cabin became quiet because of the Ancient One's silence.

Tony felt like he was standing on the crater of a volcano about to erupt; although he couldn't feel the heat for the time being,

His intuition told him that he might be blown to bits in the next second.

"I don't know what nonsense my brother just said, but that's just how he is—his mouth beats his brain! I apologize on his behalf! What would you like to drink? Tea? Coffee? Or perhaps a glass of '82 whiskey? I guarantee it'll be better than the last one!"

Tony was genuinely panicked.

"Hey! Hey! Calm down, ma'am! Let's talk this out!" He raised his hands.

Although the Ancient One did not show any obvious hostility, her calmness made him even more uneasy.

The unknown is the most terrifying thing.

Steve also sensed the unusual atmosphere.

He held Peggy tightly behind him, his aged body like an insurmountable mountain at that moment.

He didn't know what the Dark Dimension Henry was referring to, but he could sense the weight of Henry's words from the Ancient One's subtle reaction. However, Henry, at the center of the storm, still maintained a calm smile.

He seemed completely unaware that there was anything wrong with what he had just said.

He looked at the Ancient One quietly, waiting for her reply.

"Master, you have misunderstood." His voice remained calm and unhurried.

"I am not threatening you. On the contrary, I am showing you respect."

Ancient One's eyes flickered slightly.

"To protect this world, you risked being corrupted by darkness, walking alone in the shadows for hundreds of years." Henry's tone was full of sincere admiration.

"This sacrifice and this awareness deserve our utmost respect."

"But," he changed the subject.

"Don't you feel tired?"

"For centuries, you've witnessed countless futures, each time exhausting yourself in choosing the optimal solution. You've watched tragedies unfold, watched heroes sacrifice themselves, yet you've had to tell yourself it was a necessary sacrifice."

"You are like a chess player who, in order to preserve one piece, has to sacrifice other pieces time and time again."

"But have you ever thought about this?" Henry looked into the eyes of the Ancient One.

"If we had the power to crush everything, to let everyone live, to stop all tragedies from happening again, so that you would no longer have to carry this heavy burden of sin alone."

"What if we could overturn this chessboard?"

"Isn't this a better option?"

Ancient One fell silent.

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