Senju Haruto gazed at the glowing green gem in the Ancient One's hand—the Infinity Stone that embodied the very laws of time in the Marvel universe.
Her decision caught him off guard, though it wasn't entirely unexpected.
With the strength he possessed now, he was more than capable of taking on the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme. Even Dormammu, who had long coveted Earth, no longer struck fear into him.
The Ancient One had lived on Earth for centuries. If not for her choice to remain here, waiting for Stephen Strange and guiding him onto the path of sorcery, she likely would have left long ago for the Vishanti's dimension.
And more than that… from the moment Haruto had crossed into this world, he'd been playing the Ancient One along. Over and over, his countless encounters had proved his power.
It was enough for her to believe, without the slightest doubt, that he was truly worthy of the Sorcerer Supreme's mantle.
Now, by handing him the Time Stone and entrusting Strange to his care, she was simply following through on that belief.
Seeing how calm and composed Haruto remained, the Ancient One felt at ease.
To her, a true Sorcerer Supreme would never be rattled by something like this.
And Haruto clearly was the genuine article—inside and out.
The Eye of Agamotto, the version known from the movies, floated up from the Ancient One's chest. Its intricate mechanisms unfurled layer by layer. The Time Stone flew into the center, locking into place as the device sealed shut, hiding away its brilliance.
"Now, I officially pass it to you," the Ancient One said, smiling faintly.
It wasn't just the stone she was giving him—it was also the duty of protecting Earth that she had shouldered all these years.
"Mm." Haruto nodded, accepting her request. He took the Eye of Agamotto and placed it over his chest.
It would be a lie to say he felt no desire at all toward such an artifact. The temptation was impossible to deny.
What surprised him was not that he wanted it, but the way in which it had fallen into his hands.
"From here on, Earth will be mine to protect," Haruto said in a low voice, echoing a line he'd once heard in another life.
The Ancient One's heart swelled with relief.
"Then I leave this place, and Strange, to you—the greatest protector of Earth, the Sorcerer Supreme… Senju Haruto."
As she spoke those words, power surged within her. She unleashed a spell vast enough to cover the entire planet, carrying her decision to every corner of the magical world.
Kamar-Taj.
The Hong Kong Sanctum.
The London Sanctum.
The New York Sanctum.
And countless other places where sorcerers lived and practiced.
Wherever her voice reached, it shook people to their core.
On one hand, it was the sheer might of her magic—her ability to project her voice across the whole Earth.
On the other, it was the weight of what she had said.
Those who knew Haruto, who had seen his power firsthand, felt surprise but also a sense of inevitability.
But for the majority of sorcerers, the name meant nothing. A stranger. Someone they had never even heard of.
Even among the sorcerers of the Hong Kong and London Sanctums, many struggled to accept it.
Yet since it was the Ancient One's decree, there was nothing they could do.
Of course… not everyone agreed.
Among the dissenters stood two familiar figures—Mordo and Kaecilius.
"They're making him the Sorcerer Supreme?"
Mordo stood in the central courtyard of Kamar-Taj, stunned.
For a moment he wondered if he'd misheard, or if this was some cruel joke of the Ancient One's.
But the immense magical energy behind her words told him otherwise.
This wasn't a private message—her declaration had gone out to every sorcerer on Earth.
And that was something Mordo could not comprehend.
Yes, Haruto was powerful. His strength eclipsed Mordo's by far. But in his eyes, Haruto was still just a novice. Raw power alone did not make someone fit to be Sorcerer Supreme. He still lacked discipline, refinement, experience.
The Ancient One's decision was nothing short of reckless.
"Incomprehensible. Unacceptable."
Mordo's fists clenched.
He had always believed he was the one most likely to succeed the Ancient One. He had studied tirelessly, trained harder than anyone, preparing for that role.
And now, all of that was stripped away by an outsider who had appeared out of nowhere.
Elsewhere, Kaecilius had been carrying out the Dark Lord's commands, studying the Book of Dark Power, searching for ways to defeat Haruto.
But what he discovered shook him even more.
The Ancient One herself had once drawn on the Dark Dimension's power.
The teacher he had once revered beyond all else—suddenly, his faith was shaken.
It was at that moment her voice filled his mind, carrying the message of Haruto's appointment.
"Senju Haruto…"
"The new Sorcerer Supreme?"
Kaecilius blinked, spinning around in disbelief. The empty room around him offered no comfort.
His blood pressure spiked, his mind went blank.
He could not accept it.
Him? That man?
As Sorcerer Supreme?
What a sick joke!
He hadn't even been at Kamar-Taj that long. Just being named Guardian of the Sanctum had already been absurd enough, not to mention the chaos he'd caused in New York.
That man had dragged magic out into the open, exposing it to the world. Countless ordinary mortals now knew magic existed—an unforgivable act for a sorcerer.
Yet instead of punishment, instead of exile, the Ancient One had rewarded him.
Rewarded him with the highest title of all.
Simply because of his talent?
Kaecilius grit his teeth so hard his jaw ached. Rage boiled within him. He wanted nothing more than to rip Haruto apart, burn his soul with the darkest magic he knew.
But what enraged him most…
If Haruto truly became Sorcerer Supreme, then Kaecilius would be beneath him.
His follower. His subordinate.
That was something Kaecilius could never accept.
"No… no, I refuse. The Ancient One must have gone senile. How could she possibly hand the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme to that man?"
Just as he prepared to confront her, another voice whispered in his ears—the voice of the Dark Lord.
"If Senju Haruto did not exist… who do you think would be chosen as Sorcerer Supreme?"
Kaecilius froze, his heart pounding. The words echoed endlessly in his mind.
If not Haruto… then who?
"Who else but you, Kaecilius?"
The voice dripped with temptation, seeping into his soul.