The Fall of the Sorcerer Supreme

Although the voice was faint, Gene was certain someone had called his name.

After a brief moment of thought, his V-shaped visor flickered. He understood what was happening.

The visor on his helmet dimmed. Then, a radiant blue neural network emerged from his body—like an Eastern myth of the soul departing the body. Gene's neural essence separated from his mechanical shell and drifted into the real world.

He phased through the Kree-alloy ceiling and soared into the skies above. Behind him, a silver silhouette silently followed.

Finally, Gene hovered quietly above Earth, the silvery figure floating beside him.

Gene turned slightly and looked at the one next to him.

The Sorcerer Supreme—The Ancient One.

"So, you still let it happen?" Gene looked at the soul of the Ancient One, his tone cold. "I warned you. I told you so many times. But you clung to your ridiculous faith in that vague, useless philosophy of fate. You could have changed your destiny—so why let it play out like this?"

By the end, Gene's voice had grown louder with restrained fury.

Years ago, Gene had already warned the Ancient One about her death—its cause and its time. In their later meetings, he had reminded her again and again that during her confrontation with her former student Kaecilius, she would be backstabbed and fall from the Mirror Dimension onto the streets of New York—dying in the most undignified way for a Sorcerer Supreme.

She could have avoided it. But the stubborn bald woman refused to act.

"It seems you still don't understand what I meant back then," the Ancient One replied calmly, gazing at the blue planet below.

"I just don't get you mystics and your cryptic nonsense," Gene said coldly. "You always talked about fate being untouchable, inevitable. But that's not the real reason, is it?"

His voice dripped with sarcasm.

The Ancient One remained silent, her eyes never leaving the Earth below—as if wanting to take one last look at the planet she had protected for centuries before her soul faded away.

"So, are you satisfied now?" Gene asked bitterly. "You're dead. You fulfilled your so-called fate. But did you see what happens to the world after your death?"

"I have seen fragments of the future, Gene," she said quietly, unbothered by his harsh tone. "But those fragments are wrapped in heavy fog... and what I saw... was troubling. Very troubling."

"Oh, that sounds like great news," Gene replied dryly. "But if the future looked that bleak, why not try to change it?"

The Ancient One gently shook her head.

"I was trying to protect you."

The blue light of Gene's form flickered. He didn't like where this was going.

"What do you mean?"

Looking at him, the Ancient One spoke slowly: "I saw countless possible futures—but none of them had you in them. You've carved a new timeline altogether. Every path that included your involvement was completely invisible to me. That's why, the very first time I saw you, I said you were special. Not just because of your body... but because of your potential."

"Your very existence is... extraordinary."

Gene paused, realization dawning. He knew fragments of this world's timeline—but he himself wasn't a part of it. Or perhaps more accurately, he was a variable within it. The Ancient One couldn't see any future in which he played a role.

"But that still doesn't explain why you stopped me from interfering with the future—how was that protecting me?" Gene asked, frowning.

The Ancient One sighed.

"Time is like a coiled spring. When you act to change a moment, you might think you've compressed time to fulfill your wish. But eventually... time will snap back—and with far more violent consequences than before."

"Like when you wanted to kill Loki," she said. "I stopped you because if you had done it then, the timeline would've retaliated with something even worse."

"I've long been ready for that," Gene replied softly. "From the moment I chose to act, I prepared myself for the cost. No matter how catastrophic the destruction, I'll face it after I've given it everything I have."

"I know," the Ancient One said. "But I have no time left."

"I've already chosen my successor. I think you should meet him when you have the chance."

"You mean Dr. Stephen Strange?"

"Yes," she nodded. "He has remarkable potential—a rare genius. Someday, he may surpass me."

She paused.

"But even if he reaches those heights, he still won't be able to replace you. Because if there's anyone in this world who can carve a new future from nothing—it's you."

Gene fell silent.

The Ancient One continued:

"When you first came to Kamar-Taj seeking knowledge, I gave you everything I could. Because deep down, I believed you could change fate… Even if I never admitted it, I too wanted to break free from it."

"There's one last favor I must ask of you," she said, her voice firming.

"I'm listening."

"My successor has great talent… but he's still too green. I don't think he can handle what's coming."

She paused. "I hope you'll help him survive this crisis."

"I will," Gene nodded. Even if she hadn't asked, he wouldn't have turned a blind eye.

"Thank you," she said softly, closing her eyes in peace.

A long silence followed.

When Gene finally turned his head again—there was nothing beside him. The annoying, infuriating bald woman… was gone.

Gene withdrew his gaze and looked back toward the vast blue Earth.

He remained there, unmoving, for a long time.

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T/N:

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