Seaside Villa
A golden portal opened, James stepping out, tossing the newly acquired Time Gem. Wanda and Kara, watching a movie on the couch, looked up. Wanda raised a brow. "Done?"
James stored the gem. "Yup, wiped out a universe on the way."
Wanda laughed. "On the way?!"
Kara shrugged. "You get used to it."
"What about the black magician?" Wanda asked.
James snapped his fingers, conjuring a cola can, sipping it. "Not even ashes left."
Kara opened her mouth, but the air twisted as a golden portal sparked open. The Ancient One, in white robes, stepped out, followed by a dark-red-robed Dark Doctor Strange, traces of Dark Dimension corruption around his eyes.
James leaned back, not standing, the Reality Gem flickering red. Two steaming teacups appeared on the table. "Ancient One, Strange," he gestured.
The Ancient One sat gracefully; Strange, exhausted, rubbed his brow before sitting. "What's up?" James asked.
The Ancient One glanced at Strange, who took a deep breath. "James, your battles with the Chaos Herald, jumping universes, broke dimensional barriers. The undead possession was just the start."
His voice was hoarse. "Bigger chaos is coming."
James sipped his tea, unfazed. "No problem. Whatever comes, I'll handle."
"It's not that simple," Strange shook his head. "Dormammu's already invaded once; we reinforced the seal. But other dimensional gods are stirring."
The Ancient One added, "The universes you've altered are causing chain reactions."
Kara frowned; Wanda touched her chest gem. James set down his cup, smiling. "I'm here, mages. Whatever happens."
Silence fell. The Ancient One nodded, standing with Strange. Before leaving, she glanced at Wanda. "Child, your chaos magic…" She hesitated. "Use it wisely. Don't let darkness corrupt you."
Wanda's scarlet energy flickered, then calmed. "I understand."
Golden sparks flashed; they vanished. Kara grinned. "So, we're gearing up for a multiversal crisis?"
James walked to the window, sea shimmering calmly. "It'll come when it comes." He turned, smirking. "But first, who wants to try my new magic?"
Kara floated eagerly. "Both of us!"
Wanda smiled wordlessly, her expression betraying her enthusiasm.
One Week Later
A sunny afternoon. James lounged on a beach chair, sunglasses on, sipping iced juice, enjoying rare peace. Wanda and Kara were racing, likely circling Earth multiple times with their speed.
Whoosh! They landed, kicking up sand, faces excited. "James! We found something weird!" Wanda said eagerly.
James lifted his sunglasses. "What's got you two so hyped?"
Kara grinned. "A place we've never seen! Its spatial fluctuations are off!"
James sat up, intrigued. "Lead the way."
Wanda waved, opening a scarlet portal. They stepped through, emerging before lush bamboo groves, distant mountains wreathed in mist, like an ink painting.
"Here?" James's super senses scanned, detecting active spatial distortions ahead, like an invisible membrane isolating the area.
"Found it." He smiled, touching the air. Buzz! Ripples spread, and he wove seals, golden runes flowing. Crack! A spatial rift opened, revealing a deep glow.
Wanda and Kara exchanged excited glances. "Let's go," James said, stepping in.
Beyond the rift, a dreamlike realm unfolded: vast grasslands beyond the bamboo, mountains in the distance, clouds swirling. Phoenixes and vermilion birds soared, qilins roamed, and a faceless, four-winged Chaos creature dozed, oddly cute.
Wanda and Kara gaped. "Where is this?" Kara murmured, her super vision confirming it wasn't an illusion.
James squinted, recognizing it. "Talo Village," he said softly. "An ancient sanctuary hidden in a dimensional seam."
Wanda's chaos magic resonated with the environment. "The magic density here is insane!"
James nodded. "Talo Village is a sacred site left by the Dragon, rarely accessed, known to few."
Footsteps approached. A woman in a white robe with a red sash appeared, her face delicate yet stern, aura faintly glowing. "Outsiders?" Her eyes scanned them, lingering on James.
James smiled, speaking in Mandarin. "Hello, I'm James Holden. We stumbled here, no ill intent."
She studied him, then nodded. "I'm Jiang Nanying, a guardian of Talo Village. If you're not ordinary, you've earned entry."
Wanda asked, "Do all villagers here cultivate?"
Jiang smiled softly. "Most in Talo Village are practitioners." She paused, eyeing James. "If you're just passing through, I can show you around, but don't disrupt the balance."
James nodded. "Of course."
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