Chapter 763 "The Return of The Ancient One"

"Dr. Connors!" Jerry tried to call the Lizard's name once again in the hope of getting him conscious of his reptilian state.

Witnessing Jerry's astonishing display of strength as he effortlessly subdued the formidable lizard creature, Peter sprang into action once again.

However, when he beheld the transformation of the Lizard back into Dr. Connors, Peter's expression shifted to one of disbelief.

"He underwent mutation after being injected with some kind of genetic serum, but that's not a major issue," Jerry remarked calmly. He extended his hand to cast a spell at the now-human Dr. Connors, purging his body of the mutated cells and then using his powers to regenerate the scientist's missing limb.

At Jerry's current level of mastery, restoring a mutated individual to their original state and regenerating a lost limb was a simple task, taking only moments to accomplish.

"Alright, I'll leave the rest to you. I must be on my way. Until we meet again!" Jerry declared before swiftly vanishing from sight, returning to his own ring universe to continue his work of assimilation.

Confused by the current situation, Peter waved his hand at the disappearing Jerry, saying, "Thank you for your help, Mr. Wizard!"

Left behind were Peter, bewildered by the extraordinary events he had just witnessed, as well as the ordinary citizens who had emerged from their cars, staring in disbelief at the scene unfolding before them, and the police officers who had arrived belatedly, trying to make sense of the situation.

A month later, when he realized that the branding magic was completed, Jerry reappeared and, as before, incorporated the entire solar system into his own ring universe.

Afterward, he swiftly returned to the void of the main universe, repeating the process and repeating it until he had stolen more than a dozen solar systems in the same manner, encountering various incarnations of Spider-Man along the way.

There was Spider-Man Parker, who resembled the affluent and dashing Tony Stark; his Aunt May was a prominent business magnate and scientist, developing an array of high-tech suits and combat gadgets for him.

Then there was Parker, the Spider-Man Noir, who emerged during the Great Depression of the 1930s, donning a noir-style suit and possessing remarkable physical prowess.

In another universe, there was Peni Parker, a young girl of mixed Japanese and American heritage, who piloted combat robots to combat crime.

In yet another reality on Earth, Peter himself was just an ordinary individual, while his girlfriend Gwen transformed into Spider-Man and took up the mantle of heroism.

However, just as Jerry believed everything was proceeding smoothly, with the potential to significantly bolster his power and ascend to the pinnacle of the multiverse, an unexpected visitor arrived at his doorstep.

"Long time no see, Jerry!"

As Jerry materialized on the streets of New York in a parallel universe, a familiar voice greeted him from nearby.

Jerry turned to see the source of the voice, his expression reflecting rare surprise, "The Ancient One, what brings you here?"

 

Indeed, standing before him was none other than the Supreme Master Ancient One, a figure who had served as both teacher and friend to Jerry before departing Earth alongside Eternity.

Draped in a resplendent yellow monk's robe, the Ancient One smiled gently. "The reason for my presence here is undoubtedly linked to you."

"Because of me?" Jerry's astonishment lingered, though it gradually gave way to a dawning realization. He understood that his recent actions had likely captured the attention of Eternity.

And true to expectation, the Ancient One proceeded to elucidate the specific reasons for seeking out Jerry.

In essence, it was largely as Jerry had anticipated. His interdimensional travels and the absorption of entire solar systems into his ring universe had disrupted the delicate balance among the multiverses.

This disturbance, particularly concerning Earth, held profound implications for each universe it touched.

However, because Jerry did not violate the laws of the multiverse and did not harm innocent lives during his actions, Eternity considered him aligned with the lawful side.

Therefore, the Ancient One was sent only as a messenger to warn Jerry. There was no punishment prescribed, nor was Jerry instructed to return the Earth that he had integrated into his ring universe.

Jerry, as a native of this universe, theoretically operated within the parameters established by the One Above All.

However, if Jerry persists in his obsession and continues to use deception to steal Earths from various universes, the consequences will be more severe.

The next visit may not be from the Ancient One; instead, according to the laws of the One Above All, Eternity will intervene when Jerry reaches a critical point.

Eternity will manipulate the laws of the universe to create a being capable of competing with Jerry and ultimately resolving the situation. This intervention mirrors the emergence of superheroes in times of crisis to stop villains and restore balance to the universe.

However, in that scenario, Jerry's outcome might not be so favorable.

Certainly, Jerry might possess enough power to contend with the onslaught of various superheroes and emerge victorious, but the likelihood of that happening remains minuscule.

This time, it was the Ancient One, who had a positive rapport with Jerry, that took the initiative to intervene upon learning of the situation, resulting in the current warning.

"The Ancient One, I am truly grateful. Rest assured, I was unaware of the consequences. Had I known it might disrupt the balance of the multiverse, I would never have taken such actions." Having grasped the gravity of the situation, Jerry expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Ancient One, bowing deeply.

Inwardly, he remained appreciative of the Ancient One's concern for their past relationship and the effort taken to address this matter.

Otherwise, even if he managed to overcome the superheroes engineered by Eternity, he would have had to flee with his family from the Marvel universe.

In such a scenario, safety would be assured, but any future advancements in his strength would necessitate solitary endeavors, much like the creation deities concealed in the shadowy realms scattered across the multiverse.

The only glimmer of hope for Jerry lies in the possibility of discovering a new world through the panel.

Even if he remains in the main Marvel universe and can no longer gather Earths from various dimensions as before, there are alternative avenues for self-improvement.

For instance, he could confront and vanquish malevolent Dimensional Gods that disrupt the cosmic order.

"We are all allies here. Moreover, you have contributed significantly to Kamar-Taj. With your capabilities, even without resorting to your previous methods, you will undoubtedly ascend to greater heights in due course. It may just require a bit more time," the Ancient One responded with a serene smile.

Throughout her time alongside Eternity, the Ancient One's powers have markedly grown. Currently, even without the Earth's sanctum's protection, she has ascended to the level of a singular universe.

Moreover, her interactions with Eternity have afforded her glimpses into the future. She witnessed Thanos' devastating act of halving all life in the universe, the unbridled chaos wrought by Wanda decimating much of Kamar-Taj, and other dire events.

Yet, these calamities, once deemed inevitable, have been averted by Jerry's interventions and aid.

Therefore, even for the Earth from which he originates, the Ancient One would spare no effort to assist Jerry.

"Then, Ancient One, if I were to journey to other multiverses to delve into the enigmas of magic and the principles governing the major universes, there shouldn't be any issue, correct?" Jerry inquired as the discussion neared its conclusion.