The moment the low, divine oracle echoed across the sky, Luke raised both arms high toward the heavens.
Woosh!
A torrential surge of energy erupted from his seemingly ordinary body, the violent tide whipping his clothes into loud flutters.
Countless energy particles gathered around his fingertips, transforming into flowing, dark star vortices. Above the ground, a circle of golden, unknown symbolic magic arrays silently manifested, before erupting with terrifying divine power.
The dome of the Mirror Dimension suddenly fractured, and billons of streams of gilded light tore through the clouds and poured downward. It was not the blazing Sun itself, yet it carried a surging power comparable to it.
Wherever the light passed, everything within the Mirror Dimension shattered and disintegrated.
Even the Mirror Dimension itself trembled violently under the wash of this power of judgment.
Thin cracks soon began to spread everywhere.
This was no ordinary magic, but vast divine power originating from the very essence of Earth.
The Great Serpent was originally Earth's will incarnate, the embodiment of its power, possessing the terrifying ability to destroy the world at its peak.
Even though Luke's current output was far inferior to the Great Serpent's, which drew upon Earth itself, it was still utterly beyond comparison with the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj, who relied on self-sacrifice to borrow magical power.
Moreover, this power transcended magic itself. It was the Power of Life that only deities could wield—and the Judgment of Destruction as well.
Led by Kaecilius, the ten senior sorcerers jointly erected an enormous Shield of the Seraphim.
This was the strongest defensive spell they knew.
Yet in the face of Judgment Power striking from all directions, it lasted only three seconds before being drowned in the sea of light, leaving them no chance to resist.
Their screams had barely begun before they were swallowed by eternal silence.
An area spanning several miles was completely pulverized by Sunlight Radiance!
[Anomaly: Kaecilius eliminated. Recorded. 700 Anomaly Points gained. Current Anomaly Points: 800 / 1200.]
Luke cut off the energy supply, and the sunlike radiance flowed back into his palm.
Looking at the ravaged Mirror Dimension, Luke took a step forward, returning to reality through space that shattered like glass shards.
"Ancient One, how long were you planning to watch?"
Luke spoke calmly to the empty street.
With a sudden gust of wind, the Ancient One appeared before Luke.
This was not invisibility, but rapid movement using the Mirror Dimension as a transfer node, creating the illusion of invisibility.
"Esteemed Luke Rowling, we have finally met."
The Ancient One showed no anger over the deaths of Mordo and the others. Instead, she inclined her head slightly toward Luke, her expression carrying a sense of joy and respect.
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Please, I can't bear the title of 'esteemed.'"
"I believe no one is more worthy than you—a being who has already stepped into the realm of divinity."
The Ancient One gently shook her head, her eyes flickering with an emotion called joy.
Yet the more she behaved this way, the more wary Luke became.
Excessive courtesy often concealed ulterior motives.
He would rather fight the Ancient One outright than face a Sorcerer Supreme acting like this.
"You just stood by and watched as your disciples were killed by me?" Although Luke had already suspected as much, he was still somewhat puzzled by the Ancient One's choice.
"Oh, right—and them as well."
The Ancient One formed a strange mudra with her hands. The Eye of Agamotto on her chest floated into the air, and with a flash of brilliant green light—
Mordo, Kaecilius, and the other fallen sorcerers returned to reality, completely unharmed.
"The Ancient One!"
Mordo and the others looked at the Ancient One in delighted surprise and performed a respectful sorcerer's salute.
It was only when they noticed Luke again that the terror they had felt at the moment of death surged back into their hearts.
That was a divine might they could not resist, a supreme power that made them tremble from the depths of their souls.
For an instant, it felt as though they were facing a Dimensional Demon God itself.
They even began to suspect that Luke was the true master of the Mirror Dimension.
In reality, Mirror Dimension magic itself was merely a key, a key used to open the Mirror Dimension.
The Mirror Dimension was one of the countless dimensions within the Marvel Universe. Because of its special nature as a reflection of the visible world, no Demon God had taken up residence within it, and it was not influenced by Kamar-Taj's three Sanctums.
Each Sorcerer Supreme could freely enter and exit this dimension and make use of its unique properties in combat.
It was not strange for Kaecilius to think this way.
Naturally, they had no idea that Luke possessed a cheat ability.
Within the Reality Editor's 3D stereoscopic view, Luke could control all unowned objects and all objects that lacked intelligent life.
Even though Mordo could open the Mirror Dimension, he was not its master. Strictly speaking, all mirrored objects within it were unowned.
And whatever was unowned naturally fell under the control of the Reality Editor.
The authority of this cheat ability was above that of Mirror Dimension magic.
Let alone Mordo—even if the Ancient One herself intervened, she would still be helpless.
At the very least, everything within a one-kilometer radius could not be controlled by her.
But here was the real issue.
Even if the Ancient One could manipulate Mirror Dimension objects farther away, the moment they entered the domain of the 3D stereoscopic view—what was yours became mine.
So what could you possibly fight me with?
"Wow. The Time Stone, huh?"
Luke cast a glance at the Eye of Agamotto, somewhat surprised. "If I remember correctly, you don't casually use the Time Stone to interfere with real-world time."
Hearing this, Kaecilius, Mordo, and the others were stunned, and their gazes toward the Ancient One took on a subtle, complicated emotion.
Until now, the Ancient One had repeatedly warned them never to violate the laws of nature.
Mordo, in particular, had always upheld this belief—and it was precisely why he would later choose to part ways after Stephen repeatedly used the Time Stone.
But now, even though he knew the Ancient One had done it to save them, Mordo still felt deeply uneasy.
The Ancient One had taken the lead in violating the precepts of Kamar-Taj.
Even if she was the one who established those rules, a rule-maker should not casually trifle with them.
"You're right. The bottom line is that the laws of nature must not be broken—but things are different now."
The Ancient One did not explain further. She simply waved her hand. "All of you, return for now."
Mordo opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but in the end he gave up, retreating despondently along with the others.
"So, what are you planning to do now?"
Luke did not stop Mordo and the others from leaving. To him, those sorcerers were already of no use.
He had already applied the templates of Mordo and Kaecilius, automatically mastering a range of relatively conventional mystic arts, including the Sling Ring of Kamar-Taj, magic whips, magical shaping, Bozart's Lightning, the Rings of Raggadorr, and the Shield of the Seraphim.
As for more advanced spells—such as the Ancient One's Body of Hoggoth, the Winds of Watoomb, and gravity manipulation—he gained nothing at all.
After all, not everyone was a magical prodigy like Stephen or Wanda.
"I originally had many ideas, but now… I think we should fight first."
The Ancient One raised the Time Stone and formed a mudra. The Eye of Agamotto opened of its own accord before Luke, revealing the green gem resting quietly within.
"I think you understand the power contained in this jewel."
"As long as you kill me—or defeat me—you will become the new Sorcerer Supreme, and the Time Stone will belong to you."
Luke fell silent for a moment.
Then he turned around and walked away.
"Hey, Mr. Rowling, we can talk this out!"
"Don't go! I beg you, don't go!"
Luke ignored the Ancient One completely.
He had imagined countless possibilities for what would happen when he encountered the Ancient One—but he had never expected her to actually go mad.