That Karl could comprehend Laws didn't surprise the Ancient One.
Karl's talent was absolutely the most outstanding she had ever seen.
It was probably comparable to… hundreds upon thousands of Doctor Stranges.
So.
Comprehending a Law wasn't a problem for Karl at all.
The problem was—
This brat was comprehending them far too fast!
The Ancient One had thought that even if Karl's talent was extraordinary, it would still take him at least a month to comprehend a Law.
But she hadn't expected—
Karl only took a single glance, and he learned it again.
This brat…
He was a complete monster!
The Ancient One was shaken to her core.
But immediately after that came a surge of wild joy.
If Karl could comprehend Laws, then at the very least he would be able to live another hundred years or more.
Kamar-Taj would have a successor.
When she was young, she had suffered a devastating injury. She had relied on forcibly extending her lifespan through "authority" to draw upon countless demonic entities to keep herself alive.
Even if she didn't die this time, she probably wouldn't have much longer to live.
Now that Kamar-Taj had a successor, the heavy weight that had been hanging over her heart finally eased.
"Very good, Karl."
"Your talent is indeed extremely outstanding."
"Even I, back then, was not your equal."
"Since you've comprehended a Light-type Law, cultivate it well. This is a grand and proper path."
The Ancient One spoke with genuine happiness.
"Yes, Sorcerer Supreme-sama."
"But how do I cultivate this Law?"
Karl asked.
"By sensing the natural Laws that exist throughout the universe, you will naturally improve."
"A Law is not something fixed and unchanging."
"Everyone's Law is different."
"You only need to experience it with your heart. The Law within you will grow on its own."
"Remember: your mind is your greatest power."
"We do not abuse the universe's natural power—yet we must not be controlled by nature's Laws either."
The Ancient One spoke solemnly.
Karl nodded.
It seemed he understood a little, but new doubts followed right after.
"Ancient One-sama, if Laws exist within nature, how can they all be different?"
Karl asked again.
Hearing him ask that, the Ancient One nodded in approval.
Then she slowly said:
"The natural Laws are indeed there, plain to see—but every intelligent being is different."
"The environment we live in, and what we go through, decides what kind of person we become."
"And those things naturally influence how we perceive nature."
"As the saying goes: a thousand people see a thousand Hamlets."
"The same Law looks completely different through different eyes."
"Not to mention that some Laws are not born from nature at all… but created by living beings."
The Ancient One explained patiently.
"Living beings can create Laws?"
Karl asked in shock.
"Of course."
"In ancient teachings, there is something called 'creating Laws.'"
"When the universe first began, what existed?"
"All of it was created by intelligent beings."
"Later, we influenced this world. More and more people walked that road. Even swordsmanship became countless forms—each person had their own path."
"Any Law is the same. At the beginning it's very pure, but later… it changes."
The Ancient One continued, worried Karl might not understand, and gave another example:
"Take light and darkness."
"In our eyes, they are completely opposing concepts."
"Light is positive. Darkness is negative."
"But in truth, darkness and light are natural phenomena. There is no good or evil inherent in them."
"It's only because intelligent beings mixed in their own understanding and will that the Laws of darkness and light changed."
"So remember: we manipulate Laws because we have the will to create and to change."
"We can revere the world, but we cannot submit to the world."
She lectured earnestly, talking until her throat nearly went dry.
Karl suddenly understood.
It was like a great bell ringing beside his ear—enlightenment struck in an instant.
[Ding!]
[Detected that the host followed the Ancient One's teachings. A god-tier talent has triggered a confidence critical strike.]
[You have comprehended the Law of Darkness.]
[Your level of understanding of Laws has increased by one hundredfold!]
He abruptly felt the power within his body surge by a huge margin.
With a casual lift of his hand—
A speck of black "light" appeared in front of them.
Or rather…
It couldn't be called light. It was a smear of black shadow pressing down.
In that area, all light vanished.
Only pure darkness remained.
"What!?"
"The Law of Darkness!?"
The Ancient One cried out in alarm, and an abnormal fluctuation erupted around her.
Such a loss of composure—
It was the first time it had ever appeared on her.
It showed just how stunned she was.
"You actually comprehended two completely opposite Laws."
"Karl… are you alright?"
The Ancient One grabbed Karl's hand.
But she found that whether it was his body or his magic, everything was unbelievably stable—there was no sign of conflict at all.
This…
What was going on?
She couldn't understand it!
"How did you comprehend both Darkness and Light at the same time?"
the Ancient One asked.
"I just… comprehended them," Karl said, scratching his head.
The Ancient One: ????
What did "just comprehended them" even mean?
How could it be that easy?
Sure—
Light and darkness were natural phenomena, and there was no true opposition in nature itself.
But Karl was human.
The bias and preconceptions in a human heart should have prevented him from comprehending two "opposites."
In serious cases, the Laws could clash.
Body and magic would explode on the spot.
That would be catastrophic.
Yet on Karl, she saw none of it.
It was practically a miracle!
The Ancient One looked at Karl with a deeply strange expression—
as if she were looking at a monster.
This brat's talent was simply too exaggerated.
Even a god wouldn't be this exaggerated, would they?
Perhaps only the ancient gods born from the heavens and earth in legends could possess such talent.
They could become gods the moment they reached adulthood.
And Karl?
If he kept growing… would he also become an ancient god?
For the first time, the Ancient One felt she couldn't grasp the future.
She had no idea what heights Karl would reach.
His talent was far too terrifying.
The Ancient One looked at Karl and let out a helpless breath.
"Alright, Karl."
"You don't need to cultivate here anymore. You can go straight to Asgard."
"I think… if Hela saw you as you are now, she'd probably cry."
The Ancient One sighed.
Now she didn't just feel Hela couldn't deal with Karl.
She even felt that—
Hela might end up getting bullied terribly.
(End of Chapter)
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