Chapter 133: The Mystics...

Declining Harry's party invitation, Sean drove alone back to Umbrella Laboratories in Long Island...

A shadow of unease lingered in his heart... the sensation of being watched from the shadows was deeply unsettling. Especially when those observers were the reclusive mages who guarded the boundaries of time and space, defending against interdimensional invasions.

They represented a formidable power hidden behind the veil of the mundane world. According to the Professor, their lineage stretched back tens of thousands of years, scattered across the globe, worshipping a trinitarian supreme being.

Magic had a long and storied history in the Western world. Disciplines like tarot, witchcraft, alchemy, astrology, divination, and even obscure fields like symbology, herbology, and necromancy all fell under its umbrella.

Even in this age of advanced science and civilization, many still fervently believed in gypsies who could glimpse the past and future, or charlatans who claimed to summon spirits of the dead.

According to the theories of these mystic sorcerers, beyond this world lay countless dimensional realms inhabited by powerful beings labeled as "angels" or "demons"... These entities constantly sought to break through the cracks in spacetime to invade the material world.

The weaker ones aimed to harvest human souls as nourishment, while the more formidable beings sought to devour the entire world, dragging this beautiful planet into darkness.

It was for this reason that these ancient, enlightened mystics had formed a vast organization known simply as the 'Masters of the Mystic Arts'... They styled themselves as the Watchers of the World, using powerful magic to repel foreign invaders.

And as for an otherworldly soul like Sean? He naturally fell into the category of a potential enemy... a heretic who needed to be either eliminated or controlled.

Navigating through congested traffic, Sean's brow remained furrowed. He had only just resolved the mutant situation, hoping for a period of stable development, only to have the Sorcerer Supreme come knocking at his door.

While he didn't fear the powerful mage, he had no desire to see his peaceful life disrupted.

The car radio reported on the high-profile collaboration between Stark Industries and Umbrella. The Stark Expo, which had been heavily promoted for weeks, was now in full swing. Without Ivan Vanko's interference this time, Tony's pet project would likely proceed without a hitch.

At the expo, Umbrella's two serums and Dr. Octavius' masterpiece would be showcased, though the main attraction would undoubtedly remain Tony's Iron Man armor.

Everything was proceeding smoothly, which made the potential disruption by these mysterious mages all the more irritating.

Any trace of good humor evaporated from Sean's demeanor, replaced by a cold glint in his eyes. If these reclusive mystics proved unwilling to negotiate, he was no helpless lamb waiting for slaughter either.

"...The Time Stone." The mere thought of that reality-altering Infinity Gem made Sean's head throb.

Before facing the Sorcerer Supreme, he needed to locate another Stone. With his current capabilities, he stood little chance against the rule-breaking power of an Infinity Gem.

His thoughts tangled like knotted yarn as the black sedan merged onto a highway. The evening sun cast a golden glow, its soft light gradually sinking below the horizon. The dense forest of skyscrapers began lighting up... the bustling Big Apple never truly slept. In fact, nightfall only amplified its vibrancy.

In a momentary daze, Sean noticed sparks flickering in the air. A glowing ring expanded rapidly, swallowing the speeding black car whole.

After a split second of disorientation, Sean found himself driving along the side of a skyscraper. He opened the door and stepped out, standing perfectly parallel to the glass windows while his brand-new car collided with an adjacent building in a fiery explosion.

A figure draped in voluminous yellow robes materialized from the void...

With casual waves of their hands, the entire world turned upside down. Skyscrapers stacked upon each other in impossible configurations as the laws of physics seemed to dissolve. Cars from the highway and entire city blocks floated midair, sliced apart and rearranged at will.

As the figure approached, bricks and steel plates in the endlessly extending space assembled into intricate patterns beneath their feet, as if this seemingly infinite dimension existed solely under their command. Their aura burned like an erupting volcano.

Sean took two steps forward. In his mind's eye, the figure resembled a towering furnace drawing boundless energy from some unfathomable void. Without exaggeration, in terms of pure power, this mysterious yellow-robed entity was the strongest being Sean had ever encountered.

Professor Xavier's psychic abilities were unmatched, but he lacked combat skills and awareness. Magneto's control over magnetism remained unrefined, it was devastating against weaker opponents, but lacked decisive advantages against peers.

"Sorcerer Supreme?" Sean addressed the approaching figure.

Such a direct confrontation was unexpected. Did the mightiest of the mystics truly believe Sean posed no threat?

"Oh? You know my title." The figure pushed back the hood, revealing a gleaming bald head and androgynous features.

'Do all the powerful beings in this world go bald?' Sean mused silently.

The current Sorcerer Supreme twirled an exquisite folding fan, their youthful face belying eyes brimming with ancient wisdom. A flick of the fan sent the ground beneath Sean's feet sliding forward as if on an invisible conveyor belt.

Surrounded by densely packed, impossible architecture on all sides, Sean studied the mystic warily. The Sorcerer Supreme not only mastered countless spells and possessed immense longevity, but also wielded a formidable artifact... the Eye of Agamotto, one of the six Infinity Stones.

The Time Stone could bend reality, reverse time, foresee futures, and perform other unimaginable feats.

"What exactly are you searching for, outsider?" The mystic arts user known as the Ancient One chuckled, "I stopped carrying the Eye of Agamotto with me long ago. Though I must admit surprise... you actually know its true origins."

A faint smile played on Sean's lips, "I simply have an interest in the occult. Though I must confess disappointment... you don't actually fly on broomsticks?"

Amidst the endlessly looping cityscape, the Ancient One stood at the center of intricate patterns, their tone even, "Why continue the pretense? Your soul's resonance carries an essence completely alien to this world. Among the infinite multiverse, the occasional lucky stowaway inevitably slips past the Sanctums' surveillance..."

"...The moment you arrived, I sensed your presence from Kamar-Taj. The New York Sanctum's subsequent investigations yielded nothing... unlike other interlopers, you never revealed your true nature. The mages found no trace, allowing you to hide in plain sight." The Ancient One paused.

Their gentle gaze suddenly turned piercing as an overwhelming presence erupted from their slender frame. To Sean's senses, it felt like a towering mountain had materialized, its crushing weight bearing down upon him.

"You should not have tampered with the timeline. All things must follow their destined course... none may alter it!"