Entering Kamar-Taj itself was not particularly difficult.
But gaining entry into the library of Kamar-Taj… that was an entirely different matter.
Within that library were not only countless books of arcane knowledge but also tomes containing the very roots of black magic. More importantly, it was here that one of the Infinity Stones, the gem representing the law of "time," was safeguarded.
As Senju Haruto recalled these details, footsteps echoed softly against the spiral staircase. A woman clad in a yellow sorcerer's robe slowly descended.
The moment she appeared, every apprentice sorcerer present straightened, their demeanor turning solemn. Like a tide parting, they moved aside to open her path, bowing deeply with reverence.
As the woman removed her hood, familiar features came into Haruto's view. And with her gender confirmed, he was able to immediately identify the first key piece of information regarding the timeline.
This was the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Because in this universe, the Sorcerer Supreme—known as the Ancient One—was a woman. In the comics, she was depicted instead as a white-bearded old man.
Their gazes locked. Neither Haruto nor the Ancient One spoke first. For beings of their caliber, words were almost unnecessary—mere clutter in the silence between giants.
The Ancient One's eyes narrowed slightly as she released a wave of overwhelming mental force, directing it toward Haruto. She sought to invade his consciousness, to uncover his origins, his intentions, and the extent of his strength.
The apprentices could only stagger backward, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of her spiritual pressure.
Since the day they first learned magic…
Since the moment they first met the Ancient One…
They had never witnessed such an awe-inspiring display of psychic power.
In their eyes, no matter who Haruto was or what powers he possessed, there was no possible way he could withstand the Sorcerer Supreme's mind.
Haruto—or even the pale woman at his side—would surely be crushed to death beneath her spiritual might.
"So this is the price for standing against Kamar-Taj."
"No one can defy the Sorcerer Supreme."
"He's doomed—driven straight into his own grave."
The apprentices' thoughts grew almost hysterical. In their minds, Haruto was already a corpse.
After all, they had never seen their master so serious before. Nor had they ever seen anyone survive her psychic onslaught.
It was no exaggeration to say that the Ancient One's mental force was one of the greatest powers not only on Earth but across the universe.
Even the Dread Lord Dormammu held a measure of fear toward her white magic.
"So strong…"
Even Kaguya, standing silently at Haruto's side, could not help but offer such high praise. If she were forced to fight the Ancient One here and now, she herself wasn't confident in victory.
"Mental strength, is it?" Haruto murmured, his sharp brows drawing together. "As expected of the Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj. That level of psychic force truly deserves its title."
He smirked faintly. "In that case… I suppose I should take this a little more seriously."
With those words, Haruto clasped his hands behind his back and stepped forward, shielding Kaguya behind him.
As he unleashed his own mental strength, starlight suddenly burst forth beneath his feet—like a river of galaxies spilling across the floor. It blazed brilliantly, drowning the entire hall of magic in endless radiance.
The sight made the apprentices reel, their eyes going wide, their pupils dilating, their mouths hanging open in shock as they staggered back.
Not only had this stranger casually identified their master as the Sorcerer Supreme…
He also possessed psychic force on par with hers!
Who was he?
What was his purpose here?
No—his spiritual pressure was not merely equal to the Ancient One's.
In an instant, he stood as her equal, completely halting her intrusion into his mind.
And considering the roles—attacker versus defender—it was clear who held the advantage. The Ancient One had been forced back.
For perhaps the first time, the calm, unshakable Sorcerer Supreme's eyes widened, the faintest flicker of shock betraying her thoughts.
Who was this man?
Why did he wield such terrifying power?
Even with the aid of white magic, she could not pierce his defenses or glimpse his innermost thoughts.
Yes, outwardly he seemed human. But to those of true power, the body was only a vessel.
So what was he really?
A human granted immense power?
An ancient god walking in human form?
A dimensional sovereign that had stepped onto Earth?
Or something else entirely?
As countless possibilities flashed through the Ancient One's mind, her will wavered. A fracture appeared in her concentration, subtle but real—just a sliver of vulnerability.
Almost no one would have noticed it. Not even Kaguya herself might have caught it.
But Haruto did.
Because the woman before him was no ordinary opponent. She was the Sorcerer Supreme. The greatest protector of Earth's dimension.
And yet…
After completing his last sign-in, Haruto's own mental and magical power had risen far beyond even her imagination. Compared to him, the Ancient One's spiritual might was nothing more than a drop of water in an infinite ocean—so small it couldn't even stir a ripple.
And Haruto was not about to let such a detail escape.
A confident smile tugged at his lips as he guided his own psychic force against hers, turning it back upon her. He probed her thoughts, her memories, and the shadows lurking deep within her heart.
The sudden reversal rattled the Ancient One even further.
Like the final snowflake that triggered an avalanche.
Like the last straw that broke the camel's back.
Like the tiny crack that shattered a mighty dam.
The flood of his mental power surged from all directions, vast and unrelenting. In its presence, the Ancient One felt herself reduced to an ant.
Her strength was utterly insufficient to resist him.
Her steps faltered backward, her eyes widening, her confidence wavering. For a fleeting moment, she even felt the dark temptation to draw on black magic to resist him.
And then—
Just as suddenly as it began—the overwhelming storm of psychic power vanished without a trace.
The starlit river beneath Haruto's feet faded away. The apprentices collapsed to the ground around them, unconscious, their bodies unable to endure the clash.
When the Ancient One gathered herself, she realized how disheveled she appeared. Large beads of sweat trickled down her brow. And this… this had been nothing more than a battle of wills.
"Who in the world are you?"
She steadied her footing, barely keeping herself upright.
Haruto's smirk widened as he answered smoothly, "I am a Sorcerer Supreme from another universe."