366-370

"Alright, Uncle Rhodey, you and Coulson don't need to argue anymore. We all know who's to blame for this situation."

Mark approached and gave Rhodey a hug, gently patting his back as if to soothe his agitated emotions.

Unnoticed by anyone, while embracing Rhodey, Mark leaned in and whispered a few words in his ear: "You did great, Uncle Rhodey. T'Challa should already be in action on Captain's side. Everything is under our control."

"Director! Director!"

Just at that moment, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent rushed into the meeting room, urgently calling for Coulson, his expression full of anxiety.

"Director, General Ross has called in on a secure line, saying that the Raft prison has been attacked and S.H.I.E.L.D. support is needed immediately! Director, please issue the orders quickly."

"When did this happen? And why didn't General Ross contact me directly on my communicator?" Coulson swiftly approached the agent, asking with a serious tone.

"Sir, this happened several minutes ago. General Ross mentioned that he couldn't get through to your communicator and had to contact headquarters first to inform you."

"Several minutes ago! How could you delay reporting such an important matter to me for so long?" Coulson reproached.

The agent seemed rather frustrated and immediately defended himself, "Director, it's not that I didn't want to inform you promptly.

When I came in, the security personnel at the entrance of the Avengers base told me that there were numerous confidential technologies and important files inside the base.

To prevent information leakage, my identity and belongings had to be checked by them. Only after passing their inspection was I allowed in.

I wanted to contact you and have you come out, but your communicator wasn't working either. The security at the entrance wouldn't listen to my explanations, insisting that I follow their protocol.

I had no choice but to delay a few minutes until I cleared the inspection and could come in to deliver the message."

First, the communicator couldn't receive incoming calls, and then, a S.H.I.E.L.D agent had to undergo a previously unheard-of inspection process to enter.

If it were just one of these incidents, it could be explained as a coincidence. However, when such troublesome occurrences coincided with the attack on the Raft prison, there was only one plausible explanation.

Coulson turned to Tony and Mark, who appeared composed, his eyes filled with suspicion, and asked, "Do you have something to tell me?"

Facing Coulson's inquiry, Mark feigned ignorance, avoiding eye contact and glancing around, refusing to answer his question.

Tony then clapped his hands as if suddenly remembering something, "Oh, right! I almost forgot to tell you, Coulson.

During our confrontation with the Green Goblin, our intelligence was severely compromised, making our actions extremely difficult and constantly under the control of the enemy.

To prevent further information leaks, this morning we implemented additional security measures within the base, strengthened the control over incoming and outgoing personnel, and installed signal-blocking devices for communication and wireless networks within the base.

Be cautious when you enter in the future. We wouldn't want you to face situations like today, where urgent matters couldn't be communicated."

After Tony finished, he shrugged at Coulson, adopting an innocent expression of someone who had just recalled something important.

"..." Faced with the behavior of Tony and Mark acting so nonchalant, without any evidence, Coulson couldn't accuse them of anything. He quickly turned to the agent who had brought in the news and left the Avengers base.

Outside, the two quickly boarded the Quinjet on the tarmac. It was then that Coulson took out his communicator and saw that the communication signal had returned to normal.

He immediately contacted the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent at headquarters, officially issuing the director's order, demanding that all agents within S.H.I.E.L.D. who were not on active missions immediately depart for the Raft prison.

After ending the call, he immediately dialed another number to contact General Ross, "General Ross, this is Phil Coulson. How's the situation at the Raft prison? I've issued the support order, and all S.H.I.E.L.D. agents currently in position are on their way there."

"Why did you take so long to provide support? And why couldn't I reach you earlier? It's too late now, far too late! Steve Rogers and the others have already been taken by unknown invaders."

"What about the other inmates? Did any other dangerous felons take advantage of the situation to escape?" Coulson asked anxiously.

"No, this time only Rogers and the two others were rescued; no other major criminals managed to escape. But this is the most significant disgrace the Raft prison has faced since its establishment!

Never before has a prisoner managed to escape from the Raft prison. Today's attack broke that record, three inmates have escaped..."

Hearing the regretful and angry tone from General Ross on the other side, Coulson actually breathed a sigh of relief.

On one hand, Captain and the others successfully escaped the Raft prison, regaining their freedom. On the other hand, no issues occurred with the other inmates, and Tony's group meticulously controlled the impact of this operation, avoiding further losses.

Even though Captain and the others would be globally wanted like his old colleague Natasha in the future, it was still something that made him feel happy. He believed that since Tony and Mark had orchestrated this operation, they must have made thorough arrangements.

Moreover, he didn't want to see the heroes who had saved all of Europe subjected to unjust treatment.

...

"T'Challa, how's the mission on your end?"

Just as Coulson left, Mark couldn't wait any longer and immediately established communication with T'Challa.

"I've managed to bring everyone out, but it's not a good time for them to show up at the Avengers base. I won't bring them there; we're heading back to Wakanda on the spacecraft."

"Alright, take care of yourselves. When we have some free time, we'll find an opportunity to meet up!"

Upon hearing T'Challa's affirmative response, Mark also displayed a joyful smile on his face.

"Wait a moment!" Mark interjected just as T'Challa was about to end the conversation.

"I left a farewell gift for Cap in the old building of the Mark Research Center. The location is right along your flight path to Wakanda. When you pass by, you can go down and pick up the gift."

The gift Mark was referring to was none other than the Winter Soldier, Bucky.

Bucky's situation was similar to that of Captain and the others. He was globally wanted as well. Instead of keeping him hidden in the laboratory, it would be better for him to join Captain and the rest in Wakanda.

Unfortunately, after Natasha's disappearance, she had managed to evade capture so thoroughly that Mark still hadn't been able to locate her. It's no wonder she was once S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top spy. Otherwise, he would have arranged for her to hide in Wakanda with T'Challa's help.

"That's quite a coincidence!? Cap has also left something for you. I've already had my associates send it to you via postal service. Don't forget to collect it when the time comes.

By the way, do you want to bid farewell to Captain and the others? I can connect the communication line for them."

