DORMAMMU, I Came to Negotiate

Russell gave up on survival. This wave of unscrupulous boasting made him deeply uncomfortable, especially his stomach, which was churning violently, and he strongly expressed his dissatisfaction.

The Sorcerer Supreme stroked his beard. "That's just how it is. You don't need to make it up. These descriptions basically match mine."

Russell: "..."

You don't believe me?

"I believe you're feeling a little unwell."

"Hehe, Master Russell, if you don't believe me, we can make a bet. In Kamar-Taj, you can ask anyone, who would dare say I'm ugly?"

"Yes, indeed no one dares to say that."

"Just so you know. Only those with real ability are considered handsome; those without ability are like you!"

"..."

Russell took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and gave the Sorcerer Supreme a good beating before his mind cleared. He then changed the subject and asked, "Master Gu Yi, what brings you here?"

"I need your help."

Upon hearing this, Russell straightened his back, a hint of arrogance in his eyes, but when he met the Sorcerer Supreme's narrowed eyes, he felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, and said weakly, "Can I make a request? After all, if you want a horse to run, you have to feed it. If you don't give it any benefits, I'm afraid things won't be done well enough."

"Hehe!"

"My requirements aren't high. That inter-space teleportation move you just made, or something like remote summoning, would be pretty good. I'd like to learn it."

"No, I really want to teach you, but you're dull-witted and have no potential to develop in the field of magic. You definitely won't be able to learn it, so I won't waste my time."

Russell retorted, "Master Gu Yi, how do you know I can't learn if you don't teach me?"

"Because I am the Sorcerer Supreme!"

Russell: "..."

That sounds damn reasonable. Russell figured if he were the Sorcerer Supreme, he'd be even more shameless than the Ancient One. Thinking about the photos on his digital camera, he decided not to show them to avoid a beating.

"Let's go. I said I wanted to ask for your help, but actually I just wanted to broaden your horizons. There aren't many powerful mages on Earth, and you've just barely reached the passing grade." The Sorcerer Supreme said, turning and walking deeper into the hall.

Russell quickly caught up. "Master Gu Yi, does that mean you're admitting that I'm exceptionally powerful?"

"It's barely acceptable. You're just picking the best among the worst. Your strength is only highlighted by your peers."

Upon hearing this, Russell decisively shut his mouth and stopped talking. Chatting with the Sorcerer Supreme was a great test of one's character, not only mentally but also physically. At best, it could lead to depression and social withdrawal; at worst, it could cause one to go astray. For the sake of his health, he decided to remain mute for the time being.

The two bypassed the side hall and walked along the wooden corridor, occasionally encountering one or two ascetics who all bowed to the Ancient One.

The Sorcerer Supreme nodded in return, displaying the refined demeanor of a hermit sage. He led Russell to the entrance of a grand hall, took out a key, and unlocked the door.

"During the Great Fire of London in 1666, I first encountered that extraterrestrial demon and managed to repel him with all my might. My power was insufficient to destroy him, and in the long years that followed, he returned to Earth several times, and I resisted his invasions several times."

"And then..."

Russell stared at the pushed-open door and said speechlessly, "You just locked him inside?"

"I would like to lock him up for life, but the extraterrestrial demons cannot descend in their true form. Those I defeated were either clones or in disguise using the bodies of the corrupted sorcerers." Ancient One explained, "This door is a barrier leading to the outer realms. The only key is in my hands, and no one else can enter."

"Isn't it a bit too arrogant to just use a door lock?"

Russell was speechless. Kamar-Taj was a sorcerer's den, no matter what. How many people could a broken lock keep out? Wasn't he afraid of a traitor in his own home?

As they were talking, the Ancient One led Russell into the hall. The hall had two levels, each with dozens of tightly closed wooden doors. The markings on the doors indicated that each door led to a different dimension, and each contained a varying number of otherworldly demons.

"..."

Russell felt that the Ancient One was showing off, and to prevent the other party from succeeding in showing off, he chose to remain silent and showed an expression of nothing special.

