Out of Body

At this moment, Banner struggled to comprehend everything happening before him. The changes he witnessed defied all logic, making it hard for him to grasp the strange phenomena taking place.

Kamar-Taj existed within a hidden realm, deliberately kept away from the bustling streets of Kathmandu. It served as the sacred hall of the sorcerers, a place imbued with magical energy. If someone were to accidentally stumble in, it could lead to unwanted trouble.

To prevent such issues, and to avoid unnecessary complications, the Ancient One had relocated Kamar-Taj to this isolated secret realm.

Entry to Kamar-Taj was possible only through portals located at the three sanctums, or through the space-warping portal hidden in Kathmandu.

For Miss Stark, this was not her first visit to Kamar-Taj, and she was already familiar with its strange occurrences. But for Banner, who was here for the first time, this was an entirely new and overwhelming experience.

The transformation that unfolded before his eyes was enough to leave him astonished for an entire year.

He took off the gold-rimmed glasses resting on his nose, repeatedly rubbing his eyes, disbelief etched on his face.

"What... what is going on? What just happened?"

"They warned you before we entered—everything you're seeing is real. Is there really any need to be this surprised?" Miss Stark remarked, looking at him as though he were a fool.

"But we were just... in the city center. How are we suddenly in a building outside of town?"

"It's just a little magic, nothing special."

"Magic... and you're not even a bit shocked?"

Hearing Miss Stark's casual response, Banner was completely dumbfounded. Of course, his reaction was understandable.

Despite the fact that his own body harbored a savage beast, and the world was filled with superheroes, magic was something that directly contradicted the scientific education he had received throughout his life. It challenged the very principles of the material world.

"Come on in, I've been expecting you."

A calm voice drifted down the hallway.

Miss Stark smiled, guiding Banner toward the room at the end of the corridor.

"Dr. Banner, I've already heard about your situation. Welcome to Kamar-Taj."

As they stepped inside, Banner was greeted by a spacious hall, intricately decorated with beams and carvings, all infused with a sense of religious sanctity.

At the center of the room sat the Ancient One, a serene and graceful woman with golden hair and bright blue eyes. She wore a white, close-fitting robe and had a gentle smile on her face. Before her was a low table, with a teapot and several steaming teacups resting on it.

"Hello... um, who are you?" Banner asked, his face reflecting his confusion.

He glanced at Miss Stark, clearly seeking some kind of introduction to this beautiful woman.

"This is the leader of Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One," Miss Stark explained, rolling her eyes as she nudged Banner forward, causing him to stumble into the room and kneel in front of the Ancient One.

"So... can anyone explain to me what just happened outside? Don't tell me it's really magic. Are you seriously going to solve my problem with something out of a children's fairy tale?"

"You're dealing with something you've never encountered before. Show some respect."

"Master, I suggest we let Dr. Banner understand the situation before we get into details."

Miss Stark took a seat beside the Ancient One, casting a knowing smile at Banner, as if she was ready to enjoy the show.

"That's not a problem. His condition, this form of soul division, is indeed quite fascinating. Worth studying," the Ancient One said with a gentle smile.

"I apologize for asking, but what exactly are you discussing? Soul... does such an abstract thing really exist? I've been to Nepal before and studied some Tibetan Buddhist techniques to calm my mind, but even they didn't mention anything about souls."

Banner, completely bewildered by the cryptic conversation between the two women, could only furrow his brow.

"Soul division? What was that supposed to mean? Is there really such a thing as a soul?"

As a leading scientist in atomic physics, Banner had always been a staunch materialist. Concepts like magic and souls were things he had always dismissed as jokes.

Sure, the world was filled with mysteries, from superheroes to aliens, but that didn't mean he'd suddenly believe in magic.

"In fact, Dr. Banner, you're much closer to the answer than you realize. You just lacked the opportunity."

"And now, I'm giving you that opportunity—to see the truth of this world."

The Ancient One smiled at Banner as she stood, gently extending her hand toward his forehead and giving it a light tap.

Though the touch seemed soft, Banner felt an overwhelming force wash over him, causing him to collapse onto the hardwood floor of the hall.

