BOOM!
A tremendous roar shook the air as the majestic energy released by the exploding light beam crashed outward in all directions. The shockwave was so powerful that everyone on the battlefield—sorcerers, Avengers, and even gods—were sent flying uncontrollably through the air.
Lockhart, despite being caught in the blast, reacted with preternatural speed. His fingers danced through the air as he wielded his wand with practiced precision, weaving protective enchantments that both cushioned his body and stabilized his trajectory.
Thor likewise summoned a massive barrier of crackling thunder that absorbed much of the energy directed his way. The electricity rippled across the shield like living lightning, dispersing the impact force before it could reach him.
The Masters of Kamar-Taj activated their sling rings with swift circular motions, creating small portals that redirected the energy around them rather than through them.
As the chaos of the explosion subsided, all eyes were drawn to the phenomenon manifesting above the Thames River—a pure white spatial vortex spinning rapidly, its edges shimmering with otherworldly energy.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Without hesitation, Lockhart stabilized himself mid-air the moment he spotted the silver-white portal. His eyes gleamed with what might have been anticipation or calculation—perhaps both.
"All sorcerers, heed my command!" he shouted, his voice magically amplified to carry across the battlefield. "Enter the spatial passage and destroy the god embryo at its source!"
After delivering his order, he cast a cold glance toward Thor, then propelled himself toward the swirling vortex with determination etched into every line of his face.
Thor, not to be outdone, swung Mjölnir in rapid circles above his head. The enchanted hammer pulled him skyward, directing his flight path toward the same interdimensional doorway.
Ghost Rider's hellfire motorcycle materialized beneath him, its wheels leaving trails of brimstone as he rocketed toward the portal. The Hulk, with a tremendous leap that cracked the ground beneath him, followed suit.
Even the Masters of Kamar-Taj, though wary of Lockhart, recognized the greater threat. With grim resolve, they too soared toward the cosmic gateway, their colorful magical trails crisscrossing the London sky.
None of them noticed the faint gray light that flickered behind several of the sorcerers—an ethereal presence that slipped into the portal in their wake, undetected and unknown.
________________________________________
The God Realm.
Just as dimensional entities each possessed their own pocket dimensions, every god maintained a personal realm—a reflection of their power and nature. These divine domains often originated from the very planets that gave birth to them, evolving alongside the deity's consciousness until they became separate realities unto themselves.
Lockhart emerged from the spatial tunnel with a disorienting lurch. The interdimensional passage had deposited him in the middle of a primeval jungle, surrounded by trees of impossible height and girth. Their massive trunks disappeared into a canopy so dense it filtered the light into emerald-tinted beams.
He glanced around, quickly assessing his situation. There was no sign of his students, the Kamar-Taj sorcerers, or any of the Avengers. The portal had scattered them across this strange new world.
Interesting, Lockhart thought, his brilliant mind already calculating possibilities. A strategic separation—deliberate, perhaps?
With characteristic efficiency, he decided on his next move. Tapping his toe against the moss-covered ground, he channeled a surge of magical energy through his body. The air around him condensed, forming an invisible platform that carried him upward with increasing speed.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
The cool breeze caressed his face as he ascended above the towering trees. Breaking through the canopy, Lockhart hovered high above the seemingly endless forest. In the sky hung a radiant orb that resembled a sun, though it emitted pure white light rather than the yellow-orange glow of Earth's star.
Extending his magical senses outward, Lockhart could feel the rich ambient energy that permeated this realm—raw magical potential that flowed through everything like an invisible current.
BOOM!
With a practiced flick of his wand, Lockhart launched a golden beam of light high into the sky. It exploded like a magical flare, forming an intricate runic pattern that hung suspended in the air—a beacon that would be visible for miles.
Simultaneously, he sent out a pulse of psychic energy tied to the magical contracts binding his students and allies. The magical summons rippled outward in concentric waves, calling to those connected to him.
This scattering is merely an inconvenience, Lockhart mused. The solution is simple enough—use the magical contracts to draw my forces back together.
Within minutes, several streaks of flame-colored light appeared in the distance. Three Masters of Kamar-Taj and two of Lockhart's personal students converged on his position, their expressions a mixture of relief and wariness.
"Master!" called his students, their voices tinged with respect and just a hint of fear.
"Sorcerer Lockhart," acknowledged the Kamar-Taj masters with cautious formality.
One of the Masters—a woman with intricate silver tattoos along her forearms—addressed him directly. "Mr. Lockhart, what is our next course of action?"
Lockhart closed his eyes, extending his magical awareness to its limits. The contracts he maintained allowed him to sense the faint magical signatures of his other students and allies. More importantly, they provided him with a general sense of the realm's layout and the location of significant power sources.
After a moment of concentration, his eyes snapped open. He pointed eastward with unwavering certainty.
"East," he stated, his voice deep and commanding. "What we seek lies in that direction."
