Reid did not ask about the future, despite the Ancient One possessing the Eye of Agamotto and the Time Stone. He trusted that even she could not see his future, because his system had already far surpassed the limits of the Time Stone.
The Ancient One had anticipated this. She could not see Reid's future, just as he had expected. Yet through magic, she could study him, and the wisdom accumulated over 500 years of life was enough to predict the question he would ask.
She shook her head with a wry smile. "This may be the only question I can answer. I know you do not belong to this universe, because I can detect no trace of your presence in the past. I also know that your influence will dominate much of this world's future, but that is the limit of my knowledge. I do not know where you came from, what powers you are meant to have, or what actions you will take. From the moment you arrived, I could no longer see any future that included you."
Raising her hand, she caused the Eye of Agamotto, worn as a pendant, to float before her. Its metallic components opened under magical influence, and the Time Stone glowed green.
"For this universe, the Eye of Agamotto seems to have lost its purpose. You will not vanish, and any future without you holds no reference value."
Her answer was unexpected yet logical. Having realized that the system inside him might relate to the darkness capable of consuming the entire DC Universe, Reid vaguely understood that even in its weakest moments, its existence might rival cosmic deities.
"And what about Eternity?" he continued to ask.
"Eternity?" The Ancient One's expression showed genuine surprise at his knowledge.
"Don't worry about how I know of Eternity. Just tell me, how much do you think Eternity knows about me?"
The Ancient One regained her composure. While Reid's awareness of Eternity was astonishing, in a multiverse like this, incredible things happened all the time.
"Perhaps Eternity knows more. But do not misunderstand; though I am trusted by him, that does not mean I know much about him."
Reid nodded slightly. His question was not idle. He knew that after the Ancient One's physical death, her soul would, if chosen by Eternity, travel the cosmos alongside him. Her inability to answer was entirely expected.
"However, one thing is certain," she added. "If you continue down your path, one day Eternity will appear before you. Whether as friend or foe, I cannot say."
With that, Reid had learned all he needed. He did not require more from the Ancient One. Whether Hydra's black magic came from Chthon or Dormammu, it would not alter his plans; he already had the answer when he arrived.
"Then I will take my leave. Ancient One, I wish you a perfect retirement."
As he stood up and opened his portal, the Ancient One called him back.
"Wait, Mr. Pennyworth."
Reid turned. She activated the Eye of Agamotto, sending the Time Stone floating toward him.
"Now, the Eye has no use for either me or future Sorcerer Supremes. Take it as a gift."
"And what about Strange? The one you value so highly?" Reid asked.
"He will undergo stricter training," she replied.
"He will become a true Sorcerer Supreme, not just a time mage bargaining with the Eye of Agamotto."
Reid did not hesitate. Golden magic enveloped the Time Stone, transforming it into a green gem necklace he wore around his neck.
"I accept this gift. Ancient One, it's been a pleasure working with you."
"A pleasure…"
* * *
Hydra continued to operate in the shadows. Richard and his allies fought them across the globe. Yet on the whole, the world entered a rare period of calm.
Years passed quietly. Seven years later, time arrived at 2008.
* * *
In a park in Queens, a figure wrapped head to toe in a hoodie, skateboard underfoot, made their way toward the nearby LexCorp-affiliated high school.
"Hey! Peter!"
The sudden shout revealed the person's name: Peter Parker.
A few years ago, he had been hailed worldwide as a prodigy, but over time, his naturally introverted personality had made him gradually fade from public view.
Peter, now less willing to showcase his talents, found himself overshadowed in both the elementary and middle schools affiliated with LexCorp, returning to the life of an ordinary teenager.
Behind him, the voice calling his name belonged to his friend, Harry Osborn.
"Harry? Weren't you supposed to be in Kansas visiting your mother? You're back already?" Peter smiled at the sight of his friend. In this world, Harry was the only one who truly knew his abilities.
Peter's so-called 'ordinary' life didn't come from a lack of talent. On the contrary, as he grew, his abilities became increasingly extraordinary, but his personality kept him from revealing them.
The reason lay in changes that began years ago.
During a school conflict, Peter, in a moment of strong emotion, had lightly pushed a fellow student, sending them to the hospital. The incident caused a huge stir at the time.
Everyone realized that their school's prodigy, Peter Parker, was not only brilliant but also possessed superhuman abilities.
While the exposure brought unprecedented attention, it was not all positive. Some resented or envied him, accusing him of abusing his powers against a fellow student. Unable to confront him directly, they resorted to moral condemnation.
These accusations were unfair, Benjamin and May had handled the injured student and compensation properly, but the incident deeply affected Peter.
Raised with a kind heart, he already felt guilt over harming a classmate. Coupled with these unfounded criticisms, he started to doubt himself, retreating from showing not only his powers but even his intellect. He questioned whether he deserved the abilities he possessed.
"The competition's over. Even though I lost, I still have to come get my prize, right?"
Harry laughed easily. Though he seemed nonchalant about the contest, Peter knew just how fiercely competitive his friend truly was.
"After all, no one expected that guy to participate this time." Peter smiled, choosing not to comfort Harry, he didn't need it.
"Yeah, but next time, I won't lose to him!"
The two chatted as they arrived at the gates of what was formerly Midtown High, now the LexTech High.
Crowds had gathered around three high-tech devices; this was the contest Harry had mentioned: the Lex Cup Technology Competition.
Students from LexCorp-affiliated schools and company employees could enter, designing inventions of all kinds using their chosen research direction, materials, and funding.
Mostly, though, it was a student competition. Researchers within LexCorp already had projects that proved their abilities, so the competition was unnecessary for them.
Harry had entered for the glory of winning, and he had enlisted Peter's help. Together, they created a machine capable of gene editing, making DNA modification far easier. In front of the judges, they demonstrated their invention by producing a lizard with wings, essentially a miniature dragon straight out of myth.
Even within LexCorp, few researchers could produce such results. By all logic, winning the championship should have been a given.
But there was another competitor.
As Peter watched Harry inspect their creation, he turned toward the project that had won first place.
"Cosmic Energy Converter… it can convert cosmic energy into any known form of matter. It's practically godlike." He couldn't help but marvel at the invention.
Science speculated that the universe would end in entropy: all matter converting into pure energy, leading to lifeless darkness. This device, however, could reverse that trend, converting cosmic energy back into matter. Humans mastering a stable method of drawing cosmic energy could fundamentally defy entropy.
Their loss, then, was not unfair; it simply wasn't their invention that could rival the forces of the universe.
Peter looked at the winner's name: Franklin Luthor.
"Mr. Luthor's son? Only eight years old?" Shaking his head, Peter left the scene with Harry after checking their own invention, leaving the crowd behind.
Both of them knew the reality: not only had Peter's name been omitted from the project, but even Harry, as the runner-up, would be largely forgotten. Only the champion would be remembered. And the same went for the one who won the third place.
A girl with golden hair and graceful figure, stepped forward from the crowd. She was the third-place winner: Gwen Stacy, inventor of a police exoskeleton and daughter of the current New York Police Commissioner.
"Just third place? Damn, that Franklin is just a kid… how can he be this good?" She shook her head in resignation.
Yet it wasn't hard to understand. With a father like Lex Luthor, a monstrous genius, and a mother like Susan Luthor, a heroic figure, Franklin's performance, no matter how extraordinary, was predictable.
"And those two who just left… could that be Harry and his friend? That gene editor is a clever idea."
At this time, Gwen felt a strong curiosity toward Harry, the creator of the DNA-editing device.
Geniuses, after all, were drawn to one another in mysterious ways, and this was no exception.
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