In the original storyline, the Ancient One had died, and Stephen had reached Hong Kong alone and helpless. This had been his only option.
Stephen dragged his own consciousness into the Time Loop as well, leaving him with fresh memories each time.
That was the only way he could endure it.
Otherwise, watching himself get killed in countless different ways millions of times would probably have driven him mad long ago.
Only Dormammu, as the lord of the Dark Dimension, noticed something amiss during the first few repetitions, and his consciousness immediately broke free of the Time Loop.
But his body could not escape, forcing him into the same deadly cycle over and over.
After millions of repetitions, Dormammu was nearly driven insane.
In the end, left with no other choice, he had to agree to Stephen's terms.
He would stop consuming Earth in exchange for Stephen ending the Time Loop.
Stephen did not know that Dormammu's consciousness could escape the Time Loop.
He only knew that once he used it, he might be trapped forever.
With grim resolve, he had prepared to sacrifice himself to save Earth.
The two of them might have remained locked in that cycle of killing and being killed until the end of time, until the seas dried up and the rocks crumbled.
Only when mountains lost their peaks and heaven merged with earth would they ever part...
Now, the Ancient One was still alive, and Apocalypse was beside him. He certainly did not want to fall into an endless Time Loop.
He only hoped that while he held Dormammu back, the Ancient One and Apocalypse could find some way to save him.
As Apocalypse and Stephen spoke, an enormous head slowly emerged from the darkness.
The planets beside it looked as tiny as