Obligatory Disclaimer : I do not own anything (except maybe OC characters) all characters, places, worlds, universes…etc mentioned here belong to their respective owners and/or companies.

This is purely a work of fiction. Not meant to offend or incite, but to entertain and (maybe) inspire

THE OUROBOROS DILEMMA

The Temple of Three.

Javan Rainforest.

I was here to learn. That was my actual purpose, everything else was secondary. I wanted to see just how these best of the best conjured and used their magic. To steal their spells and gestures; to take their knowledge for my own. If the situation allowed it, to abduct one of them for research purposes—this Aged Ghengis seemed like a good specimen, but his power level and threat assessment had yet to be determined and evaluated, if I went shooting I wasn’t going to be shooting blindly.

So I picked another target– the Homo mermanus aka the Atlantean.

I had more to gain than lose kidnapping her. Reasons being she’s from Atlantis, one of the most elusive places on the planet, in fact seeing her here allowed me to confirm its existence. I didn’t have to waste anymore resources searching for it. I also ran a full body scan on her, her power level was similar to a baseline Asgardian, considering that she possessed magic as well, she might be some a league higher. It made no difference, she was an opponent I could take down without breaking a sweat, although I didn’t necessarily need her alive, it would make things more profitable to have her living.

I couldn’t exactly go kidnapping people where the Ancient One could see me. I know just how strong I am, but relative to an actual master of the mystic arts, I had some reservations. The lady survived an explosive yield equal to a nuke at point blank, and was able to react fast enough to trap the explosion in an alternate dimension—I know I did too, but I was prepared for that.

I will give her credit where it is due, after all this lady was the one to single handedly defend the planet from the dark dimension centuries past. And she’s been fighting eldritch horrors and powerful extra-dimensional beings since before I was born. She wasn’t one to be scoffed at.

How did I survive her then if she’s so damn powerful? I had the element of surprise on my side, I also planned and kept her too occupied to care about me in our first battle, and then I had her direct superior (Agamotto) contact her on my behalf. Yeah, I didn’t go into that fight half assed.

Damn straight.

I believe the Ancient One chose to die so the dark energies she was channeling to prolong her life wouldn’t corrupt her and turn her into a thrall for Dormammu.

Could I kill the Ancient One?

Given enough time to plot it out and choose the battlefield, of course I could. But it wouldn’t be worth it, it’d be myopic to take out the Earth’s most instrumental defender just to prove a point. Unless the gains far outweighed the effort put in. I was a business man too, I sought profits over losses.

“Now that all are here, let us begin” said the man in loin cloth and a cape. I have to remember to wash my eyes with soap when this is all over.

A neon glow suffused with potent magical power illuminated the entire cave, the glow settled right above the Ghengis ––who had prostrated himself on the stage– and then it began to weave and wane like the excited tongues of a raging flame. Within that flame emerged blurry visages, each one becoming clearer by the second. Visages turned vivid, vivid enough for everyone here to make out their features, vivid enough to feel a fraction of their awe inspiring power.

I knew them before they became transcendental, I recognized those faces anywhere, so when I saw the two bare what seemed to be a subtle smile, I knew it was for me. Because those two amongst the trinity were Oushtur and Agamotto.

I held my silence, folded my arms and observed. The rest bowed their heads in reverence.

“WE ARE OUSHTUR…HOGGOTH…AND AGAMOTTO. WE ARE THE UNDYING VISHANTI.”

They spoke, their voice seeped in raw power and amplified by it. Everyone focused, giving their undivided attention to the Vishanti.

“MANY OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN OUR NAMES, CALLING UPON US TO EMPOWER YOUR SPELLS, TO GRANT YOU THE STRENGTH YOU NEEDED.”

Now’s as good a time as any.

“NOW WE GIVE YOU—THE GREATEST MYSTICS TO WALK THE EARTH–THE CHANCE TO FIND AMONGST YOURSELVES THIS SPHERE’S SORCERER SUPREME.”

‘Computer, deploy tracer unit’

“ONCE THAT MAGE IS FOUND A BOON WILL BE GRANTED. AND LIVES WILL BE CHANGED. THIS WE HAVE SEEN.”

[Tracer nanites deployment successful…Enroute to marked targets…Contact accomplished…Tracer units online and broadcasting on isolated frequency]

Perfect.

“BUT ANY CHANGES MUST BE OF YOUR OWN FREE WILL. NO MORTAL SHALL BE FORCED TO TAKE PART.

RISE AND LET ANY WHO WISH TO DEPART DO SO!”

Within the silence that followed, I saw eyes turn towards the ancient one—some cautiously gauging her, deciding whether it was wise to wrest the title of Sorcerer Supreme from the one person who’s held it this long. And then turning to me, probably asking themselves why I seemed so close to her.

“None wish to leave?” Asked the Aged Ghengis. “So be it. If there be no further objections--”

“I object!” said a feminine voice. I turned to gaze at her and could not help but admire her audacity. She pointed at me.“This demi-demon brings technology into a place of mysticism, he would use his western science to work his wiles. He has no right to be here, he is not a true sorcerer.”

Coming from someone who dressed like the lead singer of an erotic heavy metal band, I took her criticism with a grain of salt. Of course, there was truth in her words. Although I came to learn, I also brought a variety of weapons ranging from basic heat seeking missiles to antimatter rays to test how scientific weapons would measure up against so called magicians and sorcerers.

Busted, I guess.

“Although I may not be as adept as some of you, I am no stranger to the mystic arts. I know you are intimidated by my presence, but are you so unsure of your prowess that you fear my technological edge?” I ordered the suit to fold up and made a false gesture of pressing against the metal suit. Causing it to neatly retract, shrinking as it did, into the biochemically strengthened cloak that fluttered behind me. Leaving me in nothing but normal black jeans, a white tank top and my metal mask.

“Are you now at ease darling?” I want to kill you so badly. “I trust this is satisfactory, yes?” I smiled, trying to offset the killing intent that oozed out my eyes.

She stumbled backwards almost tripping over her own feet as she quickly nodded and spoke. “Y-yes.”

The Ancient One had her fan cover the half of her face, but I could damn well see her smile behind it.

She was laughing at the cape wasn’t she? Laugh now and cry later lady.

“Are there no more objections?” The Ghengis questioned. “Then the moment has arrived! Vishanti we are ready!”

Lightning crackled within the neon glow as the light rose higher, the visages of the Vishanti turning into colossal things.

“STEEL YOURSELVES, MYSTICS! BEFORE THIS DAY IS DONE, YOUR SKILLS WILL BE SORELY TRIED!” Spoke Oushtur.

“AND ONCE BEGUN, THE TRIALS WILL NOT BE HALTED! MANY OF YOU WILL FALL!” Spoke Agamotto.

“ENOUGH WARNING! LET…THE…CONTEST…BEGIN!” As always, Hoggoth concluded.