Anton was unaware that Carol and others were making an overnight trip to inspect the lunar base.
For him, the important thing now was to actualize the claims he had made.
Thus, he sought out Daniel Drumm at the New York Sanctum, expressing his desire to meet the Sorcerer Supreme.
Indeed.
Anton could only think of the Sorcerer Supreme.
On Earth, aside from the Sorcerer Supreme, he guessed no one else was likely to prevent Thanos from using magical means to invade the planet.
Besides, the Sorcerer Supreme herself was not averse to participating in this battle.
However, something seemed to be holding her back. With the current altered storyline, Anton indeed needed to have a discussion with the Sorcerer Supreme.
Daniel did not refuse and readily agreed to Anton request.
Opening a portal, Anton stepped through.
It was past midnight in the US, indicating it was daytime at Kamar-Taj in Nepal.
Anton stood inside an ancient temple.
The surroundings had a visibly exotic ambiance, with yellow talismans hanging on the walls of the ancient buildings, lightly fluttering in the breeze.
"The Sorcerer Supreme is in the room ahead of you,"
Daniel followed through the portal and said to Anton, "I won't go in with you."
"Thank you."
Anton expressed his gratitude formally and then pushed open the door.
Inside the room.
The Ancient One was drinking tea. Seeing Anton arrive, she did not show any surprise but remained as calm as ever.
"Anton, please sit."
The Ancient One nodded, gesturing for Anton to sit on the cushion in front of her, and filled a cup of tea for him.
"I don't know the purpose of your visit, but you should know that the timeline we are in has become thoroughly chaotic…"
The Ancient One said, "Even the Time Stone can no longer accurately predict the future… Your Justice League holds at least three of the Infinity Stones already… In fact, you should have come here sooner."
She was right the Justice League indeed had at least three Infinity Stones.
To be precise, actually four.
Because the Power Stone was also in the hands of the Justice League.
When Superman seized the Power Stone, it was located in the Void of the Universe, and only a very few knew that the conflict with the Kree Empire stemmed from the Power Stone…
It was normal for The Ancient One to be unaware.
Although powerful, she was not omniscient.
"The chaos in the timeline has brought us an unknown future, but if you are willing, you can still steer the timeline back to its original course with your own power…"
Anton smiled, "But you haven't done so. Does that mean, fundamentally, you are pleased with the chaos in the timeline, or at least not opposed to it?"
"That could be said."
The Ancient One replied, "But I must admit, the chaos has caused many things to move beyond my control."
"Such as?"
Anton was curious.
"Stephen Strange, he was supposed to be my successor, now he should be here in this temple learning magic from me, but he remains in New York, even the world foremost surgeon…"
The Ancient One did not hide the fact.
With the timeline already chaotic and the future uncertain, hiding or not hiding made little difference.
If Stephen Strange had deviated from his destiny and had not become Doctor Strange, then even if The Ancient One now revealed information about Strange, it wouldn't change the reality.
Thus, hiding was pointless.
"Strange…"
Anton looked puzzled, "I've heard of him. But why would Strange destiny change… What happened that led him away from becoming your successor?"
The Ancient One paused briefly.
Looking at Anton, she showed a hint of amusement, then slowly said:
"Strange original destiny was destroyed by a car accident that ruined his hands.
As a top neurosurgeon, Strange, with his hands destroyed, couldn't perform any surgeries.
Despite his vast medical knowledge, he couldn't accept becoming someone with great abilities yet unable to utilize them—a useless person."
"To heal his hands, Strange spent all his wealth, abandoned his comfortable life, and sought a miracle until he reached Kamar-Taj, the place that changed his fate... By the time that happened, I could also die in peace."
"But I didn't expect the timelines to be so chaotic, Strange didn't follow the path written in his destiny..."
The Ancient One sighed, "It seems I can't find release just yet."
Anton realized that the Ancient One didn't care about her own life or death, or rather, she had long wished for death.
Compared to those universe elders or celestial beings with lifespans that seemed exaggerated, her centuries-long life and the duty to protect Earth had made the Ancient One weary, desiring eternal peace.
Moreover, the power sustaining her life originated from darkness.
Although it didn't contradict her principles, such actions could indeed make the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj feel betrayed.
Cassilius betrayal of Kamar-Taj might have been for similar reasons.
From Anton understanding and the information he had, it was highly likely that Mordo, the Ancient One senior disciple, would be the villain in the second Doctor Strange movie.
"The reason I've lived so long is partly because I knew my successor would be born in this era, and partly for my duty.
The emergence of the Sorcerer Supreme is to better protect Earth from multiverse invasions..."
The Ancient One said lightly, "But now, the successor has deviated from the path, and perhaps will never become the Sorcerer Supreme.
If I die now, it seems detrimental to Earth... But if I don't die, how many more years must I endure until a successor emerges?"
During the conversation, she looked at Anton, "I know Daniel has passed the position of the New York Sanctum guardian to Shazam...
I actually think Shazam could also be a candidate for the Sorcerer Supreme, although he comes from another universe.
Seeing the chaos not only in our universe but also outside, I don't need to stick to old rules..."
What?
Anton was shocked.
Hearing this, it seemed the Ancient One wanted Shazam to inherit the position of the Sorcerer Supreme?
That was good news.
He thought for a moment. If Shazam inherited the Ancient One position, then the Time Stone would be right in his grasp.
"I will persuade Shazam."
Anton didn't overreact but simply smiled and said, "Speaking of which, why did Strange deviate from his destined path? Even with the butterfly effect theory, there must be a reason, right?"
"A reason?"
The Ancient One smiled and said slowly, "The reason is sitting right in front of me."
