"I refuse."
Dormammu coldly rejected Alaric's invitation to fight.
Was this child really so insolent as to use the Lord of the Dark Dimension himself as a sparring partner?
Did he not know what dignity was?
If other demons found out that Dormammu, the great god of darkness, had fought a mortal and a mortal he couldn't even kill, he would never be able to lift his head among them again!
Just the thought that someone might say "Dormammu was mocked by a sorcerer" was enough to enrage him.
"It's just a short fight, it won't take much of your time," Alaric said with a gentle smile, raising his hands in a gesture of peace.
"I'll even give you some energy, then you can go back to your rest."
Dormammu immediately boiled with rage. "I don't need your charity! I could kill you in a second, but I'm not going through that same nightmare again!"
For Dormammu, fighting Alaric was like an endless nightmare. As if you wake up, then fall back asleep, only for it all to repeat again and again, without end.
"No, seriously. I have enough energy," Alaric said calmly, looking him straight in the eyes.
Dormammu looked at him suspiciously. "You do?"
"Of course. I haven't even used up what you gave me last time."
"Then I won't fight you at all."
Dormammu gave up immediately. Why waste energy and nerves?
The truth was, last time he had given him a massive amount of dark energy, enough to last an average sorcerer a lifetime. Even if one couldn't fully harness it, it would be enough to extend their life for centuries.
But what Dormammu didn't know was that Alaric had long since used up that energy. What he was using now was a direct, infinite flow of power from his Eternal Night World.
"So you really won't fight me?"
"I won't!" Dormammu thundered.
"Then I'll kill myself right in front of you!" Alaric theatrically grabbed his chest. "Don't you know? If I die, I'll drag you into the time loop again!"
Dormammu's eyes widened in fury. Dark flames flared across his entire face.
"You insane sorcerer!!"
This child had become his nightmare.
That cursed time magic! Every time he thought he'd gotten rid of him, Alaric would appear again, alive and well!
Dormammu was determined. He had to find a way to break Earth's barrier, destroy Kamar-Taj, and finally capture him!
"Just admit it, are you afraid?" Alaric said arrogantly, lifting his chin.
"Fine!" Dormammu roared. "I'll fight you!"
His voice echoed like thunder throughout the dimension.
"But after the fight, you're leaving! You annoy me the moment I see you!"
Damn it! Why wasn't there any magic that could forbid others from entering the Dark Dimension?!
Alaric only laughed. With teleportation and spatial magic, he could appear anywhere he wanted, even here, in the heart of darkness.
"That's why we hate you, Kamar-Taj sorcerers!" Dormammu growled.
"Interesting," Alaric replied with a smirk. "Because we hate you just as much."
"Hmph!"
At that moment, Alaric unleashed his magic. His body began to expand, covered in layers of dark energy. Soon he stood before Dormammu, tall and mighty, equal in size and strength.
Dormammu stared at his distorted, enlarged face and felt a new wave of anger.
"Die, you bastard!!"
He raised his colossal fist and struck with all his might.
Boom!
Alaric countered the blow, their clash sending tremors through the Dark Dimension.
"Heh… you didn't expect that, did you?" Alaric said with a smile, as sparks of energy whirled between them. "Physical attacks don't work on me! Come on, hit harder!"
Alaric laughed and backhanded him.
Seeing his attack blocked, Dormammu didn't understand what was happening and instinctively raised his hand to counter.
Then he struck back.
"Hm? How has your power become this strong!?"
Dormammu was shocked.
Last time, this brat relied solely on magic to block his attacks. But now? Now he was actually relying on physical strength and could fight him evenly!
This was completely insane!
How could this child have advanced so quickly?
Was he even human anymore?
In Dormammu's mind, not even the Ancient One, the Supreme Sorcerer, dared to compete with him in pure physical power. Such strength could only belong to dimensional lords or other demonic gods.
Human sorcerers, even if they became immensely powerful through magic, still had limited and fragile bodies that couldn't withstand large amounts of energy.
That was why Dormammu had long abandoned his physical body.
When he transformed it into a form of pure, terrifying flame, he gained immense dark power and became the ruler of the Dark Dimension.
But in his eyes, Alaric was still human!
So how was this possible?!
Dormammu was completely baffled.
"You didn't expect this, Dormammu! This is my new magic!"
Alaric laughed, his body glowing with magical energy. After enlarging himself, he felt as if he had opened the door to a new world.
He discovered that now, with a larger physical form, he could channel an even greater flow of magical energy.
His body could now endure a level of power that would have destroyed him before.
As long as he had infinite energy, he was invincible!
And conveniently, Alaric was anything but short on energy.
In his eyes, the attack with which he had previously destroyed an angel now seemed like child's play.
Compared to his current state, he felt that now he could destroy an entire planet with a single strike.
And best of all, his current size could grow even larger!
His body had still not reached the limit of perfection.
"No wonder all those demonic gods transform their bodies into something like this," Alaric said, nodding in understanding. "After gigantification, power really increases drastically."
"New magic? What new magic?" Dormammu was curious.
This child was clearly the Ancient One's disciple, shouldn't he be using the orthodox magic of Kamar-Taj?
Then how was it possible that his magic so closely resembled that used by demonic gods from other dimensions?
Could he actually be a demonic god himself, hiding on Earth!?
How the hell did the Ancient One teach her apprentice to become such a monster?!
Ancient One: It wasn't me! He does it himself!
And indeed, even the Ancient One couldn't fully see through Alaric.
"You want to know? I won't tell you! Come on, take this hit!"
Alaric cut him off and swung fiercely, punching Dormammu right in the face.
At that moment, he felt invincible.
Dormammu was forced to defend himself.
But his hand-to-hand combat was nowhere near Alaric's martial techniques, which he had learned in Kamar-Taj.
He was forced to retreat, taking blow after blow.
Perhaps it was because Dormammu had relied on pure magic for too long and had forgotten how to fight physically.
No matter how many punches he took, the rage inside him only grew.
Because, he was the God of Dark Magic!!
Why was he now trading punches with a mortal!?
"Damn it!"
Dormammu was furious. He felt as if Alaric was toying with him, dragging him into a ridiculous brawl, almost making him forget who he truly was.
"Enough!" he roared. "You've succeeded in awakening my wrath!"
This time, Dormammu had no intention of becoming a pitiful fool again.