Ancient One, You Are Nothing More Than This

"Welcome, Ancient One, to join us in eliminating the cult!"

Hawkeye's face was as humble as could be, a stark contrast to his demeanor just moments before.

Coulson rolled his eyes; this colleague was too fickle.

Coulson grumbled inwardly, but outwardly maintained a professional smile. If he were to say it out loud, this Ancient One looked amiable and likely wouldn't hold it against him, but Barton would definitely fight him over it.

"Ancient One, how much do you know about this evil force?"

Hawkeye's voice was filled with respect, fully illustrating that in this world, as long as your fist is big enough, everyone is your loyal sycophant.

"This evil force transcends human comprehension. I haven't been able to figure out where it comes from yet, and the person using this power inside the church now..."

The Ancient One paused, then continued, "is my former disciple."

A hint of imperceptible complex emotion was mixed into the Ancient One's voice. Hawkeye also realized the sensitivity of the matter, suspecting there might be a long, drawn-out, melodramatic backstory behind it.

Given this, he'd better not ask too many questions, lest he fall asleep listening.

"Ancient One, what course of action do you think we should take to counter this evil force, and your... misguided disciple?"

Hawkeye chose his words carefully, trying to avoid touching any potentially sensitive emotional points for the Ancient One.

After carefully observing the S.H.I.E.L.D. unit, the Ancient One pondered for a moment before speaking, "Your military strength is so abundant. Let's try a probing attack first."

"As expected of the Ancient One, your plan is so perfect. Alright, let's do it!"

Seeing Hawkeye's blatant flattery, Coulson couldn't help but think, "Isn't this my original plan? I didn't hear you say it was so brilliant."

However, Coulson didn't say anything more. It would be best if the mission could be completed. With such a powerful Mage here, perhaps they could succeed this time?

As the Ancient One's decision was finalized, the S.H.I.E.L.D. team moved quickly, preparing to implement the probing attack plan.

After intense preparation, the S.H.I.E.L.D. forces stealthily approached the church where the cult was located.

The Ancient One's lips parted slightly, and he began to chant ancient incantations in a low voice. A mysterious power then condensed around him, shrouding the entire team in a cloak of invisibility.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly, and Coulson finally breathed a sigh of relief. Now, there shouldn't be any major problems, right?

"Clap, clap, clap!"

Just as the agents were about to use a rocket launcher on the church, they suddenly heard a burst of applause.

The applause sounded particularly abrupt in the quiet night, as if mocking the S.H.I.E.L.D. team's careful strategy.

As the applause began, the church doors slowly opened, and a beam of light shone out, illuminating the darkness around.

"Welcome, warriors of S.H.I.E.L.D., and... isn't that the Sorcerer Supreme? Have you not found a new Sovereign Lord yet?"

A deep, magnetic voice emanated from within the church. Kaecilius, clad in strange attire, wore a sinister smile, as if everything was within his grasp.

The Ancient One's brow furrowed even tighter. Kaecilius had become more powerful, and conversely, he had become weaker.

This couldn't continue. Otherwise, besides accepting that Sovereign Lord's terms, the Ancient One would have no other path.

"Kaecilius, you have been consumed by evil. Today, I must stop you."

The Ancient One's voice was firm and powerful. He formed hand seals, preparing to unleash his strongest magic.

Kaecilius let out a cold laugh. With a mere wave of his hand, the surrounding air seemed to tear apart.

A tentacle suddenly appeared beside the Ancient One and attacked him. The tentacle, like the arm of a demon from the abyss, carried an unspeakable, terrifying power, lunging directly at the Ancient One.

The Ancient One's eyes sharpened, and his body instantly flashed, dodging the sudden attack with extraordinary agility.

Kaecilius was not in a hurry to attack. He slowly walked into the light, each step accompanied by a slight tremor in the ground, as if he himself were a moving mountain.

He spread his arms, as if to embrace the darkness of the entire universe. More tentacles emerged from the darkness, surging towards the Ancient One like a tide.

The Ancient One knew this was a battle for life and death. He concentrated all his mental power, releasing a dazzling light that intertwined with the tentacles.

Each ray of light contained the power of purification and sealing, attempting to destroy the tentacles along with the evil force behind them.

Suddenly, the Ancient One felt as if his head had been struck by a hammer, and his body staggered, almost losing his balance.

Kaecilius's cold laughter echoed through the night sky. His power seemed to merge with the darkness.

Facing Kaecilius's attack, although the Ancient One resisted with all his might, every attempt to counterattack caused unbearable, needle-like pain in his head.

"Ancient One, your Mana is nothing more than this."

Kaecilius's voice was cold and ruthless. He reveled in the absolute advantage of this master-disciple duel.

Just then, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents realized they couldn't just stand by. They quickly adjusted their tactics, using high-tech weapons and coordinated maneuvers to attack Kaecilius.

The roar of rocket launchers, the flash of lasers, and the precise shots of the agents filled the area around the church with fire, and the battle entered a white-hot stage.

However, Kaecilius seemed to have been prepared for all of this. With a gentle wave of his hand, the tentacles moved with a life of their own, not only blocking most of the attacks but also catching the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents off guard.

Several agents were injured and fell under the fierce assault of the tentacles, and the situation instantly became critical.

Seeing this, the Ancient One was extremely anxious. He endured the headache and weakness, trying to stop Kaecilius's actions.

"Agent Coulson, organize the team. We need closer coordination!"

The Ancient One shouted to Coulson beside him, his voice revealing an undeniable decisiveness.

Coulson immediately understood the Ancient One's intention. He quickly prepared the communication equipment to coordinate the agents' actions, allowing them to form a tighter defensive and offensive formation.

"I am... Huh? What is this?"

Drops of viscous liquid splashed onto his face. Coulson reached out and touched it. The liquid was red blood. He looked down.

Oh, so my chest had a big hole opened in it.