The Ancient One's eyes remained calm, as though she had already seen through Dark Strange's blood-soaked past and the immense power he had gained by devouring demons.
"Dark Strange, I know you're powerful. But if you won't release Strange, we'll have to fight to find out which of us is stronger."
The moment she finished speaking, space throughout Kamar-Taj froze. The protective array guarding the ancient magical Sanctuary activated, suppressing every surge of Black Magic.
At a time like this, the Ancient One had no intention of leaving her home-ground advantage unused.
Two supreme masters of magic, one dark and one light, one corrupt and one righteous, stood on the brink of battle. A clash between them could ignite the Earth beneath their feet.
Black Magic surged around Dark Strange. Instinctively, he prepared to fight the Ancient One with everything he had. He wanted to see how this universe's Ancient One differed from the one he knew.
He had lived through the collapse of a universe and fought Demon Gods across the Multiverse. He had no reason to fear the Sorcerer Supreme of a Single Universe.
But just as he was about to strike, Russell's parting warning and the promise he himself had made echoed through his mind.
He had almost forgotten. He had given Russell his word.
Once he entered this universe, he would cause no trouble, stir up no conflict, follow its established rules, and heed Russell's arrangements.
Russell's face surfaced in his mind. Dark Strange forcibly pushed his towering battle lust and obsessive frenzy back down.
The battle stopped before it began.
Under the Ancient One's surprised gaze, Dark Strange withdrew every trace of his dark aggression. He raised a hand and dispelled the Black Magic binding Strange, then let Kamar-Taj's courtyard Magic Array envelop him.
He