Immediately, Strange realized that the cosmic environment he was in was not in the Solar System.
"Where is this?"
"This is the Mizar star system. Mizar's diameter is about three times that of the sun. As for the Planet in front of us, its diameter is about seven times that of Earth." Lucas replied casually.
He had measured the data of the 65 Universe's Mizar system a few years ago, and he figured the difference between the two Universes shouldn't be too great.
"Is this real? This must be several light-years away from Earth, right?" Strange was incredulous.
He shook his head, wondering how he had suddenly traveled light-years away.
"It's only about 84 light-years." Lucas smiled.
That's the effect he wanted. Otherwise, why would he bring Strange here? Time magic could be demonstrated anywhere.
He pointed to the Planet ahead. "These are not important, pay attention."
Hearing Lucas's reminder, Strange was puzzled but still concentrated and observed carefully.
The Planet in front of him was entirely yellow. It hung motionless before Strange, seemingly occupying his entire field of vision.
Strange knew this was an illusion caused by the lack of reference objects.
The Planet before his eyes was constantly rotating and revolving around the star.
Soon, Strange's observation was confirmed.
The pale yellow Planet began to rotate and move, and its speed gradually increased. Before long, it had completed one revolution around the star.
"Time acceleration?" Strange asked.
Lucas nodded.
The next instant, the rapidly rotating and moving pale yellow Planet suddenly stopped.
Then the distance was shortened, and Strange gradually saw the near-surface environment of this Planet. The entire Planet was covered by massive sandstorms. Gradually, the sandstorms raging on the Planet's surface slowed down until they stopped.
"Time deceleration and stagnation." Strange made his judgment.
"That's right." Lucas nodded again.
Then the perspective stretched again, showing the Planet, the star. Before long, the entire Mizar system was within Strange's sight.
However, beneath the Mizar system, it wasn't the deep black symbolizing the cosmic void, but a pure, luminous white.
The view magnified again, and Strange saw clearly: it was a luminous white palm, and within its palm was the Mizar system.
Boom!
The palm suddenly closed, and the star in its center instantly erupted with an extremely bright light.
The star's energy erupted in an instant. Intense electromagnetic radiation, high-energy particle streams, and incredibly powerful shockwave matter were torn and twisted under the powerful energy impact, and even space itself was fluctuating and distorting due to this immense energy.
In just a few minutes, all the Planets within several light-years of Mizar were destroyed by the gamma rays released by the star's explosion.
Immersed in a cosmic-level energy storm, Strange felt an indescribable sense of oppression and shock.
"This... this..."
"Our Universe as a whole is still quite vibrant, and there are more alien civilizations, so we can only hold back a little. When we go to a dead Universe cluster, I'll give you a proper demonstration."
Lucas sighed regretfully, taking out a green gem and holding it in his hand. "Watch closely, Strange."
Endless green light emanated from the gem in Lucas's hand, merging into the star, which was still emitting dazzling strong light.
As the green light merged, the star instantly dimmed, no longer emitting strong light. Immediately after, time flowed backward, and countless scattered materials returned from afar, merging into the star.
A moment later, the entire Mizar system and the area within several light-years of it returned to their previous state.
Strange watched, dumbfounded, and it was a long while before he recovered.
At this moment, he realized he hadn't gone anywhere. He was still standing directly in front of Lucas.
"Just now, was that illusion?" Strange's hands trembled.
The splendor of the endless dimensions amazed him, and the evil of the Dimensional Lord terrified him, but none of this was as shocking as a star in reality being crushed before his eyes.
"What do you think, Strange?" Lucas just smiled, casually tossing him a globe.
"It's almost dawn. Go back and rest first. You'll know the answer to this question later."
It's almost dawn?
Strange was puzzled, he hadn't felt much time pass just now. He looked down at his watch, and sure enough, only about ten minutes had passed.
"Your watch needs to be reset, check your phone's time." Lucas reminded him when he saw this.
Strange responded, then fumbled for his phone. After glancing at it, he became even more puzzled.
His phone's time still showed only about ten minutes had passed.
"Does your phone not have network?"
Lucas frowned, leaned closer, and indeed, it was true.
"Most phones don't have network in places like this. Connect to WiFi. The password is hhhhstlqls."
Strange fumbled with it again, and after several incorrect password attempts, finally connected to WiFi.
The next moment, his phone's time updated, showing it was just past five in the morning.
And at this time, diligent sorcerers were already up for morning practice.
"Ancient One, Sorcerer Lucas, Strange."
With a creak, the door opened, and it was Wong, carrying a book, who entered.
Lucas's eyes lit up, and he nodded a greeting.
"Wong, you've come at a good time. Let me introduce you, Stephen Strange, my new disciple, and your junior. Besides Ancient One, you are the most knowledgeable person in Kamar-Taj. I plan to have him study with you for a while first."
"Strange studies with me? Okay."
Wong's expression was a bit strange, but he readily agreed.
