Time Stone

"Mio?"

"You know me?"

The girl clad in Divine Spirit Attire: Zero, the Original Spirit, asked softly. Her body had gathered all the magical power of the Marvel Universe. Her strength far exceeded the standards of an Ultra-Dragon-level Threat and had already touched the threshold of God-Level. If that vast power were converted into magic, even the most basic fireball spell would possess earth-shattering might.

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

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

"Then let's 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 energy that put her at ease, a familiarity that felt like her very origin, yet it far surpassed the energy level of the eleven Spirit Crystals she had once separated.

"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, pure as a blank sheet of paper. Not every powerful being had to become an enemy—if he could guide Mio into the League of Heroes, he would gain both a top-tier combatant and a pure-hearted companion.

"Wait."

"Does Master The Ancient One have something to say?"

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

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

The Ancient One gazed into the void and spoke slowly.

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

"Even more astonishing is her talent for magic." With a sweep of her sleeve, 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."

"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. The silver-haired girl had always wandered through the gaps between dimensions. Ever since she caused a Spacequake upon first entering this world, she had never harmed another living being. 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.

An icy-blue glow rippled across Mio's skirt 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's Annie?"

The red-haired girl on the wooden chair swung her feet, flipping through a thick tome on her lap. "I want to stay and study the Lesser Key of Solomon." The flickering candlelight cast starlike glimmers in her eyes. Although flame magic was her true origin, those profound spatial equations fascinated her just as much.

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

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

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

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

The person she had predicted must have been Stephen Strange.

This mage who began training halfway through life would soon master the profound spells and succeed as the next Sorcerer Supreme.

Though his talent was extraordinary, compared to Mio, favored by destiny, the gap between them was still as vast as a heavenly chasm.

"It seems you already know whom I mean."

"That's right."

Li Chen admitted it openly. As one of the most unfathomable beings in the Marvel Universe, The Ancient One had long seen through many secrets with the power of the Time Stone—including the fact that they came from another dimension.

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

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

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

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

She was pierced by an ordinary weapon wielded by a traitor. She neither defended herself nor healed her wound. Such an unreasonable death had only one explanation—she had chosen to end her life herself.

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

"That was merely the established course. Can you still see the future clearly now?"

"Of course..."

The Ancient One activated the Time Stone's power, and surprise gradually appeared on her usually tranquil face.

The future scenes that had once been crystal clear had now turned into chaotic fog, impossible to glimpse even a fragment of.

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

"Most likely."

Li Chen casually spread his hands.

As the only variable in this world, any major upheaval was inevitably connected to him. Looking at the impact he had had on the world, the structure of the Marvel Universe had long since been turned upside down.

Azir, the "Desert Emperor," ravaging the stars; the Fox Demon Clan carving up Tushan; Mio, the "First Spirit" who created eleven spirits; Garou, the "Hero Hunter" who hunted heroes; the Noxian Legion 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 course had already been completely

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

"Very well. Then let me become a witness and clear away the fog of the future."

Dispelling The Ancient One's desire for death finally made up for one of Li Chen's old regrets. It was truly painful to see such a powerful figure fall in such an absurd manner.

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

However, the possibility of The Ancient One joining now was zero—the duty of guarding the Eye of Agamotto was the Sorcerer Supreme's destiny. Once Doctor Strange succeeded her, recruitment might become possible. Compared to that half-trained successor, The Ancient One was obviously more valuable.

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

"Now that this is over, come back with me, Mio."

"Mhm..."

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

"Please wait!"

A sinister-looking man in mage robes hurried after them. He was Kaecilius, The Ancient One's disciple. At this time, before he had encountered Dormammu, he was still a diligent mage apprentice.

However, as a man, it was difficult for him not to harbor certain subtle thoughts toward Mio, the girl who had temporarily lived in the New York Sanctum for over a month.

He had once used his status as The Ancient One's chief disciple to approach Mio.

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

"Is something wrong?"

Li Chen shifted to shield Mio and raised a brow.

He remembered this man somewhat—after all, he was a fallen one who would betray The Ancient One and turn to Dormammu.

What Li Chen remembered most was that this man shared a name with a Demon World Apostle.

Among countless worlds, "Kaecilius" was the name of the Fourth Apostle, a battle-crazed powerhouse whose sword had claimed countless souls.

Compared to him, this mage before them who borrowed the power of darkness was simply too weak to withstand a single blow.

"I came to see Mio."

"Mio, do you know him?"

"No."

Her answer was concise and cold.

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

"Wait! I am Kaecilius, The Ancient One's chief disciple!"

"That's what he says."

"Don't know him."

"..."

Kaecilius was speechless for a moment.

He had thought he was close to Mio, but it had all been wishful thinking.

If she had not been residing in the Sanctum and mindful of The Ancient One's dignity, Mio would have attacked him long ago.

"But I—"

"Don't know him."

"We've 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 tried to explain himself, Mio's response never changed.

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

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

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

After more than a month of fawning over 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 every nation packed the spacious conference hall. Wakanda's reigning monarch, T'Chaka, stood beneath the spotlight with documents 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 documents 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 and allow the people of Africa to truly achieve food self-sufficiency."

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

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

"But, Master!" Anger burned in Kaecilius's eyes.

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

"No need." The Ancient One gently shook her head. "The future has its own course."

Li Chen withdrew the killing intent emanating from his body. "Mercy is not a wise choice."

Publicly rebuked, Kaecilius clenched his fists, unable to calm the fury surging in his heart. All these years of master-disciple affection were worth less than some 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, a rare metal of the universe. Every generation of monarch bore the title "Black Panther," awakening extraordinary physical abilities through the Heart-Shaped Herb. With Vibranium armor, they could stand against an army of thousands.

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

"May the world become a better place!"

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

Amid screams, representatives from every nation fled in panic. Only the Black Panther, clad in Vibranium armor, could contend with this Demon Level calamity—the otherworldly metal axes infused with runes, paired with Draven's accuracy comparable to Hawkeye's, were slaughtering ordinary flesh and blood.

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

The conference hall had become a pool of blood, and the flying axes harvested 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!"

Wakanda's ruler shouted.

The enemy before them was ferocious 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 buried here with him, it would be an irreparable regret.

"No! I absolutely cannot abandon you!"