"No, there's no need. Farewells are temporary. I believe that when the Earth faces another immense crisis that requires the Avengers to step up, we'll gather together again."

...

The disappearance of Captain, Scarlet Witch, Natasha, and Falcon left the entire Avengers team in an unprecedented void.

In light of this situation, Tony, who had initially planned to retire from the Avengers, could only temporarily stay on to stabilize the current situation.

Over the past few days, Tony simultaneously completed the signing of the "Seoul Accords" with the United Nations and organized internal management work.

"Now Captain and the others are globally wanted by the United Nations. They need to go into hiding temporarily and halt their activities as the Avengers.

Hawkeye has voluntarily left the Avengers to be with his family.

After Banner's last accident, he's still missing without any relevant information.

Apart from me, there are only Mark, Rhodey, and Pete left in the entire alliance, a total of four people.

There are also some support personnel handling our related daily tasks.

In other words, the four of us are the only remaining core combatants..."

Knock, knock, knock!

Just as Tony was only halfway through his sentence, a series of knocks suddenly sounded from outside the base, interrupting his speech.

Everyone turned their heads to look at the glass door. The one knocking was an elderly postal courier with white hair and brown-tinted sunglasses.

"Tony Stank, which one of you is Tony Stank? And Mark Stank, there are packages for both of you."

Chuckling could be heard as soon as the courier said their names. Both Rhodey and Peter found it amusing.

"Right here, Tony Stank and Mark Stank are here, hahaha!"

Rhodey pointed his finger at Tony and Mark to the elderly courier.

"These are your packages. Please sign for them here."

The courier handed over two packages to them.

The larger one was for Mark, and the smaller one was for Tony.

"This should be what Cap left for us." Mark said, looking at the substantial package in his hand.

Tony nodded, his attention also focused on the package in his hand, lost in thought.

After seeing off the courier, Mark couldn't wait to open the package in front of everyone.

Rip — he tore off the outer packaging, revealing the contents inside.

There were only two things in the package: one was the Flash costume Mark had customized for Cap, and the other was a letter.

Without paying much attention to the familiar suit, Mark picked up the letter and began to read.

[Mark, there's not much I need to say between us.

Though there's a significant gap in age and background, I believe we both sense the understanding between us.

Among all the companions in the Avengers, our thoughts and ideals are probably the most alike.

This Flash suit has accompanied me through all kinds of trials, big and small. But I had promised Tony before that after dealing with Green goblin, I would return it.

Now, as per my promise, I'm returning this suit to your hands, its creator.

I hope that one day, when I'm once again worthy of wearing it, I can take it back from you.]

After reading the letter Cap left for him, Mark looked at the neatly folded Flash suit with a hint of helplessness. Captain was Captain – always serious and committed to his promises.

On the other side, Tony had also opened the package Cap left for him. Just like Mark's package, Tony first took out a letter, with his name handwritten on the envelope.

[Tony, I'm glad that after what happened, you still returned to our side to fight alongside us when the Avengers needed you. I didn't want to see you wandering alone in that huge mansion.

We all need family, and compared to me, the Avengers are more like your family. Maybe other members haven't noticed your thoughtful side, but I know that in places unseen, you've considered each member as family with a warm heart.

I've been alone since I was eighteen. I can say I've never truly fit in anywhere, even in the military back then.

I believe in people, in everyone! And what brings me comfort is that in most cases, they've never let me down. That's also why I can't let them down.

Life can start over, but they can't be let down. Tony, I know I hurt you. I thought keeping the truth about your parents from you would make things easier for you.

But now I realize, that was just my self-comfort. I'm sorry! But I still hope that someday you'll understand my perspective, and I genuinely wish we can come to an agreement on the Accords. I really hope so.

I know you've been sticking to what you believe in, and we all are and should be. So, I promise you, whenever you need us, no matter when, I'll be by your side.]

After reading the letter in his hand, Tony pulled another item out of the package – a flip phone that seemed completely out of touch with the current era of smartphones.

Seeing this phone, Tony instantly understood the meaning behind Captain's final words in the letter, "Whenever you need, I'll be by your side." This type of old-fashioned phone, a relic in their midst, only Captain, who is also a relic, would use.

Tony seemed to be relieved suddenly. He looked at the letter and the phone in his hand, and a mysterious smile appeared on his face. He then placed the phone into his pocket.

"Alright, stop staring at me. Are you jealous that Cap didn't leave you anything?

Now, let's continue with our previous discussion. There are only four of us left as the main fighting force in the Avengers. And in the future, once this settles down, I'll eventually be leaving too for personal reasons.

So, considering potential future dangers and the needs of the Avengers Alliance itself, we have to bring in new forces to the organization. If you have any recommendations, speak up now."

Having said that, Tony looked expectantly at the other three, hoping to get useful information from them.

Quicksilver's movement was the fastest; he expressed his complete inability to help. After all, whether it was in terms of life experience or social relationships, his qualifications and circle were the shallowest. He was truly powerless when it came to recommending people.

"As I see it, T'Challa seems pretty good. He's kind-hearted, stands for justice, and unlike someone who stirs up internal conflicts for revenge, he can put aside his inner hatred and possesses the qualities of a great superhero.

Coupled with his exceptional physical qualities, advanced combat skills, and the high-tech Black Panther suit made from vibranium, it can be said that he's the most suitable candidate for the Avengers in both internal and external aspects."

Quicksilver didn't have any suggestions. On the other hand, Rhodey immediately thought of T'Challa's name and brought it up.

However, Tony sensed the sarcasm in Rhodey's words. With their years-long camaraderie, Tony certainly wouldn't hold a grudge, but a little counterattack was necessary.

"Rhodey, you're so innocent, it's almost adorable! T'Challa is the prince of Wakanda, the future king. He's going to inherit the entire country's political leadership.

Dealing with the internal affairs of his own nation every day is already busy enough. Do you think everyone is as free as you to participate in various actions and tasks?"

Both Quicksilver and Rhodey didn't have any good candidates to recommend. Now, the only hope rested on Mark. Tony couldn't help but turn his gaze to him.

