Starting as a Class Five Mutant

Kaecilius paused briefly, then smiled and explained, "The Great One has foretold two catastrophic events for Earth. The first was the Battle of New York, which has already happened. I assume you're all familiar with it."

"The second, however, has yet to occur. It's something He calls the 'Dissolution Event.'"

"While I don't know exactly what this Dissolution Event entails, it will undoubtedly be a devastating catastrophe for humanity, with an unimaginable death toll."

"I believe that only by putting our faith in the Great One can we avert this calamity. Only He can save us!"

Hearing Kaecilius' words, Wong, Mordo, and Stephen Strange froze in shock.

Even Maurice showed a flicker of astonishment in his expression.

"The Dissolution Event? What is that?"

"For even a dimensional god to consider it a disaster…"

They didn't believe Kaecilius was lying; there was no reason to. When such an event occurred, the truth would be evident.

If what he said was true, then humanity was indeed facing an unfathomable crisis.

Stephen Strange shook his head, breaking free from these dangerous thoughts.

Kaecilius glanced at the group and smiled.

"You've all witnessed the power I possess," he said.

"By placing your faith in the Great One, you can acquire this same power!"

"The Great One is impartial. As long as you are His followers, He will grant you His strength!"

He gestured toward Pell and the others nearby.

Seeing their leader's gesture, the dozen or so mages immediately showcased their powers.

Although faint, the energy emanating from them was undeniably divine and potent.

Observing this, Strange and the others were visibly shaken.

Even ordinary mages had been granted such power?

Kaecilius continued with a smile. "You know that using magic requires borrowing energy from dimensions."

"That energy doesn't come free. You must eventually pay the price, like a loan where the dimensions are your creditors."

"Losing your sense of taste is just the beginning; the worst cases result in you losing your very soul."

"Is such a cost truly worth using magic?"

Strange and the others faltered, his words hitting close to home.

Kaecilius pressed on, "But my Great One is different. He is great, selfless, and compassionate toward humanity. He doesn't demand anything in return—not even your soul!"

"All He asks for is your faith, and in exchange, He provides limitless divine power!"

Silence fell over the group.

"Just faith?"

Even Mordo, usually steadfast and calm, looked visibly shaken.

Such an arrangement sounded too good to be true—akin to charity.

Even the Vishanti, the Trinity of White Magic from whom Kamar-Taj borrowed power, required a cost, though a smaller one.

Yet here was Kaecilius, claiming that by merely believing in this dimensional god, they could gain power without any price at all?

How could they not be shocked?

Even Strange, who prided himself on his resolve and confidence, felt his mind waver like never before.

"Maybe… I could give it a try?"

"If something feels wrong, I can always back out…"

The idea planted itself firmly in Strange's mind.

Kaecilius spoke again, his words causing even Wong's steadfast heart to tremble.

"The divine power of the Great One can not only make you younger but also allow you to wield forbidden magic effortlessly. You've already seen me summon the Staff of the Living Tribunal without a relic."

"And beyond that, spells cast using the Great One's power become exponentially stronger!"

His words, like a devil's whisper, lingered in their ears.

Strange, Wong, and Mordo knew deep down that Kaecilius was likely telling the truth.

They had seen the changes in his appearance and witnessed the overwhelming power of his magic firsthand.

Even Maurice, already a devout follower of Dormammu, looked incredulous at Kaecilius' claims.

But it was too late for him—he was bound to Dormammu and could not turn back.

The silence stretched on until Strange finally opened his mouth as if to speak.

Wong, realizing Strange's intentions, quickly interjected.

"It's best to report this to the Ancient One before making any decisions!"

Hearing Wong's words, Strange hesitated.

Kaecilius, however, remained calm and unhurried.

He didn't know about Wong and Mordo, but he was confident that Strange would eventually come around.

After all, refusing to believe in the Great One was their loss, not his.

"I'll deal with the zealots at the London Sanctuary," Kaecilius said. "The other two Sanctuaries are up to you."

With that, he turned and left with Pell and the others.

The trio stood in stunned silence for a moment before recalling the other zealots that still needed to be dealt with. Pushing aside their thoughts, they quickly sprang into action.

Meanwhile, Syd, who had been watching the scene from afar, sighed.

"Kaecilius really knows how to talk. He even remembered the Dissolution Event I casually mentioned ages ago…"

Thinking of the Dissolution Event, Syd couldn't help but shake his head.

After all, the so-called Dissolution Event referred to Thanos snapping his fingers.

The snap, which erased half of all life in the universe, was later named the Dissolution Event by S.H.I.E.L.D. and other organizations.

"With four Infinity Stones already in my possession, I really don't see how Thanos could pull off that snap…"

Shaking his head again, Syd chose not to dwell on it further.

His expression turned serious as he raised his head, much like the Ancient One at that moment.

Both of their gazes fixed on the sky above.

Syd could feel it—Earth's protective barrier had completely vanished.

It was clear that Dormammu, the dark overlord of the Dark Dimension, would soon act.

However, that wasn't what truly concerned him.

With the barrier gone, a connection he hadn't noticed before now alerted him to a looming crisis—a threat steadily approaching.

Finally, Syd remembered what he had overlooked.

"The Old Gods…"

(End of Chapter)

[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! For Only $5!!][[email protected]/zaelum]

[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]

[Thank You For Your Support!]