"How much memory will Atum lose?" Gaea hesitated before asking.
She wanted to reconfirm the side effects of Atum receiving treatment from Lucas.
Lucas pondered for a moment, then, after organizing his thoughts, he explained, "The countless foreign energies within Atum are rooted in his body, soul, and mind, almost becoming a part of him. Stripping away these energies will inevitably cause damage to his body, soul, and mind."
"This kind of damage, especially to the soul and mind, can easily lead to him losing part of his memory and changes in his temperament. But this is not without a solution."
Lucas pointed at Gaea. "Gaea, your life energy has the effect of repair and recuperation, which can greatly help Atum alleviate the damage to his body and soul."
"What about the mind?" Gaea pressed.
After studying with the Ancient One for the past few days, Gaea understood that compared to the soul, the mind is a more fundamental existence of life.
"To repair damage to the mind, the power of the mind must be used. I can help Atum recover from injuries to his mind, and even his soul and body."
"But once Atum's mind opens up to me..."
"Gaea, do you understand what this means?"
"It means I can take the opportunity to brainwash him and completely control Atum's thoughts." Lucas answered his own question.
He was quite frank.
Gaea sensed Lucas's sincerity and understood his concerns—avoiding suspicion.
Lucas was doing this to avoid any impropriety.
"Sorcerer Lucas, I trust you."
Gaea only hesitated for a moment before nodding affirmatively and adding, "And I will persuade Atum."
"Alright then, as you wish, Gaea."
Lucas shrugged and spread his hands in one fluid motion, looking indifferent.
Then Lucas stood up, looked at Gaea, and asked earnestly, "Gaea, can you introduce me to the Creator?"
Gaea asked, "Sorcerer Lucas, you want to see the Creator?"
Lucas nodded.
"Why?" Gaea continued.
"I want to end Ragnarok. To end this tragic cycle of birth and death, which spans countless Universes and controls countless gods and giants." Lucas spoke righteously.
His most direct goal, naturally, was the energy of Ragnarok from countless Universes. But everything needs a just cause.
Moreover, Lucas loved energy, but he always acquired it by proper means. He never took energy that came out of other people's mouths.
Gaea was unaware of Lucas's subtle thoughts. At this moment, hearing Lucas's bold words, she was momentarily stunned, and also somewhat troubled.
After learning this news, she had deliberately avoided it.
The Creator used the energy of Ragnarok to heal the fallen Elder Gods survivors of the God-Eater War.
And she was also an Elder God.
But at the same time, she was also the Creator of the Asgardian pantheon, the Mother of All Gods.
"Sorcerer Lucas, what do you plan to do?" Gaea asked evasively.
She glanced at Lucas, feeling that the gloom covering his face at this moment was somewhat terrifying.
Both Lucas and the Creator were terrifying existences whose combat power exceeded her comprehension. A conflict between such people would likely affect countless Universes.
Gaea said with worry, "Sorcerer Lucas, you won't..."
"I will talk to him first. If his purpose is to heal the fallen Elder Gods, then perhaps we can reach a consensus." Lucas still maintained a righteous expression.
This was also his true feeling.
Gaea believed Lucas again.
At this moment, the holy light on Lucas's body dispelled the shadow on his face. Gaea saw clearly that the previous gloom on Lucas's face was merely due to being in the Shadow Dimension, where there was insufficient light.
Only then did she realize that Lucas was still the Lucas she knew. Aside from being a bit mischievous, his moral standards were good, and his character was excellent.
Gaea nodded heavily. "Okay, Sorcerer Lucas. I will summon the Creator for you."
"However, the Creator's whereabouts are uncertain, and I don't know when he will respond."
At this moment, she was also working to end Ragnarok and liberate the countless Asgardian gods and giants of the Multiverse.
Lucas couldn't help but grasp Gaea's hand.
He had been busy, not knowing for how long. Finally, he made some progress.
Hundreds of thousands of Universe clusters, each cluster with tens of billions of Universes.
How much energy would that be?
"Sorcerer Lucas?"
"Sorcerer Lucas?"
"Sorcerer Lucas?"
Gaea called out three times in a row, finding that Lucas did not respond.
Helpless, she just let Lucas hold her hand.
Neith, seeing that Gaea hadn't returned for a long time, came over herself.
She saw this scene and asked in confusion, "Mother, Lucas, what are you doing?"
"Nothing."
Gaea tried to pull her hand away, but found she still couldn't.
She could only turn sideways, look at Neith, and say, "Neith, come with me. I will find a better way to help you remove the foreign energies from your body."
Neith replied, "But the Creator won't allow us to leave. If I leave, Kros and the others will be punished."
After Gaea changed the subject, she no longer paid attention to Gaea and Lucas's strange posture.
Gaea frowned, and some incomprehension and dissatisfaction with the Creator arose in her heart. She now had another reason to meet the Creator.