"Well, I do have two candidates who are suitable to join the Avengers. But whether we can convince them to become new members, that's a task I'm not taking responsibility for.

Since you're leaving the team, Dad, I think I'll leave this matter entirely in your hands. If you don't manage to bring in new recruits, don't even think about leaving yourself."

"You have to first give us information about who they are. Only if we genuinely believe they are qualified to join the Avengers, can we proceed with inviting them!

If they don't possess the necessary strength and heroic qualities, then what's the point of discussing their inclusion in the Avengers?"

Tony wasn't fooled by Mark's tactics and demanded that he share the information first before deciding the next steps.

"Baymax, project the profiles of Scott Lang and Peter Parker for me. Let them see whether these two individuals truly have the qualifications to become reserve members of the Avengers."

"Indeed, they are two good candidates, at least they meet our requirements for potential Avengers.

However, let's leave Scott Lang to be handled by Rhodey. His Mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, and our Stark family aren't exactly on good terms.

As for that young lad in pajamas, I'll take care of contacting him. It must have been quite tough for his aunt to raise him alone. As a single father, I can share some experiences with her."

After reviewing the information Mark provided about the two individuals, Tony didn't hesitate to delegate the more challenging target to Rhodey while choosing Spider-Man, Peter Parker, as his own target.

"Tony, are you attracted to that aunt with a hot figure and charm? You want to share experiences? Did you personally take care of Mark even for a day when he was a kid?

Moreover, you're the one about to leave the team. Why did you push the task of recruiting new members onto me?"

Tony's teasing friend, Rhodey, didn't waste any time to poke fun at Tony.

Hearing Rhodey's words, Mark started looking at Tony with a scrutinizing gaze. "Dad, you aren't really interested in that aunt, are you? Although I understand that after getting those enhancements, you've solved the 'Fast-Man' problem and after breaking up with Pepper, your energy is off the charts.

But if traditional methods don't satisfy you anymore, I can have Baymax build a virtual reality for you to vent. However, if you do anything that disrespects Pepper, I'll lose respect for you."

Snap! Tony rolled his eyes, raised his hand, and gave his forehead a heavy slap, looking like he was burdened with a great injustice.

"What are you two talking about? Seriously, how can you think of me like that?

Sure, that aunt is undeniably attractive and has a great figure, but I, Tony Stark, am not the same person I used to be. I won't be simply swayed by beauty.

The reason I suggested contacting this young lad isn't just because of the issues between the Starks and the Hanks, but also because I want to personally assess if he's qualified to be the new generation of Avengers.

He's just fifteen years old and recently acquired superpowers by accident. Although he's already started doing heroic deeds around his neighborhood with his newfound abilities, becoming an Avenger is a whole different level of responsibility and pressure.

I'm concerned that due to his newfound power, without having truly faced hardships, he might impulsively agree to join the Avengers out of excitement at the prospect."

"So, I want to personally assess him, set up necessary tests, to see if he's mature enough to bear the responsibility of becoming an Avenger."

"Hey, Tony, age shouldn't be the sole criterion for evaluating someone's abilities. The first time you guys went to Sokovia, weren't you spun around by me and Wanda, who had just come of age?"

Quicksilver seemed quite optimistic about Spider-Man. Perhaps it was because there were very few people his age in the team he could relate to. Mark often stayed in the lab, and his only peer without a generation gap, Scarlet Witch, had to go into exile in Wakanda due to persecution by the United Nations. So, Quicksilver was particularly hopeful that Spider-Man would join them.

"Pete, not everyone matures as early as you and Wanda. Growing up in the chaotic areas of Sokovia from a young age, coupled with the unfortunate accidents your families faced, you two have relied on each other apart from yourselves.

Hence, you both possess greater resilience compared to the average youngsters.

But Peter Parker's upbringing and circumstances are different from yours. Besides, he's just recently gained his abilities and hasn't experienced setbacks and failures.

I believe he should face appropriate tests to prove his potential and capabilities. This is not only responsible for him but also for us."

"Dad, I'll leave the task of recruiting these two new members to you and Uncle Rhodey. And Pete, I have other matters to attend to afterwards that will likely take a few months. After that, you'll be the only one left at the Avengers facility. Make sure to take good care of our headquarters."

Quicksilver patted his chest confidently and said to Mark, "No problem, I'll ensure that it's safe. With my speed, patrolling the entire base is a matter of seconds. If there's anything unusual, I'll be the first one on the scene. You can rest assured."

In fact, the matter Mark mentioned that he needed to handle was not much different from Tony and Rhodeys' task. While they were inviting new members to join the Avengers, Mark was also dealing with newcomers.

Not long after the Green Goblin's incident concluded, the Supreme Sorcerer, who hadn't been in contact with him for a long time, called him. She said she hoped Mark could return to Kamar-Taj to assist in instructing an exceptionally talented sorcerer apprentice named Stephen Strange...

The reason Mark was willing to accept the seemingly troublesome task from Ancient One was, on one hand, due to the moral leverage Ancient One had over him.

During their phone conversation, Ancient One directly told Mark that Stephen Strange was the heir she had been cultivating as the future Sorcerer Supreme.

For the sake of peace for Kamar-Taj and Earth within the multiverse, if Mark was unwilling to become the next Sorcerer Supreme, then as the guardian of Kamar-Taj and a practitioner of mystic arts, he had a responsibility to assist Ancient One in guiding Strange's growth.

On the other hand, Mark also had his own considerations. He wanted a substantial period of uninterrupted time to focus on advancing his spatial research.

Regarding Doctor Strange's talents in mystic arts and magic, as a reincarnator, Mark was well aware. Accepting Ancient One's request not only allowed him to hold a favor over her, but also it didn't demand much of his energy, as Doctor Strange could progress through self-study.

What Mark needed to do was to simultaneously advance his spatial research and guide Doctor Strange to stay on the correct path, while occasionally addressing the doubts that arose during his magical studies.

