Magic Mutated Twice, and Ancient One Was Stunned!

"As you command."

Ren moved at once.

His fingers flew. A transparent ring blazing with golden light expanded in an instant, enclosing him at its center.

Beside him, Ancient One narrowed her eyes. A flash of undisguised shock crossed them.

He's already mastered it?

She had only demonstrated the basic framework once. She hadn't even begun explaining the core Magic Runes.

Yet Ren had reproduced the spell after a single glance.

The rumors were true. His ability to grasp things defied reason.

Ancient One took a deep breath.

Even after centuries of cultivation and countless trials, she could not keep her heart from racing.

A closer look at the magic shield surrounding Ren startled her even more.

This was no clumsy imitation.

As golden magic flowed through it, the shield radiated vitality, as though the spell had gained a mind of its own.

She thought of the gifted apprentices she had taught, then looked at Ren.

He had seemed distracted moments ago, yet the instant he acted, he proved more practiced than sorcerers who had devoted decades to the craft.

An absolute freak of nature.

That was Ancient One's private verdict.

Ding!

"Seraphim Shield has absorbed Power of Rules at a frenzied pace and broken through to level six!"

"Seraphim Shield and Rings of Raggadorr have been detected at the same level."

"Seraphim Shield is domineering by nature and has forcibly devoured a defensive spell of the same origin!"

"Fusion complete!"

"Seraphim Shield has mutated into [Seraphim Deified Shield]!"

The electronic voice battered Ren's ears with a rapid-fire stream of announcements.

The next second, the magic changed drastically.

Dense blood-red patterns abruptly spread across the once-pure golden shield.

Red and gold intertwined as mysterious, intricate Magic Runes multiplied across its surface.

"What's happening?!"

"Is this... forced magic fusion?!"

Ancient One stepped forward sharply, her eyes fixed on the strange sight surrounding Ren.

For the first time, Earth's strongest sorcerer was truly stunned.

Two utterly different spells had been broken down and recombined into stronger magic.

It sounded simple. Doing it was all but impossible.

A spellcaster needed an extraordinary understanding of the rules underlying the Cosmic Source and terrifying mental control.

One slip, and the backlash could blow them to pieces.

Even Ancient One risked losing control if she tried to force low-level spells together.

But these were high-level spells!

And Ren had succeeded on his first encounter with one?

It was absurd.

This kid is a monster among monsters! Ancient One's thoughts surged.

She realized her earlier assessment of Ren had been far too conservative.

Only the reincarnation of a legendary Ancient God could explain a gift this unreasonable.

She had once believed her future successor, Strange, was the greatest genius in history.

Compared with Ren now, though...

Strange looked like a foolish child still playing in the mud. The gulf between them was wider than a cosmic black hole.

Watching the fusion spell take its final shape, Ancient One fought to keep her mouth from twitching.

This monstrous kid makes everyone else look hopeless.

She was about to question him when another change erupted.

Ding!

"[Seraphim Deified Shield] has sensed a resonance with higher-dimensional Divine Power."

"Secondary ultimate mutation triggered!"

"[Seraphim Deified Shield] has evolved into [Bethphenny's Sigh]!"

The crisp announcement ended.

The blood-red patterns around Ren converged and burst outward, forming two enormous crimson angel wings beyond the shield.

A violent yet sacred aura swept through all of Midgard.

"A wall of sighs?" Ren felt the shield's terrifying defensive power and was startled himself.

Even its caster had been caught off guard, let alone Ancient One watching nearby.

Ancient One lost all control of her expression.

These were the Laws of a god, pure and unadulterated!

The sorcerers of Kamar-Taj cast spells by borrowing power from the Vishanti and other Dimensional Entities.

But Ren's current state was entirely different.

The spell's very structure had been built from the Power of Rules at the Universe's deepest foundation.

Ancient One reached out and pressed lightly against a blood-red wing. A powerful force repelled her fingertips.

There was no mistaking it. These were genuine divine Laws.

Unless an attack exceeded the limit of those Laws, it would be useless.

Even if Ancient One invoked the rules of time, she would struggle to shatter this shield head-on.

It was preposterous.

How could an apprentice who had only just encountered high-level magic touch the Universe's core rules?

Ancient One's thoughts churned.

She had traveled the Multiverse and slain countless fiends. She had long believed nothing could shake her composure.

Today, Ren had shattered it completely.

Across the endless dimensions, there could not be another prodigy like him.

If he survived, he would undoubtedly become a Dimensional Entity one day!

Ancient One took a deep breath as she gazed at the shield and its blood-red wings. At last, a deeply satisfied smile appeared on her face.

Then her brow shifted slightly, as though she had sensed something.

"Perfect timing," Ancient One said with a soft laugh.

She turned. The wooden door to Midgard opened, and Mordo hurried in.

