Lucas drew a circle with his finger, and golden sparks flickered.
Moments later, a portal opened.
Looking at the person on the other side of the portal, Lucas said, "Strange, help me check if anyone on Earth-616 has been specifically collecting information about me recently."
On the other side of the portal was Strange of Earth-616, who nodded without hesitation and replied, "Okay, Sorcerer Lucas."
"Thank you." Lucas said, then waved his hand, and the portal closed and opened again.
"Gaea, help me check if anyone on Earth-616 has been specifically collecting information about me recently."
Gaea nodded. "Okay, Sorcerer Lucas."
Closing the portal, Lucas saw that Wong, Mordo, and Strange were somewhat stunned.
He knew his previous actions were a bit odd, so he explained, "The Galactus incident was aimed at me, and the other party learned of my existence on Earth-616, so I asked some friends on Earth-616 to help me investigate."
"As a Sorcerer Supreme, I have a wide circle of friends, which is quite reasonable, isn't it?"
Reasonable, my foot.
Mordo frowned and asked, "Sorcerer Lucas, how did you know?"
Lucas replied solemnly, "I felt it in my heart."
Mordo's lips twitched.
He increasingly suspected that Lucas was deliberately saying this to cover up his mistake of not clearly explaining to Strange the severe consequences that temporal magic might cause. However, Lucas's seemingly earnest act of asking people for help with the investigation made it difficult for him to be certain.
Seeing that Mordo was still somewhat unconvinced, Lucas didn't press the issue and simply moved on.
"Sorcerer Mordo, Wong, this matter ends here. Once there's news from Earth-616, I'll go and catch the mastermind."
"As for Strange..."
Lucas paused, feigning seriousness. "Those who play with time will inevitably be played by time. Even if one masters the laws of time, one must still revere time."
"Respect the rules of time, but don't be bound by them. Mistakes are inevitable during the learning process. If something goes wrong, I'll cover for you."
Hearing two voices simultaneously in his ears and mind, Strange put on an act.
He lowered his head slightly, his voice deep and hoarse. "I understand. I will be more cautious and careful in my future training."
Mordo and Wong remained silent, merely nodding. They could tell at a glance that these master and disciple were acting.
Especially Strange, who was overacting, his expression artificial and slightly exaggerated.
After moving past the incident where Strange accidentally opened a temporal channel connecting two Universes, leading to Galactus, the atmosphere in the tearoom immediately relaxed.
Lucas refilled their tea and brought out some snacks and treats, sharing this tranquil afternoon tea time.
During this time, Mordo asked, "Strange, how did you do it? Such a lengthy incantation, and you actually understood it."
Strange shrugged, "I just have the ability to remember everything I see. I imitated the feeling I had when reading the book, but I don't know why some errors occurred."
"Magic isn't something you can just do by following a book, even this strange book." Mordo said, pointing to Lucas divine book beside Strange.
He praised, "Even so, you are still the most talented person I have ever seen. Although there were errors, in a way, it was the success of another magic."
The most talented person?
Upon hearing this, Strange glanced at Lucas, the meaning unspoken.
"Lucas..."
Mordo sighed, "Strange, do you believe someone can learn magic just by looking at it once?"
"I believe." Strange nodded.
"I was like that when I was studying before. I could understand and learn any knowledge just by looking at it once."
Mordo nodded, then asked, "But what if one doesn't know the incantation, doesn't know the gestures, and doesn't even know any magic knowledge at all? In that case, Strange, could you still do it?"
"How is that possible?" Strange asked, his face full of disbelief.
"Your teacher did." Wong suddenly interjected, "Lucas possesses a talent unlike ordinary people. He can easily see how energy flows and changes, and penetrate the essence of magic."
"When he first arrived at Kamar-Taj, he never even looked at a single book in the library. He just walked around once and practically learned all the magic of Kamar-Taj."
Although Wong and Mordo were praising him, Lucas felt something was off.
As expected, Mordo's next sentence revealed his true intention. "Strange, Lucas is a powerful sorcerer, and not just a sorcerer, but a God."
"But he may not be a good teacher. Strange, do you understand what I mean?"
Strange glanced at Lucas, seeing that he was just silently sipping his tea. "I don't understand."
"No, you do understand." Mordo interrupted Strange, standing up and walking out of the tearoom.
Wong followed closely behind, leaving a remark, "Lucas, Strange is very talented, practically a born sorcerer. Don't hold him back. Let Ancient One teach him instead."
Once Mordo and Wong had walked far enough that they couldn't hear, Lucas put down his teacup. "Strange, do you want to study with the Ancient One?"
