"Master Ancient One, I bid you farewell." After two years at Kamar-Taj, Daniel Davis decided to leave, having received an acceptance letter from the Empire State University School of Medicine in New York. During his time at Kamar-Taj, Daniel not only practiced magic but also completed his high school education through online courses.
With the powers of the Op-Op Fruit, it would be foolish not to pursue a career in medicine. Even Law in the One Piece world was known as the "Surgeon of Death."
The Ancient One merely nodded at Daniel's departure, showing no particular emotion.
Similarly, Wong and Mordo had no objections. Many people left Kamar-Taj, and Daniel was still young and inexperienced.
Daniel had a decent relationship with Wong, but his interactions with others, including Mordo, were just superficial. Mordo had positioned himself as the de facto leader under the Ancient One after Kaecilius's departure, involving himself in everything. His future betrayal might not only stem from dissatisfaction with the Ancient One's use of dark power but also from not being chosen as her successor.
Among all the Ancient One's disciples, Mordo was the most active in pursuing Kaecilius, seemingly hoping to gain the Ancient One's approval through this effort.
Before Kaecilius's betrayal, most at Kamar-Taj believed he would be the next Sorcerer Supreme. His betrayal led several disciples to follow him.
When Daniel asked if he could take a Sling Ring with him upon leaving, Mordo was the first to object. While understandable, Daniel still felt reluctant.
Sling Rings were crucial for Kamar-Taj sorcerers, enabling them to do many things, including breaking into banks and vaults or assassinating presidents and kings. Without a Sling Ring, using the Mirror Dimension was dangerous, potentially trapping the user inside forever.
"I'll just have to wait until the Ancient One dies to get a Sling Ring," Daniel thought as he stood outside Kamar-Taj.
The order at Kamar-Taj would collapse after the Ancient One's death, making it easier to take a Sling Ring. Of course, it would be ideal to learn how to make one himself.
"Next, I need to get the Pym Particles." The Pym Particles in the Marvel Universe were incredibly magical. Imagine a building or lab shrinking into a suitcase or a tank turning into a keychain—these were practically magical feats.
Luckily, Dr. Hank Pym hid the formula from S.H.I.E.L.D., preventing global chaos.
The Ant-Man and Wasp suits were impressive but underutilized the full potential of the Pym Particles. Their shrinking ability could revolutionize logistics or deploy powerful weapons effortlessly.
Imagine smuggling a bomb disguised as a toy into enemy territory, wiping them out in one blow.
Or transporting troops and equipment covertly—the possibilities were endless, yet all that came from the Pym Particles were two suits.
"What should I do with the Pym Particles once I get them?" Daniel pondered in the VIP lounge of the Kathmandu airport.
During his time at Kamar-Taj, Daniel also made money by investing in Stark Industries stocks, a stable choice before Tony Stark became Iron Man.
Other companies like Oscorp and Pym Technologies were less stable, though Oscorp's stocks had recently spiked due to acquiring some of Umbrella's research but then plummeted again.
Pym Technologies had no significant news and remained stagnant.
Daniel wasn't a stock market genius, so he chose the stable Stark Industries.
"Hmm." As Daniel considered creating an Ant-Man suit made of Iron Man armor, he noticed his surroundings change.
Realizing he was in the Mirror Dimension, he leaped to a wall and saw four hooded figures approaching.
"Who are you?" Daniel asked.
The Mirror Dimension allowed the user to alter gravity, making walls the floor and vice versa. In a fight, this could be deadly, as changing gravity alone could defeat an opponent.
Besides combat, the Mirror Dimension was perfect for discreetly disposing of bodies without a trace. Each time it was used, a new Mirror Dimension was created, so previous bodies wouldn't be found.
However, it wasn't suitable for storage since it couldn't preserve items between uses.
The Marvel Universe lacked proper storage technology. Daniel's interest in Pym Technology partly stemmed from its potential for storage solutions, despite possible high costs.
"I'm Kaecilius," said the lead figure, removing his hood.
"What do you want with me?" Daniel asked warily.
"Kill him," Kaecilius ordered the three behind him.
As they conjured various weapons, Daniel shouted, "I haven't wronged you!"
"All disciples of the hypocrite must die," Kaecilius spat.
Kaecilius hadn't yet discovered the dark ritual to summon Dormammu and lacked dark power, making him no match for the Ancient One. If she hadn't shown mercy, Kaecilius and his followers would be dead.
After narrowly escaping two years ago, fate seemed to have brought them together again.
"If I kill him, will the Ancient One hold me accountable? Better not risk it." If Kaecilius had the dark power, Daniel might not stand a chance, but without it, Daniel could surprise him.
Without additional power, Kamar-Taj sorcerers relied heavily on artifacts. Kaecilius had left in haste and hadn't acquired any. He didn't dare attack the three Sanctums for their artifacts.
In this situation, Daniel's Op-Op Fruit was a decisive factor. With his virus-enhanced body, he could freely use his full strength outside Kamar-Taj.
As the three disciples advanced, Daniel conjured a shield and sword, throwing the shield into the air without much force, confusing them.
Suddenly, one disciple appeared next to Daniel, and the shield reappeared between them. With his Op-Op Fruit's 8-meter range, Daniel switched their positions.
Caught off guard, the disciple couldn't defend against Daniel's attack, losing his right fingers and the Sling Ring on them.
In the Mirror Dimension, if Kaecilius had intended to trap Daniel instead of killing him, it could have been disastrous. Taking the opportunity, Daniel seized the Sling Ring.
"I have no interest in your conflict. Don't come after me again," Daniel said, opening a portal and escaping.
Kaecilius's roar of frustration echoed too late. With the Sling Ring, Daniel could disappear without a trace.
"Thank you, Kaecilius, you've delivered a precious gift," Daniel thought, thrilled with the Sling Ring.
"Now stealing Pym Particles will be much easier."
"Yellowjacket should be in the Quantum Realm now. If only Hank knew the Ancient One, he wouldn't have taken so long to rescue her."
The Quantum Realm, though seemingly magical, was akin to the dimensional space—a microcosm versus a macrocosm. The Ancient One could easily find someone in the Quantum Realm with her power.
"Next, I need to contact the Asgardians." The Asgardians, despite their seemingly primitive warfare, possessed advanced technology. The Quantum Realm was a mature technology for them, known as the Soul Forge.
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