Chapter 51.
"Felix, what are you talking about? The more I listen, the more confused I get. What do you mean by 'only chance'? What's going on here?" Tony's voice broke through the tense atmosphere as he questioned Felix.
Among everyone present, only Wang and Mordo, who were familiar with the Ancient One's strength, managed to stay calm. The rest looked puzzled and uneasy.
"You'll understand everything soon," the Ancient One replied with a serene smile, ignoring Tony's question and instead keeping her gaze fixed on Felix, patiently waiting for his response.
Felix, however, didn't bother explaining to Tony either. This wasn't the time. He turned to the Ancient One and asked with a serious tone, "Master Ancient One, what you need me to do—it's not what I think it is, right?"
Although Felix trusted that the Ancient One wouldn't ask something unreasonable like Tony had done in the MCU—sacrificing himself for the greater good—he still needed to be sure.
"Of course not," she replied gently. "What I ask of you is simple. And it's entirely your choice—you can refuse if you wish."
Her answer reassured Felix. Although she didn't reveal the exact task yet, she clearly confirmed it wouldn't involve sacrificing his life. With that weight off his chest, Felix felt steadier. After all, with his current power, there was little he feared.
He made up his mind.
"Master Ancient One, I accept your request. Tell me what I need to do," Felix said solemnly.
With his current strength, there was little that could threaten him—even the Ancient One wouldn't be able to defeat him easily. He trusted her not to deceive him. And even if she did, he could always walk away—the choice remained in his hands.
"Thank you, Felix," she responded sincerely.
Then, with a wave of her hand, a glowing orange-gold portal opened in the air, shimmering like stardust.
"Let's leave this place first," she said calmly as she stepped into the portal.
Felix turned to Annie, who was still staring at the sudden appearance of the portal in awe.
"Annie, let's go."
Together, they stepped in.
Meanwhile, Tony stood frozen, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"Hey... don't you think this is weird? What exactly are Felix and the bald lady talking about? Feels like they're hiding something from us."
"And why are we even here?" he continued, frustration rising.
"Was it just to die in a hundred different ways? That giant-faced monster clearly wasn't something we could have defeated!"
As Mordo and Wong prepared to step forward into the portal, Tony's shadow blocked their path.
Wong merely smiled at Tony, said nothing, and walked around him to enter the portal.
Mordo placed a hand on Tony's shoulder.
"Don't overthink it. Ancient One's decisions aren't for us to question," he said before following Wong.
Captain America, gripping his shield in one hand and Mjolnir in the other, came up beside Tony.
"I agree with you, Stark. They are hiding something. But unlike you, I think the less we know, the better," he said grimly, then stepped through the portal. The weight of today's events had already overwhelmed him—ignorance seemed like a mercy.
Thor approached next, wielding his Stormbreaker.
"I'm with you, brother," he said comfortingly. "I haven't died, but I can imagine how unpleasant it must be—let alone going through it a hundred times."
His tone was meant to soothe, but it only fueled Tony's frustration.
As Thor clapped Tony on the shoulder in an attempt to console him, he called out,
"Hey, friend! Give me back my hammer—I only lent it to you!"
Thor ran after Steve, not noticing how Tony's expression darkened even more.
"Sh*t! You simple-minded guys..." Tony cursed internally, watching everyone calmly walk into the portal. Left with no other choice, he rushed in after them.
Somewhere on the streets of New York, a glowing yellow portal flickered to life with a sparkling sound. The city was still frozen in time—cars motionless, people mid-step, all caught in suspended animation.
The group emerged one by one through the teleportation array and stepped onto the eerily silent streets. Strangely, the Ancient One didn't close the portal behind them.
"Master," Felix said, surveying the still-frozen New York and glancing up at the looming dark dimension trapped above, "what do we do next? I destroyed Dormammu's body, but that hasn't stopped the dark dimension from trying to consume Earth."
He looked back at her, concern growing in his voice. "Also… what exactly do you need from me?"
Even –though time was suspended and the dark dimension's invasion appeared stalled, Felix knew this was only temporary. Once the time-freeze spell lifted, the dark energy would resume its relentless advance, eventually engulfing the entire planet.
