Chapter 37: Destroy the World or Destroy Me First?
Tony ignored Director Carter's explicit orders and flew solo to the Hell's Kitchen docks in his Mark III armor.
CLANG!
The Mark III touched down smoothly, but there was no sign of Ryan—only cold, abandoned machinery scattered across the pier.
Ryan had been waiting there just moments earlier, preparing for a decisive confrontation with S.H.I.E.L.D. But as he stood ready for battle, the world around him suddenly transformed beyond recognition.
The ground folded in impossible geometries, and identical buildings multiplied endlessly like digital duplicates. Above, the sky no longer showed blue atmosphere but reflected the cityscape below. Beneath his feet, solid concrete became a floating platform suspended over an endless void—a kaleidoscopic reality that defied physics.
The surrounding structures continuously disintegrated and reassembled, cycling through this pattern while morphing into an alien landscape Ryan couldn't identify.
"The Mirror Dimension?"
Ryan immediately recognized the Sorcerer Supreme's signature magic.
"Ryan... who are you, really?"
A voice spoke from behind him. He turned to see a figure in yellow robes, the hood casting shadows over the Ancient One's distinctive features.
Standing perfectly upright with hands clasped behind her back, she studied Ryan with penetrating eyes.
Ryan replied calmly, "You already know my name. Why ask who I am?"
"I know what you're called, but I don't know what you are." The Ancient One's voice carried ancient wisdom that brought peace to most who heard it—and Ryan felt that calming influence despite himself.
As Earth's most powerful mystical guardian, wielder of the Time Stone, and protector of reality itself, empowered by both Vishanti magic and forbidden Dark Dimension energy, the Ancient One was virtually unstoppable.
The Sorcerer Supreme supposedly avoided worldly conflicts, focusing solely on protecting Earth from interdimensional threats.
Yet here she was, personally capturing Ryan.
The Ancient One approached, circling him twice before speaking calmly: "You don't belong to this reality. What dimension are you from?"
Ryan's heart raced, but he maintained composure. "I'm originally from 1970. I traveled to 2023 with Steve and Tony, then returned to 1970 twice more before arriving in the present timeline."
The Ancient One frowned thoughtfully. After a moment, she formed intricate hand gestures, and the Eye of Agamotto on her chest slowly opened, emitting brilliant green light.
Watching the Ancient One with closed eyes channeling the Time Stone, Ryan's fingers twitched involuntarily.
He desperately wanted to seize the Infinity Stone, but had zero confidence in defeating the Sorcerer Supreme. Being permanently trapped in the Mirror Dimension would be catastrophic.
So close, yet completely untouchable—absolutely maddening!
Multiple temporal echoes manifested around the Ancient One as she traveled through timelines. After several intense moments, she reopened her eyes.
"I observed your past and future, but your arrival in 1970 appears from nowhere. Can you explain your origins?"
"No, because I don't understand how I appeared in 1970 either, so... I'm sorry." Ryan rejected the inquiry without hesitation.
The Ancient One smiled slightly: "You clearly harbor significant secrets, but that's irrelevant now. Someone will retrieve you shortly. At minimum, you can no longer threaten my reality."
"What do you mean?" Ryan's expression darkened.
The Ancient One explained patiently: "Doctor Strange contacted me recently. He informed me that you originated from his reality and represent an extreme danger, so he intends to retrieve you and establish secure containment to prevent irreversible damage to additional realities."
Ryan demanded frantically, "Why would you do this to me?"
The Ancient One shook her head. "Because you created an unauthorized timeline branch. While that normally exceeds my jurisdiction, I do bear some responsibility for the consequences."
"You're insane! How is any of this my fault?" Ryan couldn't comprehend the Ancient One's reasoning, but he absolutely refused to return to 2023.
In that timeline, the Avengers had reached peak power and Thanos was already dust. How could he possibly acquire the remaining Infinity Stones?
The Ancient One gestured casually, and countless green threads suddenly materialized throughout the Mirror Dimension. Each strand contained several bright points, ranging from just one or two to dozens.
The Ancient One indicated one thread: "You've experienced time travel, so you should understand timeline mechanics."
"Not really. I just know the past can't change the future, and the future can become the past." Ryan hadn't studied the subject deeply and was improvising.
But what did this have to do with him anyway?
The Ancient One continued: "Each timeline here contains several luminous points. Every point represents a person who also serves as that reality's anchor. As long as anchor points remain stable, the timeline maintains integrity."
The Ancient One studied Ryan carefully. "Do you understand the consequences if anchor points fail?"
Ryan shook his head.
"That reality disappears completely—withering like a dying tree. Everyone, including you and me, simply ceases to exist."
Then the Ancient One waved her hand, leaving only a single green timeline visible.
The Ancient One continued: "Beginning in 1970, your presence caused anchor point displacement. Peggy Carter, who should have aged naturally and died, became the new temporal anchor."
A branch split from the main timeline. The Ancient One pointed at it: "This represents our current reality—a timeline that should never have existed."
Ryan was confused. "Is Peggy Carter's situation somehow my fault?"
The Ancient One nodded. "Do you remember the white laboratory mouse from your final experiment? You didn't retrieve it when departing, and Peggy Carter discovered it later. It bit her. Understanding now?"
Ryan suddenly realized—no wonder Peggy Carter remained youthful after all these years. She'd undergone mutation!
Ryan shook his head: "Even if I'm somehow connected, I live here now. Why let Strange take me away?"
The Ancient One sighed deeply: "Ryan, I've seen your future. You will eliminate everyone here—Steve Rogers, Clint Barton, including Strange who's currently performing surgery several blocks away. You'll kill every Avengers member, even me."
"Your future self becomes absolutely terrifying, so you cannot remain here. Strange—the Sorcerer Supreme from another timeline—will contain you properly."
Ryan's expression gradually turned ice-cold. He had considered killing Steve Rogers, but hadn't planned to harm others. Perhaps some unforeseen catastrophe occurred in that timeline.
But this wasn't justification for the Ancient One to control his destiny.
Afraid the world might be destroyed, so destroy him first?
Ryan stared at the Ancient One with glacial eyes, asking quietly: "What if I refuse?"
Seeing Ryan's expression, the Ancient One glimpsed his terrible future self.
So she responded with greater conviction: "Resistance is futile. Stop struggling."
"I'd like to test that theory!"
End of Chapter 37
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