"Dada-dada-dada—!"
Under the sweeping torrent of fire, Bant emptied the entire magazine, shredding the remaining lizard creatures until the floor was littered with mangled bodies.
Inside the Osborne Tower—now gleaming faintly with diamond-bright crystalline light—the stench of blood and decay seeped into every corner, thick enough to turn the stomach.
Thankfully—
"I don't need to breathe."
His hands shifted back to normal as he prepared to return to Connors' lab for the serum. But before he could move, a golden crescent of sparks bloomed behind him.
Kamar-Taj?
The Sorcerer Supreme?
Bant froze for a heartbeat.
A bald head immediately surfaced in his mind.
Everyone knows the Marvel universe has two extremely famous bald figures—one black, one white.
The first: Nick Fury, the man everyone wants to step on, also known in certain circles as Motherf—well, you know.
The other…
Bant's gaze settled on the thin figure stepping through the portal, wrapped in flowing yellow robes. Instinctively, he tensed.
The Ancient One.
A sorcerer of overwhelming power. The strongest practitioner on Earth's mystical side, guardian of this realm, and the one who led the Masters of the Mystic Arts in defending the world from dimensional invaders.
Some even claimed: as long as either the Ancient One or Odin still lived, Thanos wouldn't dare set foot in the Nine Realms—let alone Earth.
Seeing her appear out of nowhere, Bant's vigilance shot up. He didn't know why she was here, but he did know he didn't truly belong to this universe—and that his existence might trigger unpredictable changes.
Maybe the Ancient One had come to erase this unpredictable variable.
And if that were true, he certainly wouldn't stand still and let her do it.
No matter how aware he was of her power, Bant silently prepared for combat.
Fortunately, her demeanor didn't suggest hostility.
"Good evening, Mr. Parker."
The Ancient One stepped out from the ring of golden light, lifting her hood. A thin, almost ascetic face appeared, wearing a gentle smile. Though she was gaunt, she didn't look frail—her presence radiated the calm clarity of someone who had long transcended worldly concerns.
Her aura felt… like still water.
"I mean you no harm, Mr. Parker," she said.
Then she extended a hand from beneath her robe and offered him a vial.
"Your serum."
The quiet goodwill in her tone eased Bant's tension. Given the choice, he would absolutely prefer not to fight someone who could stroll through the multiverse as easily as others crossed a street.
"Master Ancient One."
He didn't bother pretending not to recognize her. Since she had called him by name and come directly to him, she clearly knew far more than she showed.
And she, in turn, wasn't surprised that he knew her identity.
"I've been watching you for some time, Mr. Parker," she said.
Her gaze drifted past him, taking in the interior of the tower—its walls transformed into a vast network of crystal structures, as if frozen by some emerald frost. Fortunately, Bant had limited the molecular reconstruction to the inside of the building; from the outside, nothing looked amiss.
"A remarkable ability," she murmured appreciatively.
Molecular reconstruction—almost a godlike power. Incredible, yes, but not what truly concerned her.
What she really feared was the unimaginable power sealed in the watch Bant carried. And even setting the watch aside, Bant himself held terrifying potential.
Bant lifted his head. With a thought, the crystalline structures he had created collapsed—shattering into glittering motes of dust that rained down like a shower of stardust.
"Master Ancient One… why are you looking for me?"
Her eyes drifted away from the breathtaking scene, returning to him. "If you don't mind, perhaps we can speak somewhere more suitable."
She turned slightly, revealing the open portal. Beyond the glowing ring lay an old, quiet room.
Bant nodded and walked through the portal with her into Kamar-Taj.
The moment he stepped inside, a wave of tranquil magic washed over him. The air carried the faint aroma of incense, softening even the bloodstains clinging to him. The Ancient One invited him to sit, though squeezing his current crystalline form onto the small meditation mat proved inconvenient.
Unhurried, she poured him a cup of tea before finally speaking:
"You've seen it yourself—the multiverse is in danger."
"The multiverse is in danger?"
Bant almost said What does that have to do with me?
But the memory of Dr. Connors' madness flashed in his mind.
"You're talking about Dr. Connors?"
She nodded.
"Originally, under my observation, this universe was not meant to face a multiversal crisis in the near future. But now everything has changed." Her expression tightened with worry. She raised a slender finger and pointed at the small watch embedded in Bant's chest. "That device you call the Ark… its appearance prematurely damaged the barriers between universes. A crisis that wouldn't have unfolded yet may now arrive early."
"Worse still, those barriers are now more fragile."
Instinctively, Bant looked down at the watch. Her explanation finally made sense of its earlier, prolonged dormancy.
Its energy had likely been consumed tunneling through multiple world frameworks.
"So you're saying… more people like Connors could appear?" Bant asked as he awkwardly tried to lift the teacup—his fingers were far too large and dense, and he had to hold it as if it were a tiny delicate toy, carefully avoiding crushing it.
"Yes."
She nodded solemnly.
"Is there a way to stop it?"
At this point, Bant fully understood where Connors had come from.
The Ancient One shook her head. "The crisis begins with that device. Only it can prevent what is coming."
This was a lie.
She had another option—erase Bant and the watch entirely, resetting the timeline and restoring stability.
But…
She recalled the endings she had glimpsed along various timelines.
And she wisely discarded the idea.
Her duty was to protect this dimension, not provoke someone who might drag every timeline and reality into destruction with him.
X-Superman.
Clockwork Kings.
Forces far beyond her ability to oppose.
Even with the Time Stone, she stood no chance.
After a moment of silence, she said softly:
"I hope you will stay in Kamar-Taj… and become the new Sorcerer Supreme."
"Uh… Sorcerer Supreme?"
"Me?"
Bant pointed at himself, thoroughly baffled.
/-\
~ PLEASE! don't forget to leave a REVIEW!
~ +20 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon!
https://p-atreon.com/Its_Zack
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access Patreon normally.)
/-\
~# Keep the chapters coming - Support with Power Stones!
~# Every 50 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter