Thanos's ability to guess "time manipulation" was within Sebastian's expectations.
However, guessing what Sebastian was doing was one thing. Being able to resist and fight back against it was another matter entirely.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three consecutive Killing Curses were unleashed with deadly precision. With the help of the Time-Turner's power, Thanos had no ability to resist whatsoever. His attacks were all avoided or neutralized by Sebastian using time stop and temporal erasure. They had no impact or interference on Sebastian's actions. Instead, Thanos was forced into a completely passive defensive position.
"Hoo..."
Sebastian exhaled deeply. He looked at the twelve marks etched on his silver Time-Turner. Now only four marks remained with their power intact. Two uses of time stop, one use of temporal erasure, and one use of time remnant.
The battle had seemed to show Sebastian constantly suppressing Thanos with overwhelming force. However, he knew very well that it was all thanks to the power of this artifact he had crafted. Without the Time-Turner, he would have been locked in a prolonged stalemate with Thanos. Making a quick defeat would have been virtually impossible.
Fortunately, after using up eight of the Time-Turner's twelve charges, Thanos was finally unable to interfere with Sebastian's actions anymore.
Looking at Thanos sitting amidst the ruins with his armor half-shattered and his Double-Edged Sword lying on the ground, radiating an aura of impending death, Sebastian took a deep breath. He waved his wand again with deliberate motion. Thanos's semi-conscious body began to sink into the ground. He was completely sealed by earth and stones with powerful magic.
It was not that Sebastian did not want to kill Thanos permanently. Rather, Thanos was currently too tightly bound to the Dark Phoenix Authority's power. To kill Thanos, Sebastian would first have to completely extinguish that portion of the Dark Phoenix Authority. However, the Phoenix Force's power was not so easily extinguished. Every bit of Sebastian's power was extremely precious at this moment. It was best to conserve as much magical energy as possible for what was coming.
"Strange, you have been watching for so long. What do you want to say?" Sebastian called out without turning.
As Sebastian's words fell, Stephen Strange, aided by his Cloak of Levitation, floated down from the top of a nearby building. He looked at Sebastian and said, "Sebastian, what is the purpose of all this?"
"For freedom. And also to forge a path that allows me to continue forward," Sebastian replied simply.
"The Ancient One said the same thing, and you are saying the same thing too. What is the reason behind this? Why will neither of you explain it to me clearly?" Stephen asked with frustration.
Looking at Stephen carefully, Sebastian glanced at his Time-Turner. He confirmed that there was still some time remaining before the next phase began. "Strange, there are some things the Ancient One and I have not told you because knowing them now probably would not do you any good.
Just as many adults do not take a child seriously because children do not have the same thinking and mature minds as adults. However, if a child had the same thinking and mature mind as an adult, do you think those adults would still treat him like a child? Conversely, for that child, when he possesses the same thinking and mind as an adult, and other adults know it, it is not a good thing. This is because his body is still that of a child, yet he is treated with the expectations of an adult. If he makes a mistake, he will not be forgiven like a child anymore."
Sebastian's words were very subtle. The metaphor he used did not seem quite right on the surface. However, this metaphor actually made Stephen understand Sebastian and the Ancient One's thoughts.
"So I am still too weak, right?" Stephen said quietly.
"That is correct. You need to master greater power. That is fundamental.
But you also need to understand something important. When you learn Kamar-Taj magic to an extremely high level, all magic requires borrowing the power of a higher dimension or some other being. The vast majority of Kamar-Taj magic borrows the power of the Vishanti.
I cannot say much more about this matter. However, if it were me, I would not let my power be controlled by others. I think you understand what I mean," Sebastian said carefully.
Although Sebastian had used magic to shield his conversation with Stephen from being overheard, he still did not speak too explicitly. After all, above him at the boundary between Earth and the Dark Dimension, the Vishanti were fighting Dormammu. He was not entirely sure if they would sense what he was saying down here.
The Dimension Lords of this world did not have the abnormal ability to sense everything simply by having their names called. However, they could still vaguely sense the source of any conspiracy or idea related to them through something like a premonition. Therefore, Sebastian had to be extremely cautious.
Stephen did not continue the conversation immediately. He stood there deep in thought. Just then, Sebastian glanced at his Time-Turner again and said to Stephen, "Strange, I am sorry but time is running out. Now, can you answer me? Are you willing to hand over the Time Stone to me?"
