The Darkhold Awakens? The Battle Against the Chaos Core!

Ned wasn't afraid of the Red Chaos Stone for good reason. No matter how powerful it was, it had just broken free from its seal and could only unleash a fraction—perhaps 20-30%—of its full potential.

If Ned couldn't defeat an opponent in such a state, it would mean either he was holding back, or the opponent was a Dimension-level God. Clearly, neither of those scenarios applied here.

As for the Red Chaos Stone controlling Wanda, while her Chaos Magic was undoubtedly formidable, it hadn't been fully developed yet. Whatever power the Stone forced out of her wouldn't be enough to make Ned flinch.

…Okay, maybe he shouldn't get too cocky.

Suddenly, a sharp cracking sound rang out.

"Crack! Crack!"

Fissures began to spread across Ned's magical barrier.

"This isn't right," Ned muttered to himself. His hands moved in a blur, forming intricate symbols as he cast another spell.

"Screech!"

A portal opened beneath him, and Ned vanished just as the barrier shattered.

"Boom!"

The moment he disappeared, every object the Red Chaos Stone manipulated with Wanda's magic—stone pillars, cars, debris—came crashing down on where Ned had stood moments before.

Then, a pulse of crimson energy detonated, leaving behind a massive crater.

"Whoosh!"

Another portal opened in the sky. Ned emerged, streaking through the air like a comet, only to be greeted by a blood-red energy beam surging straight toward him, as if it had been waiting for him.

"Hah!"

Ned's hands moved to form a seal in front of him. A radiant magical shield materialized, blocking the beam. The impact scattered into a cascade of shimmering butterflies, fluttering momentarily before fading away.

"You seem to know my every move," Ned said, narrowing his eyes.

The Red Chaos Stone laughed, its deep, mocking voice echoing in the air. "Of course, you fool! Ever since the Time Storm, though I've been sealed, I've been watching you, analyzing your techniques, preparing for this day!"

"In other words, you don't stand a chance. Surrender now. Kneel before me and beg for mercy, and perhaps I'll spare your pitiful life!"

"So that's how it is…" Ned muttered, feeling a twinge of unease. The Red Chaos Stone knew him too well, while he knew almost nothing about it.

An uneven battle, indeed.

Ned clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and made his move.

"Shadow Duplication!"

With a burst of golden light, multiple clones of Ned spread out, encircling Wanda at strategic points. Each summoned a small magical shield, holding it in front of them.

"Combine!"

Golden energy radiated from the shields, fusing into a massive barrier that trapped Wanda within.

This was a spell Ned had adapted from the defensive arrays of Kamar-Taj. He was confident that even the Red Chaos Stone wouldn't break through it.

"Hmph. Foolish."

The Red Chaos Stone manipulated Wanda's chaos energy to strike the barrier.

"Bang!"

Golden sparks erupted from the impact, but the barrier held firm.

"Impossible…"

The Stone's voice betrayed its doubt as it analyzed the intricate structure of the magical shield.

Ned smirked, confidence returning. "It's over. Surrender now, and maybe I'll—"

Before he could finish, a crimson glow emanated from the Stone, forming a sinister projection of a book above it.

"This… this is…"

Ned's eyes widened in shock. That ominous silhouette—he recognized it instantly.

"The Darkhold?! No way… is this Stone connected to the Darkhold? Did it… gain sentience?"

For the first time, Ned felt a chill run down his spine. The Darkhold wasn't just any artifact. It was the accursed grimoire that once brought Kamar-Taj to its knees.

"Boom!"

The Darkhold's projection snapped shut and merged back into the Red Chaos Stone. Wanda, still under its control, crouched low and enveloped herself and the Stone in crimson energy before vanishing into the ground.

"What?!"

Ned's heart raced as he expanded his senses, unwilling to believe that the Stone had fled so easily.

"Hah, almost had me, didn't you?"

The Stone's mocking voice came from behind. Ned spun around to see Wanda, her face twisted in pain, floating at his level. Chaos energy surged around her, while the Red Chaos Stone hovered ominously above her head.

"But this is where it ends," the Stone declared.

With those words, a wave of chaos energy erupted from Wanda's body, shattering Ned's clones one by one.

"Damn it!" Ned cursed as the remnants of his shattered magic flowed back into him.

Another crimson blast surged toward him, faster and more ferocious this time.

Ned formed another magical shield, pouring all his energy into it.

"Boom!"

The impact broke through his defenses, sending him crashing to the ground.

Gritting his teeth, Ned forced himself back to his feet. He quickly conjured a golden beam of energy and launched it toward the Stone.

But the Stone, unfazed, responded with another chaos-infused blast. The two forces collided in midair, but the Stone's power overwhelmed Ned's attack, sending him flying once again.

This time, Ned didn't get up immediately. Lying on the ground, his mind raced as he tried to devise a plan. The Red Chaos Stone wasn't just an artifact anymore—it had become a living nightmare, and if it truly had the power of the Darkhold, then he was in for the fight of his life.

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T/N:

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