"The guardian of New York—their body is still there."
"It's already been taken back to Kamar-Taj," Mordo replied.
"The London Sanctum has been destroyed. Now only the New York Sanctum and the Hong Kong Sanctum remain to protect us from other dimensions. From this moment on, you are the new Guardian of the New York Sanctum, Sorcerer Strange."
With a single sentence, the Ancient One established Strange's new identity. He had officially become a sorcerer—and was appointed as the Guardian of the New York Sanctum. From now on, the Sanctum was essentially his domain.
"No…"
Strange shook his head. "It's Doctor Strange, not 'sorcerer.' I'm not a sorcerer—I'm a doctor. When I became a doctor, I took an oath not to let anyone come to harm. I would do everything I could to save every patient. But now, I've watched someone die right in front of me—murdered. I'm supposed to save lives, not take them."
Strange grew visibly agitated. He had thought he was ready to accept everything, but in the end, he still couldn't bear to see someone die before his eyes. It went completely against his principles. When the Guardian of New York died in front of him, he had been powerless—unable even to save himself from a fatal injury.
The Ancient One smiled faintly. She knew that Strange was becoming more and more like a worthy successor. This respect for life was rare. After all, sorcerers stood above ordinary people in terms of power, and that kind of superiority could easily distort one's mindset. Those with unstable hearts would be consumed by power, becoming indifferent to life—just like Kacilius.
But Strange was different. He still respected life, proving she had not chosen wrong. He was indeed one of the most suitable candidates to inherit the title of Sorcerer Supreme.
"As a doctor, you could only save one life at a time. But now, you can save all lives. This is no longer about individuals—it's about the entire world."
Her tone was earnest as she continued.
"No one has absolute control over death, Strange. Not even the man you once were—Doctor Strange—could truly control it."
"Not even Dormammu? He can grant eternal life."
Strange suddenly asked. After hearing Kacilius's words, doubt had taken root. As someone who had once moved among the elite, Strange understood their desires. Just as Kacilius said, those powerful figures dreamed of immortality. They poured endless resources into medical research, all for the sake of extending their own lives.
"The more humanity fears death, the stronger Dormammu becomes. That is how he exists."
The Ancient One's expression remained calm.
"Then doesn't that mean we're the ones sustaining him? And what about you? How did you do it?"
Strange recalled the missing pages he had glimpsed while using the Eye of Agamotto to reverse time.
"I saw the missing pages… and the ritual."
The Ancient One's eyes narrowed slightly. "Do you know what you're saying, Doctor Strange?"
"Master… what is he talking about?"
Mordo looked between the two, completely confused. He couldn't understand a word of their exchange.
"I'm talking about her lifespan—and the secret behind her longevity."
Strange didn't hold back. From those missing pages, he had already uncovered the Ancient One's secret.
The Ancient One neither spoke nor stopped him. It was as if she already knew what he was going to say. Her expression remained composed.
"She draws power from the Dark Dimension… and uses it to sustain her life."
Strange's words made Mordo scoff.
Impossible. The Ancient One was the Sorcerer Supreme—how could she possibly draw on Dormammu's dark power? She was his natural opposite.
"That's absurd. The Ancient One would never draw on dark energy—that's the greatest enemy of all sorcerers."
Mordo refused to believe it.
"I saw the ritual. I understand everything now. And I know how she does it."
Strange continued. After seeing the ritual, he realized that drawing power from Dormammu wasn't as difficult as one might think—otherwise, Kacilius couldn't have done it with just a few torn pages.
"Kacilius hasn't achieved his goal. He and his followers will return soon. You'll need help—go find Karl. He'll assist you."
The Ancient One did not answer Strange's question. She chose to ignore it—but that silence was, in a way, an admission.
After speaking, she left immediately, leaving Mordo behind.
"How can you say that about the Ancient One? You have no idea how heavy the burden she carries is."
"That's right. And I have no interest in knowing."
Strange replied bluntly.
"You're a coward!"
Mordo shouted.
"Because I don't want to kill people?"
Strange shot back.
"Kacilius and his followers will kill us all—and you'd just stand by? Why not strike first?!"
Mordo was furious. He couldn't stand Strange's hesitation—it looked like fear.
"Strike first? How? Can you find Kacilius right now? Do you know when he'll return—whether he'll destroy this place or go straight to the Hong Kong Sanctum? You make it sound so simple, but in the end, won't it be innocent people who pay the price for your 'decisiveness'?"
Strange could already see it—killing Kacilius would cause massive destruction, inevitably harming ordinary civilians.
"Is there no other way?"
Strange asked.
"There is no other way!"
Mordo answered without hesitation.
"That's only because you lack imagination."
"And you lack the courage to do what's necessary!"
Mordo snapped back immediately.
Just as their argument escalated, a sudden surge of unfamiliar magical energy filled the air. Both of them turned toward the staircase below.
"Kacilius!"
Mordo leapt down first, kicking one zealot away and engaging another in combat.
"Strange, get down here and fight! Or do you want to watch Earth fall to Dormammu?!"
Mordo shouted.
Strange watched as Kacilius raised a glowing sphere above his head and slammed it toward the ground.
The expected explosion never came. Instead, the sphere dispersed upon contact, leaving the ground intact—but the surrounding space began to fracture and warp.
"The Mirror Dimension. Nothing here can affect the real world."
Strange floated down from the second floor, his blue cloak billowing behind him.
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