Su Yi had barely reapplied his focus to the task of inventorying his spoils from the Tony Stark rescue when the air in the luxurious villa shimmered. The scent of ozone and something ancient, like burning sandalwood, filled the room.
A circle of brilliant, fiery sparks erupted out of thin air, spinning rapidly to form a large, circular portal approximately one meter in diameter. The sight was startlingly beautiful, yet utterly unnerving.
The Ancient One. She's early, Su Yi thought, his internal defenses immediately spiking. His Level 4 Intelligence instantly confirmed the presence of one of the universe's ultimate power players. Rescuing Tony Stark, a nexus event, had indeed drawn the attention of the Sorcerer Supreme, the protector of Earth's mystical timeline.
From the swirling, golden-orange gateway stepped a figure of quiet, absolute authority: the bald, distinguished woman known as the Ancient One.
She regarded Su Yi with eyes that seemed to hold the weight of millennia, her expression unreadable.
"Su Yi," she stated, her voice calm but imbued with undeniable power. "You will accompany me."
"Of course, Ancient One," Su Yi replied without hesitation, using her full, formal title. His calm acceptance, rather than shock or fear, seemed to satisfy her.
She didn't wait for him to process the impossible situation; she simply gestured toward the flickering portal. Su Yi stepped through, his world flipping from a modern New York apartment to an ancient, dusty courtyard.
He was in Kamar-Taj, the sanctuary of the Masters of the Mystic Arts. He looked around, his expression momentarily puzzled. The scene was less magical fortress and more serene, high-altitude monastery—austere and deceptively ordinary.
The Ancient One seemed to intercept the very thought. "There is nothing special about the stone and wood of this place. The power is in the preservation of reality." She conjured a cushion and a small, antique table with a graceful motion of her hand. "Tea?"
"Although my palate is usually reserved for the simpler beverages of my home culture, I cannot possibly refuse the hospitality of the Sorcerer Supreme," Su Yi replied, adopting a posture of respectful deference. He settled onto the cushion, accepting the delicate cup of steaming tea she presented.
The Ancient One sat opposite him, and the pleasantries ceased. Her gaze penetrated him, seeking answers that lay outside the traditional flow of time.
"I have guarded this world for centuries, observing the timelines, preparing for the great threats," the Ancient One began, her eyes distant.
"Days ago, the delicate fabric of our temporal reality began to fray. The future, which was a clear, observable path—leading toward the coming of the great dragon—suddenly became shrouded, uncertain, and unpredictable."
She took a slow sip of her tea. "It was only your sudden, impossible appearance in the Afghan desert, saving Tony Stark ahead of schedule, that provided the clarity. The root of this seismic change is you. You are not a native of this universe, are you?"
Su Yi knew better than to lie. Against a being who could manipulate reality, honesty was the only defense. "The Supreme Mage sees all. You are truly amazing."
He let out a resigned sigh. "That is correct. I do not fully understand the mechanism, but I simply found myself here in this universe. I assure you, Ancient One, I bear absolutely no ill will toward this world. In fact, this is now my home, and I fully intend to defend it from whatever dangers may arise."
The Ancient One was silent for a long moment, evaluating his sincerity. Her ability to read intent confirmed his truthfulness, but the sheer uncertainty he introduced was a grave concern.
"Your physical prowess is immense, and your knowledge of external technology—the symbiotic suit, the teleportation—makes you a powerful asset," she acknowledged.
"However, the very act of your existence has already provoked chaos. Your presence guarantees that more powerful, unexpected enemies will now be drawn to this reality."
Su Yi, sipping his tea with forced tranquility, allowed a sardonic smile to touch his lips. "Ancient One, have you ever encountered the Great Mask?"
He leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying an underlying confidence bordering on arrogance. "A person who dares to borrow power from the Dread Dormammu and then refuses to repay the debt... would such a person be afraid of the minor perturbations of a few villains?"
"No matter how bad the future appears," Su Yi continued, setting down the cup, "the solution is simple: become stronger. Give me five years, and I will defeat Thanos bare-handed. Give me ten, and I will take Dormammu out for a cup of coffee and convince him to vacate the premises."
The Ancient One studied him, her expression softening. She could feel the immense, rapidly expanding potential within him—the power of his "cheat code" that lay hidden from her sight. Su Yi wasn't boasting; he genuinely believed he could reach the power of a god.
Su Yi's arrival would not be a detriment; it would be a redundancy.
"You are correct," she conceded, a hint of relief in her voice. "There is nothing to worry about. With Strange, with the burgeoning heroes like the Avengers, and now with you... this world is far more resilient than I gave it credit for. I believe that even if the future shifts dramatically, you will rise to meet it."
Su Yi finally felt the crushing pressure lift. He was cleared. Now, it was time to gather intelligence.
"Ancient One, since you monitor the timeline, are you familiar with the Time Variance Authority? The organization founded by Kang the Conqueror to guard the so-called 'Sacred Timeline' and prune branches?"
The Ancient One waved her hand, and the simple air before them fractured into a beautiful, multicolored timeline diagram. "I know a little of this Kang you speak of. He is merely a man from a far-off future who became obsessed with temporal travel."
"Due to your appearance, the temporal flow around this nexus point has become impossible for even his crude, chronal devices to fully map. And here, in our universe, protected by the infinite power of the Infinity Stones, his authority is null. He is but an ordinary man playing with forces he cannot comprehend. He would pay a terrible price trying to conquer this reality."
Su Yi felt a wave of profound relief. No TVA hunting me down. The only guardian is the friendly one.
"That's excellent news," Su Yi stated. "Now for a more localized inquiry: Do the Inhumans, Mutants, and Eternals truly exist in this world? And what other powerful figures—like the Scarlet Witch or Doctor Doom—should I be aware of?"
The Ancient One smiled serenely, but the timeline diagram dissolved. "Those are matters of discovery, Su Yi. They are things you may need to explore for yourself, or wait until fate reveals them."
Su Yi feigned disappointment. "Ah, well, I'm not a fan of arduous exploration. I prefer to wait until the opportunity knocks, and then I simply become stronger."
He stood up, signaling the end of the meeting. "Ancient One, if your guidance is complete, I must depart. I have a date with a young lady, Mary Jane, and I need to procure the ingredients for a grand Chinese meal."
"Before you go," the Ancient One interjected, her expression contemplative. "You possess a powerful mind and an exceptional connection to raw power. Have you ever considered learning the Mystic Arts? You possess the foundational talent."
Su Yi recalled her words to Strange—that he was the best of them. He wasn't interested in being the second-best Sorcerer Supreme.
"I appreciate the offer, but I'm afraid I lack the patience for scholarly pursuits," Su Yi admitted. "My mind tends to focus on rapid evolution, not slow, meticulous study. Strange is the one who will master the dimensions; he is the destined successor. I am merely the muscle."
The Ancient One accepted this with a gentle nod. "As you wish. The path is yours to forge."
"Then, Master Gu Yi, until our paths cross again. If ever you require a powerful deterrent for a particularly bothersome entity, you know where to find the Spider Bully."
With a final nod, Su Yi focused his mind, the familiar displacement of space seizing him.
He reappeared instantly in his villa, the faint scent of ozone still lingering. He let out a long, slow breath.
"Phew. That was the Ancient One," he murmured, wiping a bead of sweat from his temple. "Absolutely unfathomable. The sheer pressure was immense."
"Fortunately, she's benevolent and busy. Now, with the universe's magical guard dog appeased, it's time to check the spoils. Let's see what reward saving Tony Stark generated."
The confrontation with the Ancient One is over, and Su Yi is now fully cleared to proceed with his destiny changes.