Two days later, Ethan found himself standing in front of a peculiar house—177A Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, New York.
The Sanctum Sanctorum.
This was the place where Earth's most powerful sorcerers gathered, a hub of mystic energy hidden in plain sight. Ethan had come here with one goal: to learn magic.
He knew that, with his current abilities, he could survive nearly anything. But survival wasn't enough. What if someone trapped him in the Mirror Dimension? If he didn't have a way out, it would be game over. Magic offered more than just power—it was utility, knowledge, and adaptability. Teleportation, transmutation, defensive wards—all of these could prove invaluable in his future plans.
Besides, if he was going to establish his own power base, magic could become one of his greatest assets.
For now, Anissa was staying with Anna, Kitty, and Angelica. He had chosen to come alone. Not only because he didn't want distractions, but also because he wanted to see what the Ancient One knew about him.
Would she sense the Omni-Watch? Would she know where he truly came from? Can she see his future with time stone? He had many questions and there is only one way to find the answers.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward and knocked on the massive wooden doors.
After a few seconds, the door creaked open, revealing a man in a monk-like robe. He was a tall, stern-looking man who eyed Ethan from head to toe.
Ethan gave a polite nod. "I'm Ethan Carter, and I'm here to meet the Ancient One."
The man studied him for a moment before stepping aside. "She's expecting you."
Ethan smirked slightly. Of course, she is. With the Time Stone in her possession, she could have easily peered into the future and foreseen this visit. He had already considered a dozen different scenarios about how this meeting might go.
The man led Ethan deeper into the Sanctum. The architecture was just like in the movies—ancient, mysterious, and grand.
Eventually, they reached a large door. As the man pushed it open, Ethan saw something unusual—the other side of the door led to an entirely different location.
A courtyard, filled with monks practicing their forms, with towering mountains in the distance.
Kamar-Taj.
The man led him inside, where he was greeted by another monk—a woman this time—who guided him through the halls. After a few turns, they reached a peaceful room where a bald woman in traditional robes sat calmly sipping tea.
The Ancient One.
She exuded a sense of wisdom, power, and serenity, yet Ethan could tell that beneath the surface, she was observing him with intense scrutiny.
He stepped forward and was about to introduce himself when she raised a hand, cutting him off.
"You're too eager, Mr. Carter." Her voice was calm yet firm. "Sit down. Have some tea. Calm yourself."
Ethan chuckled and took a seat. She wasn't wrong. He was eager. Who wouldn't be? Magic was a whole new world of possibilities, and he wanted to dive in immediately.
After a few moments of silence, the Ancient One set her cup down and spoke again.
"You know, Carter, I could ask how you know about me and Kamar-Taj. But that wouldn't get me an honest answer, would it?"
Ethan tensed slightly. He could already tell where this was going.
"But let's skip that question," she continued, her gaze piercing into him. "We both know you don't want to answer it. Instead, tell me—why do you want to learn magic?"
Ethan met her gaze without hesitation. "I want to be stronger. And for that, I need magic."
She chuckled softly before shaking her head. "You're already strong, Carter. Why seek more power?"
Ethan smirked. "Because I'm not stronger than you."
The Ancient One tilted her head slightly. "Is that all? Strength for the sake of strength?"
Ethan exhaled. He knew she would push him to justify his reasoning.
"I seek strength so I can live peacefully in this world," he admitted. "If I were just some regular guy, maybe I wouldn't care. But I know what's out there. I know there are beings who can erase timelines—who can rewrite reality itself."
His gaze darkened. "As the saying goes—'once you look into the abyss, the abyss looks back at you.'"
The Ancient One's expression became unreadable as Ethan continued. "Also… I want to protect the ones I love."
That made her smile slightly. "And that is where the real answer lies, isn't it?"
Ethan simply nodded.
She set down her cup and stood. "Very well, Carter. Stand up."
He followed her lead, standing a few feet away.
The Ancient One raised her hand and pressed her thumb against his forehead. "It may be a bit early for you, but… it doesn't really matter." She smiled. "The starting point of magic… is to open your eyes."
And then—everything changed.
Suddenly, Ethan felt himself being yanked from his body.
His vision blurred, and in an instant, he was no longer standing in Kamar-Taj.
Instead, he was hurtling through space and time, seeing realms beyond human comprehension.
He passed through the Quantum Realm, where everything was infinitely small and constantly shifting. He saw Eldritch dimensions, filled with ever-changing energy.
Then, his vision zoomed out even further—galaxies, universes, entire timelines flashed before his eyes.
And then he saw it.
A dark, pulsating void—a place of ever-hungry, writhing tendrils and infinite chaos.
The Dark Dimension.
For a split second, he felt the presence of something… watching him.
But just as quickly as it happened, he was pulled back.
Ethan gasped as he snapped back into his body, his mind began processing everything he had seen.
But unlike most students, who would be panting in shock, he simply exhaled deeply—his mind suddenly feeling clearer than before.
The Ancient One observed him with quiet amusement. "Most people collapse after experiencing that. But you… you're different, Carter."
