Chapter 467: The Ancient One is Weak?
Thor landed hard on his back. Fortunately, his armor absorbed most of the impact, but just as he tried to get up, Peter spun around and fired two strands of webbing.
Thwip!
The stark white webs bound Thor's hands and feet respectively, pinning him to the ground. Knowing Thor well, Peter had specifically webbed Thor's hands into fists, making it impossible for him to even gesture to summon his hammer.
"Cough, cough... I won't let you take the Tesseract." The young Spider-Man gritted his teeth and stepped in to block Peter.
Peter chuckled and shook his head. "That's not up to you."
Thwip—
A web net lunged toward the young Spider-Man, who dodged with a backflip, sticking to a nearby wall. "I have those too!"
With that, the young Spider-Man fired his own web net, except his was crackling with electricity!
The New York Sanctum
Boom!
Professor Hulk landed on the roof of the Sanctum. After a quick scan of his surroundings, he prepared to push his way inside.
"You're five years early. Stephen Strange is currently performing surgery in a hospital twenty blocks away," a gentle voice suddenly spoke from behind him.
Hulk spun around to find a yellow-robed sorcerer lying casually on the roof, sipping a drink.
"You're the Ancient One?" Professor Hulk asked, somewhat uncertain.
The Ancient One set her drink down with a light smile. "I am. But how is it that you know me?"
"A girl named Misty. She's a Sorcerer Supreme too. She told me to find you for this," Professor Hulk said, pointing to the Eye of Agamotto hanging around her neck.
"Misty? Sorcerer Supreme?" Hearing this, the Ancient One understood. The future she had once peered into had been shattered by the existence of Silas Parker.
"Mmhmm~ Even if Misty sent you, I'm afraid I cannot help you." There was no way the Ancient One would simply hand the Time Stone to Professor Hulk.
Hulk smiled. "Sorry, I wasn't really planning on negotiating." He began to slowly approach her.
"If you raise a hand against me, you will regret it," the Ancient One said, her smile remaining fixed.
Hulk brushed it off. "You're probably right. I might regret mugging a lady, but I desperately need that stone, and I'm out of time for talk."
With that, Hulk lunged forward, reaching for the Eye of Agamotto. The Ancient One watched him approach and, without a word, struck him squarely in the chest with her palm.
Bam—
Hulk's massive physical form slumped to the floor, while Bruce Banner's astral form was knocked clean out of his body. He hovered in the air, staring at his transparent self in disbelief.
"Now, do you have time to negotiate?" the Ancient One asked with a smirk, withdrawing her hand.
Below Stark Tower
Bang!
The battle had reached a fever pitch. Other Avengers had arrived, but the features of Peter's nano-suit seemed endless. The Avengers couldn't find a way to take him down and were forced into a desperate stalemate.
"Where the hell did he get this high-tech gear?!" Tony gritted his teeth as Peter sent him flying backward with a strike.
Silas caught Tony mid-air. "You should ask yourself that, Stark. For a genius, your suit looks a bit pathetic compared to his."
Tony couldn't argue. He had always believed his Iron Man armor was at the pinnacle of global technology, only to have a guy show up with tech that looked five or six years ahead of his own.
Watching Tony and the others rush back into the fray, Silas moved toward the Tesseract alone. He caught the eye of the future Peter mid-battle.
When Peter saw Silas's look, his face brightened with joy. He knew Silas had figured something out. Silas hadn't known Peter was from the future at first, but the moment he saw that specific nano-spider suit, everything clicked. This Peter was from the future.
No one could build a nano-suit like that right now unless he was in the wrong Marvel universe. Furthermore, their goal was clearly the Infinity Stones—it was exactly like the plot of Endgame. Silas was only confused about one thing: Why was Peter the one who survived? Shouldn't it have been Stark?
Thwip—
As Silas pondered the future, Peter's web snagged the Tesseract.
"No!" Tony shouted. He tried to move to stop it, but the 2012 Hulk accidentally collided with him.
Crash!
Tony was launched like a bullet, crashing into a nearby building.
Peter seized the opportunity and grabbed the Tesseract. Steve saw that the mission was a success. He looked at the 2012 Captain America and dropped a bombshell: "Bucky is alive."
"What?!" Cap froze, completely losing his focus. Why would this man say Bucky was alive?
Steve used that moment of shock to strike Cap across the head with the Mind Scepter. The 2012 Cap collapsed into unconsciousness, revealing his "America's Ass" as he hit the pavement.
"Go, Steve! Now!" Fearing another complication, Peter hit the button on his belt and vanished. Steve followed suit, disappearing with the Scepter.
"Dammit! They're gone!" Tony cried out, sensing something major was happening.
Silas's expression remained neutral. He only hoped Peter's trip would be successful. He wondered if he himself had survived the Snap.
"Alright, guys, top priority is that thing over our heads," Natasha said, looking up at the portal.
Deep Space
On a throne in the far reaches of the universe, Thanos suddenly opened his eyes. "The stones are gone."
The New York Sanctum
"I'm begging you, just give me the stone." Banner had switched from force to pleading. Misty had lied—the Ancient One was anything but weak!
The Ancient One shook her head. "Impossible. If I give you the Time Stone, our reality will face total annihilation."
"Annihilation?! Please, our world is already destroyed. Thanos took half of everyone!" Banner couldn't understand her refusal.
The Ancient One sighed and reached out, touching Banner's forehead.
"What are you doing?" Banner stammered.
Suddenly, the world shifted. Time accelerated around them, flashing forward to the moment Stephen Strange became Doctor Strange.
"This is—!" Banner's mind reeled with shock. Before him stood a gargantuan entity larger than a planet.
"His name is Dormammu, ruler of the Dark Dimension. He seeks to invade Earth at every moment. He failed because Strange used the Time Stone to bargain with him. If you take the stone away, this world will face true annihilation."
Banner then watched a vision of Dormammu successfully invading. The planet was reduced to ruin, and countless souls wailed in agony.
Boom! A mental shock brought Banner back to the roof.
"Now, which do you fear more: Thanos, or Dormammu?" the Ancient One asked.
"Dormammu..." Banner whispered, still shaken. He had no idea the Sorcerer Supreme's burden was this heavy—guarding the world from entire dimensions.
"You may leave now," the Ancient One said.
Banner looked back at his Hulk body. "But... why did Strange give the stone to Thanos in the first place? If it's something you're meant to guard?"
"Strange?" The Ancient One's face, usually as calm as a still pond, finally showed a flicker of emotion. Hearing that Strange had willingly handed over the stone shattered her composure. "Are you certain it was Strange who gave it up?"
"Yes," Banner nodded.
The Ancient One looked down at the stone on her chest. She performed a ritual over the Eye of Agamotto, and the Time Stone floated out.
"Remember: when you are finished, these stones must be returned to this exact moment in time," she said solemnly.
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