The Ancient One's eyes glimmered with awe.
Jason Kin's power was vast and sacred, especially that radiant force of light. To her, it felt familiar, like kin to her own magic, evoking an unexpected closeness. And because she understood its nature, she could sense its true potential.
A limitless potential.
She felt an unshakable intuition. If this man continued to grow, one day he would surpass all, ascending to become a true god.
If that happened, Earth would gain its greatest protector. Even after her death, she would not need to worry about the planet being consumed by forces beyond the stars. For that reason alone, she resolved to assist Jason, to help him grow stronger faster. Because her time was running short.
"Your condition is not looking good, Sorcerer."
Jason's brows furrowed as he spoke. He knew the great events of this universe, including that the Ancient One was destined to fall someday. But he had not expected her state to be this dire already.
As the God of Life, he could easily perceive her life force. What he saw was withered vitality, a broken body suffused with death's aura. She was already at the very end of her strength.
The only thing keeping her alive was the dark power she had drawn from the Dark Dimension. Yet as Dormammu had said, because she never submitted as his servant, that power was limited. Worse, the darkness was slowly eroding her soul.
When that corruption reached its peak, the Ancient One would cease to exist. In her place would remain nothing but a puppet of the Dark Dimension.
For this reason, even she could not endlessly siphon its energy. She had always known she would one day meet her end.
It was her destined fate.
But with Jason's appearance, the God of Life himself, perhaps destiny could be rewritten. He commanded the force of birth and death, the very essence of existence. With that power, there was at least a chance to extend her life.
Only a chance. Jason would not make promises he could not keep. Though he bore the mantle of Life, his current strength was still limited. He was a first-tier demigod, while the Ancient One was truly at the Skyfather level. To fully save her was no small task. Still, with life's essence, he could at least delay her decline. When his power grew, perhaps he could do more.
But the Ancient One seemed to have already made her decision.
"All mortals die, sorcerers as well. Mr. Phils, surely you understand this truth better than anyone."
Jason nodded. "As the God of Life, of course I know. But perhaps with my divine energy, I can still help you endure."
"I do not fear death. Once, I could not allow myself to die. But now…" The Ancient One shook her head, her voice trailing off.
Jason studied her closely. "It seems you have something you wish to discuss with me."
"Yes. Wong brought me some tea a few days ago. Would you honor me by joining me for a taste?"
"It would be my honor, Ancient One."
She smiled softly and lifted her hand. At once, the mirror-like fabric of the dimension cracked. The pocket realm collapsed, and both she and Jason vanished from the void.
…
In a hidden Hydra base, chaos reigned.
Madame Viper had retreated into the last escape chamber, her expression grim. Minutes earlier, a woman had descended upon their base without warning. Without hesitation, she had begun a slaughter.
Every Hydra operative who resisted was struck down instantly. Their counterattacks had meant nothing. Now, only Viper remained, clutching at her final chance to flee.
But then, the reinforced door of the chamber glowed red. A searing laser carved a perfect circle into the metal, which collapsed with a crash.
Standing in the opening was a woman, her cold beauty like a blade of ice. Bismarck, the ship-girl Jason had dispatched to eradicate Hydra's outpost.
"Why don't you run? Keep running," Bismarck taunted, her eyes sweeping over the trembling Hydra soldiers.
"Maximum firepower! Kill her!" Viper snarled. She yanked a sleek energy pistol from her belt and fired at once. The other Hydra operatives, well aware of the woman's terrifying power, unleashed everything they had.
Blue energy waves filled the chamber, cascading toward Bismarck like a storm.
Her eyes narrowed. The energy pulses were strong, beyond conventional weaponry. Hydra must have spent years developing such secret arms. Yet even so, before an eighth-tier legendary like Bismarck, they were child's play.
Her shield of energy flared to life, effortlessly absorbing the barrage. At the same time, she raised her own weapon, unleashing a scarlet beam. The blast tore through the Hydra soldiers in a blink, felling them all save for Viper.
Watching her subordinates die in an instant, Viper's face twisted in despair. She raised her pistol to her own temple, intent on ending her life.
But before she could pull the trigger, a blur crossed the room. In the next heartbeat, Bismarck gripped her by the collar. The pistol in Viper's hand was crushed into a ball of metal.
"You think you can end it that easily? No. You're coming with me, alive. My master is waiting."
With a cold smile, Bismarck hoisted Viper over her shoulder, then leapt onto the back of her Frost Dragon.
"Let this base burn." Her words were sharp as steel.
The dragon roared, and torrents of fire rained down. The Hydra base below erupted into a sea of flame, its secrets and soldiers alike consumed in the inferno.
The outpost was no more.
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