Kamar-Taj—Strange sat across from Mordo and Wong, his curiosity barely concealed.
"The Vishanti established three Sanctums across the world to shield Earth from interdimensional threats," Wong explained, gesturing to a mystical diagram. "The Sanctums protect the world, and the sorcerers protect the Sanctums. That is our duty."
Strange frowned. "And who exactly are we protecting it from?"
Mordo folded his arms. "Many threats, but primarily… beings from other dimensions."
"Like Dormammu?" Strange asked, the name rolling off his tongue.
Mordo stiffened. "How do you know that name?"
Strange shrugged. "The Book of Cagliostro. What's the big deal?"
Wong's face darkened. "Dormammu exists beyond time, a devourer of worlds, a being of pure mystical energy who seeks to consume all realities. He has tried to claim Earth for centuries."
"And the pages Kaecilius stole?" Strange murmured, suddenly grasping the severity of the situation.
"They contain the ritual to channel the Dark Dimension's power," Wong confirmed grimly.
Strange exhaled sharply. "Alright, hold on! I only came here to fix my hands, not to fight some cosmic war."
Mordo rolled his eyes, ready to retort when he and Wong suddenly tensed.
"London…" Wong muttered, eyes narrowing.
A portal flared open, and through it, a desperate London guardian staggered toward Kamar-Taj—only to be impaled mid-step by an unseen force.
On the other side, Kaecilius stood, dark power surging around him as the London Sanctum collapsed behind him in a cascade of rubble and energy.
The resulting shockwave blasted through the portal, knocking Strange off his feet and flinging him into another gateway—one leading straight to the New York Sanctum.
Dazed, he looked up.
A tall, commanding figure materialized before him, bathed in golden light.
It was Ragna .
"I've been waiting for you." Ragna 's voice was calm, yet absolute. His piercing gaze locked onto Strange's chest. "Now, about that necklace…"
Before Strange could react, the Eye of Agamotto vanished from his neck.
"Well, someone's not happy," Ragna remarked, smirking.
The world around them twisted, the skyline warping like liquid metal.
Mirror Dimension.
"The Mirror Dimension is excellent for battle," Ragna mused, glancing at the surreal cityscape. "No collateral damage. No limitations."
A ripple in reality heralded the arrival of another presence.
The Ancient One.
Draped in golden robes, her expression was calm but knowing. Her bald head reflected the ethereal glow of the distorted space.
"The Eye of Agamotto must not remain in your hands," she declared.
Ragna chuckled. "So you see only the possibility of him saving the world?" His gaze flicked to Strange, then back. "I told you before… the moment I entered this world, there was only one possibility left."
Strange, still on the ground, blinked in confusion. "What are you two even talking about?"
The Ancient One's voice was steady. "I have seen countless futures. In one, the universe falls into a silent abyss… because of you."
She exhaled, meeting Ragna 's gaze. "I cannot stop you. But I will keep the Time Stone from you."
Ragna 's expression flickered. "This is the 30,600th time you've said that."
The Ancient One said nothing.
He narrowed his eyes. "You're dying."
Silence.
"When you die, Strange won't be able to protect the Time Stone," Ragna continued. "You know I could take it from him with little effort."
The Ancient One simply smiled.
"Perhaps."
"But I must preserve the future I see."
"No," Ragna corrected her. "You don't actually see the future. You see probabilities—paths formed by observation. But time cannot truly perceive the depths of the human mind."
He leaned in. "If it could, you wouldn't have missed Mordo's betrayal."
The Ancient One said nothing.
Ragna smirked, tearing open the Mirror Dimension and stepping out.
Strange barely had time to process what had just transpired before the dimension shattered, returning him to the real world.
He turned to the Ancient One.
"You're dying?" he asked. "That's impossible. You're the Sorcerer Supreme! You've lived for—who knows how long!"
The Ancient One looked at him with a knowing smile.
"Everyone dies, Stephen."
She clasped her hands behind her back. "Death gives meaning to life. Time is fleeting, days are short."
She paused. "Eternal life… is eternal death."
Strange frowned, struggling to comprehend her words.
Before he could respond, the air distorted.
The portal to the New York Sanctum twisted open, and Kaecilius, along with his Zealots, stepped inside.
Daniel Drumm, the Sanctum's guardian, stood firm. He readied his stance, prepared to fight to the death.
Kaecilius sneered, dark energy forming in his hands.
Then—
Blue light flashed.
Kaecilius and his followers vanished without a trace.
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