Since Baymax had successfully evolved into an intelligent life form, its computing speed and analytical abilities had greatly improved. This helped Mark make significant progress in developing the spatial weapon against Thanos. He was now at a critical juncture.

If it weren't for the United Nations and the Green Goblin causing disturbances one after another, he would likely still be in his lab, tackling the final challenges of his research.

However, if things went as planned, after the crisis triggered by the Green Goblin, there shouldn't be any crisis that required his direct intervention until Thanos arrived on Earth.

The only potential threat was Dormammu, the Dark Dimension's ruler who had always coveted Earth. But now that he was returning to Kamar-Taj, Mark could intervene promptly if Dormammu tried to stir up trouble.

This way, Mark had practically gained a long stretch of uninterrupted time to focus on his research. This was a significant reason why he agreed to Ancient One's request.

However, Mark was still curious about one thing: Despite most hospitals and medical facilities being equipped with the civilian version of the hibernation pods sold by the Mark Research Center, how did Stephen Strange end up like the original story, with his hands crippled, to the extent that he sought miracles at Kamar-Taj?

"Baymax, investigate Doctor Stephen Strange's recent archival data."

"Of course, master. I've already found it. On the evening of May 6th this year, Doctor Stephen Strange was involved in a car accident during his journey to attend a banquet hosted by the Neurological Association due to slippery road conditions caused by the weather. He suffered severe injuries.

Due to the accident's location on a sparsely trafficked mountain road and the occurrence during the poorly visible night, when Doctor Strange was discovered by the rescue team and brought to the hospital, the critical time for treating nerve damage had already passed.

Although the use of the hibernation pod healed the majority of his physical and bone injuries, the neural necrosis in his hands left Doctor Strange without the steady dexterity he had prided himself on as a neurosurgeon.

In the process of attempting to restore his hands' health, Doctor Strange encountered a paralysis case worse than his own yet miraculously recovered: Jonathan Pangborn. From him, Doctor Strange learned about Kamar-Taj.

According to Doctor Strange's latest information, two days prior, he had taken an international flight to Kathmandu alone, seeking Kamar-Taj.

The reason was that he didn't have sufficient funds to go to Dr. Helen's newly established laboratory in Tokyo for treatment in the Regeneration Cradle. However, the money in his account was just enough to buy a ticket to Kathmandu."

"…"

That was truly unfortunate. Mark hadn't anticipated that even though he had significantly elevated the medical standards in this Marvel parallel world, Doctor Strange still couldn't change his fate.

"I wonder if I tell him now that I possess the Extremis enhancement technology and can completely restore his hands to their pre-accident state, will Doctor Strange still choose to stay and become the next Sorcerer Supreme?"

Mark believed that he probably would. Although Doctor Strange wasn't a saint in the conventional sense before he truly became the Earth's Sorcerer Supreme, once he decided to take on a patient, no matter how challenging the treatment process, he would never give up. This strong sense of responsibility was evident.

In the previous life's movies, Ancient One also praised Doctor Strange, stating he had a kind nature. Even when Doctor Strange knew he could relinquish the magical arts and restore his hands to health, returning to his former life, he still chose to shoulder the burden of the Sorcerer Supreme in the face of Dormammu's threat to Earth.

"Never mind, if Ancient One knew I had such thoughts, she'd probably try to force me or pressure me into becoming the Sorcerer Supreme.

I'll leave the matter of the Extremis enhancement for after Doctor Strange becomes the Sorcerer Supreme. He can decide whether to accept it then.

Honestly, I'm quite curious to see what kind of impact and changes a Sorcerer Supreme with the regenerative abilities of Wolverine and the intense heat ability would have on the future."

"Master, aren't you already such a combination? You're even more powerful…"

"Baymax, why do I feel like you've become less considerate after evolving into an intelligent life form? But I have to admit, your sarcasm has improved!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Master. Baymax will continue to strive and improve."

"Am I actually praising you? Wake up a bit, hey!"

...

Zi—zi—!

On the training grounds of Kamar-Taj, as a spark flashed, a portal appeared amidst the scene, and stepping out from it was none other than Mark, who had come at the request of Ancient One.

"Respected Guardian of the Sanctum!"

Seeing Mark's arrival, the apprentice magicians who were learning to use the Sling Rings on the training grounds all ceased their movements in unison. Following the lead of their instructor, Mordo, they respectfully saluted Mark.

"No need to be so formal, Master Mordo. If we're talking about seniority, you're my senior brother." Mark waved his hand, signaling everyone to stand at ease. He suddenly recalled Ancient One's assessment of Mordo: stubborn and inflexible. It seemed that assessment was quite accurate.

"Master Mark, you are not only the current Guardian of the New York Sanctum, but also a formidable individual on par with the Sorcerer Supreme. You helped Kamar-Taj recover lost methods of crafting artifacts. How could I possibly compare to you and become your senior brother?"

"You're always so traditional, Master Mordo. Alright, I have something to discuss with the Sorcerer Supreme. Lead the way, and let's catch up later."

Guided by Mordo, Mark arrived outside the temple where Ancient One practiced. "Master Mark, the teacher is inside. She instructed me earlier that if you came, I should bring you here. You can enter now. I still need to teach the apprentices, so I'll take my leave for now."

Mordo once again bowed and then respectfully withdrew.

Mark watched Mordo leave, then turned back and lightly knocked on the temple door a few times. Soon, a gentle and calm voice from within said, "Come in."

Mark pushed the door open and entered, seeing Ancient One seated on a cushion in meditation posture, immersed in tranquil contemplation. "Long time no see, Master Ancient One."

"It has indeed been a while, Master Mark. If I hadn't requested your presence this time, I wouldn't have known when you'd come back to Kamar-Taj to visit this old fossil like me."

Upon hearing Mark's greeting, Ancient One also opened her eyes and looked at him, engaging in playful banter.

"Don't make fun of me. You called me here this time to assist in teaching your successor, didn't you? How come you didn't summon him for me to meet?"

"Stephen Strange hasn't arrived at Kamar-Taj yet, but you needn't worry. He'll be here this afternoon. Why don't we share a cup of tea, discuss our recent magical research findings, and await his arrival together?"

