Time Stone

"Mio?"

"You know me?"

The girl clad in Divine Spirit Attire: Zero, the Original Spirit, asked softly. The magic power gathered within her encompassed the entire Marvel world. Her strength far surpassed the standard for Dragon-level disasters and had already touched the threshold of God-level. If that vast magic power were converted into spells, even the most basic fireball would possess the might to **destroy the earth.

"We have known each other for a long time."

"But I have no memory of it..."

"Then let us get to know each other again from now on."

Mio suddenly pressed a hand to her chest, looking bewildered. From Li Chen, she sensed spiritual power that put her at ease, so familiar it seemed to come from the same origin, yet it far surpassed the energy level of the eleven Spirit Crystals she had once split apart.

"Warm like sunlight..."

"Will you travel with me?"

Li Chen held out his hand. With Yatogami Tohka's S-rank spiritual power blessing, he easily gained the initial trust of this spirit, as pure as a blank sheet of paper. Not every powerful being had to become an enemy—if he could guide Mio into joining the League of Heroes, he would gain both a top-tier combatant and another pure-hearted companion.

"Wait."

"Do you have further advice, Master Ancient One?"

"Taking Mio away is your freedom. After all, she has merely been staying temporarily at the New York Sanctum."

Guardian of the Universe "You should understand the power hidden within Mio."

The Ancient One stared into the void and spoke slowly.

"If fully released, it would be enough to push this universe to the brink of destruction." Li Chen watched the starlight dancing at his fingertips.

"Even more astonishing is her talent for magic." The Ancient One brushed her sleeve, and countless runes appeared in the air. "In just over thirty days, she completely mastered every secret art of Kamar-Taj and could even amplify their power dozens of times over."

"So?"

"Please become her anchor." Golden ripples spread around the Ancient One. "Do not let darkness corrupt this power."

"Of course."

Li Chen's cloak fluttered without wind. That silver-haired girl had always wandered through the gaps between dimensions. Ever since she caused a spatial quake upon first arriving in this world, she had never harmed a single life. She was like a lost star, until one day she fell beneath the glass dome of the New York Sanctum.

"Will you travel with me?" Li Chen crouched down halfway.

Mio's skirt rippled with an icy blue glow as she placed her small hand in his palm. "You... smell like the sun."

The Ancient One looked at their clasped hands. Compared to the Sorcerer Supreme who had spent more than a month with her, the girl was clearly closer to this guardian who carried the aura of her origin.

"Where is Annie?"

The red-haired girl on the wooden chair swung her feet, a heavy tome open on her lap. "I want to stay and study the Lesser Key of Solomon." Flickering candlelight cast starlike glimmers in her pupils. Although flame magic was her origin, those profound spatial equations fascinated her as well.

"This child is the second genius vessel I have seen in six hundred years." The Ancient One's Sling Ring flashed with a dim light. "Only that future Sorcerer Supreme may perhaps surpass her."

"The future?" Li Chen's fingertips suddenly trembled. The Eye of Agamotto on his chest had begun to ripple with emerald light at some point.

The Ancient One held the legendary supreme artifact, the Eye of Agamotto, which allowed her to glimpse countless futures and infinite possibilities.

The true form of that sacred artifact was one of the universe's greatest treasures—the Time Stone.

The person she had foretold must have been Stephen Strange.

This mage, who began training halfway through his life, would quickly master profound spells and succeed as the new Sorcerer Supreme.

Though his talent was exceptional, compared with Mio, who was favored by fate, there was still a chasm between them.

"It seems you have already understood who I meant."

"Correct."

Li Chen admitted it calmly. As one of the most inscrutable beings in the Marvel world, the Ancient One had long seen through many secrets with the power of the Time Stone—including their identities as people from another dimension.

Facing the president of the League of Heroes, the Ancient One showed no surprise at his foresight. Centuries of cultivation had long left her heart still as water.

"I hope you can look after that young man in the future. It would not hurt to have him join the League of Heroes as well."

