All Thieves, All the Same

What went around would come around sooner or later.

Ian understood that, but he had not expected payback to arrive so quickly.

Perhaps.

From the moment he absorbed Dark Tiga, he should have understood.

Some light—

Even after it had been tamed, could still be very insidious.

Of course.

On that point, only Ian felt it, and suffered for it. Everyone else merely saw light suddenly appear and thought it was Ian's doing.

That light was so bright that everyone had no choice but to close their eyes, so bright that the purple-black canopy in the sky began to melt, so bright that Dormammu's enormous collapsing face truly began to fracture.

Everyone froze.

Including Ghost Rider. His burning chain hung suspended in midair, the two masses of Hellfire in his eye sockets congealed as he stared at that sudden burst of radiance—a power that was not his, and not any power he knew.

Including Strange. His mouth was slightly open, and the Eye of Agamotto trembled softly against his chest, as if even this ancient artifact was bewildered—what exactly was this?

How to put it? In truth, Ian was among those who were dumbfounded too.

Ian's eyes widened slightly.

Only slightly.

But in that instant, the aloof face he had maintained for an entire chapter, as though everything was under control, showed a faint crack.

Because he saw it.

Deep within that golden pillar of light—something was taking shape.

Not an Angel.

Not a Demon.

Not any being he had summoned.

It was a—giant.

A silver body. Red lines. A golden chestplate.

His eyes—

Were two wheels of gentle light.

"Fuck! Tiga has no martial ethics! He's stealing my faith from all living beings! And he's stealing my holy light!" Ian understood very quickly in that moment, and there was