Himalayas, Kamar-Taj.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The wind howled, and dark clouds churned ominously in the sky.
What had been a bright and serene day had turned foreboding. The clear blue sky was now engulfed in shadows. As the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj looked up, they saw a massive, swirling black vortex taking shape.
The vortex rotated slowly, exuding a suffocating aura of darkness and dread that seemed to weigh down on all who beheld it.
In the central square of Kamar-Taj, dozens of sorcerers clad in yellow robes gathered in tense preparation.
From time to time, crimson rings of flame appeared in the square, signaling the arrival of reinforcements. Sorcerers from the three major Sanctums, leaving only minimal defenses behind, had arrived in response to the looming threat.
Each newcomer exchanged solemn glances with their comrades before turning their focus to a singular figure floating in the air above them: the Ancient One, the Sorcerer Supreme.
The Ancient One stared calmly at the vortex overhead. There was no fear, no curiosity, only quiet contemplation.
It was as though everything was within her control.
Suddenly—
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions echoed as crimson lightning tore through the blackened sky, casting a bloody hue over the scene. With each flash, faint black cracks spiderwebbed across the heavens, barely visible in the murky light.
The vortex's rotation quickened.
At that moment, the Ancient One's serene voice echoed across the square, carried effortlessly to the ears of every sorcerer present.
"The dimensional rift is about to open," she announced. "Prepare yourselves. Form up, and kill the enemy."
"Yes, Sorcerer Supreme!"
The response from the gathered sorcerers was thunderous.
Leaders stepped forward, shouting orders to the crowd.
"Form up! Prepare for battle!"
In perfect synchronization, the sorcerers moved into an intricate and pre-rehearsed formation. They raised their Sling Rings to the sky, summoning their magic and tracing runes into the air.
Within moments, the collective energy of hundreds of sorcerers coalesced. Their efforts created a massive crimson wheel of light that hovered in the sky, adorned with smaller, intricately engraved wheels within it.
At the center of these wheels were complex and delicate runes.
Vishanti's Wheel of Destruction.
This was Kamar-Taj's ultimate offensive spell, requiring hundreds of sorcerers to execute. Its power was unparalleled, capable of devastating hordes of enemies.
The wheel emitted a vast, oppressive aura of destruction and annihilation.
The Ancient One nodded approvingly. Their training had not been in vain. This spell might hold back the dimensional demon gods for a time.
Her gaze returned to the swirling black vortex above. Her face remained calm, though her eyes gleamed with unspoken resolve.
Boom!
Another burst of bloody lightning illuminated the sky, followed by an ominous crackling sound.
Near the vortex, fractures appeared in the fabric of reality itself. Dark energy poured forth, accompanied by waves of despair, death, and malice. The pressure intensified as the cracks multiplied and connected.
The roaring thunder continued, as though heralding the arrival of destruction.
Finally—
Boom!
The vortex erupted violently, shattering the surrounding space. A chaotic torrent of energy surged outward, threatening to consume everything in its path.
The Ancient One extended her hand, Sling Ring at the ready. A wave of red flame-like ripples spread outward, suppressing the dimensional energy with ease. The turbulence subsided, and calm returned—for a moment.
Then they appeared.
Seven towering demon gods emerged from the vortex, flanked by countless nightmarish creatures.
There were demons bristling with bone spurs, ghostly pale apparitions, and monstrous giants radiating murderous intent.
"Dormammu, Mephisto, Mikaboshi," the Ancient One said, her voice steady and unyielding. Her gaze rested on the seven leaders. "It has been a long time."
Mikaboshi, the God of Slaughter, sneered as he stepped forward. His voice was laced with venomous glee.
"Sorcerer Supreme, I've finally entered your domain. This time, I'll show you the courtesy you deserve."
His words dripped with hatred, a bitterness rooted in past defeat. He vividly recalled how the Ancient One had invaded his dimension and, using the Eye of Agamotto, forcibly claimed the source of his killing power.
