章 104: Chapter 104: Death of Ancient one
Chapter 104: Death of Ancient one
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The Ancient One had always been cautious about the timeline, knowing that any disruption could lead to irreversible consequences. Now, with the timeline in jeopardy, her concerns were valid. One wrong move could undo everything that had been built up until this point.
But there was one thing she was certain of.
"As long as I die, Stephen will have the will to become the Sorcerer Supreme."
As soon as she said this, Gwen, Wanda, and Hela looked at her in surprise.
To use her own death to elevate someone else?
How many people would willingly make such a sacrifice?
And yet, the Ancient One was absolutely certain.
Her achievements were already immense, but now, she was prepared to sacrifice everything for the greater good. It was truly an admirable decision.
Lorien, however, knew what awaited her after death.
"After you die, you'll exist only in a spiritual form—are you really prepared to embark on this abstract path?"
The "abstract" Lorien referred to wasn't some trendy internet term, but a profound concept. In the Marvel universe, aside from Galactus, the other four cosmic entities existed in an abstract state. They had no physical bodies and were never human to begin with. For them, abstraction was a form of spiritual cultivation, a transcendent state of being.
The Ancient One nodded calmly.
"Yes."
Clearly, she had already thought this through. To her, death was not something to fear. What truly terrified her was the destruction of Earth and the loss of its future.
"E~!!!"
At that moment, Kaecilius, far in the distance, went berserk. His attempt to erode Stephen's mind had failed, and he couldn't break through the Ancient One's light shield spell. Growing impatient, Kaecilius became increasingly desperate.
Gwen glanced at the situation, pulled out the Black Death Sword, and asked, "Lorien, do you want me to handle him?"
Lorien shook his head. "Not yet."
Kaecilius, for the moment, wasn't the biggest issue. Lorien and the Ancient One simultaneously looked up at the giant eye in the sky and began discussing Dormammu's invasion.
"What do you plan to do about that?" Lorien asked, his gaze fixed on the ominous eye.
The Ancient One sighed, her expression conflicted. "Dormammu's invasion is serious. The dark dimension is already starting to erode the Earth. Stephen's abilities... might not be enough to repel it."
If Dormammu hadn't come, Stephen could have had unlimited trial-and-error opportunities with the Time Gem. But with Dormammu's arrival, Stephen had no margin for error. The Time Gem, even with Stephen's potential, wasn't enough to push Dormammu away.
The problem was, if the Ancient One stepped in, Stephen would never have the chance to grow into his role as Sorcerer Supreme. It was a delicate balance.
After some contemplation, the Ancient One turned to Lorien with a serious expression.
"I'll let Stephen try to fight off Dormammu, but if he fails, I hope you, godfather, will help him drive Dormammu back."
Lorien nodded. "Of course."
With that, their conversation came to a close. The matter was settled, and now, they could only wait.
Lorien and the Ancient One both fell silent, watching as Kaecilius continued his struggle with the Ancient One's projection while Stephen remained shielded.
In truth, this moment felt like a final farewell.
After a period of quiet, the Ancient One spoke again, her voice carrying a weight of concern. "The timeline is in chaos. I worry deeply about the future of Earth."
Lorien nodded in understanding. He had known all along what the Ancient One had been fighting for. Her dedication was the reason he had come.
Otherwise, the Ancient One would have sacrificed herself long ago to inspire Stephen. There would have been no need for Lorien to intervene.
"Why wait until I arrived?" Lorien thought to himself, shaking his head with a mixture of sympathy and helplessness. Even in her final moments, the Ancient One was worried about Earth.
The Ancient One had truly fulfilled her role as Sorcerer Supreme to the utmost.
Understanding her burden, Lorien put his hands in his pockets and glanced back at Wanda, Gwen, and the little Hela—who, for now, wasn't truly his responsibility.
Then, he spoke softly but resolutely.
"Earth is my home too."
As soon as the words left Lorien's mouth, the Ancient One finally felt a sense of relief. She didn't laugh out loud, but there was a quiet, contented smile on her face.
Wanda and Gwen couldn't help but smile as well when they saw how happy the usually serious Ancient One had become.
And so, it was time. The Ancient One glanced around for the last time, then turned to Lorien and nodded.
"I have to go now," she said.
Lorien nodded in return, saying nothing more. At this point, there was no need for words—everything had already been understood.
The Ancient One gave one final nod before turning to look at Gwen, Wanda, and Hela. Her gaze lingered on Wanda, though she said nothing. Her eyes conveyed a silent message from one woman to another, urging Wanda to stay close to Lorien in the future.
Wanda nodded seriously, understanding the unspoken message. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
In the next moment, the Ancient One's spirit body vanished from the four's view, returning to her physical form.
Meanwhile, the battle in the distance raged on. The Ancient One, now fully committed, broke free from her previous stalemate. She waved her hands, and with a quick gesture towards a nearby stone pillar, the space around them distorted. The decisive battle with Kaecilius began in earnest, and all the while, she continued shouting for Stephen to wake up.
Fortunately, the Ancient One's temporary burst of power managed to suppress Kaecilius, halting the dark dimension's spiritual erosion for the moment. Stephen began to resist.
Lorien watched from a distance and sighed, "A play within a play..."
Beside him, Wanda and Gwen, moved by the scene unfolding before them, wrapped their arms around his.
"It's incredible that there are such legendary stories in this world," Gwen said softly.
Even little Hela, who stood to the side, pursed her lips in thought. The events of the day had shaken her as well. She knew that, prior to all this, Stephen and the Ancient One had no deep connection. Their bond came later, yet here was the Ancient One, willing to sacrifice herself for him.
It was something that even challenged Hela's deep-seated views on life.
By this point, the Ancient One had fought several rounds with Kaecilius, and Stephen's condition was gradually improving.
Then, at the climax of the battle, the Ancient One unleashed her full power, landing a devastating blow on Kaecilius. For a moment, Kaecilius looked shocked, glancing down at the fatal wound in his chest, then at the similar wound on the Ancient One.
It was a trade—life for life.
Stephen, who was beginning to wake, saw the scene unfolding before him. The Ancient One's sacrifice was no longer necessary, but she had made her decision.
In that instant, the Dormammu-possessed Kaecilius finally understood. "Ancient One! You seek death!" he roared.
The Ancient One merely smiled.
The original Kaecilius had never fully grasped the Ancient One's actions, but now, as Dormammu controlled him, he could see everything she had planned.
But there was nothing left to say. The Ancient One had made her peace.
As the Ancient One fell, Stephen, now fully awake, saw the scene clearly.
"Ancient One!" he shouted, leaping to his feet.
The Eye of Agamotto hung around his neck, its weight heavy with newfound responsibility.
Kaecilius, trembling from his own injuries, stood up and pointed at the Ancient One, his voice shaking. "She's begging for... your death! Die for me!" he cried out.
Before he could finish, Stephen, now wielding his light blade, charged forward. In his weakened state, Kaecilius stood no chance against Stephen, who had learned so much.
After just a few quick exchanges, Kaecilius was defeated.
With Kaecilius taken care of, Stephen rushed to the Ancient One's side. "Ancient One!" he called out in desperation.
The Ancient One, still clinging to life, hadn't yet closed her eyes. With her last strength, she gestured toward the Eye of Agamotto hanging from Stephen's chest, then pointed up at the giant eye of Dormammu in the sky.
Finally, her hand fell limp, and she passed away.
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