Chapter 62

As part of the advanced angelic civilization, Sky Blade No. 7 was equipped with fundamental star-drive technology, and flare bombing was a powerful manifestation of that technology. The remote control harnessed the power of a star to create a flare bombardment, an attack of unimaginable power.

Supported by Sky Blade No. 7, Leon swung his right hand forward.

Boom!

In an instant, the entire sky turned red as a torrent of red energy exploded outward. The devastating force engulfed the dark energy unleashed by Dormammu, evaporating it on contact. The explosion swallowed every trace of darkness.

Ancient One's eyes narrowed as she sensed the danger. She quickly rendered her form illusory, severing the connection between the mirror dimension and the real world.

Dormammu, who had dismissed Leon as insignificant, was caught completely off-guard by the sheer force of the flare bombardment. His massive form, once composed of dark energy, was consumed by the explosion.

"Impossible! You're just a human—how could you wield such power?" Dormammu's thunderous voice echoed as the mirror dimension itself began to shatter under the weight of the attack.

Leon watched as Dormammu's energy-based head disintegrated in the blast, forcing the dark lord back into his own dimension.

Crack! Crack!

The mirror dimension, now unstable, began to fracture and collapse. Realizing this, Leon swiftly activated the micro-wormhole transportation technology and vanished from the crumbling world.

In a flash, he reappeared on the rooftop of his manor.

"Keisha," he called out.

"The combat module has been recorded. Unknown magic systems and dark magic detected," Keisha responded. "Estimated analysis time: thirteen days."

Leon smiled, satisfied. This encounter had been more rewarding than he expected. The most valuable prize was Sky Blade's ability to record and analyze the Ancient One's mystical magic and Dormammu's dark sorcery. Once fully analyzed, it would be ready for his use.

Even though the magic of the Vishanti is notorious in the mystical world—like dealing with loan sharks—it can't be denied that many spells within this system are incredibly useful. Take the mirror dimension, for instance: it's a key skill for dealing with enemies discreetly.

The strength of Angelic Civilization lies in its ability to absorb the best attributes and systems from various civilizations through recording and analysis, constantly optimizing itself. The star-drive technology of Merlot Star is a prime example—Sky Blade No. 7 integrated this by studying and learning from their advancements.

As Leon stood reflecting, a gentle voice spoke from behind.

"Mr. Leon, I hope you don't mind me dropping by."

Leon wasn't surprised. Turning around, he saw the Ancient One standing there. Smiling, he gestured for her to sit.

"Ancient One, please, have a seat."

Without hesitation, the Ancient One sat on one of the balcony chairs. A small tea table appeared between them as Leon lightly tapped the surface, conjuring two glasses of juice.

"I apologize, Ancient One. I don't have tea here—only juice."

The Ancient One smiled softly. "Juice is rich in vitamins and very healthy."

The Ancient One removed her hood, revealing a weary expression. She didn't seem bothered, though. She picked up her glass and took a sip, blinking softly as she met Leon's gaze.

After a brief silence, she spoke softly, "Mr. Leon, you have surprised me."

"How so?" Leon asked, glancing unconsciously at the glowing green gem necklace—the Eye of Agamotto—hanging on her chest.

"Since you left that test base, I've noticed that the established flow of history has taken an unexpected turn," the Ancient One said, her eyes focused on Leon.

A few years ago, she had sensed a sudden shift in the course of history while at Kamar-Taj. This unsettled her, as she had long been able to glimpse into the future and maintain the Earth's protection by ensuring that events stayed on their destined path. But Leon's presence—and the arrival of his companions—had thrown this delicate balance into disarray.

The Ancient One explained that history had now veered off course at three significant points, and with each divergence, the changes were becoming more profound. Most recently, the timeline had been affected so dramatically that the future had become fragmented and uncertain. Leon was the focal point of this upheaval.

Listening closely, Leon quickly understood that the three points the Ancient One referred to were tied directly to his sign-in rewards: the Glint-Glint Fruit, the Breathing Technique, and, most notably, Sky Blade No. 7.

The first two had created relatively minor ripples in the timeline, as their powers, while significant, had limited long-term impact. However, the acquisition of Sky Blade No. 7 was a different story entirely. With the Skyfather-level combat power it granted, and its advanced technology far beyond the Earth's current capabilities, Leon now possessed the ability to gather and enhance himself with the genes and technologies of other civilizations. This meant his potential for growth had become nearly limitless.

As a result, the disruption to the future was much greater than the Ancient One had anticipated.

From the Ancient One's perspective, the future was now fragmented, and although she could sense the changes Leon had caused, she couldn't fully see why or how he had triggered them. Leon, of course, wasn't about to explain it to her. The Ancient One understood this well and didn't press him further.

Especially after witnessing the power Leon had just displayed, she realized he was now someone she had to treat as an equal. Strength, after all, is the ultimate measure of everything. If before she had been merely observing him, now she had to acknowledge him on equal footing.

"What was that being earlier?" Leon asked, though he already knew the answer.

As expected, the Ancient One answered readily, "He hails from a realm called the Dark Dimension. His ambition is to devour all worlds, turning them into sources of darkness so that he can transcend the multiverse and become eternal."

She paused briefly before continuing, "Our universe is just one of his targets. We've been fighting against him for thousands of years."

"'We?'" Leon questioned.

"Yes, us," the Ancient One confirmed. "For millennia, sorcerers have guarded this world from the shadows, fending off those with ambitions to consume it."

Leon nodded, genuinely moved. "The Ancient One and all sorcerers truly deserve respect."

He meant it. No matter their intentions, their actions spoke volumes. The Ancient One and the other sorcerers had been risking their lives to protect the Earth from the monstrous threats that sought to conquer it, and that was worthy of admiration.