Neuvillette and the others looked toward the voice and saw a steadily expanding magic circle spraying sparks before them.
The flickering light and dancing ring of fire looked particularly familiar.
Lin Ze and Paimon stepped out of the magic circle first, followed by Ned, whose nervous expression gave him the unmistakable air of someone sneaking around.
Ned kept whipping his head back like a rattled toy drum, his eyes full of fear and unease. Paimon could no longer stand watching him look so guilty and tried to reassure him.
Paimon blinked her big eyes and said earnestly, "Don't worry, Ned. Nick Fury called Master Wong and Strange away for a meeting. Apparently, some big shot came back from outer space, and everyone has to go meet them. The Traveler would have gone too if he weren't worried about things here. Nobody saw us open the portal, and Peter is still outside the door keeping watch for us, isn't he? So nobody will find out you secretly used magic."
After hearing Paimon's words, Ned seemed to release some of the tension pent up in his chest. He let out a long breath, and his rigid body relaxed a little.
Then he cautiously stepped out of the magic circle. Yet that single movement instantly turned his slightly relieved expression into one of utter agony.
"It's so hot!"
The moment Ned stepped onto the sand, he couldn't help shouting.
The blazing sun mercilessly baked the earth. Beads of sweat instantly covered Ned's forehead, and before long, sweat was streaming down his cheeks. Frantically wiping his face with his sleeve, he told everyone before him, "I think Wong and Strange would have opened a portal for you too if they were here, but I didn't ask them beforehand this time. They're still upset with