Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1177 Who is he? (Second update)

Stephen Strange scanned the scene before him without understanding, the rapidly flashing, bizarre sights making him want to vomit. His body kept breaking apart and then reforming; the first couple of times amazed him, but the hundreds and thousands that followed numbed him. "You think you know the laws that govern the world?" he heard the Sorcerer Supreme's voice. "You think the material world is everything? Then how do you define reality? What mysteries lie beyond your perception? 'Existence' is rooted in the union of mind and matter, reality shaped by thought. You understand this world through sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch, but science proves that there are invisible spectra and electromagnetic waves, infrasound and ultrasound that are inaudible to the human ear. So how can you be so sure that there are no truths you know outside of the dogmas of empiricism?"

"I...I don't know." Stephen Strange managed to speak, but his voice echoed and distorted repeatedly in the ever-expanding dimensions, finally turning into an indescribable whisper. He was surrounded by light, and every scene that came into view gave him the urge to plunge into it. He felt himself naked, exposed to terrifying waves of energy, from which illusory creatures extended deformed limbs, and malicious laughter frequently echoed in his ears. This was not happening now, nor in the past or future; this place transcended time, and all the horrors he could imagine had become reality here.

"This universe is just one of countless universes. There is no end to the world; some are benevolent and vibrant, others filled with malice and lust. In the darkness, forces far older than time lurk, greedy for everything, waiting for their chance. In this multiverse, who are you, Mr. Strange?"

Sherlock Holmes watched in astonishment as Stephen Strange abruptly vanished from the real world and plummeted from the roof of the Zen room. Had Mordo not reacted quickly and pushed him away, the man who bore such a striking resemblance to him would have surely struck him on the head. Holmes gasped. "His head hit the table… Is he still alive?"

"Have you seen these in gift shops before?" The Sorcerer Supreme's voice was gentle. Stephen Strange slowly rose to his feet, kneeling on the floor, his whole body trembling. The pain from his head slamming against the table was completely overwhelmed by what he had seen; the mental vision far surpassed the physical agony. He believed it; he had seen it; Mordo was right; he had to forget everything he thought he knew. "Teach me," his voice trembled with his body. "I want to learn."

The Sorcerer Supreme gazed at him, then said softly, "No."

Mordo immediately grabbed Stephen Strange by the back of his collar, dragging him with superhuman strength to the door and tossing him onto the street. The door slammed shut behind him. Stephen Strange scrambled to his feet and pounded on the wooden planks with all his might, ignoring the excruciating pain in his injured hands as he relentlessly hammered at the seemingly fragile, openwork wooden door. "No! No, don't do this! Open the door, please!" Stephen Strange cried out in surprise as the door opened a crack. He had barely managed a smile when a red winter coat was thrown at his face. It was his coat, the one the servants had taken off earlier, and the heavy, dusty smell assaulted his senses once more. By the time he grabbed the coat, the door had slammed shut again. No matter how much he pleaded, yelled, or cursed, there was no response.

"Do you think I shouldn't have kicked him out?" the Supreme Master asked.

Mordo shook his head. "Sherlock Holmes is just as stubborn as Stephen Strange."

"Sherlock Holmes was obsessed with studying everything before him. He saw himself in different eras and witnessed evils beyond the material world. He was clever enough to know when to stop; the sculptures Salomon erected in the square were a warning to him." The Sorcerer Supreme slowly picked up his sweet tea and took a sip. "Stephen Strange certainly possesses comparable talent, but he is stubborn, arrogant, ambitious, and extremely opportunistic... just like the Kasirius of the past."

"Casirios is living a very happy life now," Mordo said. "I heard he found a girlfriend."

"Yes, Salomon led him down a different path. But Stephen Strange wasn't so lucky; he needed a lesson in adversity, and the loss of his hands was just one aspect of it." Before the Venerable was a device that projected a burning Earth and different dimensions of reality in a symbolic way. "The Surangama Sutra says: 'All sentient beings create karma through their six senses, and the resulting evil retribution arises from the six senses.' If Stephen Strange wants to enter this realm, he must restrain his restless mind, sever all ties with the six senses, and escape the worldly realm."

“That’s too strict, Your Excellency.” Mordo frowned. “Besides you, not many of us can do it. I haven’t, Kasirius hasn’t, and even your favorite Salomon hasn’t. Especially Salomon, who is now living a very happy life. He has chosen to be involved in the world rather than withdraw from it, and I think it’s because he doesn’t see it as a necessary option.”

"Oh, you think Salomon doesn't have any?" Seeing Mordo's puzzled expression, the Sorcerer Supreme didn't explain much. "Someone has to bear this pain of having no desires, like an empty vessel being filled with my ideals, honors, and ruthlessness. This is a pain you've never experienced. Don't bother him, and don't have too much sympathy for Stephen Strange. He needs setbacks."

"So when can we let him in?" Mordo asked.

"Let our new apprentice decide." The Sorcerer Supreme snapped his fingers, summoning Sherlock Holmes, who had finished his work and was about to sit down and read. "Turn on your phone's timer and set it to any time you like. When the countdown is over, remind Mordo that it's time to bring Stephen Strange back."

"Let me decide?" Sherlock Holmes was puzzled. While today's events had stirred his emotions, people who looked alike weren't uncommon, and Stephen Strange's appearance didn't signify anything extraordinary. The novelty of what had happened in Kamar-Taj far outweighed today's little incident. "If you allow him to learn, why lock him out? What's the point?" In Sherlock Holmes's eyes, many sorcerers in Kamar-Taj were completely ignorant of the outside world, especially the teenage sorcerers who had grown up there. He cautioned, "I don't believe this action will make him grateful; on the contrary, it might even exacerbate his inner conflict. I've seen many such cases; many people blame their misfortunes on those who didn't help them in the past. Locking him out might very well allow him to shift his resentment."

"This suggestion makes a lot of sense, but don't question His Holiness's decision." Mordo suddenly changed his attitude. "Set the timer, then bring the book you're going to study today. I'll tutor you in studying the ancient Latin magic book."

Sherlock Holmes shrugged.

"Don't lock me out," Stephen Strange pleaded weakly, sitting on the steps. He repeated it over and over, but no one paid him any attention, not even the locals who happened to pass by glanced at the disheveled foreigner. "I have nowhere else to go." Even as the last rays of sunlight were completely swallowed by the shadows of the mountains, and the chill spread through the streets, the little warmth from his sweet tea was completely dissipated, Stephen Strange still received no response. Just as he was sinking into despair, the sudden disappearance of support behind him caused him to tumble inside. He lay on his back, and the first thing he saw was Mordo, his expression serious, and a man holding a phone who looked similar to him.

"Don't thank me yet," Mordo interrupted Stephen Strange, "You still need to be tested."

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: 202ᴋᴋs.ᴄᴏᴍ]

"I only have one question." Stephen Strange sat up. He took a breath, licked his dry lips, and pointed at Sherlock Holmes. "Who is he?"

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)