The dimensional rift was a void of endless darkness.
There was no sky, no ground beneath one's feet. Only countless swirling vortices floated in the emptiness, each one connecting to a different dimension. Together, they formed a strange, almost mesmerizing landscape.
Beautiful, in a terrifying way.
Because every single vortex carried the threat of destruction.
Nolan and Stephen Strange stood just outside the boundary of the real world. Behind them, a massive vortex linked directly to Earth's dimension.
In front of them stood a being so vast it defied comprehension.
Dormammu.
His gaze fell upon the two of them, but it lingered only on Stephen Strange. Nolan barely registered in his eyes.
Strange radiated immense magical power.
Nolan… had magic too, but to Dormammu, it was insignificant. Something he could crush without effort.
"So… the Ancient One is truly dead."
Dormammu's voice echoed through the void.
"And this is all she left behind? Weaklings like you… You must be the new Sorcerer Supreme."
Stephen inhaled deeply.
One hand gripped the Eye of Agamotto at his chest. The other raised his sling ring.
Magic surged from his body, erupting outward like a storm. His presence expanded, his figure seeming to grow larger, more imposing, until even the armies behind Dormammu felt the pressure.
"Dormammu!"
Strange's voice rang with authority.
"This is the domain of the Sorcerer Supreme. What you are doing violates the dimensional accords. Leave now!"
To him, it was a declaration.
To Dormammu, it was laughable.
Like a child trying to stand taller in front of a giant.
"The Ancient One is dead. Do you really think anyone on Earth can stop me?"
Behind him, the dark army stirred, their twisted smiles spreading.
Then
A calm voice cut through the tension.
"I can't just pretend I didn't hear that."
Dormammu turned.
"An insect."
To him, there had only ever been one opponent here. And even that was because of the title Strange carried, not his personal strength.
"Insect?" Nolan smiled faintly. "That's not for you to decide."
He hadn't come here to be dismissed.
Beyond the battlefield, countless other dimensions were watching.
The first step in war was presence.
And Nolan intended to make his known.
Power surged.
"Patronus!"
Unlike other spells, this one was different. It was not merely magic, but the manifestation of will itself. Magic only served as its vessel.
Nolan's magical talent might not rival the greatest sorcerers.
But his will…
Forged across multiple worlds, tempered through countless battles and near-death experiences, it was unbreakable.
Even a master like Voldemort had once failed to damage his Patronus.
That alone spoke volumes.
The moment the Patronus emerged, Dormammu's gaze sharpened.
"Interesting…"
Nolan flicked his sling ring.
A portal opened.
At the same time, Strange did the same.
Two gateways stood side by side.
Within Strange's portal stood an army of sorcerers, already assembled and waiting.
Within Nolan's…
Machines.
An endless legion of silent, unmoving constructs.
From the front line, a strange humanoid machine stepped forward. It lacked grandeur, lacked presence, yet something about it made even Dormammu feel a flicker of unease.
At the same moment, across Earth, the three Sanctums activated.
Magic surged through their network.
A massive formation enveloped the planet, its power flowing into every sorcerer on the battlefield.
Even Nolan felt it.
His strength… had increased by more than half.
No wonder the magical world had endured countless invasions.
Stephen Strange, standing at the core of the formation, experienced an even greater surge. His power skyrocketed, rising beyond any visible limit.
Perhaps this was the confidence behind his plan to stall Dormammu.
But Nolan remained unconvinced.
Too passive.
Across the battlefield, sorcerers from every corner of the world gathered.
From Hogwarts came Dumbledore, Basil, and their allies. From Kamar-Taj, from Kunlun, from hidden orders scattered across continents.
Magic pulsed so intensely that even the dimensional rift trembled.
Dumbledore stepped forward, wand in hand, his expression unusually serious.
"It seems… this will be a true war."
Basil stood beside him, his enchanted ring glowing faintly, while David followed close behind, Merlin's ring shimmering with power.
Though young, David's magic was already formidable.
Behind them, the Hogwarts students gathered.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood together.
"My God… this is a dimensional war?" Ron muttered, staring at the colossal entity before them.
"Worse than the war against Voldemort," Hermione said quietly.
Harry looked at them both, then forward again.
"We don't have a choice. Earth is behind us."
A booming voice interrupted them.
Hagrid laughed, though there was tension beneath it.
"That's right. No turning back now. And you know why they're invading?"
Curiosity spread instantly.
Not just among the students, but the surrounding sorcerers as well.
Hagrid leaned in slightly.
"Because the Sorcerer Supreme is dead. To those things hiding in the dark, there's no better opportunity."
A ripple of unease passed through the crowd.
But Hagrid quickly gestured ahead.
"Too bad for them. Our new Sorcerer Supreme is said to be the most talented in history."
"And we've got a new ally…"
He grinned.
"Hero Nolan."
Eyes turned.
Not toward Strange.
But toward Nolan.
Strange was still unknown to many.
Nolan was not.
The endless army behind him only fueled their confidence.
Soon, both sides completed their formations.
On Earth, ordinary people remained unaware. The brilliance of the Sanctums' magic was invisible to those without power.
Only sorcerers could see the vast formation spanning the globe.
It was not just a shield.
It was a signal.
A call to arms.
Across the world, every sorcerer now understood.
War had come.
Far to the north, in a frozen wasteland, an old mage stood with his apprentice.
"Iver," the old man said, "I've taught you everything I know. You've surpassed me already."
A streak of light cut across the sky.
Then another.
Until a massive hexagram formed above them.
"Master… what is that?" Iver asked.
The old man's expression turned grave.
"A signal."
"A signal for what?"
"For war. A war with no retreat. If we lose… the world falls."
He raised his wand, forming a teleportation circle.
"Iver… from here on, you must walk your own path."
But before he could act, a figure appeared beside him.
The spell vanished.
Moments later, both stood elsewhere.
Iver smiled brightly.
"Master, I may not understand everything, but you said it yourself. There's no retreat. And besides…"
He flexed his arm.
"I'm stronger than you now."
The old man sighed, conflicted.
"Move it, we don't have time!" a voice shouted behind them.
They turned.
A nervous, well-dressed, overweight man clutched a bottle, taking a swig.
"This damned war…"
"You seem afraid," Iver said.
"Of course I am! You're the strange one."
He glanced at the old man.
"No strong lineage, huh?"
The old man only smiled.
The man gestured around.
"Look at their faces."
This time, Iver noticed.
Fear.
Everywhere.
Yet no one turned back.
"I've got a wife. Two kids," the man muttered. "If we don't stand here… it's over."
Silence.
"We won't lose," Iver said.
They stepped through the portal with the others.
And saw it.
That towering presence.
Dormammu.
But then
They saw something else.
A man in armor.
A radiant Patronus standing above him.
"Locke… Nolan… It's Hero Nolan!" Iver whispered.
"Really him!" even the overweight mage exclaimed.
Magic was meant to fight magic.
That was the rule.
And yet
Seeing Nolan standing there, they felt something ignite inside them.
Hope.
Nolan glanced back.
A group of advanced flying armors emerged from his portal.
Tony Stark flew up beside him.
"Damn… so this is a dimensional rift?"
Nolan smiled.
"You almost missed it."
Tony scoffed.
"Not a chance."
Nolan turned slightly.
"Go."
He looked at the silent figure beside him.
"Let's see just how strong he is."
Netero stepped forward.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then
He vanished.
A sonic burst tore through the void.
Boom!