"As you wish, I'm honored to be your guest."

"'Ancient One'? Is that your real name? ... Forget what I think I know?"

Inside the temple, as Ancient One and Mark were exchanging magical insights, they both simultaneously stopped upon hearing the voice from outside, turning their gazes towards the entrance.

"What did I say? Look, isn't he here now?" Ancient One said with a smile to Mark.

Similar to the movies Mark had seen in his previous life, Mordo, who had returned from his errand, had encountered Doctor Strange in his search for Kamar-Taj. Through a miraculous twist of fate, Mordo brought him into Kamar-Taj, where he met the Sorcerer Supreme.

Mark wasn't surprised by this, but he couldn't help but comment as he looked at Ancient One, who seemed to have everything under control, "You possess the Eye of Agamotto, the Time Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones, a universal treasure that can see the past and the future. Of course, you know when he will come."

"No, I didn't foresee Strange's arrival using the Time Stone. He, like you, is beyond my sight regarding any definite future. I can only see infinite possibilities. That's also why I chose him as the Sorcerer Supreme's successor.

The reason I knew he would arrive at Kamar-Taj this afternoon is because I assigned a task to Mordo. I instructed him to bring a lost traveler searching for Kamar-Taj from the marketplace to my temple after he finishes teaching the apprentices."

"Isn't this a bit like cheating compared to predicting with the Time Stone..." Mark shook his head in resignation, no longer arguing with Ancient One.

Coincidentally, at that moment, Mordo arrived with Doctor Strange at the temple's entrance.

"Inside is the place of my master's practice. After you go in, you must be respectful, not impolite like just now, understood?" Mordo instructed.

"Understood!" Doctor Strange nodded vigorously, then followed Mordo into the temple.

However, as soon as he entered, he met Mordo's stern gaze. Seeing the appearance of the two individuals in the temple, he exclaimed loudly, "Mark Stark!"

This exclamation shattered the tranquility within the temple and left Mordo quite angry: What happened to maintaining respectful behavior? Why is he shouting as soon as he enters?

With a piercing glance at Doctor Strange, Mordo suppressed his anger and respectfully bowed to Ancient One and Mark, who were seated on cushions. "Sorcerer Supreme, Sanctum Guardian, I have brought the lost traveler seeking Kamar-Taj."

Doctor Strange, now standing nearby, spoke up, "I apologize for my excitement earlier. I didn't expect to see Mr. Mark Stark, the genius who brought revolutionary changes to the entire medical field here.

So, you are Ancient One. I knew that if anyone could completely cure a paraplegic patient with complete damage to the seventh and eighth segments of the spinal cord, allowing him to walk again, it would be you.

Are you researching cellular regeneration here? It's cutting-edge medical technology. Is that why you're hiding here, evading scrutiny from the medical community?"

Doctor Strange looked at Mark excitedly, feeling he had uncovered the truth, completely unaware of the awkward expressions on Mark's and Mordo's faces behind him.

"Sorry to interrupt you, Mr. Strange. However, I am Mark Stark, not anyone else. Ancient One you're looking for should be this person beside me," Mark explained.

"Hello, Mr. Stephen Strange," Ancient One said with a smile.

As they say, if you're not embarrassed, then the one feeling awkward is someone else. However, Doctor Strange hadn't yet reached that level of thick-skinned audacity.

He glanced questioningly first at Mark, who nodded, then at Mordo, who brought him in, receiving another nod and a quiet reminder, "This is Ancient One."

"Very well, thank you for bringing him here, Mordo. You can rest now. Mark and I need to have a discussion with Mr. Strange."

Mordo bowed to Ancient One and Mark respectively, bid his farewells, and respectfully left the temple.

"You can call me Doctor Strange. I am a doctor," despite his earlier embarrassment, Doctor Strange straightforwardly expressed his dissatisfaction with the title Ancient One had used for him.

"Oh? If you're still a doctor, then what brings you to Kamar-Taj?"

"You recently performed many surgeries, seven times, am I correct? Unfortunately, these seven surgeries seem to have brought you deeper despair and not any improvement to your hands."

"You're right. I am no longer considered a doctor... I came here because I learned that you once cured a patient named Jonathan Pangborn, a paraplegic."

"Yes," Ancient One replied casually.

Doctor Strange: "How did you cure the completely damaged seventh and eighth segments of his spinal cord, allowing him to walk again?"

Ancient One: "In fact, I didn't perform any treatment on him. He couldn't walk, and all I did was persuade him."

Doctor Strange: "You're not talking about some form of psychotherapy, are you?"

Hearing Ancient One claim that she convinced a paralyzed patient to walk again, Doctor Strange's years of clinical experience and modern scientific mindset led him to instinctively doubt this. His gaze toward Ancient One shifted from initial eagerness to uncertainty.

"Mr. Strange, I want to ask you: when you reconnect damaged nerves, is it you treating them, or are they healing themselves?"

"It's the cells themselves," Doctor Strange answered confidently.

"But cells only regenerate in their unique ways. So, what if I told you that your body could convince itself to regenerate in various forms?"

"You're still insisting that you're not conducting experiments on cellular regeneration here.

Apart from cellular regeneration therapy, no other medical theory can explain how a patient classified as completely paralyzed managed to stand up again and even play basketball normally with others."

Looking at Doctor Strange, who believed he had uncovered the truth with the excited and enthusiastic expression on his face, Ancient One shook her head and said, "No, Mr. Strange, I haven't been conducting cutting-edge medical research on cellular regeneration here at Kamar-Taj. But I do know how to better heal the body by utilizing the soul."

At this moment, Doctor Strange's previously excited expression had completely frozen. Clearly, the mention of the soul by Ancient One had transformed his initial suspicions into disbelief and immense disappointment.

However, Mark, who had been quietly listening to Ancient One's explanation, was now generating numerous thoughts.

During his time learning magic at Kamar-Taj, he had undergone Extremis transformation and had nanobots performing micro-adjustments within his body, making him healthier than ever before.

