Party?
Party my ass!
Ronan almost cursed out loud.
"Ronan, what trouble have you gotten yourself into again?"
"Why are there so many demons on Earth? Did you punch a hole into Hell?"
Wong quickly moved towards Ronan's side, raising a question from the bottom of his heart.
The scene in front of him was just too shocking.
Wong had been a sorcerer at Kamar-Taj for so many years and thought he'd seen it all.
But when he saw this scene, even he was stunned.
When had he ever seen such a formation?
"How the heck does this have anything to do with me?"
"I just came here for a simple vacation, who knew I'd run into something like this."
"You think I'd want this?"
Ronan couldn't help but complain.
He hadn't even taken part in the storyline of this world.
He just wanted to enjoy a few more days of vacation.
Faced with something like this, Ronan wanted to know why just as much as anyone else.
"And why did you come so late? Don't tell me you're really eyeing the Sorcerer Supreme's position?"
Ronan threw out a Rings of Raggadorr, piercing a demon, and took out three or four others with it.
Wong wasn't idle either. Since he finished saying his first words, his hands hadn't stopped moving.
"Didn't I need to check the portal first?"
"If it weren't for me sealing the portal to Hell with all my strength, you'd have been trampled by now."
"Even the Ancient One is still by the portal, or we wouldn't have made it here."
Wong rolled his eyes, quickly forming seals with his hands, using the Bolts of Balthakk.
Ronan raised his brows, a little surprised.
Was the pressure that intense?
Using a big move like that on small fry like these?
Taking advantage of the fact that the magic wasn't his own, eh?
"Couldn't you have brought a few people along to help? If I weren't as strong as I am, I would've been ripped apart by these black demons long before you arrived."
Ronan threw out an energy whip, wrapping around a troll and hurling it away, knocking down a whole bunch of demons in the process.
"F***!"
"Die, you!"
Wong twisted a demon's neck with ease and kicked away another that was sneaking up behind him.
He continued, "How was I supposed to know you gathered so many people here for a... silver party?"
Wait, what?
Hearing Wong say that term, Ronan almost dropped his jaw in shock.
Where the heck did he learn that from?
"I warn you, I'm still a minor. If you say things like that, you're basically..."
"Damn it, Lee Liang!"
Ronan dodged to the right, avoiding a demon that had been thrown his way, quickly ending it with a Rings of Raggadorr.
"Be careful, these demons are getting smarter!"
Ronan shouted behind him.
These demons, realizing they couldn't break their defensive line, had started trying new tactics.
Some of the stronger demons were even attempting to throw others over the line.
If someone wasn't commanding them, Ronan wouldn't believe it even if you beat him to death!
"What in the world is going on here?!"
"Has there been any investigation from the Sanctums?"
Ronan approached Wong, shouting to make himself heard.
Everything had happened so suddenly, catching them completely off guard.
Under normal circumstances, the defense mechanism of the three Sanctums was practically perfect.
There might be the occasional slip-up with a demon sneaking through, but even then, Kamar-Taj would quickly notice.
But for something like this to happen on such a large scale, the only plausible explanation would be if Kamar-Taj had been destroyed—otherwise, it was impossible!
It looked as if Hell was launching a full-scale invasion of Earth!
"I don't know!"
"If you hadn't called me, the Sanctum had zero reports."
"At first, I even thought you were joking!"
Wong shouted back. He still had no idea what was happening.
Before coming here, he thought it was just a few stray demons, so he didn't report it.
Even the monitoring systems in the Sanctum hadn't detected any issues.
These rogue demons came to New York without notifying Ronan? Did they understand nothing about sharing territory?
Did they think they could just take over the Earth?
Hmph...
"No good, Ronan. There are just too many demons; we need backup from Kamar-Taj!"
At that moment, another sorcerer arrived beside them, exhaustion written all over his face.
Even though the magic they used came from their boss, the Vishanti, their stamina was still their own.
Especially for these sorcerers, most of whom had only been at Kamar-Taj for a year or two.
Considering it was still the Christmas season, most of the more experienced sorcerers were likely still at home celebrating.
