Nick Feared Dormammu, Black Widow Searched for Lin Du

The last time the Sanctum was attacked, the culprit had used ancient and powerful black magic.

It had directly turned the Sanctum into a long-term repair project. To restore it, S.H.I.E.L.D. had nearly exhausted its manpower and resources.

Now, if that same power truly returned, the mere thought of it was enough to send chills down one's spine.

Wait until you return, Nick quietly mused.

Not only do we need to formulate a repair plan based on the Sanctum's damage, we also need to dig deep and uncover the mastermind behind it.

We can't keep letting this kind of underhanded sabotage go unchecked.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Natasha received her orders. Her figure immediately blended into the night and swiftly vanished.

As she hurried toward the Sanctum, her heart was filled with confusion and unease.

How could that Sanctum, which even time seemed to have forgotten, have been so easily attacked?

But when she truly stood before the Sanctum, the sight before her left her stunned.

The Sanctum still stood in solemn majesty. Under the moonlight, its ancient stone walls glimmered with a gentle silver sheen, without the slightest trace of battle.

Natasha closed her umbrella, her brows knotting tighter as the confusion in her heart deepened.

She hurriedly contacted Nick, only to receive this reply: "The attack did happen, but an unknown force swiftly dealt with it. The Sanctum was completely unharmed."

The news struck her like a thunderclap, leaving her both shocked and intrigued.

What kind of power could turn the tide in such danger, when even the Ancient One would not dare guarantee an outcome?

Black Widow's sixth sense trembled sharply. Her instincts told her that this matter was far from as calm as it appeared; the undercurrents beneath it were likely far deeper and more complicated than she had imagined.

"Could it have been the Ancient One herself, snuffing out the flames of war before they spread through the Sanctum?"

Natasha steeled herself and swore to uncover the truth behind the attack on the Sanctum.

The night grew darker and denser, and Natasha's every move became increasingly covert and cautious.

She mobilized S.H.I.E.L.D.'s vast resources, quietly gathering every possible clue about the attack on the Sanctum.

However, as her investigation deepened step by step,

she was astonished to discover that the entire affair seemed to have been carefully concealed by an invisible hand, leaving pitifully few clues behind.

Just as she was struggling like a trapped beast with no leads at all, an unexpected name quietly reached her ears—Lin Du.

Someone in the know revealed that Lin Du, who had personally witnessed the battle at the Sanctum, was bound to both Kamar-Taj and the Sanctum attack by countless tangled connections.

Word had it that during that sudden attack, someone had seen Lin Du appear at the scene and briefly exchange blows with a group of unknown individuals.

Natasha's heart skipped a beat. She decided to meet Lin Du herself, hoping to pry some clues from him.

But it was strange. Why had she never heard anyone mention someone like Lin Du before?

Since he had appeared at Kamar-Taj, he must have had some connection with the Ancient One.

"Ancient One..." Natasha softly murmured the name.

That legendary Sorcerer Supreme—her power was known to practically everyone.

Without much thought, Natasha naturally credited the Ancient One with resolving the Sanctum crisis.

But years of agent instinct told her things were not that simple.

So, she decided to make a personal trip to Kamar-Taj and ask face-to-face who had dared to attack the Sanctum.

Kamar-Taj stood upon the blurred boundary between reality and illusion.

The moment Natasha stepped inside, she was immediately surrounded by an unprecedented and strange fluctuation of energy.

The sensation was both novel and unfathomably mysterious.

Everything here defied common sense. A faint magical aura filled the air, making her involuntarily hold her breath.

In another corner,

the Ancient One, Mordo, Wong, and the newly initiated disciple Strange sat around a round table, their eager gazes fixed on Lin Du.

"Lin Du, your understanding of magic has already reached heights that most of us can hardly touch."

The Ancient One's words brushed past Lin Du's ears, filled with curiosity and expectation.

"Can you tell us? How exactly did you reach this point? And what secrets have we yet to grasp?"

A faint smile curled across Lin Du's lips. Just as he was about to speak, an almost imperceptible tremor suddenly rippled through the air.

Then, a steady and authoritative voice came from outside the door, piercing through it. "Master Ancient One, Black Widow requests an audience."

The words "Black Widow" struck the room like a bolt from the blue, instantly leaving everyone present stunned.

Strange raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the uninvited visitor's arrival.

Wong and Mordo exchanged knowing glances, a flicker of suspicion passing through their eyes.

Only Lin Du had a glint flash through his eyes, as though he had already formed a faint guess.

Lin Du quietly pondered that this likely had something to do with Nick Fury.

The recent attack on the Sanctum had nearly succeeded. Though it had been extinguished in time, it had clearly drawn S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attention.

Nick Fury, that old fox who was always plotting behind the scenes, could never remain indifferent to this.

Lin Du decided to set his suspicions aside for now and wait to see how things unfolded.

"Let her come in." The Ancient One raised her hand slightly. At once, a young sorcerer respectfully accepted the order and withdrew.

Not long afterward, Black Widow's highly recognizable figure slowly entered the hall. Her fitted black outfit outlined her distinctive elegance, and every step exuded an aura that was both graceful and powerful.

Her sharp gaze swiftly swept across the faces of everyone present before finally settling on the Ancient One.

"Master Ancient One," Black Widow said in a calm, resolute tone,

"I have come because of the recent string of incidents."

"I firmly believe that all of this is inextricably connected to this place."

The Ancient One nodded gently, signaling Black Widow to continue.

Lin Du stood to one side, quietly observing, curious what news Black Widow had brought.

"Master Ancient One, people outside are saying that you were the one who dealt with that mysterious force's siege of the Sanctum?"

At Black Widow's question, a rare trace of awkwardness flashed across the Ancient One's face.

She gently shook her head.

"No, Natasha. By the time I arrived, the danger had already passed."

"The true hero was this young friend—Lin Du."

As she spoke, the Ancient One shifted slightly, bringing Lin Du into Natasha's line of sight.

Lin Du? That newly arrived young sorcerer?

Black Widow's eyes filled with surprise at those words.

She followed the Ancient One's gaze toward Lin Du.

He had refined features and deep eyes. Even dressed plainly, he could not conceal the extraordinary aura that surrounded him.