"Ancient One, I'm free," the God of Twilight bellowed, its voice a mix of wrath and triumph as it soaked in the replenishing energy flowing into its form. "What you love, what you cherish, what you protect… I will destroy them all before your very eyes!"
The twilight god's proclamation rang out like a vow, each word seething with bitterness and rage.
Nearby, Mephisto watched with a sly smile curling on his lips. Small-minded as always, he thought, amused by the god's obsession with vengeance against the Ancient One. This grudge had already cost the God of Twilight dearly; last time, the Sorcerer Supreme had nearly obliterated the god's dimension entirely. Now freed, the god seemed eager to repeat its folly.
But Mephisto's amusement was short-lived. He turned toward David, whose translucent soul hovered nearby.
"God of Twilight, Mephisto, Loki," David interrupted, his voice calm but urgent. "We need to leave. The Sorcerer Supreme will come. If she engages us here, in this secret realm, her power will be amplified by the very dimensions that support her."
David's words carried the weight of logic and foresight. Though his soul remained detached from a physical body, his keen awareness of the situation was undiminished.
Loki, ever pragmatic, wasted no time. With a flick of his Mind Scepter, he touched the Cosmic Cube, creating a swirling blue space vortex that pulsed with raw energy.
"I'm leaving now," Loki declared, his voice tinged with indifference. "We'll reconvene later." Without waiting for a reply, he stepped into the vortex and vanished, the faint hum of the portal echoing behind him.
David followed swiftly, his soul disappearing into the vortex. Despite his precarious state, he had meticulously inscribed protections into the contract, ensuring Loki couldn't betray him—at least not without consequences.
Mephisto lingered for a moment, casting a sidelong glance at the God of Twilight, who seemed unwilling to leave. "At dusk," Mephisto warned, his tone laced with mockery, "the Ancient One will come. This realm is incomplete, and she holds dominion here. If you don't want to be sealed again, I suggest you go."
The God of Twilight snorted, its expression a mix of disdain and lingering apprehension. Though reluctant, it recognized the truth in Mephisto's words. With a final look of regret at the remnants of its once-great domain, the god flew into the vortex, leaving the realm behind.
As soon as the last figure disappeared, the swirling portal collapsed in on itself, vanishing with a resonant buzz. Silence fell over the valley once more.
The Secret Realm of Kamar Taj
The stillness was short-lived. Moments later, a glowing red teleportation ring formed near the shattered sealing stone wall, and four figures emerged: the Ancient One, Lockhart, Kaecilius, and Snape.
"The other party left not long ago," Lockhart said, his eyes scanning the area as he felt the residual fluctuations of the space vortex. "But the spatial disturbances have obscured their destination. It's impossible to track directly."
He waved his wand, conjuring pale ripples of energy that spread outward in search of traces. The air shimmered like a disturbed pond, and soon a vision appeared, replaying the events that had transpired.
In the projection, Loki, Mephisto, and David were shown conspiring and breaking the seal. The God of Twilight emerged, its threats of vengeance echoing clearly. The vision faded after a few moments, leaving the four sorcerers deep in thought.
Lockhart turned to the Ancient One. "Sorcerer Supreme, what are your orders?" he asked, his tone deferential but tinged with curiosity. Despite her composed demeanor, Lockhart suspected the Ancient One had anticipated this outcome.
"Lockhart," the Ancient One said, her calm voice carrying an edge of steel, "what do you think?"
Lockhart's eyes narrowed as he considered his answer. "We need to act decisively: capture Loki, eliminate the traitors, suppress the God of Twilight, and prepare for the coming dimensional invasion."
S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier
"The intended flight path has been reached. Level 1 alert is active. Support from 32 military satellites and 12 Stark Industries satellites has been established. Magical interference protocols are online."
In the bustling command room, Nick Fury stood at the center, his hands braced on the table. Reports flowed in from all directions, each voice a testament to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s readiness. Fury's expression remained stoic, though a flicker of relief passed through his eyes.
The helicarrier's maiden deployment had been fraught with danger. Without Lockhart's timely intervention, the assault could have reduced S.H.I.E.L.D. to a laughingstock. But even as Fury reflected on their narrow escape, a question gnawed at him.
How did Lockhart know about the invasion before I contacted him?
Fury buried his suspicion for the time being. There were more pressing matters—namely, Loki's plan to summon an army and conquer Earth.
Suddenly, a sharp crack broke his concentration, and a shadow appeared beside him. Fury's body stiffened instinctively before he turned to face the unexpected visitor.
"Snape," Fury said, his tone sharp. "What are you doing here? How are things in the Vientiane World?"
"Your magical interference only hinders amateurs," Snape replied coldly, his gaze piercing. "For a real sorcerer, your precautions are trivial."
Fury's face betrayed no emotion, though he inwardly cursed. This one is sharper than most.
Snape continued, his tone clipped and precise. "Lockhart sent me with a message: Loki's plan has succeeded. He's likely preparing to summon his army. I will assist you in capturing him, providing magical support where necessary."
Fury's jaw tightened as the weight of Snape's words settled over him. His mind raced, calculating the potential fallout of an alien invasion and the steps needed to mitigate the damage.
"What about Lockhart and Kamar Taj?" Fury asked after a moment, fixing Snape with a hard stare. "Can they stop Loki?"
Snape shook his head, his voice devoid of sympathy. "Kamar Taj's resources are already stretched thin. The Sorcerer Supreme and her sorcerers are preparing for something far worse: a dimensional invasion by multiple evil gods. Compared to that, Loki is a minor threat."
The color drained slightly from Fury's face. The implications were staggering.
"The situation is worse than I thought," Fury muttered, his anger flaring briefly before he regained control. "Fine. Then we'll handle Loki ourselves. Professor Snape, if you're here to help, then I'll make use of your expertise."
Snape raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Fury straightened, his expression firm. "In fact, I have the perfect place for you… the Avengers Initiative."
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