Chapter 425: The Mage’s Double-Sided Deal

Solomon's unexpected arrival put Agent Coulson on high alert.

The other agents assisting with their recent mission had already departed. Although Agent Ward's loss of control had caught everyone off guard, it was now deemed an internal matter for Coulson's team. With the apparent death of the Clairvoyant, the case seemed to be closed. Agents John Garrett and Victoria Hand had their own duties to attend to.

Despite defending Solomon to Hand earlier, Coulson still harbored doubts about him. This was his instinct as a seasoned agent—he always suspected everyone and everything, especially when an event as improbable as Ward's breakdown had occurred. Field agents were rigorously trained to withstand extreme psychological stress; emotional outbursts like Ward's were not supposed to happen.

One person capable of influencing emotions, however, was Solomon Damonette. No one truly knew how many spells he could wield or what he was capable of. Coulson couldn't forget how Solomon had erased part of his memory, which only deepened his suspicions.

"This is a classified location. How did you find us?" Coulson asked as he descended the cargo ramp to greet Solomon, who was carrying a black plastic bag. Simmons and Skye followed close behind, visibly tense. Simmons had suggested notifying May, but Coulson had declined. He didn't want to show hostility toward Solomon. After all, if Solomon were truly a threat, no one aboard this plane would be able to escape.

"I was just passing by," Solomon replied casually, dressed in a sharp suit that seemed oddly out of place. His pants were dirty, and his once-polished shoes were covered in dust and mud—something Coulson had never seen before. Solomon was usually immaculate.

"I was digging for something and happened to see your plane land here," Solomon explained, lifting the bag in his hand. Coulson peered inside and noticed several Subway sandwich wrappers. "Actually, I got here first. You guys are the latecomers."

"What exactly were you digging for?" Coulson's suspicion eased slightly as Solomon handed two sandwiches to Simmons and Skye. The two agents hesitated before taking them, unsure how to react. Skye instinctively unwrapped hers but stopped when Simmons shot her a warning glance.

Don't eat food from someone you can't fully trust. It was a basic rule for agents, and while Solomon wasn't a stranger, his motives were still unclear.

"Apologies for the lack of hospitality," Coulson said with a polite smile. "We're in the middle of official business. If you don't mind, could you tell me what you're working on? As far as I know, you're supposed to be in Oxford."

"I'm pursuing a degree in archaeology," Solomon replied smoothly, though the truth was far stranger than fiction. To support his story, he opened the plastic bag to reveal several sealed containers filled with bones and soil. "Look here. This is a rib from Gaius Julius Caesar. Found it at the bottom of a river—it's the only part that wasn't burned. Over here is Socrates' skull—the wise man's head. And here's the mummified hand of Ramses II. I had to cut it off quickly before the museum guards caught me…"

Coulson felt lightheaded as Solomon calmly listed his crimes. Skye looked horrified and was now very glad she hadn't taken a bite of her sandwich. It wasn't a matter of hygiene anymore but pure psychological trauma. Solomon continued to ramble about his scavenger hunt for famous historical figures' remains, sounding almost disappointed by how little he had managed to collect.

Coulson contemplated whether he should arrest Solomon right then and there—especially for defiling a museum exhibit.

"This here is the radius bone of Cyrus the Great. Got crushed by accident," Solomon added, pulling out the last item from the bag. The cargo ramp fell silent.

"You do realize that looting historical sites doesn't qualify as archaeology," Coulson finally said, hesitating as he chose his words. "Proper excavation involves careful preservation. Otherwise, you're just a grave robber."

"I'm aware. Don't worry—I didn't leave any tunnels behind for grave robbers to use. I entered through a portal," Solomon replied nonchalantly, wiping sweat from his brow. "I was about to dig up George Washington's remains when you showed up, so I figured I'd stop by and say hello."

"Please don't do that," Coulson groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "That's the Founding Father of the United States. Show some respect."

"Fine. He was just another slave owner anyway—not exactly full of heroic qualities." Solomon shrugged. "Anything else you'd like to add?"

Coulson took a deep breath. "Please refrain from disturbing historical sites," he said, his tone weary. "Not that I can actually stop you."

"That's why I respect you, Coulson. You have more self-awareness than Fury."

While Solomon went on his bizarre archaeological expedition, Maya Hansen was taking the first steps in a dangerous genetic experiment. The Zorah Redwoods Druid Order had aided her by refining the alchemical sigils needed for fusing ancient DNA with the Extremis virus. However, their knowledge was insufficient for the next phase of the experiment. All the druids could do now was conduct repeated tests to ensure the stability of the virus and produce enough samples for further research.

The truly horrifying part came with Solomon's dark magic—a ritual beyond his usual capabilities. To acquire the knowledge required for this genetic transformation, he struck a deal with an otherworldly entity known as the All-in-One, the Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young.

But Solomon was no fool. He had planned this transaction carefully.

He gripped a silver key in one hand and the Eye of Agamotto in the other. The first Sorcerer Supreme, Agamotto, had the power to protect Solomon's soul from corruption. In exchange for a portion of Solomon's sanity, the All-in-One granted him knowledge of biological transformation. Agamotto, in turn, gained access to this forbidden wisdom.

The deal was a success. Solomon lost a fragment of his mind but gained unparalleled understanding of genetic manipulation. Agamotto's protection kept him from descending into madness.

In the aftermath of the ritual, Solomon's body convulsed violently as deep crimson blood poured from his eyes and nose. The droplets hit the ground and transformed into grotesque white maggots, writhing in pools of shadow. Maya Hansen backed away as multi-colored orbs of light and ethereal golden eyes filled the room. Solomon clutched the amulet and key as if his life depended on it.

Words in an unearthly language spilled from his mouth. His mind glowed with golden brilliance, and a distant, shattering sound echoed through the space. Chains of cosmic significance snapped in an unseen realm.

When Solomon finally opened his eyes, beams of blinding golden light streamed forth. The blood on the ground evaporated, and the maggots dissolved into black mist.

"I understand now," Solomon declared, his voice a choir of countless voices. "I understand everything."

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