Darkness is a natural force.
Light and darkness are merely phenomena that exist in nature.
But—
When darkness gains a master, gains a will…
Then darkness becomes an evil power.
After Dormammu became the lord of the Dark Dimension, he devoured countless worlds.
Before those beings died, they left behind astonishing will.
The wails of innumerable creatures at the moment of death—one could easily imagine just how evil and terrifying that power was.
At the very moment Kaecilius fell into despair—
He released that incomparably wicked power.
The terrifying wills left behind by who knew how many living beings surged straight out from that patch of blackened space.
Even Karl felt his head buzz with a loud hong.
That shocking will—
Formed a dreadful tide of energy.
Inside the gigantic crater, even the air seemed to be roiling and churning.
This was powerful mental force rippling within it, as though it had condensed into something tangible.
The chaotic voices made even Karl feel irritated and restless.
"Dormammu… what an evil thing."
"To actually use incomplete, broken wills as a weapon…"
"Disgusting."
Looking at those densely packed humanoid silhouettes formed from lingering obsessions—
Karl couldn't help letting out a sigh.
Luckily, it was him.
If it were an ordinary sorcerer standing here, they'd either go mad on the spot, or their soul would be shattered outright.
"Since you're nothing but lingering fragments, why do you still exist in this world?"
"Return early, then."
Karl said quietly.
The Tao Mandalas in front of him flowed like water, surging toward that side.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
All the Tao Mandalas around Karl detonated at once.
The explosions they triggered were even stronger than before.
The crater they formed expanded to twice its size again!
"Impossible!"
"How can you still cast spells?!"
A shriek rang out.
Kaecilius shot out from the flames.
Around him was mental force so dense it was practically solid.
Crack!
The mental-force armor on his body shattered, and those lingering obsessions returned to dust—dispersing completely.
But Kaecilius stared at Karl with bloodshot intensity.
He felt it was utterly absurd.
For an ordinary sorcerer, under this kind of assault—
Their soul would have dispersed in an instant.
Yet Karl could still use magic?
How sturdy did his soul have to be?
How firm did his will have to be?
If learning magic quickly was the foundation for becoming strong—
Then possessing such powerful will was the very root of a true powerhouse!
This guy—
If nothing unexpected happened, he would definitely become a powerhouse.
He might even become an existence that surpassed the Sorcerer Supreme!
Kaecilius now believed more firmly than ever: he could not let this guy leave!
Kaecilius hardened his heart.
He absolutely could not let this guy leave.
Otherwise, Dormammu-sama's grand plan would surely be obstructed!
Kaecilius made his decision.
He dropped to his knees with a thud.
"Great Dormammu-sama—your humble servant begs for your power!"
"I will offer my lowly soul—please descend!"
Kaecilius chanted at the top of his lungs.
"Begging for a god's descent right in front of me? You think far too highly of yourself."
Karl said coldly.
As he spoke, his mental force stirred.
A crimson band shot toward Kaecilius.
It was high-tier magic: the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak.
It carried powerful sealing force, and contained overwhelmingly tyrannical divine power.
It could be said—
This was the spell in his hands with the richest "divine power"!
If Kaecilius were truly bound by it, he could only be butchered at will.
Pa.
A soft sound.
Karl's spell actually collapsed on the spot.
Black light flared in Kaecilius' eyes.
"Dormammu?"
Karl curled his lip.
"How petty—won't even bear to abandon a single servant."
"And you actually descend personally."
A so-called dimensional demon, yet with no dignity at all.
Trash like this simply wasn't worthy.
BOOM!
An intense mental pressure descended, and the ground sank several inches out of thin air.
Yet Karl stood unmoving.
Trying to give him a show of force?
With the Sanctum's protections intact, he wasn't afraid of Dormammu.
On Earth, the power Dormammu could bring to bear was only so much.
"Mortal—upon seeing the great Dormammu, you do not kneel."
"Die!"
A furious roar resounded.
Dormammu's power began to spread outward.
The surrounding space abruptly twisted, then started interfering with reality.
In the next instant—
Heaven and earth inverted!
Endless yellow sand appeared in the sky, forming three enormous faces.
It was Dormammu!
"Dormammu, this is Earth. You'd better restrain yourself."
Karl spoke calmly.
"Die!"
Dormammu had no intention of talking with Karl at all.
That massive sandy face in the sky pressed straight down toward the ground.
This was a spatial application of the Mirror Dimension.
Like a mountain crushing down from the heavens—enough to turn a city into ruins.
"Hmph."
"Then I'll have a taste of this twisting power."
Karl snorted coldly.
He crouched down and slammed a palm downward.
Space-power ripples surged; the Mirror Dimension's force spread outward.
A gigantic sand fist—easily over a thousand meters in size—burst up from the ground, punching straight into the sky.
BOOM!
With a deafening blast, the sandy face in the sky shattered on the spot.
"Hmph. If your true body were here, I'd turn around and run."
"But you're only a wisp of will—what are you even pretending for?"
Karl sneered.
"Mortal! You deserve death!"
Dormammu's face re-formed and roared at Karl.
Terrifying power rippled again and again.
Karl stood there, utterly unmoved.
Weng—!
A resonant hum came from the horizon.
A golden light flared in the sky.
Intricate runes of a magic formation began to surface overhead, directly blanketing the heavens.
"No!!"
"Agamotto—Anc—!!"
Dormammu's furious voice rang out.
But—
This Earth's magic formation had been built by the great Vishanti.
A trinity of gods.
A mighty existence on the multiversal tier.
How could Dormammu possibly contend with it?
Golden power surged forth, and Dormammu's power was suppressed outright.
The sky returned to normal.
Kaecilius fell from the air.
Karl lifted a hand.
A crimson band shot up, covered in dark-red magical patterns.
Kaecilius was wrapped tight—layer upon layer.
The power inside his body was sealed completely.
Like a bound rice dumpling, with only his head exposed.
"Y-you… monster!"
"You're absolutely not human…"
Kaecilius' weak voice sounded.
No joke.
A probationary sorcerer, yet able to fight against a wisp of Dormammu's will!
How was that human?
He had to be some god's bastard child, right?!
Why did he have to run into this kind of freak…?
(End of Chapter)
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