Though powerful, Felix was helpless against this kind of cosmic level calamity. He could fight enemies, he could punch enemies—not dimensions that consumed realities. Right now, all he could do was hope the Ancient One had a solution.
The others also turned toward her, their expressions a mixture of hope and uncertainty. If Earth was to be swallowed whole, they couldn't just stand by and watch.
But –the Ancient One remained calm. Her expression was composed, as if everything was unfolding just as she had foreseen.
"Felix," she said at last, "please, extend your hand."
Surprised, Felix hesitated for a second, then obeyed. He didn't understand what she was up to—but he trusted her.
"This is the Eye of Agamotto," she said solemnly, placing the artifact in his hand. "It was passed down by an ancient Sorcerer Supreme, and I trust you're already familiar with its power."
She looked into his eyes.
"From this moment on, I entrust it to you. Keep it, use it, hide it, or pass it on to the next Sorcerer Supreme. That decision is yours to make."
Her tone was grave—completely devoid of the gentle smile she usually wore. The weight of her actions hit Felix like a hammer. As she gently placed the glowing relic into his palm, he stood frozen, overwhelmed.
"Master Ancient One… is there really no other way?" he asked, voice low with dread. He stared down at the Eye of Agamotto—the Time Stone. One of the six Infinity Stones, capable of manipulating very time itself. A treasure that countless beings in the universe would kill for. He couldn't believe she was just... handing it to him.
He wasn't thrilled—he was terrified.
"This has always been the right choice," the Ancient One said softly, a warm smile returning to her face.
Then, without another word, she turned and stepped back through the open portal, never once glancing behind her.
Felix and the others stood in stunned silence as her yellow-robed figure walked away. She raised her hands and began weaving a spell.
A moment later, her silhouette vanished entirely—swallowed by the glow of the teleportation magic.
"She's really doing it…" Felix whispered, eyes fixed on the space she had just occupied.
The fear that had gnawed at him earlier now became reality. When she had handed him the Eye of Agamotto, he'd suspected the worst. Now he was certain—she planned to sacrifice herself to banish the dark dimension using some kind of spell.
Because truly, no one else could do it. Not even him.
"Felix… what is Master Ancient One doing?"
Annie had come up beside him, her voice hesitant. She stared at the now-empty portal. "Didn't she just come out with us? Why did she go back?"
Wang and Mordo stood silently nearby, their gazes fixed on the glowing artifact in Felix's hand. The Eye of Agamotto had always been with the Ancient One. That she would give it away now...
A bad feeling settled in both of their hearts.
Felix clenched the Eye in his palm, his voice low and heavy.
"She's going to sacrifice herself… to save us all."
Mordo's voice suddenly echoed in everyone's ears. It was filled with sorrow, reverence, reluctance, and a complex mix of other emotions.
To Mordo, the Ancient One wasn't just his mentor—she was a guiding light who had led him into the world of magic. His respect for her went beyond mere admiration—it bordered on worship. And it was precisely this deep reverence that had shattered his world when he discovered that she relied on dark energy to prolong her life. That moment had ultimately set him on the path toward darkness.
"What are you saying? She…?" Everyone turned to Mordo, stunned by his words.
Among them, Tony was the most affected. He had always suspected there was more to the Ancient One than met the eye—that a person who had lived for centuries must be hiding some deeper motive.
"Sacrificing herself… to save the world?" Tony's steel armor suddenly didn't feel like a toy anymore—or a badge of pride. It felt like a weight. A responsibility.
He was no longer just a billionaire playboy. He was a superhero. Iron Man.
"Felix… is this what a superhero looks like in your world?" Annie whispered, barely loud enough for anyone to hear. It was a question, and a realization all at once.
Captain America and Thor also bowed their heads, honoring the Ancient One's sacrifice. They stared at the place where her figure had vanished, though there was nothing left to see.
"Hey! Look, everyone! Is the dark dimension… shrinking?"
Tony's voice broke the silence, snapping everyone out of their thoughts. All eyes turned skyward.
Sure enough, the massive, swirling void of the dark dimension that had once threatened to consume the Earth was now retreating.
Instead of expanding outward, it was collapsing inward—shrinking, as if some invisible force was pulling it back.
