Sorcerer Potential

While William trained at Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One kept a vigilant eye on celestial beings and their activities. Her role was to foresee and prevent any dangers that could threaten humanity. With the recent alien invasions, her workload had increased tenfold. The latest threat she faced was from rogue sorcerers who were drawing power from the Dark Dimension. These sorcerers were trying to summon Dormammu, the Cosmic Conqueror—a being no sorcerer in this universe took lightly. If Dormammu were to take over, the universe would be consumed by darkness and cold, devoid of all light and warmth. He promises eternal life without hunger, sorrow, love, or affection.

At first glance, a life without pain or emotion might seem appealing. But those who are wise understand that the true meaning of life lies in death, in the emotions we feel, and the consequences of our actions. Life isn't always fair. Some people suffer from incurable diseases, face financial hardships, or live with regrets. But that's what makes life what it is—it's not about fairness or reason; it's about the choices we make and the paths we take.

The Ancient One didn't always see dark sorcerers as evil. She understood there were reasons why some turned to the Dark Dimension. To others, it might seem like a curse, but she knew that every dark sorcerer had a reason for their path—a reason that was valid, at least to them.

And she also knew not everyone on her side was a saint. There were plenty of power-hungry people under her watch too.

"Kaecilius, have we dealt with those rogue sorcerers yet? And what about the relics they stole from our Hong Kong Sanctum?" the Ancient One asked.

Kaecilius replied, "Master, we've got back almost all of our relics, and we've captured one of their sorcerers. We're trying to find out where their base is."

The Ancient One picked up on one word that made her uneasy: "Almost." She pressed, "What do you mean by 'almost'? What do they still have?"

Kaecilius hesitated, "I'm afraid they still have the Darkhold. But as we all know, only the Sorcerer Supreme can decipher its secrets. You're the only one who knows how to read it."

The Ancient One's face tightened. "You can't assume they can't figure it out. If they weren't capable, they wouldn't be giving us this much trouble. They might look like a bunch of disorganized rogue sorcerers, but their leader isn't a fool. If you saw him, you'd think he was just a normal guy, but he's been around for over two hundred years, pulling energy from the Dark Dimension. His knowledge of spells and battle tactics is terrifying. I've seen even the strongest sorcerers break into a cold sweat when faced with him."

Kaecilius, curious, asked, "If this guy is so powerful and smart, why's he making moves now? Why not before?"

The Ancient One sighed, "He went quiet a century ago, and his followers retreated. But every sorcerer on this planet knew it was just the calm before the storm. Every day, the first thing I check is his activity because I've fought him before, alongside my master—the former Sorcerer Supreme. My master almost lost his life protecting me from him."

She continued, "Have you ever seen a sorcerer cast a hundred mirages, each one casting their own spells? The calculations alone would fry the mind of any ordinary sorcerer, but he's no ordinary sorcerer. It was like every weapon in the sorcerer world was unleashed on us. My master had to use the Aegis of Eternity—the strongest shield in the world of sorcery. And even then, we barely forced him to retreat, thanks only to reinforcements from all of Kamar-Taj."

Her next words sent chills down Kaecilius' spine. "And do you know what's even scarier? When he finally pulled back, he smiled. Even when faced with Kamar-Taj's army, he smiled like he had everything under control. That smile still haunts me in my dreams."

Kaecilius asked, "Master is there any reason, you never told us about him. What is the name of person who make can make you this much worried? "

"Zhang Ming," the Ancient One revealed. "A name so ordinary, you'd think it's harmless. But to any seasoned sorcerer, it brings fear. And now, he has the Darkhold—a book made to bring chaos. There's no one more fitting to hold that book of chaos than him."

Kaecilius asked, "What do we do now, Master? When such danger can knock our door anytime."

"Kaecilius," the Ancient One ordered, "summon all the Sanctum heads and the families loyal to Kamar-Taj. This threat will require every ounce of strength we have."