Without waiting for acknowledgment, Lockhart set off, flying toward the rising white sun. The others exchanged brief glances before following closely behind, their magical auras forming a colorful procession across the alien sky.
As they flew, the sorcerers observed the landscape below with scholarly interest. The primeval forest stretched for miles in every direction, occasionally broken by crystalline rivers that sparkled in the white sunlight.
After several minutes of identical scenery, however, their initial fascination began to wane. The monotony of the ancient forest seemed endless.
Then suddenly—
WHOOSH!
They crossed an invisible boundary, and the lush forest below transformed in an instant. Where towering trees had stood moments before, now bubbled vast lakes of fiery magma. Plumes of superheated gas erupted from the molten surface, and the air shimmered with blistering heat.
The abrupt transition left the sorcerers momentarily stunned.
"Defensive shields!" Lockhart commanded, though most had already conjured protective barriers against the intense heat.
As they regained their composure, Lockhart offered an explanation.
"I suspect this realm contains distinct environmental zones," he said, studying the molten landscape with analytical detachment. "The forest we just passed through and this volcanic region are likely just two of many such environments."
To test his theory, Lockhart cast another magical flare, illuminating the sky with golden runes. Two more sorcerers responded to the summons, their bodies encased in shimmering blue shields as they navigated through the superheated air toward the group.
After brief greetings and explanations, the expanded party continued eastward. The volcanic zone stretched beneath them, bubbling and hissing as they passed overhead. Each sorcerer maintained complex cooling charms to counter the oppressive heat that threatened to overwhelm even their magical defenses.
Just as Lockhart had predicted, they eventually reached another boundary. The transition was as abrupt as before—one moment they flew above an infernal landscape of fire and brimstone, the next they hovered over a verdant paradise.
Lush meadows dotted with colorful wildflowers extended for miles. Crystal-clear lakes reflected the white sun overhead, and gentle hills rolled in the distance. The temperature dropped pleasantly, and a fresh breeze replaced the scorching heat of the volcanic zone.
But what truly captured the sorcerers' attention was not the landscape itself, but its inhabitants.
ROAR!
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Thunderous bellows echoed across the plains, emanating from colossal figures that moved with surprising grace despite their size. Dinosaurs—creatures that had vanished from Earth millions of years ago—roamed freely in this section of the god realm.
Long-necked Brachiosaurus browsed from treetops, their massive bodies casting long shadows across the grasslands. Herds of Triceratops grazed peacefully near the lakes, while overhead, Pteranodons soared on thermal currents.
In the distance, a Tyrannosaurus Rex pursued smaller prey, its massive jaws snapping as it charged through the underbrush.
Lockhart observed the prehistoric creatures with newfound interest. While the forest and volcanic regions had offered few insights, the presence of Earth's extinct species provided valuable clues about the nature of this realm.
With a thoughtful expression, he cast a third magical flare. This time, nearly ten sorcerers and students responded, gathering behind Lockhart in a loose formation.
After briefly addressing their questions, he led the enlarged group eastward once more, his mind racing with theories and possibilities.
As they continued their journey, they passed through increasingly diverse environments: a frozen tundra where mammoth and saber-toothed cats prowled among ice formations; a vast oceanic zone teeming with ancient marine reptiles and primitive whales; a scorching desert where strange, reptilian creatures burrowed beneath the sand.
Each zone contained its own unique ecosystem, often populated with creatures that had once existed on Earth but had long since disappeared. The further east they traveled, the more complex and diverse the lifeforms became, and the more potent the ambient magical energy grew.
They encountered extraordinary beings that defied classification—creatures with multiple limbs that changed color with their moods; floating organisms that communicated through pulses of bioluminescence; hybrid animals that combined features from multiple species in startling ways.
Yet despite their diversity and sometimes fearsome appearance, none of these beings demonstrated signs of higher intelligence. They reacted to the sorcerers' presence with either indifference or primal fear, much like wild animals encountering something unfamiliar.
"It's as if we're witnessing Earth's evolutionary history," murmured one of the Kamar-Taj masters. "But something's missing from these creatures."
Lockhart nodded, his eyes narrowed in concentration. "They lack the spark of true intelligence," he confirmed. "They exist, they survive, but they do not truly think."
This observation troubled the assembled magic-users more than the strange environments or the deadly predators. There was something fundamentally unsettling about a realm filled with life that possessed such limited consciousness—like pieces on a cosmic chessboard, waiting for a player to move them.
As they approached what felt like the center of the realm, Lockhart sensed they were drawing near to their objective. The ambient magic had grown so thick it was almost visible—a shimmering haze that clung to everything like morning mist.
"Prepare yourselves," he warned his followers. "I believe we're about to discover what lies at the heart of this god realm—and I doubt it will welcome our intrusion."
The white sun above them pulsed, as if responding to his words, and the very air seemed to hold its breath in anticipation.