Chapter Twenty-Five: The Sacred Atom and Kaisa

Michael was still taken away by Mordo.

He knew very well that he was no match for this seasoned sorcerer.

Strictly speaking, Mordo was actually Doctor Strange’s mentor, and had also helped train his close-combat abilities.

Unfortunately, in the end, Mordo couldn’t accept the actions of the Ancient One and Doctor Strange, and this somewhat rigid man chose betrayal.

In the comics, Mordo was the Ancient One’s chief disciple, but ultimately turned on his master.

In the Doctor Strange film, Kaecilius replaced Mordo as the Ancient One’s top student, betrayed the Ancient One, and succeeded in killing her.

As for Mordo, at the end of the movie, he killed the man who had guided Doctor Strange, and uttered the words, “There are too many sorcerers on this Earth,” marking his descent into darkness.

When it came to this path of corruption, Michael felt there was nothing he could do to help.

Soon, he was brought before a bald-headed figure.

“So you really are monks,” he remarked.

The Ancient One smiled and asked, “Michael, do you know why I’ve called you here?”

“It’s not to study hair growth serums, is it?” Michael was a bit nervous; as always, in moments like this, his mouth tended to run away with him.

“Show respect to the Sorcerer Supreme,” Mordo admonished.

What was the Sorcerer Supreme? For Mordo, she was his faith itself, so he pinned Michael to the ground at once.

“Is this some kind of show of force?” Michael looked up at the Ancient One.

She waved her hand, signaling Mordo to let Michael go.

At her command, Mordo reluctantly released him.

“Mordo, leave us. I’d like to speak with Michael alone.”

Mordo shot Michael a glance and left, still unwilling.

Michael glared after him, then said, “Does your temple do things like the film industry? Is this idol worship?”

“Not really,” the Ancient One said, stepping closer to Michael. “Michael, do you have anyone you admire? Any idols?”

“Does Jackie Chan count?”

“Kung fu? Chinese kung fu.”

“Yes, and Stephen Chow—I absolutely love him.”

Michael was puzzled. What was the Ancient One getting at? Was this about idol worship?

“No one from the world of science?”

“Does Schrödinger’s cat count?”

“Schrödinger? The Austrian scientist? What do you like about him?”

“No, I meant his cat.”

For a moment, the Ancient One couldn’t comprehend what was so admirable about a cat, so she returned to the real subject.

“Michael, have you ever considered what kind of person you’ll become? What direction you’ll strive toward? Or who you’ll take as a role model?”

Michael pondered for a long time. For him, the future felt too distant.

“Sorry, I don’t know.”

The Ancient One looked at him and said, “I’ve seen a future where, to cure yourself, you create something terrifying. As a monster, you kill everyone.”

Michael was stunned. Seriously?

But then he remembered: in the Marvel universe, mass slaughter and even the destruction of the world weren’t exactly rare. He could accept that.

“You can see the future?”

“Yes,” said the Ancient One, watching for his reaction.

Michael smiled. “If you really can see the future, then by the time you see it, it’s already not the future anymore.”

The Ancient One smiled as well. “Perhaps.”

“Are you interested in learning magic? Magic could also restore your health.”

Michael looked at her and replied mockingly, “Do you think I’d believe such nonsense?”

After all, in Marvel’s fourth phase, Doctor Strange’s hands were still trembling—he wasn’t fooled.

But the Ancient One thought he was questioning the magic itself.

“It does sound like a scam, but sometimes the truth is right before your eyes.”

With that, she pushed Michael gently, and his soul was instantly knocked out of his body.

Michael stared in shock at his own form. Countless golden points of light appeared before his eyes, each one brimming with vast information and terrifying energy.

“What is this?” Was it because of Keisha?

The Ancient One continued, “This is your body. You’re special. From birth, you’ve had the ability to communicate with dark energy. I once thought you were the work of some demon lord, but on closer inspection, you don’t seem related to mutants or demons.”

“This body contains a massive amount of dark matter energy. It’s practically made for magic. You can easily convert dark energy into magical power. With your brilliant mind, you could master all forms of magic.”

“So, are you willing to learn?”

Keisha: “Study magic with her. I’ll explain everything to you later.”

“I’ll learn, but you have to give me time—I need to be able to return at any moment.”

The Ancient One thought it over and agreed, merging Michael’s soul with her own.

“Beginning tomorrow, I’ll formally teach you magic. For now, go and rest.”

“All right.”

She extended a finger and drew a circle; a glowing portal sparking with fire appeared before Michael, opening directly into his room.

“I’ll come for you tomorrow.”

Michael nodded and walked through, curiosity welling inside him.

Once Michael was gone, the Ancient One sighed, uncertain about the future.

She had been waiting for Stephen, but with these new uncertainties, she no longer knew which way destiny would turn.

Returning to his room, the portal closed behind him. Michael checked to make sure he was alone, then immediately started calling for Keisha.

“Keisha, are you there?”

“I’ve always been here.”

“What’s really inside me?” Michael asked eagerly.

Keisha: “The divine atoms of Queen Keisha—the basic units of a holy body.”

What?

Keisha had been betrayed by Liang Bing and Karl, who conspired to use a star to blast her into countless atoms, dispersing them across the universe with the help of the Great Clock.

Because of the Great Clock, it would take Keisha three hundred million years to reassemble all her divine atoms and restore her physical form.

“Why are there so many divine atoms in my body?”

Keisha: “So many? At her peak, Keisha had trillions of divine atoms. You have only tens of thousands.”

Tens of thousands? Michael was amazed. That many?

Keisha: “What you’re seeing are the divine atoms restored to full energy. Many others are dim due to lack of power.”

“Every divine atom holds all of Keisha’s information and the full technology of the angelic civilization. Keisha also made backups in other angels. In theory, a single divine atom could resurrect her.”

Michael was shocked. “So can Keisha be resurrected now?”

“No.”

“Why? Didn’t you say one atom was enough?”

Keisha: “Have you ever thought about how much energy a single atom contains? Restoring the body requires reabsorbing an immense amount of energy to reach her original level.”

Michael was speechless, his mouth agape.

So that was it.

If Keisha wanted to resurrect, she could do so at any time. But after resurrection, what could she do?

“The system you’re using is actually Keisha’s own dark matter dimensional computer. You’re not a first-generation warrior yet, so it’s only enhancing your thinking and memory.”

“Once you have the divine gene, the dimensional computer’s abilities can be further developed, helping you control your internal energy and assisting you in battle.”

“Then Keisha, how did you end up inside me, and how did you bring me to this world?”

Keisha: “Most likely it was a coincidence. The Great Clock wasn’t just transmitting divine atoms—it manipulated time and space, causing the atoms to spiral in place or be sealed in alternate dimensions.”

“You were accidentally swept into the same void. To save you, the divine atoms had to enter your body and break through space to reach this world.”

“I never expected this place not to be the Super Warriors universe. That, even I did not foresee.”