Stephen looked at Sebastian intently. Logically, Sebastian had destroyed the three Sanctums and attracted Dormammu and the Dark Dimension. These were enemies who were his absolute adversaries. However, the words of the Ancient One and Sebastian kept echoing in his mind. He looked up at the clashing light and darkness above in the sky.
Finally, Stephen made his decision.
He formed a hand seal and raised both hands to either side of the Eye of Agamotto on his chest. The artifact originating from Agamotto immediately activated. It revealed the Time Stone glowing with green energy inside.
At that precise moment, Agamotto's voice came from the sky above. It was clearly filled with barely suppressed surprise and anger.
"No! The Time Stone cannot be given to Sebastian Shaw!"
Of the three Vishanti fighting above, Agamotto immediately unleashed a blazing beam of white light downwards. It was aimed directly at Sebastian in an attempt to stop him from taking the Time Stone.
But at that exact moment, Sebastian suddenly pressed a button on his silver Time-Turner. The twelve o'clock mark rapidly extinguished its glow. Sebastian's body rippled like water. The beam of light struck him but passed harmlessly through. His hand, equally shimmering with temporal distortion, retrieved the Time Stone from the Eye. He grasped it firmly and pressed it against the silver Time-Turner's dial. It caused the artifact to emit a blinding light of combined power.
Having obtained the Time Stone, Sebastian immediately pushed Stephen firmly. Stephen instantly transformed into a twisted vortex and vanished from his spot. He reappeared on the streets of New York far away from the battle.
Just then, the ground suddenly trembled violently. Thanos, wreathed in black flames from the Dark Phoenix Authority, burst forth from beneath the earth. Seeing Sebastian apparently unharmed despite being attacked by Agamotto, Thanos did not hesitate for even a moment. He summoned his Double-Edged Sword to his hand and charged to attack.
But before Thanos could get close to Sebastian, Sebastian pressed a button on his Time-Turner. Thanos vanished instantly. He reappeared in a desolate region of the universe. Protected by the power of the Dark Phoenix Authority, Thanos was completely unaffected by the vacuum of space. Sensing his location carefully, he suddenly realized where he was. He was back where Ego had been located. He was back in time to a long time ago.
Sebastian Shaw had used the Time Stone's power to transport him to the point in time when they had first met!
Now that the Time Stone truly belonged to Sebastian, it possessed a power far greater than when it was in Stephen's hands or even the Ancient One's hands.
Sebastian was somewhat surprised by the Time Stone's immense power. However, for him now, the stronger the Time Stone performed, the greater the help it could bring to his plan.
Now that he had successfully obtained the Time Stone, there was no need to stay in Hong Kong any longer. Sebastian could sense that three of the six magic circles he had set up around the world to receive the Infinity Stones had already been filled with their respective Stones. The remaining two magic circles also had Infinity Stones placed nearby by his allies. It was time to head directly to the final location.
The North Pole!
Bang!
Sebastian's body instantly exploded into countless plumes of black smoke through Apparition. He was preparing to leave immediately. But at that precise moment, the will of Hoggoth within the Vishanti suddenly descended upon the area. A faint white light enveloped the surrounding space. It caused Sebastian to revert from his black smoke state back to human form. His Apparition had been blocked and failed.
"They sealed off space? These beings should not be underestimated. Luckily, I still have an Infinity Stone!" Sebastian thought quickly.
The Infinity Stones represented complete Authority over their respective domains. Naturally, no one could seal their power.
With a gentle press of the silver Time-Turner in his hand, Sebastian's body immediately broke free of the spatial seal. He appeared on the sea outside Hong Kong. He returned to his previous location but at a previous point in time before the seal had been placed.
The Time Stone's power was immense beyond measure. However, wielding it also required immense strength and understanding.
So Sebastian used the simplest method available to him. Instead of sending himself to the distant past, he sent himself to the present moment but to a place where he had physically appeared in the recent past. He had used the same method when fighting Thanos moments ago.
Clutching his Time-Turner firmly, Sebastian transformed into a wisp of black smoke once more. He flew straight toward the North Pole with incredible speed.
Under the Vishanti's active suppression of dimensional magic, the portal spell could not be opened successfully. So Sebastian could only rely on Apparition for travel.
