"Master Ancient One was right. My connection to Kamar-Taj hasn't been severed, which ans I can still use its magic!"
Strange looked at his hands, recalling the fireball spell he had just cast. It was one of the foundational spells developed by the Ancient One after establishing Kamar-Taj's independent magic source. It was also the first spell apprentices were required to master—because, as the Ancient One had joked, "RPG gas made it a staple."
"Yes! My link to Kamar-Taj is intact! I can still draw on its power to cast spells!" Strange thought excitedly.
Kamar-Taj magicians traditionally relied on borrowed energy to perform magic since they lacked significant magical reserves of their own. Without access to external power, Strange would have been utterly defenseless.
"That was a little warm," the Terrifying Elder muttered, slowly floating up with a sinister grin fixed on Strange.
In response, Strange imdiately cast another spell. Pressing the magical circles on his hands together, he unleashed a bolt of lightning toward the elder.
The elder raised a hand, causing the black water around him to surge upward like a waterfall, effortlessly blocking the attack.
"This is my domain. You are no match for ," the elder declared, lifting his hands. The surrounding black water rose into massive waves and crashed toward Strange.
Strange quickly retreated, his eyes darting around as he frantically formulated a counterasure.
Forming a new magical circle, he spun it between his hands and hurled it forward just before the waves reached him. A massive tornado erged, sucking in the oncoming waves and dispersing them. When the tornado dissipated, the water fell harmlessly back to the ground.
"How many tis can you block ?" the elder sneered, flexing his fingers.
Around the pocket dinsion, nurous dark holes appeared, from which a foul-slling black liquid gushed forth, flooding toward Strange like a deadly tide.
The corrosive black water was lethal upon contact. Being subrged in it would undoubtedly an a horrifying death.
"Shit! Shit!" Strange cursed, conjuring a massive shield to protect himself from the onslaught of black water.
"That's the Shield of Seraphim! And earlier, that was Watoomb's Wind!" Wong exclaid as he watched through the screen.
Both spells required contracts with higher-dinsional entities to perform, yet Strange had managed to replicate them just by self-study in Kamar-Taj's library.
"This guy's talent is unreal," Wong muttered, while even Mordo couldn't help but look impressed.
"Still, he won't last long against the elder. He'll exhaust his strength and magical energy soon," Mordo observed, frowning as he noted Strange's visible fatigue.
...
In the xican bar, Steve Rogers watched the screen curiously.
"So this is the power of Kamar-Taj magicians," he remarked, marveling at the magic on display. Having just recently awakened in this era, he was still adjusting to how much the world had changed.
"Impressive, but not unbeatable. Their spells require forming those magic circles first. If you interrupt them before they finish, they're helpless," Tony Stark comnted dismissively.
"Why hasn't the Ancient One stepped in? Strange clearly can't hold on much longer," Natasha Romanoff wondered aloud.
"Maybe she can't enter that dinsion?" Tony speculated. "If that's the case, Strange is as good as dead."
Back in the pocket dinsion, Strange was barely holding on. The space was completely subrged in black water, and his shield was visibly corroding. Sweat poured down his face as he struggled to maintain the barrier.
"Strange," the Ancient One's voice echoed in his mind.
"Master, if you don't do sothing soon, I'm going to die here!" Strange panted, his exhaustion evident.
"I've figured out a way to reach your location, but if I intervene, you won't get the reward," the Ancient One replied.
"What?! Reward? You're telling there's a reward for this?!"
"It's very important."
Strange didn't understand the Ancient One's reasoning. Sure, he wanted a reward, but not at the cost of his life.
"Master, just take it! I can't beat this guy!"
"Which is why I'm helping you. I'll channel Kamar-Taj's energy through myself to you. Follow my instructions carefully," the Ancient One explained.
Though surprised by the plan's audacity, Strange decided to gamble on it.
Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming surge of power coursing through his body as Kamar-Taj's energy was channeled into him. His body seed to expand with the sheer volu of energy.
"Let's do this!" Strange ford a series of hand signs, his magic circles glowing with an intense golden hue.
The Shield of Seraphim expanded dramatically, forcing the black water away.
With his hands rotating rapidly, Strange constructed a new magical circle. Golden patterns erged, forming intricate and mystical runes that looked like a work of art.
All the while, the shield continued corroding under the relentless assault of the black water. Strange knew he was racing against ti to complete the Ancient One's plan.
Finally, Strange completed the spell and slamd the magical circle onto the black water below.
To his astonishnt, the corrosive liquid transford into thousands of luminous blue butterflies. In the dark, decaying dinsion, the sight of the vibrant butterflies brought a sense of life and beauty.
"What?!"
The Terrifying Elder froze in shock as his summoned black water was turned into harmless butterflies.
Seizing the opportunity, Strange conjured a magical sword and opened a portal—not to escape the dinsion, but to move within it. The portal brought him directly behind the elder.
With a swift motion, Strange drove the sword through the elder's back.
"Ahhhhhh!"
The elder's scream echoed as he grabbed at the sword, trying to corrode it with his touch, but found it resistant to his powers. Worse, the blade seed to inflict unbearable pain.
(End of Chapter)
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