Chthon's immense power had allowed him to become the Dark God, the source of dark magic. Those who learned his dark magic could, at best, wield a fraction of his power, perhaps only one-tenth if they were extraordinarily talented. Yet, the young man before him had conjured a spell nearly equal to his own.
This was inconceivable to Chthon.
Though Mordo generally disapproved of dark magic, he recognised the might of Chthon's spells. Conventional methods would be ineffective against such power, making a counter with similar magic the only viable option.
"Master Wang Yan can learn a spell just by seeing it once and wield it with almost the same power. Remarkable!" one of the master sorcerers commented.
"With Master Wang Yan, we might have a chance against this Dark God," another added.
"If only I had half the talent of Master Wang Yan; I haven't even mastered all of Kamar-Taj's spells yet," another lamented.
Seeing Wang Yan match Chthon's magic amazed the gathered masters, further solidifying their respect for him.
"A Dark Spear? Interesting. You've learned my spell so quickly!" Chthon remarked, maintaining his composure. Even if Wang Yan had learned the spell, he doubted it carried the same potency as his own.
With a wave, Chthon unleashed his Dark Spear. It streaked toward Wang Yan as a beam of black light.
Wang Yan didn't hesitate. He launched his own Dark Spear to intercept Chthon's.
Boom!
The two Dark Spears collided, releasing a terrifying, corrosive force. The air seemed to sizzle and dissolve, producing a hissing sound as the corrosive power spread.
"Ha! You may not realize it, but the Dark Spear's power can corrode everything around it. This corrosive force won't affect me, but it's extremely dangerous for you!" Chthon's voice echoed through the darkening area as the corrosive energy expanded.
The master sorcerers took several steps back, their faces showing fear. But Wang Yan raised his hand, releasing a powerful divine energy that dispersed the corrosive force, restoring the air to normal.
Chthon was surprised. It was one thing for another god to dispel his power, but it was unexpected for a mortal to do so.
"It seems you've studied the Darkhold," Chthon observed, his expression neutral. A mortal studying his magic was not unusual, but it rarely ended well for them. Yet Wang Yan appeared unaffected, which was puzzling.
"Yes, I've read the Darkhold. So what?" Wang Yan responded, unperturbed.
"So what? My book is not something anyone can read lightly. Anyone who learns my magic must pay a price!" Chthon declared coldly.
Wang Yan remained silent.
"Once you've learned my power, it becomes part of you. With a mere thought, I can make you pay dearly," Chthon continued, raising his hand as dark energy swirled around it. Wang Yan did feel a stirring within him, but he remained unconcerned.
The power within him was vast, a collection of various divine energies. The dark energy from Chthon was just another addition that posed no significant threat.
Boom!
A sound echoed from within Wang Yan, followed by silence.
The master sorcerers watched anxiously, fearing that Wang Yan might be in serious trouble. But he stood unaffected.
Wang Yan's magic differed from that of ordinary sorcerers. He didn't borrow power; he claimed it, integrating it into his being. This left him unaffected by the usual drawbacks of borrowed magic, such as those faced by Stephen Strange, who had to pay heavy prices for his power.
"Are you alright, Wang Yan?" Mordo asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," Wang Yan smiled reassuringly.
Chthon, unaware of Wang Yan's unique abilities, was stunned. His influence should have drained Wang Yan's life force, yet the sorcerer remained unscathed.
"How can this be?" Chthon muttered, incredulous. "You should be suffering from my power!"
"This is normal. Some things just don't work," Wang Yan replied, alluding to the fact that specific abilities simply couldn't affect him.
Chthon was puzzled. How could his power be so ineffective?
Focusing once more, he attempted to draw out the dark energy within Wang Yan, only to find it gone.
"Impossible! How is he unscathed after I reclaimed my power?" Chthon was bewildered but refused to relent.
"Even if you survived this time, do you think you can withstand my full might?" Chthon threatened, his voice cold as he gathered more dark energy from the void, intensifying his presence.
"You don't understand the power of a god. I am strength, I am law, I am darkness!" Chthon declared, enveloped in dark energy. The masters of Kamar-Taj felt the weight of his power, their faces grim.
"Master Wang Yan, what do we do now?" Mordo asked, the gravity of the situation evident in his voice.
Strange shielded Wanda with his magic, protecting her from the growing darkness. Their fear was palpable, and the oppressive darkness seemed to crush their spirits.
"Wang Yan," Mordo called out, his voice tense. "We need a plan."
Wang Yan's calm demeanour provided some solace, but the sheer power of Chthon's dark domain was overwhelming. The sorcerers braced themselves, their protective spells barely holding against the encroaching darkness.