Chapter 267: Chapter 266: A New Beginning
"Who would have thought there was such a method," the Ancient One mused as she floated in a dimension of her own, a wry smile on her face. Witnessing Daniel's use of the Time Stone to bargain with Dormammu, she couldn't help but feel a touch of irony. If she had known this trick centuries ago, she wouldn't have had to endure nearly a thousand years of conflict with Dormammu.
Though her mastery of the Time Stone far exceeded Daniel's, the Ancient One acknowledged that her thinking was still constrained by traditional limitations. It wasn't uncommon for those who lived through the ages to fall victim to the inertia of their experiences.
"Now, I can finally let go," she whispered, producing a vial of Pym Particles from her robe. With a flick of her hand, she vanished from the dimension. Had Daniel been there, he would have recognized the Pym Particles immediately.
While Dr. Hank Pym had fiercely guarded the secret of the Pym Particles, acquiring them was child's play for the Ancient One. She was no stranger to unconventional methods, as evidenced by her use of the Dark Dimension's power.
Just as Thanos could easily replicate Pym Particles during the Time Heist, so too could the Ancient One—she was simply beyond the reach of ordinary human constraints.
For Hank Pym, the particles were tools for shrinking household items or powering the Ant-Man suit. For Stark and Banner, they became a means to travel through time and retrieve the Infinity Stones. But for sorcerers like the Ancient One and Daniel, Pym Particles held the potential to traverse entire dimensions.
With Dormammu's threat now abated, the Ancient One was finally free. She could pursue other endeavors, such as reincarnation and acquiring a new physical form. But Daniel remained unaware of her true intentions as he focused on the monumental task before him—restoring the three Sanctums.
Under the influence of the Time Stone, the Sanctums were quickly restored to their former glory. However, the lives lost in the battle could not be brought back.
Whether the Ancient One had intended it or not, Daniel saw no reason to reverse those deaths. After all, she had always warned against meddling too much with time. Even now, after her exposure as a user of the Dark Dimension's power, Wong remained fiercely loyal to her teachings, while Mordo seemed almost relieved that those who perished would not return.
From the way Mordo eyed him, Daniel suspected that if not for their difference in power, Mordo would have tried to kill both him and Wong.
"It's hard to believe Strange and Wong lived such modest lives with all this wealth at their disposal," Daniel thought as he explored the Sanctums. The artifacts housed within were priceless—each one a treasure that would fetch a king's ransom if sold.
"The magic arrays here are terrifying. I can't imagine how the Ancient One managed to create them." The Sanctums were constructed at the Earth's key coordinates, absorbing magical energy from various dimensions. While inside them, Daniel felt powerful enough to hold his own against Thor.
The array, which drew upon the limitless energies of dimensional spaces, was something Daniel was eager to study. However, its complexity meant it would take him considerable time to fully understand—time he currently didn't have.
Unlike Stark, who relied heavily on his suits for power, Daniel sought to integrate all power within himself. While he possessed advanced technology, he always believed in personal power over reliance on external tools. Stark might wield incredible strength through his armor, but he was still human beneath it.
"Time Stone acquired. Three more to go," Daniel mused. The Time Stone was a formidable artifact, though it didn't offer much practical use at the moment. It would only be essential if he faced an enemy on the level of Dormammu again.
Against Thanos, however, the Time Stone would be of limited value. The Infinity Stones could counteract one another, and Thanos wasn't a being who transcended time like Dormammu. In a battle against Thanos, even rewinding time by a few hours wouldn't change much.
For now, the greatest value the Time Stone held for Daniel was in studying the laws of time itself. After all, the Ancient One had managed to freeze almost the entire city of New York with just her soul.
To Daniel, even the Infinity Stones were ultimately external objects. True power, he believed, lay in mastering oneself. The Infinity Stones were potent in their home universe, but their influence diminished across different dimensions.
"Leave this place to you," Daniel said to Wong after restoring the Sanctums. With Dormammu's invasion thwarted, Daniel turned his focus to more pressing matters. He instructed Wong to gather all magical artifacts and tomes from the other Sanctums and to close down the Kamar-Taj headquarters in Nepal, effectively halting the recruitment of new sorcerers.
Wong had no objections. As the librarian of Kamar-Taj, his passion lay in studying magic. Daniel ensured Wong would have all the resources he needed, including a considerable sum of money, to live comfortably—a far cry from the frugal life he and Strange had known.
"What are you doing?" Daniel asked as he stepped through a portal into a secluded alley near a basketball court in New York. He had caught Mordo in the act, his hand clamped around the throat of Jonathan Pangborn, a promising basketball star who had recently gained some notoriety.
Pangborn had once been paralyzed but was healed through magic at Kamar-Taj. Upon returning to society, his magically enhanced physique allowed him to excel in basketball, even making him a candidate for the NBA. But now, his life was ebbing away as Mordo drained the magical energy from his body.
"You followed me," Mordo accused, gripping his magical staff, the Staff of the Living Tribunal, tighter.
"I was curious to see what you were up to," Daniel replied calmly. "I never imagined you'd walk the same dark path as Kaecilius. The Ancient One would be heartbroken to see you like this."
"Don't mention that liar and hypocrite!" Mordo spat, his voice filled with rage as he swung his staff. "She deceived me. I only regret not seeing through her sooner."
"Is that how you see her? What a pity," Daniel sighed. In a flash, he was upon Mordo, his speed so great that Mordo had no time to react.
