The Ancient One studied Rowan in silence for several seconds.
"I can sense it," she said at last. "Your power has risen again. You may already be comparable to Dormammu."
Rowan did not react.
"But if you fight him inside the Dark Dimension," she continued, "you will be suppressed. Even if you manage to overwhelm him, Dormammu has something you don't."
Rowan lifted an eyebrow.
"Backup?"
"Chthon."
Rowan's expression sharpened.
"The source of chaos magic?"
The Ancient One nodded.
"Dormammu draws heavily from Chthon's black magic. Their connection runs deeper than you realize. If Dormammu senses true annihilation approaching, he can call for Chthon's intervention."
That changed everything.
Rowan had confidence dealing with Dormammu.
He had no illusions about Chthon.
An ancient god older than most cosmic beings.
Devourer of elder gods.
Origin of black magic.
One of the most dangerous multiversal entities in existence.
Fighting Dormammu was gambling.
Provoking Chthon was suicide.
The Ancient One continued.
"That is why Dormammu still exists. When he succeeds in consuming a world, a significant portion of that harvested power flows to Chthon. In return, Chthon ensures Dormammu's survival."
Rowan exhaled slowly.
It finally made sense.
There were countless dimensional tyrants in the cosmos.
Most stayed in their own realms.
Dormammu alone repeatedly attempted to devour entire universes.
And yet he was never permanently erased.
Not by the Vishanti.
Not by Eternity.
Because removing Dormammu meant confronting Chthon.
And very few beings were willing to pay that price.
"Let me guess," Rowan said. "So the strategy has been to block him forever instead of killing him."
The Ancient One inclined her head.
"Each universe's Sanctums exist largely for that purpose."
Rowan fell silent.
Giving up felt wrong.
This was the cleanest path to obtaining a complete extra dimension.
Then a thought surfaced.
"What if I don't fight alone?"
The Ancient One looked at him.
"If Eternity and the Vishanti restrain Chthon," Rowan said, "I handle Dormammu."
The Ancient One's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're proposing a coordinated strike involving abstract entities."
"Yes."
Silence stretched.
Finally, she said, "That decision isn't mine to make."
Rowan nodded.
"I figured."
"In two days," she continued, "I will be leaving this plane. When that happens, Eternity will personally appear."
Rowan understood immediately.
Her arranged death.
Her transition.
"If you want to present this idea," she said, "that will be your chance."
Rowan stood.
"Then I'll return in two days."
If Eternity refused, he would abandon the plan.
If Eternity agreed, Rowan would prepare.
Because even without Chthon, Dormammu was not easy prey.
And preparation meant tools.
Specifically…
Infinity Stones.
Rowan could not take the Stones into the Dark Dimension. Outside their native universe, they were inert.
But Dormammu's avatar would enter Earth first.
That was where the Stones mattered.
One Time Stone had already proven capable of binding Dormammu's projection.
Six together would leave it helpless.
More importantly, they would allow Rowan to lock onto Dormammu's true body and Dark Dimension before Dormammu realized what was happening.
Leaving Kamar-Taj, Rowan traveled directly to the headquarters of the Guardians.
Gamora was there.
Once, Thanos had ordered her to locate the Soul Stone.
She had succeeded.
Then erased every record.
Only she knew its location.
"Vormir," Gamora said after a brief pause.
She gave Rowan the coordinates.
The hunt had begun.
...
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