In under a minute, it would be completely gone.
Technically, time was still paused—meaning none of this should be happening. But within the time-freeze, their consciousness remained active, so they could still observe the changes.
"It looks like… the Master has succeeded."
Mordo spoke quietly, voice tinged with bittersweet relief. The Earth was saved. But the cost was not insignificant.
And then, just like that—
The gaping maw in the sky vanished. No trace of the dark dimension remained.
The clouds parted. The sun returned. Its warm golden rays bathed the streets of New York, dispelling the last shadows.
"…That's it?" Felix murmured. Then he turned quickly. "Annie, help me!"
Before Annie could respond, Felix collapsed. His body dropped like a puppet with its strings cut—his soul had suddenly left his body.
Fortunately, Annie reacted swiftly, catching him before he hit the ground.
"Felix! What's wrong with you?!" Annie cried out in alarm.
"Don't worry," Mordo said calmly, stepping forward. "He's in a soul state. And judging by how quickly he left his body, it seems he sensed the presence of the Ancient One's soul now."
The moment Felix's soul left his body, a pang of regret struck him.
He remembered something he'd read long ago in a novel: 'Souls exposed to sunlight would be burned by UV rays. Some might even be annihilated.
But to his surprise, he felt no burning. In fact, the sunlight felt… warm. Comforting. The rays touched his soul body like a gentle embrace.
He let the feeling wash over him briefly before turning his focus toward the faint image he had seen—a ghostly figure in the sky that looked like the Ancient One's soul.
Felix didn't hesitate. He floated after her.
But the Ancient One's soul didn't wait. Instead, she began to drift higher—ascending into the sky.
Felix didn't know where she was going, but he had questions. Many questions. And he wasn't about to let her go without answers.
In his soul form, Felix chased after the Ancient One. Up through the atmosphere they drifted—higher and higher—until they left the Earth behind and floated in the silence of space.
Finally, she stopped.
She turned to him, a serene smile on her face, waiting for him to catch up.
"Master Ancient One…?" he asked, once he reached her. He would've sighed in relief, but his soul didn't breathe. Still, the sentiment was there.
"Look," the Ancient One said, her gaze fixed on the brilliant blue planet beneath them. "This is the Earth we fought to protect. Isn't it beautiful?"
Felix stood beside her. Quiet. Humbled.
"Yes," he said at last. "It's… very beautiful."
And together, in the silence of the cosmos, they watched the Earth glow in the sunlight—peaceful and whole once again.
"Without even realizing it, I have been protecting her for hundreds of years," the Ancient One spoke softly, her gaze still fixed on the Earth below. "Though I've resolved countless disasters during that time, new ones have always followed. And now… my time has come to an end."
"In order to continue guarding her, I drew energy from the Dark Dimension to extend my life. And now, at long last, I have fulfilled my mission."
"Thanks to you damaging Dormammu's physical form, his control over the Dark Dimension has weakened significantly. That allowed me to finally expel him from Earth. I paid the price with my life, yes, but it was worth it."
"Dormammu has also suffered a major blow. He won't be able to invade Earth again for a long time. That window of peace will be enough for a new generation of Sorcerer Supremes to rise and take on the mantle of Earth's protector."
"Stephen Strange is destined to become the next Sorcerer Supreme—you likely already know that. But since I can no longer guide him myself, I hope you will help him grow."
Felix blinked, caught off guard.
"But… I'm not very good at magic," he replied awkwardly. "How am I supposed to teach him? That's like asking someone who didn't finish primary school to become a professor..."
The Ancient One smiled knowingly, as though she'd expected his hesitation.
"Strange is one of the most gifted Sorcerer Supremes in history. When it comes to understanding and wielding magic, he is uniquely talented. All you need to do is set him on the right path. He will walk it on his own."
Felix finally un–derstood. It was like an old saying from his homeland:
"The master opens the door, but to do what is up to the individual."
"All right," he said, nodding with determination. "I'll guide him. I'll make sure he finds the right path."
The Ancient One turned to face him fully now, her eyes warm but fading.
"My time is nearly up," she said gently. "Felix… do you have any other questions for me?"
...…
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