"So, you're really leaving Earth now?" Ethan asked, his gaze fixed on the Ancient One.
"Everything that needed to be done is almost complete," she replied with a nod.
Just as she was about to open a portal to depart, Ghost Rider—who had just finished using his magic to shield his girlfriend from radiation—suddenly turned and walked toward them.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Something else you need?"
He had assumed that with Mephisto sent back to Hell, Ghost Rider would vanish just as quickly.
Ghost Rider barely glanced at Ethan before turning his burning gaze to the Ancient One. "Supreme Sorcerer... help me."
His rough, gravelly voice carried a weight of desperation.
Then, without hesitation, he dropped to one knee.
The Ancient One studied him with a knowing expression. "You want to break free from Mephisto's control?"
Ghost Rider's skeletal jaw clenched.
Though he had always been Mephisto's most active pawn on Earth, every Ghost Rider before him—both the human hosts and the Spirit of Vengeance itself—had resented their demonic master.
They were bound to him by the power he had bestowed upon them, shackled to his will with no escape.
But now, with Mephisto suffering his first true defeat in ages, his control had weakened.
For the first time, Ghost Rider had slipped beyond his watchful eye.
This was his only chance at freedom.
And if anyone on Earth could sever those chains, it was the Ancient One.
"I understand your plight," she said, her voice calm.
"But my time is short. I cannot be the one to help you."
Ghost Rider's fiery eyes burned brighter, but he remained silent.
"Seek out the new Sorcerer Supreme," she continued.
"He is still young, not yet fully prepared for the burdens of his title, but he carries the knowledge of all of Kamar-Taj. He may be able to aid you."
Ghost Rider let out a dry, hollow chuckle. "Kamar-Taj is no place for me. I may not be a dark sorcerer, but I'm worse—I'm a demon.
If I so much as step through those gates, those sorcerers will be drawing their weapons, yelling 'O Sorcerer Supreme, that banish that demon!"
The Ancient One allowed herself a small, amused smile.
She knew all too well how the mages of Kamar-Taj viewed the forces of Hell.
She then turned to Ethan. "In that case, why don't you take him there?"
Ethan blinked, caught off guard. "Me? Why me? Can't you just open a portal to Kamar-Taj yourself?"
The Ancient One's expression remained unreadable.
"A new Sorcerer Supreme now resides there. If I, presumed dead, suddenly appear through a portal, the surge of magic could cause instability—perhaps even invite new threats. It would make his transition into leadership more difficult."
She then added, almost casually, "Besides, I think you have your own reasons for wanting to visit Kamar-Taj. Something you're searching for."
Ethan smirked. "Yeah, fair enough."
This trip to the West had given him much to think about, especially regarding mutants.
Mephisto had told him that he could ascend beyond an Omega-level mutant—a power akin to a god.
Ethan knew how right he was, knowing the full potential of Vector Control from knowing Accelerator's feats, he could indeed possess a god-like power.
And while Mephisto was infamous for twisting truths, he rarely wasted time on outright lies.
Ethan had spent years honing his power on his own, but there were limits to what he could achieve without guidance.
Even Magneto and Professor X, two of the strongest mutants to ever live, had never broken past a certain threshold.
That alone proved how vital proper training and inheritance were.
Long ago, mutants had their own traditions, their own legacies—but those were lost to time.
Thousands of years had passed since the last piece of that knowledge was severed.
I need to find some information on that guy—the mutant who has reached the furthest limits of being an Omega-level—Apocalypse.
If there's any place that could hold clues to his whereabouts, it would be Kamar-Taj.
The ancient order has preserved some of the most comprehensive records in human history.
"This is for you," said the Ancient One, pulling out a magical badge engraved with the Eye of Agamotto.
"With this, you are officially recognized by the Order, and meeting the new Sorcerer Supreme will be much easier."
Ethan took the badge and examined it briefly before turning his head toward the approaching vehicles.
Headlights pierced through the dim surroundings as several cars rolled in.
It seemed S.H.I.E.L.D. had expedited a delivery of advanced hazmat suits.
"Then I must take my leave," the Ancient One said, stepping forward as she conjured a portal.
Through the swirling golden ring, a dense forest bathed in daylight was visible.
The strange vegetation suggested it was not of Earthly origin.
"Times have changed. The old ways are becoming obsolete. Some things must be let go, and others must adapt.
The new Sorcerer Supreme does not cling to tradition, so if he encounters difficulties, you might be able to assist him," she added cryptically.
With that, she turned and disappeared through the portal, leaving only glowing embers that faded into the night.
"Ethan!" Coulson's voice called out.
Wrapped in a hazmat suit, he stepped out of one of the cars and approached with urgency.
"A bald woman just appeared out of nowhere and rescued Thor. Then the whole town was on fire, lightning was crackling, and—" He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Do you have any idea what the hell just happened?"
Ethan sighed and raised his hands. "One question at a time, please."
Coulson pinched the bridge of his nose before pulling out a data pad.
"Fine. Then tell me what that monstrous thing covering half the sky was. We managed to contain online leaks for now, but plenty of people saw it."
On the screen, a recording played.
It was the moment Mephisto had torn through the dimensional barrier, his battle against Thor and Ethan captured in stunning detail.
"That," Ethan pointed at the screen, "was Mephisto. The actual Lord of Hell. Straight out of myth and legend. Thor, the Ancient One, and I just went toe-to-toe with him."
Coulson stared blankly for a second before muttering, "I step away for one moment, and I miss this much?"
He shook his head again. "Fury's going to love this report. At least I wasn't caught in the radiation."
Ethan's expression shifted slightly. "Wait… this all happened in the Mirror Dimension. How did you guys even see it?"
"Probably because of the projection effect," Johnny Blaze chimed in, arms crossed.
His experience as the Ghost Rider made him more than familiar with supernatural oddities.
"Mephisto's true form is way too powerful. Even when contained in another dimension, his presence still leaves an imprint in reality. People might not see everything clearly, but they feel it."
Coulson turned to Johnny, hesitating. "And… you are?"
"Ghost Rider," Ethan answered for him.
"Wait, what?!" Coulson and May instinctively reached for their weapons.
"Relax," Ethan waved them down. "He's on our side now."
Coulson narrowed his eyes but lowered his gun slightly. "Fine. You can explain everything to Fury when we get back. But for now—"
Ethan yawned and stretched. "For now, I just want to get some damn sleep."
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Word count: 1419
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