Chapter Twenty-Four: Purging Corruption

"No need, Artanis," Ael said, tossing the Cosmic Cube in his hand before handing it to Thor, who stood respectfully by his side. "I wish to visit Asgard."

"Your presence will bring glory to Asgard," Thor replied, accepting the Cosmic Cube. As the crown prince of Asgard, he was well aware of the Spirit Realm deities worshipped by the Starborne Empire. Besides, earlier he had heard this god's name from Artanis' lips—one of the six great Creator Gods.

"Uh, thank you for your help?" Tony looked at this deity before him, who now concealed his own radiance; if not for the halo behind his head, he would look much like Artanis in attire.

Ael glanced at Tony. As the God of Psionics, he had noticed this human the moment he descended. Tony possessed great psionic potential—unfortunately...

Ael nodded slightly. "No need for thanks. Even without me, someone else would have driven that evil god away."

At the mention of the evil god, Tony frowned. "Then, Your Majesty, could you perhaps enlighten us?"

Ael smiled gently and looked before him. "You will know in time."

Tony was about to press further when a golden portal opened at his side. The Ancient One stepped through, bowed to Ael, and said, "All praise to you, great Lord Ael. The Sorcerer of the Sanctum, the Ancient One, greets you."

Ael studied the Ancient One carefully and smiled. "It seems you are ready. Agamotto has found a worthy apprentice."

The Ancient One smiled in silence. Ael stepped into the portal, with Artanis hurrying after him. Thor took a step forward, then stopped—he still had things to finish here; there was no point in following Ael now.

The Ancient One turned back to the portal. Tony called out, "Then, madam, can you enlighten me?"

She looked at him, shook her head slightly, and replied, "You will know in time." With that, she stepped through and vanished.

Tony clenched his fists. He loathed this feeling. Just then, Steve patted him on the shoulder. "Tony? What are you spacing out about?"

"Spacing out?" Tony turned to Steve, surprised. Steve looked at him, puzzled. "What is it?"

"Didn't you see? That god just appeared before us, then a bald woman showed up, and then they all left!"

Steve frowned. "Tony, what are you talking about? Are you still under the evil god's influence? The one who saved us disappeared after defeating the evil god, and Artanis and Thor vanished at the same time."

"Gone?" Tony could hardly believe it. He quickly called out, "JARVIS, did you see anything?"

"I'm sorry, sir. If you're referring to what you described to Captain Rogers, I detected nothing," JARVIS replied in Tony's ear. Tony began to wonder if he'd hallucinated the whole thing.

Meanwhile, after bidding Artanis farewell, Thor flew swiftly to Loki's location. Upon landing, he found Loki standing by the floor-to-ceiling window.

"Loki, you'll never guess who I just met," Thor said excitedly as he approached. Loki raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Who did you meet? Lord Ael, perhaps?"

"How did you know?" Thor was astonished. How could Loki, still in New York, know of Ael's descent?

"Isn't it obvious? That overwhelming surge of power—who couldn't sense it?" Loki rolled his eyes. As the greatest sorcerer of the Nine Realms, if he couldn't sense it, he might as well be dead.

Thor scratched his head and laughed. "Lord Ael gave me the Cosmic Cube and said he wanted to visit Asgard. We need to get back so Father can repair the Bifrost!"

With a sigh, Loki produced a prepared container—something he had readied long ago. Blue light flashed, and he and Thor returned to Asgard.

Ael stepped through the portal and arrived at the headquarters of the Sorcerers—the Kamar-Taj. The Ancient One made no great announcement of his arrival, simply tidied her sitting room for her distinguished guest.

Ael approached a bookshelf, picked up a book, and began to leaf through it. Artanis remained quietly behind him, having just sent news of Ael's descent back to the Starborne Empire.

The Ancient One returned to the sitting room and took out the Time Stone, stored within the Eye of Agamotto. She had sensed something amiss when her time magic failed against the evil god, and her suspicions grew when she discovered the Space Stone had been affected as well.

"Your Majesty, this is the Time Stone." After the Ancient One returned, Ael set down his book. In just those brief moments of reading, he had gained a deep understanding of the Sorcerers' knowledge. If he were interested, he could develop an entire magical system to match theirs, but for now the Infinity Stones were the priority.

Ael reached out for the Time Stone. Golden light flowed as he inspected it. At last, he withdrew his hand and returned the stone to the Ancient One. "The Time Stone was only slightly affected. I've removed its corruption. It was likely influenced by the dark power you drew upon—Dormammu is, after all, one of his pawns."

The Ancient One frowned. She had suspected her use of dark power was the cause, but without it, she would have ascended long ago, and the next Sorcerer Supreme had yet to appear.

Seeing her distress, Ael shook his head with a smile. "Most people would do anything to ascend, yet you keep suppressing your own power. Besides, hasn't the next Sorcerer Supreme already appeared?"

At Ael's words, the Ancient One grew thoughtful and nodded in understanding. "Thank you for your guidance. I am enlightened." She paused, sensing something, and smiled at Ael. "They will arrive soon, my lord. Please excuse me."

Ael nodded, letting the Ancient One depart, and waited in the sitting room for the emissaries of the Starborne Empire.

As soon as the detectors registered the high-energy response and relayed it back to the Starborne Empire, Ael's executor diverted some attention to Midgard, awaiting word from Artanis. As the Starborne ambassador stationed on Midgard, Artanis would naturally have more detailed intelligence.

Soon, Artanis' report arrived, and the news shook the entire Council of Light and Shadow: the relic had been recovered, and Ael had descended. Each of these would be cause enough for the Empire to act, but Artanis had also relayed Ael's instructions. Though the Empire's leaders longed to immediately open a portal to Midgard, Ael's orders were to be obeyed at all costs.

By command of the Council of Light and Shadow, the assembled Golden Fleet set course for the Chitauri. The news of Thanos's existence was also presented to the elders. This time, however, not one of them thought he was to be protected as a lost child; on the contrary, they wanted to seize him and bring him before Ael for judgment.

Unfortunately, when the Golden Fleet arrived, they found only empty space—the Chitauri had been wiped out, and Thanos had vanished without a trace. Yet this very response was itself unusual. The Starborne Empire promptly issued a warrant to the entire universe: Thanos and all his associates were now wanted fugitives.