Chapter 70: Yes! The One I Worry About Most Is You!

Damn! Is this even allowed? In the movie "Doctor Strange," there are so many plot holes that even the director can't explain them.

To Meimu, the biggest one is this: why does Doctor Strange have the ability to use the Eye of Agamotto, embedded with the Time Stone, to restore the destroyed Hong Kong, but doesn't use it to revive the Ancient One, who was killed by a stab wound?

Remember, in "Avengers: Infinity War," Thanos pulled off a godlike move to collect all six Infinity Stones—he literally reversed time to bring Vision, who had chosen to sacrifice himself along with the Mind Stone, back to life.

That's right, Thanos resurrected Vision, snatched the stone, and then killed him anyway.

The inability to resurrect the Ancient One might have something to do with her own decision to give up fighting. But if you really rewound time to before she was stabbed, would she just go and get herself killed again?

Meimu once thought if the Ancient One truly couldn't win, he could pull off some trick and bring her back to life on the spot. But in the end, he was too weak, utterly powerless to save her!

It was a kind of bitter helplessness that defied words.

At this moment, Christine, Nick, and the other medical staff were doing all they could to save the Ancient One, but Meimu's vision went beyond the physical—he saw a golden soul.

Without a word, he immediately triggered his astral projection.

Meimu prepared to unleash his legendary persuasive skills and talk the Ancient One out of seeking death.

Their souls drifted through the emergency room, even through the crowd bustling in the hallway.

He chased after the Ancient One’s soul all the way to the balcony outside the hospital.

Time slowed to an unfathomable crawl, nearly standing still—he knew this was the Ancient One's magic at work. It wasn’t that they had slowed down, but that soul-to-soul communication was so swift that everything else seemed halted.

Nick’s hand, passing the scalpel. Diners in the restaurant across the street, frozen with knives and forks halfway to their mouths. All movement had nearly ceased.

Sensing his presence, the Ancient One turned, her ethereal face showing a complex expression.

Meimu, anxious, said, "Master, why has your soul come out? Your body is extremely weak, your magic within is in chaos. If you don’t return to your body soon, you’ll die. You don’t have much time left."

"Time is relative. I’ve spent centuries in the real world, yet it feels less than the time I’ve wandered the multiverse in this state. Meimu, you still haven’t gotten used to the life of a sorcerer."

Following her gaze, Meimu looked up at the New York sky.

In the distance, lightning rolled across the horizon. Usually, thunder would crack with blinding speed, but now it moved with the slow grace of a musical fountain, mesmerizing and beautiful.

Meimu marveled, "A sorcerer… what a wondrous and mysterious calling."

The Ancient One sighed as well. "Look at this moment—finally, it has arrived. I may not survive this time. I’ve stopped countless threats worse than this, but misfortune always follows misfortune. Sigh! All things must end, and I am no exception."

Meimu’s heart skipped a beat; his worst fears seemed to be coming true. Yet, for some reason, he felt something was off.

"When the false life bought with dark power is finally repaid, there’s little left for me. The rest is up to you and Mordo."

Meimu hesitated, sensing the sorrow, pain, gentle resignation, and deep loneliness in the Ancient One.

After weighing his words, Meimu finally spoke, "Are you just going to give up? Earth is on the brink of destruction. If you’re gone, Dormammu will descend immediately. Even if we stop Dormammu, there’s still cosmic threats like Thanos."

The Ancient One shook her head. "It’s not that I don’t want to, but I cannot. The power cultivated at Kamar-Taj is rooted in spirit and life. My body is decaying and can no longer contain that vast magic. To leave hope for Earth, I must surrender the title of Sorcerer Supreme."

At this, the Ancient One fixed him with a gaze. "Yes! You, Meimu, are the next Sorcerer Supreme."

"I… um…" Meimu blushed.

Though he didn’t consider himself the bashful type, he felt compelled to demur, perhaps nudge Mordo forward as a target to deflect attention.

"Your will isn’t especially strong, but you know the path you wish to walk. Maybe you’ll never truly be a champion of justice, but at heart, you despise siding with evil. Most importantly, I sense the breath of destiny upon you."

"The breath… of destiny?"

"There are countless mortals in this world, and the vast majority can never escape their fate. For example, those born into poverty are destined to lack quality education and a broad worldview, which leads to narrow thinking and limited action. Those who truly have the chance to break their ‘fate’ are often regarded as—heroes—in their fields."

"Heroes…?" Meimu murmured for some reason, repeating the word, lost in thought.

"Yes, you are the one marked by a unique destiny," the Ancient One seemed to sigh.

"Well, if I’m to be the Sorcerer Supreme, you don’t have to die. There’s still a way you could…" Meimu didn’t finish—he was suddenly interrupted by the Ancient One.

"Who said I was going to die?" The Ancient One looked almost taken aback.

Huh?

Wait, something’s off with this script!

In the original film, wasn’t this where the Ancient One gave up treatment, choosing to let her soul dissolve?

So what was all this effort for? Wasn’t it just to keep her from dying?

Meimu’s face practically spelled out his frustration, and the Ancient One, too, was caught between laughter and tears. "You rascal, you’re treating the ‘future’ you see as something that must happen again, aren’t you?"

Meimu nodded, somewhat dazed.

The Ancient One smiled ruefully. "I have spent countless years peering into the future. But every time I look, the future is different. What I see may well be the future of another parallel universe. In one possible future, standing here with me at this moment isn’t you, Meimu, but a self-absorbed man named Stephen Strange."

"…" Meimu was utterly speechless.

Damn, Ancient One, you really are something!

The Ancient One seemed to sigh, perhaps with a hint of regret. "If the next Sorcerer Supreme were him, perhaps I’d truly fulfill all my wishes and willingly walk toward my end."

"Wait, so Master, you mean I’m unreliable?"

"Reliable? You little troublemaker, do you have any idea how much chaos you’ve caused with the Eye of Agamotto?" The Ancient One’s tone suddenly grew stern.