The bright moonlight pierced through the clouds, like a light veil falling upon the earth. Hong Fei sat on the roof, three skill cards held between his fingertips.
Active skill card: Portal (Blue) - Passerby Mage: "The iconic magic of Kamar-Taj, but you can use it without a Sling Ring. The Teleportation distance is closely related to mental strength."
Active skill card: Magic Shield (Green) - Passerby Mage: "The essence of a Magic Shield is a magic circle. The size and strength of the shield are closely related to energy attacks."
Active skill card: Astral Projection (Blue) - Kaecilius: "Separates the spiritual body from the physical body. In this state, there is no need to breathe, eat, or sleep, and it is unaffected by physical laws. It can pass through objects and remain invisible. The duration is closely related to mental strength. Do not forget your physical body."
The so-called "Passerby Mages" were just the unknown nobodies of Kamar-Taj. Aside from Kaecilius, neither Mordo nor Wong had contributed anything to Master Hong's magical path.
Portal was the skill Hong Fei wanted most. Before potentially obtaining Teleportation, it could significantly improve Master Hong's efficiency. Moreover, besides transport, it could actually be used as a powerful cutting machine; its offensive power was definitely not low.
Magic Shield, essentially a magic circle—Hong Fei had known this for a long time because many magic circles were recorded and broken down in detail in the magical tome he had read, "The Key of Solomon."
This green skill itself might not have much practical use for Hong Fei, but it could serve as a key, allowing him to gradually grasp more mysteries of magic through its use, thereby opening the door to actively using non-skill card magic with energy or Dragon Power.
Astral Projection was definitely a highlight among the many spells of Kamar-Taj. Both the Ancient One and Strange, the two Sorcerers Supreme, had used it. The Ancient One used it against Strange and Dr. Green, and Strange used it against Peter Parker. Its visual effects were noteworthy, and based on the skill description, its practicality was also quite high.
Astral Projection, to use a term easier for everyone to understand, is an Out-of-body experience or Soul projection. These three skills barely allowed Hong Fei to step through the doorway of magic. However, after so many Kamar-Taj mages were busy for a whole day, only three skill cards dropped in the end. It must be said that this group was truly stingy!
The next day, Hong Fei met with the Ancient One.
"You're leaving."
Could it be that you're reluctant to see me go? Hong Fei nodded.
"It is time to go. But Kamar-Taj is a good place. I feel right at home here. The people here speak so nicely, and everyone is so talented. I'll definitely be back!"
Naturally, the Ancient One didn't believe his nonsense. Instead, she asked with a look of doubt, "What did you learn?"
Hearing this, Hong Fei thought for a moment, then suddenly raised his right hand and pushed out a palm. Slap! With a crisp sound, the Ancient One held her folding fan in reverse to block. Immediately after, she suddenly stepped forward sideways, her other hand striking toward Hong Fei's chest.
Seeing this, Hong Fei raised his left hand with the palm facing inward, intercepting her forearm with his wrist. He then applied outward force while twisting his wrist. In the blink of an eye, he had seized the Ancient One's wrist. Simultaneously, Hong Fei stepped back, his left hand pulling the Ancient One to the side while his right hand retracted to press down on her elbow, making it difficult for her to exert force.
However, the Ancient One had spent countless years of her millennia-long life immersed in hand-to-hand combat. As they brushed past each other, she was still able to launch a quick and precise counterattack against Hong Fei with her other hand.
Soon, the low sounds of impact followed quickly. The two exchanged blows with extremely rapid movements, sometimes standing firm, sometimes switching positions, or fighting while moving. Their strikes were incredibly fast.
The Ancient One didn't use magic, and Hong Fei didn't use any skills or Dragon Power. This was a pure and proper exchange of techniques. After a while, they seemed to find each other's weakness at the same time, and both pushed out a palm simultaneously. Both were hit by the other at the same time.
Instantly, the space seemed to fall silent. Two transparent spiritual bodies separated from their respective physical forms. Hong Fei looked up and saw the Ancient One's spiritual body; a point of thick, inseparable darkness was condensed between her brows. But in an instant, the Ancient One returned to her physical body.
