Dormammu "saw" in horror.
In his dimension, the sky of eternal darkness began to split open into enormous, conspicuous "spatial rifts," as if the dome of the heavens were shattering into pieces across the entire world!
The land of his dimension—land that symbolized his great military achievements, formed from the wreckage of countless swallowed worlds—was losing control on a massive scale…
Collapse!
Return to the most primitive chaos!
The laws of his dimension—his rules—fell into total disorder at this very moment. Energy surged wildly out of control. Light and darkness devoured each other; space and matter annihilated themselves in madness!
This vast, stable, private universe—once strong enough to contend with the real dimension—had begun an irreversible collapse… all because of one look! Just an "eye contact," a spiritual "greeting," and it almost erased him and his nest!
This completely exceeded Dormammu's understanding.
"No! No! Stop! Stop!" Dormammu let out the most grief-stricken, terrified howl he had made since becoming a dimensional lord.
He no longer cared about invading the real world. He didn't even dare to look at Lucci again.
He threw all his strength into mobilizing the remaining origin of the Dark Dimension, desperately repairing the world that was on the verge of collapse under Lucci's will. Like a mad mason, he stuffed energy into every crack. Like a desperate captain, he tried to plug every leak in a sinking ship.
After consuming nearly half of his original energy, he barely stabilized the Dark Dimension's irreversible collapse. The entire dimension was still riddled with holes—its laws chaotic, its energy thin, its vitality severely damaged—looking as if it could collapse again at any moment…
…but it was finally "saved."
Dormammu's colossal face shrank to a circle smaller than before. In the eyes that burned with evil aura, all the former greed and tyranny were gone—only the dread of surviving a catastrophe remained.
Fear.
Trembling, he cautiously looked back toward the real dimension with what remained of his will. This time, he didn't dare to probe or provoke.
He was like a rabbit taught a lesson by a tiger, hiding in the grass and secretly watching an unforgettable terror with the humblest, most frightened gaze.
He saw him.
Beside the Ancient One stood a man with black hair and black eyes, still calm and composed—like everything that had just nearly destroyed a world had nothing to do with him.
Dormammu's entire consciousness convulsed violently in fear.
"Mon… monster…"
"On Earth… how can there be such a monster?"
His consciousness screamed madly, but he couldn't even make a sound.
That man—just moments ago, Dormammu's will had nearly arrived and wiped him out!
The power contained in that gaze—the level of a "Path" that defines and erases all things—was even more terrifying than the Celestials he had seen.
This was absurd!
The Celestials destroyed a world and had to pour out energy for half a day. But this man—at the instant he merely "looked," Dormammu's world collapsed on its own!
How was anyone supposed to fight this?
This wasn't a battle of the same level at all.
In that moment, every trace of Dormammu's greed and desire for Earth was uprooted and burned to ashes.
In its place: the instinct to survive. The instinct to run.
His only thought was to sever all connection with the real dimension immediately and flee back into the depths of his own realm to hide.
But it was already too late.
…
Kamar-Taj.
The moment Dormammu began preparing to escape, the dark sky changed instantly. The darkness retreated like a tide, and the sky cleared again.
The Ancient One, everyone present, Wong, and all the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj were stunned.
What just happened?
Dormammu had finally arrived, and the result was…
After yelling, he actually… wanted to run?
What kind of situation was this?
Before everyone could even process it, Lucci revealed another technique. Seeing Dormammu attempt to flee, a faint sneer tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Coming when you want and leaving when you want—how can it be that easy?"
Under the shocked gazes of the Ancient One and the others, Lucci stepped forward. His figure vanished on the spot, actively entering the Dark Dimension.
He… went in?
Wong stared at the place Lucci disappeared from, stammering. His normally serious face was full of shock.
"He… went in alone… into the Dark Dimension?"
Mordo's voice was just as incredulous. His mind couldn't understand what he was seeing.
Dormammu fled after a few harsh words.
