Mavuika saw those people clearly.
Standing in the middle was a bald woman wearing yellow robes; it was Sorcerer Ancient One.
Mavuika also recognized one of the two people standing behind the Ancient One.
Sorcerer Mordo, the Ancient One's disciple, a serious and solemn Black man.
He wore dark robes and held an energy rod condensed from magic in each hand, fighting with a Dark Sorcerer.
Mavuika didn't recognize the other one; he was a middle-aged man with a slender build, a handsome face, a refined mustache, and dark red robes.
His gestures were still a bit clumsy, but his movements were fast and his reactions agile.
Opposite them was a group of sorcerers in dark robes, their eye sockets sunken and pitch-black, showing no eyeballs, only hollow darkness.
Their skin was an unhealthy grayish-white, their lips purple, and they were surrounded by eerie black energy.
Leading them was a middle-aged man with a thin face, crazed eyes, and a twisted smile on his lips.
His robes were more exquisite than the others, and the black energy in his hands was more concentrated.
Mavuika knew him: Kaecilius, the Ancient One's former disciple who was later tempted by the Dark Dimension's lord, Dormammu, studied black magic, and fell from grace.
She had heard the Ancient One mention him before.
At this moment, Kaecilius and his subordinates were besieging the Ancient One's trio.
They were numerous and their offensive was fierce, but the Ancient One responded calmly—at least on the surface.
Mavuika looked at the Ancient One, her brow furrowing slightly.
Just then, Kaecilius suddenly accelerated.
His body turned into a black shadow, rushing out from behind a Dark Sorcerer, his hands condensing two short blades formed from spatial distortion.
The short blades weren't physical objects but folds in space—sharp blades formed by folding space itself, capable of cutting through any matter, including magic shields.
He charged at the Ancient One, and the Dark Sorcerer he used as cover wasn't an enemy but an ally.
Kaecilius's short blade pierced through his companion's body. The Dark Sorcerer let out a short scream, his body freezing up.
Kaecilius didn't stop; the short blade continued forward, penetrating his companion's chest and stabbing toward the Ancient One's abdomen.
Mavuika's expression darkened slightly.
In that instant, the divine power within her boiled, and her body turned into a streak of gold-red light.
Crossing the nearly hundred-meter distance between them, she appeared in front of the Ancient One just as Kaecilius's short blade was about to pierce her body.
Mavuika raised her hand and caught the short blade in her palm.
The blade formed from folded space cut into her palm, making a piercing sound like metal rubbing against glass.
Kaecilius's eyes widened.
Before he could react, Mavuika used the momentum to grab the spatial blade and flung him away.
The Ancient One was also stunned for a moment, then she dispelled the magic in her hands, looked at Mavuika's back, and a helpless smile slowly appeared on her lips.
"Your Highness Mavuika."
Mavuika turned and looked at the Ancient One.
The Sorcerer Supreme stood before her, her yellow robes appearing somewhat dim in the grayish-white light of the Mirror Dimension. There were no signs of injury on her face, and her breathing was steady, looking to be in good condition—except for a complex light in her eyes that Mavuika couldn't understand.
"Sorcerer Ancient One," Mavuika nodded. "Long time no see."
She glanced in the direction Kaecilius had flown, then at Mordo and Strange behind the Ancient One, and finally fixed her gaze on the Ancient One's face.
"Is this the disciple you mentioned before?" she asked. "Kaecilius?"
The Ancient One nodded.
Mavuika's brow furrowed. "What's going on? How could you fail to react to an attack of this level?"
The Ancient One's gaze went over Mavuika's shoulder, looking at Mordo and Strange behind her. Mordo was fighting the remaining Dark Sorcerers, and Strange was also struggling to cope; neither noticed the conversation between the Ancient One and Mavuika.
The Ancient One withdrew her gaze, approached Mavuika, and lowered her voice.
"Your Highness, my retirement plan—was disrupted by you."
Mavuika was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized what she meant.
She looked at the Ancient One, her eyes filled with speechlessness. "You mean, you intentionally didn't dodge, wanting to use this opportunity to step down from the position of Sorcerer Supreme?"
The Ancient One smiled. "Not exactly intentional, just... I didn't try my hardest to dodge."
Mavuika fell silent.
"To be honest, this retirement plan of yours," Mavuika said with a hint of speechlessness, "is a bit terrible."
"If you die, who will I have tea and chat with in the future?"
The Ancient One was taken aback, then laughed.
"Your Highness, you are still so... cute."
Mavuika ignored her, her gaze passing over the Ancient One's shoulder to look at the man in the dark red robes behind her.
Strange was fighting two Dark Sorcerers. His gestures were still a bit clumsy, but every movement carried a surgeon-like precision; he knew the human body's weaknesses and where to strike most effectively.
His magic energy wasn't strong, but it was used very cleverly, with every attack hitting the Dark Sorcerers' most vulnerable spots.
"Is that the successor you found?" Mavuika asked.
The Ancient One followed her gaze, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.
"Stephen Strange. He was once a very brilliant Neurosurgeon, but then he had a car accident, the nerves in his hands were damaged, and he could no longer perform surgery. To heal his hands, he traveled the World and eventually came to Kamar-Taj."
She paused.
"He will be the most powerful among us."
Mavuika's brow twitched slightly. "The most powerful? Even better than you?"
The Ancient One nodded with a smile.
"Yes. It might not be apparent now, but he has talent, perseverance, and wisdom. More importantly, he has the courage to face failure."
Mavuika looked at Strange and was silent for a while.
"That's something to look forward to, then."
The Ancient One chuckled softly.
In the distance, Kaecilius crawled out from the rubble, blood at the corner of his mouth and his robes torn, but his eyes were still crazed.
He spread his arms, and black energy surged from his body like a tide, spreading in all directions. The other Dark Sorcerers also released their energy, and black mist filled the Mirror Dimension, corroding everything.
Mordo and Strange were forced back several steps.
Mavuika watched this scene and asked the Ancient One in a teasing tone.
"What now? Should I just turn around and leave? You can find another chance to let him stab you?"
The Ancient One thought for a moment and shook her head.
"Forget it. Since the plan failed, it means it's not time yet. Since Your Highness has already intervened, please help me deal with this Treacherous Disciple while you're at it."