Hong Fei's spiritual body was still floating in the air. Like someone who had fallen into water, he flailed his limbs with a curious look and posture. Before long, he was able to float around freely or walk steadily on the ground. This was a completely different feeling from sinking his Soul into the Dragon Dimension.
"A very magical state," Hong Fei said, looking at his own body. However, the Ancient One was now staring behind him.
Hong Fei followed her gaze and turned back. He saw a golden ball of light surging in the void behind him, with thousands of thick and thin light rays exploding around it. At first glance, it looked like a sphere covered in spikes; looking closer, it seemed more like a shattered space portal.
"This is your Dragon Power?" the Ancient One asked, slowly withdrawing her gaze.
"Correct."
The Ancient One opened her fan and waved it.
"Do you know about the Multiverse?"
"I do."
"Then you should know that the Dragon Power of one Universe is not the whole thing. At the same time, not all Universes have Dragon Power. They might be real fragments of Dragon Power, or they might just be a projection of that power."
"I didn't actually know that, though I've had similar suspicions before."
"And your thoughts?"
"I want it all."
This was a very mature adult choice. The Ancient One nodded slightly and said no more. Hong Fei controlled his spiritual body to return to his physical form. Moving his limbs, he said, "I'm leaving."
"Mhm."
"I hope I'll see you again the next time I come."
The Ancient One smiled. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Turning around, Hong Fei drew a circle with one hand, and a Portal quickly appeared in front of him. Unlike the Portals cast by Kamar-Taj mages, which had yellowish edges and were always accompanied by many sparks, the Portal Hong Fei drew was a delicate, pure golden line.
Although its rotation was clearly visible, there were no sparks around it. The Ancient One commented, "Very good."
Hong Fei looked back. "I have my own unique magic techniques."
Once Hong Fei passed through the Portal, the golden circle quickly shrank inward into a dazzling point of light, which then vanished without a trace after a flash. The Ancient One's movement of waving her fan paused. A moment later, a faint sigh echoed in the room.
Sokovia. Hong Fei emerged from the Portal, startling Big Head, who was staring blankly at a pile of chemical apparatus.
"Boss, what was that just now?"
"A new skill."
"Boss is mighty!"
Hong Fei waved his hand and asked, "How's Tony?"
"No major issues, just a slight concussion. He recovered long ago, but he's suddenly become very quiet and stays in his room all day."
"Then he's fine."
"Boss, you think he's depressed?"
"One hundred percent. With anxiety disorder on top."
"So what's the play?"
"Leave him be."
"Uh, Boss... what if he offs himself?"
"Then I'll throw him a funeral worthy of a king."
"Right."
"Enough chatter. Get Xu Wenwu out of Dragon Palace. Rally everyone—Frank included—for combat prep. Timing's still fluid, but it's coming soon."
"Copy that."
Hong Fei finished giving orders and ripped open another portal to New York. His boots had barely touched pavement when his phone buzzed. Darcy's message screamed up at him: "EMERGENCY! Jane's GONE!!!"
He skimmed the text and pocketed the device without breaking stride. The opening act might be identical, but this time the finale would rewrite itself.
Right now, Hong Fei's thoughts weren't with the endangered Jane Foster—they'd landed squarely on Frigga, Thor's mother, Odin's queen. Like he'd told himself before, this wasn't even a choice worth debating.
If he truly wanted her dead, if he genuinely feared her survival would derail history's trajectory, passive indifference wouldn't cut it. No, he'd need to skin a Dark Elf for disguise, infiltrate Asgard, and personally slit Frigga's throat while framing the attack. She was a goddess, yes—but the fragile kind. Easy prey.
Hong Fei's lips twisted at the thought. Thor saw him as some paragon of virtue. Their handful of encounters had shown him a prince who laughed like a simpleton but carried loyalty like a banner—the exact opposite of a certain scheming old man.
The profitable path was clear: play the hero, save Frigga himself, then cash in that favor for uru metal and Odin's enchantments. To pull it off meant breaching Asgard's defenses... where countless other opportunities waited. Good deeds and dark schemes, kindness and calculation—he'd walk both roads without flinching until nothing could touch him.