Peter quickly made his way to the Sanctum Sanctorum. He had assumed that the omniscient Strange would already be aware of the situation, but when Peter informed him that "Amora stole the Casket of Ancient Winters to give to the Atlantean rebels," Strange's expression became truly spectacular.
"The world has finally turned into a brand of madness I no longer recognize."
Strange didn't even have the energy to complain about the absurdity of it. Instead, he asked Peter with great confusion, "Why not let the people of the Olympus and Asgard pantheons handle this themselves?"
"I don't know, but Thor said it wasn't an option. He wasn't exactly clear on the specifics of why." After a bit of rambling, Peter asked in return, "Is there any way to deal with the Casket of Ancient Winters?"
"Theoretically, it's quite simple. As long as you are powerful enough to withstand the extreme cold radiating from the Casket, you just have to close it."
"Can Thor or Hulk do it?"
"How should I know? No one except the Frost Giants has ever been bored enough to try opening that thing." Strange rolled his eyes at Peter. "The Frost Giants have a bloodline advantage that allows them to resist the Casket's power, making them the best candidates to shut it. As for anyone else, no one but Odin has ever tried, and I highly doubt the current Odin could close it."
"Uh? Why?" Peter didn't catch Strange's meaning at first. "Shouldn't the current Odin be stronger than he was in the past?"
"Norse gods have a unique trait: they grow more powerful as they age, but their physical bodies eventually become unable to contain that escalating power. That is precisely why Odin must undergo the Odinsleep every year—to maintain the balance between his body and his strength. As he gets older, the duration of his slumber only increases."
At this point, Strange, who was flipping through a book, looked back at Peter to explain the nature of Fimbulwinter. "Fimbulwinter isn't just simple cold; it is a magical storm. If Odin were to attempt to close an active Casket of Ancient Winters, he would be 'frozen' in a short amount of time. Even if he entered his slumber, he wouldn't be able to adjust the balance between his body and his divine power."
"And that's when Odin would be at his most vulnerable."
"Yes. That is also why the All-Father is destined to be defeated during Ragnarök; Fimbulwinter prevents him from maintaining that balance during the Odinsleep. If he were forced to close an open Casket now, it is highly likely he would fall into a weakened state prematurely."
Peter nodded. He was about to ask if Thor could avoid such a troublesome situation when he suddenly realized something. "But our world hasn't plunged into an ice age yet. That means the Casket hasn't been fully opened."
"Or rather, it hasn't been opened to an unclosable degree. The Atlanteans using this weapon clearly have access to full information; they know exactly what would happen if the Casket were fully unleashed." Strange finished speaking, feeling even more perplexed. If that were the case, then the Enchantress Amora's involvement in this affair should be much deeper. Why were both Asgard and Olympus remaining indifferent?
Or was this exactly what they wanted to see happen?
"In any case, if you're looking for my help, I am powerless. I have no method to stop the Casket of Ancient Winters. However, since this counts as a matter of the mystic arts, I can join your operation to prevent the Casket from being fully opened."
Strange finished speaking and noticed Peter staring at him. He asked back, confused, "What is it, Spider-Man?"
"The Time Stone."
Peter's sudden words seemed to strike Strange like a physical blow. He paused for a moment, then said, enunciating every word, "No. Absolutely not."
"Why? You can wield the Time Stone, can't you?"
Ever since Kang the Conqueror was defeated, the Time Stone had been "borrowed" by Strange. It wasn't so much that everyone had formally agreed he should keep it, but rather that Strange had been quick-handed at the time. Furthermore, since the Sorcerer Supreme did indeed have the capability to guard it, everyone had simply defaulted to the arrangement. Thus, quite strangely, the Time Stone was back with the Sorcerer Supreme once more.
Now was exactly the time they needed the Sorcerer Supreme to drive the stone. As long as the Time Stone could be put to use, then even if the Casket of Ancient Winters were fully opened, the outcome could be reversed. It would provide a guaranteed safety net for the Avengers' mission.
But Strange refused.
"You know exactly what happens when such artifacts are abused, Spider-Man. Natural laws are something we must obey; that is precisely what distinguishes sorcerers of Kamar-Taj from dark wizards."
"But the situation is dire this time. If we can't stop the enemy, the entire world could be destroyed."
Strange almost blurted out, "Is the world almost being destroyed a rare occurrence?" but he bit his tongue. He could understand Spider-Man, and he could understand why many people hoped to use powers—including magic—to rewrite reality and create a better future.
"This has nothing to do with kindness or justice, Spider-Man. Imagine if we use the Time Stone to 'save the world' this time. Next time, we'll use it to 'save a city.' The time after that, it will be to 'save a single person.'"
"The most terrifying thing about the Time Stone is that it requires no immediate price to use—and that, in itself, is the price. We would find that nothing matters anymore. We could act recklessly without considering the consequences. Whether it's the end of the world or an accident that kills many, we would think we only need the Time Stone to fix it. Eventually, we would become indifferent to life and indifferent to the rules. We would stop caring about the lives of others."
Strange looked at Peter and added one final note: "I'm not saying you would become like that, kid, but we have to consider how many people this would affect. So, I'm sorry. If we fail this time and the world is destroyed because of it, we must bear that consequence. If anything, it is precisely because we have to face the consequences that we are driven to act."
Peter Parker didn't entirely agree with this sentiment; he knew that if he held the Time Stone, he would certainly use it more proactively. However, he understood that from Strange's perspective, the concern was valid.
"Alright, I'll head back then."
"Wait a moment," Strange interrupted Peter. "Remember the business about Mephisto coming to Earth? I've found a lead on that. Want to hear it?"
-----------------------------------------------
I handpick only the finest and most captivating novels for you. Don't forget to check out my other novels!
p@treon HongMengZi