The Ancient One methodically eliminated Rakghoul after Rakghoul, gathering them together and forcibly reducing them to paste, ash, or whatever form she deemed appropriate.
The section of Kathmandu she occupied was relatively secure now—she'd cleared out most of the Sith-spawned ghouls. Her students arrived afterward to handle cleanup, and any stragglers that remained were eliminated quickly and efficiently.
She stood atop a building's roof, surveying the city below with a troubled expression.
The Ancient One would not permit this to continue on her watch, yet innocent lives were already being lost because of it.
The city would require considerable time to recover from this assault. Beyond the government's efforts to restore normalcy, the citizens would need time to heal from the tremendous losses they'd suffered.
Suddenly, her head snapped left and her eyes narrowed dangerously.
In a flash, she channeled her magic to summon mystical energy that propelled her toward whatever had captured her attention. She landed with barely a whisper.
"You possess considerable audacity to come here, Karnes Muur," the Ancient One declared, summoning her signature mystical fans into both hands.
Before her stood the Sith Lord, radiating unstable magical energy.
His skin no longer bore the slightly amber hue it had possessed when he'd first transformed the stolen body he'd commandeered. Now it appeared significantly paler.
"What a pleasure to finally meet you, Ancient One," the Sith said. "My host held you in tremendous respect before he perished."
The Ancient One merely regarded him steadily. "Do you truly believe what you've done has granted you power? Real power?"
"If not for this, I wouldn't be standing here," Muur said viciously. "This planet has introduced me to power beyond my wildest imaginings."
"You sound like countless fools who came before you," the Ancient One said, shaking her head. "Do you genuinely believe the power you wield is yours?"
"I claimed it, didn't I?" Muur said with overconfident arrogance. "The entities inhabiting me obey my strength and my dominion. They're merely my instruments."
"How long before they break free and consume you from within?"
"I am Karnes Muur!" the Sith Lord proclaimed dramatically. "The first Dark Lord of the Sith in this entire galaxy—no, this entire universe. My abilities were cultivated thousands of years ago when the Force was at its most primal. Do you honestly believe these malformed wretches inside me could approach my level of mastery?"
The Ancient One remained stoic, unmoved by the deranged Sith's declarations.
"You've forgotten yourself, Muur," the Ancient One said calmly. "While you were imprisoned in your talisman, I served as Sorcerer Supreme for centuries. Throughout that tenure, I believe your time with Kaecilius demonstrated there are forces you remain unaware of. Not only am I among the most formidable beings in this dimension, but I'm one of many others far beyond your comprehension."
The Sith Lord simply smiled mockingly.
"Oh? Did you hear what I said?" he asked sardonically. "I'll knock you down from that pedestal you claim to occupy."
Muur flashed a maniacal grin that genuinely unsettled the Ancient One.
"Muur," she said slowly. "I will offer you one warning. You must release the entities you've imprisoned within yourself. You have no conception of what you've done to your body, mind, and spirit."
He adopted a contemplative pose. "Let me consider that," he said in a mocking tone.
The ancient Sith rapidly conjured numerous runes from all directions, unleashing a magical shockwave at the bald woman.
The Ancient One simply raised her hands and effortlessly absorbed the energy directed at her.
"You may be powerful in the Force you know," the Ancient One said. "But regarding the sorcery I practice, you remain merely a novice."
"Then explain how I acquired so much in such a brief time," Muur boasted, slamming his hands against the ground.
The earth shifted and stone serpents erupted, racing directly toward the Sorcerer Supreme.
In response, she conjured a sphere and hurled it into the dirt before her. It expanded into a dome of crackling electricity that repelled the oncoming serpents.
"You stole power. Unearned power proves a profoundly destabilizing force."
"I learned an Earth phrase during my travels while trapped in that talisman," Muur announced thoughtfully. "What was it? Ah, yes—the pot calling the kettle black. We're not so different, you and I."
"So you claim," the Ancient One said serenely.
She then raised her hands and summoned multiple orbs that projected beams connecting to one another before firing them at Muur.
Muur roared, raising his hands and shooting black Sith lightning that intercepted the beam.
He soon began laughing maniacally while the Ancient One maintained her calm, composed demeanor.
"It's tragic that someone as powerful as you would choose a path of self-destruction," the Ancient One said loudly, shaking her head with obvious disappointment.
"While you do this to shield Earth from external threats, I do this for my own gratification. Right now, I'm having tremendous fun!" Muur laughed. "I've been trapped in that talisman far too long—I was so bored. Now that I'm free again, I want to finally unleash myself. And I won't stop."
The centuries-old sorceress crossed her hands, ring and index fingers touching her thumbs. A glowing azure mandala of magic materialized between her palms. She stretched them outward, and from it emerged an actual lightning tiger that charged forward.
Muur raised his arm, which transformed into a draconic claw, slashing through the lightning-wreathed tiger before leaping toward the Ancient One.
The Ancient One enveloped herself in a brilliant golden aura and surged forward.
The two combatants collided head-on in an explosion of light and magical energy as they continued their duel.
Mordo, Celeste, and Wong simultaneously cast a spell on a large cluster of Rakghouls.
Beneath the Rakghouls' feet, the ground fractured open, revealing purple tendrils that ensnared them. They struggled futilely as the tendrils dragged them underground before sealing above them.
Not far away stood Bucky Barnes, who struck a Rakghoul directly into Ghost Rider's grasp. The Spirit of Vengeance immediately reduced it to embers.
Even Strange joined them, driving back enemies with his mystical whip.
"Is that the last of them?" Wong wondered aloud.
"No, there are more," Celeste said, her hands hovering beside her temples, her expression focused. "I can sense them."
"How are you doing that?" Mordo asked.
"Using the Force?" Wong inquired, and Celeste nodded confirmation.
"Come on, there aren't many remaining," the Jedi said, gesturing for them to follow.
As they ran at full speed, Wong suddenly stopped.
"Wong?" Bucky said, glancing back at him as everyone else halted.
The sorcerer lifted one of his sleeves, revealing a bracelet on his wrist that was glowing with light.
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