American Comics: Multiverse of Madness

211. Abstraction and Substance.

Magical energy is a mysterious force that originates in consciousness, transcending the physical plane. This energy pervades everything in the world, and even the smallest cell contains immense power. The primary ability of a sorcerer is to communicate with and utilize this energy. 

To ordinary people, the world appears monotonous and dull, but through the eyes of a sorcerer, it is a vibrant and colorful realm, filled with all sorts of fantastical beasts and monsters. 

'Demons' from other dimensions lurk unseen in the gaps of reality, draining life energy and magical essence from living beings. 

In ancient times, sorcerers like Doctor Strange fought these 'nonexistent' creatures in secret, using magic from other dimensions to defeat or banish these invaders from our reality. However, in the current wasteland world, the magical dimensions have become disconnected from reality, including mystical realms like Asgard and Avalon, which have lost all contact with this world. 

This means that to cast magic here, one must rely solely on the magical energy of the wasteland world, without being able to draw power from other dimensions. It is for this reason that the Shadow King was so shocked to see Alex using and converting magical energy. 

As an abstract entity that has existed for countless eons, the Shadow King's history stretches back to ancient times. Nothing knows the origins and transformations of magic better than it does. But now, as it looked at the black sorcerer before it, the Shadow King suddenly felt a sense of impending doom, as if it were facing an ancient god. 

Converting magical energy is no easy feat. If any dark sorcerer could achieve this, it would signify that they had reached the level of a dimensional lord. And in the wasteland, if anyone claimed that a new 'dimensional lord' had emerged in this barren, magic-depleted era, no magical entity would believe such nonsense because it was simply impossible. 

"Converting energy isn't easy, but fortunately, I have a little help," Alex said, controlling his magic while displaying a cruel smile. 

With the Timepad's timeline filtering device, Alex could convert magical energy across dimensions. After all, it's a tool designed to filter timelines, so compressing and altering magical power isn't too difficult. Moreover, with Miss Minutes assisting from the sidelines, Alex could effortlessly manipulate magical energy from different dimensions. 

"Who are you!?" Kitty's eyes gleamed as her body began to swell, as if something terrifying was about to burst out from within her.

"Is that your final words?" Alex retorted. 

Kitty let out a horrific scream, and in the next moment, her entire body exploded, forming an enormous magical vortex at a speed visible to the naked eye. Under the influence of this whirlwind, the figures of the X-Men, Iron Man, and War Machine also began to float, merging with the gale. 

Alex couldn't describe what he saw at that moment. To put it simply, it was like several multicolored pieces of clay being kneaded together. The figures started to twist and wail before finally fusing into a massive entity under immense pressure. 

It was a gigantic humanoid creature with a bald head and pitch-black skin, covered in various hard, keratinous growths. As it stretched its body, a chilling moan escaped its gaping maw. Then, it lowered its head to look at Alex, its eyes brimming with murderous intent. 

"You do not belong to this world, sorcerer!" 

"Neither do you, monster." 

Alex coldly replied. When the Shadow King revealed its 'true form,' Alex could clearly 'hear' the lingering echoes from the souls of the X-Men. 

Those were not the true souls of the X-Men. So many years had passed that their souls were no longer whole. What the Shadow King now controlled were merely fragments of the souls of the former heroes. But even so, those fragments still resisted, however faintly. They were just memory fragments, but they continued to hold onto the consciousness of charging against evil, never yielding in over forty years. 

"You shouldn't have toyed with the souls of the dead, and you shouldn't have extended your reach into this world. But I must say, I'm really glad you're here because you will become the nourishment I most need," Alex said, the flames in his hand flickering with terrifying light. 

"Don't be so arrogant, sorcerer! I was born from the first nightmare; I am the substance of all twisted abstractions. I am a being beyond your comprehension; you can't even perceive my true form!" 

The Shadow King's power surged, causing the entire X-Men base to tremble. The furniture began to come alive, twisting and warping into bizarre forms. 

Everything was undergoing a strange transformation. The piano played itself, a haunting melody that made the chairs sprout eyes. The trembling floorboards let out sinister laughs, and countless sharp teeth emerged from the cracks in the ground. 

"Then I'm ready to take a good look." 

Alex struck out with his palm, and instantly, a wave of ghostly green flames surged forward like a tsunami, rapidly igniting everything around them. The flames, filled with restorative magic, spread swiftly. In an instant, the entire room was bathed in green light. The abstract objects stabilized under the fire's influence, then slowly melted like candles. 

"If you were still connected to the Astral Plane, I indeed wouldn't have much to do with you, but now you're on your last legs!" 

Alex's eyes gleamed with green light, and countless fire-formed tentacles writhed beneath him. 

The Shadow King felt as if it were a small boat in a storm. The terrifying flames were inching closer to its essence. If it didn't act soon, it would be entirely erased from this world. 

Realizing this, the Shadow King's massive form began to transform. On its bald head, the upper body of a red-haired woman struggled to emerge. 

"Sorcerer, you'll die with me!" 

Alex looked up, his face changing. 

Just before a massive wave of energy struck, the last image in Alex's eyes was that of a phoenix soaring through the heavens.

............

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212. Baron Zemo.
213. Hydra Captain.
214. The Waning of a Hero.
215. The Death of the Hydra Captain.
216. The Final Chapter of Baron Zemo.