Mephisto followed, his tone dripping with mockery. "Sorcerer Supreme, we've brought you a gift. We've been looking forward to this moment for a very long time."
The other demon gods chuckled darkly, their laughter reverberating like a death knell.
Yet amidst the banter, Dormammu's attention seemed elsewhere. His gaze swept across the battlefield, as if searching for someone.
In the midst of the assembled sorcerers, Lockhart stepped through a portal and joined the fray.
He refrained from contributing to the Wheel of Destruction; lacking the requisite training, he risked destabilizing the formation.
As Dormammu's piercing gaze scanned the battlefield, Lockhart felt a sinister presence. He instinctively turned and locked eyes with his ancient nemesis.
The realization hit him like a thunderclap: Dormammu was watching him.
The Ancient One, noticing the exchange, smirked faintly. Crossing her arms, she made a strange hand gesture.
The Eye of Agamotto began to glow green, emanating an aura of ancient power.
The reaction was immediate.
Mephisto, Dormammu, Mikaboshi, and the other demon gods recoiled instinctively. Some even took a step back, their arrogance momentarily replaced by wariness.
A trace of fear and panic flickered subconsciously in the evil gods' eyes.
The Ancient One's strength alone was formidable, but with the Eye of Agamotto—a relic capable of controlling time—it was akin to granting a tiger wings. It was a power they deeply dreaded.
The Ancient One smiled faintly, noticing their unease.
The evil gods exchanged glances, anger flashing across their faces. They seemed frustrated, perhaps even ashamed, by their momentary show of fear.
Without sparing them further thought, the Sorcerer Supreme decided not to waste this rare opportunity. Magic surged around her as the Eye of Agamotto began to spin rapidly, radiating powerful spiritual energy.
With a smooth gesture, she extended her hand, sending ripples of pale green light across the battlefield.
In an instant, space and time warped.
Buzz!
The Ancient One and the seven leading dimensional demons vanished in a flash of green light.
Mirror Space!
The battlefield had been divided.
Below, the Kamar-Taj sorcerers immediately understood the signal. Sling Rings lit up as they began directing the Wheel of Destruction at the invading monsters.
Boom!
The massive crimson Wheel of Destruction rotated, and its miniature wheels unleashed an arsenal of elemental attacks—lightning, fire, icy shards, and razor-sharp blades. Like a fortress, the spell rained destruction on the invading hordes.
"Kill!"
"Defend Kamar-Taj!"
"Do not falter!"
Sorcerers like Lockhart, who weren't part of the casting, surged forward to confront the monsters that had landed on the mountains and were charging toward Kamar-Taj.
Powerful, deadly spells erupted from their wands, slashing through demons, ghosts, and beasts. The air filled with explosions of flesh and bone, punctuated by the agonizing roars of the dying.
Yet, despite their efforts, Lockhart couldn't shake the feeling that their attacks were only scratching the surface.
The Wheel of Destruction hammered away relentlessly, but too many monsters survived its onslaught and continued advancing.
Seeing this, Lockhart adjusted his tactics. With a flick of his wand, streaks of blue fire streamed across the ground, flowing like liquid.
Whoosh!
As the flames spread, they ignited into a roaring inferno—a sea of blue fire that raced toward the advancing monsters.
The leading creatures sensed the fire's danger and roared defiantly. Blood-red films covered their bodies as they charged through the flames. While the stronger creatures resisted the blue fire, weaker ones burned to ashes, their cries echoing through the battlefield.
Lockhart narrowed his eyes. He raised his wand again, summoning a dark red flame imbued with a sinister aura.
Hellfire.
This fire, borrowed from the Ghost Rider's essence, was a weapon of unparalleled power against souls and evil entities.
As the Hellfire merged with the blue flames, the sea of fire deepened into a menacing crimson.
From this fiery expanse emerged monstrous creatures, born of blue fire and Hellfire. Giant flaming birds soared into the sky, dragons with molten spikes roared, and rhinos made of searing flames charged forward.
