Kurohane pointed at Stephen Strange, who was lying stiffly, sprawled amidst the fractured pieces of reality. His voice, sharp and full of sarcasm, broke the tense silence. "Look, Ancient One. Kaecilius's kick was aimed at the Sorcerer Supreme's agent. If I hadn't intervened, you would have already died from that surprise attack. You would have fallen into a portal, and splattered on the streets of New York City." Kurohane stared intently, emphasizing every word. "Luckily you didn't fall outside the Hong Kong Sanctum, or people would think you were already a 'goner.'"
The Ancient One, with an undisturbed calmness, looked at her disciple. A thin, ironic smile was etched on her face. "This child," she whispered, more to herself, "has become more disrespectful since his power increased."
Kurohane ignored the whisper, his eyes glinting with doubt. "I always felt there was something wrong with your plan," he said, his voice now deeper and more serious. "Just like with Dormammu, I can protect Earth for years on my own. Why do we need two people to seal him now?"
"To be precise," The Ancient One corrected, her voice calm but carrying absolute authority. "You don't need two people. You alone are enough."
Kurohane did not respond. He stepped forward, his hand controlling the Mirror Dimension to pull Strange to his side. With a swift motion, he tapped his index finger on Strange's temple. Strange's expression changed, from confused to blank, and finally, he fell into a coma.
"Wiping memories and things like that, I'm great at it," Kurohane murmured. "I never appeared in his world, so I don't have to die. As for the Sorcerer Supreme position, let Stephen Strange enjoy it alone."
The Ancient One nodded slowly, her gaze shifting from Strange to the Infinity Gauntlet Kurohane was wearing. "True. When you weren't here, I only had to guard the Time Stone. Now that you've returned to Earth, I feel I must guard four Infinity Stones."
"Cut the nonsense!" Kurohane retorted, his voice sharp. "Kamar-Taj is only responsible for guarding reality. Don't think I don't know anything just because I haven't had professional sorcerer training!"
While complaining, Kurohane modified Strange's memory, following the movie's plot with precision. He arranged every detail: when Strange woke up, he would accept The Ancient One's death, ready to take the Eye of Agamotto, become Sorcerer Supreme, and face Dormammu with desperation. At the same time, he took the Sling Ring from Kaecilius. Now, Kaecilius would surely summon his fanatics to prepare to destroy the Hong Kong Sanctum.
Kurohane wasn't bragging. If Dormammu didn't descend into reality, he and The Ancient One would only end up in a stalemate. Without the support of the Holy Dimension of the Vishanti, it would be difficult to kill Dormammu. However, if Dormammu came down to reality, the Infinity Stones could influence him. A single Time Stone was enough to render Dormammu helpless. With three Infinity Stones attacking at once, even two Dormammus would be defeated.
"Alright, now you don't have to die either, and everything is back on track," Kurohane said. "I've also finished modifying Mordo's memory. Now just throw Stephen Strange next to Mordo, and this guy will naturally go find the Eye of Agamotto." Kurohane's plan was to follow the original plot, with only minor memory modifications. With the Mind Stone, this job was not at all exhausting.
Suddenly, Kurohane remembered one entity whose memory couldn't be changed. He quickly grabbed the Cloak of Levitation folded next to Strange. "You'd better stay mute for the rest of your life," Kurohane whispered, his voice hoarse and threatening, "or I'll tear you into pieces and turn you into a diaper!"
The Cloak of Levitation detached from Strange's body, and its collar nodded with great enthusiasm.
The Ancient One, with a thoughtful gaze, looked at Kurohane. "I feel you've been acting strangely lately. Did your sudden increase in power make you arrogant? Or is there a problem with the dimension you're occupying? This wasn't your personality before." The Ancient One thought that when she absorbed Dormammu's dark energy, her spirit was affected. Logically, Holy Energy shouldn't have this effect. But Kurohane? Was he absorbing a fake Holy Energy?
Kurohane: (O_O)?
"Really? Why don't I feel it myself?" Kurohane reviewed his actions. It was true. It wasn't just the arrogance brought on by great power, but he had become easily irritable. After thinking more deeply, he realized he didn't just "seem" angry, he genuinely was becoming an angry man.
"A Netherworld reason?" No, he purified his power using Holy Energy and the Phoenix Force. "Holy Energy?" Also no. If Holy Energy could change a personality, what was the difference between it and dark energy? So in the end, there was only one possibility—it was the fault of the three Infinity Stones!
Kurohane knew the reason wasn't the Infinity Stones, but the Phoenix Force. The more he used it, the more he felt its influence. Jean Grey became the Dark Phoenix precisely because of the Phoenix Force's influence. This power was too strong for an ordinary human. He was now walking down the same path.
Fortunately, the Phoenix Force he had was incomplete, so it was still possible to modify it. He had to extinguish this "fire." Not with ordinary water, but with an ocean of knowledge. Kurohane decided that after the Strange matter was finished, he would drown himself in an ocean of knowledge until his spiritual power was enough to control the Phoenix Force.
After leaving the Mirror Dimension, Kurohane placed Strange in a room at Kamar-Taj. He and The Ancient One felt the approach of the threatening Dark Dimension. After the New York and London Sanctums were destroyed, only the Hong Kong Sanctum remained intact. Kaecilius, along with his fanatics, would surely attack.
Kurohane snapped his fingers, and Strange and Mordo woke up. He and The Ancient One appeared at the Hong Kong Sanctum through a portal. Wong led the sorcerers in a battle against Kaecilius's fanatics. However, it was a one-sided battle.
"Teacher, do you want to become the King of the Dark Dimension?"