Chapter 449: What If He Can’t Come Back?

"Uh, pardon my rudeness, Master Ancient One, but with Stephen's current ability, I'm afraid he won't be able to open a portal. And given his physical condition, he might even die out there!"

Karl Mordo was deeply worried that Stephen wouldn't be able to open the portal and would freeze to death on the snowy mountain. He had been observing Stephen's progress over the past few days.

Just like the Ancient One had said, Stephen was indeed very gifted—he could absorb the theoretical knowledge in the magical texts with remarkable speed, almost as if he had a photographic memory.

But even so, Strange still hadn't successfully opened a portal, and now the Ancient One had left him alone on that snowy mountain.

What if he couldn't come back?

Alan noticed that the Ancient One was actually worried about Strange too, and he spoke up to comfort her: "Let's wait a bit longer. Believe in Stephen—he can do it."

Mordo didn't dare refute Alan. Since he spoke in such a way, and the Ancient One didn't show any displeasure, that meant she agreed with Alan's judgment.

Time passed slowly. The Ancient One furrowed her brow. It seemed she had acted too hastily. Stephen might really fail both her and Alan's expectations.

Just as the Ancient One was about to open a portal herself to retrieve Stephen Strange, something unexpected happened—

A portal opened!

Karl Mordo was even happier than he had been when he first learned how to open one himself.

They saw Stephen, trembling violently, dragging his stiff legs forward through the portal. The moment he laid eyes on Alan and the Ancient One, his whole body collapsed to the ground.

"Stephen!" Mordo rushed over and checked Stephen's pulse. "Stephen, how do you feel?"

The Ancient One revealed a gratified smile. "Strange did it. Master Mordo, take him back to his room and let him rest."

Alan had actually been gambling too—gambling on whether Strange could pull this off. And Strange proved it with his actions.

…

Strange suddenly shot up from the bed. He had dreamed of that car crash again, and now stared blankly at the ceiling.

"You're awake. Are you alright?" Alan had remained in Stephen's room ever since briefly speaking with the Ancient One, waiting for him to wake up.

"Alan!" Stephen Strange finally came to his senses. The accident was in the past now. He was currently studying under a sorcerer called the Ancient One.

"I... I'm not dead, am I?" Strange hadn't forgotten the snowy mountain—he'd almost frozen into an icicle out there.

As for how he got back, Strange's memory was a little fuzzy.

"Of course not. You learned how to open a portal. Congratulations." Alan smiled and softly offered his congratulations.

Strange was stunned at first. He thought the Ancient One had brought him back. But Alan said he came back on his own?

"If you don't believe it, you can try again," Alan said, pushing the Sling Ring toward Strange. Rather than say more, it was better for Strange to try again himself.

With trembling hands, Strange put on the Sling Ring and recalled how he'd opened the portal back on the mountain. He set the destination to his own room.

The glowing outline of a portal slowly began to appear before him. Through the portal, he saw that messy, disorganized room.

"I... I did it!" Strange murmured, staring at the room. He had really done it.

"See? You must be completely focused to reach the state you desire," Alan continued. "It has nothing to do with whether your hands are injured."

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