"To think my opponent would be such a man," Thanos said, boredom in his voice. "No matter. Consider this a preliminary rehearsal."
"A rehearsal?" Strange frowned. He wasn't naive-he understood exactly what this meant.
This Thanos planned to invade his own Earth. He wanted to test a version of Strange here, analyze his abilities, and then kill the Sorcerer Supreme in his own universe.
Strange shook his head. The man was overconfident.
Though he lacked an Infinity Stone and hadn't reached the tenth stage, Strange had the power of Holy Light and the most unpredictable spatial magic. His mentor had killed a Thanos at a similar level. He wasn't claiming to be his mentor's equal, but he knew he wouldn't be easy to kill if he gave it his all.
Every Thanos was different, every universe's power scaling differed. The Thanos Noah had killed at the ninth stage was technically tenth-stage, but his physical defenses weren't insurmountable. That left openings.
Strange didn't know this Thanos's exact strength, but with spatial magic and Holy Light, he could survive. He decided to test the waters.
"Let us begin." Thanos gripped his weapon, grim-faced. "Show me your power."
"You'll see soon enough," Strange sighed. "But you've made a mistake. There's quite a gap between me and the Strange you seek."
The blade swung.
The sheer force meant Strange couldn't block it. Gold light flared around him, and the air turned translucent. The blade passed through him harmlessly.
A massive boom shook the surroundings. Thanos frowned. He had hit nothing.
Spatial magic. Every Earth sorcerer, especially from Kamar-Taj, was skilled in it. But Strange wasn't wearing a Sling Ring-something only the late Ancient One could manage.
This displeased Thanos. The sorcerer was no pushover. Even weaker, a spatial mage was a nightmare to strike.
Timing was key. Despite his raw power, tearing space wasn't easy. He couldn't command it-he could only break it with force.
Strange reappeared a short distance away. Thanos smiled.
"You're like a rat. Do you only hide in holes?" he taunted. "Is that all you Kamar-Taj sorcerers are good for?"
"Say what you like. My job is to stall you," Strange replied calmly. "But I'll find a way to finish you. It will be difficult, but I'll try everything because..."
He raised his hand, glowing with golden radiance. "Because I am a sorcerer of Earth, and more importantly, a sorcerer of Kamar-Taj."
The space around Thanos constricted. His expression darkened. Spatial magic was infuriatingly hard to counter. He leapt as the spot he had occupied shattered violently.
A golden blade plunged into the ground where he had stood, pulverizing the earth. The energy radiating from it was holy, pure, almost heavenly.
Thanos looked at Strange hovering above. His universe suppressed demigods-this Thanos couldn't fly, just like the one Noah had fought.
"What is this power?" he demanded. "Since when did Kamar-Taj use the magic of those hypocritical angels?"
"This isn't their power," Strange said, returning to the ground. "It's a gift from my mentor. It is called Holy Light."
"Holy Light?" Thanos laughed. "Then let's see how holy it is."
"You'll feel it," Strange said calmly, then smiled. "Your universe has a lower power ceiling. You're restricted from the full potential of the tenth stage. That works in my favor."
"Confidence," Thanos sneered.
"My mentor once killed a Thanos like you at my current level. I'm not as strong as him, but he's my role model. If I give my all, I can do it."
Strange struck again, confidence renewed. Golden runes twisted around his hands, his eyes glowing gold. He resembled an angel as spatial and holy energies combined.
The surrounding space seemed to collapse under him, exerting real pressure on Thanos.
Red light flared-the Power Stone. Thanos charged at Strange with maximum speed, blade swinging with all his might. The impact cracked the earth, long fissures spreading across the terrain.
Thanos felt no pleasure in the strike. Strange had slipped into the Mirror Dimension.
Damn it, his casting speed is too fast!
Thanos understood the openings: strike while casting, or break the space at its weakest point when the Mirror Dimension closed.
He pressed the attack, stamina infinite thanks to the Power Stone. The planet could crumble beneath them; he didn't care.
Strange felt the pressure. Mana was finite, even with the Cloak of Levitation. Its limits had long been surpassed; it remained out of sentimentality.
The battle escalated. Thunder roared, screams echoed. Strange's mana began to falter.
In that split second, Thanos saw his chance.
Power surged. He appeared at Strange's side, striking with full might.
A massive, pitch-black rift tore into the very fabric of the world.