"Then have someone go request backup."
"Everyone else, hold on a bit longer. Reinforcements will arrive soon!"
Wong gritted his teeth, though he didn't have much hope for reinforcements.
Ultimately, their strongest backup would be the Ancient One.
But right now, the Ancient One was probably too tied up to make it here anytime soon.
"No need."
Ronan took a deep breath; he was well aware of the situation.
If the Ancient One could come quickly, she wouldn't waste a single second.
Everyone knew that.
The reason she hadn't come yet must mean there were other issues.
At this point, there probably weren't many sorcerers left at Kamar-Taj who could help without risking themselves—it was better if they didn't come.
"I'm about to use a technique."
"After using it, I might be completely drained."
"So, make sure to protect me; don't let me become the Sorcerer Supreme candidate who died before even taking the position."
"Don't give Wong any chance!"
Ronan solemnly patted a few of the sorcerers on their shoulders, like a leader giving important orders to his trusted followers.
This scene made Wong want to hit someone.
After giving his instructions, Ronan took a deep breath, his mental power surging once again.
"Anyone who knows Aikuen's Stance, use your clones to hold the front."
"If you don't know it, fall back, retreat behind me—do not get caught in what I'm about to do!"
Ronan shouted, the Space Stone in his left hand beginning to emit a faint blue light.
This move was powerful, but it had one problem.
It didn't discriminate!
Anything within range, friend or foe, would be banished.
In short, it was indiscriminate!
Hearing Ronan's command, the sorcerers who knew Aikuen's Stance used their clones to replace those in the front line.
The rest quickly hid behind Ronan, holding their breath.
Ronan opened his eyes, his vast mental energy seemingly communicating with the heavens at that moment.
The Space Stone in his left hand also unleashed a massive burst of energy.
The Space Stone's energy connected with Ronan's mental power, and whatever his gaze fell upon became his target!
"Die!"
With a furious roar, the entire area within Ronan's sight was instantly sealed.
Everyone's movements seemed to freeze in that moment.
No, not just frozen.
This was different from when Ronan used the Time Stone—the Time Stone stopped the flow of time, freezing everything at that moment.
But now, it was completely different.
Ronan couldn't explain what was happening.
But he understood one thing:
When these beings were banished to the Void, what meaning did time have?
"Banishment!"
As Ronan reached his mental limit, he seemed to see a terrifying scene.
A giant maw from the Void swallowed all the demons within range in one bite.
The next second, Ronan coughed up blood, falling to his knees.
Wong shivered, also witnessing a shocking sight.
All the countless demons in front of them had disappeared in an instant, as if they had evaporated.
It was as if...
How to describe it?
It was like watching a video—one frame showed a vivid scene, but in the next, everything was gone.
That crucial frame in between seemed to have been cut out with video editing software.
That's exactly what had happened to the demons.
"Huff... huff..."
Ronan knelt on the ground, breathing heavily.
This time, the price he paid was far greater than any other time before!
Though he almost got sucked into it before, the actual harm he took wasn't too severe.
Not even as bad as when he erased the Ancient One's mirror dimension.
But this time was different.
It was the first time Ronan felt so close to death!
"Is there a difference between banishing non-sentient beings and intelligent ones?"
"In other words, the cost of banishing a living being versus an inanimate one is different?"
Ronan wiped the blood from his nose, feeling his body slowly recovering.
Ronan's +2 meditation accelerated his mental recovery immensely.
If +3 meditation required 2 skill points and Ronan only had 1 left, he would have already invested his points in meditation.
Of course, using this trick wasn't entirely fruitless.
Besides solving the immediate crisis and racking up screen-filling experience points, Ronan also learned something valuable.
The amount of mental force required depends on the number of sentient beings targeted for banishment.
To avoid collapsing, Ronan hadn't used all his mental energy.
He left about 10% to ensure he wouldn't become a burden.
This was Ronan's initial plan.
Keeping 10% of his mental energy allowed him to prepare for worst-case scenarios in most battles.
He had no intention of retreating.
"Ahhhhh!"
"I can't go on! I can't go on."
"I'm done for, done for."
