The Himalayas, Kamar-Taj.
As the place where the Ancient One had been born and raised, Kamar-Taj had originally been nothing more than an ordinary village.
Over the course of five hundred years, however, it had become synonymous with the Masters of the Mystic Arts.
A magical formation personally established by the Ancient One concealed the entire place.
Unless the Ancient One permitted it—or unless one was a sorcerer—ordinary people couldn’t even perceive its existence.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen architecture like this.”
After arriving, Adrian Cross couldn’t help feeling somewhat nostalgic at the familiar Eastern aesthetic surrounding him.
In truth, very few people could resist when faced with the Ancient One’s offer.
A reward from the Sorcerer Supreme was hardly going to be anything ordinary.
And to Adrian Cross, anything extraordinary could basically be exchanged for Points.
Besides, Adrian Cross trusted the Ancient One’s character.
Someone who had protected Earth for five hundred years and was even willing to sacrifice her life for it was worthy of respect.
“Mordo, stand guard outside.
The energy here must not be allowed to leak out.”
“Yes, Sorcerer Supreme.”
Standing before a room, the Ancient One gave instructions to her most trusted disciple.
Adrian Cross immediately recognized the black man as the infamous future villain—Baron Mordo.
Of course, right now, this future villain was still merely a humble disciple who held the Ancient One in the utmost respect.
“Adrian, come inside with me.”
The Ancient One pushed open the door before them, and Adrian Cross followed her inside.
Then he discovered that what she had opened wasn’t the door to a room at all.
It was the door to an entire dimension!
“This place is similar to yours.
It’s an alternate space.”
The Ancient One explained.
Adrian Cross looked at the seemingly endless expanse before him and the strangely distorted ground beneath his feet, then nodded.
“I can tell.”
“Bi-bi!”
At that moment, however, Celebi, which had been perched curiously on Adrian Cross’s shoulder and looking around, suddenly cried out happily.
It even instinctively hugged Adrian Cross’s head and began shaking him back and forth.
Adrian Cross knew perfectly well that this was something Celebi only did when it was particularly excited.
“Ancient One, what exactly do you need my help with?
Just tell me.”
Adrian Cross decided to get straight to the point.
Do old people just love acting mysterious?
What’s with all the suspense?
“It’s quite simple.”
“This is Kamar-Taj’s ‘Mystic Realm,’ an alternate space I created with the aid of the Eye of Agamotto.”
“…”
She might have mentioned it casually, but Adrian Cross certainly couldn’t treat those words casually.
His own alternate dimension had ultimately been created through the manifestation of Palkia’s power.
Adrian Cross himself hadn’t done anything from beginning to end except stand there and watch.
But what the Ancient One had just said was completely different.
From the sound of it…
She could actually create alternate spaces herself!
It seemed the Sorcerer Supreme was considerably more powerful than Adrian Cross had anticipated.
While those thoughts ran through his mind, the Ancient One continued explaining the origins of this place.
“Using the power of the Eye of Agamotto, I slowed the flow of time within this alternate space, allowing apprentices cultivating their minds through magic to practice their spells here.”
“You slowed down time?”
Adrian Cross immediately understood.
So it’s basically the Hyperbolic Time Chamber from Dragon Ball.
“But several decades ago, my most gifted disciple fell into darkness.”
The Ancient One shook her head.
“Before leaving, he used his magic to interfere with the temporal forces within the Mystic Realm, throwing the flow of time here into complete chaos.”
As she spoke, the Ancient One waved a hand and released a stream of magical energy.
The instant it entered the depths of the realm, it twisted strangely before vanishing without a trace.
“The power of time is a mighty force, and the laws of time are among the highest laws in existence.”
“You want Celebi to help you restore this Mystic Realm?”
Adrian Cross naturally understood what she meant.
“Yes.”
The Ancient One didn’t deny it.
“My power alone is insufficient to repair the chaotic flow of time, but Celebi can assist me.”
“Darkness and disaster will soon arrive one after another.
The power of this Mystic Realm will be needed to oppose them.”
Adrian Cross, however, wasn’t particularly concerned about Earth or anything else at that moment.
System, will Celebi be in any danger?
That was the only question he silently asked.
[Reporting to the host: There will be no danger.
The temporal energy in the surrounding area is a form of energy that the Pokémon ‘Celebi’ can absorb and will cause it no harm.]
Receiving the System’s answer, Adrian Cross glanced at Celebi, which was practically bouncing with excitement on his shoulder, and smiled gently.
“Go ahead.”
“Bi-bi!”
Finally receiving Adrian Cross’s permission, Celebi shot away like a child who had finally been allowed outside to play.
It flew directly into the sky of the alternate dimension.
“Bi!”
Adrian Cross could clearly see streams of green energy from the surrounding space slowly being absorbed into its body.
[The host’s Pokémon Celebi has absorbed the special energy ‘Temporal Energy’ and gained 10 Experience Points.]
[The host’s Pokémon Celebi has absorbed the special energy ‘Temporal Energy’ and gained 10 Experience Points.
Celebi has reached Level 5.]
System notifications immediately began sounding one after another.
“Thank you for your assistance, Adrian.”
Watching the scene unfold, the Ancient One expressed her gratitude.
“Next, I will use the Eye of Agamotto to reorganize the flow of time.
While I do so, you’re welcome to explore Kamar-Taj.”
Adrian Cross waved dismissively.
“It’s fine.
I’ll wait here.”
Meanwhile, inwardly, he was thinking—
She’s just adjusting the clock, right?
How long could that possibly take?
“The flow of time within this space is chaotic.
Anyone who does not possess temporal power may become lost within the temporal field…”
“I’ll go take a walk outside.
Call me when you’re done.”
Adrian Cross immediately got to his feet and prepared to leave.
In any case, if anything unusual happened to Celebi, the System would notify him immediately.
If necessary, he could simply recall Celebi into the System Space.
The Ancient One didn’t object to his decision.
With a casual wave of her hand, she opened the exit from the alternate dimension.
After watching Adrian Cross leave, the Ancient One smiled faintly.
“An interesting man.”
“Hopefully…
his arrival can bring change to the future.”
The Sorcerer Supreme murmured softly, her words seemingly carrying a deeper meaning.
Then—
Bzzzz!
With a flash of green light, a strange pendant resembling a closed eye appeared in her hand.
Click!
The center of the pendant suddenly opened, revealing the mysterious green gemstone within.
It was one of the Infinity Stones—
The Time Stone!
And with the appearance of the gemstone, the streams of green temporal energy throughout the entire space began flowing in increasingly orderly patterns around Celebi.