And this mysterious, powerful Lord Lucci actually… chased him down?
Chase?
Chase into the absolute home ground of a dimensional master to hunt him?
Just thinking about it made Mordo feel like his worldview was burning and collapsing.
This wasn't courage…
This was suicide.
Kamar-Taj fell into dead silence. The sorcerers stared at one another, seeing deep confusion and fear in each other's eyes.
Only the Ancient One, after a brief shock, inferred the truth: Dormammu retreated because of what Lucci did!
Otherwise, Dormammu wouldn't have invaded and then withdrawn so hastily.
But even so—chasing Dormammu into the Dark Dimension was still a dead end!
Her expression grew solemn and uneasy.
She was different from the others. She had been to the Dark Dimension. She had borrowed its power. No one understood better how terrifying that place was.
There, Dormammu was a god. He could mobilize the strength of the entire dimension at will. He was immortal and invincible.
Back then, she had relied on the Time Stone to force Dormammu into an infinite loop of "negotiation."
If it came down to real combat, she couldn't even block one of Dormammu's fingers inside the Dark Dimension.
"Lord Lucci's power is unfathomable…"
"But! Once inside the Dark Dimension, everything is different! It's like a human jumping into a shark's mouth. Even if you can fight back, how do you fight a shark that can use its environment?"
The more she thought, the more anxious she became.
"Supreme One, what should we do now?" the others and Wong asked hurriedly.
The Ancient One took a deep breath, determination flashing in her eyes.
"Lord Lucci's strength is indeed astonishing."
"But… no matter what, that is Dormammu's territory. He entered too recklessly… it's hard to gain any advantage."
"He taught us the best way, and even showed the elegance of recreating Kamar-Taj. We can't let him fall into danger because of us!"
"Besides, he's still the crown prince of Asgard."
"If something really happens to him in the Dark Dimension, enraged Asgard might turn Earth upside down. We can't bear that consequence."
She looked at Mordo and Wong and gave an unquestionable order:
"Immediately enter the Dark Dimension, find Lord Lucci, and figure out a way to fight alongside him!"
"No matter what, even if I must stake my life, I must bring him out safely!"
"And you," her gaze turned icy, "immediately—according to the original plan—have all sorcerers evacuate at once!"
"No! Supreme One!" Mordo protested immediately. "We can't let you go alone! We've seen Dormammu's terror. If we go, we go together!"
"Yes!" Wong stepped forward, resolute. "Kamar-Taj has no tradition of abandoning comrades! We have no reason to let you die alone! We're ready to fight with you!"
"Live and die together!"
The other senior sorcerers, recovered from shock, shouted in unison. The crowd surged with emotion. They still feared Dormammu, but supported by faith in protecting the Supreme One and their comrades, they were prepared to give their lives.
But the Ancient One refused firmly.
"Fools!" she shouted sharply.
"Going would only mean dying for nothing and becoming nutrients that strengthen Dormammu—what use would that be?"
"Your mission is to preserve Kamar-Taj's flame and pass on magic! Don't make meaningless sacrifices here!"
"This is my final command as the Supreme Sorcerer."
"Retreat immediately!"
After that, ignoring everyone, she reignited the light of magic around her body, drew complex seals with her hands, and prepared to open a passage into the Dark Dimension.
Mordo, Wong, and the others stared at her unyielding back, eyes brimming with tears, hearts full of resistance and helplessness. They knew she had made up her mind and they could not oppose it.
In the end, they could only close their eyes in pain and bow deeply to her back.
"…Yes. We… obey."
…
The Dark Dimension.
A twisted, chaotic universe filled with negative energy. No sun, no moon, no stars—only eternal, oppressive darkness.
The land was littered with strangely shaped mountains and canyons formed from the remnants of countless devoured worlds. Above, purple clouds made of pure evil energy rolled and churned; now and then, destructive lightning tore through the sky.
Every corner of space was saturated with Dormammu's will.