With a swift motion, Daniel drove his sword through Mordo's chest and twisted his arm to wrench the Sling Ring from his fingers.
"You…" Mordo gasped, feeling his magical power drain away.
"Why the surprise? You were right—there are too many sorcerers in this world," Daniel replied, smiling. Knowing Mordo had turned against him, Daniel had no qualms about eliminating a future threat. Leaving a corrupted sorcerer like Mordo alive would only invite disaster. Who knew what powerful entities Mordo might summon next?
The Darkhold, for instance, contained spells that could summon unspeakable horrors. Most people, even those who stumbled upon the book, couldn't perform the rituals it described. But Mordo could.
"The Ancient One raised you, taught you magic, and this is how you repay her? Calling her a liar and a hypocrite? Did you really think you were so righteous?" Daniel asked, watching as flames consumed Mordo's body.
Daniel couldn't comprehend Mordo's twisted sense of morality. The man seemed to have adopted a warped, almost sanctimonious outlook, condemning his own allies while forgiving the actions of those who sought to destroy the world.
It was one thing for villains to be forgiven for a single good deed, but condemning a virtuous person for a single misstep was the height of hypocrisy. The world was far too harsh on the good, and Mordo's behavior epitomized that. And what was the Ancient One's crime? She had merely drawn on the Dark Dimension's power to protect Earth.
But Daniel knew there was more to Mordo's bitterness. Deep down, Mordo was likely jealous that he hadn't been chosen as the next Sorcerer Supreme. His resentment festered, fueled by the knowledge that the Ancient One had kept secrets from him.
She had chosen not to teach Mordo how to safely harness the Dark Dimension's power, likely due to his uncompromising nature. A Sorcerer Supreme needed balance—not someone who was too rigidly moral or too corrupt. Daniel, with his pragmatic approach to power, fit that role better than Mordo ever could.
"I'm sorry," Daniel muttered after reducing Mordo's body to ashes. He collected Mordo's magical items and glanced at Pangborn's lifeless body. Without a second thought, Daniel opened a portal and left the scene.
The next day's headlines would likely report the murder of a rising basketball star in a dark alley. The story might stir racial tensions, as Pangborn's meteoric rise had undoubtedly attracted envy and resentment.
But Daniel had no interest in such matters. Instead, he focused on examining the magical items he had taken from Mordo. The Staff of the Living Tribunal held little value to him, though it could have been a formidable weapon in the comics. The Vaulting Boots of Valtorr, however, had potential—they enhanced the wearer's jumping ability.
"Without the Ancient One around, life's going to be a lot more relaxed," Daniel thought as he entered the world of giants once again. Both the Space Stone and the Mind Stone were hidden here, and now the Time Stone was in his possession as well.
"Their power is definitely weaker here, though not entirely useless."
"Looks like they patched things up. This ending isn't too bad," Daniel noted with relief, seeing that Strange had reconciled with his girlfriend after regaining the use of his hands. The incident had weighed on Daniel's conscience, but Sure, here's the continuation:
The incident had weighed on Daniel's conscience, but seeing Strange find happiness in a different path allowed him to let go of his worries. He even arranged for Strange's medical bill to be waived, feeling that the doctor deserved a break after everything he had been through.
With one less burden on his mind, Daniel returned to focus on his own mission. "Now, should I go cause trouble for the Celestial Dragons? Maybe not just yet. Since I've become the Sorcerer Supreme, I might as well explore a new world," Daniel mused.
The Ancient One's departure and her words had lifted a weight off his shoulders, freeing him from the cautious approach he had adopted. Now, he felt a renewed sense of purpose to explore and conquer new dimensions, knowing that the risks were less than what he once feared.
Taking on the Celestial Dragons could wait. The world government and the navy, led by Sengoku, were already in a state of disarray thanks to his previous actions. Daniel's recent visit to the One Piece world had included a second round of flyers, this time announcing the reopening of the Human Auctioning House on Sabaody Archipelago's Grove 1, fully renovated and ready for business.
This public exposure of an operation usually kept hidden from the general populace had thrown the navy into further chaos, causing Sengoku to almost collapse from stress. The recently rebuilt Marineford had once again been severely damaged as a result.
Taking advantage of the upheaval, the Revolutionary Army had accelerated their activities. Compared to their presence in the original storyline, the current Revolutionary Army was much stronger. While Daniel hadn't directly aided them, the food supplies, weapons, and the information he disseminated had led many neutral parties to join the revolution.
Thanks to Daniel's influence, the Revolutionary Army had intensified its propaganda efforts, forcing the world government and the navy to respond with a major crackdown. This had led to a recent confrontation where the navy, under the command of Admirals Kizaru and Aokiji, had faced off against Dragon. Despite their combined strength, the admirals had failed to subdue the leader of the Revolutionary Army.
After receiving this report, Daniel couldn't help but think, "Kizaru must have held back again."
Against Dragon, who could manipulate the weather and wind, the only navy admiral with a distinct advantage was Kizaru. Aokiji and Akainu's abilities, while formidable, were less effective against an opponent who could simply take to the skies and control the battlefield from above.
Dragon's power over storms and his ability to fly made him a particularly difficult target in a world dominated by the sea. Without Aokiji's ability to freeze vast expanses of water, the navy's ships were sitting ducks, no matter how many marines they deployed.
"Who knows what place I'll end up in next," Daniel thought as he prepared for his next journey into the unknown.
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