Within the Mirror Dimension, the twisting, tumbling buildings came to a halt. Kaecilius began falling from the air, his blown-off arm reconstructed from thick black fluid. More dark patterns emerged across his body. He landed on a building on one knee, raised his head, and his strange, dark eye sockets seemed to mock the mages of Kamar-Taj.
The Ancient One remained composed and made no attempt to argue. She smiled faintly, just about to tell them the truth outright.
Stephen Strange stepped forward and shouted coldly at Baron Mordo, "You would rather believe the words of Dormammu, hidden away in the Dark Dimension, than believe your own master, who has protected Earth and Kamar-Taj for centuries?"
Stephen Strange knew there was truly no way to clear the Ancient One's name.
The Ancient One really had used Dark Energy to extend her life. Not once or twice, but continuously.
That continued use would leave the mages of Kamar-Taj deeply alarmed. They could not be sure when the Dark Energy she used would devour the Ancient One, devour Kamar-Taj, and devour Earth.
Dark Energy had never been something gentle.
If it were truly so useful, why had mages feared it for so long and classified it as taboo?
The darkness of Dark Energy surpassed all imagination.
Stephen Strange understood that profoundly as well. Within Kamar-Taj, only he, with his prophetic dreams, and the Ancient One, who had faced Dormammu and the tidal, surging Dark Energy that sought to bury Earth, had truly encountered it.
The mages' fear was justified. Dark Energy really was as terrifying as they believed, worthy of fear and vigilance.
But not now. The Ancient One could not be exposed like this now.
They were at such a critical moment.
At the very least, they had to wait until