*Chapter 188: Whale Fall*

On the other side, a few minutes ago, the mortally wounded Master Ancient One plummeted downward.

She crashed through mirrored dimension into real world, colliding tragically with the glass dome at entrance of a skyscraper lobby.

Her condition resembled that of someone who had invested their entire fortune in U.S. bank stocks only to go bankrupt.

If Stephen and Mordo had harbored any doubts about Ancient One before, now there was only endless regret in their hearts.

“Damn it! We might’ve misjudged her!” Mordo’s voice trembled.

“Save her first—” Stephen, being a doctor, made the most reasonable decision.

Once again, he troubled his ex-girlfriend Christine, rushing to her emergency room.

Unfortunately, science couldn’t save someone steeped in mysticism.

Not to mention someone as powerful as Ancient One.

Ancient One soon passed away.

Her death was remarkably peaceful.

If it had been a master from another field, wouldn't their death have brought about earth-shattering consequences?

This is no joke.

magic within Ancient One was as potent as a strategic nuclear bomb.

Driven by a desire for death, she transferred nearly all of her magic ahead of time. She even saved enough magic for her final battle, at least to protect her disciple and show no flaws in her first dozen moves against Kaecilius.

At the moment Ancient One’s heart stopped, Stephen, no longer just a simple doctor, projected his soul from his body. Not only him, but Mordo followed suit, and they both saw Ancient One one last time.

“Master Ancient One, is what Kratos said true? He said you used dark forces because you had no successor and had no choice but to draw on Dormammu’s power.” Mordo’s voice choked with emotion. He had doubted, he had been angry, but after learning this alternative truth, he hesitated again.

“Yes and no.” Ancient One, seeing her once skeptical disciple’s face filled with remorse, smiled kindly. “It’s because I’ve experienced the horrors of the dark that I tried so hard to keep you from touching its power.”

“Master, I—”

“Step back. I have something to say to Strange.”

“Yes.” Mordo withdrew, and his soul returned to his body.

Only Stephen and Ancient One remained.

Doctor Strange hesitated to speak.

“Kratos’ interference was an accident. You can ignore his words.”

“How can I not care about what he said… you… Master, did you really…”

“I’ve handled countless terrible events. But this time, I couldn’t hold on. Not because of Kaecilius, but because dark forces within me were about to consume my soul and mind. Rather than let that happen, this is better.” Ancient One finally admitted it, and her words left Stephen silent for a few seconds.

Ancient One comforted him: “You’re not yet used to role of a sorcerer. But you must understand, there are some things in this world that only truly unique can accomplish. A Supreme Sorcerer capable of bearing this mantle… might not appear even once in a thousand years.”

Stephen was deeply shocked: “I…”

“To protect Earth from the alien threats of other dimensional worlds—if you don’t do it, no one else can. I’m not forcing you, it’s just truth.”

After his initial shock, Stephen, being clever, quickly accepted reality: “I understand.”

“As for that Kratos…” Ancient One’s soul hand gestured toward the floating garden across the street, about 40 meters away.

Following her gesture, Stephen saw Kratos standing in a line with several heroines.

Seeing Ancient One pointing at him, Atreus and the women placed their right hands over their hearts and bowed slightly.

The great protector of Earth, who had safeguarded it for a thousand years, was about to pass away. This was their final gesture of respect.

Ancient One suddenly smiled and, with a wave of her hand, cast a soul barrier around herself and Stephen, ensuring their conversation remained private. “Stephen, did you know? I’ve spent countless years peering into the past and future, yet I’ve never been able to see yours or Kratos’ future.”

“Ah!” Stephen gasped softly, having personally used the Eye of Agamotto, fully aware of its incredible power.

For Ancient One to say she couldn’t see something—what could that mean?

“I’ve only seen possibilities. Yours, and his. That’s why I gave up holding him accountable for the disruptions in timeline.”

“I’ll follow your decision.”

Ancient One shook her head: “With someone as mysterious as him, you must show both reverence and caution. You may be a successful doctor, but your arrogance and pride will ruin you, keeping you from achieving true greatness.”

“…”

“Look! Listen! Feel! Then use your wisdom to make judgments for this world—”

Across the street, Atreus quietly watched as Ancient One delivered her final instructions.

He didn’t try to eavesdrop, being a transmigrator, and he already knew much of Ancient One’s final words. As for parts involving him, who knows how much the worldline might shift.

In the sky of the soul world, flashes of lightning occasionally streaked by, as if time had frozen.

After Ancient One’s last words, her soul dispersed into the heavens.

She had been gone for three or four seconds before Stephen noticed, and a wave of emotion washed over him.

Doctor Strange didn’t realize that a pure fragment of Ancient One’s soul, drawn by a mysterious force, flew into Kratos’ chest across the street…

Atreus was truly shocked.

He had only intended to see the great protector off on her final journey, never expecting to receive a part of the *White Soul*. This pure soul fragment contained immense spiritual power.

Almost as soon as he absorbed the White Soul, his teleportation spell leveled up to Lv256, and his mirror dimension spell reached Lv182.

Moreover, numerous “???” spells appeared in the system notification. However, all of them were flagged with the message, *“Host’s magical level is too low to parse them at this time!”*

It’s no exaggeration to say that the second biggest beneficiary of Ancient One’s death was Atreus!

Atreus suddenly thought of term *Whale Fall*.

It refers to when a whale dies, its body nourishes many other marine creatures.

In a way, Ancient One’s passing had the same effect.

Before long, Ancient One, who had been rushed to the emergency room, was pronounced dead.

Stephen stood dazed for a long time before crossing street to floating garden, which was part of a café. There, he met Kratos.

“My condolences.”

“Thank you.” Stephen hesitated for a moment before asking, “What about Kaecilius…”

“I returned his soul to his master.”

“Thank you.”

“You should know, this isn’t over. Kaecilius isn’t fully dead. Dormammu’s attack is coming soon.” After reminding Stephen, Atreus stood up.

“Wait! Can I borrow some money?”

“…”

“Ancient One didn’t have a social security number. Treating an unidentified person brings a lot of trouble. First of all, emergency care is expensive. I… I’m broke.”

Atreus laughed: “Fortunately, I’m rich.”

(End of Chapter)