"Sorcerer Ancient One, why is this?"
Steve felt terrible right now, feeling betrayed, especially since the other party was the guide for his second life. This made Steve feel very uneasy. He hadn't believed Kaecilius, thinking the man was trying to confuse him—after all, why would he believe the words of someone who had gone astray, especially when they were about his benefactor? But when the same symbol from the torn-out chapter he saw through the eye of agamotto appeared on the Ancient One's forehead, Steve's faith collapsed. He hadn't expected the Ancient One to actually hide the fact that she used Black magic. If that were the case, then the title of Sorcerer Supreme was a joke, and just as Kaecilius said, the Ancient One was a hypocrite. Steve stood before the Ancient One, asking with complex emotions.
"The world is not as complex as you imagine, child. I have already lived for hundreds of years."
Regarding Steve's question, the Ancient One didn't answer directly. Instead, she said something that aroused even more suspicion. She wanted this effect; to make Steve grow, she had to act this way. The path of a strong person is bound to be full of obstacles, and she had merely given him a hand. The rest he needed to realize for himself—what is right and what is wrong. The power of magic itself is not evil; what matters is the heart of the person using it. She didn't need to teach him these things; Steve had to realize them himself. Once he understood, everything would follow its natural course. Everything is predestined; it's just a matter of time.
"Can you tell me that all of this is fake? Sorcerer Ancient One."
Facing such an Ancient One, Steve felt helpless. His newly acquired Cloak allowed him to fly up from the ground. He looked quietly at the Sorcerer Ancient One as golden light began to flicker in his hands. He suppressed the feeling of betrayal in his heart, as if giving himself psychological comfort. Steve spoke to the Ancient One, hoping she could explain that this was all just a small joke of hers.
"Indecisiveness is not a good habit, child."
The response to Steve was a very substantial magic Whip that directly lashed him down from the air. The Ancient One's action undoubtedly proved that she was now the BOSS, someone capable of destroying the Earth. She wanted to provoke Steve's anger and fighting spirit; if Steve didn't defeat her, how could he become the new Sorcerer Supreme? The Ancient One's actions undoubtedly severed the bond between her and Steve, but she still held back. Otherwise, Steve wouldn't be able to stand up now. She had to hold back; otherwise, at Steve's current level, he wouldn't be able to scratch her even if he worked himself to Death.
"Do you really have to do this? Teacher—I'm calling you teacher for the last time."
He quickly flew out of the human-shaped pit in the ground. Fortunately, the magic Cloak on his body blocked many attacks, but Steve still felt as if he had been knocked down by a bull. If it weren't for the magic Cloak, he estimated that several of his ribs would have been broken. Thinking of this, Steve didn't dare to overthink anymore. His magic power began to boil as he entered a battle state. Steve knew that if he kept overthinking, Death would be the next thing to greet him.
"Let me teach you one last lesson! Steve."
Looking at Steve, who had already become proficient in magic, a smile played at the corners of the Ancient One's mouth. She was very happy that Steve had formally entered the path of magic and hadn't gone astray, though he was a bit impulsive. The Ancient One decided she would teach him what a real life-and-Death battle was; it was absolutely not child's play. A real battle couldn't be solved by just reciting a few spells. Everything had to be considered—for example, what to do if the magic casting was interrupted? What to do if the enemy got close? Sometimes, a mage must not only master magic to the extreme but also learn other techniques. Those one-handed swords weren't very handy; a giant sword could have even greater lethality. As a mage, how could one not train their body to the limit?
When encountering those who chant spells faster than you, isn't it better to just hit them with a brick? It's both convenient and quick. After the enemy falls, you can follow up with a second strike to eliminate future troubles. Although Artoria was very slow at learning magic, she understood this kind of thing immediately and could even infer other applications. Therefore, she really liked the child's savvy; she was practically a genius at learning 'magic,' born for it.
"This... this is unfair! You held back, you definitely held back!"
Steve, who was prepared, saw the Ancient One holding a golden giant sword nearly ten meters long created with magic in her right hand, and a golden light shield in her left. Instantly, Steve lost all desire to fight. Report! Admin, she's cheating! And she's cheating so blatantly! How was he supposed to fight this? He didn't want to step forward and be split in half by that giant sword. Looking at the Ancient One's expression—wasn't that the same one she showed when she used to beat him up? She was going to beat him to Death!
"It's all recorded in the magic books; it's just that you haven't learned to apply it flexibly. I didn't hold back."
Facing Steve's doubt, the Ancient One said this without any embarrassment. She had placed all these things in the magic books, but those books were in a hidden compartment in the floor. If one wanted to read them, they had to find them first. The Ancient One was truly a shrewd person who had lived for a century; she could trick people without blushing or losing her breath. It's likely that even the librarian, Wong, didn't know where some of the books were hidden. Of course, the Ancient One had a reason for doing this. If those with low attainment learned these magics, they might be consumed by the power of magic or have their hearts twisted. None of this was what the Ancient One wanted to see.
"How is that possible? I definitely haven't seen it..."
The Ancient One's words made Steve feel as if his academic perseverance was being questioned. Although the library's books might not be complete, he had a general impression of almost all of them. He couldn't have missed a magic that looked so powerful. He absolutely didn't believe the Ancient One's nonsense. Just as he was stubbornly retorting, the magic Cloak suddenly pulled him aside. Immediately after, a flash of golden light passed by. Steve looked in shock at the spot where he had just been standing, which had now become a trench. His face turned pale as he looked toward the Ancient One; if the magic Cloak hadn't pulled him, he would likely have been split in two.
"Don't talk so much in battle, or you'll really die."
She easily put away the giant sword and looked at Steve expressionlessly. This made Steve feel immense pressure. He would die; if he didn't fight back, he would really die. This was definitely not a joke. Steve looked at the Ancient One with trepidation as she spoke to him. That strike confirmed that the Sorcerer Ancient One was not joking; if he didn't fight back, he would truly die.
"What's wrong? My heart feels so heavy."
Artoria didn't know about the duel between the Ancient One and Steve. She was still looking for traces of the Skrulls. Artoria, who was quietly waiting for news, suddenly felt very uncomfortable, as if something important was about to leave her. This feeling was very strong and more direct than the previous sense of unease. This was the first time Artoria had experienced such a situation. She clutched her chest and crouched on the ground in pain.
"What's wrong, Artoria?"
Galacta, who was eating ice cream nearby, quickly walked over to Artoria, even stopping her ice cream. She looked at Artoria with concern and used the Quantum Computer on her body to check her. She found nothing threatening Artoria's life, which made Galacta breathe a sigh of relief. But seeing Artoria's furrowed brows, Galacta's heart also tightened.
"I don't know! What's going on?"
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