London, a coffee shop.
Drip! Clatter! Drip! Clatter!
The rhythmic sound of rain against the window accompanied the soft murmur of patrons inside the cozy café. Though it was midday, the overcast skies and steady drizzle shrouded the city in a muted gray.
At a window seat, Mephisto sat leisurely, stirring the steaming cup of coffee before him with deliberate slowness. Opposite him, the God of Twilight—wearing the guise of a middle-aged man with sallow skin—fidgeted slightly, his unease barely concealed.
"Mephisto," the God of Twilight said sharply, his tone laced with wariness, "if you have something to say, say it."
Mephisto offered a disarming smile, but the god's unease only deepened. Despite knowing this was merely a clone of the demon, he remained cautious. Mephisto was notorious for his cunning, and one misstep could lead to a devastating price.
"First," Mephisto began, his tone light, "allow me to congratulate you. Breaking free of your seal—quite the feat, wouldn't you agree?"
The God of Twilight snorted, unimpressed. "Spare me the pleasantries. What do you want, Mephisto?"
The demon leaned back in his chair, his smile never faltering. "Dusk," he said smoothly, "I assume you want your dimension back?"
The God of Twilight's gaze narrowed, his interest piqued despite himself. "And what would that cost me?"
"Simple," Mephisto replied, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "Help me attack the three major temples. Weaken Earth's defenses, and once we've secured access, I'll ensure you regain your dimension."
The God of Twilight let out a hollow laugh and rose from his seat. "You expect me to charge headfirst into the temples and risk facing the Sorcerer Supreme? I'm not that foolish."
His tone turned cold as he added, "Find someone else to play your pawn, Mephisto."
Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and headed for the door.
Mephisto's voice followed him, as casual as ever. "Oh, before you go, a small tip for an old friend."
The God of Twilight paused, his steps faltering.
Mephisto's grin widened. "Your dimensional core has been divided into three parts. Each piece powers the magic circles of the three major temples. If you want your dimension back, you'll need to retrieve them before Kamar Taj's sorcerers secure them elsewhere. Start with the London Temple."
The God of Twilight hesitated, then continued walking without a word.
As the café door swung shut behind him, Mephisto chuckled softly, rising from his seat. With a casual tap of his cane on the floor, a ripple of energy spread outward.
Boom!
In an instant, the café's patrons were reduced to ash.
Hong Kong Temple
In the grand hall of the Hong Kong Temple, sorcerers moved briskly, their robes swishing as they attended to their duties. At a side table, two sorcerers sat facing each other, deep in conversation.
"Master David," said Li Haoyuan, the temple's guardian sorcerer, "what brings you here today? And why have you brought so many sorcerers with you?"
Li poured a cup of tea for David, his curiosity evident. It was rare for a master to visit unannounced, let alone with such an entourage.
David sipped the tea before answering, his voice grave. "Li, the situation is dire. A dimensional demon has escaped its seal. The Sorcerer Supreme has ordered us to reinforce the temples. The enemy's next target is likely one of the three major temples."
Li's expression shifted to one of shock. "A dimensional demon? But aren't they all isolated from Earth?"
David leaned forward, lowering his voice. "This one escaped from the sorcerer's secret realm, likely with help from Mephisto."
Li's face darkened. "Impossible. Only the Sorcerer Supreme can access the secret realm. How could Mephisto—"
"A traitor," David interrupted calmly, his tone cutting. "Someone within Kamar Taj has betrayed us."
Li Haoyuan fell silent, processing the revelation.
"The Sorcerer Supreme has instructed us to protect the magic circle at all costs," David continued. "If you agree, we should head to the core of the temple immediately."
Li hesitated before nodding. "If these are the Sorcerer Supreme's orders, I'll comply. But I'll need to see your pass token first. You understand the rules."
David smiled faintly. "Of course. I wouldn't expect anything less."
He reached into his pocket and produced a token, handing it to Li.
As Li examined the token, David moved swiftly.
Buzz!
A transparent magic blade materialized in David's hand. With precision, he drove the blade into Li's back, piercing his heart.
"You—" Li choked out, his voice filled with shock and pain.
David twisted the blade, his expression cold. Dark green veins spread rapidly across Li's body as toxins took hold. Within moments, the guardian sorcerer collapsed, lifeless.
Simultaneously, the sorcerers who had accompanied David turned on their unsuspecting counterparts in the hall. Caught off guard, most of the Hong Kong Temple's sorcerers fell in seconds. Those who managed to activate defensive items were quickly overwhelmed and subdued.
"David, we need to move," said Master Johnson, one of the traitorous sorcerers. "Kamar Taj will respond quickly."
David nodded, stepping over Li Haoyuan's body. "First, we take the core of origin. With it, claiming the dimension will be far easier."
Reaching down, he retrieved a token from Li's corpse and strode toward the temple's depths. As he walked, his features began to shift, his appearance morphing into a perfect replica of Li Haoyuan.
New York Temple
Boom!
Lockhart stood outside the temple, watching the endless Chitauri army pouring through the black hole in the sky. His expression was calm, but his mind churned with thought.
Kaecilius stood beside him, arms crossed. "We don't need to interfere," he said. "S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers can handle Loki and his army. Our focus should remain on the dimensional invasion."
Lockhart nodded. "Agreed."
At that moment, the temple doors burst open, and a sorcerer ran toward them, breathless.
"Instructor!" the sorcerer shouted. "The London Temple has been invaded by an evil god. They're requesting immediate support!"
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