Eternal Recurrence, Reactive Evolution!

The world spun around Link.

He found himself standing once again before the cold gates of Kamar-Taj.

Across from him stood Doctor Strange in his blue robes, his expression solemn. He had just delivered the line he had repeated over a thousand times: "Link, I've come to bargain."

Here we go again.

Link could not even be bothered to stretch his neck.

How did I die last time? Oh, right. Seventy-two demon gods cursed me at once, and my body rotted from the inside out into a stinking puddle.

Creative, at least. More dignified than getting strangled by my own shadow the time before.

Doctor Strange formed a seal with his hands. Countless scarlet chains burst from the void and whipped toward Link.

"The Vishanti's Sacred Chains!"

That move again.

The first time those chains had touched him, Link had felt as though his soul were being burned.

By the hundredth time, it had felt like a touch from a red-hot iron.

By the thousandth, it had felt more like a static shock in winter. A little tingle.

Now came the thousand-and-first time.

Link stood still and let the scarlet chains bind him tight.

Sacred energy poured into his body, trying to purify everything within him.

Then nothing happened.

Link even felt pleasantly warm, as though he were soaking in a hot bath.

"How... is that possible?"

For the first time, shock crossed Doctor Strange's face. He could feel his magic vanishing into Link without causing the slightest ripple.

"You're running out of tricks, Stephen." Link yawned and flexed his wrist, bored out of his mind.

At that simple movement, the "Sacred Chains" said to bind gods groaned under the strain. Then, with a snap, they shattered link by link.

"This little thing inside me seems to like your magic."