Inside the cosmic void created by Axel, Thor stood frozen after seeing Gamora alive again.
A moment later, he turned toward Axel, his face flushed with excitement.
"Great God!"
He clasped his hands together and performed an unfamiliar Eastern-style bow.
"You... did you really... bring them back? My people too? They're truly alive again?"
Axel laughed.
"Of course they are. Why would I joke about something like that? Relax, it's nothing major. I don't like people hesitating over every little thing. If I say they're resurrected, then they're resurrected."
Thor swallowed hard.
Then, with a heavy thud, he dropped to his knees.
"I believe you, Great God! Thank you for saving my people!
I know some Eastern customs. I once traveled with Lord Wind.
I'll return home immediately and find worthy treasures to offer you. Please wait for me!
And... your armor is magnificent!"
After giving Axel's armor one last admiring look, Thor prepared to leave.
Before he could, Axel smirked.
"You really should hurry home. Things are pretty chaotic over there."
Thor immediately stopped.
"What? What do you mean by chaotic?"
Axel spread his hands with a grin.
"Well... I gave you a little extra.
Everyone else only had those killed by Thanos brought back.
You, on the other hand, earned a bonus.
Since you're a decent guy, I restored Asgard itself, rebuilt the Rainbow Bridge, and revived everyone who originally died there.
Not just the refugees who were slaughtered aboard the ship. Everyone."
As he spoke, Axel shaded his eyes as though looking into the distance.
Thor's mind went blank.
His heartbeat nearly stopped.
"Wait...
Are you saying...
My family...
They're all back?"
"They're all back."
Axel nodded.
"If I'm not mistaken, your sister is currently beating up your father. Well... Odin is old now and isn't exactly eager to hit his daughter.
If I were you, I'd get back to Asgard immediately.
Wait much longer and Hela might tear his arms and legs off."
"What?!"
Thor's eyes widened.
"My sister... I... this... I..."
He stammered incoherently before instinctively raising his right hand.
Then he froze again.
"My hand... it's back?"
After staring at it in disbelief, he immediately tried summoning Mjolnir.
Nothing happened.
...
Above New York.
Doctor Strange was reinforcing the ancient magical barrier created by Agamotto and maintained for generations by the Ancient One, hoping to force Mephisto back into Hell.
Just then, a bald woman stepped out of empty space.
Her expression carried quiet resignation as she looked toward the struggling Mephisto.
The demon paused after noticing her.
"A glowing light..."
His eyes narrowed.
"Wait...
Ancient One?!
You're still alive?
Was your death nothing more than another trick to weaken me?
You despicable old woman! Your heart is darker than any devil's!"
The Ancient One sighed.
"My reputation has truly suffered.
Unfortunately, I had nothing to do with this.
That troublesome fellow simply decided to bring me back as an afterthought.
Being treated like an extra isn't exactly flattering.
Still, since we've met again...
Wouldn't it be better if you returned home willingly?
Or would you rather I send you back, just as I have for the past two thousand years?"
She casually raised one hand.
Boundless magical energy erupted around her.
Her robes fluttered violently as the entire New York Sanctum radiated brilliant light.
The immense magical formation instantly suppressed Mephisto.
Feeling the overwhelming pressure, the demon roared in frustration.
Yet no amount of anger changed the outcome.
Before long, he was forced back into Hell.
Mjolnir slipped from his grasp and shot across the sky toward Thor.
Watching the hammer disappear into the distance, the Ancient One turned toward the stunned Doctor Strange.
Strange looked from the tiny spell in his own hands to the vast network of planetary magical lines flowing effortlessly through hers.
"T... Teacher...
It seems I was right.
That outsider truly didn't mind using the Infinity Stones to leave us some gifts.
But..."
He swallowed.
"Didn't you once tell me I was your finest student?
Then why...
Why is the difference between us still so enormous?"
His frustration was impossible to hide.
He dismissed the spell in his hands before forcing a bitter smile.
"During the years you were gone, I used the Time Stone constantly.
Only five or six years passed outside, but I spent nearly three thousand years studying magic.
I've memorized every book in your library.
I can cast every spell Kamar-Taj possesses.
So why do I still feel like a child standing beside you?"
This was where Strange differed from Kaecilius and Mordo.
They had grown up in Kamar-Taj.
To them, the Ancient One had always been more like family than a teacher.
Children often found it easier to confide in friends than in their parents.
When Kaecilius and Mordo encountered doubts, they kept them to themselves instead of asking the Ancient One directly.
