The portal opened.
On the other side lay a completely different world.
It looked like a vast desert, bright and sunlit, in stark contrast to the darkness they had just left behind.
"Is this… the other side of the Earth?"
Peter Parker stared in shock. He had never imagined that Nolan Locke could cross the entire planet in an instant.
Even Balthazar was stunned.
There were many forms of transportation magic, but none that could casually span the globe like this. Whatever Nolan had done, it was far beyond anything he had expected.
Nolan shook his head.
"This is my limit. I can get us here, but getting back… we might have to walk."
He paused, then added with a faint smile,
"Of course, there's another option."
Balthazar nodded calmly.
"That won't be a problem."
For someone who had lived for centuries, such a journey was hardly intimidating. Compared to masters like the Ancient One, his magic might fall short, but he was still among the most powerful sorcerers on Earth.
"But why here?" he asked. "What makes you think they came to this place?"
Nolan's gaze drifted toward the distant snow-capped mountains.
"The coordinates aren't exact. Our destination lies beyond those peaks."
If he remembered correctly, the Dragon Emperor's tomb in this world was hidden somewhere within the Himalayas.
Peter didn't seem bothered by the distance. Nolan even less so.
But Balthazar and David exchanged weary looks.
Even for mages, crossing mountains like this was no easy task.
"Can we use teleportation magic?" David asked.
Before Nolan could respond, Balthazar shook his head.
"We're close to the enemy, but we don't know their exact position. Blind teleportation would be reckless. So we climb."
He glanced at David.
"Remember what I told you. Physical endurance is just as important as magic."
Nolan smiled slightly. It seemed that no matter the magical tradition, true sorcerers were never physically weak.
"Begin scanning for traces in the area," Nolan said.
He might know the general location, but not the precise one.
Fortunately, he had his AI.
It didn't take long.
"Target traces located," Red Queen reported.
Nolan nodded.
"Let's move."
They still had a long way to go.
Meanwhile, inside a temple deep within the Himalayas…
A group of mages stood in silence.
"Is this the place?" Maxim asked, glancing around.
"Yes," Voldemort replied. "According to ancient records, the Dragon Emperor was sealed nearby."
Morgan, the Witch of Cataclysm, spoke next.
"Then let's not waste time."
Seeing the unease in her expression, Maxim chuckled.
"Relax. No one knows we're here. Even if they did, they would never find this place."
As they stepped into the temple's massive library, even Voldemort was taken aback.
"Even Hogwarts' library might not compare to this…"
A voice suddenly echoed through the hall.
"That's because this collection was gathered by the Dragon Emperor himself."
A woman appeared.
She stood alone, yet showed no fear.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "This is not a place for you."
"You must be the witch, Zi Yuan."
Voldemort's gaze sharpened.
The moment her name was spoken, Zi Yuan's expression changed.
She had thought they were intruders by accident. Now she knew better.
"Leave," she shouted. "You are not welcome here!"
But Voldemort had already begun casting.
Without hesitation, Zi Yuan turned and fled.
A ghostly portal opened behind her, releasing a swarm of spirits that chased after her.
Only after she disappeared did Voldemort speak again.
"Follow her."
A witch who had lived for thousands of years would not be easily killed.
By the time Nolan and the others arrived at the temple, it was already too late.
Outside, more than a dozen bodies lay scattered across the ground. They were massive, covered in white fur, far larger than any human.
"Yeti…"
Balthazar sighed.
"To think such creatures still exist."
Magical beasts had long vanished from the modern world, surviving only in hidden magical realms. Yet here they were… and now they were dead.
Still, it confirmed one thing.
They had found the right place.
"Let's go," Nolan said. "If we delay any longer, they'll succeed."
Inside the temple, they quickly discovered a body.
A woman lay collapsed beside a bookshelf. There were no visible wounds, but her soul was gone.
For powerful mages, physical death was not always the end.
But the loss of the soul meant true death.
"She was likely the guardian," Balthazar said softly, closing her eyes.
"And now she's gone. We're too late."
David and Peter grew tense.
A long, resonant roar suddenly echoed from deep within the temple.
A dragon's roar.
"Dragon?" Balthazar's expression darkened.