Gaea paused, then coaxed Neith, "Then Neith, you wait here a little longer. When I meet the Creator, I will ask him to allow you all to leave, okay?"
"Okay." Neith smiled sweetly, her face beaming with joy.
Even in the Shadow Dimension, Gaea saw the light in her eyes. That light of anticipation transcended the black and white colors of the Shadow Dimension.
Poor child.
Gaea emotionally hugged Neith, stroking her head.
Lucas watched from the side as if nothing had happened. He had just come back to his senses and quietly released Gaea's hand.
After whispering to Neith for a while, Gaea let go of Neith. Neith's armor was a bit painful against her.
She looked at Lucas, urging somewhat, "Sorcerer Lucas, let's return to Earth-616. Only there can I summon the Creator."
"Okay." Lucas nodded.
Lucas first bid farewell to Neith, but Neith sulkily turned away, ignoring Lucas.
Lucas smiled helplessly.
He then called the Ancient One over.
The next instant, a flash of silver light appeared, adding a touch of color to this shadow world that was only black and white.
A moment later, the silver light faded, and Lucas, Gaea, and the Ancient One disappeared.
Leaving Neith alone.
She turned around and stared blankly at where the dazzling silver light had finally vanished, her gaze lingering for a long time.
— — —
Earth-616, Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum lounge area.
"Thank you, sorcerer Madelyne."
A small monk, less than a meter tall, with a large, round, bald head, spoke.
This small monk was Ikor's disciple, the Apprentice Watcher.
The Apprentice Watcher took the tea and snacks Madelyne had brought him for what felt like the umpteenth time, and began to eat with grunts and snorts.
"Are you just going to stand there? Won't you sit down?" Madelyne asked curiously.
She had been observing the Apprentice Watcher for several days and had never seen the Apprentice Watcher sit or lie down.
The Apprentice Watcher paused, seemingly deep in thought.
A moment later, he replied, "I won't sit. I always stand."
Madelyne looked at the Apprentice Watcher strangely, a hint of pity flashing in her eyes.
Which temple was this, that its requirements for a young monk were so strict?
Kamar-Taj was much better.
"I'm going back to rest now, little one. If you need anything, just find the night watchman…" Madelyne's words trailed off mid-sentence.
She noticed that the Apprentice Watcher didn't seem to be listening to her, but was looking in a certain direction.
Madelyne was a little displeased. She frowned and followed the Apprentice Watcher's gaze.
Pure and sacred silver light receded, and three figures slowly emerged.
It was Lucas and the two others, who had rushed back from the Shadow Dimension.
"Sorcerer Lucas."
"Apprentice Watcher."
When Lucas saw the Apprentice Watcher, he knew that the Apprentice Watcher had come to see him. It was probably for the great gift Ikor had spoken of.
Lucas mumbled as he walked towards the Apprentice Watcher, "Why is it that every time I leave for a little while, I come back to find someone waiting right on time to see me?"
He asked curiously, "Apprentice Watcher, do you have a way to track my movements?"
A black line flashed across the Apprentice Watcher's forehead.
He wanted to say, isn't there a possibility that he had already been waiting here for several days?
He had gone to see Lucas as soon as he learned that Lucas had "returned" a while ago. But he found an empty space and was told that Lucas, Ancient One, and Gaea had left in a hurry.
He waited for several more hours before Lucas returned.
The Apprentice Watcher grumbled inwardly, but his face remained serious as he said, "No. Watchers have no way to track your movements, Sorcerer Lucas. If you stay in one place for a long time without concealment, we can know."
Lucas nodded reluctantly.
There were countless coincidences in this world, and perhaps the Apprentice Watcher finding him at this precise moment was one of them.
Lucas turned back and said to Gaea, "Gaea, I still have some things to deal with here. Besides, it's already late. How about we start removing the exotic energy from Atum tomorrow?"
Gaea nodded. "That's fine. I'll bring Atum over tomorrow. I'll leave Atum's matter to you, Sorcerer Lucas."
"And I'll leave the Creator's matter to you, Gaea."
Lucas and Gaea's gazes met.
He noticed the solemnity in Gaea's eyes.
Lucas smiled, saying nothing more.
In his expectation, he and the Creator had common interests, and there was a high probability of reaching cooperation to resolve Ragnarok without bloodshed.
But there was also a small probability that the two would engage in a major battle.
For example, if the Creator had other uses for Ragnarok's energy and refused to give it up.
Gaea nodded and turned to walk downstairs.
Lucas watched her leave.
He saw Gaea dissipate as she walked. She scattered into a ball of green light and merged into the Earth.
The Apprentice Watcher also witnessed this scene. He waited a moment longer, and when Lucas came back to his senses, he said unhurriedly, "Sorcerer Lucas, I have brought my teacher's gift."
"Oh?!"
Lucas exclaimed, asking with interest, "What gift did Ikor prepare for me?"
"I don't know." The Apprentice Watcher shook his head.
(End of Chapter)
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