Over time, those unanswered questions slowly became distance.
Strange was different.
He had become her disciple at nearly thirty-seven years old.
His worldview had already matured.
He respected the Ancient One deeply, but when something confused him, he simply asked.
Looking directly at her, he continued,
"Teacher...
Did you keep something from me?
I've learned everything you taught, yet the gap between us is still unbelievable."
His eyes drifted toward her forehead.
"I deliberately avoided studying forbidden magic like the Darkhold.
So...
Is that the difference?
Were you actually an expert in dark magic all along?"
The Ancient One chuckled.
"Strange, becoming Sorcerer Supreme has certainly made you more confident.
The apprentice who once followed behind me now dares question his teacher."
She reached out.
The Eye of Agamotto floated off Strange's chest and returned obediently to her hand.
"You're proud that, in five years, you used the Eye of Agamotto to experience three thousand years of study.
But do you know what I was doing two thousand years ago?
Exactly the same thing.
How many thousands of those three thousand years do you think I've accumulated?
You assume my strength comes from forbidden magic.
Have you considered that, after enough time, quantity itself becomes quality?"
Her expression gradually turned distant as she looked toward the horizon.
"No matter how I returned, fate arranged it.
Earth now faces unprecedented trials.
Kamar-Taj needs me once again.
For the time being, you'll hand the title of Sorcerer Supreme back to me."
Strange blinked.
"...All right."
Although disappointed, he also felt relieved.
He understood what was coming.
"My original plan relied on Thanos using the Infinity Stones to help Earth survive the Celestials' emergence.
Axel changed everything.
Now that the future has shifted, it's better if you lead us."
"Axel..."
The Ancient One smiled knowingly.
"That cunning outsider.
Over two thousand years ago, while I was still cultivating along the Sacred Timeline, another version of you from another universe contacted me.
He needed the Sorcerer Supreme's help capturing a being comparable to a Dimension Lord, someone Axel happened to be chasing.
So I crossed countless universes and joined that battle.
Back then, I was still young.
My hair reached my shoulders.
Seeing how handsome that cunning outsider was...
Your teacher even pursued him for a while.
Unfortunately, time in that place flowed strangely.
Only a month passed for him.
For me...
Two thousand years."
She laughed softly.
"Don't tell him that.
If he hears about it, he'll rush over saying ridiculous things about women aging like fine wine.
Time spares no one."
Strange stared at her in complete disbelief.
"Wait...
Axel came here before?
And you actually met him back then?"
The Ancient One smiled.
"He possesses powers beyond ordinary understanding.
Perhaps his status surpasses even the source of our magic.
And yes...
He really is quite handsome.
Although he's also an incorrigible rogue."
She shook her head.
"Enough reminiscing.
Come back to Kamar-Taj.
The Sacred Timeline has become chaotic, and we have much to repair.
Since we can no longer rely on Thanos to deal with the Celestials, we'll have to confront them ourselves.
Fortunately, Axel restored Odin and the others.
Otherwise, Kamar-Taj alone would have little chance."
She waved her hand, opening a portal.
Just before stepping through, she paused.
"Oh, Strange."
"Yes, Teacher?"
"You really never studied the Darkhold?"
"I didn't."
"So you think I did?"
"I... assumed so.
Mordo believed it.
Kaecilius certainly did."
She smiled knowingly.
"If that's what you believed...
Then why didn't you study it yourself?"
"Could I?"
"You're already the Sorcerer Supreme.
Who's going to stop you?"
"But you once said I was the most outstanding Sorcerer Supreme.
I wanted to surpass you without relying on dark magic."
The Ancient One laughed.
"Did I really say outstanding?
No.
What I actually said was that you're the most showy."
She gently patted his head.
Strange's face immediately turned bright red.
So...
He had only been the flashiest.
Not the greatest.
Suppressing another laugh, the Ancient One sighed.
"When you return, study it quietly in the library.
Don't ask me to teach you.
And remember something else.
The next time you encounter another crisis like Thanos...
Try calling into the Sacred Timeline.
This world isn't a movie.
Don't trap yourself trying to make everything fit a script.
Protecting Earth sometimes means accepting help from allies, just as we help them."
With those final words, she stepped through the portal.
Only Strange remained behind, staring blankly at where she had disappeared.
So...
Being the Sorcerer Supreme could be that flexible?
Then why didn't you tell me sooner?
Why didn't you tell me sooner?!