"Why not teach him yourself? You should know your own ending."

As the Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One's end was deeply regrettable.

She was pierced through by a traitor with an ordinary weapon. She neither defended herself nor sought healing. Such an unreasonable death had only one explanation: she had chosen to end her own life.

Through the Time Stone, she had witnessed hundreds of millions of futures, and every ending led to her death. Thus, she chose to pass her mission on to Strange.

"That was merely the predetermined path. Can you still see the future clearly now?"

"Of course..."

The Ancient One activated the power of the Time Stone, and surprise gradually appeared on her usually calm face.

The future scenes that had once been clear had now turned into chaotic fog, impossible to glimpse even in the slightest.

"Could this be... a change caused by your arrival in this world?"

"Most likely."

Li Chen responded with a casual shrug.

As the only variable in this world, any major upheaval was bound to be related to him. Considering his impact on the world, the Marvel universe's landscape had already been turned upside down.

Azir, the "Desert Emperor," ravaging the stars; the Fox Demon Clan ruling Tushan; Mio, the "First Spirit" who created eleven spirits; Garou, the "Hero Hunter" who hunted heroes; the Noxus legions lying in wait for battle; the Monster Association growing in the shadows... and now the Deep-Sea Clan was launching a full-scale invasion. The future's trajectory had already been completely

"Do not be so pessimistic. As long as you live, there will always be a turning point."

"So be it. Then let me, as a witness, clear away the fog of the future."

Dispelling the Ancient One's desire for death finally made up for one of Li Chen's past regrets. It was truly lamentable for someone so powerful to fall in such an absurd manner.

If he could save her from her predetermined fate and recruit her into the League of Heroes, he might gain support at the vice president level. In the end, Li Chen still coveted the Sorcerer Supreme's abilities.

However, the possibility of the Ancient One joining was zero for now—the duty of guarding the Eye of Agamotto was the Sorcerer Supreme's destiny. Once Doctor Strange took over, recruitment might become possible. Compared to a half-trained successor, the Ancient One's value was obviously far greater.

It was precisely because of this thought that Li Chen had not directly taken the Time Stone.

"This matter is settled. Come back with me, Mio."

"Mm..."

The bewildered First Spirit felt close only to Li Chen and obediently left with him. The two walked out of the New York Sanctum like an intimate couple.

"Please wait!"

An ominous-looking man in mage robes hurried after them. He was Kaecilius, disciple of the Ancient One. At this time, before coming into contact with Dormammu, he was still a diligent apprentice mage.

However, as a man, it was difficult for him not to develop certain subtle thoughts toward Mio, the girl who had been staying at the New York Sanctum for over a month.

He had once approached Mio under the identity of the Ancient One's **.

But Mio, who possessed intuition nearly akin to foresight, instantly detected Kaecilius's improper intentions. She coldly kept her distance from him and even showed obvious disgust.

"Something wrong?"

Li Chen shifted to shield Mio and raised a brow.

He had some impression of this man—after all, he was a fallen one who would betray the Ancient One and pledge himself to Dormammu.

What Li Chen remembered most clearly was that this man shared a name with that demon realm apostle.

Across countless worlds, "Kaecilius" was the name of the Fourth Apostle, a battle-crazed powerhouse with countless souls slain beneath his sword.

Compared to that, this mage who borrowed the power of darkness was simply not worth mentioning.

"I came to see Mio."

"Mio, do you know him?"

"No."

A concise reply, spoken in an icy tone.

From Li Chen, Mio felt closeness. Toward Kaecilius, she felt only instinctive rejection.

"Wait! I am the Ancient One's chief **, Kaecilius!"

"That is what he says."

"Don't know him."

"..."

Kaecilius was left speechless.

He had thought his relationship with Mio was close, but he had merely been deluding himself.

If she had not been staying at the Sanctum and considering the Ancient One's dignity, Mio would have attacked him long ago.

"But I—"

"Don't know him."

"We have met 182 times—"

"Don't know him."

