"The look on your face tells me you've thought of something very bad." The Ancient One remained remarkably composed.
She didn't see any problem with her approach. More importantly, as long as it worked, that was enough.
Adam was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "I can't help but suspect that one day in the future, every notable being across the entire multiverse will be your creditor."
"Not bad. That's an interesting future. If it really comes to that, it would conversely prove that my own strength has reached an extremely high level. Otherwise, so many powerful beings wouldn't be willing to lend me their power."
The Ancient One studied Adam. "If one day you become a powerhouse in this universe, I would also be honored to borrow some power from you."
Adam had never expected this. He had imagined many possibilities... for example, that this universe's Ancient One was actually the male version, extraordinarily powerful and favored by cosmic creation gods like Eternity.
He could even accept massive personality changes, like being extremely difficult to deal with. If the Ancient One had tried to kill him on sight, Adam had mentally prepared for that scenario and meticulously planned countermeasures and multiple self-preservation strategies specifically for it.
The result? It wasn't the worst scenario he had imagined, but there were still plenty of problems.
"I suddenly find that strange future very interesting. If it really happens one day, you might be the safest person in the multiverse... in a sense."
Everywhere would be filled with ruthless creditors. Every multiversal entity, without exception, would want to kill the Ancient One more than anyone else, yet none would actually want her dead.
But if it really reached that point, the Ancient One would have drawn power from so many powerful beings that her own accumulated strength would have reached an extraordinarily high level. She might even stand at a level above single-universe entities.
She might even achieve single-universe omnipotence. As for becoming a multiversal entity, Adam thought about it and concluded it was completely impossible.
"After dealing with you this time, my instinct tells me I should stay far away from you." Adam said, seriously considering certain possibilities.
"You can't stay far away. Don't forget, the magic system you want to develop still needs my help. If everything goes smoothly, we might see results within a few decades. You can't possibly not live that long, or I'd have to question the lifespan limits of the Xenomorph genes."
"Xenomorphs aren't omnipotent, but they definitely won't have problems with lifespan. However, I suspect you won't live a few decades."
The Ancient One lowered her head in thought. "My body may die, but my soul will be fine."
"Great. Then I can now confirm one thing: when you lose your body and achieve physical 'death,' you'll probably only be able to shoulder half of your original debts."
Kaecilius had suffered from numerous diseases throughout his body. Even the Strange version of the Sorcerer Supreme, relying on a large group of ascetic monks to share the cost, had issues like stomach perforations and difficulty sleeping.
So the question arose: if the Ancient One abandoned even her body and continued repaying debts in a soul-only state, how long could she last?
Or rather, how long would those powerful beings who occasionally glanced down at this universe from higher dimensions tolerate her playing tricks on them once they noticed something was very wrong with the Ancient One?
After all, even now the Ancient One was already struggling to repay her magic debts.
"I said, there are always more solutions than problems." The Ancient One's face showed no anxiety whatsoever. This Sorcerer Supreme had planned meticulously for hundreds of years and was already prepared in every aspect.
"After this conversation with you, I finally understand why Dormammu keeps targeting you. Swallowing Earth is one reason. Wanting to vent his anger and reclaim his dignity as a cosmic demon lord is another."
Adam shook his head and immediately summoned even more Xenomorphs, fully prepared. He needed to accelerate his magic learning as much as possible.
In an instant, golden portals appeared throughout the Weyland skyscraper.
Some ordinary people who had come to conduct business immediately stopped in their tracks, staring in confusion at these things that had appeared out of nowhere.
"What is this? Some kind of trick?"
"Don't be ridiculous, idiot! Even if it is a trick, how could it appear inside the Weyland skyscraper? Weyland Corporation doesn't run a circus."
"I guess someone is invading the Weyland skyscraper. They must be crazy. Many people have already proven with their lives that this method doesn't work."
They were soon stunned as they watched large numbers of Xenomorphs line up in orderly formation and efficiently charge into the golden circles.
As the circles closed, the Xenomorphs vanished one after another.
At this point, even the densest person suddenly realized what these circles were for.
"Spatial teleportation? Magic really exists in this world?"
"This must be some superhuman's ability... and spatial teleportation at that. I don't remember any mutant who can transport people through space this way. Even Nightcrawler couldn't do it to this degree."
The crowd grew restless. They quickly pulled out their phones and hurriedly reported the situation to their respective superiors.
Before long, the entire world knew that Kamar-Taj had entered into cooperation with Adam. What form that cooperation took, however, was still unknown.
Even so, that was enough. It was intriguing information... especially for someone like Fury.
"Why would the Sorcerer Supreme get involved with Adam? This isn't funny at all."
Fury let out a deep sigh. He felt his job was far too difficult. Everything had been going so smoothly... why had the situation turned into this mess in just a few short months? Everything was starting to slip from his control.
Coulson was dead. Fury had no choice but to heavily promote Hill, but Hill was ultimately not Coulson. She lacked Coulson's comprehensive planning ability.
"The Mother Mold platform has successfully crossed Venus's orbit and is heading toward the sun." Hill said excitedly as she reviewed data on the virtual screen.
"Well done, Hill. With this, we have a crucial weapon in our hands." A trace of hope appeared in Fury's eyes.
