Chapter 42: The True Nature of Gods
"Ancient One has mastered countless spells and is the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth," Harvey explained. "She's a legend across the entire universe, and her reputation alone keeps many enemies from attacking Earth. If I were to provoke her, it might bring some trouble my way. But if you provoke her with your current strength, you'll die."
"So, be careful with your actions. At least until you grow strong enough, don't think you can do whatever you want," he warned.
"However, she doesn't have many years left."
"Remember this: lay low, bide your time, and don't make too much noise. By the time she dies, you should have acquired considerable power."
Harvey laid out the intel he had gathered.
"The Sorcerer Supreme is going to die?" Tony's confusion was clear. "Why? Didn't you say she extended her life through some kind of means? If she can extend it for hundreds of years, why not thousands?"
Tony wasn't exactly overjoyed at this news. Sure, the Ancient One might become his enemy, but she had protected Earth for centuries. And as Harvey had pointed out, it was because of her that many cosmic threats stayed away. If she were to die, Earth could be in grave danger.
"2017... Are you saying the Sorcerer Supreme won't live past 2017? And that some great threat will come to Earth?"
Tony's expression turned grim as he connected the dots and looked at Harvey for confirmation.
"She could extend her life if she wanted to," Harvey acknowledged. "But she will die within the next few years. I won't go into details about why."
Seeing that Tony was quick to catch on, Harvey nodded slightly.
"So, she doesn't want to live anymore?" Tony mused, his face conflicted.
"Yes," Harvey continued, "Even though she's lived for many years and possesses immense magical power, she's still human. Extending her life requires... unique methods."
Harvey could tell that Tony had already deduced much of what was happening, so he didn't hold back.
"It sounds like those methods aren't exactly... ideal," Tony commented. "But can't you, Harvey Amberlock, bring her into the Void? With her power, she'd be a valuable ally, wouldn't she?"
Harvey sighed. "I'd like to do that, believe me. But her death is necessary for the birth of the next Sorcerer Supreme. It's inevitable."
In truth, Harvey was eager to recruit the Ancient One into the Void. The stronger the being he brought in, the more Void energy he would acquire. But Doctor Strange's path to becoming the Sorcerer Supreme required him to witness the Ancient One's death, unlocking his full potential in magic. Only then could she finally rest, free from her responsibilities.
The Void was immensely tempting to those who sought greater power and longevity. People like Tony Stark, a science fanatic, or various super-powered beings and cosmic entities would be easier to persuade. But the Ancient One? She already had power, and she could live as long as she wanted. For someone like her, those two lures were ineffective, and she would likely view the Void as malevolent.
Recruiting her was nearly impossible, and that frustrated Harvey. To him, the Ancient One was like a gold mine just sitting there, but he couldn't figure out how to dig it up.
"If a new Sorcerer Supreme is going to emerge, why would there still be a major threat in 2017?" Tony asked, puzzled.
But before Harvey could respond, Tony thought for a moment and then a look of realization crossed his face.
"Oh... I get it. Even if the new Sorcerer Supreme inherits all that power, it'll still take time for them to fully grow into it."
Harvey nodded in agreement. "Exactly."
"I wonder how much I'll be able to grow in eight years," Tony said, clenching his fist, a mixture of anticipation and anxiety in his voice.
Tony knew that if Harvey Amberlock were to help him, he wouldn't be worried at all. Harvey was immensely powerful. But Harvey wasn't from Earth, and human morality didn't influence his decisions. So whether Harvey would help or just stand by and watch when the time came was uncertain. In the end, Tony knew he could only rely on himself.
"I've already shared my insights on evolution with you. How far you evolve is up to you," Harvey advised. "Eight years may seem long, but it's not. Don't stress yourself out too much. Deal with the enemy when they arrive."
Seeing Tony's concern, Harvey tried to offer some words of comfort, though he couldn't give him a definite promise. Harvey was confident that when the Mad Titan arrived, Thanos wouldn't be able to kill him—but whether he could defeat him was another matter, one that depended on how much he evolved by then.
"Let me guess. The Sorcerer Supreme isn't the only major player you're referring to?" Tony asked, pushing his worries aside and continuing the conversation.
"Of course not," Harvey confirmed. "Besides the Ancient One and Captain Marvel, there's also the All-Father, Odin, the King of the Nine Realms—including Earth. His power is immense, and his forces are constantly monitoring Earth's situation. So even after you join the Void, you'd better keep a low profile."
"Time will bring you everything you desire," Harvey added.
Tony had experienced the will of the Void and undergone exposure to magic and superpowers. He thought he was prepared for anything. But when Harvey mentioned Odin, the King of the Gods, Tony was shocked. He had to ask, "So that means Thor exists too? Or even Zeus from Olympus?"
Harvey chuckled. "Your deduction skills are sharp as ever."
"So you're saying that all the gods from ancient myths are real, but they come from the cosmos?" Tony asked, still processing the information.
"Exactly," Harvey confirmed.
"Are they as powerful as the stories claim?" Tony inquired, his expression turning serious.
"Humans have always been limited by their strength, their times, and their perspective," Harvey explained. "So naturally, some of the legends are exaggerated. But many of the stories are based on real facts, such as their innate abilities and their mythological artifacts."
"I wouldn't have believed any of this if I hadn't encountered the Void myself," Tony admitted. He was finally coming to terms with what Harvey was telling him.
After all, myths were called myths because the beings in them were beyond human comprehension. Some religions had even emerged around these gods, with faithful followers worshipping them.
But Tony Stark had always been a man of science. He used to think those believers were foolish. After all, if gods existed, why hadn't they intervened during Earth's countless disasters? In Tony's view, it was better to believe in himself than in divine intervention.
Simply put, Tony had been an atheist. He thought the legends were just made-up stories, impossible to prove true or false.
But now he understood. These so-called "gods" weren't native deities; they were extraterrestrials. Whether or not they helped humanity didn't depend on how devoted people were, but on whether the gods felt like lending a hand.
Just then, J.A.R.V.I.S.'s voice interrupted the conversation.
"Sir, I hate to interrupt, but two full-course meals featuring beef for Mr. Harvey Amberlock are ready. The additional dishes are being prepared as we speak. They wanted to ask if they should deliver the beef dishes now?"
J.A.R.V.I.S. was aware of the serious conversation Tony and Harvey were having, but the question had to be asked.
"Have them leave the food at the gate. Don't let them come inside," Tony instructed, glancing at the cracked walls and the blood-stained floor.
"Understood, sir," J.A.R.V.I.S. responded, recognizing that the second-floor dining area wasn't fit for visitors.
"Harvey Amberlock, you wouldn't mind sharing one of those beef courses with me, would you? I'm starving," Tony said with a sheepish grin, patting his stomach.
Harvey knew Tony was just beginning to realize how much food could boost his power.
"You invited me to dinner, so I can't complain if I eat one less cow," Harvey quipped. He wasn't stingy about the food, especially knowing that Tony would become more and more obsessed with food as his powers grew. There'd be plenty of opportunities to feast together in the future.
"Thanks," Tony replied with a smile. He was famished. If he weren't worried about causing a scene, he'd have driven out for a burger already.