Chapter 16: The Power of “Evil Ghost Armor”

Before meeting the Ancient One, Skye kept reminding herself not to be surprised, to be polite, and not to embarrass herself. But the moment they met, she couldn't help but show her astonishment.

It wasn't just because she didn't expect the Ancient One to be a woman—it was also the bald head.

Upon seeing the Ancient One, Skye instinctively glanced at Finney's hair, her eyes filled with concern, making Finney's face darken slightly.

He shot her a sharp look, reminding her how rude that was. Only after Skye realized her faux pas did Finney proceed to introduce her, though the Ancient One was probably already well aware of who she was.

When introducing Skye, Finney simply said, "This is my sister." But when introducing the Ancient One, he went all out:

"This is my master, the head of Kamar-Taj, the strongest being on Earth, and the Supreme Sorcerer who knows almost everything about the past and future—The Ancient One!"

Hearing that, Skye grew even more nervous. Although she couldn't quite grasp why this calm and gentle-looking person was described so extravagantly by Finney, she couldn't help but feel a growing sense of respect.

"Hello, Master Ancient One," Skye greeted respectfully.

"Hello, Miss Halesides," the Ancient One replied with a kind smile and nodded slightly. Then, she turned to Skye and said, "Finney has told me about you. But please, do not take this the wrong way. The power of magic is not something everyone can wield. Don't force it."

Skye nodded seriously, showing she understood. She felt lucky just to have the chance to try. If she couldn't master it, she wouldn't blame anyone.

Kamar-Taj was a whole new world to Skye. Everything was fascinating, and her thirst for knowledge reached new heights as she eagerly anticipated learning magic.

After speaking with their parents and getting permission to stay under the pretense of traveling, both Finney and Skye temporarily moved into Kamar-Taj.

At first, they didn't jump straight into training. Instead, they spent time in the training grounds, watching the other sorcerers practice. Seeing the bright orange energies swirling around their hands, Skye was ecstatic and couldn't wait to join in.

But once she started practicing herself, she quickly realized it wasn't as easy as it looked. A whole month passed, and she hadn't managed to create even the smallest spark of magic.

Fortunately, Kamar-Taj had internet access, or she might've given up much sooner. Even so, these past few days had made her seriously consider quitting.

The only thing that comforted Skye was that Finney wasn't faring much better. If she hadn't sparked anything, Finney had only managed a faint flicker.

For an entire month, Finney was deeply frustrated. He even began to wonder if the secret to real power was losing his hair. After all that time, all he could produce was a tiny spark!

It was only after Mordo told him that most people started off just like this that Finney reluctantly accepted the reality and continued practicing.

It seemed the Ancient One was right—his talent really was just average.

Failing in magic made Finney realize that becoming stronger through it might not be a realistic goal. His greatest asset was still the abilities he gained through the system.

While Finney was pondering his next steps, Skye approached him and said she wanted to give up.

"Are you sure?" Finney asked, looking at her downcast face. He could understand her feelings—spending so much time without any progress was demoralizing. At least he could see a glimmer of hope, but Skye hadn't managed to channel any energy at all.

"Yeah... I guess I'm just not cut out for it," Skye said gloomily. If she had the choice, she would've loved to gain these extraordinary powers. But she remembered the Ancient One's initial advice not to force it.

"It's alright, no big deal," Finney said, trying to comfort her. "Honestly, I didn't think mystic arts suited girls anyway. You should focus more on imagining how you'd use a power like... I don't know, shockwaves, for example."

"Why shockwaves?" Skye was puzzled as to why Finney kept mentioning that.

"Don't worry about it. I'll explain when the time is right," Finney said, changing the subject. "So, are you heading home?"

"Yeah." Skye nodded. Though Kamar-Taj had internet, the connection wasn't great, and the austere lifestyle was something she hadn't fully adapted to.

"Alright then, you can handle explaining everything to Mom and Dad," Finney said.

During their time here, they had stayed in touch with their family, even sending photos from a nearby town. So, their parents didn't think anything unusual was going on.

"Let's go, then. I'll take you to see the Ancient One. She can send you home directly," Finney said.

With Skye's belongings packed, they found the Ancient One and explained the situation. The Ancient One didn't say much—neither offering words of encouragement nor discouragement—just nodding in acknowledgment.

She opened a portal and sent Skye to a spot not far from their house. Once Skye was gone, Finney broached a different topic with the Ancient One.

"Master, I'd like to spar with the other sorcerers to improve my combat abilities."

"Mordo and Wong would be more than happy to assist you," the Ancient One replied, nodding in agreement.

Over the past month, Finney had become acquainted with these two future close allies of Doctor Strange. As for Kaecilius, the future traitor, it seemed he had yet to join Kamar-Taj at this point.

"By the way, can I use this?" Finney summoned the Evil Ghost Armor, and the silver sword appeared before him. He grasped the hilt but didn't immediately activate the armor.

The Ancient One studied the sword in his hand for a moment. After a pause, she said, "This is a living weapon. It might corrode your mind and harm your body. Do you understand?"

Finney hesitated for a second before nodding. According to the system, the sword housed an ancient spirit. Its ability to evolve came from this fact.

"Remember, never let the power control you," the Ancient One warned. But ultimately, she didn't stop him from using the weapon. She trusted him.

As Finney was about to head off to find Mordo for a sparring session, a thought struck him. He turned back and asked, "Master, can you wield it?"

He held the Evil Ghost Armor out to her, curious to know if anyone else could use it. Testing this on a regular person would be too dangerous, but with the Ancient One, there was no such worry—unless she wanted to die, which was unlikely.

"I think it's worth a try," the Ancient One said, not hesitating as she took the sword from him. She examined it curiously. "Hmm... it's quite a fascinating organism, capable of evolving with its user. And the craftsmanship is intriguing."

"Its command is 'Evil Ghost Armor.' It can transform into armor," Finney reminded her.

"Evil Ghost Armor," the Ancient One murmured softly.

Suddenly, a tremendous surge of energy erupted from the sword, far surpassing the force Finney had felt when he first used it.

The shadowy figure that appeared behind the Ancient One was even more terrifying, radiating an oppressive aura that made it hard for Finney to breathe.

"Roar!"

A deafening roar echoed throughout Kamar-Taj, startling all the sorcerers.

Just as the shadow was about to envelop her, the Ancient One waved her hand. A green energy coiled around her, dissipating the figure of the Evil Ghost Armor. The sword reverted to its original form.

"Whew, whew!"

With the overwhelming pressure gone, Finney gasped for breath. It wasn't until he experienced it firsthand that he realized how weak he was. The same weapon, in the hands of the Ancient One, was more than ten times stronger.

Still, through this test, Finney learned that the control of the skill ultimately lay with him. Although the Ancient One could use the weapon, he could cancel the skill at any time during its use.

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