030 Strange is currently emotionally stable.

"Friendly question, Balder... a secret room! A secret room! Why do you think it's called a secret room?!"

The voice inside was filled with irritation.

Balder was unfazed, casually sitting on another cushion:

"If it's discovered, it wouldn't be a secret room anymore."

"Don't be so petty, Ancient One. You are the Sorcerer Supreme, show some grace!"

The Ancient One, who had almost succeeded in borrowing as much dark energy as the moon, felt no grace, only irritation.

But remembering the words of the great Eternity, she sighed:

"I still don't understand why a grand dimensional god would come to Earth to help guard the dimensional barrier."

"Wouldn't you rather be a creator god in your dimension, molding beings?"

Balder shook his head:

"Those beings are still my will, not true souls."

"Otherwise, why would Mephisto be so obsessed with Earth? He'd just create his own."

Is that the point? Can't you just leave me alone?!... The Ancient One glared:

"Don't you have all the permissions at Kamar-Taj? Why come to me?"

Balder reached through space, grabbed an iced cola from Wong's takeout, and took a big gulp:

"This stuff is best cold... ah."

Sighing in satisfaction, he continued:

"It's nothing major, just wondering if you want to try something different. Aren't you tired of always Using Dormammu's dark energy?"

"I'm borrowing!"

The Ancient One corrected seriously then frowned:

"What do you mean?"

Balder smirked, a playful look:

"I bet you know Chthon left a mark in the mortal world."

The Ancient One fell silent.

Of course, she knew about Chthon's mark!

Wanda

An orphaned girl was captured by Hydra for experiments because she displayed unusual abilities.

Humans believed it was a hidden gene trait that could be awakened with the right stimuli.

But it wasn't a gene trait!

Wanda was an unawakened witch!

Chthon had planted a magical mark in her mind, aiming to awaken her chaotic magic and claim it for himself.

Without the mark, Wanda's power would merely be probability manipulation!

But how did he discover it?

The Ancient One pondered deeply, confused.

Chthon's mark was planted in the mind, harder to detect than in the soul!

And Chthon was very skilled.

She only knew about the mark from seeing the future, tracing back to find it in Wanda.

Normally, a single embodiment's power shouldn't detect it!

Balder wouldn't say he found it similarly.

At first, he wasn't sure if Wanda here had a mark, but seeing her confirmed it.

"Well, interested in taking Chthon down a peg?"

Balder said, looking nonchalant:

"Don't worry, I'm not like those evil, dictatorial, tyrannical gods. I'm very democratic."

"If you don't want to, I won't force you."

That's Strange's job, not mine... The Ancient One said without hesitation:

"Thanks, but no."

So Balder replied without hesitation:

"No problem, I'll just ask Eternity if they want to."

Among all the dimensional gods, if they could choose, Eternity would want Chthon dead first.

The Ancient One froze.

Her head was nearly glowing red with anger, gritting her teeth, she mentally chanted:

Can't beat him, can't beat him, can't beat him...

After several minutes, she squeezed out:

"Tell me your plan."

Balder smiled and nodded, showing great respect for the Sorcerer Supreme's choice.

He created a barrier and said:

"Simple, first we need a savior."

"I think Stephen...

---

**1:00 AM.**

A family Mercedes-Benz slowly drove out of the Presbyterian Hospital underground garage.

Though it was late, Strange was excited!

He had just completed a high-difficulty surgery!

It was for a spinal injury patient, a surgery deemed impossible, but he volunteered and succeeded!

This performance would open many doors, even bringing him closer to being the lead surgeon.

Strange imagined driving a Lamborghini, wearing a Vacheron Constantin, catching Christine's attention, and reaching life's peak!

Thinking about it made him giddy!

Then...

"Those headlights are so bright, who's so inconsiderate to leave high beams on?"

At the intersection, Strange turned to see a truck running the red light, speeding towards him!

"F*ck!"

With a loud crash, his second-hand Mercedes rolled several times, skidding meters before stopping.

A figure walked out of the truck, slowly approaching the wrecked car.

Looking inside, Balder shook his head:

"They say you should be cautious with second-hand cars!"

"See, the airbags didn't deploy."

The Ancient One's form appeared, saying calmly:

"If you don't act, our Mr. Strange will die."

"No worries, I can put the soul back."

Though he said that, Balder still raised his finger.

Life force exploded from his fingertip, enveloping Strange's body.

Repairing his leg bones, chest bones, skull, internal organs, and severe bleeding, he left only his fingers broken, satisfied.

No problem, he definitely won't die now.

**PS:**

While the latest version states chaos magic isn't from Chthon, this follows previous lore.

Different versions might appear across various eternities.

For example, in the 616 universe, chaos magic originates from Wanda, a magical energy focal point!

Linked to the 'Life Force' rivaling a young Beyonder, she can use chaos magic nearly without limits.

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