Ronan clutched his chest and collapsed onto the beach.
His actions startled the nearby sorcerers.
They thought Ronan was genuinely in trouble.
However, Wong, who knew Ronan well, was unfazed, his gaze fixed on the empty field ahead.
Where are they?
No, rather, where are all the demons?
So many demons... how did they just vanish?
"Ronan."
"What on earth did you do?"
Wong was so astonished he was at a loss for words.
The scene before him was almost anti-human—no, anti-sorcerer.
Even for someone like him, who had seen many intense battles, this was a first. Not to mention the other sorcerers behind Ronan.
"It doesn't matter what I did."
"Shouldn't you be worried about my injuries?"
Ronan replied from the beach in a muffled tone.
He sounded somewhat dissatisfied.
"I know you; you're not dying."
"If you were, you wouldn't be talking about it."
Wong shot a glance at Ronan, who lay with his back facing him, unable to resist rolling his eyes.
Wong knew Ronan's temperament well.
That strong voice didn't sound like someone who had been seriously injured.
"Get lost!"
"Seems like you've been eyeing the position of Sorcerer Supreme for a long time."
"Let me tell you, as long as I'm alive, you'll always be just a 1.5!"
Ronan's "exasperated" tone echoed again.
Hearing his words, the surrounding sorcerers sighed in relief.
Losing a Sorcerer Supreme successor would have been a huge blow to Kamar-Taj.
"Should I take a picture and show everyone your current state?"
"The honorable successor to the Sorcerer Supreme, lying on the ground slacking off."
With the biggest threat resolved, Wong couldn't resist teasing Ronan.
After all, the previous atmosphere had been far too tense.
If not for Ronan, their fate could have been grim.
"Pictures, always with the pictures!"
"Why are you so unprofessional?"
"As a Kamar-Taj sorcerer, is your task right now to take pictures?"
"Shouldn't you be checking the area for any stragglers?"
Ronan turned over to face Wong, raising a middle finger.
Still clad in his classic beach attire, he looked almost harmonious lying on the sand.
Hearing Ronan's reminder, the sorcerers snapped back to attention.
Under Wong's direction, they formed small teams to pursue any demons that might have slipped away in different directions.
"Hey, hey!"
"Can someone stay to protect me?"
"What if someone ambushes me right now?"
"I'm still—"
Before Ronan could finish, they were already gone.
Watching the quickly disappearing figures, Ronan cursed them as traitors.
On the beach, the only response was the sound of waves.
Ronan rolled his eyes but kept muttering to himself.
What just happened?
Why did so many demons appear suddenly?
Did Mephisto feel confident, or does he think the Ancient One won't lift a finger?
With this situation, won't the Ancient One go have a serious talk with Mephisto?
"Looks like you've already handled things here."
At that moment, the Ancient One's figure appeared from a golden portal.
She seemed pleased with the situation.
"Master, you have no idea; I was this close to death."
"If I hadn't upheld Kamar-Taj's spirit to the fullest..."
"You wouldn't be seeing me now!"
Ronan habitually began to recount the facts.
Of course, in a way, he wasn't wrong.
He had indeed held out alone for a long time.
However, his words were a bit exaggerated.
More importantly, he didn't look like someone on the brink of death.
Apart from a little blood, his mental state and physical condition were even better than some of the sorcerers who arrived later.
"Seems like you were right—important people always arrive after the trouble is over."
"It was hard on you all."
The Ancient One clasped her hands in her sleeves and stood behind her.
It seemed she had no intention of getting involved.
"Master, you need to have a good talk with Mephisto this time."
"If he doesn't get a good scare now, next time he might actually try invading Earth."
Ronan slyly suggested some pressure tactics for Mephisto.
I'm exhausted, so many people died, and Mephisto thinks he can get away with it?
No chance!
Surprisingly, the Ancient One shook her head.
"This situation wasn't caused by Mephisto; there's another reason."
"I've already spoken to Mephisto."
"Though he's a demon and inherently untrustworthy,"
"he told the truth this time."
The Ancient One's face looked solemn, indicating she already understood the situation's cause.