Roar! Roar! Roar!
The flaming beasts crashed into the invaders, scattering their ranks.
Some monsters charged recklessly into the fray, eager to fight the flaming creatures head-on. Others, more intelligent, cast spells or attempted evasive maneuvers. But most fell victim to the combined fury of the blue and Hellfire, reduced to ash.
The remaining creatures faced a relentless barrage from the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj. Sling Rings glowed as they unleashed spells—blue lightning, cyclonic wind blades, and explosive energy spheres.
One by one, the monsters fell.
Whoosh!
Lockhart exhaled deeply, his gaze scanning the battlefield.
Between the Wheel of Destruction's relentless attacks, the fiery sea's carnage, and the sorcerers' precise strikes, the situation was temporarily under control.
Yet Lockhart knew the battle's outcome wouldn't be decided here. The true victory lay in the Ancient One's confrontation with the dimensional demon gods.
Mirror Space.
The Ancient One faced the seven evil gods, her calm demeanor unshaken. A faint smile curved her lips.
"Why didn't you bring your true forms?" she asked, her tone laced with subtle disappointment.
The four evil gods who had come in their true forms flinched. A chill ran through them, though they masked it poorly.
"Ancient One, stop your empty provocations," Mephisto snapped, stepping forward with a cold glare. "We know how powerful the Eye of Agamotto is, but don't expect us to fall so easily."
He paused, his voice dripping with malice.
"You're not invincible, Sorcerer Supreme. Let's not forget—you're protecting your little followers down below. If I hold you here long enough, they'll all perish."
Mephisto's words stirred the others.
"Once Kamar-Taj's defenses fall," he continued, "we'll overwhelm you together. You can't stop us all."
The Ancient One chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Oh, Mephisto. Your schemes are as flawed as ever. Do you truly believe the seven of you can defeat me?"
As she spoke, the Eye of Agamotto began to glow once more, its green light pulsing rhythmically.
Dormammu snarled, "Unite! Kill her now!"
Transforming into black mist, Dormammu surged toward her.
But the Ancient One stepped lightly, her right foot glowing with green light. In a blink, she teleported to a different position, leaving Dormammu's attack to strike empty space.
The other evil gods hesitated for only a moment before launching their own attacks.
The God of Slaughter, Mikaboshi, roared as his body swelled to monstrous proportions. Dark red spikes erupted from his skin, turning him into a walking juggernaut of death. He charged forward, eager for close combat.
Meanwhile, the God of Chaos and the others hurled spells—dark blades of energy, corrosive mists, and curses meant to weaken the Ancient One's strength.
The Ancient One watched their assault with mild amusement. "The same tactics as always," she murmured. "You never learn, do you?"
The Eye of Agamotto began to spin in reverse.
Suddenly, all incoming attacks froze and began to retreat as if time itself were rewinding. Even Mikaboshi, mid-charge, was pushed back to his starting point.
"Time magic!" Mephisto hissed, his confident demeanor slipping.
"No," he corrected himself, his voice rising. "Sorcerer Supreme, what did you do?"
The other gods froze, their expressions shifting from fury to alarm.
"Let's play a little game," the Ancient One said with a smile. "Let's see who escapes faster—or who gets sealed first."
With a pulse of green light, time froze around her.
Buzz!
The evil gods became motionless, their attacks halted mid-air.
Yet not all of them were powerless. Mephisto's and Dormammu's clones remained frozen, unable to act. But the true forms of Slaughter, Chaos, and the others struggled against the time-lock, their immense power evident in the tremors rippling through their bodies.
The God of Slaughter shuddered violently, his form flickering as he strained to break free.
The Ancient One's gaze shifted toward Mephisto and Dormammu.
"Do you know," she said quietly, her smile widening, "I've been waiting for this day for a very long time."
==============================================
Support me at p@treon.com/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this FANFIC or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
==============================================