In the next instant, the Ancient One's body began to crack like a vase. The fissures spread rapidly, and the purple light from the Power Stone within her grew blindingly bright.
Faced with death, the Ancient One remained tranquil. Her face was a mask of absolute stillness, a stoic calm that mirrored the Great All-Father, Odin.
Then, the purple light exploded.
The Ancient One's withered physical form was utterly annihilated, reduced to nothing but drifting cinders. Yet, for a sorcerer of her caliber, the body was merely a cage; true freedom lay in the liberation of the soul.
But Jason had anticipated this. The moment her soul attempted to transcend the physical realm, he unleashed the Soul Stone. He caught her spirit in a spectral grip, tearing it into a thousand jagged fragments and sacrificing them to the void. Her end was far more horrific than Thanos's had been; at least the Titan's soul had remained whole.
As the last remnants of the Sorcerer Supreme vanished into nothingness, Jason drifted back to the ground. He turned to his syndicate with a triumphant grin.
"I'm back. It's all over."
His followers erupted in a deafening roar of jubilation. Finally, it was finished. From this day forward, the Joker organization would never have to hide in the shadows again. They could walk the streets of New York with their heads held high. Their greatest obstacle was gone; anyone who dared to resist would meet only death.
Jason led them high above the city. Looking down upon the sprawling metropolis, they felt like gods presiding over their creation. In a way, they were the gods of this world now—the masters of life, death, wealth, and poverty.
Harley took Jason's hand, a flicker of concern crossing her face. "The Ancient One left the Time Stone to her disciple. I can't track them."
Jason dismissed her worry with a wave of his hand. "Don't sweat it. Those morons will deliver the Stone to me sooner or later."
*
In a galaxy far, far away, there was a planet whose environment was an almost perfect twin of Earth. On a secluded island far from any civilization sat an ancient wooden house. Its style and structure were entirely alien to this world.
For centuries, this had been known as a "Dead Zone." Any aircraft or explorer who ventured too close lost all contact with the outside world.
On the shoreline, where the waves crashed against the rocks, a circle of orange sparks suddenly crackled into existence in the pale sky. A moment later, several figures tumbled out of the portal and collapsed onto the lush green grass.
Tony Stark pushed himself up, gasping for air. Inhaling the salty sea breeze, he let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief. "We made it. I genuinely thought I was a dead man."
"Who are you?" Thor asked, his grip tightening on Mjolnir as he stared warily at the long-faced man in the red cloak.
The man looked burdened, his expression grim. After a few seconds of hesitation, he spoke. "Dr. Stephen Strange."
Loki's lips curled into a mocking smirk. "Oh... so Earth's doctors practice sorcery now. Impressive."
Strange shot him a look of clear distaste. "Being a doctor was my former life. Now, I am a sorcerer. And I was a disciple of the Ancient One."
The group realized who he was. No wonder he had been able to snatch them from Jason's clutches.
Tony's expression soured. He marched up to Strange, his voice dripping with accusation. "You're her disciple? Then you know how long we spent looking for her? How much effort we wasted? Why didn't you people show up sooner? Why wait until so many people died to show up like some goddamn savior? Does it feed your pathetic ego to play it like this?"
Strange looked at him and sighed. "The Sorcerer Supreme monitored threats from the dark dimensions and alien worlds. When the Asgardians first came to Earth, she knew."
Thor's veins bulged with fury. "So you just watched us wander the world like idiots?"
Strange shook his head. "The Ancient One foresaw that Jason would bring calamity to the universe. Even she could not stop it."
"Then why didn't she kill him ten years ago?" Thor demanded. "She had the chance. Why let the tiger back into the mountains?"
"Because Jason cannot be killed," Strange stated flatly. "The Sorcerer Supreme said it herself. I know you don't understand, but this was the best path she found after viewing millions of futures. Exiling Jason was the only way to give you over a decade of peace on Earth."
Tony looked stunned. "Unkillable? He's just a man..."
"There is a mystery surrounding Jason that even magic cannot pierce," Strange explained. "Perhaps that is the root of the curse. From the moment that seed was planted, the universe became terminally ill. We can only find ways to extend its life; there is no cure."
The news hit the heroes like a physical blow. All their years of planning, all their sacrifices to kill Jason... it had all been for nothing. People had died for a goal that was fundamentally impossible.
After a long silence, Steve Rogers looked at the coastline and the distant hills. "Where are we?"
"The Sorcerer Supreme's sanctuary," Strange said. "A planet in the Centauri system. It's safe here. For now."
Thor suddenly remembered something. "The Asgardians? I left them on the island."
"And Pepper? And Morgan?" Tony added frantically.