Dragons were among the most powerful magical creatures in existence. Facing one would be disastrous.
Before they could react, a massive figure burst into view.
Wings spread wide, it soared overhead and flew straight out of the temple.
Peter stared, speechless.
"What… was that? It had three heads!"
"A magical dragon," Balthazar muttered.
But deep down, he knew better.
That was no ordinary dragon.
It was the Dragon Emperor.
Outside, the Dragon Emperor landed, then shifted into human form.
"So those inside are the powerful enemies you mentioned?"
"Yes," Morgan replied. "We cannot defeat them alone."
A smile curved her lips.
"Your Majesty, if I remember correctly, your army of terracotta soldiers was sealed with you."
The Dragon Emperor laughed.
"Correct. One hundred thousand warriors. Soon, they will rise again."
His voice carried absolute confidence.
"When I reclaim my dominion, you will be rewarded for your service."
Behind him, Voldemort and the Death Eaters remained silent, though their thoughts were far less respectful.
This was no longer an ancient world.
The age of magic and technology had advanced far beyond what this relic of the past could comprehend.
But Maxim said nothing either.
Everyone here had their own agenda.
When Nolan and the others emerged, they found the group waiting.
Watching.
As if everything was already under their control.
The Dragon Emperor raised a hand.
"You have two choices. Submit or die."
His voice boomed across the battlefield.
"If you submit, you will earn the right to serve at my side. If you refuse…"
The ground trembled.
Dust filled the air.
One after another, terracotta soldiers rose from the earth.
An army began to take shape.
"You will be crushed beneath my legions."
A thunderous roar erupted.
The sheer pressure was overwhelming.
Even Peter's hands trembled.
Balthazar's face grew grim.
"Mr. Locke… we have reinforcements, right?"
"I'm out of magic," Nolan replied calmly.
Balthazar's heart sank.
No magic meant no reinforcements.
They were deep in a remote wasteland.
They were trapped.
"So," the Dragon Emperor said, "your answer?"
Nolan smiled faintly.
"Do you even understand what era this is?"
He looked at him steadily.
"This world has no place left for you."
The Dragon Emperor's expression darkened.
"I am invincible!"
He raised his arm.
"Army, charge!"
The terracotta soldiers surged forward in perfect formation.
The pressure hit like a tidal wave.
"We need to retreat!" Balthazar shouted, attempting a spell.
Then he froze.
"The space… it's sealed. We can't leave."
The Dragon Emperor laughed.
"You think I would allow escape?"
Balthazar gritted his teeth and summoned a glowing blade.
David followed suit.
Peter dropped into a fighting stance.
The moment the soldiers reached them, Peter struck first, shattering one with a single punch.
Balthazar and David fought fiercely beside him.
Individually, the soldiers were not strong.
But there were too many.
They were like a small boat in an endless sea.
Eventually, they would be overwhelmed.
The Dragon Emperor watched calmly.
"How is my army?"
"Impressive," Maxim admitted.
The emperor smiled with pride.
"They will be crushed soon."
But at that moment, Nolan looked toward the horizon.
"They're here."
"What?" Balthazar frowned.
Peter turned as well.
In the distance, aircraft streaked across the sky, leaving trails behind them.
Within seconds, they were overhead.
Massive figures dropped from the transports like falling stars.
Just before impact, thrusters ignited, slowing their descent.
They landed with precision.
Titan mechs.
Peter and David stared in disbelief.
Nolan nodded.
"I may be out of magic. But I never said we were out of support."
The Himalayas were not unguarded.
Long before this, Locke Industries had deployed forces throughout the region.
And once the Dragon Emperor became a known threat, reinforcements had already been mobilized.
The Dragon Emperor frowned.
"Crush them!"
The terracotta army surged forward.
But the Titans moved faster.
With a single step, they shattered multiple soldiers.
No matter how many charged, it made no difference.
And in the middle of it all, Nolan stood calmly, watching the Dragon Emperor.
He had already said it.
This era had no place for him.
Weapons systems activated.
Missiles roared.
The battlefield erupted.
It was a clash of eras.
And the result was clear.
The past…
was utterly outmatched.