When he regained his senses, he was staring at a man's broad back, dressed in the same clothes as him—or rather, dressed in his clothes.

"Oh my god... that's my body!"

Banner jumped up in shock, only to realize that his hands, and indeed his entire body, had become a faint, translucent golden shadow.

His physical body remained seated, unconscious, its head slumped forward.

"What... what's happening?!"

"I've just pushed your soul out of your body. Do you believe me now?"

The Ancient One glanced at Banner's floating soul as she casually sipped her tea.

"This... this can't be. My soul? Is this really my soul?"

"It gets even more interesting from here," the Ancient One replied with a smile. With a wave of her hand, Banner's soul was sent tumbling backward, the world around him twisting and fracturing into layers of dazzling colors.

"How's he doing?"

Miss Stark, who hadn't trained in the mystic arts of Kamar-Taj, couldn't see what was happening to Banner's soul under the Ancient One's guidance.

"His soul is traversing dimensional space. Soon, he'll witness the existence of other dimensions. While that happens, it's just the two of us here. We can discuss your matters now."

The Ancient One placed a cup of tea before Miss Stark, waiting silently, her eyes fixed on her.

"You know, not everyone enjoys tea leaves. Personally, I'm more of a cola kind of person."

Miss Stark shrugged, snapping her fingers. The tea cup on the table transformed, rising into the shape of a disposable McDonald's soda cup. The tea was replaced with cola, and the tea leaves morphed into ice cubes.

"The Reality Stone's ability to alter reality is truly fascinating."

The Ancient One raised an eyebrow at the transformation, but Miss Stark casually picked up the cup, taking a sip. It tasted just as she expected—no different from a real soda.

The Reality Stone's power to change reality was not just an illusion—it fully transformed one thing into another. It was immensely convenient, especially when creating food or drinks that were entirely safe to consume.

Even though the Dark Elves had once possessed the Reality Stone, they had never been able to fully harness its power. Only Miss Stark, with her access to the infinite energy of the Space Stone, could wield the Reality Stone as freely as she did.

"So, you plan to leave him here to study the mystic arts of Kamar-Taj?"

The Ancient One glanced at Banner's unconscious body, now slumped and lifeless without its soul.

"I know you've chosen Strange as your successor, but I'm more interested in seeing how far Banner can go on this path. Becoming a mystic isn't hard, but how far someone can progress depends on their undiscovered potential."

Miss Stark nodded thoughtfully.

"You do realize that by altering the future, you're creating new branches in time, which could lead to parallel universes. The future becomes more unpredictable. Honestly, the chaos is hard to accept."

"My changes are simply to ensure my own survival and, if possible, save lives along the way. Banner is a test case. If he shows exceptional talent in mysticism, then I know I made the right choice."

While they conversed, Banner's soul continued its journey through the dimensions. Miss Stark had no idea what Banner was witnessing.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Curious, she pulled it out, glancing at the caller ID—Obadiah Stane.

"I need to take this."

She stood up as the Ancient One nodded, taking another sip of tea and gazing at Banner, who was lost in the dimension beyond. Miss Stark stepped into a quiet corner of the hallway, leaning against the railing as she looked out over the cityscape of Kathmandu, then answered the call.

"Hey, kid. You're about to take over the company, and now you've gone abroad? I just got a call saying you're in Nepal. What's going on? Is the pressure getting to you? Are you on some kind of spiritual retreat?"

The teasing tone on the other end made Miss Stark frown in irritation.

"Get back here soon. I've already reached an agreement with the board. You can start handling company affairs as acting CEO until the inheritance documents take full effect. Then, you'll officially take over."

"You know what's going on in the company. Come back quickly and start building your team."

"...Fine, I'll be back soon."

After some thought, Miss Stark agreed with Stane's reasoning, giving a clear answer before hanging up. She returned to the Ancient One's side.

"I have to go back now. I'll leave him here with you."

"Oh, and there's a wireless signal bridging device in the backpack. It connects directly to the Stark Industries satellite to provide internet. I figure you might find it useful."

"There are installation instructions inside. If it's too tricky, just have Banner set it up. And as for that monster inside him, the sooner you can resolve that, the better."

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