In the Mirror Dimension, on the outskirts of London.
As ripples spread across a diamond-shaped glass surface, a bald woman in a yellow robe stepped out and arrived on the roof of a skyscraper.
Following her, a bearded young man in a gray mage uniform also appeared on the roof of the Mirror Dimension building.
The young man looked around the empty, lifeless mirrored space in confusion and asked, "Um... Ancient One, I was just learning basic spells with Mordo and the others. Why did you suddenly bring me to the Mirror Dimension?"
As a sorcerer's apprentice, he was aware that the Mirror Dimension was a basic spell, but he hadn't yet learned how to open the portal to it.
"Strange, look over there," The Ancient One said, pointing to the scene.
Strange followed the direction, his pupils dilating in amazement.
Five hundred meters away, a gold and red-painted Iron Man rose from the ground. One hand was suspended, sparking with electric light, while the other continuously fired bursts of energy into the streets below.
The constant carpet bombing caused explosion after explosion. An alien woman wielding a black spear emerged from the blast, gracefully maneuvering along the outer walls of the building. She quickly dodged the bombardment and retaliated by hurling her spear, nearly piercing the Colossus in midair.
Strange's jaw dropped as he watched the fierce battle, and he asked, "Is that... Iron Man? And who is that other person?"
Due to Kamar-Taj's isolation from the world, the Sorcerers focus primarily on training. Aside from the Sorcerors who guarded the Sanctums, few were aware of current world events.
The Ancient One calmly said, "Half an hour ago, similar to what happened in New York, a hole opened up in the sky over London. Otherworldly aliens have come to Earth."
"So that's what's happening," Strange nodded thoughtfully, stroking his chin, and then added another question, "But why are they in the Mirror Dimension? Did you bring them here?"
The Ancient One remained silent and did not answer.
As Strange processed this, he felt the entire building - no, the entire Mirror Dimension of London - tremble.
"What's that?" Strange looked quickly to the source of the tremors, some six hundred meters away. There, buildings were being manipulated like chess pieces by an invisible hand, turning the center of London into an arbitrarily altered chessboard.
Skyscrapers toppled like dominoes, following some unknown rule, and then continued to rotate and flip on the ground like a meat grinder.
"Damn it!" Corvus Glaive gripped his glaive tightly and spun his body rapidly, creating a small tornado that erupted from the building's interior walls, kicking up debris and dust.
But before Corvus Glaive could locate Kyle's position high above, another building barreled toward him like a bulldozer, leaving Corvus Glaive feeling frustrated and helpless, his power seemingly ineffective.
Hundreds of meters above.
Kyle stood on a floating platform inscribed with mystical runes, coldly surveying the scene below. His hands constantly moved in different directions, manipulating and altering the spatial layout of London's central district.
Buildings were his pawns, and the entire city was the chessboard.
It had to be said that the Sorcerer's method of long-range combat was unexpectedly exciting, opening up a new world for Kyle, who was skilled in close combat.
"Has anyone arrived?"
While manipulating the mirror dimension to battle Corvus Glaive, Kyle glanced to the side, his gaze sweeping across several hundred yards to land on the Ancient One and Strange standing on the roof of a distant building.
"Not participating in the battle, but bringing a newcomer to watch the show... Strange, it's still too early for you to fight."
Kyle shook his head and looked away indifferently.
"That's Mr. Kyle, right? It is Mr. Kyle, isn't it?" Strange asked while looking at the Ancient One.
After receiving a nod from the Ancient One, Strange pondered and said, "I didn't expect Mr. Kyle to know Kamar-Taj spells as well. No wonder he asked such strange questions at the hospital last time. But why didn't I hear Mordo or the others mention Mr. Kyle? Is he a senior sorcerer?"
"No. Strange, you're mistaken."
The Ancient One looked at Kyle's distant figure and shook her head gently. "General Kyle has never been to Kamar-Taj, and I have never taught him any magic."
Strange's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Then how does he know and use spells so well?"
"That goes back seventy years."
The Ancient One's expression remained calm as she recalled, "At that time, Mr. Kyle was a prominent young Major General. One of the older sorcerers, stationed at the New York Sanctum, wanted to test General Kyle's abilities, so he took him to the Mirror Dimension alone."
"And then?" Strange asked curiously.
The Ancient One continued, "Half an hour later, General Kyle had taken the Sling Ring from that Sorcerer, opened the Mirror Dimension portal himself, and returned to the real world. Prior to this, General Kyle had no knowledge of the Sorcerers protecting Earth."
"No way?!" Strange was shocked. He had barely managed to open a portal, taking a whole week, and he was considered one of the most talented individuals in Kamar-Taj.
And Mr. Kyle managed to learn and use the portal to navigate the Mirror Dimension in just half an hour?
Who would believe that?
"Maybe it didn't even take half an hour. After all, that Sorcerer had a fight with General Kyle."
The Ancient One sighed from her heart as she spoke. "Strange, we must accept that there are truly geniuses of the highest order in the world. They are born with knowledge; just seeing something once can allow them to instantly understand its secrets and rules."
"I have practiced for hundreds of years, and my mastery of manipulating the Mirror Dimension is not much better than General Kyle's."
A faint look of admiration appeared on the Ancient One's usually calm face. Perhaps Kyle was the only person in the world who truly deserved her true respect.
"This is the talent of a genius of the highest order."
Strange smiled bitterly and clenched his fists. The remaining shred of pride in him was completely shattered, making him feel as if there was no difference between himself, who once considered himself a genius, and a fool.
"I have another question."
Strange took a deep breath and said, "Ancient One, since Mr. Kyle is so talented, why don't we take him to Kamar-Taj? With him as a guardian, it would surely..."
Before Strange could finish, the Ancient One cut him off. "That is impossible. General Kyle has no connection to Kamar-Taj, and even if I extended an invitation, he would not join."
"Ancient One."
Strange looked directly at the Ancient One and said bluntly, "Are you afraid? After hundreds of years, someone beyond your understanding has finally appeared. Humans often choose to avoid things they cannot control or understand.
The Ancient trembled slightly and her eyes glistened with emotion. She chose to say no more.
(End of Chapter)
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