This God-Tier Magic Talent was an absolute game-changer for Holden.
The Phoenix Force, Chaos Magic, and the Goblin Force were known as three of the oldest, most primal cosmic energies in existence.
Because of their ancient roots, they naturally resonated with one another, making them the absolute best energy sources for cultivating magic.
Possessing even a tiny fragment of one granted unimaginable power.
Now, paired with his heaven-defying comprehension, his progress in the mystic arts would skyrocket.
Equipped with both the Phoenix Force and God-Tier Magic Talent, Holden was basically the ultimate magic vessel.
Even prodigies like Ned Leeds wouldn’t be able to hold a candle to him.
But the most terrifying part was the secondary perk: he didn’t need to siphon power from dimensional demons!
In the Marvel Universe, magic wasn’t just created out of thin air; it was drawn from other dimensions and extra-dimensional entities.
And that power always came with a price.
The sorcerers of Kamar-Taj typically borrowed their magic from the Vishanti.
Because the Vishanti were relatively benevolent, the toll for this ‘White Magic’ was small.
‘Dark Magic’, on the other hand, demanded horrific sacrifices, often costing the caster their very soul.
But Holden?
He didn’t have to pay a single cent!
“Wait a minute…
hold on!” Right in the middle of his celebration, Holden’s smile abruptly vanished.
A glaring issue had just occurred to him.
“Having top-tier magic talent is useless right now!
I don’t have any spellbooks!” It was like being handed a state-of-the-art sniper rifle but having zero ammunition.
Sure, when he was messing around with Wanda earlier, he had easily blocked her Chaos Magic.
But that wasn’t a spell—he had just used the raw, overwhelming weight of the Phoenix Force to brute-force crush her attack.
It was nothing more than basic energy manipulation.
“I need to figure something out,” Holden muttered, sitting cross-legged in his chair as his mind raced.
“If I remember correctly, the Earth’s Sanctum is located right here in New York!” Unless his memory was playing tricks on him, the New York Sanctum Sanctorum was nestled right in the heart of Manhattan.
Following the timeline, Doctor Strange, the future Sorcerer Supreme, would eventually be stationed there!
And more importantly, that Sanctum was bound to have the spellbooks he desperately needed.
The Sanctum Sanctorum was one of the three great magical bases on Earth.
In the Marvel universe, it served as a primary hub for Doctor Strange and his allies to study the mystic arts, research magical artifacts, and protect the world from evil extra-dimensional forces.
Above all, it housed vast reserves of magical knowledge.
“The real problem is figuring out how to get inside…” Holden rubbed the stubble on his chin, deep in thought.
Wait.
Didn’t the Sanctum occasionally open sections of its lobby to the public for guided sightseeing tours?
Even though the Masters of Kamar-Taj isolated themselves from the secular world, they still needed cash to keep the lights on and the plumbing working.
‘Buying a ticket for a guided tour…
maybe that’s my way in.
If I can just get close enough, maybe I can get my hands on those spellbooks.’ Afternoon.
Outside an antique-looking building in Manhattan.
“Everyone, slow down.
Don’t rush, line up, and follow me inside one by one!” A plump man leading the group waved a small red flag.
He flashed a good-natured, round smile as he guided the line of tourists toward the entrance.
He looked like a standard tour guide, but his clothes were incredibly old-fashioned—roughly resembling the robes of an ancient monk.
At first glance, he seemed completely out of place in modern society.
But seeing the wooden plaque by the door that read ‘Welcome to the Magical Library Tour’, it all somehow made sense.
“Wow, they’re so professional!
Even the staff uniforms are super immersive!” a little girl exclaimed, her eyes wide as she tugged on her mother’s hand.
The tourists were marveling at everything around them.
To them, a piece of ancient architecture like this was a rare spectacle in the city.
‘Wong…’ At the very back of the line, Holden, dressed in a casual black tracksuit, observed the plump man leading the way.
He genuinely never expected that the chief librarian of Kamar-Taj would be out here personally moonlighting as a tour guide.
