In Marvel comics, the Eye of Agamotto is one of the universe's most mysterious artifacts.
It doesn't just pierce illusions and unravel dark magic—it can even reveal the past and glimpse into the future. A formidable relic of immense power.
But in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the artifact's role was rewritten. In the hands of the Ancient One and Doctor Strange, the Eye of Agamotto became nothing more than a vessel for the Time Stone—an Infinity Stone embodying the law of time. In that version, the Eye itself had no divine power of its own.
The situation was similar to how Thanos shattered the Tesseract to obtain the Space Stone in the films, while in the comics the Cosmic Cube and the Space Stone were entirely separate artifacts. The Eye and the Time Stone were no different—two distinct entities that had been merged for cinematic simplicity.
After carefully studying the description of his reward, Senju Haruto realized something:
The Eye of Agamotto he had just obtained through the system's sign-in wasn't the watered-down movie version at all.
No, this was the true relic from the comics—the genuine Eye of Agamotto, capable of piercing illusions, breaking dark curses, and observing both past and future. Not a mere container, but the real artifact.
"Speaking of the Time Stone," Haruto muttered to himself, "that brings me to Thanos… and the Battle of New York."
His mind raced ahead, replaying the future events destined to unfold in this world.
Thanos's invasion.
The arrival of the Mad Titan.
And, of course, the six Infinity Stones—the universal constants, each one embodying the laws of reality itself. Not all of them were on Earth.
The Power Stone, the Soul Stone, the Reality Stone—each scattered beyond Earth's borders. Xandar. The Realm of Death. The Collector's vault. Thanos would gather them easily, facing little resistance.
"There's still some time before Thanos makes his move," Haruto thought. "As long as I strengthen the Fire Country before then, we'll be ready."
Just as he was lost in thought, a voice pulled him back to the present.
"Haruto."
"Hm?"
It was Anna.
"So, you really mean you and Lady Kaguya aren't… lovers?" she asked in disbelief.
Though it had taken a while to explain the concept of romance to Kaguya, Anna had been more shocked when she realized the two weren't actually a couple. After all, no matter where Haruto went, Kaguya was always at his side, walking step for step with him.
"Correct," Haruto nodded calmly. "We're not."
He had never once tried to limit Kaguya's actions. She simply chose to remain at his side of her own will.
Anna's thoughts spun wildly at this revelation, but before she could pry further, a white-bearded old man suddenly blocked their path.
"You there—are you sorcerers of Kamar-Taj?" the elder asked slowly, his words striking directly at Anna's identity.
"Who are you?" Anna exclaimed, her eyes widening as she instinctively scanned him from head to toe.
But Haruto had already fused with the Eye of Agamotto, fully attuned to its powers. His left eye shimmered faintly, its perception shifting as the Eye's abilities allowed him to pierce through the elaborate veil cloaking the old man.
What lay beneath was not frailty but darkness. A shroud of black magic pulsed within him. The disguise was impressive, a high-level illusion—but the Eye of Agamotto revealed it for what it truly was.
If Haruto wasn't mistaken, this man was one of the dimensional invaders hiding within the mortal plane.
Byakugan, Sharingan, even the Rinnegan—none of his dojutsu alone would have been able to detect such sorcery. This was an entirely different system of power. And here, the Eye's superiority became obvious.
With its vision, Haruto noticed something even more disturbing—New York's streets were swarming with dimensional invaders. Some of them clung to pedestrians' faces like parasites, unseen and unfelt by their hosts.
Even if every mage of Kamar-Taj were mobilized, driving out all of them would be no easy feat.
"I am but a traveler," the old man continued smoothly, voice solemn, "and once had dealings with the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj. I've wandered here for some time, searching for the Sanctum Sanctorum… but to no avail. Meeting you now—it's a blessing."
Haruto remained silent, not bothering to expose him.
"What do you mean?" Anna asked, unable to sense the illusion or the darkness beneath it.
The elder spoke gravely: "Days ago, I discovered a dimensional rift in New York. Invaders of the Dark Dimension are pouring through it. Alas, I am powerless to seal the rift, and I cannot defeat the creatures. That is why I sought out Kamar-Taj's mages. Until today, I could not find them… until you appeared."
He clasped his hands together as if thanking the heavens.
"Where is it? Take us there at once!" Anna cried, her urgency clear.
Her purpose in coming to New York was to undergo the Ancient One's trial, but that didn't change who she was—a disciple of Kamar-Taj who had sworn an oath to defend Earth, even at the cost of her life.
At the mention of invaders breaching their world through a rift, she could think of nothing but her duty: stop them, destroy them, and close the rift.
"Please, follow me," the old man said with a slight bow, feigning admiration for Anna's bravery.
And so, Haruto, Kaguya, and Anna followed him, weaving through narrow alleys until they reached a desolate dead end.
Scanning the area, Haruto saw through the illusion. Black magic seals had been carved into the walls, cloaking the place. The old man's true trap.
"Where's the rift? Why can't I sense it?" Anna asked, frowning in confusion.
"Heh… there is no rift," the elder chuckled darkly. "You really are apprentices of Kamar-Taj, aren't you? Didn't they ever warn you… not to trust strangers so easily?"
"Fools."
His voice deepened, losing its frail rasp, and his withered frame swelled with unnatural vitality. In moments, his body towered over them—five meters tall, muscle-bound and wreathed in black miasma.
As his disguise fully unraveled, the walls around them writhed, disgorging monsters of all shapes and sizes.
By the time Anna realized what was happening, they were surrounded.
Cut off.
No way out.
"Damn it!" she gasped, spinning her Sling Ring to conjure an escape portal—only to find her magic bound, sealed tight.
Her eyes went wide with horror.
Their powers had been suppressed.
They were trapped.