This outcome surprised Ronan.
This wasn't Mephisto's doing?
Then who could it be?
Could it be his foolish son?
No, if it were his foolish son, the Ancient One would have noticed.
So, something deeper was definitely at play here!
"What's the reason?"
Ronan sat up on the beach, looking at the Ancient One with curiosity.
But soon, as if realizing something, he added, "If you don't want to say, I won't ask."
"After all, I probably can't do much to help with something of this level."
Ronan quickly adjusted his stance.
If it was related to Mephisto, then this was no small matter.
But now that Mephisto was ruled out and the Ancient One didn't look pleased, it seemed even more dangerous.
With such a high-risk situation, why would Ronan insist on knowing?
That just wasn't him.
"Don't worry."
The Ancient One smiled reassuringly at Ronan.
But her next words nearly stopped Ronan's heart.
"You'll definitely be able to help with this."
Hearing this, Ronan jumped up from the sand.
The Ancient One's words suggested that Ronan would be involved?
"Don't rush; this matter has been connected to you from the start."
"So having you handle the end of it is the best choice."
The Ancient One smiled at Ronan knowingly. After all these years, she knew him all too well.
And indeed, this issue was connected to him.
"Connected to me?"
Ronan was confused.
Over the years, he had been diligent and cautious.
Especially after returning to this universe, he had hardly left home, acting like a recluse.
Apart from a trip to Asgard—which was the Ancient One's idea—he hadn't gone anywhere else.
Could it be...
Ronan glanced at the Ancient One.
He now suspected that their trip to Asgard might have been because of this matter.
But he quickly dismissed this notion.
The reason was simple: the Ancient One had no reason to do so.
What could possibly be in Asgard?
Apart from the upcoming Convergence of the Nine Realms, or much later, Ragnarok.
Could Hela have released these demons?
If so, wouldn't Mephisto and Hela have to discuss this cross-realm invasion?
So, it should have no connection to Asgard.
And Ronan hadn't done anything wrong recently.
Uh, never mind that; he never does wrong!
Just then, Wong and the other Kamar-Taj sorcerers returned.
"Ancient One, the demons have been dealt with."
"But the bodies still need attention."
"Also, those who were attacked will surely remember this incident."
Wong looked at the Ancient One with a hint of worry.
This incident had come too suddenly, making the situation quite tricky.
"Thank you all."
"The rest will be taken care of."
"You can return to Kamar-Taj and rest."
The Ancient One smiled and nodded at the sorcerers.
They didn't ask further questions and, after bowing, opened the mystic portal to return to Kamar-Taj.
Ronan, meanwhile, sneakily followed behind them, planning to go back as well.
"Ronan, stay."
Boom!
The Ancient One's words struck Ronan like lightning, freezing him in place.
Wong turned to see Ronan's ashen face and nearly laughed out loud.
"Ronan, give it your best."
"You're a very qualified candidate for the Sorcerer Supreme!"
With that, Wong stepped into the portal without giving Ronan a chance to reply.
He knew that if Ronan spoke, he'd end up frustrated.
Watching the quickly disappearing portal, Ronan was helpless.
He could only turn with a mournful expression to look at the Ancient One.
Master, Master, am I not your favorite student anymore?
Why do I get all the hard tasks?
"Relax; you'll soon know what it's about."
"I can assure you, this is not only connected to you, but you'll even want to go."
The Ancient One smiled, ignoring his look of grievance.
Hmm?
Want to go?
Ronan scoffed internally. No way! Why would he want to go for something so dangerous?
Still, before Ronan could process this thought, a rectangular portal appeared before them.
From the portal walked a few familiar faces Ronan recognized!
A group in outdated black coats and even uglier black hats he had seen before.
A long time ago, in fact.
These people were from the Time Variance Authority.
Especially that head woman, who Ronan had nearly beaten to death last time.
So, they were the culprits?
Ronan looked at the Ancient One.
She nodded, her meaning clear.
Yes, you guessed it right.
These are the ones responsible.
"Well."
"A principled person like me can't let them roam free."
"Master, you've always been a great judge of character!"