Chapter 174 : Ancient One Warning
Alex Ray stopped chatting with Wong and turned his gaze toward the Ancient One.
His eyes lingered briefly on Stephen Strange, who stood beside her, before asking, "Can Strange begin learning magic now?"
He wasn't entirely sure whether the Ancient One would allow Strange to come into contact with the mystic arts yet.
After all, Strange hadn't suffered the infamous car accident or lost everything that once defined his arrogance.
But seeing Strange's expression—a touch of arrogance layered over visible anticipation—Alex already understood that the Ancient One had decided to allow him to start his mystical journey.
The Ancient One looked calmly but firmly at Strange. "Strange, Mordo will take you to change into appropriate robes. He will guide you as you begin learning the mystic arts."
"Yes, Master," Strange replied immediately.
His voice was filled with reverence and submission, a stark contrast to his usual proud and aloof demeanor.
Watching from the side, Alex couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise.
He knew Stephen Strange well. In the films of his previous life, Strange had never shown such deep respect for the Ancient One—not like this.
But Alex didn't know that all it took was a single sentence from the Ancient One to change Strange's attitude completely:
"Do you want to surpass Alex Ray? Then learn from me."
That single line struck a nerve in Strange's core. His deepest desire had always been to surpass Alex.
For that goal, Strange was willing to set aside his pride and humble himself before the Ancient One.
He silently vowed to master everything she could teach him—because one day, he would rise above Alex Ray.
If Alex had known what the Ancient One said, he wouldn't have been offended. He would've encouraged Strange to master magic as soon as possible. After all, once Strange became part of Alex's "family," Alex would gain access to all the magic Strange learned.
After Strange left, the Ancient One turned to Alex, her tone serious. "You shouldn't have brought Strange here so early. He hasn't gone through what he needs to yet."
The meaning was clear: without the crucible of tragedy—without losing everything—Strange might never become the Sorcerer Supreme.
Alex understood what she meant, but he countered, "Why must he suffer through that? He can still become the Sorcerer Supreme without it. Don't underestimate Strange. If anything happens, I'll take responsibility."
He knew the Ancient One was concerned that Strange might not have the will to face Dormammu without the catalyst of personal devastation. But Alex loathed the concept of "destiny." Knowing what tragedies were supposed to come, if he didn't intervene, he'd feel complicit.
The Ancient One met Alex's eyes—steady, confident, unshaken. She wasn't sure whether his reasoning was correct, but by letting events unfold, she had already given silent approval to Alex's choices.
"I'll leave the rest to you," she said finally. "But remember—what's coming is far worse than you can imagine."
Alex already knew the future wouldn't play out like the movies he'd seen in his past life.
He had already changed too much. The Avengers, for example, were essentially disbanded because of him.
That meant when the time came, it would fall to Alex Ray and the people of Hell's Kitchen to face Thanos and repel alien invasions.
That was why he kept pushing to strengthen his people—so he wouldn't have to fight every battle himself.
As for what came later, that was for future Alex to deal with. For now, he focused only on the present.
"Or maybe," Alex offered, "you could just live longer, Ancient One. Teach Strange more. Protect the Earth a little longer."
After all, she didn't have to die.
In the movies, the Ancient One had seen her own death and chose to follow the script so that Strange could rise to his destiny. She had to die at the appointed time, in the appointed way. Otherwise, Strange wouldn't inherit the mantle, wouldn't awaken the power within him, wouldn't become who he needed to be.
He might heal his hands and return to a shallow life of surgery and flirtations, never touching magic again.
Her death marked the passing of the torch between two generations of Sorcerers Supreme.
But the timeline had already diverged.
Even if Strange got into a car accident now, Alex could heal him. There would be no reason for him to seek out Kamar-Taj. If Alex hadn't brought him here directly, Strange probably never would have come.
Yet because of Alex's presence, Strange had already seen the extraordinary. And he wouldn't allow himself to fall behind.
Sure, maybe he'd keep up the charm and the medical career, but he would never abandon the pursuit of magic—not now.
So, from Alex's point of view, the Ancient One no longer needed to stick to the old script.
The Ancient One, however, gave a small, helpless smile. "The future depends on you now. My circumstances are… not so simple."
"I've looked into countless futures. And they all arrive at the same point. And from there… they end."
Her words were laced with quiet resolve.
She had long come to terms with her fate, accepted the conclusion waiting for her. Death, to her, was not an ending—it was a release. A liberation from the burden of foresight and guardianship, and perhaps a path to something beyond.
Alex said nothing more. Since the Ancient One had chosen her path, he wouldn't try to stop her.
Respect the fate others choose. Let go of the need to save everyone.
As long as he could change the fate of his friends, his loved ones, and himself—that was enough.
He took a deep breath and nodded solemnly.
The Ancient One looked at him with quiet emotion.
She had already foreseen it: Strange would never truly escape Alex Ray's shadow. All that talk of surpassing Alex was just a tool—fuel for Strange's motivation.
Still, this was Strange's decision. He had chosen this path willingly. He wanted to grow stronger for Alex's sake… and for the world.
The thought that her most gifted student, the future Sorcerer Supreme, would be driven to his limits by Alex Ray stirred conflicting feelings within her.
She didn't want to see it, but she couldn't stop it either.
This was Strange's destiny. His choice.
"Come," she said, breaking Alex's train of thought. "I'll take you to see the King of Asgard."
She turned and conjured a golden portal behind her. Through the glowing circle, the grandeur of Asgard shimmered in the distance.
Alex stepped forward, without hesitation, and vanished into the light.
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As the plot unfolds, it dives deep into the Spider-Verse, Avengers War and the Marvel Multiverse, weaving in epic elements from Endgame, God of Stories Loki, Kang the Conqueror, the Council of Kangs, the Council of Reeds, and even Franklin Richards.
Expect mind-bending twists with Deadpool breaking the fourth wall, going on a rampage that includes killing everyone... even the authors themselves.
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