Inside the Mirror Dimension, Ragna and the Ancient One stood across from each other, the distorted reflections of reality shifting unnaturally around them. The air crackled with latent energy as Ragna remained on high alert, his divine power fluctuating in response to the potential threat before him. The Solar Force within him surged, ready to counter any sudden attack.
In his right hand, he clutched the Tesseract, its celestial glow illuminating his fingers. At any moment, he was prepared to crush it.
Across from him, the Ancient One, Earth's Sorcerer Supreme, stood in quiet contemplation, the Eye of Agamotto resting against her chest. The green aura of the Time Stone pulsed gently, as if aware of the significance of this confrontation. Even among the cosmic titans of the universe, few could match a Skyfather-level being, and the Ancient One—though not an Asgardian god—was dangerously close to that threshold.
Ragna could not afford to be careless.
"Sorcerer Supreme…" Ragna began, his voice a mixture of respect and wariness.
Before he could finish, the Ancient One raised her hand, her expression unreadable.
"I know what you're about to say, Ragna."
A quiet sigh escaped her lips, her gaze filled with something akin to sorrow.
"There is no need for such vigilance—I am not here to be your enemy. I only wish to speak."
With a simple wave of her fingers, the warped, chaotic landscape of the Mirror Dimension shifted. The distorted skyline gave way to a tranquil, ancient tea room, decorated with Tibetan symbols of wisdom and fate. The scent of burning incense filled the air, blending with the faint whisper of time itself.
Taking her seat, the Ancient One gracefully poured two cups of tea, setting one before Ragna.
"I have pondered this moment for a long time," she admitted. "Even with my mastery over the Time Stone, I cannot determine which path leads to a better future. That is why you are here—because only you can decide."
Ragna didn't fully lower his guard, but he allowed himself to relax slightly.
Among the strongest in the universe, deception was a tool rarely used. Power made lies unnecessary.
He took the offered cup with his left hand, sipping the tea.
A peculiar sensation followed—his cup, which had been half-empty a moment ago, instantly refilled itself.
Ragna raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
A minor trick.
For one of his caliber, such illusions were irrelevant.
He took another sip and remained silent, waiting for the Ancient One to continue.
"I saw you take it," she said at last, her voice grave. "And I knew—even with all my power—I could not stop you."
"But I have seen more."
Her eyes darkened, her voice carrying the weight of countless possible futures.
"In one vision, the Asgardian Angels raise their swords against one another, their celestial blades clashing in a brutal war."
"Your friends and family—those closest to you—stand before you, weapons drawn. And you, Ragna… are forced to lift your own blade against them."
"You will seek greater power, believing it will bring salvation. But he—" her voice sharpened "—will seek power as well. And no matter how much you gain, neither of you will be able to completely destroy the other."
"The universe itself will become your battleground."
"War will consume everything."
"Civilizations will crumble."
"Trillions of lives will be lost."
"And the Earth—" her voice softened, almost mournful "—will not escape destruction."
Her gaze locked onto his, as if willing him to understand the gravity of the choice before him.
"This is the future I have seen," she said. "The story that unfolds the moment you take the Tesseract."
A heavy silence followed.
Ragna's grip on the Tesseract tightened.
"And what if I don't take it?" he asked at last.
A flicker of hesitation crossed the Ancient One's face.
"Then events will continue as they were meant to," she said slowly. "You will interfere here and there, making minor changes. But the result will not be disastrous."
"You will grow stronger."
"No one will be able to match you."
"He will no longer be your enemy."
"But—" her expression darkened—"the universe will lose its natural order."
"It will begin to decline."
"And in time… it will fade into extinction."
Another silence.
Ragna's expression remained unreadable. He took another sip of tea, then set the cup down.
"It seems I don't have a choice," he said, his voice laced with amusement.
"But do you really think one story will make me back off?"
His golden eyes narrowed.
"Don't misunderstand me—I'm not questioning the truth of your visions."
"I'm questioning something else."
The room seemed to darken as Ragna leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper.
"Are you truly able to see all futures?"
"Or—" he glanced at the Eye of Agamotto resting on her chest "—is the Time Stone simply not powerful enough?"
At that moment, something shifted within Ragna's mind.
A voice—one that did not belong to the Ancient One—spoke.
[Notice: The host has encountered the Time Stone. Choices unlocked.]
[Choose one: Seize and control all Infinity Stones. Reward: Universal Authority.]
[Choose two: Capture and discard all Infinity Stones. Reward: Solar Force Level 1.]
[Choose three: Capture and sacrifice all Infinity Stones. Reward: True Hope.]
Ragna ignored the choices for now. Instead, he rose to his feet, his expression unreadable.
He met the Ancient One's gaze one last time—then crushed the Tesseract in his palm.
An explosion of divine energy erupted from his body.
The power of the Space Stone surged through his veins, celestial gold and blue light intertwining to form intricate cosmic markings across his chest.
The tea room trembled, its wooden walls and ancient scrolls rippling like water. But with a single gesture, the Ancient One restored it to its pristine state.
Ragna turned, his back now facing her.
A smirk played at the corners of his lips.
"Thank you for the hospitality, Sorcerer Supreme."
A pause.
Then, in a low, amused whisper—
"Tell me… did you see this future?"
His voice was challenging now.
"Or have you realized that you never could?"
The power of the Space Stone flared in his palm, crackling like a newborn star.
And then, his voice rose, ringing with absolute certainty:
"If I am here—"
"Then there is only ONE future."
"The one I CHOOSE."
The Mirror Dimension shattered in an instant.
The Ancient One's tea room vanished into oblivion.
And Ragna stepped into the cosmos, carrying the fate of the universe in his grasp.