Strange shook his head repeatedly. "I don't want to. Teacher, you..."
Lucas interrupted Strange, "No, you do. Prejudice in people's hearts is a great mountain. No matter how hard you try, you can't move it."
"It's true that I can see the principles of magic operation and replicate them at a glance, but my current strength and knowledge are entirely due to hard work and sweat."
"Since I began my training, I have diligently studied day after day, year after year."
With a flick of his hand, Lucas took out two books.
One glowed with a sacred aura, crystal clear.
The other emitted a crimson glow, with black and red intertwined.
Book of Vishanti and Darkhold.
"The Book of Vishanti, authored by the trinity of Vishanti, the God of White Magic, and supplemented by successive Sorcerer Supremes, contains all known white magic and defensive magic in the world."
"The Darkhold, authored by first master of Black Magic on Earth, Chthon, uses special techniques and can be fully understood in any language, containing many powerful black magic."
"Any one of these two books, an ordinary sorcerer would spend their entire life unable to read even one ten-thousandth of it, yet I have long since read them cover to cover, and based on both, I have written the Lucas Divine Book."
"But even so, it still cannot change the prejudice of the two sorcerers."
"Teacher, I really don't want to." Strange said in a low voice.
His teacher's teacher was not his teacher.
Besides, if his teacher were Ancient One instead of Lucas, his relationship with Lucas would change from master and disciple to fellow sorcerers. Strange didn't believe Lucas would still give him divine artifacts and personally written magic manuals.
Powerful and generous, where could he find such a good teacher?
Ancient One? Strange indicated he wasn't familiar.
"No, you do." Lucas reiterated.
Strange was about to argue when a sudden flash of inspiration hit him. "Teacher, I know I was wrong."
Seeing this, Lucas nodded and no longer pressed Strange about where he went wrong.
When someone slanders one's teacher in front of them, even if the teacher doesn't react, the student should proactively debate and defend their teacher. Strange clearly failed to do this just now.
That's why Lucas gave Strange a hint.
But considering that Mordo and Wong were Strange's seniors and not outsiders, and they were also half of Strange's teachers, once Strange realized this, Lucas stopped there.
In a flash, several more days passed.
Before Lucas could receive news from Earth-616 Strange and Gaea, an uninvited guest arrived.
"Who are you?"
In the bookstore's lounge, Lucas looked at the strange middle-aged man in a black bodysuit and holographic helmet and asked.
The man in black grinned. "Creator."
"Creator?"
Lucas's expression was a bit odd. "Whose creator are you?"
This Creator was not the Creator of the Elder Gods, the Second Eternity, whom Lucas knew.
"The Universe, the Creator of the entire Universe." The man in black chuckled darkly.
"A powerful sorcerer, strong enough to rival the embodiment of cosmic entities, you should know about the Multiverse's destruction and reconstruction event not long ago, right?"
Lucas nodded calmly, he had heard Chthon mention this.
It was precisely this destruction and reconstruction of the Multiverse that led to the weakening of many powerful cosmic entity embodiments.
The man in black said with a crazed tone, "I was the one who reshaped the Universe."
Lucas suddenly realized. "Mister Fantastic Reed Richards of 1610 Universe?"
The person who reshaped the Multiverse was Mister Fantastic Reed Richards of 1610 Universe and his son Franklin Richards. Lucas had learned this news from Chthon.
"Forgive me for judging a book by its cover, but compared to the Mister Fantastic I met not long ago, my impression of you is much worse."
Lucas leaned back, sinking into the sofa. "Tell me, Creator, what do you want with me?"
1610 Mister Fantastic was displeased with Lucas's attitude but had no choice but to speak with a serious and heavier tone, "To save the Universe."
"Oh."
1610 Mister Fantastic: "..."
"This Universe, and the entire Multiverse, has reached the brink of life and death."
"Mm."
1610 Mister Fantastic: "..."
"If we don't stop it, everyone will die, whether they are ordinary mortals or high and mighty cosmic beings."
"I know."
1610 Mister Fantastic: "..."
"Sorcerer Lucas, are you sure you know?"
"Call me Sorcerer Supreme, we're not that familiar."
1610 Mister Fantastic: "..."
"Sorcerer Supreme, are you sure you understand the seriousness of this matter?" 1610 Mister Fantastic said almost through gritted teeth.
"I am sure."
"I have a plan."
Lucas rolled his eyes and interrupted 1610 Mister Fantastic, "If you have a plan, then go do it. Why come here to chat with me?"