Chapter 22 – The Little Genius of Magic
One week later, inside an underground S.H.I.E.L.D. base.
At the center of a vast laboratory filled with monitors, research instruments, and cold white lights, a transparent blue cube floated in midair. It was firmly restrained and stabilized by two ultra-precise mechanical arms.
This was the Tesseract—an enigmatic artifact that contained the fundamental power of spatial laws, an infinite energy source capable of piercing through dimensions themselves.
Several researchers from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s science division operated computers nearby, allowing advanced instruments to scan and analyze the secrets hidden within the Tesseract.
Nick Fury, Phil Coulson, and Clint Barton stood not far away, silently observing the research with solemn expressions.
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"In the vastness of the universe, humanity is nothing more than a tiny, insignificant species. Only by mastering the power of the Tesseract can we—mankind—gain the ability to survive."
Nick Fury's words were soft, almost like a murmur, yet everyone present could feel the heavy weight of concern behind them.
Coulson and Hawkeye simply stared at the glowing blue cube in silence.
But at that moment, one of the researchers operating the system suddenly shouted in panic.
"The Tesseract's energy output is rising! It's exceeded every maximum value ever recorded!"
Before anyone could respond, a blinding beam of light burst forth from the Tesseract's core.
The luminous surge slammed into the air itself—and like fabric being torn apart, space ruptured. Right before their eyes, a circular portal over two meters in diameter formed.
In the next instant, a figure in an elegant green suit stepped out from the heart of the portal, holding a long scepter tipped with a glowing blue gem.
The God of Mischief had arrived.
Loki.
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Meanwhile, Blake Thorne was lounging casually on the sofa of his luxurious home, idly spinning the Eye of Agamotto in his palm as he sank deep into his thoughts.
One question kept surfacing in his mind.
Why didn't the Ancient One intervene when the Chitauri invaded Earth?
With the Ancient One's power, a single Mirror Dimension would have been enough to trap the entire Chitauri fleet and seal them away with no chance of escape.
So why allow that war to happen at all?
After thinking it through, Blake arrived at only one possible answer.
The arrival of the Chitauri was something that had to happen.
Just like in the original timeline—no matter how twisted and painful the journey was, no matter how Thanos eventually obtained all six Infinity Stones and wiped out half of all life with a snap of his fingers… the story still ended with the forces of justice claiming victory.
Perhaps the Ancient One didn't interfere because he knew that timeline—bitter as it was—would ultimately lead to the right ending.
But if he had forcibly altered what was "meant to happen"…
Would the final outcome still be victory?
Or would it lead to total annihilation instead?
Only those who truly wield authority over the laws of time can see the end from the very beginning.
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Blake slowly rotated the Eye of Agamotto, then glanced at the empty wine glass on the table.
Suddenly, a small idea flashed through his mind like a spark of light.
He raised his hand and stared at the empty glass. Without chanting any complex incantations—only a shift in intent within his thoughts—
A glowing green magic circle appeared around his wrist.
In an instant, the previously empty glass began to fill from the inside out, as if time itself were flowing backward and the wine he had already drunk was returning to the glass.
At the same time, Blake felt a strange sensation within his body. The alcohol that hadn't yet been digested—and even the portion that already had—slowly disappeared from his system.
No. Not disappeared.
Returned.
He let out a slow breath.
"So… this is 'Time Reversal.'"
If time could be reversed, then what about the opposite?
Blake dismissed the green circle and formed a new one—rotating in the opposite direction, its energy flow completely different.
He looked at the wine-filled glass and formed a simple intent in his mind.
The drink is gone.
The moment the thought settled, the wine vanished from the glass without a sound.
"If that was 'Time Reversal,' and this is 'Time Acceleration'… then all that's left is figuring out how to stop time entirely."
Blake pondered the answer.
Then he smiled faintly.
It was simple.
Combine the two.
If Time Reversal and Time Acceleration were activated simultaneously—and brought into perfect balance—wouldn't time come to a complete standstill?
Blake raised both hands, letting out a small laugh like a schoolboy who had just discovered a clever new math trick.
He activated "Time Reversal" in his left hand, and "Time Acceleration" in his right.
And at that very second—
The Earth shook as if it were about to collapse.
The entire United States trembled violently, a thunderous roar echoing as though the planet itself were cracking apart.
Above Blake's mansion, space convulsed and twisted, giving birth to a pitch-black vortex hundreds of meters wide. It dragged in the surrounding air and matter, as though it were devouring the world itself.
The vortex expanded at a terrifying speed. In less than ten seconds, the entirety of New York City was swallowed by the darkness.
Upon closer inspection, this phenomenon was no longer mere wind, nor simple magic—
It was like a black hole.
Buildings, vehicles, trees, soil—everything was pulled in without resistance.
People didn't even have time to scream. They vanished before their minds could process fear.
Calling this "time stop" would be a lie.
This was… the overlap of two time dimensions. A collision between realities.
As the vortex spread further, the entire United States disappeared within minutes.
Heroes, ordinary humans, mutants, soldiers—none of them could resist.
No technology, superpower, or miracle was capable of halting that pull.
And just like that, within five minutes, Earth was completely erased.
Within ten minutes, the solar system was dragged into a horrifying, rotating mass of darkness.
Yet the vortex continued to grow.
The Milky Way. Andromeda. Triangulum. The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. Entire cosmic clusters…
All were mercilessly devoured.
In a single day—just one day—the entire Marvel universe collapsed into one colossal, endlessly spinning black vortex.
At the edge of that vortex, a radiant portal suddenly opened.
The Ancient One finally arrived.
He stared at the boundless cosmic spiral before him.
The Sorcerer Supreme's eyes widened, fear and shock plainly written across his face.
What are you doing, Blake Thorne?!
This isn't Time Stop.
It's not!
This is Time Overlap. Time dimensions that were never meant to intersect… have fused into one.
A phenomenon even the Ancient One could not stop.
The vortex reached toward him.
The Ancient One closed his eyes for a brief moment and whispered softly,
"Is this calamity… or destiny?"
And without resistance, the vortex swallowed the Ancient One just as it had swallowed everything else.
There was no escape. No delay. No heroes left behind.
This catastrophe was the result of an experiment by a small genius—
A sorcerer who was too talented.
Blake Thorne.
A tiny mistake…
…that destroyed the entire Marvel Universe.
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