Chapter 313: The Gift of the Time Stone

On the martial training grounds of Kamar-Taj, the mystical sanctuary.

The Ancient One and Clark stood side by side, gazing at the distant mountains.

The scenery remained as it had been years ago, as did the two figures. However, three years had passed since Clark's epic battle with Dormammu, and much had changed.

Clark, needless to say, had evolved from a mere mortal to a being at the pinnacle of a single universe.

The Ancient One, Clark noticed, was nearing the end of her life's journey.

Noticing Clark's gaze, the Ancient One chuckled, "Can you now see the trajectory of my fate?"

Clark shook his head lightly, "I can't see the details yet, but I can generally sense the rise and fall of someone's fortune."

"You needn't feel sorry for me; it is a release," she said, her gaze returning to the mountains, serene and undisturbed by attachment or weariness.

Accepting her equanimity towards life and death, Clark struggled to find the right words. After a moment of silence, he addressed the pressing issue, "Since you're tired, it's good to rest early. Are there any great battles forthcoming? I believe with my current strength, I can manage things before you retire."

"No, you can't," the Ancient One gravely shook her head, "You can no longer enter the spatial rifts in your true form."

Clark was taken aback, then laughed self-deprecatingly.

The Ancient One was right. Previously, his power was so limited he could only intervene occasionally.

Now, although he was strong enough, he was perhaps too strong.

Like the demonic gods from other dimensions who could only send avatars into the spatial rifts, Clark could no longer enter in his true form. Sending a concentrated energy avatar would give him no advantage against higher-level demonic entities.

Knowing he couldn't assist in this matter, Clark changed the subject, "Since I can't help, why did Mordo ask me to come? Is there something else?"

The Ancient One nodded, "There are two favors I must ask of you."

"Go ahead."

"Firstly, the time has come for my successor to face trials and eventually arrive at Kamar-Taj, as destined. But you, Clark, are someone who can change destinies. Do you understand what I mean?"

Clark immediately grasped her implication.

Simply put, Stephen Strange was fated to seek help after an accident, finding no cure until he came to Kamar-Taj.

Clark had the means to fully restore Strange's hands. Although not closely acquainted, Clark felt obliged to assist if Strange were to seek his help.

Helping Strange would alter his destiny.

The Ancient One's request was for Clark not to intervene.

Given his deeper relationship with the Ancient One compared to Strange, Clark readily agreed not to alter Strange's fate.

After nodding in agreement, Clark inquired about the second favor.

"Turn around."

Clark did as instructed, only to see the Ancient One remove the Eye of Agamotto from her neck and place it around his, "From today, it belongs to you."

This was unexpected, and as Clark processed the significance, the Ancient One explained, "The path you walk is deeply connected to the Eye of Agamotto. From the moment you became a divine being of the universe, your destiny became intertwined with the Eye, surpassing me, the future Strange, and even its creator, Agamotto."

The God of Vengeance was destined to rise to the peak using the power of the six Infinity Stones. The complexity of these entanglements far exceeded what Agamotto, who merely fashioned a metal casing for the Time Stone, could compare to.

"Prepare yourself," the Ancient One continued earnestly, "From its creation, the Eye of Agamotto was tasked with opposing Dormammu. Now, this mission falls upon you as well."

Clark felt no pressure regarding this new responsibility.

"Regarding Dormammu, you can rest easy," Clark confidently asserted. "Our feud is a matter of life and death, and one of us will fall soon. I am confident that it will not be me!"

His bold proclamation resonated even with the Ancient One, lifting her spirits.

However, the high atmosphere he had crafted was abruptly shattered by his ringtone.

"You are my little apple, like the most beautiful cloud on the horizon. Spring has arrived again, the hills are in bloom, plant hope and you will harvest…"

Under the Ancient One's perplexed gaze, Clark, feeling awkward, took out his phone to see that it was Tony calling.

Answering the call, Clark complained, "You just ruined the perfect mood I had here. If you don't have a good reason, be prepared to listen to 'A Spray of Plum Blossoms'!"

Tony, however, was not in the mood for jokes, "Clark, I'm in trouble and need your help now. I've sent you my location, please hurry over, it's not looking good here."

Trouble?

What trouble could meeting a young Spider-Man involve?

Thinking this, Clark looked at the Ancient One, who seemed to say with her expression that she had said her piece, and Clark could do as he pleased. With that, he vanished from Kamar-Taj.

Reappearing in Queens, New York, at an outdoor sports stadium, Clark found Tony struggling against a black-suited Spider-Man.

It appeared Tony had lured Spider-Man here to avoid civilian casualties.

Although the upgraded Mark 51 Iron Man suit was powerful, Tony was holding back to avoid injuring Spider-Man, allowing the fiercely attacking youth to dominate the fight.

Fortunately, Spider-Man couldn't break through the Mark 51's defense, so Tony was embarrassed but not in danger.

Seeing this, Clark couldn't help but chuckle as he pocketed his phone and half-jokingly remarked, "What's going on, Tony? Is that the suit you just gave him?"

Although Clark was guessing, his tone was certain.

In the footage from Fury, Spider-Man had cobbled together his own "Silk Suit," which looked unsightly on a thirteen-year-old.

Described aptly by a four-character idiom, it was like "a wet diaper."

The suit he now wore, however, was sleek and fitted, hinting at the elegance of Spider-Man.

Tony, looking frustrated, responded, "It looks like the one I gave him, but it wasn't black. That color isn't my style! Plus, something has happened to him; he's become unusually aggressive. He almost killed me; he must be under some sort of control."

The suit's color change from red to black also hinted at Spider-Man's dark turn.

Clark quickly realized what was happening and waved Tony aside, "Step back, let me handle this."

"Just don't hurt him, he's just a kid!"

God, a kid!

A nice little Spider-Man, and you make it sound like he deserves to die.

Clark knew he couldn't harm Spider-Man, but the thing causing his transformation had to be dealt with.

With a snap of his fingers, Clark positioned himself in front of the frenzied young Spider-Man.

The sight of Clark triggered an even more intense murderous rage in Spider-Man, who charged with a roar, as if harboring a deep grudge against Clark.

Meanwhile, a soothing melody filled the stadium.

"Many waves and silk threads, the gentle murmur

 of the brook, the rustle of leaves, the call of the wild chicken, the gentle sway of the morning..." (Can you guess the song?)

The music, although beautiful and serene, seemed out of place as Spider-Man continued his relentless attack on Clark's divinely powered shield, and even Tony couldn't help but ask, "Clark, you're not planning to use this music to deal with him, are you? I feel..."

Clark's mouth curled slightly, "I already know what's causing this kid to be so aggressive, and I also know the weakness of that thing. Just watch."

As the music transitioned to a barely audible whisper, the next moment...

"Ahh!... Ah... Ah..."

A soul-piercing dolphin sound blasted through, leaving Tony bewildered and even causing the black substance attached to Spider-Man to separate from his body.

It was a symbiote from the cosmos!

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