Within an hour, the heads of the Sanctums and loyal families were gathered. A powerful barrier was created around Kamar-Taj, turning the place from a school into a fortress. Instructors were on high alert, and students were told not to leave the premises, especially after dark.

Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, a man in formal clothes sat in a Chinese-Korean restaurant, eating jajangmyeon. He looked like an ordinary guy, maybe out for a weekend stroll in the neighborhood.

As he was finishing his noodles, two men arrived and placed a strange-looking book on his table. It looked burnt, its text unreadable, written in a language no one on Earth would recognize. The man smiled and said, "You've brought me something interesting. How about a treat? Order whatever you want." And he proceeded to order a feast.

Then, with a more serious tone, he asked, "So, where's the rest of the stuff? I see the book, which is valuable, sure. But where's everything else?"

One of the men, Chen An, replied, "Li Wei, we were attacked by Kamar-Taj sorcerers. I figured if we tried to take everything, we might lose the Darkhold. So, we focused on protecting it."

The man chuckled, "Li Wei, huh? That's what they call me now. If this keeps up, I might forget my real name—Zhang Ming. Got anything else to report?"

Chen An looked down, nervous. "One of our sorcerers got captured by Kamar-Taj. He's being held there."

Zhang Ming smiled again. "You know, I've never cared if they knew my base location. I could sense two sorcerers who have been keeping their eyes on me for a while but at any moment I could kill them without a trace. But why bother? Now as you said they have one of ours right then I've got a reason to visit that the place so called Kamar-Taj. Now, hurry up and eat. I've got a this book of chaos to decipher once we take care of this current situation."

Chen An, looking worried, asked, "Is eating really necessary right now? I'm grateful, but Kamar-Taj might already be extracting info from our guy."

Zhang Ming replied with a calm face, "Don't worry. Even if they know where we are, what can they do? The moment they even sense my presence, they back off. There's only one person in this era who can make things interesting. Other than her, you have nothing to fear."

After finishing, the trio moved to an alley, opened a portal straight to Kamar-Taj, and stepped through. They arrived at a simple-looking door and knocked. William was hanging around near the entrance thinking about his lesson and how can he improve, hearing a knock on the door he went to see who it was. To William suprise there were three individual who were standing in front him in formal clothing as if they are comming from a tiresome office job and he was thinking Zhang ming addressed him.

Zhang Ming smiled, "Hello, young one. Is your master here? I'm an old friend and have some business to discuss with her. Could you take us to her?"

William, unaware of the danger, grinned and was excited, "Are you sorcerers too? I mean, I'm not that strong yet, but I've almost completed my basics and just there to move for advanced magic because of which now can tell sorcerers apart properly. It's hot outside; why don't you come in? I'll get you something to drink while I call the master."

Zhang Ming replied, "Are you sure you want us inside?"

William patted his shoulder with a smile, "Of course! Kamar-Taj is open to all sorcerers. It's safer inside, especially with the threats out there. Come on in."

As Zhang Ming stepped inside, he couldn't help but think, "When was the last time someone invited me in this warmly? Everywhere I go, people either run away, try to fight me, or they put on a fake smile to win my favor. Who is this guy?" A grin spread across his face, and he replied, "As you insist, brother."

Chen An watched, baffled. Brother? he thought. I've been by his side for over fifty years, and he's never once called me 'brother.' He only respects strength. So, why is he calling this random guy his brother?

Inside, the atmosphere shifted immediately. The powerful barrier around Kamar-Taj shattered with a nearly inaudible crack, like glass breaking in slow motion. Every sorcerer in the room felt it—the sudden chill that ran down their spines, the stillness in the air, the sense that something, or someone, had just entered their domain with a force that was anything but friendly.

Breaking the fourth wall

William,"You know, there's a saying in Hindi: 'विनाश काले विपरीत बुद्धि,' which means 'Destruction comes when intelligence fails.' I think we're about to see that play out—with my life. Why did I invite them in? I don't know. I've got a feeling I'm going to regret this… big time."