Strange pointed to a unique wooden structure nearby. "While you were fighting your final battle with Jason, I rescued everyone."
Thor and Tony immediately took off toward the house. The rest followed at a walking pace.
"The Asgardians are safe," Steve said, his voice laced with worry, "But what about the civilians on Earth?"
"Jason isn't a mindless butcher," Strange reassured him. "The people of Earth have no quarrel with him. He seeks absolute rule. If everyone is dead, who is left to rule?"
Steve wasn't happy, but he felt a small measure of relief.
The sanctuary wasn't large enough to house thousands, so the Asgardians, led by Heimdall, were already busy felling trees to build temporary shelters. Even the heroes had to pitch in, and by nightfall, a sprawling village of crude wooden huts had been established.
Late that night, after Tony had tucked his daughter in, he went out for a walk. His heart was heavy. He had spent the day sighing, the wit and sarcasm completely gone from his eyes.
He wasn't the only one who couldn't sleep. The others were gathered around a table outside.
Captain Marvel was reeling from the greatest defeat of her life. Strange was lost, grieving for his mentor. Thor's rage had turned into a hollow, helpless resentment at the news of Jason's immortality.
"So... this is the rest of our lives," Tony said, breaking the silence. "Sitting in this shithole, living like we're in the 18th century."
"What else do you want to do? Go back to Earth and die?" Carol snapped.
"No, I don't want to die. And I shouldn't have to," Tony shouted. "Jason and his members are the ones who should be dead."
"Tony, we all want him gone," Banner said dejectedly. "But you heard the man. The bastard can't be killed."
"That's just the Ancient One's opinion," Tony challenged. "Maybe she was wrong. Maybe there's something she didn't see."
Tony's natural rebelliousness was flaring up. He had never been one for authority, and he wasn't about to let one sorcerer's prophecy dictate the rest of his life.
"I agree."
Steve Rogers, usually a man of few words, spoke up. Tony looked at him, surprised.
"Even if the odds are microscopic," Steve said, standing up, "I think we owe it to the people who died, and the people of the future, to fight one last time."
Tony stood up too. "Maybe Jason won't start a massacre, but do you really want the next generation living under his terror? I don't want Morgan growing up having to bow to that prick."
Thor stood up third, his teeth gritted. "I'm in. Jason killed my father and destroyed my home. This debt must be paid."
Banner hesitated, then stood. "Natasha... Ross... I'll do it for them."
Captain Marvel followed. "My dream has always been to stop violence and injustice. I've spent decades fighting for it, and Jason just wiped it all out. As long as he exists, the universe will never know peace."
Five heroes stood, looking expectantly at Doctor Strange. They were ready to fight, but they needed a way.
Strange let out a weary smile and stood up. "Actually... I have a plan."
The group leaned in, hope sparking in their eyes.
"Jason is powerful because of the Stones. To stop him, we need the Stones ourselves. It's the only way."
"But he has five of them."
"True. But we can go back. To a time before Jason ever got his hands on them."
Strange reached for the Eye of Agamotto around his neck. A pulse of brilliant green light washed over their faces.
Thor's eyes widened. "You're going to send us back in time?"
"Unless you have a better idea?" Strange asked.
The heroes exchanged looks. It was a perfect plan. With the Time Stone, they could bypass the current nightmare entirely.
"I'm in," Tony said, then hesitated. "But what if Jason's people find this place while we're gone?"
"Time is marked by moments," Strange explained. "If we leave this moment, collect the stones, and return to this exact moment, only a few seconds will have passed for them."
Tony finally felt a weight lift from his shoulders. "Then let's move. Let's get this done."
"The longer we wait, the stronger Jason becomes," Carol added.
"Alright," Strange said, stepping into a clear area. "Circle up."
As they gathered, Pepper Potts ran out from one of the huts. "Wait! Tony, I'm coming with you."
Tony snapped. "Are you kidding? This isn't a field trip, Pepper. It's dangerous. If we don't come back, who takes care of Morgan?"
Pepper stepped closer, her expression resolute. "Without you, Morgan won't have a future anyway. I'm coming to help you end this."
Thor looked skeptical. "Lady, you can barely protect yourself—"
Pepper turned and showed him the necklace around her neck. "Watch me."
It was a gift from Tony—a newly designed set of Nano-tech 'Rescue' armor. With it, her combat potential was easily on par with Banner's.
Tony's resolve softened. "Fine. But if it gets too hot, you leave. Immediately."
"Deal," Pepper said, stepping into the circle and taking her husband's hand.
"Everyone ready?" Strange asked. "Target: 2008. Three... two... one..."
The Time Stone erupted in a blinding emerald light, swallowing them whole.
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200 power stones.
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