Chapter 13: 177A Bleecker Street

Wanda and Noah walked silently along the street. Her thoughts were preoccupied with Ash's revelations, and she remained skeptical about the authenticity of the Necronomicon.

Gradually, she couldn't help but tentatively broach the topic with Noah.

"That… about the Necronomicon, isn't it something Ash just made up?" Wanda asked cautiously.

"I only said Ash was talking nonsense, not that he was lying," Noah replied with a smile. He then added, "There's probably a Necronomicon somewhere in this world, but it's likely not what Ash or you imagine it to be."

Wanda nodded thoughtfully, indicating she understood his explanation.

"By the way, I realized I never asked for your name," Wanda said suddenly, smiling at him.

"I'm Noah White," he replied. Then, glancing at the figure floating behind them, he added, "And as for Pietro, he hasn't said a word since earlier—did you do something to him?"

Noah's gaze landed on the man floating in midair behind them. He rolled his shoulder in relief; ever since earlier, he had handed Quicksilver over to the Scarlet Witch. It was far easier for her to carry him with her telekinesis than for Noah to haul him around on his shoulder.

Wanda nodded. "Pietro's lost a lot of blood and needs rest. Besides, he can't be of much help right now, so letting him sleep is probably for the best."

As if to confirm her statement and prove he was still alive, a loud snore, reminiscent of a tractor engine starting, erupted from behind them.

"By the way, I haven't properly thanked you yet. Thank you for saving Pietro's life. He's always so reckless. If he'd been left alone in this apocalypse, he probably would've ended up as zombie food by now," Wanda said, bowing her head slightly to express her deep gratitude.

Well, technically, it might have been others ending up as his food, Noah thought to himself but kept the remark to himself. Instead, he shook his head lightly and smiled. "No need to be so formal. Saving him was also saving myself, after all."

"You're really too modest," Wanda said with a smile.

Having grown up with Pietro and relied on him for so long, she felt that no amount of gratitude toward someone who saved him would ever be enough.

Noah waved his hand lightly, about to say something, when his gaze fell ahead of them. "Oh, we're here," he said.

The Victorian-style double doors of 177A Bleecker Street exuded an aura of dignity and antiquity. Intricate carvings adorned the doorframe, as if whispering stories of the past. The golden door handles bore ornate floral designs, radiating elegance and sophistication.

However, as Noah and Wanda approached the door, their eyes were drawn to the bloodstains on the white steps. The blood trailed from the door handles down to the steps, forming a chilling crimson streak.

The vivid red of the blood starkly contrasted with the pure white of the steps, creating an unsettling and terrifying image. The splatter resembled crimson rose petals scattered across the steps, emanating a sinister aura.

Noah and Wanda exchanged a silent glance, their mutual understanding reflected in their wary expressions.

Whoever—or whatever—had attacked the Sanctum Sanctorum clearly possessed some knowledge of magic, as the protective wards around the place should have prevented any ordinary intruder.

"Do you know any protective spells? Like Seraph's Shield or something?" Noah asked, stroking his chin as he tried to recall something he'd seen in comics.

Wanda smiled and replied, "Of course." She then performed a series of hand gestures, activating a spell with a few short phrases.

A faint yellow glow enveloped both of them—this was the Seraph's Shield. Every mage who cast this spell had to visualize something that gave them a sense of security. For some, it was a warm home; for others, a reliable weapon. It varied from person to person, but as long as it evoked a feeling of safety, it worked.

Feeling the warm glow of protection around him, Noah nodded in satisfaction, recalling the information from his memory.

As she observed Noah's calm demeanor, Wanda felt a twinge of surprise. She hadn't expected him to know so much about magic, which intrigued her.

"Shall we go in? It sounds like something's happening inside," Noah said, lightly pressing on the shield before stepping forward to push open the blood-streaked doors.

The moment he opened the doors, the muffled sounds from within burst out with alarming clarity.

"Please, stop resisting, Wong! I really don't want to hurt you, but I'm so hungry!"

"Every bite I take makes me hungrier! And the hungrier I get, the more I want to eat!"

The zombified Druid Master's frenzied voice echoed through the hall as he conjured several tire-sized fireballs, launching them toward his target.

His voice was filled with despair and agony. The once-majestic blue cloak draped over his shoulders was now soaked in blood, stripped of its former glory and sanctity.

Blood formed grotesque blotches on the cloak, contrasting sharply with its original color. His sparsely-haired head now resembled a disheveled mess, with strands matted to his bloodied forehead.

Nearby, a completely bald man—Wong—furiously gestured with his remaining hand, summoning a complex array of runes. The air around him shimmered with mystical energy, forming a protective barrier inscribed with glowing symbols.

The fireballs crashed against the barrier, exploding in fiery bursts. Each impact caused the runes to flicker and fall apart, and the shield itself began to waver.

Sweat beaded on Wong's brow as veins bulged across his forehead. His physical and mental reserves were clearly depleting rapidly. Yet, he stood firm, channeling all his strength into maintaining the shield against the relentless assault.

Inwardly, Wong prayed: Doctor Strange, I know you can hear me. Please, come quickly. We need your help. I can't hold on much longer; the Sanctum needs your guidance.

He held on, hoping that Strange would sense his call and arrive in time to turn the tide of this dire battle. Without him, Wong knew, he would soon be devoured by his former comrade.

The Druid Master's next fireball burned even brighter and larger than the ones before. Wong's barrier wouldn't withstand another hit of that magnitude.

At that moment, a voice rang out across the Sanctum, cutting through the tension like a beacon of hope:

"Stop this madness, Druid Master! I've found a cure for the zombie virus. You can finally be free from this hunger!"

Noah's voice reverberated through the hall, drawing all eyes to him. Even Wanda stared at him, stunned. She hadn't expected him to claim he had a cure.

The Druid Master froze mid-attack, his expression a mix of anguish and confusion. His blood-red eyes glimmered with a faint glimmer of hope as he turned to face Noah.

Meeting his gaze briefly, Noah pulled out a small vial glowing with soft blue light. It radiated an aura of salvation, as if imbued with a restorative power.

He carefully placed the vial on the ground and took half a step back, his voice filled with deep sympathy:

"This is the cure, Druid Master. It can help you break free from the curse of zombification and restore your sanity and humanity."