Chapter 35: No One Becomes Sorcerer Supreme, Not Even a Dog (Seeking Follow-up Reads)
Ancient One: You will be the Sorcerer Supreme.
Upon hearing Ancient One's words, Ben's face immediately contorted into a strange expression, as if someone had asked him to kill the Tang Monk and his disciples.
"You're joking, Master Ancient One. I don't know any magic."
However, he quickly shook his head and refused.
What's so good about being the Sorcerer Supreme?
No one wants it!
Becoming the Sorcerer Supreme sounds impressive, but in reality, one has to guard the Sanctuary, resist Dimensional Demon Gods, and gain no other benefits. As for the Time Stone on Ancient One, Ben wasn't interested either.
Besides the Clockwork, which already has time-related abilities within the Little Broken Watch, and Alien X, who transcends time and space, the Time Stone itself is merely a tool that only works within this universe.
Outside this universe, the Time Stone is just a pretty rock.
Most importantly, Ben had no intention of staying at the Sanctuary and causing trouble for himself.
"You have immense magical potential. I can say that if you are willing to stay at Kamar-Taj, you will be the most outstanding among us, and the most outstanding in history," Ancient One said earnestly.
What?
I'm the most outstanding?
Ben's face showed a strange expression. For a moment, he wasn't sure if Ancient One was just trying to cheer him up, or if anyone could be the most outstanding.
So the question is, who is truly the most outstanding one?
Ned: It's definitely not Stephen Strange.
"I thought Stephen Strange was the most outstanding..." Ben said.
"He would have been," Ancient One nodded, not surprised that Ben knew about Strange, and slowly continued, "But then you appeared."
She stood up, walked around Ben, and continued, "Within your body lies tremendous potential. It is magic, but it is more than just magic. You call it - Manna."
Manna?
Ben was stunned for a moment.
"Do I have Anodite blood?"
In the animation, Ben Tennyson and Gwen Tennyson both possess Anodite blood. Anodites are powerful beings of pure energy who can instinctively wield Manna.
For half-Anodite hybrids, awakening their superpowers is extremely difficult. Ben Tennyson and Gwen Tennyson's fathers, who have half Anodite blood, never activated their powers.
Ancient One shook her head and said, "No, your bloodline should be that of a pure Earthling. However, according to your own words, any creature possesses Manna."
Hearing this, Ben nodded.
Indeed, as Ancient One said, for example, Charmcaster and Hex, although not Anodites, can also cast magic by relying on Manna.
However, compared to Charmcaster's innate talent, Hex can only cast magic through magical artifacts.
"But in this dimension, there is no Manna. You are the only one who possesses it, Mr. Parker," Ancient One looked at Ben.
Her calm gaze hid a fervent hope.
Perhaps Ben only saw Manna as a superpower, but in Ancient One's eyes, it was like a seed that could take root and sprout in this world.
Most of the sorcerers in this world need to obtain magical power from Dimensional Demon Gods to cast spells.
But for Ben, who possessed the talent of Manna, he could draw power from within himself, and even radiate that power outward.
He could change the entire magical system of Earth.
However, Ben still refused Ancient One's offer.
He could master the power of magic, but he wouldn't bear the responsibility that came with it!
"Perhaps I'll change my mind in the future, but for now, I don't plan to waste time on magic," he said, shaking his head.
With the Little Broken Watch, magic was merely icing on the cake for Ben.
Ancient One said nothing more about it.
In fact, she had already guessed this would be the outcome, but she couldn't help but try.
"I'll send you back."
She opened a portal again and watched Ben leave Kamar-Taj.
A moment later, Baron Mordo slowly walked over. His eyes held a hint of gloom and jealousy, but he still asked respectfully, "Sorcerer Supreme, was what you just said true?"
"I don't see any magical talent in that person, yet you say he will be the most outstanding..."
"It's normal that you can't see it," Ancient One said without any emotional fluctuation, but her gaze remained fixed in the direction Ben had left, even though it was already empty.
"It's not a matter of being outstanding or not. He is very special..." Ancient One thought for a moment, then paused before continuing.
"Perhaps, he could become a new Dimensional Demon God..."
Back in Queens.
The Ancient One didn't send Ben back to Osborn Tower, but instead sent him directly home.
The Diamondhead's tall body was difficult to stretch in the small room. Fortunately, it wasn't long before the transformation's time limit expired.
After Ben put away the serum, his mind was occupied with thoughts of Osborn.
After tonight's battle, the entire Osborn Tower was almost completely destroyed. The exterior of the building seemed intact, but the interior was a mess.
"I wonder if this will have any effect on Norman," Ben thought worriedly.
If Osborn Enterprise were to collapse from this, it would be a huge blow to Norman.
He wouldn't have cared so much normally, but Norman had been really good to him. Even if there was a bit of self-interest involved, Norman had genuinely provided him with hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance.
Ben didn't care at all whether Norman was a good person or a bad person. He only knew that the other party had helped him.
"Once the equipment arrives and the lab is set up, I'll first help Norman and Harry cure their genetic defects. It'll be a small token of my gratitude."
As he was thinking, Ben suddenly felt a prickle on his scalp, followed by a weak knocking sound on the window.
He turned his head and saw Peter, his face full of exhaustion, leaning against the window. He was drenched, his hair stuck to his cheeks, and he reeked.
"Did you go take a bath in the sewer?"
Ben pinched his nose, looking disgusted, but still opened the window for Peter.
Peter felt his limbs were weak, almost unable to support his own weight. As soon as the window opened, he tumbled in, leaning against the wall and gasping for breath.
"Went swimming, and swallowed a few mouthfuls. Extremely high fecal content..."
He gave a wry thumbs-up.
"Ganges-style."
Ben really wanted to throw him out.
But the bloody wound on Peter's chest was shocking.
Sewers are teeming with bacteria, and if the wound isn't disinfected quickly, it will easily become infected.
However, Ben wasn't sure. With Spider-Man's resilience, perhaps those germs would be quickly eliminated by his immune cells.
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