48 Ch. 47: The Ancient One's Request

In the beginning, there was the Darkhold, the Book of Sins. A testament to the darkest corners of magic, it was a compilation of the most horrifying spells, transcribed onto indestructible parchment by the Elder God Chthon. This ancient deity, one of the earliest life forms on Earth, was a wellspring of power that even dimensional lords like Mephisto and Dormammu had tapped into.

The Ghost Rider, a being of hellfire and vengeance, was a conduit for Mephisto's power. Agatha, the current holder of the Darkhold, could sense this power, recognize it. But it was not the Ghost Rider's power that intrigued her. There was another, more potent force that she coveted.

"The lord of the crimson dimension, Cyttorak, is one of the powerful gods," the Ancient One explained, her voice echoing in the silent repair shop. "What Agatha desires is the power hidden within the Crimson Gem. The Darkhold contains only a few records about it, but it's enough to drive her to madness."

"Crimson Gem," Jon murmured, the words resonating within him. The Crimson Gem was tied to another formidable adversary, Cain Marko, also known as the Juggernaut. Jon wasn't sure if this world, a parallel universe of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, had its own Juggernaut. He hadn't heard anything about mutants or the X-Men here. But he knew one fact, that the Juggernaut was the stepbrother of Professor Charles Xavier. Unlike Charles, Cain wasn't a mutant. His powers came from the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak, granting him immense strength, near invulnerability, and a helmet that shielded him from psychic attacks.

If the Ancient One was correct, and the Crimson Gem existed in this world, then a red behemoth could emerge at any moment. And if Agatha managed to absorb the energy of the Crimson Gem, she would become an even greater threat.

"But what does this have to do with me?" Jon asked, cutting to the heart of the matter.

"The Gem was originally stored in the Temple of Cyttorak in South Korea," the Ancient One began, her voice taking on a grave tone. "But it was stolen. After changing hands several times, it ended up in New York a month ago. There, the Gem sensed the presence of a worthy recipient and released its energy. Agatha sensed this energy, just as she sensed your Ghost Rider power."

Jon listened to the Ancient One's explanation, a sense of dread settling in his heart. He sighed, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. The Crimson Gem, Agatha, the potential emergence of the Juggernaut - it was a lot to take in. But he knew he couldn't afford to back down. The stakes were too high, and he was in the middle of it all, whether he liked it or not.

The intricate web of events was now clear to Jon. His actions, from the moment he had used the Penance Stare on the Times Square attacker, to his unleashing of the Ghost Rider's power on the gang in the forest, had set off a chain reaction. His power had drawn Agatha to New York, and her arrival had coincided with the awakening of the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak. Now, she was after the Gem, and the potential consequences were dire.

"Your intervention altered the fate of Parker Robbins," the Ancient One continued, her voice echoing in the vast emptiness of the astral plane. "He would have died in a few weeks, his existence washed away by the river of time. But now, everything has changed. Agatha has formed an alliance with Hood's gang. If she acquires the power of the Gem, it could lead to catastrophic consequences."

Jon pondered her words, then asked, "Why don't you handle this yourself? You could easily deal with Agatha and the Crimson Gem."

Indeed, the Ancient One was more than capable of handling the situation. Agatha, despite her power, was nothing more than an ant in the Ancient One's eyes. And the Crimson Gem could be destroyed with a mere flick of her wrist.

The Ancient One touched the necklace around her neck, the Eye of Agamotto. It was the Time Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones in the Marvel Universe, and it allowed her to observe the future and protect the Earth.

"This situation interferes with a certain plan of mine," she explained. "I've observed many futures, and the best outcome is achieved if you handle this."

She looked at Jon, her gaze steady. "You set these events in motion. It's only fitting that you should be the one to resolve them."

"Wait!" Jon interrupted, raising his hand. "So, you're saying that because of my actions, I have to clean up the mess caused by Agatha and Hood's gang? I don't accept that. If we're talking about the butterfly effect, then should the butterfly that flaps its wings in the Amazon and causes a tornado in Texas two weeks later be blamed for the destruction? No, the butterfly is just following its instincts, just as I was when I protected Chris. He's my friend, my cousin's boyfriend. I was just doing what came naturally to me. I refuse to be dragged into this mess because of something I did without thinking."

"What if I told you that this matter could affect your family?" The Ancient One's words hung in the air, a sudden chill descending upon the astral plane.

Jon's face hardened, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"

"Hood's gang rules Brooklyn," the Ancient One explained, her voice as cold as the void around them. "In his quest for vengeance, he won't hesitate to ignore Agatha's warnings and continue his investigation. He might even harm Chris again. If you confront the gang directly, you'll disrupt Agatha's plans, and she'll retaliate. Either way, you'll have to face her."

Jon's fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles turning white. After a moment of tense silence, he said, "They better not lay a finger on them. If they do, I'll burn them to ashes."

The Ancient One's words had struck a nerve. If she didn't intervene and let events unfold naturally, Jon's family could be in danger. By informing him, she was not only protecting her own plans but also ensuring the safety of his loved ones.

Seeing Jon's resolve, the Ancient One nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. She had known that once she laid out the situation, Jon would step up. He might not care about the fate of strangers, but he would move heaven and earth to protect his family.

In one of the futures she had seen through the Time Stone, Jon had defeated Agatha, but at a terrible cost. Annie and Ayla had been killed by Hood's gang. A heartbroken Jon was left behind, leaving a void that led to a series of disasters and the loss of countless innocent lives.

So, the Ancient One wasn't asking Jon to solve the problem. She was asking him to protect his family. Only then would he be able to play his part in the events to come, saving countless lives in the process.

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