— Nighttime, Kagura’s Room
It was already deep into the night.
But Kagura was still wide awake.
Soft LED lights, shaped like intricately carved lanterns, glowed on the walls.
Stacks upon stacks of thick books were neatly arranged on the desk, categorized with precision.
The towering piles rose well above Kagura’s head, forming what looked like miniature mountains made of paper and knowledge.
This was true immersion.
Drowning in a sea of books.
’Learning brings me joy!...Well, probably.’
It had only been a single day since Kagura first began studying dimensional mysticism, yet in that short time, she had absorbed more than what most people could grasp in a lifetime.
’The Ancient One said there wasn’t much time left.’
’Then I’ll find a path to the future in the shortest time possible—using the mystical knowledge your generations have painstakingly built.’
’I don’t care what this world was meant to be, nor do I plan to dictate what it should become.’
’But I will change it. I’ll push it toward a brighter tomorrow. I’ll shape the future—
Into something I believe in.’
————————————————————————
"Cortana, has all the data been uploaded? What’s VEDA’s response?"
Kagura had scanned and uploaded the entire library’s worth of books into VEDA, her quantum computer.
Using VEDA’s advanced processing, she aimed to uncover a method for applying dimensional mysticism to Rhodes Island equipment.
"Data transmission complete. VEDA is currently parsing the information..."
Cortana replied through the comms.
"With this latest batch of texts, we now have a solid understanding of how mystics used dimensional arts to imbue objects with power."
"Excellent. Let’s make the most of our time. According to the Ancient One, an attack could happen at any moment," Kagura said seriously.
"While developing dimensional equipment, keep a close watch on the New York Sanctum."
"If necessary, activate the ’New New York-3’ defense system to intercept intruders... though I doubt it’ll make much of a difference."
"Understood, Master." Cortana paused briefly before continuing, "But it’s getting late. You should rest. We can handle the parsing and data transfer. After all, it’s daytime over here."
"Yaaawn..." Kagura let out a sleepy sigh.
"You’re right. Time for bed. Automaton bodies don’t get tired, but my human soul does feel exhaustion now and then... Besides, I have to continue Strange’s training tomorrow."
"Speaking of which..." Cortana’s tone hinted at curiosity. "Do you think Doctor Strange can really shoulder the responsibility of facing the Dark Dimension in such a short time?"
"...Hmm." Kagura rested her chin on her hand, thinking. "To be honest... I’m not sure."
She glanced out the window at the glittering night sky.
"Even if Strange masters the art of mysticism in record time, I’m not convinced he has the resolve or courage to face Dormammu and the horrors of the Dark Dimension."
"Your instincts match my calculations, as well as VEDA’s quantum predictions," Cortana replied.
"Stephen Strange lacks a compelling reason to fight. He may not be the right person to confront a global threat."
"Then why is the Ancient One still training him?" Kagura mused. "Wouldn’t it be more reliable to pass the mantle to someone like Mordo or another seasoned mystic?"
"Perhaps Stephen Strange possesses qualities beyond modern science—something even our algorithms can’t predict," Cortana suggested.
"You once told me the key difference between humans and AIs is that humans have limitless potential."
"No matter how powerful a program or machine becomes, it can only operate within the bounds of what’s known."
"...Maybe." Kagura sighed. "Just this once, let’s put some faith in the Ancient One’s ’mysticism’."
————————————————————————
At Kamar-Taj, it wasn’t just Kagura making rapid progress—Stephen Strange was advancing by leaps and bounds as well.
Unlike Kagura, whose motivation stemmed from the need to stop Dormammu from consuming the world.
Stephen was driven by his pride, stubbornness, and growing admiration for the Ancient One.
At the moment, Strange was fast asleep in his room. The tall, lean doctor lay peacefully on his bed.
But while his body rested, his mind did not.
Astral Projection.
A technique that separates a person’s soul—their spiritual energy—from their physical body using dimensional mysticism.
In rare cases, the spirit could even affect the real world... what some might call "a haunting."
In simpler terms, it was an out-of-body experience.
Unlike automatons, Strange couldn’t skip sleep entirely, but he could use astral projection to continue studying while his body rested.
Floating above his bed, his spiritual form calmly held an ancient tome in his hands, reading intently.
Once absorbed in study, Strange seemed even more fascinated by dimensional mysticism than he had been by surgery.
After all, this was a completely unfamiliar field, one full of mysteries and potential—a true gateway to broader horizons.
"Multiverse dimensions... quantum realms... using mysticism to traverse time and space... even bypassing light-years of distance through warping..."
Strange read aloud, eyes narrowing as he absorbed the content.
"In the Dark Dimension... there exist entities that transcend time, possessing eternal energy and immortal bodies... Dormammu..."
His brow furrowed. "This guy sounds like bad news."
"Dormammu ignores the rules of time and space, devouring other dimensions and adding them to the Dark Dimension..." As he read further, the dread began to sink in.
"Dormammu can’t be killed—only repelled. And the moment the Sanctum’s mystical barrier fails, he’ll invade instantly. He’s the eternal threat to all mystics..."
Strange shivered. "...I thought these people were just monks hiding away in the mountains."
He flipped the page. "Dormammu’s power is limitless. Not even the Eye of Agamotto can stop him... Eye of Agamotto? Is that the thing in the library?"
"The Sorcerer Supreme’s primary duty is to protect the world from Dormammu’s invasion..." Strange froze, a chill running down his spine.
"Wait a second... Am I getting scammed by the Ancient One?!"