Rolling Back Time

And just like that, Ancient One's figure disappeared right before Li Yue's eyes. He had no idea whether Ancient One was truly dead, or if she simply shed her physical form to travel the Multiverse in her astral form.

Either way, Li Yue was sure that he would not meet Ancient One again, at least not on this azure Earth.

"Goodbye, Master Ancient One!"

With one last mental sigh, Li Yue returned to his physical body.

...

"Why isn't he awake yet?"

The streets of New York was in a strange state.

Countless ordinary people were frozen in time, while a bunch of people in strange clothes anxiously surrounded an unconscious man. One of them was carrying a giant axe, walking around restlessly.

"Why is Li Yue still not awake? What should we do? We can't live in a paused world like this!"

The one who kept complaining was Tony. His eyes were fixed on Li Yue, who was being supported by Annie.

Li Yue had been unconscious for almost ten minutes. If Mordo hadn't reassured them that Li Yue was fine, they would've been beyond panicked.

After all, Li Yue had stopped breathing, and his heartbeat had stopped as well, not unlike a dead person. Anyone would've panicked if someone suddenly fell unconscious without breath nor heartbeat in front of them.

"Don't worry, Mr. Stark. Master Li Yue should only be talking to Master Ancient One right now. I believe that he will wake up soon.

Mordo was also looking at Li Yue, whose eyes were closed tightly. He occasionally glanced at the Eye of Agamotto that was firmly within Li Yue's grasp.

Of course, it wasn't like he coveted the Eye of Agamotto, but he couldn't help but think deeply about it. The Eye of Agamotto had always been in Ancient One's care before he was even an apprentice.

But now, Ancient One was gone, sacrificing herself to repel the invasion of the Dark Dimension. And she had personally passed the Eye of Agamotto into Li Yue's hands.

The news that Kamar-Taj's Sorcerer Supreme had passed away would soon spread across the multiverse. Without Master Ancient One's protection, many beings that coveted Earth would begin to make their move!

Kamar-Taj could be said to have gotten the short end of the stick after this incident. Even their highest Master had died. Right now, they were akin to a headless dragon—not even dragon, they were at most a couple big cats and several kittens.

Mordo recalled Li Yue's figure when Li Yue fought against Dormammu in the Dark Dimension. It couldn't be overstated how shocking Li Yue's power level was back then.

Mordo even dare to compare Li Yue's strength to Master Ancient One. Mordo doesn't give this evaluation lightly: for him, Ancient One had always been the most powerful person on Earth.

"It seems that I must persuade Mage Li Yue to take charge of Kamar-Taj!"

Mordo then turned to Wong, his fellow Kamar-Taj Mage. Coincidentally, Wong was also looking at him. With a single glance, they immediately understood each other, and nodded their heads.

...

"Why are you all surrounding me?"

Li Yue suddenly asked as he opened his eyes, getting off from Annie's arms.

"Li Yue, you're finally awake. Please please please remove this time-stop magic. I don't want to stay in this creepy silent world anymore."

Tony was happy to see that Li Yue was really fine, but he couldn't help but urge Li Yue to undo the time-stop magic.

There might be a lot of people who would be happy to stay in the eternally frozen world, due to their "special interests," but Tony wasn't one of them. Seeing the people around him stopped on their track, as well as the world's unnatural silence, he was deeply creeped out.

He really wanted to leave this world as soon as possible.

"I think I forgot to ask how to remove this time-freeze spell!"

Li Yue looked around the deathly silent world, before suddenly slapping his own forehead and crying out in alarm. He really did forget that time was still stopped on Earth. He never asked how to remove the spell to Ancient One!

"What?! You forgot to ask?!" (X5)

Other than Annie, who stayed expressionless, everyone cried out in shock at Li Yue's words!

"Fuck, are we really trapped in this world forever? I'd almost rather be killed by that Dormammu!"

Tony felt that if he was trapped in this world forever, he might as well die.

"Uh, everyone, don't worry. I'll try and see if I can use this magic to resume time."

Li Yue suddenly remembered the Eye of Agamotto that Ancient One had handed him. It contained the Time Stone, which he had no idea how to use, but there's no way to know other than trial and error.

Li Yue raised his right hand and opened his palm. Eye of Agamotto was quietly lying in the center of Li Yue's right palm.

Before Li Yue could probe the artifact with his spiritual power, the Eye of Agamotto suddenly exploded with a dense green light. The energy swept in all direction at extreme speed, faster than Li Yue could react.

The countless frozen figure on New York streets suddenly returned to life after the green light from the Eye of Agamotto swept over them. The unnatural silence was replaced by its original vitality!

If someone looked at Earth from space at this time, they would find that the motionless Earth suddenly began to slowly spin again.

...

"Everyone, look! The whole world is moving again. It seems to be working!"

Annie's surprised voice snapped Li Yue from his shocked daze.

Li Yue looked around. Sure enough, the hustle and bustle of the city had returned.

"...wait, this looks a bit wrong!" Li Yue exclaimed after he observed the city for a while.

The people and vehicles had indeed began moving again, but they were following an abnormal trajectory.

It was akin to a backward movie reel. Everything moved in reverse of their supposed trajectory, making the people look like acrobats.

Several cars that had crashed into trees or other objects suddenly became intact again, before retreating at full speed.

People walking backwards, water moving upwards, flames of explosion compressing back, and even the entire planet was moving in reverse!

The rewinding time only stopped after the entire New York City had returned to its pre-invasion state!