Chapter 766 "Earth"

Stephen readily agreed to Jerry's request without hesitation.

In truth, according to Kamar-Taj's principles, as the Sorcerer Supreme, Stephen should have intervened to halt Jerry's endeavors to traverse the multiverse. Such actions posed the risk of inviting multiversal crises to Earth.

However, Stephen's trust in Jerry ran deep. He believed Jerry possessed a keen sense of judgment and would not undertake actions detrimental to Earth's well-being.

Moreover, Stephen understood Jerry's formidable power. Even if he disagreed with Jerry's plans, the combined might of Kamar-Taj and the Avengers would pale in comparison to Jerry's might.

The Ancient One's selection of Stephen as the Sorcerer Supreme was not merely due to his prodigious magical talents. Equally crucial was Stephen's adaptability and open-mindedness.

Unlike Master Mordo, who would have outright rejected Jerry's proposal upon learning of his multiversal ambitions, Stephen remained open to possibilities.

Mordo's rigidity would have inevitably led to conflict between Kamar-Taj and Jerry, likely resulting in the utter destruction of Kamar-Taj.

To lead effectively, Stephen understood the importance of maintaining conviction while also embracing flexibility.

The Ancient One epitomized adaptability. He could selflessly sacrifice himself to safeguard Earth or resort to forbidden dark arts to extend his lifespan for the planet's protection.

Even his passing of the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme to Stephen was a testament to his flexibility.

Ultimately departing with Eternity, he still maintained a watchful eye over Earth, intervening when necessary.

In truth, if Stephen had vehemently opposed Jerry's plans, the Ancient One would not have compelled him. Out of respect for Stephen and his position, the Ancient One would have sought alternative solutions.

This means everything that's currently happening is in the Ancient One's realm of calculation.

He knew everything would exactly unfold this way, yet now is not the time for him to intervene...

This is Jerry and Stephen's fate on their journey to search for the Phoenix Force.

However, Stephen's astuteness and gratitude for the Ancient One's guidance made him more amenable. Moreover, Stephen pledged to reciprocate the favor by defending Kamar-Taj should it face future threats.

"Let's begin," Jerry declared, as Stephen granted his consent. With a temporal anchor established, Jerry initiated teleportation from the sanctuary.

Upon their arrival in an alternate Earth, Jerry found Stephen leading a group known as the Defenders Alliance, rather than the Avengers. Surprisingly absent were the Illuminati and Professor X.

During the second jaunt through time, Jerry landed on a technologically advanced Earth where everything was reversed. Here, Kamar-Taj existed, with Stephen as its Sorcerer Supreme, yet Professor X was nowhere to be found.

The third temporal leap transported Jerry to an ancient Earth where humans coexisted with dinosaurs. Here, Stephen was a mage of a human tribe, but once again, Professor X was absent.

In the fourth journey, Jerry arrived on a dilapidated Earth overrun by alien invaders, with humanity nearly extinct. Only a handful of superheroes, including Stephen, remained, yet Professor X was still nowhere to be seen.

Upon the fifth jump, Jerry found himself in a 1930s Earth dominated by Hydra. Despite the altered reality, Stephen retained his position as Sorcerer Supreme, yet Professor X remained elusive.

The sixth leap took Jerry to an Earth fragmented into countless pieces, with the Earth on the brink of collapse. Here, only Dark Stephen, under Chthon's control due to the Darkhold, existed.

Upon encountering Jerry, Stephen, now corrupted by Chthon, attempted to attack. However, Jerry swiftly dispatched him. While defeating Chthon himself would have been a trivial task, overcoming his puppet was equally effortless for Jerry.

After numerous unsuccessful attempts, Jerry's 725th leap finally led him to the Earth where Professor X resided—Earth 838, also known as Titan.

Surveying the intense battle raging below, Jerry's gaze settled on a bald, elderly man seated in a wheelchair at the heart of the conflict. A smile of relief graced Jerry's lips.

Having traversed 725 Earths in succession, even Jerry found himself growing impatient. Fortunately, his perseverance paid off, and he had finally located the Earth housing Professor X.

The current scenario depicts a decisive confrontation between the superheroes of this Earth and the formidable Thanos.

On Thanos's side stood his five loyal Obsidian generals, alongside various potent cosmic armies. He wielded a gauntlet embedded with five Infinity Stones, with only the Time Stone eluding his grasp.

Facing him were Earth's defenders, led by Doctor Strange Stephen, supported by Mordo and an array of Kamar-Taj mages.

Additionally, Captain Carter, the British counterpart to Captain America; Maria, the black Captain Marvel; the Fantastic Four; Black Bolt and his alien legion; Ultron's robot army; and Professor X with his X-Men all rallied together against the cosmic threat.

Regrettably, Jean Grey was nowhere to be seen among the ranks of the X-Men.

"I am destiny!" Thanos bellowed below, unleashing the might of the Infinity Gauntlet to repel the Earth's heroes besieging him.

While the assembled superheroes and their makeshift army valiantly attempted to stave off Thanos and his cosmic forces, the Mad Titan's near-invulnerability, courtesy of the Infinity Gauntlet, rendered their efforts futile.

The overwhelming power at Thanos's command threatened to crush all opposition.

Recognizing the dire straits they faced, Stephen, leading the charge against Thanos, realized drastic measures were necessary.

Retrieving the Darkhold he had long kept in reserve, Stephen contemplated its utilization.

But as Stephen grappled with the weight of their predicament, hope seemed increasingly elusive. Despite the counsel of his peers, he resolved to unseal the Darkhold, intent on harnessing Chthon's chaotic power to defeat Thanos.

"This is not a wise decision!" A sudden intervention stayed in Stephen's hand, preventing the Darkhold from being opened.

It was Jerry who descended from the skies, halting Stephen's descent into the dark abyss of the Darkhold.

"This is not the right time to open this Godforsaken book, Stephen! Even with Chthon's power we are still no match for Thanos with his infinity stones!" Recalling the perilous outcome awaiting Stephen, Jerry intervened.

He knew all too well that even with Chthon's power, Stephen stood little chance against Thanos and his formidable Infinity Stones.

Worse yet, opening the Darkhold would expose Stephen to Chthon's deceit, potentially resulting in the destruction of yet another Earth.

In the end, it was the discovery of the fabled Book of the Vishanti by Professor X and his allies that turned the tide against Thanos. Following the methods outlined in this legendary tome, they succeeded in defeating the Mad Titan.

Upon regaining consciousness, Stephen confronted the gravity of his misjudgment and willingly faced the consequences.

Jerry harbored no ill will toward Stephen. He understood the dangers posed by entities like Chthon and the imperative of preventing further devastation. Moreover, he recognized Stephen's inherent benevolence, motivating his timely intervention to avert catastrophe.

Despite the weight of his past missteps, Stephen remained a beacon of hope and virtue in the face of adversity.

Thus, Jerry's intervention served not only to safeguard the multiverse but also to honor Stephen's commitment to righteousness.

In doing so, he upheld the delicate balance between power and responsibility, ensuring that the forces of darkness did not triumph over the light of compassion and righteousness.

Letting him use the Darkhold would be the last bastion before everything will go down as Chthon's deception is proven to be quite troublesome even for Jerry to deal with.