"Does it matter what I want to do?" Eric's voice was casual, yet something sharp lingered beneath it. "Maybe I want to live quietly... or maybe I want to conquer this place."
The Ancient One gave him a small smile, her expression serene as always. Her voice, gentle yet firm, carried no trace of hostility.
"Yes," she said, "it truly doesn't matter. You were born here, and you have just as much right to shape this world as any other creature of this planet."
Eric's eyes narrowed slightly. He wasn't sure what angle she was playing at, but the calm acceptance in her tone was unexpected.
One thing to mention here — something he only found out some time ago himself. While he often claimed he was reincarnated into this world, that wasn't entirely accurate.
In reality, when his soul was still forming, another weak and fragmented soul — one from a different world — had merged with him. The invading soul had been far too frail to overpower his own, and instead, its memories had simply integrated into Eric's consciousness. In essence, Eric was still himself — a native of this world — albeit one carrying memories from another existence.
This strange fusion explained why he could so effortlessly bypass the natural defenses of the universe itself. His presence was less like an intruder breaking in and more like a family member walking through the front door. Even with the immense power he wielded — power that could shake the very foundations of reality — his existence here felt... natural.
The Ancient One's gaze sharpened, "I'm not strong enough to stop you," she admitted with surprising honesty. "If you wished to destroy this world or bend it to your will, I couldn't prevent it. My only choice is to prepare in advance."
Eric tilted his head slightly. "Prepare for what?"
"For the consequences," she said simply.
It was true that Eric's power far exceeded hers. Yet in her centuries of mastery, the Ancient One had gathered a vast reserve of dimensional energy — power extracted from countless realities. With enough preparation, she believed she could eject him from this universe. The cost, however, would be unimaginable.
If she sacrificed her very soul, she could construct a powerful barrier — one uniquely tailored to counter his presence. Such a barrier would not only repel Eric but could last for at least ten to fifteen years — enough time for Earth's heroes to mature and grow stronger.
But she wouldn't do it.
After living for centuries, her desire to survive had dwindled.
She wasn't afraid of dying—if anything, the idea seemed almost... peaceful.
Rather, her reluctance stemmed from something else — Eric was from Earth.
"Even if you destroy this planet," she said, "it's still an internal matter — Earth's problem, not the universe's. I won't invite outsiders to interfere."
The weight of her words lingered in the air. She had stolen power from Dormammu's dark dimension before, but those were minuscule fragments, carefully siphoned to avoid attracting attention. The power required to banish Eric would be far greater — energy is drawn not only from the dark dimension but from realms of unspeakable chaos — realms like Hell itself. The damage such an act would inflict on reality would be near-irreversible.
And yet, as she watched Eric, her instincts told her he wasn't a threat — at least, not yet. His calm demeanor, and his patience — they were not the traits of a man consumed by power. If he wished to rule the world, that was humanity's battle to fight — not hers.
"I've seen empires rise and fall," she continued, her voice distant.
"I've watched kings crumble and revolutions ignite."
Her fingers tapped the armrest of her chair rhythmically.
"If you choose to rule, humanity will either accept you or rebel against you.
"If Earth must face a conqueror... then Earth itself must respond. I am not qualified to represent everyone."
Whatever happens... it's not my place to interfere."
She leaned back slightly, her calm smile returning.
"But if you threaten to end this world entirely..."
The air around her flickered with traces of golden sparks.
"...then I'll stop you myself, at least try until my death."
For the first time since their encounter began, Eric smiled faintly. "That's... surprisingly reasonable."
"I am nothing if not practical," the Ancient One replied, her expression unwavering.