"I helped you carry magic books twelve times—"

"Don't know him."

"..."

No matter how the other party argued, Mio's answer remained the same.

She had no impression whatsoever of any of the mages in this Sanctum.

After repeatedly questioning her to no avail, Kaecilius finally faced reality—Mio had no memory of him at all.

He glared viciously at Li Chen, who was holding Mio's hand, jealousy burning in his eyes.

After more than a month of flattering her, all he received was a cold, "Don't know him."

The international conference center in eastern Africa was brightly lit. Representatives and media reporters from various nations packed the spacious conference room to the brim. Wakanda's current ruler, T'Chaka, stood beneath the spotlights with a document in hand, speaking eloquently.

"Good morning, representatives. As Wakanda's ruler, T'Chaka is deeply honored to speak on this international stage today. As everyone knows, the African continent has long suffered from a food crisis..."

T'Chaka lightly patted the document in his hand and continued, "After years of research by our national think tank, we have finally achieved a major breakthrough in agricultural technology—Jin Kela fertilizer. This innovative product can multiply crop yields, allowing the people of Africa to truly achieve food self-sufficiency."

A wave of discussion immediately rose within the venue. T'Chaka smiled faintly and continued his speech...

At the same time, before the distant New York Sanctum, a silent confrontation was unfolding. The Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One, clad in pale golden robes, spoke in a deep voice. "Kaecilius, stop immediately."

"But, Master!" Flames of fury burned in Kaecilius's eyes.

Li Chen, behind the Ancient One, spoke coldly. "Do you need me to deal with this trouble for you?"

"There is no need." The Ancient One shook her head lightly. "The future has its own path."

Li Chen restrained the killing intent radiating from his body. "Womanly compassion is not a wise choice."

Kaecilius, publicly reprimanded, clenched his fists, rage surging uncontrollably in the depths of his heart. All these years of master-disciple affection meant less than an outsider who had suddenly appeared? A dangerous thought gradually took shape in his mind, while the contents of that ancient book recording forbidden rituals became clearer and clearer in his memory...

In the eyes of the world, Wakanda was merely a barren agricultural land whose survival supplies depended on international aid.

Few knew that this hidden nation possessed cutting-edge technology and monopolized Vibranium, the universe's rare metal. Every generation of rulers bore the title "Black Panther," awakening superhuman physiques through the Heart-Shaped Herb. With Vibranium armor, they could stand against an army of thousands.

Crown Prince T'Challa lowered his head and listened to his father's speech, surrounded by disdainful looks from other nations. Only he knew that Wakanda's strength far surpassed that of any country present—like a tyrannosaur mistaken for a pig, capable of tearing apart so-called tigers at any moment.

"May the world become better!"

A rune-wreathed flying axe suddenly tore through the air. Wakanda's leader evaded with Black Panther instincts. The axe blade split the podium, killing more than ten civilians on the spot. As the flying axe spun back, Draven appeared in colorful attire, his twin axes dancing like venomous serpents flicking their tongues.

Amid screams, representatives from every nation fled in panic. Only the Black Panther, clad in Vibranium armor, could contend with this Ghost-level calamity—the otherworldly metal axes infused with runes, paired with Draven's precision rivaling Hawkeye's, were slaughtering mortal **.

"Time to celebrate!" Draven laughed wildly as he hacked and slashed. "Welcome to the Draven League!"

The venue had become a pool of blood, flying axes harvesting lives like wheat. Without Vibranium armor, even the Black Panther was nothing more than flesh and blood.

(

Such defenses were utterly incapable of withstanding Draven's massive axes.

"Father!"

"T'Challa! Run!"

The Wakandan ** shouted loudly.

The enemy before them was overwhelmingly fierce and extremely difficult to deal with.

It did not matter if he sacrificed himself, but his son was an outstanding leader capable of inheriting the throne.

If T'Challa were to perish here with him, it would be an irreparable regret.

"No! I cannot abandon you!"