This earthquake, which was not considered particularly intense, was not limited to New York alone.
According to observations from the Seismological Bureau, the entire Earth had been affected by that earthquake at the exact same moment.
This was a... worldwide earthquake!
The Sorcerer Supreme meditating quietly within the Himalayas opened her eyes at the same time. Visible fury gathered within her pupils, and the fluctuations of magical power around her even affected the weather, while space itself faintly cracked and collapsed.
Far away at the southern foothills of the Himalayas, Nepal, the sacred land of magic Kamar-Taj.
The apprentices currently following the sorcerers in meditation and mental cultivation suddenly felt palpitations from deep within their hearts, and one after another opened their eyes to cast their gazes toward the Himalayas. Enormous magical power invisible to mortal eyes was covering the mountain summit like dark clouds pressing down overhead.
"Arishem, do you think I'm dead?!"
Ancient One's voice filled with fury caused the blizzard within a thousand-mile radius to stop, rolling thunderous sounds resounding through the sky: "There are still ten whole years before the Emergence. Are you planning to violate the covenant and prematurely allow the Celestial to be born?"
Daring to stir trouble under her watch, even if it was the Prime Celestial, she would curse him without restraint.
So what if he was the Prime Celestial?
No matter how impressive Arishem was, could he be more impressive than the Five Great Gods?
Moreover, with the Time Stone by her side and the Trinity Vishanti backing her on home ground, Ancient One truly was not afraid of Arishem.
Ancient One interwove her hands as a spatial portal opened.
Just as she was about to step into it and have a proper talk with Arishem, an unparalleled great power suddenly descended from the void. A vast and mysterious aura abruptly spread throughout the heavens and earth.
The light between heaven and earth suddenly disappeared.
Accompanied by the sweeping ancient aura, a heavenly scroll slowly unfolded within the void.
Boundless magical energy gathered upon the heavenly scroll, like brush strokes sketching three vague ancient figures. Within the vast and endless void-like night curtain, three towering ancient silhouettes appeared.
From left to right, they were a black-haired woman, a blond man, and a tiger.
The moment the three ancient silhouettes appeared, the spacetime of the entire Earth seemed to freeze, all things resembling a paused frame.
"Oshtur, Agamotto, Hoggoth?" Ancient One's expression drastically changed, a trace of vigilance flashing in her eyes: "May I ask what instructions the respected Trinity Gods Vishanti have for descending upon Earth so suddenly?"
They were precisely the source of white magic, the Trinity Gods——the Vishanti!
An alliance jointly established by Earth's ancient gods, aimed at maintaining the balance of the Multiverse, the source of all white magic in the world. Every successor to the position of Sorcerer Supreme throughout history had to obtain their recognition.
Ancient One was a Skyfather-level powerhouse, while her mortal enemy Dormammu was a single-universe-level powerhouse.
But even a giant like Dormammu, in the eyes of the Trinity Gods Vishanti, was still no different from an ant crawling on the ground, an existence that could be crushed to death with a single finger.
Throughout the Multiverse, the only beings capable of steadily suppressing the Vishanti were existences on the level of the Five Great Gods.
And now... the Vishanti had actually appeared!
One must know that even when Earth had once faced destruction, the Trinity Gods Vishanti had never appeared.
Now they had appeared here, and it just so happened to coincide with the timing of the 'Emergence,' causing Ancient One to feel intense unease.
"Ancient One, you are forbidden from interfering in this matter."
The Trinity Gods Vishanti spoke in unison, majestically declaring: "This is the highest-level divine decree. Do not disappoint us."
"What?!"
Ancient One's expression changed upon hearing this. Suppressing the anger in her heart, she questioned: "'Emergence' will destroy the entire Earth. Even so, I still cannot interfere?"
"Watch your attitude, Ancient One."
Oshtur on the far left had icy eyes as she said: "As long as you remain Sorcerer Supreme for even one day, you must abide by our rules. This is the contract established from the very beginning. Do not think that having Eternity behind you allows you to violate our divine decree."
"But..."
Before Ancient One could finish speaking, she saw the Trinity Gods gazing at her indifferently. Clenching her fists and gritting her teeth, she said: "At the very least... tell me the reason, right?"
"You have no need to know the reason."
Agamotto in the center spoke. Though not particularly cold, his tone carried a trace of indifference: "No matter what the outcome of this Emergence may be, you are forbidden from interfering without authorization. Remember this well."
"Do not disappoint us, Ancient One."
Hoggoth's deep voice sounded. Unlike the other two, his voice displayed majesty and dominance: "Do not think we cannot see those things you have been doing behind our backs. Some matters we can tolerate, but some matters..... we cannot tolerate, understand?"
