Because of that fundamental truth, it was impossible for the Ancient One to erase the timeline that belonged solely to Ethan. His existence was now bound together with the Phoenix Force, which itself represented one of the deepest layers of information in the universe. Just like the Phoenix Force could not simply be deleted from reality, Ethan's timeline could not be erased either.
With the combined power of magic and the Phoenix Force, Ethan could easily detect disturbances along his own timeline. Any attempt to tamper with it would immediately become visible to him. However, detecting a timeline and freely altering it were two entirely different matters. Even he couldn't casually modify the timeline at will.
The Ancient One sighed softly.
"So that's how it is," she said quietly. "You truly are an anomaly."
Ethan chuckled.
"Oh? And someone who has mastered the Time Stone isn't an anomaly as well?" he replied casually. "Across countless parallel universes, there are countless versions of you—but they all converge into a single identity. In that sense, your existence is somewhat similar to mine. We're about even. Neither of us is really in a position to call the other strange."
The Time Stone possessed the terrifying ability to manipulate timelines freely. It could stretch time forward, rewind it, split it apart, or bind timelines together as if they were threads.
But using the Time Stone came with a unique consequence.
It bound the user's timelines together.
In simple terms, once someone became the wielder of the Time Stone, all versions of that person across parallel universes would follow the same path.
The Ancient One in this universe was the wielder of the Time Stone.
And in other universes, the Ancient One was also the wielder of the Time Stone.
From that moment onward, the owner of the Time Stone had only one destiny. Other possibilities for that person simply disappeared.
Their timelines collapsed into a single path.
Ethan, however, was different.
Across the countless parallel universes of existence, there was only one Ethan Cole.
His timeline could theoretically extend into any universe, reaching any corner of reality itself.
Of course, actually achieving something like that was not possible yet.
But the potential was there.
Ethan looked at the Ancient One and suddenly smiled.
"Even though the Time Stone can't change my existence, it can still observe the extensions of my timeline. I don't know exactly why you wanted to erase my timeline earlier, but why don't you take another look at it now?"
This time, the Ancient One did not remain silent.
"I can't," she said calmly.
"Why not?"
"Because the portion of your timeline that lies ahead… is also blocked."
Ethan shook his head slightly and laughed.
He already knew the reason for that.
The Phoenix Force represented one of the deepest informational layers of the universe. Its nature made it incredibly difficult—even for someone like the Ancient One—to observe clearly.
Ethan raised his hands again.
The chaotic structure of space-time around them slowly returned to normal under his control.
Then he stepped forward until he was standing directly in front of the Ancient One.
She watched him calmly as he lifted one hand and gently pointed a finger at the center of her forehead.
"I'm going to connect our minds," Ethan said casually. "Use me as a bridge and look at the future of my timeline."
The Ancient One closed her eyes without hesitation.
Two magical arrays appeared in her hands. As the arrays began to rotate slowly, countless possibilities began unfolding within her perception.
Through Ethan, she saw the endless transformations of his future timeline.
Suddenly—
"Ah!"
The Ancient One cried out.
No one knew exactly what she had witnessed in that moment, but her expression changed drastically.
Shock and fear appeared on her face.
Cold sweat instantly streamed down her forehead.
Her eyes snapped open as she looked up at Ethan.
Her entire body trembled slightly.
Ethan withdrew his hand and looked at her reaction with an amused smile.
"What did you see?" he asked directly.
"I saw countless possible futures for you," the Ancient One replied quietly.
"Tell me."
Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly.
"The universe… may be destroyed by you."
Her voice carried a hint of lingering shock.
"And not just this universe. Countless parallel universes could be destroyed as well. Complete and total annihilation."
Ethan's smile remained unchanged.
"That's all?"
The Ancient One stared at him.
She had expected a stronger reaction, but Ethan seemed completely unfazed.
The truth was that Ethan had already speculated about his own future many times. Even he understood that his destiny was filled with uncertainty. What the Ancient One had seen were merely possibilities.
"And…"
She hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"You may also become the only god across countless parallel universes. The supreme existence."
Ethan tilted his head slightly.
"What else?"
"You are the enemy of all things… the ruler of all things… and the necessary existence for all things to survive."
Her voice steadied as she continued.
"You have countless possibilities in your future. But every single possibility leads to the peak of power. Your future cannot be stopped… and it cannot be changed."
By the time she finished speaking, the trembling in her body had finally subsided.
However, when she looked at Ethan again, a faint trace of fear lingered in her eyes.
Ethan studied her expression for a moment before asking calmly:
"So… are you going to stop me?"
The Ancient One fell silent.
After a long pause, she sighed softly.
"There is no need."
Her voice sounded strangely peaceful.
"Whatever you do will eventually become necessary. The timeline that forms around you cannot be deleted or altered."
Then, to Ethan's surprise, she raised her hand and opened a magical formation beside her.
From within it, she pulled out an object.
It was a pendant attached to a chain woven from gold and silver. The pendant itself was shaped like a hollow eye.
She held it out toward Ethan.
"I cannot stop you," she said calmly. "And I cannot change the timeline created by your existence. Therefore, this belongs to you now."
Ethan looked at the object in mild surprise.
"The Time Stone?"
He glanced at her strangely.
"What exactly did you see in my future timeline?"
"I saw many possibilities," the Ancient One replied calmly. "But in one hundred percent of them, you eventually ask me for the Time Stone."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"In eighty percent of those possibilities, you succeed."
"In thirteen percent, the world is destroyed."
"And in the remaining seven percent… you kill me."
Ethan smiled faintly.
What the Ancient One had seen were only possible futures.
But the only moment that truly existed was the present.
Right now, the Time Stone was in front of him.
By giving it to him willingly, she had already altered countless future timelines.
Ethan could have refused it.
But he didn't.
Because the truth was simple.
He needed it.
And the Ancient One was correct.
From the moment she appeared here, the Time Stone had already belonged to him.
"Well then," Ethan said lightly as he accepted the pendant. "From now on, this belongs to me."
"You can't stop me," he continued calmly. "But I won't destroy your sanctum either. As for what happens to the world in the future… you can simply watch it unfold."
"How does that sound?"
"Agreed," the Ancient One replied.
Her expression remained calm, showing almost no emotional fluctuation.
She looked at Ethan deeply for a moment before raising her hands and opening a glowing portal in front of her.
She stepped backward slowly.
Her body disappeared into the portal.
Just before the portal closed completely, her final words echoed through the air.
"You are the variable that will change this world. I only hope you will treat the world kindly."
The portal vanished.
The guardian of time had quietly stepped away from her role in the future.
Ethan simply smiled faintly.
"Who can really say what the future holds?"
.....
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