All the remaining Black Priests stepped back from attacking. The Avengers and others too stopped as they saw Strange on his knees. His body now was made of symbols so there was no blood or gory scene from his lost hands.
Strange tried to speak but he couldn't as he had lost his mouth. This scene looked funny a bit and Tony even smiled seeing all this. This battle, even though it was small, the stakes were too high. Though everybody didn't understand the whole story they got the inkling that this was related to the survival of their universe and their multiverse.
Finally a Black Priest said
"I would appreciate it if you leave some of them alive." John understood that through hive mind now Strange was speaking. Even though he could speak through the hive mind, there was still a limit of one letter for each Black Priests so even if they try to complete a word or a sentence, the Avengers and everyone would have enough time to retaliate.
"You are really something Strange. Even after such beating, your voice is tranquil. Maybe this was the reason you were chosen as their leader." John said.
"We all do what is necessary. I am trying to save my universe while you yours. There is nothing wrong with it. We are just forced by circumstances." The Black priest said.
"So what now? Are you going to kill me?" Strange asked.
"Yeah I really wish to do so. But the thing is if I kill you, there would be no Sorcerer Supreme in Earth 616. That would cause a huge problem for all of the multiverse. You can return back. The lost hands of yours would never grow and this is the punishment for your arrogance. I presume you can change the situation of your mouth but your hands are gone forever." John said. Strange too understood that his hands would never grow back, even the symbols on his body couldn't stop the black fire, let alone all other kinds of things.
"Go back. You can tell your precious Illuminati group of what transpired here. And tell them to keep their noses away from our business. We will handle Black Winter. And if they are still not happy with the answer, tell them they can come over. We will give them the same response as we gave you now. An iron fist." John said.
Strange didn't answer it and was silent. He knew that they had lost, and in the most pathetic way possible. They couldn't even scratch the Avengers of this Earth even after having one of the most powerful groups in all of the multiverse. But Strange also knew that Black Winter too was terrifying and even the current power of this universe wasn't powerful enough to handle it.
John didn't say more and directly conjured magic. He uttered ancient Egyptian spells and sent Strange and the Black Priests away to the multiverse. He could have sent Strange back to Earth 616 but he chose not to do so, as the Black Priests didn't live on Earth 616. John couldn't send them before because this magic could only be done when there was no resistance.
Everybody sighed in relief when the Black Priests vanished after John used his magic. The shattered glass in the air repaired itself. This battle was the toughest battle the Avengers had ever faced. Even if the enemies weren't many in numbers but the sheer power that they possessed overwhelmed them.
It was a boon that they had legendary Pokemon and ninjas by their side with the tailed beasts. Otherwise the Avengers might have really lost this battle. The aftermath created by this war would be far reaching. The whole Himalayas itself was in shambles and it showed the ferocity of the war.
John returned back to his original form and removed his helmet. His face looked grave. They were able to stop the first problem but now a bigger problem has appeared. John wasn't sure when the Black Winter would come but they needed to be ready.
"John, I need to go away." The Ancient One was the first to break the silence.
"What do you mean?" John asked.
"The Black Winter. We need more information. Even though you said there is a way of defeating it but from your tone it seemed that it would be an uphill battle. We will need help." the Ancient One said.
"No universe would help us. They will instead destroy our universe to stop it." John said.
"I am not talking of the universes John. I am talking about them. I will go and ask them for help." The Ancient One said as he pointed high up in the air.
"Them? Will they even help us? After all these years?" John asked. By them John meant the trio of Vishanti. Agamotto, Oshtur and Hoggoth, the people who were responsible for the presence of sorcery on Earth and building the sanctums. Agamotto was the first Sorcerer Supreme so they had a huge connection with them.
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