c42: The True and False Gods
Seeing Tony Stark's eager anticipation and the way he was already thinking about how to explain everything to Pepper, Harvey didn't hold back.
"The Ancient One possessed countless spells; she was the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth."
"She was a renowned figure throughout the universe, and many enemies dared not act recklessly against Earth because of her."
"If I provoked her, at most it would cause some trouble, but you, having provoked her, would certainly die in your current state."
"So be careful, at least until you become powerful, don't have any reckless thoughts."
"However, she doesn't have many years left to live."
"So remember one thing: stay put, develop your strength, and don't be too ostentatious. By the time she dies, you should possess considerable power."
Harvey explained the information he knew, referencing the hidden protector that even S.H.I.E.L.D. only partially understood.
"The Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One, will die?"
"Why? Didn't you say she extended her life through some means?"
"If she could extend her life by hundreds of years, then extending it by a thousand years shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Tony Stark wasn't relieved to hear this; instead, he found it difficult to comprehend.
The Ancient One might become his enemy, but she had also protected Earth for centuries.
Furthermore, Harvey had said that it was precisely because of her existence that many extraterrestrial threats, even powerful ones lurking beyond the solar system, did not dare to invade Earth openly.
If such a powerful figure were to die, Earth's situation could become extremely dangerous.
"2017…you mean the Ancient One won't live past 2017, so Earth will encounter a terrible enemy?"
Tony Stark suddenly realized something and looked at Harvey Ambellaca with a grave expression.
"If the Ancient One wanted to prolong her life, she could indeed do so."
"However, she will die in the next few years, and I won't go into the details."
Harvey nodded, seeing how quickly Tony Stark had grasped the key point.
"Having a way to prolong her life but still choosing death…does that mean she didn't want to continue living?"
Tony Stark asked with a complicated expression, sensing that the answer involved something beyond simple biology or science.
"Yes, although she has lived for many years and possesses immense magical power," Harvey said, "she is still human, and extending her life requires drawing power from forbidden dimensions, something she has long been wary of."
Seeing that Tony Stark had already reached this level of understanding, Harvey did not conceal the truth further.
"It sounds like those life-extending methods aren't exactly clean."
"Then, Harvey Ambella, why don't you let her join the Void?"
"Given her power, if she joined the Void, she should become a very powerful ally, right?"
Tony Stark quickly connected the dots.
"I would like to do that, but only her death can pave the way for the birth of a new Sorcerer Supreme, so her death is inevitable."
Harvey, of course, also wanted to recruit the Ancient One into the Void.
The stronger the being recruited, the more Void energy he would gain.
It was only after witnessing the Ancient One's death that Stephen Strange would truly embark on the path of the Sorcerer Supreme, fully unlocking his magical potential and eventually inheriting the mantle.
The Ancient One could also use this opportunity to finally relinquish her responsibilities, something she had carried for centuries.
The Void was incredibly alluring to beings who sought power and longevity.
For a genius like Tony Stark, or even enhanced individuals and cosmic beings across the universe, such an offer would be irresistible.
However, for the Ancient One, she already possessed both immense power and extended life.
Therefore, the two greatest temptations the Void offered would have little effect on her, and she would most likely view the Void as a dangerous and corrupting force.
Thus, persuading her to join would be extremely difficult.
This made Harvey somewhat dissatisfied, because to him, the Ancient One was like an untapped treasure, yet one he could not easily claim.
"Since a new Sorcerer Supreme will appear, why is there still a great enemy emerging around 2017?"
Tony Stark asked, somewhat puzzled.
But almost immediately after asking, he paused, thought for a moment, and quickly understood, a look of realization appearing on his face.
"Just as you thought, even if you inherit great power, that power still requires time to fully master."
Harvey nodded approvingly, seeing that Tony had reached the correct conclusion.
"I wonder how much I'll grow in eight years."
Tony Stark clenched his fist, his voice carrying both anticipation and a trace of pressure.
If Harvey Ambellaca were willing to intervene directly, he wouldn't feel worried at all.
He had already witnessed how overwhelming Harvey's power was.
However, Harvey Ambellaca was not bound by Earth, nor by human morality or responsibility.
Whether he would choose to act or remain an observer was entirely his own decision.
"I've already told you about the methods of evolution."
"How far you can evolve in the future is something you'll have to discover on your own."
"Eight years isn't a long time, but it isn't short either. Don't burden yourself too much."
"When the enemy truly arrives, we can deal with it then."
Harvey saw Tony Stark's concern and understood the pressure he felt, so he offered some calm reassurance.
