"The practices recorded here will strengthen you, allowing you to stand against the forces of the mystical realms," the Ancient One said, emphasizing the appeal.
Zod hesitated. Despite his substantial power, he'd always been wary of the unknown forces lurking on the mystical side. "I want to study the Eye of Agamotto," he replied cautiously, his curiosity piqued but not blinding his caution.
To his surprise, the Ancient One lifted the necklace that housed the Eye. "Is this what you want?" she offered without hesitation.
Zod's eyes widened. Would she really lend him the Eye of Agamotto so easily? He knew its power was nearly unrivaled, but he couldn't shake a feeling of impending trouble. "All right. Tell me what you need first," he said, still on guard.
"There is a fragment of a hell dimension that has made contact with our reality," she explained. "I need you to accompany me into it. While I perform the spell to seal it, you protect me from any disturbances."
Zod frowned. "This sounds like a trap. Is this dimension fragment... unclaimed?"
The Ancient One shook her head. "If it were claimed, Earth's dimension would be directly invaded. We must be cautious."
Zod tapped his fingers, contemplating the risks. "Why not use the Eye of Agamotto to help you in this?" he asked.
"Anyone who manipulates time will ultimately be manipulated by it," she replied, refusing to rely on the gem's power.
After a moment of deliberation, Zod nodded. "Fine, but I want payment upfront," he said, unable to resist the allure of new power.
The Ancient One nodded, leading him into the quiet sanctum of Kamar-Taj's library. She pulled a tome from the shelves and handed it to him. "This is Kunlun's Iron Fist training manual."
As Zod took the book, he noticed the English text shifting to Chinese. His curiosity grew as he absorbed the material, discovering that the true strength of the Iron Fist came from the power of a dragon. "Without the dragon's power, the Iron Fist's abilities are limited to standard martial prowess," he muttered, glancing up at the Ancient One.
She nodded, indicating that he should begin. Zod assumed a meditative posture, allowing her to gather the necessary Qi around him. As he entered a deep focus, he felt his consciousness drift, soaring like a dragon through mountain peaks and endless skies, embodying the essence of a dragon.
Awakening from the trance, he found a dragon tattoo had appeared on his arm. "I… I was a dragon," he murmured, feeling the ancient power pulsing beneath his skin.
The Ancient One observed, visibly impressed. "You've connected with the dragon's power quicker than I anticipated. Most take several attempts."
Feeling the boundless energy, Zod nodded, understanding the potential of this new power. In the meantime, the Ancient One unblocked the Eye of Agamotto and placed it before him. Zod gazed into the gem, marveling at the green glow of the Time Stone, careful not to touch it directly.
Observing the Time Stone, he discovered something baffling—it had no atomic structure. "How is this possible?" he wondered aloud, disappointed but intrigued by its inscrutable nature.
Using his downtime, Zod continued to hone his new dragon power, gradually sensing himself reach a level comparable to the Heavenly Father rank. "If I was close before, I'm fully there now," he thought, realizing the formidable gap between this level and his prior one. He knew better than to be reckless, given the strength of beings like the Ancient One and Odin.
"Are you ready, Zod?" The Ancient One approached, her tone signaling that the time had come.
With a final nod, Zod prepared himself. "I'm ready."