Holy Son

The first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the gaps in the curtains, gently brushing across Strange's refined face and waking him from his dreams.

Unlike an ordinary person's leisurely morning, Strange's began with a cup of black coffee and a quick scan of international medical journals.

After a hasty breakfast, Strange drove to the world-class hospital located in the heart of Manhattan.

Inside the hospital, the busy yet orderly atmosphere felt familiar and reassuring. Changing into his white coat, putting on a surgical cap and mask, he instantly transformed into the "Guardian of Life" who danced on the edge of life and death.

Under his exquisite skill, no surgery could stump him.

Compared to him, his colleagues were practically imbeciles; there would never be another doctor who could rival him.

These hands had earned him a fortune unimaginable to ordinary people in a lifetime, enough to live on if he hadn't spent it so lavishly afterward.

After finishing his day's work, as usual, Strange drove his luxury car along the mountain roads for a joyride.

If nothing unexpected happened, this would be another pleasant experience.

But for something unexpected not to happen was impossible. A car accident, years before its time, found him at this moment, causing the renowned doctor to flip head over heels, plunging the car and himself into a cliff.

And this scene had been quietly observed by a group of people.

"Lord Kaecilius, is it really wise to do this to the Holy Son?"

"Evans, this is my Master's will. He wants the Holy Son to suffer some trials so that he can truly grow. Do you intend to defy my Master's will?"

The black-robed mage named Evans trembled slightly and immediately backed down, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

Although the Sovereign Lord wanted the Holy Son to be tested, wouldn't such a test directly kill him?

Wouldn't their great and generous Sovereign Lord fly into a rage if they lost him, the very person they had finally found?

"The Holy Son will not die. The Gods will watch over him."

Kaecilius, his face painted with various patterns, said so.

No sooner had he spoken than a flash of light appeared, and a portal opened. Ancient One stepped out gracefully.

Seeing the Sorcerer Supreme appear, Kaecilius and the other traitors seemed somewhat flustered.

"Don't panic. So what if it's the Sorcerer Supreme? As long as we work together, even the Sorcerer Supreme cannot kill us all before his Mana is depleted!"

Although Kaecilius's voice trembled slightly, he tried his best to remain calm, attempting to rally his subordinates who were equally fearful.

While he was immensely wary of Ancient One's power, he still had some confidence.

As long as Ancient One hadn't found a new Sovereign Lord, his Mana was finite, and he was destined not to expend too much of it dealing with them.

However, why was there an aura emanating from him that he found so repulsive?

"Mage Kaecilius, your ambition and ignorance have led you astray."

Ancient One's voice was calm and majestic, each word like a heavy hammer striking Kaecilius's heart.

"Ancient One, don't put on a show. You're no better. Do you think I don't know? You've been absorbing the power of the Dark Dimension all along.

If it weren't for the Sovereign Lord's guidance, I would have truly been deceived by your hypocritical facade. Oh, right, the Dark Dimension can't be contacted anymore. Do you still have Mana to deal with me?"

Kaecilius taunted the Sorcerer Supreme with undisguised malice. Despite his sarcastic tone, Ancient One's expression remained unchanged, maintaining a calm and detached demeanor.

This appearance caused Kaecilius a moment of daze.

Once upon a time, he too was a worshipper of the Sorcerer Supreme; he had once revered Ancient One so deeply.

But after the Gods disappeared, and he contacted a new Sovereign Lord, everything changed.

Ancient One's current appearance only enraged Kaecilius further, reminding him of the years of deception.

Kaecilius's emotions ignited like a flame, burning brighter and hotter. Yet, amidst his anger and unwillingness, a complex emotion was mixed in: a yearning for his past pure faith intertwined with rage at the cruel truth of reality.

Ancient One did not argue. With a wave of his hand, he caused space to twist as if by an invisible force, forming a massive vortex that surrounded Kaecilius and his subordinates.

"Mage Kaecilius, you have been consumed by your own desires and ambitions, forgetting the original intention and responsibility of a mage." Ancient One's voice echoed within the vortex, carrying a hint of pity and resolve. "Today, I will make you face your inner self and see clearly what you truly pursue."

As Ancient One's words fell, the power within the vortex suddenly intensified. Kaecilius and his subordinates felt an unprecedented pressure, as if the weight of the entire universe was pressing down on their shoulders.

Their spells seemed minuscule before this power, like candlelight against a gale, liable to be extinguished at any moment.

Kaecilius gritted his teeth, a fierce glint in his eyes. He gathered the Mana within him, attempting to break free from the vortex that bound them.

However, his efforts were in vain. The vortex's power only tightened its grip around them.

"Kaecilius, give up!" Ancient One's voice pierced through the vortex, clear and firm. "You cannot escape, unless you are willing to face your inner self and find true salvation."

Kaecilius's heart was filled with unwillingness and anger, but he also knew that continuing to resist would only lead him into deeper trouble.

Just then, one of his subordinates, a young and agile black-robed mage, suddenly discovered a subtle weakness in the vortex. He quickly relayed the information to Kaecilius. The two of them attacked almost simultaneously, exploiting this weakness to tear open a rift.

"Quick, go!" Kaecilius growled, and with a few loyal subordinates, they seized the opportunity to rush out of the vortex and escape Ancient One's confinement.

Ancient One stood still, watching the retreating figures of Kaecilius and his followers. He did not pursue, nor did he show anger.

His face held only a faint sorrow and helplessness, as if he had long foreseen all of this.

Ancient One glanced towards the cliff, the scene of Strange's car accident, and frowned. However, after confirming that the doctor was not dead, he didn't pay it much further attention.

With a wave of his hand, sparks flashed, and he departed.

"Wooo-wooo."

With the sound of an ambulance siren, the renowned Dr. Strange was placed inside the vehicle and taken to the hospital for emergency treatment by his less-than-brilliant colleagues.

His hands were beyond saving in the future, and now, his hands were beyond saving in the present as well.