However, he made no promises.because in the vast scale of the Marvel Universe, even "gods" could fall, and only strength determined whether one survived or was erased.
At the moment, he was only confident that the so-called "Purple Potato Spirit", the cosmic warlord Thanos.wouldn't be able to do anything to him easily. As for whether he could win, that would depend on how far he could evolve by then.
"Hmm, the big shot you mentioned shouldn't just be the Ancient One, right?"
Tony Stark's eyes flickered when he heard this. He temporarily set aside thoughts about the future crisis and continued asking.
"Of course, besides the Ancient One and Captain Marvel."
"There's also Odin, the God-King who rules over nine worlds, including Earth."
"His power is extremely strong, and his subordinates are constantly monitoring the situation on Earth."
"So even if you join the Void, don't be too ostentatious."
"Time will bring you everything you want."
Upon hearing this, Harvey continued explaining, now bringing up forces far beyond what S.H.I.E.L.D. could normally contend with.
Tony Stark, having witnessed the will of the Void and already been exposed to magic and superhuman abilities, felt his mental resilience had improved significantly.
"Odin, the king of the gods, so that means there's also Thor? Or perhaps Zeus of Olympia?"
But Harvey Ambella's sudden mention of Odin still genuinely startled Tony Stark, who spoke with uncertainty.
"Looks like your comprehension is still working."
Harvey smiled faintly when he saw how quickly Tony connected the dots.
"So you mean the gods in all the myths and legends on Earth are real, but they all originated from the universe?"
Although Tony Stark was initially shocked, he quickly accepted the implication and asked thoughtfully.
"That's right."
Harvey nodded again in confirmation.
"Including beings like Thor of Asgard, and even the Olympian pantheon like Zeus."
"Then are their powers as terrifying as described in the books?"
Tony Stark's expression became serious after receiving confirmation.
"Because humans are limited by their strength, the era they live in, and their perspective."
"The legends recorded by humans naturally contain exaggeration."
"However, many of those stories are rooted in truth."
"For example, their innate abilities, their control over energy, and the divine weapons they wield—like Asgardian artifacts."
Harvey explained concisely, referencing the reality behind mythological exaggeration.
"If I hadn't come into contact with the Void, I wouldn't have believed that those myths and legends could actually be real."
Tony Stark sighed with emotion after grasping the broader picture.
Why were myths considered myths? Because everything recorded in them surpassed human understanding.
Some religions and believers worshipped those gods.
But for Tony Stark, who once relied purely on science and logic, such belief systems had always seemed irrational.
Because if gods truly existed, Earth had suffered countless disasters over the centuries, yet no divine intervention had ever clearly appeared.
It was more reliable to trust human ingenuity than divine salvation.
To put it bluntly, Tony Stark had always been an atheist.
He believed those myths were fabrications, unable to distinguish truth from fiction.
But now he understood—the so-called gods were not mystical abstractions, but powerful extraterrestrial beings who had once visited or influenced Earth.
Whether they chose to help humanity had nothing to do with faith, but rather with their own will and judgment.
At that moment, J.A.R.V.I.S.'s voice sounded.
"Excuse me, sir."
"Two whole-beef dishes for Mr. Harvey Ambellaca are ready."
"They are also continuing to prepare the additional meals."
"They have sent an inquiry asking if the whole-beef dishes should be delivered first."
J.A.R.V.I.S. knew Tony and Harvey were discussing matters beyond ordinary comprehension, but he still had to report.
"Have them deliver it to the door. Don't let them come inside."
Tony Stark glanced at the cracked walls and bloodstains left behind from the earlier clash with S.H.I.E.L.D. before speaking.
"Yes, sir."
J.A.R.V.I.S. immediately complied, understanding that the current state of the second-floor dining area was not something outsiders should witness.
"Harvey Ambella, you wouldn't mind sharing a whole cow with me to fill my stomach, would you?"
Tony Stark patted his stomach and asked with a slightly embarrassed smile.
Harvey knew that Tony Stark had just entered the early phase of Void evolution, where hunger would rapidly increase due to accelerated metabolism and energy conversion.
"You said you were treating me, so I can eat one less cow."
Harvey replied calmly.
His appetite had already reached an extreme level, so he didn't bother making a point of it.
Besides, once Tony Stark fully adapted to this state, his consumption would only continue to rise.
"Thanks."
Tony Stark laughed, clearly relieved.
He was already starving. If not for the risk of attracting attention especially from S.H.I.E.L.D. after what had just happened, he would have already driven out to grab dozens of burgers or clear out an entire restaurant without hesitation.
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