"Left, did he?"
Malrick felt it the moment Dragon Man departed Earth. The absence of that power was too distinct to miss. He narrowed his eyes, considering what it meant.
Did Dragon Man leave out of fear for his own safety… or was he searching for the Wolf God?
Malrick couldn't sense the Wolf God's presence anywhere on Earth. That raised more questions. Could the Wolf God be hiding in Asgard? Unlikely. Asgard was its own realm, steeped in its own rules, and someone seeking to sharpen their power wouldn't stay there long. No, Malrick reasoned, if the Wolf God wasn't here, then he was somewhere in the vastness of the universe.
Malrick's thoughts were interrupted when the air in front of him shimmered. Space itself bent and warped until a figure stepped through as if peeling away reality like a curtain.
A bald head appeared first, followed by a calm but sharp gaze. The woman smiled slightly as she regarded him.
"The Ancient One?" Malrick's expression shifted. He hadn't sensed her approach at all, which in itself was telling. She was stronger than the last time they'd crossed paths—much stronger.
"You should be able to feel it," she said. Her words weren't direct, but they confirmed his suspicions.
Malrick studied her for a moment before letting out a small sigh. "Your rise in strength is… astonishing. Truly fitting for Earth's oldest guardian."
The Ancient One chuckled softly. "It's frightening when you say things like that. My strength is only average, compared to some."
Her modesty would have sounded convincing to anyone else. But Malrick wasn't anyone else. He knew better. In a remarkably short time, she had ascended to Skyfather-level power, the kind wielded by cosmic beings and gods. Her presence radiated it, calm yet overwhelming.
Malrick tilted his head. "Why are you here, then? You're not planning to make trouble for me, are you?"
Her eyes rolled, amusement flickering across her face. "I don't have the time for that. Whatever noise you've caused—and there has been plenty—I've no interest in chasing grudges. If you recall, we nearly came to blows once before, but I've moved past such… distractions."
She folded her hands neatly, her composure unshaken. "I came to discuss something else with you. A warning, if you like."
Malrick raised a brow. "I'm listening."
Her expression grew more serious. "If you fight in the future, take it off-world. Beyond Earth. This planet cannot endure your battles, and I don't have the energy or desire to patch its wounds every time you clash with someone."
Malrick frowned, her words pressing against a thought he hadn't expected. "What do you mean by that?"
He understood the first part clearly enough. But her last words carried a different weight—almost as if she were disclaiming responsibility.
"You're saying you won't protect Earth anymore?"
The Ancient One met his gaze evenly. "Not exactly. But listen carefully, Malrick. My strength may have reached the Skyfather realm, but it was achieved through force, not patience. To stabilize it, I must retreat. Disappear. When the time comes, I will fake my death."
She let the words hang there, unflinching. "And when I do, Earth will no longer have me as its shield."
Malrick's eyes narrowed. He studied her, but she gave no hint of deception. For once, her truth was plain.
The Ancient One—Earth's greatest sorcerer and its most reliable protector—was preparing to vanish.