At the same time, the Vishanti, who appeared as a brilliant white light while fighting Dormammu above, suddenly split off a beam of that light. It chased after Sebastian with relentless determination. Upon closer inspection, this beam of light vaguely resembled the shape of a massive tiger. It was none other than Hoggoth, one of the Vishanti Trinity!
Turning his head briefly, Sebastian had anticipated this situation.
While the best-case scenario was that the Vishanti would focus entirely on dealing with Dormammu and the Dark Dimension, which Sebastian had deliberately lured to Earth, having one Vishanti member pursue him was still within Sebastian's acceptable range. He was not naive enough to believe that one Dormammu could hold off all three of the Vishanti's members indefinitely.
Sensing Hoggoth's imminent arrival, Sebastian took a deep breath. Above Russian territory, he retrieved the Time Stone from his Time-Turner temporarily. He took out the Darkhold and a vial of Wanda's blood he had prepared beforehand. Without hesitation, he poured the blood onto the Darkhold's ancient pages. He then loudly chanted the incantation to break the dimensional seal and summon Chthon.
At that very moment in the parallel X-Men universe, around the mystical rift sealing Chthon away, numerous magical runes and incantations suddenly appeared out of thin air. They formed a massive and complex magic circle. With Sebastian's summoning, this magic circle, which he had secretly set up long ago, finally activated with full power. It tore a crack in the dimensional seal. Simultaneously, with the blood sacrifice and the spoken incantation, it summoned Chthon. It summoned his true form!
Boom!
Dark red lightning suddenly descended from the sky above Russia. It startled Hoggoth immediately. He sensed the owner of this ancient and terrible power. It was an Elder God born alongside Oshtur herself.
The source of all dark magic!
The ruler of the Chaos Dimension!
Chthon!
Massive crimson eyes appeared in the sky above. They obscured the entire expanse of sky. Dark red lightning flashed continuously. An immense power began to descend upon Earth.
At this moment, Hoggoth could no longer concern himself with dealing with Sebastian. To him, Chthon was an enemy far more terrifying than Dormammu. He absolutely could not allow Chthon to fully arrive on Earth.
A brilliant white light erupted from Hoggoth's form. It instantly illuminated half the sky. Without any hesitation, Hoggoth charged toward Chthon's manifestation. He launched an attack before Chthon could even complete his arrival. Crimson dark magic and crackling lightning clashed directly with the pure white light of order.
The source of black magic and the source of white magic collided head-on.
Rumble...
Seeing Hoggoth abandon pursuing him and turn to deal with Chthon instead, Sebastian heard Chthon's voice suddenly echo from the sky.
"Mage, you have done well! I am finally leaving that damned prison cell! I am finally free... Hmm? Your summoning ritual is not complete. I cannot descend in my true form. Mage, what are you doing? This is... Hoggoth? How did he get here!" Chthon's words trailed off with a hint of genuine surprise.
Sebastian, hearing Chthon's voice, immediately shouted upward, "Lord Chthon, your humble servant has finally obtained the blood of the woman you chose! However, she has been under extremely tight protection. Just now, it was Hoggoth from the Vishanti who discovered my actions. He abandoned his fight against Dormammu with the other two Vishanti members to stop me personally. Therefore, I had to risk summoning you prematurely! Otherwise, if he had captured me, it would have been all over!"
Sebastian's words were not only heard by Chthon. Hoggoth heard them too. Hoggoth suddenly realized that Sebastian Shaw's courage in confronting the Vishanti stemmed from having Chthon as his backer. This made everything make sense. So Sebastian Shaw's true purpose in preparing the Infinity Stones was actually to release Chthon from his prison?
Thinking this through, Hoggoth immediately growled with fury, "Sebastian Shaw, you collected the Infinity Stones just to release Chthon?"
Hearing this accusation, Sebastian himself was stunned for a brief moment. However, he quickly recovered his composure and shouted to Chthon, "Lord Chthon, hold him off! I can immediately use the power of the Infinity Stones to fully release you from your dimensional prison. This is my backup plan! It only takes a little more time!"
Chthon, having signed a soul contract with Sebastian, had no doubts about his servant's loyalty. Hearing Sebastian's desperate words, he immediately agreed to the plan. Without any hesitation, he harnessed all the power he had managed to descend with. He lunged toward Hoggoth with devastating force.
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