"Sitting in front of you?"
Anton was stunned, pointing at himself, "Are you talking about me?"
What does this have to do with me...
Wait a minute!
It seemed Anton had realized something.
"Yes."
The Ancient One seemed to have guessed Anton thoughts.
"Strange recently had a car accident, just like his fate originally dictated, destroying his prized hands... But he didn't fall into despair, because it not a difficult issue to resolve for Earth now."
The Ancient One continued, "He simply had an amputation surgery, cut off his hands, and then approached Wayne Enterprises, becoming a beneficiary of limb regeneration technology, altering his destiny from a future prominent figure in the magical realm to a leading figure in the medical field."
Anton was speechless.
Should one say that a remarkable person should always remain remarkable?
Even if Strange couldn't become Doctor Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme, he was still making waves in the medical field.
Strange was already an authority, and as he aged, he would only become more so.
His status in the medical field might not be less significant than that of a Sorcerer Supreme in the magical realm.
"This..."
He struggled to find the words.
Strange ordeal was indeed surprising.
Limb regeneration technology...
Anton hadn't expected that technology developed by Dr. Connors, once turned good, which benefited the disabled worldwide, could be used in such a way...
Speaking of which, Anton had heard various rumors.
About limb regeneration technology...
It seemed there were men who, after emasculation, consumed various animal products in the hope of regrowth, and wondered if they succeeded?
Theoretically, shaving one head often can thicken hair, so one wonders if the same could happen after emasculation...
Anton shuddered at the thought and dared not ponder further.
"End of idle chat."
The Ancient One said, "You're here to see me, not to discuss Strange, but for another matter."
"That right."
Anton candidly said, "Thanos army will likely arrive on Earth in less than a month, and our preparations seem solid, but there a huge flaw in our battle plan concerning teleportation magic...
Thanos has a powerful sorcerer under his command, and we hope to prevent him from using teleportation magic or some sort of teleportation technology to bring Thanos army to Earth."
"Understood."
The Ancient One nodded and agreed promptly, "I don't care about the other details, but I can assure you, Thanos will not enter Earth through any portals."
After a pause, the Ancient One served tea, signaling the end of the meeting.
Anton prepared to leave, but just as he was about to do so, the Ancient One spoke again.
"Remember to discuss with Shazam about succeeding as the Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj..."
"I've noticed that he seems to be off Earth most of the time..."
Hearing this, Anton felt a bead of cold sweat form on his forehead. With another turn, he had left the room where the Ancient One received guests and returned to the New York Sanctum.
"That was quick, wasn't it?" Daniel raised an eyebrow curiously as Anton returned. "What did you guys talk about?"
"About the successor to the Sorcerer Supreme..." Anton pondered for a moment, looking at Daniel with a strange expression.
"It seems the Ancient One might compete with you for someone."
"Compete for someone?" Daniel looked confused. "What do you mean?"
Then it dawned on him.
"What?"
He exclaimed, "The Ancient One wants Shazam to take over as the Sorcerer Supreme?"
On the moon.
Carol and others, seeing the construction progress and technological level of the lunar base, had no more doubts about Earth plans.
Now, as long as Anton promises hold true and can address the plan vulnerabilities, the seemingly inevitable war, where countless believed Earth would surely lose, now seemed to have a turning point.
"The Cybertronian civilization..."
Carol gaze lingered on several massive Autobots.
She then turned to Nick Fury, "You said they've been on Earth for nearly a hundred years, why haven't I ever heard of them? I thought the Kree and the Skrulls were the earliest aliens to appear on Earth... Not so great for a former Director of SHIELD."
"I'm no longer the director."
Nick Fury shook his head, "Even when I was, I didn't know everything. Before the incident at Hoover Dam with the Transformers, I thought the Kree and the Skrulls were the only aliens I had ever encountered."
"SHIELD finds it hard to play a role on today Earth."
Coulson spoke bluntly, looking at the imposing and technologically advanced lunar base before him,
"The power of the Justice League surpasses all organizations by a large margin, whether it technological power, the number of superhumans, and so forth. Even their alien allies can always surprise us, and no one knows what else they're hiding..."
"Fortunately, they aren't interested in ruling the world, which is why the World Security Council and various national governments have been so tolerant towards the Justice League..."
These words surprised Nick Fury and Carol.
Especially Nick Fury.
He hadn't expected that, in just over a year since he left Earth, the Justice League had developed to such an extent?
Respected by nations around the world...
What kind of power must they possess?
Indeed, with the current level of Earth technology, it would be hard to build the lunar base he was seeing.
It conceivable that the Justice League had a significant hand in it.
And so it was.
The foundation of the lunar base was built by the Skrulls, followed by Anton who provided many Cybertronian technologies he acquired during interactions with the Transformers. Later, Cybertron itself took an active role in helping.
Moreover, the human intellects pinnacle, Tony Stark, along with another pinnacle, Reed Richards, were now on the lunar base.
Even two others from the sewer base, Dr. Curt Connors and Bruce Banner, the Hulk, had become one of the leaders of the lunar base.
Such a formidable lineup was under the control of the Justice League.
Though Earth nations were filled with talent, they couldn't compare to these characters who seemed to have cheats in their stories.
Coulson suddenly saw a figure walking towards them.
Nick Fury looked up to see a man with a goatee, heavy dark circles, but who was nonetheless energetic—Tony Stark.
"Nick the pickle, long time no see."
Tony, seeing Nick Fury, remained unflappable and unsurprised, his gaze wandering over to Gamora.
He really hadn't seen a green-skinned alien woman who looked almost human before.