A streak of rainbow-colored light—visible only to Yamanaka Shinno—sank into the Ancient One's body.
At some point, a band of green energy had formed around the Ancient One's right wrist, emanating from the Time Stone within the Eye of Agamotto.
Shinno noticed it but didn't pay it any mind.
After all, this was their first meeting, and her origins were unknown. The power she wielded bore a striking resemblance to that of a dimensional demon.
If she hadn't been prepared...
Blue Star would've been swallowed by the Dark Dimension a long time ago!
On the Ancient One's trait panel, the black-colored trait [Curse of Origin] flickered a few times before slowly vanishing.
Then, without warning, she coughed up a mouthful of black blood.
And with the disappearance of that black trait, cursed blood—dense with a sinister energy—poured out of her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth!
Even the replica Kusanagi Sword planted in front of her was instantly consumed by the black curse, dissolving into a puddle of dark liquid.
Shinno's heart tightened.
The power level of this thing... was absurdly high!
He'd just been considering whether to try using [Satellite Devourer] to absorb some of it and see what it was all about.
Thank god he hadn't reached out!
Bzzzz...
The Ancient One closed her eyes. Her robe billowed from unseen winds. On her trait panel, a new white trait, [Ideological Clash], briefly appeared—then vanished again.
Moments later, over half the traits on her panel began to flicker erratically.
"Open your dimension. I need massive amounts of energy."
With her left hand, the Ancient One traced the time-looped chain on her right wrist. Her face was pale, but she wore a serene, almost relieved smile.
The problem within her dated back many years—back to a confrontation with her old friend, Kael.
At that time, she had wanted to build her homeland into an ideal and peaceful nation, while Kael had sought to use the power of sorcery to dominate the world.
Their opposing ideals inevitably drove them apart.
In the end, she exiled Kael into an alternate dimension—but not before he planted a fundamental, causality-based curse upon her.
Back then, she had no way to remove it.
By the time she gained the power to undo such a curse through years of dimensional travel...
It was already too late.
Centuries ago, it was Kael—who had first stumbled upon magic—who shared that knowledge freely with her, back when she was just an ordinary person.
Lifting the curse would also mean losing all her powers.
She'd revert to a mere mortal.
And how could a mortal endure the passage of centuries?
Which meant, the very moment the curse was lifted, she would crumble into dust—without even a chance to change her fate!
Even after using the Eye of Agamotto to glimpse tens of millions of futures, the best outcome she found...
Was to become a spirit and guard this world in another form.
But who could've guessed...
A dimensional demon who had never once appeared in those countless futures—
—would effortlessly rewrite her destiny!
"Alright."
Shinno lifted the spatial restrictions of the Infinite Martial Domain.
The Ancient One drew a glowing, intricate magic circle with her hands—sparks dancing at her fingertips.
The snowy mountaintop beneath them began to warp like a mirrored surface.
Within the Mirror Dimension, a vast flood of dark dimensional energy surged out from the void, pouring in through her link to the Dark Realm!
Amidst that staggering torrent, the Ancient One maintained the spell in front of her and slowly closed her eyes. A dark crimson mark bloomed on her forehead—a symbol of dark energy.
And in Shinno's eyes, he could see the traits on her personal panel beginning to disappear, merge, and evolve into new ones!
This transformation lasted nearly fifteen minutes before finally settling.
...
Name: Ancient OneProfession: SorcererTraits: Chaos God of Magic (Rainbow), Eternal Companion (Rainbow), Multiverse Voyager (Gold), Sorcerer Supreme (Gold), Demon Hunter (Purple), Seven-Aperture Heart (Purple), Spreader of Magic (Blue), Compassionate (Blue), Calm Mind (Blue), Schemer (Blue), Sincere (Green), Playful (White), Master of Problem Students (Gray)
...
"Holy crap! System! Hurry! Copy [Chaos God of Magic]! [Eternal Companion]! [Multiverse Voyager]!"
The moment the trait panel froze, Shinno didn't hesitate for a second. He used all three Trait Copy opportunities in one go!
One Trait Removal...
In exchange for two rainbow traits and a maxed-out gold trait?
That's a jackpot if there ever was one!
[Copy successful. Congratulations, Host. You have acquired Rainbow Trait 'Chaos God of Magic', Rainbow Trait 'Eternal Companion', and Gold Trait 'Multiverse Voyager'.]
As Shinno stared at the three traits waiting to be activated, his grin stretched even wider than the Ancient One's—who had just regained her youth, power, and eternal life.
These three traits?
They could easily push his strength up another level or two!
"...I can feel Eternity's summons. It seems I'll be leaving earlier than expected."
The Ancient One smiled brightly, but there was a hint of helplessness in her eyes.
She drew a semi-circle in the air.
From the Eye of Agamotto on her chest, a brilliant green light flared.
Her head began rotating rapidly, as she scanned through all the possible futures.
"Eternity?"
Shinno blinked, then his gaze landed squarely on the rainbow trait [Eternal Companion].
...
He remembered it clearly—just a moment ago, the trait had been [Eternity's Favor].
Only one character difference.
But "Favored by" simply meant being blessed or looked upon kindly.
While "Companion" implied a deep connection—an intimate relationship or unwavering loyalty to a godlike being.
"A contract with one of the Five Primordial Gods cannot be broken. I must fulfill that promise—and protect the dimensions across the multiverse."
The Ancient One stopped sifting through futures and smiled.
The Eye of Agamotto closed, sealing away the glow of the Time Stone.
"...So, failed?"
Shinno frowned slightly. He hadn't expected the rainbow trait to mean that.
Even someone like the Ancient One—renowned for Dormammu's Dark Dimension and countless Outer Gods—couldn't escape the cost of a contract.
In the original timeline, she freeloaded off half the spells in the Book of the Vishanti—most of which involved tapping into Outer Gods and dimensional entities.
The vast number of tomes in Kamar-Taj's library? Same deal—plenty of spells were based on borrowing power.
And the Ancient One? She used them at will, with zero regard for the price.
After death, she became a spirit and hung out with Eternity!
Payment?
She'd just tell them to take it up with Eternity.
But this time, because he had interfered at a critical moment...
The contract's terms had been fulfilled.
She didn't even get time to prepare—just had to go fulfill it.
"What a... poetic way of putting it. But if you're telling other sorcerers, try to come up with something less awkward."
The Ancient One chuckled helplessly and walked up to Shinno.
She unclasped the necklace holding the Eye of Agamotto from her neck...
...and fastened it around his.
"You're giving this to me? Am I... the Sorcerer Supreme now?"
"All the spellbooks of Kamar-Taj are yours to read. All personnel and resources, at your command. You'll also be handling the dimensional invasions."
"If one day you tire of it, just hand it over to Strange."
Her fingers brushed over the Eye's arcane patterns. Her eyes were filled with trust and hope as she looked at Shinno.
Everything that had happened today was so sudden, so unexpected.
But maybe... it was also the best possible outcome.
Dimensional demon. Sorcerer Supreme. Yamanaka Shinno.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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