Inside the Mirror Dimension.
Kaecilius and Karl faced each other.
But at this moment, the atmosphere between them suddenly tightened.
The two stood opposed, staring each other down, and neither spoke for a time.
After a while, Karl finally spoke at an unhurried pace.
"Master Sorcerer-sama, do you really have nothing you want to say?"
"I think you should have a lot you want to talk about right now."
"Oh?"
"What do you think I should say?"
Kaecilius replied as well, his expression dark and overcast.
"Of course—about magic."
"The magic you taught me seems to have a problem."
Karl said.
"Oh? What problem?"
Kaecilius asked blandly.
"The spell you taught me… seems to be Dark Magic."
Karl said.
"Dark Magic? How did you tell?"
Kaecilius stared hard at Karl as he spoke.
"Master Sorcerer-sama, as you know…"
"I'm a genius. Geniuses are always a bit different."
"I can still see some things that aren't ordinary."
Karl smiled and spoke.
"I didn't expect your talent to be even better than I thought."
"You can actually distinguish the difference between ordinary magic and Dark Magic."
"I have to say—your perception is extremely sharp."
As he said this, even Kaecilius couldn't help feeling some emotion.
Why had he been confident he could deceive Karl?
Because the spell Lethal Siphon was incredibly deceptive.
Just as he had said, it was a spell derived from Mana Siphon.
In essence, it truly did draw power from the natural universe to replenish the sorcerer's internal mana.
However—
After being altered by certain sorcerers with ulterior motives, it became Dark Magic, capable of being used on sorcerers themselves.
There were extremely subtle differences within it.
Only a Master Sorcerer could normally see through it.
Yet with Karl's level, he had still discovered those tiny discrepancies.
All one could say was: this kid's talent was simply extraordinary.
Even beyond what Kaecilius had imagined.
Thinking of that, a strange smile appeared on Kaecilius's face.
The more of a genius Karl was, the happier he became.
"I really did underestimate your talent."
"Unfortunately, it's already too late."
"Since you can tell this spell is Dark Magic, then you should have already learned it, right?"
Kaecilius said.
"You're right."
Karl answered.
"Then what's left to say?"
"You're already in my grasp."
Kaecilius said.
"Why?"
Karl asked.
"Why what?"
Kaecilius tossed the question back.
"Why would you, a Master Sorcerer, come after a tiny Probationary Sorcerer like me?"
Karl asked, puzzled.
"You're not an ordinary Probationary Sorcerer."
"You're a genius sorcerer."
"The other sorcerers in Kamar-Taj aren't even one ten-thousandth of you. Of course I have to take control of you!"
Kaecilius said.
"What are you doing it for—dominating Kamar-Taj?"
Karl asked.
"Too small."
Kaecilius said.
Karl: ?
"Your perspective is too small."
"A genius shouldn't limit their gaze to a tiny place like Kamar-Taj."
"What I want is the entire Earth."
"I will lead humanity to embrace true Eternity."
Kaecilius spoke with feverish zeal.
"The Ancient One, heh."
"She's nothing but a fraud!"
"What she's done in secret—none of you even know."
"I am a servant beneath the great Dormammu!"
Kaecilius shouted.
With that cry—
A will, extremely evil and dangerous, descended from an unknown space.
Three dark-red marks appeared at the center of Kaecilius's forehead.
Around his eyes, it looked as if the skin had been stripped away and smeared with black dye.
His entire presence became incomparably gloomy, no longer resembling a good person in any way.
With a single wave of his hand—
The surrounding Mirror Dimension underwent earthshaking changes.
As if everything were under his control.
With a thought—
Heaven and earth overturned.
"Do you see it? Do you see it?!"
"This is the power of the great Dormammu!"
"This is true power! Compared to the great Dormammu, the Ancient One is nothing!"
"If not for the Eye of Agamotto and The Three Sanctums he left behind, the great Dormammu would have taken over Earth long ago!"
"Come with me—return to the embrace of the great Dormammu!"
Kaecilius was fanatical beyond measure.
Behind him, black energy writhed ceaselessly, as though it were condensing into something tangible.
Karl looked at Kaecilius and couldn't help letting out a sigh.
Kaecilius—what an astonishing sorcerer of Kamar-Taj.
Before him, aside from Baron Mordo, the other Master Sorcerers weren't even worthy of a single exchange.
And yet—
After being bewitched by Dormammu, he had become a zealot like this.
Dormammu really did harm people deeply.
"Sorry, Master Sorcerer-sama."
"I don't want to follow a madman like Dormammu and become part of the Dark Dimension."
Karl shook his head and said.
"You think you still have room to argue right now?"
"You practiced Dark Magic. In Kamar-Taj, that's an unforgivable crime—you'll have your power stripped away!"
"Tell me—will the sorcerers outside believe you, or believe me?"
Kaecilius laughed wildly.
"I think… they'll believe me right now."
Karl said honestly.
He lifted a hand.
The Mirror Dimension suddenly became transparent.
Outside, a crowd of sorcerers were pointing and talking in that direction.
Among them—
Several Master Sorcerers of Kamar-Taj stared fixedly this way. Their expressions were furious, mixed with shock, as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"What?!"
Kaecilius's momentum stalled.
He pointed at Karl with one hand, his face full of disbelief.
"That's right, Master Sorcerer-sama. They all saw it."
"You should surrender."
Karl said calmly.
But in Kaecilius's heart, stormy waves crashed.
His mindset wavered. His body trembled uncontrollably.
He felt a chill spread from his heart to his limbs.
Impossible!
How could Karl manipulate his Mirror Dimension?!
How could something this absurd exist?!
He possessed Dormammu's power!
Within Kamar-Taj, aside from the Ancient One, no one should have been able to peer into his Mirror Dimension!
How was that possible?!
What kind of monster was Karl?!
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]