Zod broke free from Morgan's grasp, quickly turning to Ancient One with a bewildered look. "Ancient One, why has she become like this?"
Morgan, shocked at how easily Zod had broken through her mind control, realized she hadn't truly overpowered him. The illusion of her control was just that—an illusion.
Ancient One, calm as ever, glanced at Morgan and replied, "Her bloodline has likely been awakened by a Dimension Demon." With her vast knowledge, Ancient One easily recognized Morgan's new form as the result of her demonic heritage. It wasn't the first time she had encountered the offspring of otherworldly entities trying to break into the real dimension.
"Dimensional Demons often create vessels to influence reality," Ancient One explained. "Sometimes, they make objects of power like the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak that created the Juggernaut. But, in other cases, they opt for something more personal—offspring, born in our world, who can act as conduits."
Zod listened intently. "So she's one of them?"
"Yes. Morgan's demonic blood gives her great power, but it also ties her to the Dimension Demon that awakened it. Her powers will grow as long as she draws from the demonic energy, but she's also unknowingly acting as a gateway for the demon's influence."
Before Zod could respond, Morgan, lost in her newfound power, flung a bluish flame toward him.
"Be careful," Ancient One warned, "Her magic is corrosive—it can erode both life and soul."
But Zod was unfazed. With a simple motion, he caught the magic flame bare-handed, his defenses—a combination of electromagnetic fields, gravitational waves, and his innate biological force field—nullifying its effects. The corrosive magic fizzled harmlessly against his layered shields.
Zod, ever curious, considered trying to absorb the magical energy but decided against it. For now.
Ancient One, watching the scene, raised an eyebrow in surprise. She had studied the principles of science herself over the centuries, but Zod's grasp of unified forces, combining magic and physics so seamlessly, was impressive—even for someone of her vast experience. She knew this wasn't merely the work of an average metahuman. Zod had already come close to a form of scientific magic that was nearly impossible to counter.
Suddenly, Zod unleashed a pair of thermal vision beams at Morgan. But these were not the usual energy beams—they were conducted through gravitational waves, exponentially amplifying their power. The intensity was far beyond anything Zod had produced before. The air around the beams twisted and shimmered as space itself distorted under the energy, which tore through the mirror dimension, leaving trails of devastation in its wake.
Morgan barely had time to react before the beams struck. The energy was so overwhelming that her defensive shields shattered in less than a second, and the magic flames she summoned evaporated into nothing. Even though she was more than ten meters away, the heat vaporized the air around her, carbonizing her body in an instant.
Ancient One, realizing the severity of Zod's attack, quickly refracted the beams using the mirror dimension. Otherwise, Morgan would have been completely annihilated.
"Are you trying to kill her?" Ancient One asked sharply, clearly unimpressed.
Zod looked at Morgan's charred form. "I thought she was stronger now."
Although Morgan's demonic form appeared formidable, Zod had no clear understanding of the power levels on the magical side of things. He had dealt with physically powerful beings like the Hulk, but this—magic—was an unknown territory for him. He had assumed Morgan, after her transformation, was someone who required his full strength.
Suddenly, Morgan's body began regenerating, her burnt flesh knitting itself back together. Though not immortal, her demonic heritage granted her extraordinary healing capabilities. As her form restored, Morgan's rage reignited, and she rushed at Zod again.
Without hesitation, Zod responded, his voice carrying a strange, almost palpable force. "Enough!"
The word itself, amplified by gravitational waves, reverberated through the air, sending shockwaves across the battlefield. Morgan's advance was abruptly halted, her body violently thrown back as the resonant soundwaves tore through her, shattering bones and rupturing her organs. Blood poured from her ears, nose, and eyes, and for a brief moment, even the mirror dimension itself quivered under the weight of Zod's power.
Ancient One frowned, realizing that Zod's manipulation of sound and gravitational forces had reached a level that even she hadn't anticipated. His control of resonance was so precise that it could disintegrate even the toughest materials, and had Morgan not possessed her demonic regeneration, she would have been obliterated on the spot.
Zod glanced at Morgan, who now lay unconscious, her body trying to heal yet again. "I thought she was more powerful."
Ancient One stepped forward, gently placing a hand on Zod's arm to stop him. "That's enough. Let me handle the rest. She's been corrupted, but she's not beyond saving."
Zod, intrigued but respectful, stepped back. "What are you going to do?"
"I'll soothe her soul," Ancient One replied, her calm demeanor betraying no hint of the complexity of the task. She lifted her hand, and with a quiet gesture, she cast a time loop spell over Morgan, one that would allow her to confront her inner demons and cleanse the corruption within her.
As Morgan's unconscious form floated in the shimmering time loop, Zod couldn't help but ask, "Will this hurt her?"
Ancient One shook her head. "No, it won't harm her. It will give her the opportunity to face her true self. Whether she can emerge stronger depends entirely on her."
Zod looked at Morgan, then back at Ancient One. "I hope she succeeds."
Ancient One nodded, her eyes twinkling with the wisdom of someone who had seen countless such struggles over the years. "We shall see."