With that, Wong was about to take Strange to familiarize him with the daily study tasks of a Kamar-Taj apprentice, but Lucas stopped him.
"Take him back to his quarters first. He can start studying tomorrow. All told, Strange hasn't rested for almost a day."
Wong nodded, said no more, and took Strange to rest.
On the way, Strange couldn't help but recount his recent experience to Wong and asked if it was an illusion.
After listening, Wong said with a half-smile, "Kamar-Taj indeed has many magic texts related to illusion, and as far as I know, Sorcerer Lucas's attainments in illusion are very profound."
"So, that really was an illusion?" Strange breathed a sigh of relief.
He knew it. How could anyone crush a star with one hand and easily restore things within several light-years?
Besides, how could the material from a stellar explosion affect places several light-years away in just a few hours?
Then Strange felt a bit disappointed.
As Lucas's disciple, he believed that Lucas's today was his tomorrow. Knowing that it was an illusion, he couldn't help but suspect that his earlier journey through the Multiverse was also an illusion.
"However, compared to illusion, Sorcerer Lucas's destructive power is even more terrifying."
"You have not yet practiced, so you don't realize his true strength."
Wong patted Strange's shoulder, a mysterious smile on his lips. "Strange, the grand scenes in your eyes now, perhaps in a few years, will become minor scenes. Practice well."
"This—" Strange froze.
Wong's implication was not much different from Lucas's earlier words.
A tremor ran from his hands to his vocal cords. "Could it be that all sorcerers of Kamar-Taj possess such power?"
Wong chuckled, annoyed. "How is that possible? Kamar-Taj currently only has two people with such power."
"The two Sorcerer Supremes?"
Wong smiled.
He knew Strange had misunderstood, but a Sorcerer Supreme from another Universe was also a Sorcerer Supreme.
"Mhm, that's right. Strange, work hard. I have high hopes for you to become the next Sorcerer Supreme."
"You just gave the Time Stone to Strange?"
"I've added a few restrictions to it and left a portion of power to smooth out spacetime disturbances. The current Strange can't cause any major trouble."
"Moreover, gradually unlocking the restrictions on the Rye of Agamotto can give him more sense of accomplishment when learning magic."
Lucas explained, "Just like a game, the right amount of difficulty allows Strange to prove his abilities and receive positive feedback after completing each task. This sense of accomplishment will continuously attract him to diligently study magic knowledge."
"Mhm."
Ancient One nodded, offering no opinion on Lucas's teaching methods.
She then asked, "Why was the WiFi password changed again? Is the other Strange not in Kamar-Taj?"
"He's currently researching spaceships with Tony."
In a few words, Lucas briefly explained what Tony and Strange were currently doing, as well as the current situation of the Multiverse.
After listening, Ancient One's brows habitually furrowed, then relaxed.
She then said with relief, "It's a good thing I've retired. You all can handle this matter."
Lucas shrugged.
He was helpless about the Ancient One's decision to slack off.
Fortunately, he could also slack off.
By the time the Strange from the other Universe finds a way to reshape the Universe and leaves, the Strange of the 404 Universe should have grown up.
Plus, a more mature Tony, Loki, and Thor, who might not become the King of Asgard, will be present by then.
Lucas suddenly realized that even without Wanda, his Sorcerer Supreme Team was still full of talent.
But all of this had one major prerequisite.
Lucas looked up into the distance.
The sun was just rising, the sky was dimly lit, and the stars had not yet faded, emitting faint starlight.
Such a scene was undoubtedly beautiful.
But Lucas was not looking at these beautiful sights. He was looking at the storm sweeping through the depths of the Multiverse.
After attacking Galactus and reverting Galactus from his Lifebringer form back to his Galactus form, Logos did not stop there.
This incident made Logos realize that due to the Multiverse's reboot, the most powerful cosmic beings had fallen into weakness, unable to intervene in Multiverse affairs.
The new cosmic order had not yet been established, and the hierarchy of cosmic beings had not yet been determined.
This was an unprecedented era of chaos, and also an unprecedented golden age.
For Logos, if he could establish a new order represented by him at this time, he could leap forward and truly replace the Living Tribunal.
Thus, during the three-way battle between the Celestials, Dark Celestials, and Beyonders, Logos brazenly attacked the Celestials, which symbolized the old order.
The Celestials was defeated, suffering heavy losses, and even their leader, One Above All, was almost completely killed by Logos.
After this battle, the Celestials temporarily withdrew from the grand stage of the Multiverse, retreating to a Superflow corner far from reality.
After the war, the Dark Celestials and the Beyonders officially declared war to contend for Multiverse hegemony.
Lucas learned these tidbits from Chthon.
After the Celestials's defeat, the Creator no longer required Chthon and Set to launch attacks.
Chthon then had free time and more time to attend to his own affairs.
So during this time, he occasionally contacted Lucas through the darkhold, wanting to recruit him to attack one of Eternity's offspring.
However, it was regrettable that he still hadn't found what Lucas truly needed, and was repeatedly rejected.