A new voice echoed through Daniel's Mirror Dimension.
Qin Xiao turned — and saw a bald woman with an aura of calm power.
She wore a gray robe, rather than the yellow combat garb of the Kamar-Taj disciples.
"Master Ancient One!"
"Master Ancient One!"
Both Daniel and Qin Xiao bowed respectfully.
Even without considering her immense power, anyone who had safeguarded Earth for centuries deserved that level of reverence.
"Daniel," said the Ancient One gently, "I will receive our guest myself. Go tend to your wounds."
"Yes, Master Ancient One."
Daniel bowed once more and departed.
When he was gone, the Ancient One approached Qin Xiao.
Her gaze was calm, yet full of curiosity.
And as she drew near, Qin Xiao's eyes flickered oddly.
Ding!
Detected compatible Devil Fruit bearer.
Potential matches: Age-Age Fruit, Regression Fruit, Wash-Wash Fruit…
Qin Xiao stared at the system prompts, lost in thought.
Age-Age Fruit?
Was the system… mocking the Ancient One's age?
It even listed that one at the very top — was it implying the fruit was perfect for her?
In truth, among the Supernova-era Devil Fruits, the Age-Age Fruit was one of the most mysterious.
Even no one truly knew the real age of Jewelry Bonney, its user.
Sometimes, Qin Xiao wondered if that fruit might actually grant immortality.
After all, the ability allowed the user to change their own or another's age at will —
turning them into a frail elder or a helpless child.
Such a power didn't just alter appearance — it rewrote the state of being itself.
If someone used it to stay perpetually young… could they simply live forever?
Giving the Age-Age Fruit to the Ancient One… now that would be interesting.
As for the Regression Fruit, which allowed time to roll back in twelve-year cycles — Qin Xiao wasn't quite sure how that would benefit her.
But the Wash-Wash Fruit — now that one matched her perfectly.
No matter who stood before her —
the proud Stephen Strange,
the crippled Jonathan Pangborn,
or Hamir who had lost his left hand —
the Ancient One treated them all with the same calm respect.
If she possessed the Wash-Wash Fruit, she could literally "cleanse" the hearts of her disciples, washing away their malice and arrogance.
With that power, traitors like Kaecilius might never have existed.
Qin Xiao began wondering if he could somehow convince the Ancient One to eat one of those fruits.
But his train of thought was suddenly interrupted by her serene voice:
"So you are the Eastern Demon's Emissary?"
"Yet I sense no trace of demonic aura from you.
Why did you choose such a name?"
Qin Xiao froze.
"You… you really know about me?"
The Ancient One smiled faintly.
"They say 'an Eastern demon seeks to invade the Western demons' domain — and has sent an emissary to walk among them.'
When that rumor began spreading here in New York, I took notice.
I personally observed you within the Mirror Dimension —
watched you feed that vibrant fruit to Frank.
Afterward, he awakened powers akin to a mutant's.
I heard you call that fruit a Devil Fruit,
and I heard the rumor that an Eastern demon was encroaching upon the West.
But… I have never sensed any true demonic power within you.
So I became curious.
Where does your strength really come from?
I had intended to seek you out myself —
but I didn't expect you to come looking for me first."
Her words sent a chill down Qin Xiao's spine.
She had been watching him this whole time — even witnessing Frank eating the Swamp Fruit!
Thank goodness he'd been careful enough to disguise himself under the alias "Demon's Emissary."
If not, the Ancient One might have seen straight through him from the start.
"You were watching me all along?" he asked cautiously. "Why didn't you stop me, then?"
He was genuinely curious.
After all, the people he'd been dealing with lately were hardly saints —
Frank Castle, the Punisher, a vigilante drenched in blood.
Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin, ruler of New York's underworld.
Anyone associating with them would look suspicious at best.
If the Ancient One had seen that, why hadn't she intervened?
The Sorcerer Supreme smiled faintly.
"Indeed, I observe many things in this world.
You are merely one of its smaller ripples.
As for why I didn't stop you — because I found no reason to.
The world continues along its destined course.
Your actions have not endangered it.
In fact… in some ways, they may even benefit it.
The lineage of the Sorcerer Supreme exists to protect this realm from incursions by dark dimensions.
And what you call Devil Fruit abilities — they have not brought chaos or corruption.
On the contrary, they have brought a new kind of vitality to this world.
So I began to wonder — perhaps your power, too, originates not from evil,
but from a righteous entity beyond our dimension.
Just as our white magic draws upon the Vishanti,
maybe your arrival is meant to prevent a crisis of your own."
She smiled serenely.
"And so, I chose not to stop you."