----
When Nolan told her outright she didn't stand a chance against them, Magik didn't argue.
Because it was true.
She'd already sensed the overwhelming magical pressure radiating from him and saw firsthand how Nolan had shattered her minions not just physically, but on a soul level.
Even her trump card, the [Soul Sword], wasn't enough. He was her equal in sorcery and far beyond her in every other way.
Worse still, Mordo was only slightly weaker than her. And Wanda, somewhere below, was tearing through infernal creatures like a vengeful goddess.
Magik wasn't stupid. She had already surpassed Belasco, inherited all the dark magic he could offer including the Soul Sword itself, a spell he never mastered.
But that was the problem.
She had learned everything he knew.
And without new knowledge, without new structures or guidance, she had hit a wall.
Magic wasn't about power it was about understanding.
You couldn't invent spells without a foundation. Just like you couldn't build a nuclear bomb without knowing physics.
If Nolan had refused to let her see her brother… she would have fought to the death. Piotr Colossus was the only family she had left.
But Nolan had offered a middle ground.
So she asked:
"What do you want?"
Nolan's voice was cool. "First—have your forces stand down. Second I need a drop of your blood."
Magik's expression darkened. "Stopping the fight? Fine." She raised a hand, pulsing out an arcane signal. The hellspawn, once locked in combat with Kamar-Taj defenders, retreated.
But the second demand—
"Why do you need my blood?" she asked suspiciously.
Mordo's expression turned stormy. He knew Nolan's fascination with certain magical studies was too unorthodox, too dangerous. And trading with a dark sorcerer?
Unthinkable.
"For research," Nolan replied. "I want to study the spatial mutation that links your soul to your teleportation. I believe it can accelerate my understanding of cross-dimensional movement."
Mordo stepped forward, outraged. "You're the Sorcerer Supreme! You should be discouraging this—"
Nolan cut him off. "Are you Sorcerer Supreme, or am I? Want to contest it? Feel free to challenge Wong."
That shut him up.
Wong's power and authority were on another level. Even in the wake of the Ancient One's death, Mordo knew where he stood.
And Nolan… Nolan was a different kind of Supreme altogether.
'He doesn't follow the old rules,' Mordo thought. 'I'll have to correct his moral compass myself.'
Magik stared at Nolan, evaluating.
"Fine. Bring me my brother. I'll give you what you want."
"Agreed."
Nolan waved his hand, conjuring a golden portal. It shimmered, revealing the skyline of New York City.
"I'll be back shortly."
He stepped through.
The other side of the portal opened into the Malik Estate now swarming with cleanup teams from Oscorp, rapidly neutralizing and repurposing what remained of the once-feared family.
"Boss!" a field agent greeted Nolan, spotting the portal. "Cleanup's progressing as ordered."
"Where's Stark?" Nolan asked.
"He left a few minutes ago."
Nolan sighed. He hadn't memorized the X-Mansion's exact location. Tracking Colossus manually would be a waste of time. Better to go straight to the source.
He rocketed into the sky straight toward Stark Tower.
---
Meanwhile, Tony had just returned to his office, still processing the earlier confrontation.
"Mr. Stark," F.R.I.D.A.Y. chimed in. "We have an incoming. Extremely fast. It's… him."
"Already?" Tony muttered. "Where is he?"
"Just outside the window."
Tony turned—and there was Nolan, calmly floating in the air, arms crossed, staring in.
Tony pressed a button. The reinforced window slid open.
Nolan stepped inside.
"Didn't expect Earth's new 'Superman' to drop in through the skylight," Tony quipped.
Nolan ignored the sarcasm. "Where's the X-Mansion?"
Tony blinked. "Why? Since when do you care about mutants?"
"I found Colossus' sister. She wants to see him."
Tony leaned back, expression shifting. "Why not bring her here?"
"She can't come to Earth. Not yet. She's… tethered to the Hell Dimension. And she's a dark sorcerer."
"…Of course she is." Tony sighed. "This is gonna be a Charles thing."
He walked over to his desk and tapped a few keys. A second later, Nolan felt it—telepathic contact.
Charles Xavier's voice echoed in his mind:
> "Nolan. I've heard. Sending you the coordinates now."
Moments later, a glowing marker appeared in front of Nolan's eyes.
"Got it," Nolan said. "Thanks."
He turned to leave.
"Wait," Tony called out. "I want to talk to you. About the Illuminati."
Nolan glanced back. "We can talk. In a few days. Come find me."
And with that, he launched into the sky—vanishing with a thunderclap.
Tony stood silent, watching the clouds settle.
So he was still willing to talk. That was enough.
If Nolan could be convinced to join the Illuminati… then maybe Earth had a fighting chance in what was coming.
----
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