Li Yue then realized that Ancient One must've known every spell that Doctor Strange had known. No wonder she let Wong and Mordo participate in the battle.
Ancient One must've understood more than anyone how powerful Dormammu was.
When Li Yue discovered that they wouldn't truly die, he was relieved!
...
Captain America, Mordo, and Wong had just resurrected. They were about to continue the battle when they noticed the two figures that had inexplicably appeared beside Ancient One. They couldn't help but take a second glance.
When they recognized the figure, Captain America and Mordo instantly felt a pleasant surprise!
Fatty Wong, on the other hand, was a little confused because he didn't recognize either Li Yue or Annie!
"Li Yue? You're finally here!"
The first to speak was Mordo. His dark face could not hide his surprise after seeing Li Yue. He ran directly towards Li Yue.
"I was looking for you a month ago, but Mr. Stark told me that I just missed you."
Mordo ran to Li Yue and blurted out impatiently.
"Wait! What did you say? A month ago?"
Li Yue dismissed the part about Mordo looking for him and focused on the fact that Mordo said he just left a little over a month ago, not seven years ago!
"Yeah, a month ago! Kaecilius betrayed Kamar-Taj and stole the spell that detailed the summoning of Dormammu, ruler of the Dark Dimension!
"He murdered the previous librarian in cold blood and sacrificed his head to Dormammu with a special ritual. He had gathered followers that also worshiped Dormammu.
"I went to ask for your assistance, but I was a moment too late. You had just left back then!
"In just a month, Kaecilius' strength grew immensely due to him absorbing the energy of the Dark Dimension. He attacked the Hong Kong and London Sanctuary, respectively, and successfully killed their guardian mages! He destroyed the New York Sanctuary today, which triggered Dormammu's invasion!
"Fortunately, with your friends' help, we were able to stall Dormammu and prevent him from devouring the Earth."
Li Yue only wanted to ask about the time, but he didn't expect Mordo to launch into a full debrief. He must've inherited the racial talent of a black person: rapping!
However, Mordo's long tirade wasn't useless. Sure enough, he had only left for a little over a month. The flow of time between Marvel and The Boys universe seemed to be almost one-to-one.
But new questions lingered in Li Yue's mind. Why did Kaecilius betray them a month ago? According to the original plot, it should take at least six years! Did he trigger the butterfly effect?
"Master Ancient One, what is going on? Why did Kaecilius suddenly betray us?"
Li Yue turned towards Ancient One. He believed that Ancient One must be omniscient!
"Ah, you must've known that Kaecilius had fallen into darkness much earlier than he was supposed to be. The reason for this must be the change that occurred after you left this world.
The smile on Ancient One's face didn't waver. She had no intention to blame Li Yue!
"But, Master Ancient One, since you already know that such a thing will happen in the future, why didn't you take precautions in advance? For example, capture him before Kaecilius defected. Or tell me to stay before I left!"
Li Yue still did not understand why Ancient One did not take precautions for what was about to happen.
"If I had asked you to stay, would you have obtained such a powerful ability as you do now? Would you still be able to rush back here with your immense power?
"The future is full of uncertainties. Every decision will change the direction of the future and become a new timeline. All I can do is guide the future to the proper timelines! But the proper timeline doesn't necessarily mean the one with the least danger.
Ancient One explained to the puzzled Li Yue with a calm expression.
"So, this is the best-case scenario?"
Li Yue felt that he almost understood but, at the same time, didn't. Master Ancient One's words were too complicated. But all that mattered for Li Yue was the fact that this result was entirely within Ancient One's expectations.
Could he really defeat Dormammu's invasion? Li Yue still had doubts about this!
"Alright, then, Master Ancient One. I guess it's time for me to join the fray."
Li Yue prepared to help with the fight. Only a few minutes had passed, but Thor was already overwhelmed. Thor might've become more powerful than ever before, but he was far from facing Dormammu one-on-one!
Li Yue's body slowly floated, to the shock of Captain America and the others. It was as if Li Yue's body was supported by an invisible harness!
"Oh, right, Master Ancient One. You must've seen all the possible outcomes of this battle! How many of them do we win?"
Right before he flew away, he suddenly remembered the scene in the Avengers movie where Doctor Strange saw more than 14 million possible futures. He couldn't help but ask Ancient One out of curiosity!
Instead of replying, Ancient One simply smiled and raised her index finger at Li Yue.
Li Yue instantly felt bad. Was it the same situation that Tony faced in the fourth Avengers movie? Would he only be able to defeat Dormammu by sacrificing his life? Despite all his power, Li Yue still broke into cold sweat!
"As expected of Sorcerer Supreme, all of you are the same kind of people."
Li Yue quickly threw that dangerous thought out of his mind. What a joke; how could he sacrifice his life for others? It was absolutely impossible!
"Hey, Mordo, when did you meet such a powerful person? He can actually fly just with his body!"
Wong, the new librarian, was shocked. He poked Mordo and asked curiously since he was the only one who hadn't met Li Yue!
...
Li Yue wasted no time and shot right at Dormammu's massive face.
He didn't want to use his primary superpower this time: he wanted to see if his strength alone would be enough to match Dormammu!
Li Yue breached the sonic barrier in an instant. He clenched his right fist, wrapping it with countless bolts of lightning, and smashed right at Dormammu's eye while speeding more than ten times the speed of sound.
Li Yue had wanted to fight Dormammu head-on, but aiming for a weak point was part of the strategy. Dormammu's eyes seem to be perfect for that!
Dormammu was focused on fighting Thor, but he noticed an extremely fast figure racing toward his right eye. He hurriedly blocked it with his right hand!
Thor immediately noticed Dormammu's panic. He didn't waste this opportunity and erupted with the full strength of his aura. He held his Stormbreaker axe with both hands and focused all his divine power on it!
He leaned back and threw the Stormbreaker at full strength toward Dormammu!
The Stormbreaker, supercharged with Thor's condensed divine power, slashed at Dormammu's left eye.
...
Li Yue's attack landed first, slamming his lightning-clad fist on Dormammu's right palm.
Bang!!!
A shockwave radiated from the impact, obliterating countless planetoids around them, which returned into the Dark energy inherent to this world.
Li Yue was thrown back by the powerful rebound force, only stabilizing about a hundred meters away.
Dormammu's injuries were definitely worse, though. His right palm had a hole through it, which leaked blood-like black energy that dissipated into the air!
Thor's axe hit Dormammu's left eye shortly after, completely undefended!
Roar!
Dormammu roared twice in quick succession out of incomprehensible rage and pain. The very dimension and dark energy around them destabilized!
...
"Li Yue, you're finally here. Did you know what we went through? We were killed 81 times!"
Tony was jolted awake by the surge of energy from Dormammu's roar. He couldn't help but shout in excitement when he recognized Li Yue!