When the Ancient One awoke, she realized she was lying in a strange room.
She was on a bed. Not far away sat a man wearing an unusual white-and-red robe, watching her with a faint smile.
Startled, she immediately sat up and ran her hands over her body. After confirming that nothing was amiss, she finally let out a breath of relief.
"Are all women like this?"
Shaun Cole said with a smile.
"Half a month ago, another woman did exactly the same thing. If I really wanted a woman, I would've chosen her—not a nun."
"You… outsider!"
Only then did the Ancient One remember the mysterious man who had appeared out of nowhere.
"Enough with the 'outsider' talk," Shaun Cole said calmly.
"You've already seen my abilities. I'd prefer we sit down and talk properly."
"But if you attack me again—"
his eyes flashed with icy light,
"—I really will kill you."
The Ancient One's body trembled slightly.
"Now," Shaun Cole continued,
"tell me your name—and what that ability you used earlier was."
The Ancient One sat silently on the bed, saying nothing.
"Oh?"
Shaun Cole raised an eyebrow.
"If you won't tell me, I have other ways."
He reached out into the air.
A golden scepter suddenly appeared in his hand. At its top was a golden spherical object.
Both the scepter and the sphere were Pieces of Eden—the Staff and the Apple. Each possessed the power to control the human body and manipulate the mind. When used together, their influence became terrifying.
Pointing the tip of the scepter toward the Ancient One's bare head, Shaun Cole smiled.
"Start by telling me your name."
"I… I am the Ancient One…"
Fear filled her face. She could no longer control her own speech.
"The Ancient One," Shaun Cole nodded.
"A very Buddhist-sounding name. Then, Master Ancient One—what exactly was that ability where you kept drawing circles?"
"It… it's magic…"
Her voice trembled. She desperately wanted to attack Shaun Cole—but her body refused to move.
"Magic? A nun named the Ancient One?"
Shaun Cole looked puzzled.
"So nuns use magic now? Where's your temple, then?"
"Deep within the Himalayas…"
Hearing this, Shaun Cole blinked.
It sounded… familiar.
That location.
That name.
That fighting style.
He felt as though he had encountered all of this somewhere before.
"The Ancient One… the Ancient One… the Ancient One…"
Shaun Cole stood up, tapping his head as he searched through his long-buried memories.
Suddenly—
His expression changed dramatically.
The Ancient One.
The Himalayas.
Circular light sigils.
A bald head.
Wasn't this a character from a Marvel movie he had watched before?
What kind of world had he arrived in?
Frederick Huang… Thirteenth Aunt… those belonged to Chinese kung fu films.
But the Ancient One?
That was American science fiction.
"Stand up," Shaun Cole said.
"Take me to your temple. I know you can do it."
He withdrew the scepter.
The Ancient One stood up, staring at him in fear.
That terrifying power—being unable to move, unable to control even her own words—felt more sinister than Dormammu, the ruler of the Dark Dimension.
If Kaecilius and I fight together,
we should be able to defeat him…