"Almost, almost! The Nine Realms have converged. Just give me a little more time!"
The Doctor Strange from another world knelt on one knee in a clearing, blood trickling ceaselessly from the corners of his mouth.
One hand clutched his neck, while the other covered his forehead.
The eye on his forehead oozed thick yellow fluid, and the veins in his neck bulged grotesquely.
"Don't... don't devour me now. Just give me a little more time! It'll be ready soon! Once I obtain this Blue Star's essence, I'll have enough to restart my world! Then I'll give you everything!"
The yellow third eye slowly began to retract. Transparent tentacles resembling those of an octopus seemed to possess minds of their own as they gradually withdrew into Doctor Strange's body.
Although Doctor Strange's body still looked horrifying, he no longer seemed quite so weak.
His skin and muscles hung unnaturally loose. The bulging veins gradually subsided, leaving the blood vessels clearly visible along his neck.
No matter how hideous Doctor Strange became, elation filled him, inside and out.
"At last, I've found the third planet to develop a Blue Star consciousness. As long as I obtain part of its core of the leyline, I'll be able to summon my Blue Star back!"
Doctor Strange sliced open space and took out a slightly damaged watch.
He gazed at it for a few moments, his face full of nostalgia.
Then, with renewed resolve, he returned the watch to his personal storage space.
Doctor Strange sighed. Once his wish was fulfilled, this body would probably have a new master.
He looked up at the sky. "The stars have begun to align."
Resolve, relief, and apprehension flickered in Doctor Strange's eyes.
"Christine, I hope that when Blue Star returns, all of you really will come