Himalayas, Nepal, Kathmandu.
With a fake identity, Daniel Davis smoothly reached this part of the world. Kathmandu, near the Himalayas and bustling with Buddhist culture, was vibrant and busy.
Every year, countless adventurers attempted to conquer the Himalayas. While ordinary people risked their lives and often failed, some individuals could traverse the peaks effortlessly, thanks to their unique abilities.
In this world, climbers of the Himalayas were fortunate, as the Ancient One's disciples provided timely rescues.
"So, where is Kamar-Taj?" Daniel's knowledge of Kamar-Taj was limited. He remembered it was opposite an impressive temple, but there were too many such temples in Kathmandu due to the prevalence of Buddhism.
"Excuse me, where is Kamar-Taj?" Daniel asked a local shopkeeper in the native language. Finding Kamar-Taj required a lot of preparation: learning hacking skills and the local language.
In his previous life, learning a new language was daunting for Daniel. Even with years of English studies, he barely spoke it. However, since acquiring the Op-Op Fruit and T-virus, he found learning Nepali surprisingly manageable. His dedication was a factor, too, as finding Kamar-Taj was crucial for his survival.
The Marvel Universe was perilous. Even with the Op-Op Fruit's abilities, Daniel wasn't safe. Obtaining Iron Man's armor or Ant-Man's suit wouldn't ensure safety either. Only the Ancient One's magic could place him at the top, allowing him to escape danger using portals.
To reach the pinnacle, he needed an Infinity Stone to harness its power. In Marvel, the most powerful heroes had connections to the Stones.
Scarlet Witch gained Chaos Magic from the Mind Stone, which also created Vision. Captain Marvel's abilities came from the Space Stone-powered light-speed engine.
The Hulk's gamma radiation also had links to the Space Stone.
Other beings like Odin, Thor, and Thanos had inherent racial advantages, offering no room for manipulation.
Avoiding Thanos' snap required becoming strong enough. Relying on the Avengers to reverse the future was too risky. Marvel had infinite universes; there was no guarantee the Avengers could succeed in this one.
Learning the Ancient One's magic also provided significant advantages for his future plans.
"Seems no one knows. Guess I don't have Strange's destiny." Stephen Strange quickly found a guide, but he was destined to be the next Sorcerer Supreme. Daniel didn't have such luck.
"I refuse to believe I can't find it." That night, Daniel booked a hotel. He wouldn't leave without finding Kamar-Taj.
"Sorcerer Supreme." As Daniel checked into his hotel, someone reported his inquiries about Kamar-Taj to the Ancient One.
"Hmm." The Ancient One merely nodded, saying nothing.
"Is the Ancient One avoiding me?" After a week of fruitless searching, Daniel began to suspect the Ancient One might be evading him.
With the Time Stone, the Ancient One could easily foresee future events.
Daniel believed he understood the Marvel Universe well, but the Ancient One knew more and never revealed spoilers, similar to how Doctor Strange saw millions of outcomes without disclosing them.
Facing a future-seeing Ancient One, Daniel had his reasons for persisting. He was a traveler with the Op-Op Fruit, deserving special consideration.
Moreover, the Ancient One wasn't cruel. Despite finding Strange, she waited for him to seek her out himself.
Had she intervened directly, Strange would have found her much sooner.
"Are you looking for Kamar-Taj?" A familiar face approached Daniel, giving him a sense of relief. The man was Wong, one of the Ancient One's disciples. His appearance indicated Daniel would meet the Ancient One soon.
"Yes," Daniel replied, and Wong silently scrutinized him before saying, "Follow me."
Without waiting for a response, Wong turned and walked away.
"This place looks familiar." Daniel sighed, recognizing a spot he had previously visited without success. Kathmandu had many similar places.
As Daniel followed Wong, he didn't notice the cold gaze tracking him from the shadows. Wong's appearance was no coincidence.
Wong led Daniel to a hall where the Ancient One, dressed in yellow, sat in the center. After a respectful bow, Wong left.
"What brings you here?"
"I wish to learn your magic."
"I see. Very well."
The Ancient One's quick agreement surprised Daniel. He expected some sort of test.
With her consent, Wong re-entered, now more cordial, and explained the temple's rules to Daniel.
"Clearly, I'm no Stephen Strange." Following Wong, Daniel sighed. When Strange arrived, the Ancient One took him on a tour of the multiverse.
That tour significantly accelerated Strange's magical learning. His rapid progress wasn't just due to his talent but also that initial experience.
The Ancient One's magic differed from all known magic by focusing on dimensional energy.
"This is your room." Wong showed Daniel his quarters before leaving. He returned with a stack of books and handed Daniel a slip of paper with the Wi-Fi password.
"Figure it out yourself." With that, Wong left.
"Sanskrit? You've got to be kidding me. Thank goodness for the internet." Thanks to modern technology, even Sanskrit translations were accessible online.
"Leave this place." As Daniel delved into the magical basics, the Ancient One stepped into a dimension of countless mirrors—the Mirror Dimension. On the other side stood a hooded figure.
"Hypocrite." The figure, Kaecilius, an ex-disciple of the Ancient One, sneered as he removed his hood. He then opened a golden portal and fled.
Daniel's swift acceptance into Kamar-Taj and initiation into magic were partly due to Kaecilius's interest in him. Had the Ancient One not intervened, Daniel might have ended up learning from Kaecilius instead.
Kaecilius knew the Ancient One's magic but lacked her mastery.
While the Time Stone could foresee the future, it wasn't meant for constant use. Even Doctor Strange used it sparingly, only resorting to it due to Thanos' overwhelming power.
Had Daniel's soul been a typical possession, the Ancient One would have detected it. Her expertise in soul matters was unmatched. However, Daniel's situation involved reincarnation, with past memories only recently resurfacing.
___________________
Read Ahead
P@treon.com/Mutter