The Ancient One also sensed the stirrings of Dormammu's followers.
"They're finally making a move?" She said.
"Looks like my retirement is near."
Her last clash in the Dark Dimension had provoked Dormammu.
Though she'd gained its power, she'd angered him.
For years, he'd been corrupting Sanctum mages.
He'd found a few weaknesses.
The magical world was abuzz.
"Is that the Dark Dimension's lord?" dark creatures on Earth muttered, looking skyward.
As native beings, they resisted assimilation into the Dark Dimension.
It would torment them.
The Sanctum oversaw dark creatures but rarely interfered.
Its role was to protect Earth from external threats, not meddle in internal conflicts.
"What do we do, Sorcerer Supreme?" Strange asked, arriving where the Ancient One and Wanda stood.
"I'll face them." The Ancient One said. "Wanda, stay and guard Kaiser."
She smiled.
"You're leaving?" Wanda asked.
"Not saying goodbye to Kaiser?"
She understood the Ancient One's intent.
Her life was nearing its end.
It was time for her soul to return to Eternity.
This invasion from the Dark Dimension would be her final stand.
"No need." The Ancient One replied. "It's just shedding my mortal form."
"Not true death."
"We'll meet again."
Strange, standing nearby, looked confused by her words.
The most powerful Sorcerer Supreme, dying?
"Wanda." The Ancient One continued, "from today, you are the Sorcerer Supreme of the Sanctum Sanctorum."
"The Eye of Agamotto and the Time Stone are yours to guard."
"But until you collect all six Infinity Stones, the Time Stone must remain safe."
She removed the Eye of Agamotto from her chest.
Even without the Time Stone, it was a mage's artifact, amplifying power.
It was perfect for Wanda.
With the Eye and the Time Stone, even with half her Chaos Magic sustaining Kaiser, she could rival Skyfather-level foes.
That was the Ancient One's confidence.
"I understand." Wanda said solemnly, accepting the Eye and the Time Stone.
She'd known this day would come.
But its arrival filled her with sorrow.
The Ancient One was her mentor in magic.
To Wanda, she was family, second only to Kaiser and Pietro.
"Don't cry, child. We'll meet again." The Ancient One said, smiling.
A portal shimmered before her.
She vanished through it.
"So, Sorcerer Supreme, what do we do now?" Strange asked, stunned by the sudden handover.
He knew little of Wanda.
He hadn't been at Kamar-Taj long.
But he knew she was second only to the Ancient One in strength.
"Your talent is great, but you're new to magic." Wanda said.
"Your power isn't enough. Stay and guard Kamar-Taj."
She glanced at the microcosm enveloping Kaiser.
She sensed he was nearly done analyzing Gungnir.
"This is the world of magic?" Strange muttered, falling silent.
He realized the world wasn't as safe as he'd thought.
He'd barely begun studying magic when this crisis hit.
From other mages, he'd learned what Dormammu was.
A high-dimensional being, a demon god, capable of consuming planets and worlds.
If Earth's Vishanti Barrier fell, extinction awaited.
Strange's fists clenched, his injured hand trembling from his past accident.
"Don't worry." Wanda said, sensing his fear. "It'll be fine."
"The Ancient One is here. I'm here."
"And Kaiser is here."
Over her years at the Sanctum, Wanda's emotions had stabilized.
She knew Strange was meant to be the next Sorcerer Supreme.
His magical talent would lighten her burden.
"Kaiser…" Strange murmured.
He'd always doubted Kaiser's existence.
According to Wong, Kaiser was a powerful being, a Heroic Spirit summoned by Wanda.
A god.
Years ago, he'd helped Thor awaken his divine power, striking a deal with Odin to gain Gungnir.
Since then, he'd been secluded in his microcosm, analyzing the artifact.
It sounded like a myth.
Strange, new to Kamar-Taj, had never seen Kaiser.
Even some mages who'd been there years hadn't.
Only veteran Sanctum mages had.
New York Sanctum
The Ancient One stood atop the building.
A glowing array flickered behind her, enveloping the structure.
"Kaecilius, since you're here, won't you show yourself?" She called, glancing aside.
The space there rippled strongly.
At her words, it shattered.
Kaecilius emerged from the Mirror Dimension with a group of mages.
"It's been a while, Ancient One." He said.
His eyes were blackened, pupils and whites indistinguishable.
He was heavily corrupted.
"With the Dark Dimension's power, you've grown stronger." The Ancient One observed.
"But you're on a misguided path."
"I understand wanting to resurrect your wife."
"Even dealing with Mephisto, I'd say nothing."
"But Dormammu? That's a foolish choice."
She looked at Kaecilius with pity and resignation.
"You dare judge me?" Kaecilius snapped.
"Don't you deal with dimension demons too?"
"I've gained power beyond yours."
"My lord will rule this world!"
"Darkness… is the true eternal home."
Kaecilius's expression was manic, his sanity lost to corruption.
The Ancient One sighed, knowing he was beyond saving.
"Ancient One!" Kaecilius's body stiffened as Dormammu's voice boomed from his mouth.
"Your life is mine."
"A soul tainted by darkness belongs to it."
Dormammu's voice was low, seductive, emanating from the Dark Dimension's depths.
His form outside was a construct of dark magical flames.
"Is that so?" The Ancient One replied, smiling. "My life's right here. Come take it."
The array beneath her surged skyward, locking the space.
"I'll personally revoke the magic I taught you."
The battle began.
Countless arrays danced from their hands.
At the same time, the Hong Kong and London Sanctums came under attack.
"How?" Wong exclaimed, deflecting an energy beam with a defensive array.
He'd received word that all three Sanctums were besieged simultaneously.
