Chthon was never afraid of defeat. As the pioneer of dark magic, he was one of the top entities in the world. Even though the sorcerer had absorbed most of his power, Chthon believed he would reclaim it someday. By then, he might even become more muscular.
"Chthon?" A voice suddenly rang out, and a figure appeared—Ancient One.
"Ancient One, it's you!" Chthon's voice turned frantic as he screamed. In the past, he wouldn't have cared about Ancient One; he might have even wanted to kill her. As the supreme sorcerer of white magic on Earth, killing her would leave no one to stop him. But now, his situation was dire, and fighting anyone would be tantamount to suicide, potentially wiping out his remaining power.
Why was Ancient One here? Why wasn't she on Earth? This place was where the forces of the multiverse collided!
"Bolts of Balthakk!" Ancient One frowned. Though she hadn't seen Chthon before, she sensed the danger from him. If such a being threatened Earth, it would be perilous. Without hesitation, she unleashed the Bolts of Balthakk. The powerful lightning struck toward Chthon, who, in his weakened state, couldn't muster enough strength to defend himself.
Boom! Under the thunderous strike, Chthon's already collapsing form disintegrated utterly. After eradicating Chthon, Ancient One didn't pay much mind. She had returned from the multiverse because she sensed the activation of her magical array on Earth. Such defenses only activated in the face of dire threats, indicating something significant had occurred. She hurried back to Earth, unaware that she had just killed Chthon, who had been disrupting Earth's balance.
Ancient One teleported back to Earth.
Meanwhile, Wang Yan had returned to his residence. The sorcerers of Kamar-Taj, who had been extremely worried, sighed in relief upon seeing him. Though they didn't know the outcome, it was clear the immediate danger had passed.
Wong, Mordo, and Strange gathered after the others left. "Sorcerer Wang Yan, did Chthon leave?" Wong asked.
Mordo and Strange looked at Wang Yan expectantly. "Chthon is dead," Wang Yan stated plainly, not wanting them to worry.
"What? Dead? A god, just like that?" If anyone else had said this, they wouldn't have believed it, but coming from Wang Yan, it was likely true. He had no reason to lie. If he had lost, he would have been dead already. Still, they found it hard to believe a god-like Chthon could be killed so easily by Wang Yan.
"Alright, I'm heading back," Wang Yan said, not knowing what was going through their minds. He just wanted to rest and assess his gains.
Mordo, Wong, and Strange nodded numbly, still processing the fact that Chthon had died at Wang Yan's hands.
Shortly after Wang Yan left, Ancient One appeared nearby. Seeing the teleportation array activate, the three sorcerers reacted. "Supreme Sorcerer!" they greeted respectfully.
Ancient One nodded. "What happened on Earth?"
Mordo, Wong, and Strange recounted the events, with Mordo doing most of the talking while the others added details.
"What? Wang Yan killed Chthon, the god of dark magic?" Ancient One was shocked. Gods were distant figures even to sorcerers who borrowed their power. They required divine aid to wield their magic, highlighting the vast gap between them and the gods. Yet, Wang Yan had killed a god on his own.
Back at his residence, Wang Yan sat to recover his mental energy. Defeating Chthon had been draining, both mentally and physically. However, the rewards were immense. He had not only gained Chthon's accumulated wealth from ancient times but had also seized his essence. He was now the source of dark magic, meaning all dark magic users in the multiverse would have to channel their power through him, paying a price for doing so.
What Wang Yan valued most were the accumulated magical insights from dark sorcerers. These could enhance his power significantly. Though he was a white magic user, possessing dark magic wouldn't make him feel ashamed. As he had once told Ancient One, the morality of magic depends on the user. Just like a sword in a reasonable person's hands can protect, it can also kill in the wrong hands. He wouldn't be shamed for wielding dark magic.
Knock, knock, knock! A knock interrupted his thoughts. Wang Yan stood and opened the door, surprised to see Ancient One.
"Supreme Sorcerer!" he greeted.
Ancient One, who usually traveled the universe or multiverse, rarely returned. Her presence was unexpected.
"I heard you killed Chthon, the source of dark magic. I came to see how you're doing," Ancient One said, looking Wang Yan over. She nodded, satisfied that he was alright despite the lingering dark magic aura.
"I'm fine. I'm just surprised to see you back," Wang Yan replied with a smile.
"When the magical array I set up on Earth was triggered, I had to return," Ancient One explained.
"I see," Wang Yan said, inviting her inside for tea. Given the significance of recent events, he wanted to discuss them with Ancient One.
While Earth returned to peace, the universe remained in chaos. Though Chthon's influence had only briefly affected other beings, the impact was severe. Civilized societies, usually governed by moral codes, were thrown into disarray. Chthon's power had driven countless beings to violence, surpassing even the destruction caused by Thanos.
Intelligent life across the universe slaughtered one another. Except for Earth, most planets were devastated. Survivors faced the horror of realizing they had killed their friends and family. Many races were driven to extinction.
Even Asgard wasn't spared. If Thor had wielded power comparable to Odin's, he might have protected his people from corruption. Sadly, he couldn't. He had to knock out his frenzied people to stop the bloodshed. Despite Asgardians' physical and mental strength, they were as helpless as humans against a god's power. Only a few, like Thor, Loki, the warriors of Asgard, and Heimdall, resisted the corruption.
Thor, sitting on Asgard's throne, his eyes red and surrounded by lightning, reflected on his failures. He had lost his father faced his vengeful sister, and now, despite his best efforts, Asgard lay in ruins. His inability to protect his home filled him with despair. He, Loki, and the surviving warriors clenched their fists, determined to restore what they had lost.