Chapter 32: What if Two Worlds Merge?

"I know it's not easy to cross over, so what then?"

Aron was confused by the Ancient One's words.

He himself knew that crossing between worlds wasn't easy. If it were, he would've already found a way to return to his own world.

The Marvel universe was too dangerous.

He just wanted to go home.

"This time, Belath and his demon army broke that rule."

The Ancient One's expression was serious.

She wasn't unaware of the demonic invasion on the contrary, she had been following the situation more closely than anyone else.

Because while others worried about demons, she focused on something deeper.

A change between dimensions.

"Are you saying... that Belath actually wasn't even supposed to reach Earth?"

Aron pondered.

"No."

"I think they weren't supposed to come through this easily."

The Ancient One waved her hand.

Golden magical energy formed an image before them, like a holographic projection.

It showed the inside of the Spiritual Prison; demons were constructing dimensional gateways.

"This passage was only meant to allow Belath and a few elite warriors from his inner circle."

"And even if they arrived on Earth, the dimensional forces would have suppressed them, preventing them from using their full power."

"But now..."

She waved again.

The image changed; demons were ravaging the streets of New York.

"Not only did all of them come, but Earth's dimension barely suppresses them at all."

"And the main reason for that... is you."

"Me!?"

Aron's eyes widened.

This sounded like she was accusing him of personally bringing hell to Earth.

"What did I do?"

He didn't look like the leader of some dark cult.

"Did you try to summon the Quags?"

The Ancient One didn't answer directly, but returned a question.

"Well... I tried once."

"But it didn't work."

Aron remembered the moment, an attempt to summon one of the Dimensional Lords using a single sentence. But nothing happened.

"That's good."

Hearing that, the Ancient One looked visibly relieved.

Then she began to explain.

"The reason Belath and his warriors were able to come through so easily... is the demonic energy in your body."

"Although we don't know exactly how you got it, once it enters you, that energy gets purified, as if it passes through some sort of cleansing."

Purification?

When he heard that word, Aron immediately remembered how every time he gained a new power, the system in his body would automatically remove all remnants of the previous owner's energy.

What remained was clean, refined, and extremely powerful energy.

"Looks like you already know what I'm talking about."

"I won't force you to reveal your secrets. Everyone has them."

The Ancient One nodded and continued:

"That energy in your body, without any impurities, is almost equal to the original force of a world."

"When you fully master it, you'll become a bridge between two worlds."

"A beacon. A beacon in the middle of a vast sea."

The Ancient One was serious.

Nothing like this had ever happened before.

No one knew what the outcome would be.

"And what if I can drive them away each time?"

Aron asked.

His exorcism system was perfect.

If they come, he can drive them away.

It mostly involves drawing patterns.

It's not hard.

"Have you ever considered..."

"What if one day the barrier between the two worlds completely disappears?"

"As you absorb more and more power, the connection between worlds will grow stronger. The barrier thinner. More fragile."

"And in the end..."

"When the two worlds merge into one..."

"Will you still be able to drive them away?"

Those words struck Aron like lightning.

"...System!"

"If a demon becomes part of this world... is it still a demon?"

he asked himself.

[No.]

The System's response was short.

Only beings from other dimensions count as demons.

If someone, like Thanos, belongs to the same world as Aron, he cannot be considered a demon. He cannot be driven out.

After all, exorcism means returning a being to the place it came from.

If it belongs here, where do you send it?

"Wait a minute..."

"I no longer have that demonic energy!"

His expression changed.

He remembered the shadow demon Sarc.

"That's your matter."

"Maybe after this, you'll know how to use it in the future."

The Ancient One returned to her calm posture.

Seeing Aron's serious expression, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

Ah, so it did concern you...

"Don't worry."

"The situation I'm talking about is still far away. You have time to act."

She pushed open a door.

Before them opened the interior of the New York Sanctum.

In the heart of the room was a huge sphere, covered with magical symbols and dotted with golden points of light that constantly shifted.

"This is the temple's core left behind by Agamotto."

"It allows you to see everything happening on Earth in real time."

"When an invasion from another dimension occurs..."

"You can respond in time."

Aron couldn't take his eyes off the orb.

Impressive thing.

"From now on, you're the guardian of the New York Sanctum."

"What?"

Aron was taken aback.

"Don't worry, it's only temporary."

"When Master Daniel recovers, you'll decide whether you want to stay."

As if afraid he'd refuse, the Ancient One quickly cast a spell and created a black, torn cloak in front of her.

"Take the cloak I promised you."

"???"

Looking at the ragged piece of cloth, Aron wanted to refuse.

But the cloak lifted itself and fell onto his back.

In the next moment, from the torn parts of the cloak burst a powerful dark energy.

It covered the flaws and began to spread like black tendrils.

A wicked aura filled the room.

In an instant, his body transformed.

Clothing. Posture. Everything.

In a single breath, he looked like a Great Dark Lord.

Terrifying.