The Ancient One was facing Kaecilius.
The Sanctum Sanctorum seemed isolated, without aid.
At S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters, tension ran high after the first Battle of New York.
"What's happening?" Nick Fury demanded, staring at the holographic screen displaying massive energy spikes.
"This power could level New York in an instant."
"What's going on?"
The energy readings dwarfed the nuke from before.
If unleashed, it would leave no survivors in New York.
The Avengers, gathered at S.H.I.E.L.D., eyed the alerts.
"Let's check the scene." Tony said first.
In his armor, he was the fastest.
Their priority was to understand the source of this energy surge.
They rushed toward the New York Sanctum.
Tony arrived swiftly, hovering above.
"Oh my God!" He gasped.
"What is this?"
"Mages?"
His suit's cameras streamed live footage to S.H.I.E.L.D.
Everyone saw the battle above the Sanctum... arrays clashing, mages colliding.
"So, sorcerers are real." Fury muttered, recalling S.H.I.E.L.D. files.
Some mentioned mages, learned from dark creatures.
They spoke of a mage organization managing Earth's dark side, fending off demons from Hell and higher dimensions.
But S.H.I.E.L.D. had never found concrete evidence.
Any leads vanished quickly.
Their intelligence network outmatched S.H.I.E.L.D.'s.
Fury had been helpless.
Now, it seemed mages had caused this chaos.
And it looked serious.
Boom!
A mage was blasted out of the Sanctum's barrier, gravely injured.
"You okay?" Captain America asked, catching him as he arrived.
"Cough… cough…" The mage rasped.
"The end is coming…"
"A dimension demon is invading Earth."
He stared despairingly at the Sanctum.
Dormammu's followers were numerous, too many to fend off.
Many were devotees of darkness, believing it the ultimate destiny.
Above the New York Sanctum, the Ancient One battled Kaecilius fiercely.
"Still not ready?" She muttered, sensing Kamar-Taj's state.
Kaiser hadn't emerged.
She thought dying was proving difficult.
Kamar-Taj
The microcosm enveloping Kaiser pulsed, shrinking and expanding like breathing.
Wanda felt her Chaos Magic draining rapidly.
"Is he coming out?" She asked, watching the microcosm nervously.
Strange, curious, wondered what the legendary Kaiser looked like.
Hum!
Golden light spilled forth.
The microcosm exploded open.
"Didn't expect a breakthrough." Kaiser said, sighing.
"Not exactly good news."
His Cosmo had reached the late Eighth Sense.
He'd restored his peak power.
Wanda sensed something wrong... her Chaos Magic surged chaotically.
Its regeneration couldn't keep up with Kaiser's consumption.
Desperate, she activated the Time Stone.
Emerald light enveloped her, rewinding her state.
Golden light pierced the sky.
"He's out." The Ancient One said, seeing the radiant glow.
"Kaiser."
"Not again!" S.H.I.E.L.D.'s energy detectors blared red.
This power surpassed the Sanctum's surge.
"If it hits Earth directly." a technician stammered, "the explosion could wipe out the solar system."
Everyone slumped, stunned.
Even the ever-calm Fury was speechless.
So many hidden powerhouses on Earth?
"Kaiser…" Wanda said, worry etched on her face.
She didn't understand but knew she couldn't sustain him much longer.
"Don't worry, Wanda." Kaiser said.
"Even if I lose my connection to your Chaos Magic, I can return."
"I've anchored myself to this world."
"Don't be afraid."
He smiled, vanishing from her sight.
"You're finally here." The Ancient One said, her eyes lighting up as she saw Kaiser.
She clashed with Kaecilius, both annihilating each other.
Her body took a fatal blow, blood spraying from her mouth.
"You really couldn't wait." Kaiser said, half-laughing, half-exasperated.
Her desire to retire was blatant.
"My task is done, isn't it?" She replied, winking.
She declared her death.
Her soul left her body.
The Ancient One felt tugs from multiple forces.
"I need to see Eternity first."
"Otherwise, those dimensional demon gods will come to trouble me."
"Earth is left to you and Wanda."
The Ancient One patted Kaiser's shoulder.
His soul directly flew away.
The New York Sanctum was preserved.
"Who is this guy?"
"Is he also a sorcerer?"
Tony saw Kaiser, his striking appearance making even Tony daze for a moment.
But judging by his entrance, no matter how you looked at it, he didn't seem like an ordinary person.
"Wanda."
"Open a corner of the Vishanti's great array."
"Also, the three great sanctums are left to you."
"We'll be gone for up to a year, at shortest half a year."
"We'll meet again."
Kaiser said to Wanda.
However, the next time they meet, he, now inscribed into the Marvel timeline, would descend as a thought body.
Wanda, far away in Kamar-Taj, pursed her lips.
Still, she opened a corner of the Vishanti's great array.
Kaiser saw the darkness falling from the horizon.
The Avengers also saw it.
"What is that???"
Almost instinctively afraid, they all retreated a few steps.
"It's a pity Thor isn't here; otherwise, we could ask him."
Captain America's expression was grim.
When it came to sorcerers, it was a blind spot for them.
But for Thor, it definitely wasn't.
"You actually opened the array on purpose?"
"Ancient One! Come out!"
Huge eyes appeared in the void.
Eyes that seemed able to encompass the world hung high in the sky.
They radiated an overwhelming presence.
"Is the end of the world coming?"
Even the dark creatures sensed that indescribable darkness and terror.
"Just in time, I'll use you to test Gungnir."
Kaiser swung his right hand.
A golden spear appeared in his grasp.
His Cosmo began to burn.
Bang!
Kaiser took a step forward.
The void shattered.
Cracks appeared.
Like glass breaking.
***
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