Because of this, he had never heard from Ancient One about the interplay between the soul, body, and cellular restoration.

In his view, Ancient One's theory about influencing the soul to ultimately stimulate cells for recovery through their specific ways was reminiscent of his own method of using the Extremis virus to stimulate the brain and ultimately activate the body's immunity and self-healing functions.

This once again reaffirmed his belief that the pinnacle of science leads to theology. Everything attributed to unknown mystical forces is essentially yet-to-be-unveiled scientific principles.

However, Doctor Strange was different from Mark. He lacked Mark's godlike perspective as a reincarnator and didn't possess Mark's extensive knowledge base.

Now, hearing Ancient One repeatedly expound her theory about the soul influencing the body, he was consumed by uncontrollable anger due to his profound disappointment.

"I emptied my pockets and bought a one-way ticket to come here, and now you're telling me that your method relies on some kind of faith to heal? This is ridiculous, absolutely the most laughable joke I've ever heard in my life!"

Clearly, Doctor Strange had completely disregarded the advice Mordo had given him about "forget what you think you know."

"Strange, you're a person with a limited view. Your whole life, you've been trying to climb out of a well, hoping to see a broader world in the process. But now that you have the chance to completely break free from the well's constraints and witness an entirely new world, you're giving up this possibility because you're afraid it's too vast out there."

"I reject this possibility because I simply don't believe in myths like chakras, spiritual energy, and faith. There's no such thing as a soul in this world. Humans are composed of matter, and are just a tiny and insignificant speck of dust in the universe!"

"You underestimate yourself, Mr. Strange."

"You think you've seen through me, huh? Let me tell you, I've actually seen through you! You think you can deceive someone like Mark Stark, a blinded fool manipulated by money, and expect to deceive everyone else? Well, let me tell you, I, Stephen Strange, won't fall for your tricks!"

"Blinded fool manipulated by money!? Fine, then let this blinded fool show you, a frog in the well, the vastness between heaven and earth—"

Mark was initially just planning to watch the spectacle unfold, but upon hearing Doctor Strange's assessment of him, decided to put him in his place.

With a single step forward, Mark crossed the several-meter distance between them instantly. He reached Doctor Strange's side and extended his palm, pressing it against Doctor Strange's chest. In an instant, Doctor Strange's entire body uncontrollably fell backward.

Yet, in Doctor Strange's perception, there was no sensation of losing balance and falling. Instead, a strange scene unfolded before his eyes.

Time seemed to suddenly slow down across the entire world, and his body, right before his eyes, appeared to play out in slow motion, gradually tilting toward the ground.

But when he looked down at his own hands, he realized that he was floating lightly in mid-air, and his body had become somewhat transparent. He could see through his own hands.

Just as Doctor Strange was about to further explore his current state, Mark's palm, within this time-slowed world, moved as if he had pressed fast-forward, swiftly grabbing his falling body and pulling it back up.

With this pull, as if drawn by a powerful force, he was dragged back into his own body, spirit and flesh becoming one again.

"*Huff—huff—huff—!* What did you just do to me!?" Doctor Strange took deep breaths, panting heavily, and looked at Mark in front of him, questioning.

"I simply pushed your soul out of your body, just to demonstrate the existence of the soul to you."

"No! I don't believe it. Did you release some kind of hallucinogen in the room's incense?"

"No, that was just regular incense. In that split second, you entered a soul world, where your soul departed from your body."

But this "blinded fool manipulated by money"'s lesson for you, isn't over yet—keep your eyes wide open!"

As soon as the words fell, amidst Doctor Strange's horrified expression, Mark once again extended his hand towards him.

Swoosh! Immediately, Doctor Strange felt himself transition from the extremely slow space to an accelerated world. His body, as if released from the pull of gravity, rapidly left the Earth, reaching the orbit of the planet's satellite.

At this point, his high-speed movement suddenly halted. Doctor Strange felt himself return to a state of stillness.

However, before he could gather his thoughts, the sensation of weightlessness and extreme speed came crashing back. Doctor Strange's entire being was caught in this cycle of acceleration, pause, acceleration, pause.

"If you continue like this, his body won't be able to withstand it, Mark."

"Is that so? I think he can hold on a little longer."

For some reason, during this continuous journey of back-and-forth movement, Doctor Strange could distinctly hear the conversation between Ancient One and Mark from his surroundings, as if all of this was a dream he had imagined.

What Doctor Strange didn't know was that, strictly speaking, this was indeed a dream for him, but it was a dream woven by Mark, not one he had imagined himself.

This is a kind of mental mysticism created by Mark in his exploration of the connection between magic and technology. It could also be called an illusion.

By using his own magical power to influence the souls of others, thereby affecting various sensory centers in their brains, those ensnared in the illusion perceive, hear, and feel everything as a fantasy created by the caster. The principle behind creating this illusion is actually extracted by Mark from virtual reality technology and applied to magic.

Boom! Doctor Strange had no idea how much time had passed as he traversed through different times and spaces at different speeds. When he once again saw Ancient One and Mark, he had lost control of his body due to excessive fright, and he ended up sitting on the floor.

"How about it? Are you satisfied with this personalized journey through the multiverse that I've prepared for you?

In the past, you always thought you understood how the world worked, believing that the material universe was everything. However, in reality, matter is connected to spirit and they mutually influence each other. Thoughts shape reality, and reality, in turn, gives depth to thoughts.

The universe we see before us is just one among the infinite universes, and the world is boundless. Some are beautiful and harmonious, while others are cold, evil, and filled with slaughter. In those dark corners, primal forces are greedily awaiting the opportunity to harvest everything.

So, in this vast and genuine multiverse, who are you, Doctor Strange?

Tell me, am I still the foolish tycoon blinded by money, or are you the frog in the well, who only sees a limited perspective?"

"Teach me, I implore you, teach me the secrets!" At this moment, having endured Mark's retaliatory revelation, Doctor Strange finally believed in the existence of the soul, and he also believed that there was a way to restore his hands to normal in Kamar-Taj.