It really made you sigh at the unpredictability of life.
Wong led the crowd into the Sanctum.
An ancient, timeless aura washed over them.
The interior was decorated in a classical European style, complete with a magnificent chandelier hanging from the high ceiling.
Around the library floor, several apprentices in monk robes were quietly sweeping the floors with their heads down.
“Everyone!” Wong stopped and turned to the tourists.
“You may read the books on the first floor, but please be careful not to damage them.
If you break it, you buy it!” ‘They just let ordinary people read magic books?’ Holden looked around in surprise, a bit confused.
But a moment later, he realized exactly why Wong didn’t care.
For starters, even a certified genius like Doctor Strange needed guidance from the Ancient One just to comprehend the basics.
What hope did a bunch of talentless tourists have?
Furthermore, it was obvious that the books left out on the first floor weren’t exactly classified secrets.
Even if an outsider memorized them word for word, it wouldn’t matter.
Otherwise, Wong wouldn’t have just threatened them with a simple fine for property damage.
Most of the people visiting were just fantasy geeks and magic enthusiasts.
Given the green light, the tourists scattered, eagerly pulling spellbooks off the shelves.
However, almost everyone who opened a book simply gave it a quick glance, realized they couldn’t read a single word of the cryptic texts, and shoved it right back.
Following the crowd, Holden stopped in front of a shelf, casually pulling out an ancient tome and flipping it open.
Nearby, Wong stood quietly, watching the tourists.
Seeing their utterly bewildered expressions, he shook his head and let out a helpless sigh.
Those who could actually sense and grasp magic in this world were truly one in a million.
“What’s with that look?
Don’t tell me you actually expected a bunch of kids and nerds to understand ancient texts?” A sudden voice echoed right beside Wong.
The plump sorcerer jumped, the flesh on his cheeks jiggling in surprise.
He turned to see a tall, lean man in his thirties wearing a red cloak, standing silently behind him.
The man had a neatly trimmed goatee and classic, aristocratic British features, exuding a certain elegance in every subtle movement.
“Stephen, can you not creep up on people like that?!” Wong complained, annoyed that he hadn’t even sensed Stephen Strange approaching.
“Just coming to check on things.” Doctor Strange coldly scanned the crowd, a hint of arrogance in his voice.
“Even I couldn’t master this stuff entirely on my own.
What makes you think they can?” His unparalleled talent gave him the right to be arrogant; after all, he was the Ancient One’s most prized pupil.
In his eyes, Wong’s little experiment was a complete waste of time.
Sure, Stephen had progressed at lightning speed when he first started, but that was only because he had a master guiding him.
Without a mentor, even a normal person with a spark of magical talent wouldn’t be able to self-teach.
“I’m just keeping an eye out for potential recruits,” Wong replied, shrugging helplessly.
The chances were astronomically low, but who could say for sure?
“Stop wasting your time.
While you’re at it, go buy me a sandwich.
As for the money…” Stephen patted his empty pockets, pausing before maintaining his deadpan expression, “…just deduct it from whatever you charge these guys for the tour!” “You—” VMMMMM!!!
Before Wong could finish, a harsh, vibrating hum suddenly echoed through the Sanctum.
“Whoa!
Oh my god, what is that?!” “Look!
Magic is actually real!” “Mom, that’s so cool!
I want to learn too!” The tourists browsing the shelves erupted into gasps and cheers.
This was the first time any of them had seen something like this in real life.
“What’s going on?” Stephen frowned, snapping his gaze toward the commotion.
But the moment he saw what was happening, his blue eyes widened in absolute shock.
Brilliant, golden sparks were swirling in the air like shooting stars, tearing open the fabric of space to form a perfectly circular portal.
And standing right in front of this blinding golden gateway was a young man with a completely nonchalant expression.
It was a dimensional portal!
But what made Stephen and Wong’s hearts nearly stop was…
He had opened it barehanded!
He wasn’t wearing a Sling Ring!!!