The Mother Mold Project was the super-enhanced version of the Sentinels program. Everyone knew that relying on Sentinels alone would make it very difficult to exterminate all the world's mutants.
Even if the robots achieved the ultimate plan... replicating a mutant's X-gene so that once one robot copied it, all the others could instantly receive the data transmission and gain the related abilities.
But even then, they would still be no match for the mutants led by Magneto and Professor X.
Magneto could crush all metal creations and use his near-omnipotent magnetism to erase all machines.
Professor X might not be able to deal with the robots directly, but he could kill the people controlling them and order others to rewrite the Sentinels' control codes.
Of course, these two were no longer the only unstable factors. Fury had a feeling that a new powerful force was rising at lightspeed. It might soon become an even bigger problem than the mutants. That guy was manually creating and expanding an entirely new terrifying race.
"First Asgard, now Kamar-Taj? Even the Sorcerer Supreme thinks highly of Adam, even though he's a disruptor of modern society's order?"
Fury couldn't understand it. If the Ancient One chose Adam, she would be blind. Adam could very well turn the entire world's population into Xenomorphs.
Adam looked up at the sky, also unable to understand the scene before him.
"In your previous clashes, was Dormammu always this ostentatious? Acting so openly like this? I'm genuinely worried he'll be surrounded and attacked by a large group of world-tree skyfathers in the next second."
"That's normal. Although Dormammu has a cunning side, he is more often extremely arrogant and conceited." The Ancient One said.
Adam nodded slightly. "But I like his way of greeting. He doesn't play any tricks. However, no matter the outcome of this battle, this world will be changed beyond recognition, set on a different trajectory. I don't think you saw this in any of your countless futures."
Even though the Ancient One before him had an unconventional style... there probably weren't many like her across the multiverse, bold enough to play debt schemes with a large group of multiversal entities.
But Adam believed that at least this Ancient One should share the same core trait as most other Ancient Ones: a stubborn commitment to protecting Earth.
"After this battle, Kamar-Taj's existence will be completely exposed to the world. Even ordinary people will go crazy searching for evidence of your existence. It seems the secret way you've been protecting Earth in the past will have to change to another method starting today." Adam said.
"There might be another possibility... that we all die here today, and there will be no future to consider, let alone how to face a post-battle Earth."
"That's true."
"After the battle begins, you will assist me."
The Ancient One raised her hand, and two floating cloaks flew over... one red, one blue.
"The red cloak of levitation can envelop the entire solar system. The blue one can protect Earth. You can choose one."
"Can't I have both?" Adam was very interested in these two cloaks.
Under the terrifying pressure, the Ancient One simply looked calmly at Adam.
Adam smiled slightly and immediately summoned Reynolds.
Reynolds wanted the red cloak, but the red cloak clearly didn't like him. Reynolds didn't care. He grabbed the escaping red cloak and forcibly draped it over his shoulders, tying it around his neck.
"I've been working on my own armor lately and felt like something was missing. Now it's complete."
Reynolds extended his thick arm and held the red cloak tightly behind him, refusing to let it escape. He bared his teeth in a grin.
"But I still need to confirm one thing." Reynolds looked up at the sky with a fearful expression. "Boss, you're not really going to make me fight that guy, are you?"
"Don't worry. You're only providing support. Follow the Sorcerer Supreme. My will will be with you as well."
Reynolds felt slightly more at ease. Because whenever Adam was certain of something, it always calmed him down.
Besides, there was also the Sorcerer Supreme... who was supposedly Earth's strongest... standing guard.
Reynolds felt the strength of the cloak of levitation and immediately turned his gaze toward the Ancient One, who was wearing the blue one.
"Don't go, Reynolds. She's not an ordinary opponent. You'll get killed."
"But you said I'm stronger than anyone."
"Yes, I did. But she's not human."
Adam dissuaded the eager Reynolds. Despite the Ancient One's peaceful demeanor, it was entirely based on her supreme confidence in her own strength.
Because she knew she was powerful enough, she displayed a polite indifference toward external matters.
But if Reynolds truly wanted to challenge the Ancient One, that would be another story.
"Magic arrays are also fully activated, and my forces are in position. Sorcerer Supreme, what's your battle plan?" Adam asked.
Since the Ancient One would take the lead and have Adam provide support, there was surely a precise tactical plan.
The Ancient One's expression was gentle. "There is no such thing. You only need to follow me and charge. It would be best if you use the weapon you prepared for this occasion. Otherwise, there might not be an 'after.' Also, let me remind you again... based on my understanding of Dormammu, the target of his visit this time might not be me. It might not even be Earth."
Adam's gaze sharpened as he pondered. He recalled Kaecilius's obsession with him.
"Hm, I understand. I thought I was just here to provide support, but I didn't expect to accidentally become a key figure directly affecting Earth's safety… We can't let Dormammu succeed. I need to use several of the one-time contingency plans I prepared."
Adam looked up at the crack that had expanded to its limit, where Dormammu's massive eye had emerged.
"Reynolds, remember what I told you? You are strong, with extraordinary potential. Now is the time to fully unlock that potential... as a Xenomorph."
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