Ronan stepped through the portal, arriving at this famous planet. Although it was said to be the deathly realm at the center of the universe, it didn't have the oppressive, murderous atmosphere one might expect.
Instead, it seemed peaceful and serene.
There were mountains, rivers, and even with the biting cold wind and falling snow, the environment wasn't as harsh as anticipated.
Ronan glanced back to see that Captain America and the others hadn't followed him through the portal. With a shrug, he waved his hand to close the magical gateway behind him.
"Ronan..."
"You've come after all."
As the portal closed, a raspy voice called from behind him. A figure, dressed in a black cloak with a hood that obscured his face, emerged.
Ronan raised an eyebrow. This outfit resembled the Red Skull, but there were distinct differences.
At the very least, this figure appeared more corporeal, unlike the ghostly Red Skull whose robes were ethereal.
"You know my name, so you deliberately lured me here?" Ronan asked. "Using the Soul Stone as bait — you certainly didn't hold back."
Ronan didn't seem flustered; it was clear he had considered this possibility from the start.
As the saying goes, you must give something to get something. If you're going to fish, you need good bait.
However, the Soul Stone as bait? That was quite extravagant.
"If you see it that way, it's not wrong," the hooded figure replied. "I did want to meet you."
The figure didn't deny it. His goal was indeed to draw Ronan to Vormir, which was why he handed the Soul Stone to Black Widow.
At that moment, an idea formed in Ronan's mind, though he still needed some evidence to confirm it.
"Alright, I'm curious. What exactly made you sacrifice a loved one to obtain the Soul Stone, just to lure me here? To be honest, I'm a bit flattered."
Ronan said with a hint of sarcasm. Though he didn't yet know the figure's exact purpose, he knew it couldn't be simple. The price seemed too high.
But the hooded figure didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned toward the cliff, spreading his arms as though reminiscing about something.
Ronan didn't rush him. He had already confirmed this wasn't the Red Skull. Otherwise, there'd be no need for such theatrics.
The figure seemed to have accurately predicted Ronan's arrival here, at this precise time — a realization that piqued Ronan's curiosity even more. Could there be something he wasn't yet aware of?
Ronan didn't believe the Ancient One intended to harm him. If she had, she wouldn't need to go through such convoluted means. So there had to be something else at play here.
After a long pause, the hooded figure finally turned back to face Ronan.
"You should know about the Time Variance Authority (TVA), right?" he asked.
"Yeah, I know about them," Ronan replied, keeping his tone neutral and his information limited. It was wise not to reveal too much to someone whose identity and motives were unclear.
"Looks like you're still cautious, but that's alright," the figure continued. "I just want to ask a favor."
"When the day comes that the TVA collapses, I want you to step in and stop it."
"Even though you may see them as a group that merely plays with a small fragment of the timeline, their collapse would have devastating consequences for the multiverse."
The hooded figure's tone was serious, as if he believed the TVA's downfall would have significant ramifications — ones that would directly affect him.
"Sorry, but I don't think I'm capable of doing that," Ronan refused without hesitation.
Was this guy joking?
Ronan knew his own capabilities better than anyone. Sure, he liked showing off now and then, but meddling with timelines? He was just a high school kid! Besides, the TVA was Kang the Conqueror's plaything. Ronan had no reason to interfere in that.
"I'm talking about your future self," the figure said urgently. "You may not realize how powerful you'll become, but I can assure you that the future you will be more than capable of handling this."
The hooded figure's voice grew more frantic, but Ronan continued to shake his head.
"I know you're in a hurry, but slow down for a second," Ronan said with a sarcastic smirk. "We don't even know each other. Why would I risk getting involved in something I know nothing about, especially for a stranger like you?"
"Is it just because you saved Black Widow? What does she have to do with me? Her life or death doesn't affect me at all," Ronan added, shrugging his shoulders.
His words were blunt and honest.
Indeed, Ronan had no personal stake in the TVA, and just because he disapproved of their actions didn't mean he wanted to get involved. Even if he had the ability, why would he willingly dive into that mess?
"But isn't the Sorcerer Supreme's duty to protect Earth from all threats?" the hooded figure asked, becoming more desperate.
"When did I become the Sorcerer Supreme?" Ronan countered coldly. "If you're looking for the Sorcerer Supreme, try Strange in this world or the Ancient One in mine. You've got the wrong guy."
The figure's face fell, and his voice grew more frantic. "You will be!"
Ronan chuckled at this. "Then go ask the future me for help. If I'm right, the future me already turned you down, didn't he?"
The hooded figure froze, clearly caught off guard by Ronan's words.
Ronan had hit a nerve.
Seeing the figure's reaction, Ronan knew he had guessed correctly.
"Maybe one day in the future — no, to be exact, in the future of my world — you encountered me at the TVA and recognized who I was," Ronan continued. "I had the ability to save the TVA, but I chose to reject you."
"And now, you've somehow traveled through time and come here."
Ronan stomped on the snowy ground beneath him, the pieces falling into place.
"Though I'm not sure how, you knew I'd arrive at this point in time. So you disguised yourself, hiding here on Vormir."
"You also knew that, as someone familiar with the timeline, I'd be aware that Black Widow must die for the Soul Stone to be found, so you altered the timeline."
"And you knew your cryptic message would pique my curiosity, leading me to seek you out."
"Everything went according to your plan."
"And your real goal was simply to extract a promise from me, here and now."
"Once I take on the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme, if I go back on my word, it would disrupt the timeline — something the Sorcerer Supreme cannot allow."
"So, you figured out this strategy."
"You're using my own promise against my future self."
"Clever..."
"Very clever."