However, opportunities aren't perpetually present, waiting to be seized at any moment. Some things, once missed, may never present themselves again.

Ancient One and Mark exchanged a glance, then simultaneously provided Doctor Strange with a despairing answer: "No!"

As the saying goes, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Just as Doctor Strange reignited the intense flames of hope within himself for the possibility of recovering his hands, Ancient One and Mark's response of keeping him out hit him like a bucket of ice-cold water, making him instantly feel as though he had been drenched from head to toe, inside and out, with a chilling sensation.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Open the door, please! Open the door, please! I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have speculated about things I don't know and spoken out of turn. Please forgive me, let me in!"

Having been expelled from the gates of Kamar-Taj, Doctor Strange didn't leave disheartened. Instead, he stood before Kamar-Taj's doors, relentlessly pounding on the door and shouting, hoping to be given another chance.

"You're quite heartless, Master Ancient One. Your chosen successor has been shouting outside for nearly five hours. Aren't you planning to let him in?"

Inside the temple, Mark put down his teacup and addressed Ancient One, who was meditating.

"Aren't you the same, Master Mark? Don't forget, it was you and me who refused to let him stay at Kamar-Taj to learn. How can you now accuse me of being heartless?"

Ancient One opened her eyes, coming out of her meditative state.

"I'm not the Supreme Sorcerer, and my decisions don't hold weight in Kamar-Taj. Plus, it was just because he called me a foolish millionaire moments ago that I got annoyed. I just intended to tease him for a while.

If you're really not planning to let him into Kamar-Taj, then I can consider my mission for coming back here complete."

Ancient One picked up the teacup from the table and took a sip of the hot tea. "I'm not actually refusing to let him learn magic at Kamar-Taj. After all, Kamar-Taj's rule is that anyone capable of finding this place has the opportunity to learn magic to varying degrees.

However, as you mentioned earlier, you were angered by his impoliteness. Arrogance, stubbornness, and an ambitious nature—these are just a few of his faults.

I hope to use this trial to make him understand the importance of showing proper respect when facing the unknown and to cherish the opportunity to broaden his horizons and learn magic."

"Are you worried he'll become another Kaecilius?"

Upon hearing Ancient One's reasoning, Mark immediately understood the significance behind the trial she had set. It was only today, after returning to Kamar-Taj, that he learned from Master Mordo that Dormammu had once again violated the agreement he had made him and had once again harbored ambitions for Earth.

Furthermore, in order to deal with the threat he posed, Dormammu had paid a significant price, enticing Kaecilius to fall into the dark camp.

Once Kaecilius completes the magic circle he stole from the Book of Cagliostro to summon the Dark Dimension, Dormammu's true form will be able to descend upon Earth.

At that point, Dormammu, who would be able to unleash his full power, will undoubtedly launch a frenzied attack on Earth.

It is precisely due to this fear that Ancient One treats Doctor Strange's instruction with such caution. She also brought in Mark as a guide for Doctor Strange's path of learning magic, believing that communication between Mark and Doctor Strange, both being geniuses, would be more efficient and fluid, preventing a tragedy like Kaecilius from happening again.

"It was my negligence in paying attention to Kaecilius that allowed him to be trapped by his own obsession and fall into Dormammu's trap. But this time, I won't make the same mistake again."

...

"Please, let me in, don't leave me outside. I can't go anywhere now..."

Zi-er—

Doctor Strange, who had been pleading in front of Kamar-Taj's gate for nearly five hours, looked at the faint light that leaked through the opened crack and felt as though he were bathed in the radiance of an angel. For him, this was the sensation of hope being rekindled.

"Thank you!" Doctor Strange had never been so heartfelt in his expression of gratitude.

"You don't need to thank me. If you want to thank anyone, thank Master Ancient One. I just accepted her request to bring you in. After all, I'm just a foolish millionaire whose eyes were blinded by money."

"No, no, Mr. Stark, please allow me to retract the judgment I made about you this afternoon. I was too arrogant, too self-centered, and had a narrow perspective. I'm very sorry.

You have achieved unparalleled success in fields such as medicine and various other technologies, contributing greatly to human progress and development. I genuinely respect you.

However, ever since my hands were injured, I've become somewhat emotional, often doing irrational things that hurt people who are significant to me.

When I first arrived at Kamar-Taj's gate, Master Mordo warned me not to be confined by what I knew in the past, but unfortunately, I didn't heed his advice."

"Alright, I accept your apology. Your room is ahead. Take a good shower and rest.

If you have time, you can try meditating. It will help you truly learn some very useful things from the first lesson I gave you today. This knowledge will assist you in smoothly navigating the rest of your life at Kamar-Taj.

Later, Master Ancient One will summon you. As for me, I'm going to visit an old friend. So, enjoy your solitude for now, and here's something for you."

Mark handed a note to Doctor Strange and was about to leave.

"Wait, what's this? Is it my spell?" Doctor Strange asked, looking at the note in his hand.

"Don't be silly. You don't even know magic, so where would you get a spell? That's Kamar-Taj's Wi-Fi password."

...

Leaving Doctor Strange's room, Mark navigated through the intricate passages of Kamar-Taj and eventually arrived at a room that seemed a bit more beaten up than the others.

The person Mark came to visit was the library librarian who had previously helped him during his time learning magic at Kamar-Taj. Not too long ago, Kaecilius, under Dormammu's influence, had broken into the library, injured the librarian, and taken the pages from the Book of Cagliostro containing information about summoning the Dark Dimension.

If the story had progressed as it originally did, this librarian would have eventually been beheaded by Kaecilius. However, Mark, who knew his destiny, was well-prepared to prevent this tragedy, and saved the librarian to repay his help.

Before leaving Kamar-Taj, Mark had successfully deciphered the method Kamar-Taj used to create magical artifacts. With this knowledge, he created a protective artifact for the librarian, ensuring his safety even when Mark wasn't by his side.

Thanks to this protective measure, even though Kaecilius managed to take the pages he needed from the Book of Cagliostro, he couldn't take the librarian's life.