Ethan smirked, though his thoughts were still racing.
The Ancient One nodded approvingly. "You may begin your training next month. But remember, Carter—power is not just about strength. It is about control, wisdom, and purpose."
She leaned forward slightly. "And one piece of advice—do not reveal your cards so easily."
Ethan understood the hidden meaning behind her words. He had been too open about his powers and knowledge. The Ancient One was warning him to be more careful.
He nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."
She smiled. "Good. Then I will see you soon."
A monk arrived to guide Ethan back outside.
As he stepped out of Kamar-Taj, he couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of direction.
Magic wasn't just power—it was knowledge, perspective, and an entirely new way to shape reality. And soon, he would make it his own.
As Ethan left, the Ancient One's expression turned serious.
She murmured to herself, "I cannot see your future, Carter."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "But I have seen fragments. And I know one thing for certain—"
She exhaled. "You are going to become a force to be reckoned with."
Her gaze lingered on the doorway where Ethan had just left. "Let's hope… your humanity remains, even after acquiring powers beyond gods."
...
Ethan stepped out of the Sanctum, a small smile forming on his lips. He had taken the first step toward learning magic.
Soon, he would begin his training in magic.
With it, he would eliminate one of his biggest weaknesses—dimensional traps. If someone sealed him inside the Mirror Dimension without a sling ring, he'd be stuck forever.
He also thought if he increase his strength enough, he can destroy the mirror dimension and get out. But he wasn't sure how much time it will take.
Besides learning magic also had other advantages. Teleportation, transmutation, energy manipulation—there was no reason not to learn it.
Then, his thoughts drifted to Anna. 'Maybe if she agrees to leave the mansion, she can also learn magic.'
A smile crossed his face as he imagined her simply absorbing the memories of every sorcerer here and instantly becoming a master of the mystic arts. It was almost unfair how broken her ability was.
But then, he shook his head, pushing the thought away.
He looked up at the sky, breathing in the fresh air. The day was clear, the sun shining brightly.
But then—an orange dot appeared in the sky.
At first, he ignored it, but it grew larger.
His eyes narrowed, zooming in to get a better look.
His eyes widened in shock, "Phoenix…"
The name echoed in his mind as memories surfaced. "The Phoenix will return."
Ethan wasted no time as his body vanished in a flash, soaring into the air after the descending firebird.
On the outskirts of the city, Ethan followed the firebird from a distance. He didn't want to get too close just yet. He needed to see where it was going, what it was heading toward. The flaming entity streaked across the sky, crashing violently into a wasteland, the impact shaking the ground and sending dust and debris flying into the air.
Ethan landed near the massive crater that had formed upon impact. His boots crunched against the scorched earth as he carefully descended into the pit. His eyes widened as he caught sight of a woman at the center.
She was lying unconscious, her clothes tattered, her red hair disheveled but unmistakable.
"Jean?"
But something was different. This wasn't the Jean he knew. She looked younger, as if she had just emerged from another time. Her entire body was still radiating a burning, golden aura, remnants of the Phoenix Force flickering around her.
Taking a cautious step forward, Ethan suddenly felt an intense heat surge toward him. Before he could react, flames erupted, engulfing his body in a burning inferno.
His clothes incinerated instantly. His money, his cellphone—all gone in seconds. His skin charred as the fire ate away at him.
Yet… He felt no pain as his body adapted.
His cells regenerated rapidly, repairing the damage almost as quickly as it occurred. His evolutionary ability kicked in, adjusting his physiology to withstand the immense temperature.
The phoenix flames couldn't harm him anymore.
Pushing forward, he finally reached her and gently scooped her into his arms. Her body was still burning with residual cosmic energy, but it didn't affect him anymore. As he held her, her eyes snapped open.
They weren't Jean's eyes.
They were burning… literally. Two golden infernos stared back at him.
Before Ethan could react, reality itself shifted.
One moment he was standing in the crater.
The next, he was floating in outer space.
His breath caught as he found himself suspended in the void. Stars stretched endlessly before him, galaxies spinning like specks of dust. The vastness of the cosmos surrounded him.
And then, he saw it.
A colossal, fiery bird.
The Phoenix.
It let out a piercing cry, the sound reverberating through the cosmos, a call that sent shivers down Ethan's spine.
It was watching him. Judging him. Testing him.
The bird flapped its massive wings and then, without warning, it dove straight into him and Jean.
The impact was blinding. Fire and energy merged into his very being.
And then—
Ethan blinked as his eyes snapping open.
He was back in the crater.
The flames had died down. The burning energy surrounding Jean had vanished, leaving her unconscious but unharmed in his arms.
Ethan however felt… different.
Something inside him had changed.
He could feel it.
A fragment of that power—of that cosmic force—now lingered within him.
Ethan looked down at Jean, who remained unconscious and her breathing is steady.
His grip around her tightened, "What the hell just happened?"
.....
AN: Any suggestions for hero name of Ethan. I'm thinking of either Immortal or Invincible.
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