On the second floor, the Ancient One pushed open the dusty wooden door and led Russell inside. All around them was an endless dark void. The moment the Ancient One closed the door, the four sides of the door frame disappeared as if they had merged into the darkness. At least Russell could not find a way out.

Since it involves fleeing, we can no longer remain calm.

Russell spoke up immediately, "Master Gu Yi, the door is gone. How are we going to get back after we're done fighting?"

"It's okay, I'll be back in a flash."

Who the hell asked you that?!

Russell was about to explode when suddenly, a terrifying energy burst forth, sending chills down his spine. Whether it was an illusion or not, he felt that the dark realm he was in was even more desolate and boundless than before.

A sense of foreboding rose in Russell's heart, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead. "Master Gu Yi, I forgot to ask earlier, what is the name of the extraterrestrial demon?"

"Huh? You didn't know?"

"Have no idea!"

"No, you know that!"

"..."

Russell looked at the dark void at a 45-degree angle. Yes, he knew that, if he wasn't mistaken, this scene was most likely the master of the Dark Dimension — the Evil God Dormammu!

In the documents Russell reviewed, there were few records about Dormammu. All that was known was that he was originally a mage who discovered and entered the Dark Dimension, where he became obsessed with the power of darkness, and that it was an unclaimed territory.

In order to become the master of darkness and gain even greater power, he abandoned his physical body and merged with the darkness.

Power itself is neither good nor bad, and darkness is just an ordinary color. The problem lies in Dormammu's constant devouring of other dimensions in order to expand himself, which is why he became an Evil God.

He is the Sorcerer Supreme's mortal enemy and Doctor Strange's number one nemesis!

A continuous stream of black mist surged forth, and a pair of enormous hands reached out and tore the mist in two. Accompanied by a powerful aura of decay and corruption, a pair of eyes, comparable in size to stars, opened in the center of the darkness.

"Ancient One!"

The demon's gaze swept down, its seductive voice filled with allure. Russell's face turned pale, and he nearly lost his composure.

Oh no, the super boss has arrived!

"False illusion! Dormammu, put away your seductive tricks!"

The Master Gu Yi held up the Eye of Agamotto necklace on her chest with both hands, and a huge eye materialized behind her. The magnificent power of White Magic spread out, instantly filling the entire Dark Dimension.

The darkness was seen through and banished, and the enormous demonic eye shattered. The endless black mist gathered, and a figure draped in black robes, its body composed of magical flames, solidified.

On his dark face, flames burned out red features. He was of average height, about the same as Russell wearing insoles, not reaching 1.9 meters.

"Ancient One, since you've calculated the time of my arrival, let's get started. I can't wait to take over your body." Dormammu clenched his fists, drawing mysterious energy from the Dark Dimension and unleashing elemental magic one by one.

Ancient One stretched out her hand and pushed, the blue defensive barrier easily blocking all kinds of magic. She said, "Dormammu, this time your opponent is not me, but someone else."

Upon hearing this, Dormammu stopped his attack, glanced at the foolish Russell, and asked in confusion, "Where is that person?"

Russell looked at the Ancient One and exclaimed in disbelief, "Yeah, where is she?"

Ancient One chuckled and gave Russell a shove on the back, "That's him. What do you think? Not bad, right?"

Dormammu: "..."

Russell: "..."

"Are you kidding me?" X2

They all spoke in unison, and in the same context, that is, both Russell and Dormammu were very dissatisfied with the Ancient One's answer.

"Master Russell, don't underestimate yourself. Believe in yourself. I think you can do it," the Ancient One encouraged, and then vanished in a flash.

Don't tell me what you think, tell me what I think!

Russell stiffened and slowly turned to look at Dormammu, who looked extremely impatient and clearly had no interest in him.

"System, what should I use... uh, what should I use..."

Russell glanced at the cards; none of them were of any use. Even 'Teleportation' and 'space transfer' couldn't take him back to Earth across dimensions.

"Little mage, are you sure you want to fight me?" Dormammu said disdainfully, preparing to tempt Russell in order to take over his body and invade Earth.

"Well... Dormammu, I'm here to negotiate!"