221. The Manipulated Agatha.
221. The Manipulated Agatha.
For Alex, things hadn't completely spiraled out of his control yet. Although he had felt a moment of panic upon discovering the Bat-Dart, Alex gradually calmed down. While Red Skull held the upper hand for now, Alex still saw opportunities to turn the tables.
After all, this world had entered a post-magic era. Like all other villains, Red Skull was also on a path toward destruction. As a sorcerer, no one understood the gradual disappearance of magic better than Alex. Whether it's sorcery or technology, everything will change under the influence of this world's shifting tides.
On the other hand, although Red Hood's current situation was dire, it could have been worse. Alex had initially thought Red Hood might end up as a Lizardman's meal. Now, even though Red Skull had captured and tortured him, Red Hood was still alive, and as long as he was alive, there was hope.
Moreover, Black Canary's unexpected appearance had given Alex a pleasant surprise. He hadn't anticipated her arrival in this world, and the fact that she had been protected by Kate Bishop rather than being ravaged by the Wasteland was a fortunate turn of events.
This gave Alex a great opportunity. He was eager to meet Black Canary and ask her about the other universes and why she and Red Hood had come here. However, Alex decided to stick to his original plan first.
The most important thing for Alex now was to obtain the Darkhold. This wasn't just to weaken Doctor Doom's power and potential; Alex wanted to master his own way of practicing magic. If Alex could harness this energy without succumbing to its dark corruption and avoid the costs associated with magic, it would become an ability truly his own.
Having traversed several apocalyptic universes, Alex was keen to acquire his own power. No one would put all their eggs in one basket, and Alex didn't want to rely solely on the Miss Minutes and the Timepad. To achieve this, the power of the Darkhold was crucial.
After Red Skull burned and destroyed most of the magical artifacts, magic in this world had started to decline. Not only were magical dimensions vanishing, but even bacteria that parasitized human souls were becoming scarce.
Magic originally stemmed from the essence of all things, and the dwindling of this energy had profound effects. This might explain the worsening environment of the Wasteland world. However, in Baron Mordo's territory, everything was still flourishing.
The people here lived free and happy lives, with abundant magical energy covering every corner of the town. Upon entering, Alex had momentarily thought he had found a 'paradise.'
The town was known as the 'Magic Dimension.' Though it was called a dimension, it was actually just a small town hidden within Doom's territory, the Doomsday Nest, using magic.
With his powerful magic and the Eye of the Sorcerer, Alex easily found the path leading to the town, bypassing one magical barrier after another, until he reached this eerie place.
After stepping into the town's borders, Alex noticed something amiss. Normally, the creator of such a secluded place would set up numerous magical arrays to ward off intruders and expel those with ill intentions. But here, things seemed reversed. Baron Mordo hadn't left many magical arrays or barriers. The only thing he had set up was a large curtain that enveloped the entire town and its farmlands.
This curtain wasn't meant to block intruders; it was merely to hide the town's physical existence and prevent ordinary people from accidentally stumbling upon it. For a sorcerer, this curtain was ineffective and would make the town a beacon in the darkness, very conspicuous.
"A trap meant only for sorcerers?"
Staring silently at the thin, gossamer-like curtain, Alex wasn't sure if Mordo had hidden ambushes here. After all, Mordo was an expert in manipulating thoughts and reshaping minds. And as a sorcerer who had studied the Darkhold, Baron Mordo was undoubtedly dangerous.
Walking along the dirt path toward the town, Alex kept a vigilant eye on his surroundings. Compared to the outside Wasteland, the magical energy here was much more abundant, likely due to the dome-like curtain.
Clouds loomed overhead, and a gentle spring rain fell on the crops. Alex looked up to see a rainbow arching across the sky, while the crops in the fields thrived.
In a town filled with strange magical arrays, this sudden spring rain was undoubtedly a product of magic. Alex could clearly sense that the rain had been summoned from a previous timeline.
This realization made Alex, already cautious, even more vigilant.
Continuing forward, Alex bypassed two unknown magical arrays. Though he was curious about the magic left behind, he refrained from triggering them to avoid alerting anyone. As he approached the town, Alex spotted an old woman sitting at the gate, tirelessly weaving.
'Witch, Agatha Harkness...'
Narrowing his eyes, Alex looked at the blind old woman with a complicated expression.
At this moment, Agatha had completely lost her sense of self. Her mind had been taken by Baron Mordo, who kept her here to weave a protective web of mental magic. This unusual magic not only allowed Baron Mordo to retain his youthful vitality but also enabled him to control vast amounts of magical energy, enough to dominate the entire town.
Standing silently before Agatha, the old woman paid no heed to Alex's presence. To ensure Agatha could never regain her consciousness, Baron Mordo had not only erased her mind but also taken her sight, turning her into a mindless weaving machine. Reaching out, Alex instinctively wanted to help Agatha regain her senses. But at the last moment, his hand suddenly stopped in mid-air.
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222. The Eerie Town.
223. Seeing with Your Eyes.
224. Clearing the Memory.
225. Formatting.
226. The Vessel for the Watcher's Eye.