However, after this incident, the kind librarian was left with an indelible shadow in his heart. He was also deemed insufficient to undertake the task of guarding the library; he was reassigned to a position translating ancient texts with Ancient One's approval.

Knock, knock, knock! Mark gently knocked on his door. Knowing that Kaecilius's abrupt intrusion had left him with psychological scars, Mark was careful in his knocking, fearing that too much urgency might trigger emotional instability.

"Who's there?"

The door didn't open; instead, a trembling voice came from behind it. Judging by the source of the voice, Mark could tell that the person inside the room was hiding behind the door while asking the question.

"It's me, Mark Stark. Do you remember me?"

"Is it the Master Sanctum Guardian?" After hearing Mark's response, the voice inside the room clearly became more stable. It carried a hint of excitement and anticipation, yet still retained a trace of caution.

Then, the closed door slowly creaked open from the inside, and a careful gaze peered out through the crack in the door.

Only after confirming that it was indeed Mark did the door fully open, revealing the person standing before Mark.

The librarian, whom Mark was familiar with before, now had a completely unrecognizable appearance.

Though he used to come across as reserved and shy, his sincere eyes revealed his eagerness to connect with the outside world.

Now, however, Mark saw him dressed entirely in a yellow robe, his hood covering half of his face, rendering his expression and features invisible. He had become a person wrapped in a cloak, isolated from the outside world.

If Mark's identity had breached the first line of defense, the sealed attire he wore now acted as the second line. The final line, and the most solid one, was the barrier he had intentionally built within himself.

If the first two lines of defense could be gradually overcome with external changes, this last checkpoint could only be breached and improved by his own efforts.

"Master Guardian... I... I... I'm delighted to see you again. Thanks to the protective artifact you left for me, I can now converse with you here.

I wonder if there's anything I can assist you with? Although I'm quite useless, I couldn't even guard the library properly and had the pages from the forbidden books taken away. I almost got myself killed.

But to repay your kindness, I'm willing to put forth all my effort."

Despite the impact of Kaecilius's attack and the resulting psychological scars, his kind-hearted nature hadn't changed.

Given this, Mark planned to use this as a breakthrough point to help him overcome his inner fear entirely.

"Well, the thing is, I've been researching magic recently and have developed a secret technique called Illusion Magic. It allows me to directly apply magical influence to the soul of the target, affecting their bodily senses, making them see any illusion I desire.

However, this new technique is still in the experimental stage of transitioning from theory to practice. I need some volunteers to experience its effects firsthand, provide me with more data and feedback, and help expedite its development and application. I'm wondering if you'd be willing to become my volunteer and assist me in perfecting and applying this technique together."

"You can rest assured that the illusions I release through Illusion Magic won't contain anything disturbing. When affected by the illusion, you'll actually feel as if you've had a pleasant dream. It won't burden you physically or mentally."

Mark's explanation of the Illusion Magic technique was indeed true. However, he had developed and perfected the theory and practical effects of this technique long before. Mentioning the need for volunteers in front of the former librarian was merely a pretext to engage him.

Mark's real intention was to guide the librarian in resolving his inner conflicts within an environment Mark specially created, helping him regain his original, albeit shy, sunny demeanor.

"Um... sure, I'm willing to contribute as a volunteer. Should we start now? Could you allow me to go back to my room first, set up a few protective and defensive magic circles, and then..."

Having just agreed to Mark's request, the librarian began to nervously ramble on, his words flowing rapidly as if he had regained some vitality.

However, Mark certainly didn't have the patience to continue listening to the librarian's endless chatter. Without waiting to see if the librarian was prepared or not, Mark looked directly into his eyes and began to cast the Illusion Magic.

"Hope that when you wake up tomorrow morning, your fear and avoidance of the outside world will be completely healed. Good luck."

As the librarian stood in a daze and caught in the illusion Mark had cast, Mark gave him some encouragement.

Mark had done all he could for him at this point. The final outcome, whether it would be favorable or not, depended entirely on how the librarian would perform within the illusion.

As the saying goes, "A person's savior is themselves." All the conditions to help him overcome his psychological shadow were in place. If he couldn't summon the courage to conquer this challenge on his own, no matter how capable Mark was, he couldn't alter a person's will.

Therefore, regardless of whether he succeeded or failed when he woke up from the illusion tomorrow morning, Mark wouldn't provide him with a second round of assistance.

...

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Doctor Strange opened his eyes once again as he woke up from his bed. The first thing he saw was Mark sitting by his bedside, vigorously striking a copper gong.

He didn't know how long he had slept. Since his injury, this was the most restful and comforting sleep he had experienced. Both physically and mentally, the prolonged exhaustion brought about by the suppression had been swept away, making him feel remarkably light today.

"Good morning, Strange. Although I did tell you to take a good rest, you can't just skip setting an alarm! Breakfast time has already passed. If I hadn't kindly come to wake you up for class, you might not even have managed to have lunch today."

As Doctor Strange listened to Mark's sermon-like tone with an apparent "I'm doing this for your own good" expression, he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Did he truly forgive me like he said yesterday, or is it all a facade? Why do I feel like he's still targeting me?

If he really wanted to wake me up, couldn't he have come before breakfast ended? And why use a copper gong with such high decibels to wake me up? I was just asleep, not unconscious!"

"It seems like you're secretly badmouthing me in your mind, Strange?" Mark, with keen observation, saw the resentment hidden in Doctor Strange's eyes and immediately guessed his inner thoughts.

"Oh no, not at all! How could it be! It's my honor that you personally came to wake me up. I'll get up right away, no snoozing!" Doctor Strange quickly got out of bed and, with his trembling hands, put on the apprentice attire of Kamar-Taj.

"By the way, you mentioned waking me up for class. So where is the classroom? Who's the teacher? What's the first day's subject?"

"There's no classroom, you can discuss the subject wherever you'd like, and as for the teacher—near and far at the same time." Mark pointed at himself, saying, "I'm your teacher for today, tomorrow, and the day after, until you complete your apprenticeship and meet my requirements."