"Sorcerer Supreme, a mortal has come asking to see you."

"I know." Ancient One leisurely took out a folding fan and opened it.

"You intend to meet him?" Mordo asked, surprised.

Ancient One flicked her wrist, partly closing the fan.

"Why wouldn't I?"

She turned to Ren, her voice light.

"Put away your magic. Come with me, Ren. I'll take you to meet someone you know."

Ancient One led them across the courtyard, then stopped.

"Mordo, assess Ren's strength."

"Formidable. In combat, he can already stand alongside a Master." Mordo's expression was solemn as he gave his honest appraisal.

"Would you object if I promoted him straight to Master?" Ancient One gently waved her fan, dropping the bombshell.

A single leap from apprentice to Master!

Nothing so outrageous had happened since Kamar-Taj was founded!

The Sorcerer Supreme's personal endorsement showed just how frightening Ren's talent was.

Mordo was shaken to his core.

But he quickly steadied himself and answered without hesitation:

"Between his achievements on the battlefield and his own strength, Ren deserves it."

Ren immediately waved his hands. "Sorcerer Supreme, please don't. I'm far too new. If I rise so suddenly, the others may not accept it."

"A fair point. Let's give you the title of Probationary Master for now."

Ancient One snapped her fan shut, settling the matter.

Beside her, Mordo nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"Probationary Master?" Ren was baffled.

Since when had Kamar-Taj had a position that strange?

Mordo patiently explained, "It's equivalent in rank to a Master, but you won't have the authority to lead a team into battle on your own."

Ren pursed his lips inwardly.

No authority? That's exactly what I want!

Keeping his head down and cultivating in peace was the sensible path. Who wanted to lead people into deadly fights?

"But... I haven't achieved enough. This is too hasty," Ren tried again.

Ancient One's gaze remained calm, but her tone allowed no argument. "Kamar-Taj does not promote by seniority. Ability is what matters."

"Besides, you saved countless sorcerers on the New York battlefield. Who would dare deny what you accomplished?"

With that, Ren could only accept his fate with a rueful smile.

I've become one of the higher-ups already?

It had come out of nowhere.

"Don't let a promotion go to your head. You still have a long way to go."

Seeing Ren's pained expression, Mordo could not resist a warning.

Ren rolled his eyes. He wasn't happy; he could already smell trouble coming.

"There is, of course, a task that comes with this title," Ancient One said at an unhurried pace, her hands behind her back.

Of course there is, Ren thought. He braced himself and asked, "What would you have me do, Sorcerer Supreme?"

"Help Mordo teach a new apprentice."

Mordo's eyes widened in disbelief.

What kind of privilege was this? It was outright grooming for leadership!

At Kamar-Taj, anyone who wanted real authority needed experience teaching apprentices.

The Sorcerer Supreme was determined to groom Ren as her successor!

Mordo himself had spent more than a decade earning the right to take on students. And Ren...

The comparison was painful.

"You want me to teach someone?" Ren pointed at his nose and shook his head. "I can't. I don't know how to teach."

"Mordo will take the lead. You'll assist him." Ancient One smiled faintly.

Mordo looked at Ren with undisguised envy. The kid had all the luck.

"Who exactly are we teaching?" Ren asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

"Stephen Strange," Ancient One replied.

"What?!"

Ren was dumbfounded.

Strange?

Doctor Strange?

She wanted him to mentor the future Sorcerer Supreme?

What kind of cosmic joke was that?

The man had been insufferably arrogant as a doctor, looking down on everyone.

Teaching a difficult student like him would send Ren's blood pressure through the roof.

"Don't worry. You're well suited to it."

Ancient One's smile deepened, as though she had read Ren's mind.

She knew Strange's foul temper all too well.

If she wanted him to settle down and learn magic, she first had to crush his ridiculous pride.

And who on Earth was better suited to do that than Ren?

Before talent as monstrous as Ren's, any so-called genius would become a joke.

"Come. It's time to meet your new student."

Ancient One waved a hand.

The courtyard around them twisted and spun.

In the blink of an eye, all three stood in an old-fashioned quiet room.

That effortless display of spatial magic left both Ren and Mordo privately awed.

The door opened.

A slightly hunched figure walked slowly in.

Strange.

There was no trace left of the confident, brilliant surgeon he had once been.

He was unshaven, his clothes in rags.

What stood out most were his hands, trembling uncontrollably.

He looked every inch a desperate drifter.

"Excuse me... who is Ancient One?"

Strange's voice was hoarse.

"She is." Mordo stepped aside to introduce her.

Ancient One offered him a cup of hot tea.

Strange clutched the cup in both hands like a lifeline, unable to stop trembling.

Ren stood to one side with his arms crossed, studying the future superhero with interest.