Luca stood utterly stunned, while Loki across from him kept that infuriatingly serene smile.
"Let's verify your identity first," Loki said, raising a finger.
A stream of emerald light shot forth, swirling around Luca in an instant. It enveloped him completely before dissipating as quickly as it had appeared—faster than Luca could even react.
But as his senses returned, he felt it: the strange disconnection that had clung to him for the past two months—the sense of being out of sync with this world—was fading fast.
He was certain this wasn't an illusion. Yet when he looked back at Loki, the god merely waved a hand dismissively.
"Yeah, you know," Loki said, voice light but edged with amusement, "sitting alone in that spot with no one to talk to gets boring."
He tilted his head slightly. "Since someone asked me to, I certainly don't mind giving you another chance to choose. After all, you're here precisely because you knew I existed—and made a mistake."
Luca fell silent again.
Yes. Beyond his usual recklessness and thirst for adventure, the real reason he'd risked so much to appear here was fear—fear that the timeline would unravel and take him with it.
If he'd known earlier that Loki had ascended to the throne and that the so-called Sacred Timeline no longer existed, he might have just stayed home and waited for the Battle of New York to end.
Now that Loki stood before him—confirming the world wouldn't collapse—there didn't seem to be any need to stop him anymore.
But Luca's mind immediately latched onto something else.
"So… can you tell me who asked you to come?"
After all, if someone could mobilize Loki—a being of such power and pride—then that person was just as noteworthy, if not more so.
Loki had even implied beings like Luca weren't uncommon. So what made him worth the attention of someone capable of summoning a crowned god?
In response, Loki offered a strange, knowing smile. With exaggerated flair, he placed a hand over his chest and gave a theatrical bow.
"I've said all I needed to say," he murmured. "The choice is yours now."
He straightened, eyes glinting. "Crisis and opportunity coexist. Thank you for coming into this world."
As his voice faded, his form dissolved into countless pale green specks of light—vanishing like a dream bursting into mist.
The world, once frozen, began to stir again.
Time resumed its flow.
But Luca, still rooted in place, frowned.
"Damn it," he muttered. "I hate these riddle-speaking bastards!"
He barely finished the sentence before his expression froze.
The world had stilled again.
Pedestrians on the street hadn't moved an inch. Not a leaf stirred. Not a breath passed.
Luca's shoulders slumped. "No, no, it's not annoying," he said quickly, voice rising in pitch. "It's not annoying! I was just being cheeky! You can go back now—really, it's fine!"
But the stillness held.
Then—crackle.
A sharp, electric pop sounded behind him.
A woman's voice followed, smooth and calm:
"Has His Majesty already left?"
Luca's heart lurched. He spun around in an instant, slipping into a defensive stance.
However, upon seeing who it was, he instinctively blurted out,
"Gabriel!"
Even the person behind him seemed taken aback.
"…???"
But then Luca noticed the simple yellow monk's robe—and the shimmering golden halo of a portal swirling behind her. His eyes widened. He coughed awkwardly, quickly correcting himself.
"The… Ancient One?"
Yes. Standing before him was none other than Earth's Sorcerer Supreme—the most powerful mystic in existence.
But…
No way. This Ancient One… has hair?!
Despite his best efforts to keep his gaze steady, his eyes flickered toward her short, light-blonde curls.
She noticed. Of course she did.
"Have you seen me in other worlds?" she asked, gently twirling a lock of hair as a knowing smile played on her lips. "You always have to differentiate yourself from your counterparts, don't you?"
Luca swallowed. This version of the Ancient One wasn't just visually different—her demeanor was lighter, almost playful, nothing like the austere, ancient master he'd read about.
If you'd shown up five minutes earlier, I wouldn't have mistaken this world at all.
His eyes drifted past her to the portal hovering behind. Within it, time hung suspended. There, sprawled motionless on the rooftop, was Bruce Banner—no, the Hulk—frozen mid-step, as if pulled straight from the street below his apartment.
Before he could stare too long, the Ancient One cleared her throat lightly, steering his attention back.
"Has His Majesty left?"
Luca snapped his gaze away. Unsure how this world's Ancient One might react to impertinence—or kindness—he chose honesty.
"Lord Loki should've left by now. Do you need to see him?"
To his surprise, she shook her head. "I have no contact with His Majesty's existence. I'm here to see you."
Luca's brow furrowed. No contact? Is he untouchable… or just out of reach? Loki's earlier words echoed in his mind. Something was definitely off.
And now another cosmic heavyweight wanted a word?
He let out a quiet, exasperated breath. Am I really that much of a hot commodity today?
Too tired for games, he cut straight to the point. "What does the Ancient One want with me?"
Please don't tell me Loki pawned off banishing duty to you…
The Ancient One studied his tense expression—his furrowed brow, the wary set of his shoulders—and her lips curled into a faint, amused smile.
"I'm here to make a deal with you."
A chill ran down Luca's spine. That phrase again…
He stayed silent, waiting.
With a slight gesture of her finger, the [Hextech Crystal] Luca had carefully stowed away floated from his pack and hovered between them.
He recognized it instantly—the core component needed to synthesize a full [Hextech Core].
Given who was asking, Luca didn't hesitate. "Ancient One, you're too kind. If you need it, just take it. No deal necessary."
She shook her head, her fingers gently closing around the crystal before placing it back into his palm.
"I don't want the raw material. I want the finished product—after you've completed it yourself. And when you do… I'll give you a reward. One that will deeply satisfy you." Her tone dropped into something almost teasing. "Very satisfying~"
Luca stared at the heavy crystal in his hand, utterly speechless.
…How does she even know what I can do?
He opened his mouth to ask—"Then—"
—but she was already gone.
The portal winked out. Time snapped back into motion. Sound crashed over him like a wave: distant traffic, wind rushing past the rooftop, his own heartbeat pounding in his ears.