In the core region of this dimension, Dormammu's enormous evil face still trembled in shock as it continued to withdraw from the real world.
Suddenly—at that very moment—the space before him ripped open without warning.
A slender figure stepped out slowly.
It was Lucci.
The instant Dormammu saw him, his immense consciousness shrank like a frightened rabbit. His giant face filled with uncontrollable terror.
"You… you… how did you get here?" His voice trembled.
He had never dreamed that the monster who terrified him to his bones would dare chase him all the way back to his lair!
Lucci looked around at this realm overflowing with negative energy and destruction, and frowned slightly. The environment made him uncomfortable—like someone used to fresh air being thrown into a filthy, stinking garbage dump.
But seeing Dormammu's frightened expression improved his mood a little.
He didn't answer. He simply looked at Dormammu's domain with indifference.
Dormammu stared at Lucci's relaxed demeanor, stunned for a moment.
Then, from deep within his fear, contempt and humiliation-fueled rage surged back up!
He suddenly realized something.
Where was he?
This was the Dark Dimension!
This was his kingdom—his absolute home!
Here, he was an omnipotent god. He could mobilize the entire dimension's power. Here, he was immortal!
Earlier, he had been scared by the other party's will because he was invading the real dimension—his power was dispersed and suppressed, unable to fully manifest.
But now it was different!
This arrogant human… actually dared to barge in and challenge him?
Seeking death!
With that thought, the fear that had filled Dormammu moments ago was replaced in an instant by endless ecstasy and cruelty.
Fear—washed away.
"Haha… hahahahahaha!"
Dormammu's harsh laughter roared across the entire Dark Dimension, resonating with its laws and whipping up a massive energy storm.
"Lowly human! This is the height of foolishness!"
His colossal face became hideous and arrogant again, looking down on Lucci like prey caught in a web.
"I admit you have the power to make me afraid! But you should never enter my kingdom!"
"Here! I am the law! I am god!"
"I am invincible!"
"You're walking into a dead end!"
As Dormammu screamed, space nearby rippled again—another magic portal opened. The Ancient One, in yellow robes, stepped into the Dark Dimension.
"Lord Lucci!"
Seeing Lucci unharmed, the Ancient One sighed in relief—only for her face to turn pale as she took in the dreadful scene and the giant face in the sky laughing madly.
Dormammu, seeing her as well, smiled even wider.
"Oh? Look who it is. The thief who borrowed my power and never repaid the debt?"
"Perfect—just in time!"
His voice was filled with excitement and cruelty.
"Today, I'll wipe you both clean!"
"You will become the most humble trophies in my eternal kingdom!"
Then he stopped wasting words.
"Darkness—heed my command!"
At his command, the entire Dark Dimension boiled!
Endless dark energy converged from all directions, transforming into hundreds of millions of colossal tentacles formed from pure evil energy. They covered sky and earth, blanketed the void, and swept toward Lucci and the Ancient One!
Each tentacle carried terrifying power capable of easily destroying a planet.
The Ancient One looked at that destructive force and felt an absolute suppression so overwhelming she couldn't even think of resisting. Her face was full of fear and despair.
So this was Dormammu's true power?
This was something no lifeform could resist…
Worse still—when she rushed in to save Lucci, she hadn't had time to prepare a time loop.
Meaning: this time, they were fighting Dormammu on his own territory.
She had no confidence.
"Lord Lucci!" she cried anxiously at the calm-faced Lucci. "Hurry! I'll hold him off for even a moment!"
"Find a way to tear space and get out! Return to Asgard!"
She was ready to sacrifice herself. Her hands bloomed with the last and brightest magic of her life—prepared to stake her life for even a fraction of a second to help Lucci escape.
In her mind, this was Lucci's only hope.
But before this apocalyptic scene, Dormammu's arrogance and mockery, and the Ancient One's tragic cry—
Lucci merely shook his head with an indifferent expression.
…
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