Ancient One remained silent for a long while before bitterly nodding: "I understand, Vishanti."
The world only knew that the Sorcerer Supreme lineage was incomparably powerful, backed by the Trinity Gods Vishanti, with barely anyone in the universe daring to underestimate them. But the truth was that despite possessing tremendous magical power, she could not act as she wished, like a puppet on strings.
This... was not what she wanted!
Ancient One appeared respectful as she lowered her head, but hidden deep within her eyes was a trace of... icy killing intent.
"There is one more matter."
Oshtur's icy pupils lowered as she looked down upon the respectful Ancient One below and said: "We have already selected the next Sorcerer Supreme. His name is Stephen Strange. Two years from now, he will become the new Sorcerer Supreme."
"Wait... isn't this somewhat too fast?"
Upon hearing this news, Ancient One's expression became increasingly ugly: "In recent years, disasters on Earth have occurred frequently. If I step down as Sorcerer Supreme at this time, what if he cannot protect Earth? At that point..."
"Silence! Ancient One!"
Hoggoth sternly interrupted her, fury brewing within his beastly pupils: "Correct your position. We are not discussing this with you, but informing you. Two years from now, Strange must become Sorcerer Supreme."
Ancient One clenched her fists tightly and asked in a deep voice: "I am not attached to the authority of the Sorcerer Supreme, and I likewise accept the arrangements of the Vishanti. But I wish to know... why are you all in such a hurry?"
Oshtur coldly replied: "This is not something you should know."
"What if I insist on knowing?"
Ancient One's resolute gaze caused traces of anger to appear on Oshtur and Hoggoth's faces, but she responded with a cold laugh: "The position of Sorcerer Supreme can be handed to Strange, but I must know the reason. Otherwise... forcibly delaying it by several years is not impossible for me."
"You... are threatening us?"
Upon hearing such disrespectful words, Hoggoth was the first to become enraged.
Boundless magical power surged within the starry sky, supreme might tearing gigantic rifts through the void while brewing a terrifying aura, as though an entire starry sky could shatter at any moment.
"Yes... and what of it?"
Ancient One stood with her hands behind her back atop the mountain peak, proudly lifting her chest as she stubbornly gazed up at them: "Trinity Gods Vishanti, I respect your choices and will, but I am absolutely not a chess piece to be manipulated by you, nor a Sorcerer Supreme whose magical power can be stripped away with just a few words!"
Among all generations of Sorcerer Supreme, only Ancient One could speak with such confidence.
If one had to say the reason, it was probably because Ancient One had long ago been favored by 'Eternity.' After stepping down from the position of Sorcerer Supreme, she would become a Holy Spirit in soul form and follow the great god Eternity across the Multiverse.
Put simply, her backing was overwhelmingly powerful.
Although the Vishanti did not fear the great god Eternity, they likewise absolutely did not wish to provoke him, hence this situation arose.
"Calm yourself, Hoggoth."
Agamotto slowly spoke, calming the boundless great power within the starry sky.
"Since that is the case, then tell her." Oshtur also seemed to feel that continuing the stalemate would not benefit them.
Agamotto lowered those indifferent eyes upon Ancient One and calmly said: "There are some matters we are not unwilling to tell you, but they involve endless variables of the future. You are proficient in time magic, so you should understand the implications, correct?"
"But what relationship does this have with Strange and the Emergence?" Ancient One frowned and asked.
"Because His awakening... has already begun."
This time it was Oshtur who spoke. As one of Earth's ancient gods, she knew many hidden histories, and her tone was heavy as she said: "We must make preparations in advance. This time will be the Multiverse's... final war."
"The more you know, the deeper you become involved."
Agamotto meaningfully glanced at Ancient One and indifferently said: "Actually, we already know your thoughts, but we do not care, nor will we stop you. If you truly can break free from the world's control, perhaps we would even feel happy for you."
"In that case... why are you still?"
Ancient One's heart trembled as she revealed a shocked expression. So the Vishanti had long since seen through her plans.
"Only those beyond form may escape the cage."
Oshtur spoke meaningfully: "If you wish to control your own fate, then first transcend the narrative layer. In the darkest era soon to arrive, even having one more person would be good."
"If you can accomplish it..."
Hoggoth mockingly sneered with disdain: "If you cannot even control your own fate, you are not qualified to know more."
"Let us end things here, everyone."
Agamotto lightly interrupted Hoggoth and indifferently said: "Remember our words today. Otherwise... do not think that just because the great god Eternity protects you, we truly have no means of dealing with you, understand?"
"I understand, great Trinity Gods."
Ancient One lowered her eyes and responded: "I will remember your divine decree and within two years support Strange in becoming the new Sorcerer Supreme."